The United States, Europe, and the Gulf states want regime change, so they are starving the regime in Damascus and feeding the opposition. They have sanctioned Syria to a fare-thee-well and are busy shoveling money and helping arms supplied by the Gulf get to the rebels. This will change the balance of power in favor of the revolution. It is also the most the United States can and should do.

Whether it is surprising that impudent intervention in affairs of the sovereign states became simplicity!

Syrian security forces kill up to 100 people near Hama – opposition
http://www.rt.com/news/syria-hama-massacre-civilians-223/
The Syrian opposition claims that as many as 100 people have been killed by government forces in the Hama region. The Syrian government claims terrorists are responsible for the slayings.
Reports from the Free Syrian Army, the Local Coordination Committees, Syrian National Council and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights differ on the exact number of casualties.
The Syrian government called the Hama massacre a “monstrous crime,” and said its special forces were in the area to combat the “terrorists” behind the killings, according to Syrian State TV. Authorities reported that all of the militants have been killed, with Syrian forces seizing weapons including rocket-propelled grenades…./…/….

congratulations, professor, on landing fp.

“Arming the opposition” as they did against the Soviets in Afghanistan, with the success that followed and the creation of al Qaeda to help the Gulf bags export their extremists far from the palaces. Plus they let Qatar establish a new emirate in Northern Mali (South Sudan partition model). Why is Qatar so oil and gas thirsty these days? Oil-peak?

Another Massacre – Alqubair

Unfortunately the massacres are looking increasingly like the work of the “FSA”

Its becoming increasingly difficult to believe that the massacres keep happening on very critical timings, the worst possible timings for the Syrian Government, allowing the western press to fill the sheets of its news papers with “eyewitness” accounts quotes from politicians demanding action.

Annan is due to address the UN tomorrow…

Already the main-stream media machine has started – somehow I doubt that either Houla or Qubair will ever be investigated…

Why shooting children in the face?  Kill them humanely.  A gun shot to the heart is a better and a bit more humane way.  Have shabeehat al Assad not satisfied their blood thirst yet? When is a historical hate get fulfilled?  Is their a cut off number of the dead above which a desire for revenge for Imam Ali can be fulfilled?  Wasn’t that what shsbbehat al Assad said slaughtering children at Houla?  Isn’t time yet? 

Syria accused of massacring 100
Women and children said to be among the dead as pro-Assad forces allegedly storm a small village near the city of Hama

Syria’s government was accused on Wednesday of carrying out a new massacre in a small village near the central city of Hama, with an opposition group claiming 100 people, including many women and children, had been killed.

“We have 100 deaths in the village of al-Qubair, among them 20 women and 20 children,” said Mohammed Sermini, spokesman for the Syrian National Council, who accused the regime of being behind the incident.

The news looked certain to fuel a bitter debate about the increasingly bloody Syrian crisis and to underline the limits of what a deeply divided international community can achieve.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the massacre was carried out at a farm by pro-regime shabiha militiamen armed with guns and knives after regular troops had shelled the area.

Reports and images of the incident spread rapidly on Twitter and other social networks but were impossible to verify independently given the lack of media access to much of Syria.

Online pictures showed charred corpses lying amid rubble and a dead child who had apparently been shot in the face.

The Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), an activist network, had earlier reported shelling in al-Qubair and neighbouring Maazarif, with “dozens martyred and wounded.” The villages are about 12 miles from Hama.

Opposition activists said women and children were among the dead when al-Qubair came under heavy tank fire before shabiha fighters moved in on the ground and shot and stabbed dozens of people to death. The LCC counted 78 victims, 35 of whom were said to be from one family.

“Qubair was stormed with very heavy and random gunfire, houses were broken into and the residents were killed, some with knives,” said a Hama-based source. “There are also burnt bodies.”

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/07/syria-accused-massacring-100

Here’s a link from the WSJ – clearly pointing out who beenfits:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303665904577450241196981150.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

a republican senator no less…

Thank you professor for posting a picture proving child soldiers are fighting with the mercenary terrorists in Syria

It is strange
Joshua is saying US is helping the opposition, suggesting that US is arming the FSA, while the FSA has denied receiving specific weapons from USA, and infact they have very simple weapons only, the most they have is simple guns and RPG, I was told that their weapons are inferior to Assad army weapons.they said SNC got the money from KSA but trickle got to the FSA.
Who should we believe?
The facts on ground suggest the FSA is not getting enough help from outside.
USA is talking,only talking,and it is for purpose of winning political campaign only.

#8 Ann

Children? I see some youth.

A Sh. Yaqoubi tweet from 1 hour ago:

يجب علينا جميعا في سورية أن نحمل السلاح ونقاتل للدفاع عن أعراضنا وأطفالنا ومساجدنا وبيوتنا، إلى أن تتوقف هذه المجازر ونتخلص من هذا النظام.

Google translation:

We must all in Syria that carry arms and fight to defend Oaradhana and our children and our mosques and our homes, to stop these massacres and get rid of this system.

http://twitter.com/#!/Shaykhabulhuda

I favor “staying out of Syria” if the anti-regime FSA has the same access to weapons as the regime. Russia and Iran are constantly transporting weapons to Bashar (War Criminal) al-Assad’s regime. The FSA need weapons to defend Syrians. Today, the regime has committed another massacre and is preventing the U.N. monitors to enter the site of this massacre.

Free Syria, Free Palestine!

Whether Abdulbaset Seida or George Sabra,wins the presidence of SNC,is of little importance, as long as there is vice president, who I believe should be Burhan Ghallion.

Do we believe that Ahmad Shafiq got the second position in the first Egyptian election,only by the coptic vote?I think the military junta has somthing to do with it, both Mursi and Shafiq did not get 50% of the vote, Hamadain Sabahi got the third position and close to Shafiq and Mursi, Mursi must offer Sabahi the prime minister job.
In a previous comment, that got deleted , I said I am looking forward for Egypt and Libya to get some kind of union,this is what the Arab spring is for,on the same line I hope the Syrian revolution wins so Syria and Iraq unite, I hope Iraq got rid of Malki and Syria and Iraq unite.

11. UZAIR8
to be at war with whom? with our army which consists of our children? for this purpose Yaakubi a suitable place in caves of Tibet with the Lama to make debate!

If the minorities wants assurances and guarantees from the revolution , they must join the revolution,.
If Russia wants to keep Syria as an ally, Russia must support the revolution.
Join the bandwagon or you will be excluded in the future.the revolution will win.

Who’ll send the boots to deal with the inevitable counterinsurgency after the ‘fall’ of the regime?

Joshua Landis said:

“They are overwhelmingly staffed by Baathists, Alawites, and other minorities, recruited for loyalty to President Bashar al-Assad — no revolutionary government will keep them on. Their dismissal will provide fodder for a counterinsurgency, promoting greater chaos across the country.”

I say:

Talking about post Bashar’s Syria JL mentionned the cost of the ‘reconstruction’ as the more pressing task. He discreetly avoids dwelling in the post Bashar’s security daunting task.
‘Counterinsurgency’ will undoubtedly develop if the regime falls and with it, all its military and security institutions.
How could the ‘revolutionary’ government made of expats technocrats and an army, the FSA, of allegedly 20,000 “soldiers” ensure the security of the country?

Iraq was controlled by hundred of thousands of trained and equipped US soldiers as well as billions of army equipments after the fall of Saddam, and despite that it has been and still is a daily carnage. The whole post Saddam’s Iraq was managed at 100% by the USA, logistics and boots.
Is it Qatar’s or Saudi’s or the Turkish army who will play the police, when the regime police would have gone?
A coalition of EU troops to protect every village and towns in Syria? When all the EU troops are withdrawing from Afghanistan, would they want to get into another costly quagmire?

Maybe the hopeful thinking is that by magic, the army loyal to the regime for 15 months will suddenly switch side. There is a strong doubt it will. Left without leadership, most soldiers will prefer to protect their families and clans, not their crumbling country.
As usual, the US short sighted and unrealistic plans stop at getting rid of the leader who dares defy the proud USA. Then what?
The only worry the USA had in Iraq was the oil and they were ready to spend billions on “securing” the oil , knowing that they will get their money back. Syria is not economically strategic for the USA, they wont empty their pocket to help.
They will count on the Arab countries to provide the billions of dollar necessary for the ‘pacifying mission’, but who’ll send the boots?

The minorities’ choice according to “educated” revolutionists:

If the minorities do not join the revolution by force, then so be it, they will suffer and pay dearly for that, together with all the supporters of the regime. If they are not dead or have not renounced to their allegeance to the “devil”, then they will be deported to the great desert of Saudi Arabia. There will be a inquisition to extirpate the bad sheeps, be aware of that.
So come on, minorities, what are you waiting for, listen to the voice of reason, switch side and support the glorious and bloody revolution that will bring justice and peace to this country.

The ME according to our local Moslem Brotherhood strategist

Iraq enters a new civil war to restore the power to Islamist Sunnis close to the Moslem brotherhood.
Syria gets a Moslem brotherhood government

Reunification of Egypt-Libya-Syria-Iraq under the banner of the Moslem Brotherhood, the IAR.

Join the new Zynga game.

Is Libya Cracking Up?
June 21, 2012
Nicolas Pelham

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/jun/21/libya-cracking/?page=1

More sober voices caution that the root-and-branch elimination of all remnants of the old civil service and security forces will precipitate the country’s collapse, as happened for some years in Iraq. A poet I met at the Amazigh rally in Tripoli told me, “Everyone blames the vestiges of the old order for their woes, as if they had no association with it. But the truth is we were all complicit. We had to survive.” A Salafi car dealer, who spent years in Qaddafi’s torture chamber of Bu Salim and has a job in the Interior Ministry, warns of repeating the mistakes of France’s postrevolutionary reign of terror. Quoting an eighteenth-century revolutionary who was subsequently guillotined, he warns, “Like Saturn, the revolution is devouring its children.” And then he adds, “A small country cannot afford such a loss of qualified staff.”

Hillary in a fish bowl:

http://www.jpost.com/HttpHandlers/ShowImage.ashx?ID=190486

Clinton tells Syria’s Assad to quit, leave country
By REUTERS
06/07/2012 15:24
After meeting with Arab, Western FMs in Istanbul, US secretary of state calls ongoing violence in Syria “unconscionable”; reaffirms dedication to Annan plan, potential action through UN Security Council.

ISTANBUL – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Syrian President Bashar Assad on Thursday to hand over power and leave his country, condemning a massacre near the town of Hama that opponents have blamed on his supporters as “unconscionable.”

….
http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=273070

Osama,

“Another Massacre – Alqubair

Unfortunately the massacres are looking increasingly like the work of the “FSA””

According to whom exactly?

Because from what I see and read the survivors are pointing the finger squarely on the government forces who were in the area bombarding them with tank and artillery barrages and then sent in the shabeeha to kill the innocent.

I trust the “eyewitness” accounts of the Western press any day and twice on Sunday over the sick and callous accounts the Syrian government keeps regurgitating. This government can’t even protect its citizens let alone investigate who killed them المجرم يحقق الجريمه.

Irritated,

“The minorities’ choice according to “educated” revolutionists…”

As opposed to your choice of “clean up and disinfection” of dissidents?

Bravo  Hillary.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has thrown cold water on a Russian proposal for a meeting on Syria that would include Iran, saying it was “a little hard to imagine inviting a country that is stage-managing Assad regime’s assault on its people”, Reuters reports.

Earlier today, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, accompanying Russian President Vladimir Putin on his visit to China, proposed a broad meeting of western and regional powers including Iran and Turkey to try to keep alive a peace plan brokered by international envoy Kofi Annan.

Lavrov cast the suggested meeting as a more constructive alternative to the “Friends of Syria” forum that groups mainly Western and Arab countries opposed to Assad’s rule.

Clinton, speaking in Azerbaijan before departing for a conference on Syria in Istanbul, said participants would discuss “the essential elements of a democratic transition strategy (for Syria)”. She said: 
It is time for all of us to turn our attention to an orderly transition of power in Syria that paves the way for a democratic, tolerant, pluralistic future. It’s clear that President Assad cannot and has failed to bring peace, stability or positive change to the Syrian people, and in fact has worked against all three.

More

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldmiddle-east-live/2012/jun/06/syria-egypt#block-28

Turkey unwilling to deliver on its verbal threats to Syria. Neither the US according to Joshua Landis, nor the EU according to Merkel. Who is left? Qatar and Saudi Arabia?

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-stance-on-the-civil-war-in-syria.aspx?pageID=449&nID=22562&NewsCatID=419

Turkey claimed that this civil war could be stopped through collective initiatives. In the beginning, some countries supported this idea and encouraged Turkey. However, they also reminded Turkey of the fact that they took all responsibility in Libya and said it was Turkey’s turn this time. It was quite a fantasy to expect an acceptance from Turkey to pay all the bills of these complex issues.
The conflict cannot be taken under control by the efforts of a single country. As the total cost of such an intervention apparently increases, Turkey seems to be less willing than it used to be.
…

#23 Tara

I hope you don’t congratulate her for the facial expression she took to throw some water from her fish bowl?

These verbal threats are super deja vu. She is coming with zero new ideas, just the same fish babbling.

#22 SOD

Yes, at least alive and free.

Civilians stopped the UN observers from entering Hama’s massacre site and warn them about ‘safety risks’ while the Syrians troops, who are responsible for the security of the UN observers, blocked them to get in. Who is hiding what?

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/monitors-blocked-by-syrian-troops-from-entering-hama-massacre-site.aspx?pageID=238&nID=22606&NewsCatID=352

The chief of U.N. observers in Syria says his monitors have been blocked by Syrian troops from the site of a new mass killing.

Gen. Robert Mood said in a statement today that some U.N. patrols were also stopped by civilians in the area and that observers have been informed by residents that their safety will be at risk if they entered Mazraat al-Qubair in central Hama province.
…

Alive and free!!!!
People in Houleh are alive and free.
People in Qubair are alive and free.
People in Karm alzeitune are alive and free.
People in Bab Amr are alive and free.
Over thirteen thousand syrian dead at least , they are alive and free.
Only alive and free are Iran murderous roaming in Syria

Zoo

We have just learned that the “looks” of foreign ministers of super powers do not matter much. It only matter to pride-less women making noises to attract “beloved leaders” or older sugar daddies..have we not?

Freedom of speech, free education in Turkey?
8 years jail for a banner demanding free education.
In Syria education is free, not in Turkey.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/students-sentenced-to-eight-years-for-unfurling-banner-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=22607&NewsCatID=341

Two students who staged a protest in 2010 to demand free education were sentenced to eight years and five months in prison today by a Turkish court.

Three students unfurled a banner that read “We want free education, we will get it,” during a meeting between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Roma citizens on March 14, 2010.

#29 Tara

Does your weakness for powerful people make you see them beautiful? HBJ, Hillary, Sarkozy..?

Another rendez-vous in Paris on 6th July for the so called “Friends of Syria”. The original announced location was Washington.
Surprising agenda: Help support Annan plan (I thought it failed a long time ago)

http://news.yahoo.com/un-syria-blocks-monitors-killings-122948940.html

In Paris, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said ministers from the so-called “Friends of Syria” countries — many European and Arab nations — would meet in the French capital on July 6 to help support the Annan plan. He said the meeting would mobilize “all states and organizations that want to support the Syrian people” amid the repression.

Zoo

My ” weakness” towards “certain” people absolutely makes me see them beautiful…I then see through many things.

—–

Is the regime rubbing off on you lately? I get pretty disappointed when you do not honor your word.

Irritated,

Alive and free? As I recall you used the terms back in February for the SF to go and finish of the dissidents in Baba Amr, many Syrians died and most of the survivors would not constitute as being free, since you know they lost all their worldly possessions and family members to the Assadi thugs “clean up and disinfection” operation of Baba Amr.

Post Mobarak: Women are loosing the relative power they had

By SARAH EL DEEB, Associated Press – 16 hours ago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g1bZ00IPp8Qp-OcRdsUXfs9DrP3w?docId=a654a59cfe1f443f8060ec92bad38101
…
The post-Mubarak political reality for women also has deteriorated. They have lost political ground in the 16 months since Mubarak’s ouster — even winning fewer seats in parliament in the first free and fair elections in decades. The 508-member parliament has only eight female legislators, a sharp drop from the more than 60 in the 2010 parliament thanks to a Mubarak-era quota. Women’s rights groups also fear the growing power of Islamist groups will lead to new restrictions.

Companies that supply weapon to Syria can be prosecuted for crime against humanity.  

Human Rights Watch has urged governments and companies around the world not to sign new contracts with arms suppliers such as the Russian firm Rosoboronexport that are providing weapons to the Syrian government.

In light of compelling evidence that the Syrian army is responsible for crimes against humanity against Syria’s people, the Russian state-owned arms trading company’s continued dealings with Syria place the company at risk of complicity in these crimes.

Under international law, providing weapons to Syria while crimes against humanity are being committed may translate into assisting in the commission of those crimes. Any arms supplier could bear potential criminal liability as an accessory to those crimes and could face prosecution.

More
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/jun/06/syria-egypt#block-7

Phase 3: http://www.rt.com/news/assad-monitors-trying-reach-292/
If the official media first reported 9 victims, it probably means that no one reports to Damascus what is actually going on.
As Fisk was announcing a year ago, now the new mapping will start directly from Lattakie and through the border.

http://rt.com/on-air/un-syria-annan-report-live/

UN officials talk Syria at General Assembly: live

Wow if RT is reporting this I would love to see the regimists try to explain this away:

“Men, women, even children [in Houla] were executed at a point blank range; some had their throats slit or their skulls crushed. Any regime or leader that tolerates such a killing of innocents has lost its fundamental humanity,” said Ki-Moon.
UN monitors were also shot at with small arms while going to Mazraat al-Qubeir in Hama region, trying to assess the overnight slaughter, where over 75 people were killed. The monitors were initially denied entry at all, said the UN Secretary General.
“For many months it has been evident that President Assad and his government have lost all legitimacy,” he stressed.

Not only is the regime guilty of killing Syrians, they are guilty of trying to cover up the heinous crimes so far so that they even shot at the UN Observers that were trying to go and verify the deaths. And the parrots keep defending the indefensible, very sad and despicable…

http://www.rt.com/news/assad-monitors-trying-reach-292/

Who shot at the UN monitors?

UN monitors shot at on way to Syria massacre site
By AFP | AFP – 1 hour 36 minutes ago

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/un-unable-reach-syria-massacre-114337095.html

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and delegtates hold a moment of silence before he addresses the General Assembly on the situation in Syria, in New York. UN monitors trying to get to the scene of a new massacre in Syria were shot at, Ban said, calling the latest atrocity “shocking and sickening.”

UN monitors trying to get to the scene of a new massacre in Syria were shot at, UN leader Ban Ki-moon said Thursday, calling the latest atrocity “shocking and sickening.”
more…

Ban Ki Moon declaration about the ‘illegitimacy of the Syrian government’
“President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime has lost its legitimacy, said Ki-moon.”
http://www.rt.com/news/assad-monitors-trying-reach-292/
If Ban Ki Moon actually had said that the Syrian government has “lost all legitimacy”, then why is the UNSC calling again today for a continuation of the collaboration of an ‘illegitimate’ government with the UN observers under the Annan peace plan.

I think Ban Ki Moon will soon deny he said that, but that will not make the headline.

We have heard that repeatedly by Obama, Clinton, Sarkozy, Hollande etc.. months ago with no avail

Does that mean Syrians are 31% poorer?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/jun/06/syria-egypt#block-22

2.01pm: Syria: The regime’s Central Bureau of Statistics reports (in Arabic) that the annual rate of inflation was 31.45% in April.

more…

“The United States can play a role with aid, arms, and intelligence — but it cannot and should not try to decide Syria’s future and determine the victors of this conflict.”

Isn’t it the same?

http://youtu.be/dySTqlePQ4Q

Mezraat al-Qubeir (Hama)
Heart breaking.

Erdogan’s arrogance more apparent by the day

Greece rebukes Erdoğan for ‘begging’ remark

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/greece-rebukes-erdogan-for-begging-remark.aspx?pageID=238&nID=22612&NewsCatID=338

Turkey should respect Greece’s troubles rather than “make noise,” a spokesman for the country’s government said today, firing back at Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who earlier said the Aegean nation was “begging” for bailouts.
…

Ban qui moon and Kofi Annan, both clearly indict Assad forthe crimes in Houleh and Qubair.
Ja3fari said he will accept investigation committee as long as they are from neutral country, this to him ,they must be proSyrian regime, like Dabi from Sudan, he is not honest.

The USA can and should do more, US must not prevent arms from getting to the Syrian people to fight this murderous tyrant, Assad who is supported by the evil Iran and through HA, these are full of hate to the Syrian people, Iran has always been Syrian enemy, since thousands of years

to you and your supporting drummers won’t be permitted to take a policy guideline and will of the country! I assure you! and concerning Bann Ki-moon and Clinton that not to you to define governors legitimacy of people of the world! respect people and don’t interfere.

Annan said what clearly meant that his plan has failed

Stepping up the rhetorics but taking some precautions:
“In such circumstances, it’s more important than ever that we report what we don’t know, not merely what we do. In Houla, and now in Qubair, the finger has been pointed at the shabiha, pro-government militia. But tragic death toll aside, the facts are few: it’s not clear who ordered the killings – or why.

Given the difficulties of reporting inside Syria, video filed by the opposition on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube may provide some insight into the story on the ground. But stories are never black and white – often shades of grey. Those opposed to President Assad have an agenda. One senior Western official went as far as to describe their YouTube communications strategy as “brilliant”. But he also likened it to so-called “psy-ops”, brainwashing techniques used by the US and other military to convince people of things that may not necessarily be true.

A healthy scepticism is one of the essential qualities of any journalist – never more so than in reporting conflict. The stakes are high – all may not always be as it seems.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2012/06/reporting_conflict_in_syria.html

Who love or hates the Syrian people according to our local historian

Iran has been the enemy of Syria for thousands of year and has always hated Syrian people, but they did not steal any of their lands and have not massacred them in recent history. Yet, they still hate Syrian people. It’s in their DNA.

The Hezbollah hates Syrian people and Syrian people hate Hezbollah maybe because HA is fighting Israel and the Syrian people love Israel.

The USA and the EU love Syrian people, this is why they apply sanctions that make them suffer enough so they take arms and fight each others.

Turkey has always love Syrians: In recent history, they massacred yrians and even they stole part of their land but now they love them.

Gulf Arab countries love Syrian people and want that Syrians gets a democracy like theirs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18352281
The regime shot at Un team trying to get to Qubair

http://Www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/neue-erkenntnisse-zu-getoeteten-von-hula-abermals-massaker-in-syrien-11776496.html

Local opposition activists declared after examining the massacre in Hula and conducting interviews with witnesses, that only almost alawite and shia families were killed, and that the shabiha was not involved.

Now that is a surprising development.

Yallah…defend the indefensible.  Wallahi I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I was you.

Syrian regime troops and militiamen ‘seen walking towards massacre site’
Witnesses say they saw Shabiha militiamen, who were known to them personally, approaching village before killing began
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 7 June 2012 11.28 EDT

Witnesses to an apparent massacre that killed close to 100 civilians in a small Syrian village have described watching pro-regime militiamen whom they personally knew pass by with loyalist troops minutes before the killing started.

The claims about the massacre, the second in less than three weeks allegedly carried out by regime loyalists known as the Shabiha, have prompted the US and Britain to once more demand that the president, Bashar al-Assad, step down as leader of Syria, which now appears to be on an inexorable slide towards full-blown war.

….monitors had been turned back at regime checkpoints and in some cases been told by civilians that they would not be safe if they made it to the site of the attack.

More
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/07/syria-regime-troops-militiamen-massacre

#52 Karabennemsi

We know that the government will be accused again to have ‘sacrificed’ their supporters to give the impressions that the massacre was perpetrated by the opposition.
The absurd part is that the timing of that ‘massacre’ obviously serves the cause of the opposition more than it serves the regime: A UNSC meeting where Chapter VII called by the SNC is mentioned.

I guess the opposition should hurry up to get the foreign boots in Syria before the truth about these massacres are revealed..

How the media information is distorted par SC propagandists

Reported by the BBC

“Syria UN team ‘shot at’ near Qubair ‘massacre site’

Ban Ki-moon: “UN monitors were shot at”

The head of the UN has said monitors trying to reach the Syrian village of Qubair, where 78 people are said to have been killed, were fired upon.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18352281

Translated by our hurried local propagandist

“The regime shot at Un team trying to get to Qubair”

Leena@lmbasha
AJA: Syrian activists say gov’t planes are dropping white substances in #Hama, #Idlib, and #Daraa that cause asphyxia/suffocation. #Syria

Leena @lmbasha
Al-Arabiya: Syrian Army is dropping unknown substances in Daraa, Deir Ezzor, and Hama Suburbs. #Syria

Leena@lmbasha
LCC reports that helicopters are dropping unknown objects in #Hama. Believed to be phosphorus bombs

Russia vows to block UN mandate for Syria intervention

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Thursday vowed there would be no UN Security Council mandate for outside intervention in Syria, indicating Moscow would use its veto to block any military action.
“There will not be a Security Council mandate for outside intervention, I guarantee you that,” Lavrov told reporters on the sidelines of a trip to Kazakhstan by President Vladimir Putin.
He said that allowing any outside military intervention against Syria to go ahead would be playing into the hands of the anti-regime armed opposition and discouraging any hope of a negotiated solution.
“There are sides in the Syria conflict, especially the so called [opposition] Syrian National Council, who are saying no negotiations with the regime, only continued armed battle until the Security Council gives a mandate for outside intervention,” said Lavrov.
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=406670

China against ‘outside armed intervention’ in Syria

BEIJING — China said Thursday it was firmly opposed to “outside armed intervention” in Syria or “any attempt to forcibly promote regime change” amid mounting violence in the country, Xinhua reported.

China’s UN envoy Li Baodong told the UN General Assembly that China was committed to playing a “positive and constructive role in finding an early peaceful and proper solution to the Syrian question,” but made no mention of international envoy Kofi Annan’s six-point plan.

“We resolutely oppose the solutions to the Syrian crisis through outside armed intervention or any attempt to forcibly promote regime change” despite the crackdown on dissent by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Li said, according to the state news agency.

“China has taken a fair, just and responsible position on the issue of Syria,” he added.

“We steadfastly safeguard the basic norms governing international relations and strive to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East region. And with our specific actions, we have called for peace and promoted negotiations.”

The report came as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov vowed there would be no UN Security Council mandate for outside intervention in Syria, indicating Moscow would use its veto to block any military action.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gFxJWb6mthLWAYDmjZrogmQSlCDA?docId=CNG.2617a5813d3cd45e9f090ff4722280ef.5a1

bronco, you know the un is hopelessly deadlocked.

#57 Omen

Here we come finally! Just on time during the UNSC meeting to increase the pressure: two massacres and CHEMICAL WEAPONS. The magic word.
Any suggestion for more exciting and bloody events to propup Chapter 7?

Perfect timing for whoever is leena imbasha!

#60 Omen

I know the UN deadlocked. Not too good for the opposition. The opposition is even more isolated than the regime despite the empty promises and the taps on their back they are receiving.

When is it going to concede that there is simply no other solution than to swallow their pride and accept the dialog with the regime Kofi Annan plan is trying desperately to convince them to accept and that they keep refusing..
By doing so, they will save many innocent lives for further violence.

bashar could eat live babies and the un wouldn’t do s*** about it. just like it didn’t do anything when saddam gassed the kurds.

bronco, if you know the un is deadlocked, then your argument saying it serves the opposition to stage atrocities in hopes of influencing un – goes up in smoke. this is a groundless charge.

*** Feekum Please refrain from personalizing your posts against other commentators. And please choose a different handle than the one you chose.

SC Moderator

How great yet another shilling massacre and bloody apologists keep throwing doubt in the air, if some prorevolution folks are hurried, and distorted by the bloody apologist standards what should the prorevolution crowd be calling these bloody pro dictator lovers that are hurrying to cover up the nasty disgusting stench of this bloody horrible massacre.

You apologists are criminals that are explicit in helping and furthering the cause of killing Syrians, you should be persecuted in a crimanal court for your treasourous betrayal of your brothers and sisters for the benefit of your hypocrisy.

Bloody disgusting mates.

Inflantion at 31% means economic devastation for the majority of Syrians.
Juan Cole below encapsulates the current events precisely.

Joshua Landis posting about not intervening in Syria is a distraction from what is happening on the ground.

No one seems to realize that the one persistent and perservering and enduring message in these events is the continued revolution.

Neither the West nor Russia nor Iran nor HA nor Israel nor the AL imagined that the Syrian people would endure the enormous repressive security services onslaught for more than a week.

Continued resistance will end this regime. Bottom line.

Is it so impossible or unaffordable for the CIA to eliminate the Assad ring and Assad itself? I thought CIA was the superpower inteligence agency but I see they have no power at all. Then the Pentago, aren´t they able about sending some misiles on Assad crisis comitte?

They really think that a popular movement will end a killing machine like Assad´s, Iran´s and Rusia´s?

Probably Iran is needed by US and Israel to create their external policy on people demands account.

Obama, wake up. You are killing the syrian people.

Many syrians began this revolution expecting same foreign actions for same dictatorship atrocities. They began in the trust that the world would help them like in Lybia, knowing that once revolution begun there would be no turning back. You have left them alone. You are the main responsible in moral and political terms.

Russia intensifies internal campaign on protestors and demonstrators. Law on penalties amended to eliminate protests against Putain Mafia.

Where is the US looking at? At elections? In Yugoslavija confilct they came to put order when Europe failed to do anything. But now in Syria even de US is failing in front of the whole world. They have the capacities to exterminate the president and its ring but they do not want to do it. Why? Have they been receiving orders from Israel this time too?

70. Antoine

Unfortunately there will be a massive Jawla in a national level against the alawis in the future. And I feel very sorry because most of them have nothing to do with the massacres. But as it has been said, inaction (seen in the alawite areas) in times of disaster is as bad as defending the bastard criminal and its mafia.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Al Hendi’s rebuttal to Landis

Crimes can not be hidden behind sectarianism
___________________________________________________________________

http://hussainabdulhussain.blogspot.in/2011/03/al-hendis-rebuttal-to-landis.html

By Ahed Al Hendi

Since my arrival to the United States, escaping the tyranny of Bashar Assad in my country, Syria, no one beats Joshua Landis in making me feel sick. I’ve tried sometimes to reason with him. But he believes, since he knows a bit of Arabic, that he knows it all about Syria, its people and its autocratic government.

Mr. Landis, an American academic who has excellent ties with the Syrian Embassy in Washington DC, came up with an article on his Syria Comment blog claiming that the protests in Daraa, and the subsequent regime crimes, are merely clashes driven by sectarian tensions. Landis also claimed that the Daraa population is impoverished, most of it consisting of radicalized Islamists.

I am not sure about the source of Landis’s information on the Islamist dominance in Daraa. What I know, as a Christian Syrian who has lot of relatives in Daraa where they have been living with their Muslims neighbors for centuries, Daraa is the town of tolerance and coexistence.

Muslims and Christians in Daraa share great ties and common tradition. As residents of the southern Horan area, the people of Daraa endorse Horani customs and were known for their close nit relations, perhaps the closes in the whole of Syria.
Landis tries to make a point on sectarianism judging from a video on the internet showing people shouting slogans against Iran and Hezbollah, and demanding “a Muslim who fears Allah” (and not believe in Allah as he claimed).

Mr. Landis tries to prove that the people of Daraa were targeting the Alawite community, to which Bashar Assad and his ruling crew belong, by offending the Shiites (Hezbollah and Iran), who are supposed to be the patron wing of Islam under which the Alawites fall (another false claim since the Alawites, also known as the Nuseiris, are an esoteric sect of Islam that believes in reincarnation among other secret teachings).

[…]
__________________________________________________________________

SC Moderator,

I am not suggesting applying collective punishments to a group of people, not at all.

I am simply elucidating on an ancient custom in Syria and Jordan ( also found in Bekaa valley in Lebanon).

There has been talk in local circles in Syria of reviving this custom.

I was referring to that.

Now, if you may allow me to elucidate on this custom –

There is a Syrian rural custom known as al Jalwa, according to this, the entire family and/or clan/tribe of an offender / aggressor must be expelled from the district in which the victims live, and be relocated to another district.

There has been talk in rural circles in Homs and Hama of using Jalwa against villages that send shabbiha to cause massacres.

The problem is, those villages that are sending shabbiha, do not recognize al Jalwa and consider it a “Bedouin” custom.
_________________________________________________________________

Conclusion : I am trying to inform people of a certain occurrence and a certain custom in Syria, I do not suggest applying it. So I do not think this particular comment has broken SC rules.

No it is not permitted to name clans that you think need to face persecution for their alleged involvement.

SC Moderator

SC Moderator,

I want to clarify whether it is permitted on SC to name clans, tribes, sects, etc.

Because on a previous occassion, when I had named a handful of Tribes, you had edited out the portion mentioning the names of those Tribes.

*** Feekum I am only defending the rules of the site, not one specific group or another. I don’t particularly like to censor anyone, I would much rather people self moderate.

SC Moderator

Bloody hell Mod how can you come to the defence of these criminals?

You allow their filth to distract from the truth, while censoring what we have to say,
what gives r u a piece of dust on Bashar’s shoes like the rest of these blokes?

73. ANTOINE said:

You need to walk in thin ice with Mod, while pro dictators have a thick ice surface to play some ice hockey on.

Typical Minhabakji site *YOUR COMMENT IS AWAITING MODERATION.* is all they can offer people seeking the truth.

I thought yanks hold freedom of speech dear to their hearts!

These are the real Syrians, not some Hezbollah terrorists illegally tresspassing through Syrian territory –

While flicking channels a little after 10pm UK time (a couple of hours ago), I stopped at RT and saw Jacob Hornberger, from the Future of Freedom Foundation being interviewed.

He was asked about the massacres and he preceded to blame the regime until the presenter with a surprised look on his face interrupted, making sure he heard right. He asked him whether he believed the regime was responsible and what benefit in killing women and children?

The guest replied ‘Longevity’. The regime (incl. father Assad) were brutal and want to cow the people. To show them they are willing to go to any length to survive in power.

I hope RT put this video up. I’d be surprised if they did.

Beware of drinking the democratization Kool-Aid.

how am i supposed to read this? that syrians are better off under dictatorship? surely, that cannot be what’s being suggested here.

Antoine I have to read every comment, and as such need to interpret whether they fall within the guidelines of the site or not. I am not infallible, and I am sure I have made my share of mistakes non of it was ever done maliciously or with intent to censor a certain group or another. I believe I have been fair in my judgement if you disagree you can bring it to the attention of the sites Administrators or email me so that we can discuss it privately.

SC Moderator

Moderator,

I think you should apply SC Rules literally, and not “interpret” comments mde by commentators and try to establish whether they break the rules based on the interpretation.

I mean to say just take the comments at face value and please do not interpret “implied meanings” in a Comment, may I politely ask what is your mandate from Dr. Landis ?

I mean is the mandate large enough ?

Please don’t be offedned by this question,

because Moderation of a Blog involves human faculty and every human faculty is prone to error when exercised.

Ideally, to ensure balanced Moderation, it should be done by software rather than by humans.

Moderator,

Again please do not take offense at my blunt statements directed at you, I’m sure we are allowed to have a reasonable interaction with the Moderator in the comments’ section

65. OBSERVER said:
Continued resistance will end this regime. Bottom line.

hear, hear. and not even fake western engineered yemini model transition will work to preserve and harbor the regime. the ones with blood on their hands will get rooted out eventually. murderers/torturers cannot be allowed to remain in power.

5:42, sandro – the whitehouse wants a shia regime in power who would be able to do business with iraq and iran in the creation of proposed gas/oil pipelines.

a sunni regime would make it harder to foster ties with iraq and iran.

wouldn’t any pipeline going through lebanon require hezbollah’s blessing? the u.s. needs a regime who is friendly with hezbollah.

u.s. policy is driven by corporate interests.

http://openoil.net/2012/03/28/syrias-transit-future

I am afraid some of you will soon need anti-depressants.  Please practice Batta’s departure from now.  Tears are not allowed.  Seeing someone crying saddens me too much..  Asma, dear…welcome to Iran.  You gonna have to live with…your mother-in-law in one big family house.  Ouch!  Now that hurts.  Who is going to be the woman of the house?    

Ousting Syria’s Assad: Can UN get Russia on board?
UN envoy on Syria Kofi Annan unveiled a new plan to get all five permanent Security Council members to back the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. Russia has begun to hint that it may consider it.
By Howard LaFranchi | Christian Science Monitor

…
On Thursday the United Nations envoy on Syria and former Secretary General Kofi Annan unveiled to the UN Security Council a proposal to overcome the stumbling block of Russian support for President Assad by putting all five permanent Security Council members at the head of a plan to replace an exiled Assad with newly elected leaders and a new Syrian constitution.
The United States, the United Kingdom, and France, which have favored Assad’s ouster, and Russia and China, which have not, would finally be on the same page on Syria at the head of a “contact group” of these world powers and regional countries.

But Russia’s willingness to go along with Mr. Annan’s plan, analysts say, depends on whether or not it believes that its interests in Syria, its last toehold in the Middle East, can be preserved despite Assad’s departure.

Annan discussed his plan at a closed-door session of the Security Council just hours after he told the UN General Assembly that the alternative to the world community very shortly coming together on a peace plan was “all-out civil war.”

“If things do not change, the future is likely to be one of brutal repression, massacres, sectarian violence, and even all-out civil war,” Annan told the General Assembly. “All Syrians will lose.”
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also told the General Assembly that UN monitors in Syria were shot at as they tried to make their way to a village reported to have suffered the most recent in a string of massacres Wednesday. Mr. Ban said none of the monitors was injured, but he said they were also unable to reach their destination, a rural village called Mazraat al-Qubair.

Mr. Bogdanov also painted a picture of intense diplomatic dialogue on Syria, noting that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is in “constant contact not only with … Annan but also with Hillary Clinton.”
The US secretary of State, who met in Istanbul Thursday with a group of countries not including Russia and China to discuss Syria, has dispatched her Syria envoy, Fred Hof, to Moscow to meet with foreign ministry officials Friday.
Annan’s idea of a high-level “contact group” on Syria aims to halt the drift towards entrenched opposing camps of international powers, and to breathe new life into Annan’s moribund six-point peace plan. But one potential sticking point to the new “contact group” idea is that the former UN chief foresees including all countries with influence in Syria in the group – and that means Iran.

More
http://news.yahoo.com/ousting-syrias-assad-un-russia-board-224343453.html

Let’s get over the UN.

It’s just offered Robert Mugabe, murderous dictator, ethnic cleanser and bankrupter, the role of UN Tourism Ambassador.

And you have to wonder why Asia didn’t offer a better candidate for Secretary General than the feeble and ridiculous Ban Ki-moon. He’s an insult to the international community.

Syria lover

Ah…I like Ban. What did he do?

Tara, it’s what he DOESN’T and CAN’T do. He’d stand out as being low calibre and charisma-free even in a routine diplomatic posting (which was his former lightweight career).

Syrialover

Ok. But we should only judge him by comparison. Has the UN ever gotten a capable chief? I think it is rather a frustrating position. A position that has no real power in the face of the UNSC and its veto wielding entities.

re obama

and let’s not forget petty electoral considerations. he’s seen as supporting the overthrow of mubarak and signing off on the libya mission. if he were to help syria now, republicans would go into overdrive, smearing him as defending “islamists.” they’ll start screaming he’s a “secret muslim” again.

Time to shine a torchlight more strongly on Bashar Jaafari, currently disgracing Syria at the UN.

What’s with making his statement in Arabic and leaving it to an interpreter to deliver? Is this normal, or has he now abandoned English when delivering his “messages” to the world?

EVEN MORE INTRIGUING

What’s a small-population low-income country doing housing a second-tier career civil servant (or anyone, for that matter) in this kind of grandiose real estate?

Mark it for instant confiscation and auction when the regime falls!

Quote:

“Ms Jaafari was speaking at her father’s diplomatic residence in New York’s Upper East Side yesterday. The townhouse where the Jaafari family lives was owned by former US president Richard Nixon, who sold the home to the Syrian ambassador in 1981 for $US2.6 million.

The four-storey home has a garden, a roof terrace and a large dining room which today is adorned with framed Syrian art and posters. Built in 1899, it is now estimated to be worth $US5.5 million.”

http://www.smh.com.au/world/assad-aide-defends-link-with-tv-host-20120607-1zyzk.html#ixzz1x9ogrdte

Tara, just glance over at Kofi Annan and you see something better.

But I guess you’re right in that Ban Ki-moon is made of the same weak, stale mixture as Boutros Boutros-Ghali from Egypt and Perez de Cueller of Peru. None of them was even a competent public speaker, let alone a leader!

Unfortunately, it matters a lot because so much money and energy and attention is invested in the UN.

Asia would have done much better to even offer up an Indonesian General or Thai politician – this guy wouldn’t succceed in real life anywhere in Asia.

Syrialover@89

Thanks for the link.

With all the clout Bashar Jaafari has, Shahrazad did not get neither an admittance to Colombia nor a position at the CNN. She must be then really stupid.

Sorry for being impolite. Could not resist…

“Ideally, to ensure balanced Moderation, it should be done by software rather than by humans.”

No, software is dumb to nuance. Stick with human beings.

is this the reason behind the white cloud spotted earlier, feared to be white phosphorus?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/07/middle-east-ufo-video_n_1579251.html?ref=tw

(video)

contrails from russian missile tests?

Ban indeed said that the Syrian regime has lost legiitimacy!  

Assad regime has lost humanity – UN
Secretary general says Syrian people ‘are bleeding’ and that crimes against humanity may have been committed

The Guardian, Thursday 7 June 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/07/assad-regime-un

The Syrian regime has “lost its fundamental humanity” and no longer has any legitimacy, Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, said on Thursday as he described a massacre of around 90 villagers as “shocking and sickening” and demanded that the killers be brought to account.

Using some of the strongest language yet to condemn the government of Bashar al-Assad, Ban said UN monitors were shot at trying to get to the scene of the massacre on Wednesday.
…
Ban said the village had apparently been surrounded by Syrian forces. “The bodies of innocent civilians lying where they were, shot. Some were allegedly burned or slashed with knives,” he said, adding that “each day seems to bring new additions to the grim catalogue of atrocities”. Ban said it has been evident for many months that President Assad and his government “have lost all legitimacy”, and added that “any regime or leader that tolerates such killing of innocents has lost its fundamental humanity”.

Soon after Ban’s address to the UN general assembly, Kofi Annan, the envoy he dispatched to Syria, conceded that his battered peace plan was faltering.
…
Abu Hisham al-Hamawi, a resident of the Mazraat area, whose home is on the outskirts of al-Qubair, said he saw Shabiha militiamen from nearby Alawite villages pass by his home on the way to al-Qubair minutes before the attack.

“I knew some of them from school,” he said. “I know their names, I know their villages. I know exactly who they are. They are Shabiha, no doubt. They passed by here with the regime army.”
….
A third witness, Laith al-Hamawi, said he heard and saw the attack from 800 metres away. “They came from the Alawite villages, like Asseela, al-Bayat, al-Sakina,” he said. “I saw the tanks enter the village and I knew some of the Shabiha personally.”

More

“91. Tarasaid:
syrialover@89.Thanks for the link.With all the clout Bashar Jaafari has, Shahrazad did not get neither an admittance to Colombia nor a position at the CNN. She must be then really stupid.”

I don’t know who is stupid. The political establishment in America is obviously anti Assad, anti Syria, and has been for decades, and anti all who support him. Why would you think Bashar Jaafari or Shahazad have any clout in America?

Tara #91

Apparently news sources are now saying she got admission to Columbia, but the battle is now on as to whether that was due to Barbara Walters intervention.

But she won’t have the Syrian stolen public cash for fees soon, unless a sugar daddy steps in.

And who is going to pay for security to protect her as she wiggles her ass around campus and into lectures?

I used to argue with Akpar Palace, he was against Obama, and I defended Obama, even that I never voted for him.
Today I say Obama is so weak and he does not fit to be a leader of the USA, some of my family voted for Obama, none of them intends to do that this november.and I am glad that the poll shows that Obama is losing.
Is Jad is the moderator now?

JNA

Tara stupid? It is all a matter of personal judgement.

I would call having someone as Barbara Walters as a family friend for 6 years (as Shahrazad admitted), a little clout. You just do not befriend Barb eating at your friendly subway. Do you?

Now, Who is stupid?
—

On another topic, I thought you were waiting the investigation of the UN to denounce Batta? I have not heard you denouncing him. Did you do it secretly?

#63 Omena

That’s exactly the problem. The opposition is made to think that by reporting massacre after massacre, chemical weapon etc.. it will make the UN move like they did in Yougoslavia.
Unfortunately it does look like these display of the ‘regime’ violence is having much effect on the UN deadlock.
When the countries who are encouraging the opposition to fight and kill and accuse will finally accept that nothing will come out from the UN or the US o the EU and that they are the ones who will be asked to send their soldiers to pacify the country, then the opposition will move in the right direction.
Turkey is already backpedaling, as they are pressed by the EU and the US to send troops in Syria…
Soon France will be asked the same and will backtrack, hiding behind the UN.
Qatar and KSA keep pouring oil on the fire but if asked to send their soldiers.. they will backtrack too.
The opposition is isolated and in a dead end. I hope they will realize that soon.

#95 Jna

“Why would you think Bashar Jaafari or Shahazad have any clout in America?”

Because both are brilliantly intelligent and the US this quality erases all defects.

96. SYRIALOVER said:
Tara #91 Apparently news sources are now saying she got admission to Columbia, but the battle is now on as to whether that was due to Barbara Walters intervention.

did you see this?

Walters had also contacted Wald’s father, Richard, the former chief of ABC News and lecturer at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

The elder Wald, who gives talks on ethics in journalism, replied he would have the admissions “give her special attention,” according to the e-mails.

the man teaches ethics! i bet he gave her special attention.

Some are having serious problems with the moderator.
Curiously they are all from the anti-regime crowd.
Insults, accusations, vulgarity, hatred, sectarianism. Is that all what they can offer?

That grandeur Jaafari and his family have been greedily and illicitly wallowing in in NY – I look forward to seeing the $ for that converted to rehabilitation and compensation funds for victims of their criminal sponsors and co-conspirators, the Assads.

And you’d probably quadruple the amount if you catch his secret bank accounts.

I assume some international agencies are already discreetly making an inventory.

Bronco

Why don’t you print out some colorful pictures of the beautiful and brilliant Miss Jaafari and her father and hang it in your bedroom and living room so you can have continuos exposure to these brilliant and beautiful people. That would be very good for you… You deserve a treat…

You also may want to add a photo of Batta and Asma too if you have not already done that.

This relentless campaign to denigrate Miss Al Jaafari is a good reflection of the level that the expat supporters of the opposition have reached.
Their preference to gossip about people, and talk shoes, lipstick give a good insight of the expats main preoccupations, while Syrians in their country are assaulted with sanctions that makes their daily life miserable.

#104 Tara

And you please don’t forget the brilliant couple “Ghaliun and Basma” and above all your adored HBJ.

A very comprehensive analysis of the political struggle in Syria

Syria’s Political Struggle: Spring 2012
Jun 7, 2012 – Elizabeth O’Bagy
Download the PDF
http://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/syrias-political-struggle-spring-2012
With terrorist attacks on the rise following a mid-May spate of bombings in Damascus and the May 25 massacre in Houla, the growing militarization of the Syrian uprising has dominated international discussions of the conflict. Not only is the situation beginning to resemble a sectarian struggle, but it seems that Syria is well on its way to a protracted civil war. As the violence worsens, less attention has been paid to political dynamics.

Yet the political situation in Syria has evolved, with several important developments in the last two months. President Bashar al-Assad’s regime held parliamentary elections in early May in an effort to create a narrative of democratic transition and to offer fence-sitters the belief that peaceful reform was possible. The elections, though spurious, were part of a propaganda campaign that has so far allowed Assad’s government to maintain a façade of normalcy in the face of the uprising.

….
With the collapse of the SNC more likely than ever and the
emergence of other groups looking to replace it, the next
few months will pose an important moment for the protest
movement. Whether the grassroots opposition maintains the
objectives of the peaceful demonstrations that started over a
year ago and takes back the uprising from more radical groups
eager to hijack it will make or break the ultimate success of
the revolution. It is crucial that the opposition continues to
develop political structures that are responsive to the people
and create the foundations for a viable governing system if
and when Assad falls.

The US is staying out. Who’s in?

CNN Poll: Majority of Americans oppose US intervention in Syria

Posted by
CNN Political Unit

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/07/cnn-poll-majority-of-americans-oppose-us-intervention-in-syria/

Washington (CNN) – Most Americans say that the U.S. does not have a responsibility to do something about the fighting in Syria, although the number calling for U.S. action in that country has grown from 25% in February to 33% now, according to a new national poll.

According to a CNN/ORC International poll released Wednesday, six in ten continue to oppose any American intervention to halt the fighting between government and anti-government forces in Syria.

Those behind Hama ‘barbaric violence’ must be severely punished – Moscow
Published: 07 June, 2012, 15:28

http://www.rt.com/news/russia-new-massacre-syria-266/

Russia condemns “barbaric” acts of violence near the city of Hama. Individuals who masterminded and committed these crimes must be tracked down and severely punished, states Russian Foreign Ministry.

­There are certain forces which do not hesitate in organizing the most cruel and villainous provocations to disrupt Kofi Annan’s peace plan for the country, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aleksandr Lukashevich.

In response to the Hama tragedy, consolidation of international effort is vital to back up the Annan plan, he stressed.

All external parties involved in solving the Syrian conflict must use their influence to put pressure on armed opposition groups, Lukashevich said.

“We only have one Annan plan that was approved by the UN and the entire international community. There is no second plan,” Lukashevich concluded.

Hillary coming with her own new plan outside Annan’s plan ?

http://www.rt.com/news/assad-power-transition-clinton-241/

“Hillary Clinton has put forward a new plan to remove Syrian president Bashar al-Assad from power. Echoing recent US threats to take action on Syria independently of the UN, the plan’s announcement coincides with yet another tragic massacre.

“then members of this council and members of the international community are left with the option only of having to consider whether they’re prepared to take actions outside of the Annan plan and the authority of this council.”

I thought you were waiting the investigation of the UN to denounce Batta? I have not heard you denouncing him. Did you do it secretly?

Tara, I must have missed it. What is the finding of the UN monitors investigation of Houla? Whatever, I will support it.

Bronco@106

I think you missed yet another class. Toe Adoration Syndrome is exclusively Mnhebaks’s. The pathophysiology of that illness stems from genetic predisposition coupled with environmental factors. It is manifested as intense and pervasive affection toward a beloved leader, his family members, mistresses, friends, etc…inflicted people can no longer differentiate between ugliness and beauty; brilliance and stupidity; good and evil, etc. Toes as of all body parts acquire specials symbolic meaning to mnhebaks as evident by the multiple FB pages dedicated to Bashar’s toes. The prognosis is dismal. No treatment has yet been discovered.

To the contrary, the Mamnhebaks, like the name implies, are pragmatic people. No affection or adoration involved. They support public figures as long as they meet their demands and they are quick to replace those public figures if they fall short.

96. Syrialover said:…….

Sorry, sexist comment! Get educated.

After all this months, the USA continues to kill the Syrians under the name of democracy.
it is a shame that the promised American democracy, never materialized in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, the only clear that 100k of people are being killed with the work of USA.
it is not so clear how USA killing all the radicals with drones but supporting the radicals in Syria who are slaughtering kids, women, elderly, the history will reveal that all this killing was the work of the USA and was paid by the GCC finance, i am not sure how the Syrians will ever forgive this crimes against its people.
It is weird how the west is holding the regime responsible for this barbaric masacres but cover the eye on the people who are committing it.
The world know that this barbaric act is not the work of the regime but the western media want everyone to believe otherwise.
the steaks have never been higher to prove that the west has been lying and is the cause of problem in Syria.
Regime has is own crimes but not this ones being done since the revolution with the hands of the foreigners and mercenaries.
Syria is not going to survive as a country as long as the west and Israel are trying to destroy it for their own agenda, Russia has stood fast against the aggression of the west in Syria.

#112 Tara

I agree with that

“No affection or adoration involved” with the anti-regime crowd

Just read their posts, they are full of rage, vulgarity, arrogance, hate and short-sightedness.
No affection and adoration indeed, but blinding violence and irrationality.

JNA# 113

The findings were summed up by the UN chief today. See Tara @94.

“Ban said it has been evident for many months that President Assad and his government “have lost all legitimacy”, and added that “any regime or leader that tolerates such killing of innocents has lost its fundamental humanity”.”

Now do not tell me, the chief of the UN is rushing into hasty condemnation. He would’ve not said so unless he is privy to the result of the investigation. Remember, the members of the mission are sitting ducks that can be shot and killed by the regime in retaliation at any second, and their death can be blamed on the elusive armed gangs easily. Therefore, the results of the investigation, while known to Annan and Ban, will not be announced publicly until the observers are out syrIa.

Spare Us the Western Morality on Syria
By: Antoun Issa

As news of yet another massacre in Syria surfaces – this time in the farm village of Al-Kubeir near Hama – we can only imagine the moral outrage expressed by Western governments that will soon inundate media outlets.

Much of Western identity centers on a pillar of high civility, and by extension, high morality. It is a lingering legacy from colonialism where the West re-invokes its perception of the current world, where it is the civilized, and those beyond, hapless barbarians.

It re-invoked that perception after the Houla massacre, where it once again reminded the world of its high moral authority and self-righteousness in lecturing others on their inhumane ways.

But what the West has failed to grapple is that the remainder of the world – growing in power – sees through its hollow moral posturing, exposing its empty values that have for so long sought to shroud its interests.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton doesn’t care about dead Syrian children. Nor do any of the Western governments that expelled Syrian diplomats in the wake of the gruesome Houla massacre, in which 108 civilians – including at least 49 children – were mostly shot dead at point-blank range.

International relations does not base its machinations on slaughtered children, for if it did, there would be far fewer cases of massacres to report. Western nations expressing outrage over the Syrian massacre simply reeks of hypocrisy.
The day preceding the Al-Kubeir massacre, a NATO airstrike in Logar Province, southeast of Kabul, killed 18 civilians.

{…}

The US and its Western allies will play the high moral card and maintain their public relations offensive to ensure global pressure against Assad, Russia and China remains in full force. But short of resorting to hollow values, the West has few tangible options for removing Assad.

Denied the opportunity to deliver the decisive blow on the Assad regime in the interim, Washington will bide its time and allow the Syrian crisis to drag out in the hope the country disintegrates and Assad eventually falls with it. Expelling Syrian diplomats under the pretense of misguided Western moral authority gives the impression of serious action, but really masks the West’s nonchalance to Syrians destroying their country on their own.

Memo from the West: let the killings continue.

http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/spare-us-western-morality-syria

The Syria Discussion At The UN General Assembly

“Then followed the Syrian representative Ja’afari and suddenly the UN webcast picture went black. The sound continued though and the representative asked for a minute of silence for all victims of violence. The UN webcast then suddenly switched to UN Security Council meeting about some old tribunals in Guatemala. After some three minutes the webcast went back to the General Assembly. Ja’afari was still speaking but any watcher of the UN webcast will have missed his first remarks or the minute of silence should it have happened.

Other representatives followed giving the opinion of their governments. On could clear distinguish the U.S. puppets from neutral countries with the first propagandizing against the Syrian government versus the later emphasizing a political process like China, Brazil, Iran and others did.

[…]

http://www.moonofalabama.org/2012/06/the-syria-discussion-at-the-un-general-assembly.html

A wise message by presidential candidate Ron Paul about the Syrian crises and the endless calls for war against it, he join Kissinger and Brzezinski on calling to put on the breaks on such devastating idea of war:

War Drums for Syria?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McJQGB7XTu4&feature=player_embedded

It may be the case that the Syrian military was responsible for the events last week, but recent bombings and attacks have been carried out by armed rebels with reported al-Qaeda ties. With the stakes so high, it would make sense to wait for a full investigation — unless the truth is less important than stirring up emotions in favor of a US attack.
{…}
The story about the Syrian massacre keeps changing, which should raise suspicions. First, we were told that the killings were caused by government shelling, but then it was discovered that most were killed at close range with handgun fire and knives. No one has explained why government forces would take the time to go house to house binding the hands of the victims before shooting them, and then retreat to allow the rebels in to record the gruesome details. No one wants to ask or answer the disturbing questions, but it would be wise to ask ourselves who benefits from these stories.

We have seen media reports over the past several weeks that the Obama administration is providing direct “non-lethal” assistance to the rebels in Syria while facilitating the transfer of weapons from other Gulf States. This semi-covert assistance to rebels we don’t know much about threatens to become overt intervention. Last week Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said about Syria, “I think the military option should be considered.” And here all along I thought it was up to Congress to decide when we go to war, not the generals.

We are on a fast track to war against Syria. It is time to put on the brakes.

http://paul.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1980%3Awar-drums-for-syria&catid=62%3Atexas-straight-talk&Itemid=69

If you are wondering why the intervention in Syria is a must for the moral West, wonder no more, FP is telling us it’s all for Israel best interest, as if nobody knew this precious information:

The Real Reason to Intervene in Syria
Cutting Iran’s link to the Mediterranean Sea is a strategic prize worth the risk.

“That is where Syria comes in. It is the strategic relationship between the Islamic Republic and the Assad regime that makes it possible for Iran to undermine Israel’s security. Over the three decades of hostility between Iran and Israel, a direct military confrontation has never occurred — but through Hezbollah, which is sustained and trained by Iran via Syria, the Islamic Republic has proven able to threaten Israeli security interests.

The collapse of the Assad regime would sunder this dangerous alliance. Defense Minister Ehud Barak, arguably the most important Israeli decision-maker on this question, recently told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that the Assad regime’s fall “will be a major blow to the radical axis, major blow to Iran…. It’s the only kind of outpost of the Iranian influence in the Arab world … and it will weaken dramatically both Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza.”

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/06/04/the_real_reason_to_intervene_in_syria

Why non of the human rights organizations are not even talking about this disgusting phenomena of arming children and using them as human shields in the terrorists’s attacks

https://fbcdn_sphotos_f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/179319_430613520292046_2032388470_n.jpg

SYRIA: Terrorists shooting at Security Forces and Children (June 2012)
http://youtu.be/vlrN8EcA-og
Even through children are playing on the a city’s street where syrian security forces are pass through, the terrorist start shooting indiscriminately.
The terrorist in Syria, which are heavily supported and trained by countries like Israel, USA, Britain, France, Saudi-Arabia, Qatar and Turkey don’t care at syrian people at all, in contrast to their claims in the large amounts of videos spreaded on channels like Youtube, Facebook, etc.

jad, wb.

one flaw with that theory: if israel wanted the regime gone, it would have been ousted months ago.

nothing is stopping israel from bombing the regime palace. it hasn’t done so.

israel prefers the devil they know to the unknown. they’re freaking out now by comments made in egypt at a campaign rally by the muslim brotherhood. besides, bashar has been compliant puppy to israel’s objectives. he offered to sign a peace treaty to hand off the golan heights to israel.

Syrian opposition members of the SNC keep going from one low to another, and from participating in a controversial meeting withe the Syrian enemies into another, this time, Bassma Kodmani is in the centre of this news, after her scandalous story of participating in ‘celebrating’ Israel creation on a French TV channel, she is now in the States attending Bilderberg, what was she doing there? What good to Syria can come from her participation and what kind of conspiracy ‘plan’ was she involved in against Syria?
Mm. Kodmani attendance raise too many questions and fears in the heart and mind of any Syrian who cares for his homeland:

Here is the news:

Attending Bilderberg 2012 as an ‘international’ participant was Bassma Kodmani.

So who is Bassma Kodmani? The answer to that question is also the answer to the question: what the hell is happening in Syria? This is where it gets interesting (and worrying) for Bilderberg followers.
(…)
I asked Tarpley about Kodmani. He doesn’t mince words. “She’s a Nato agent, a destabilizer, a colour revolution queen. The fact that Kodmani was there is a scary one for Syria”, says Tarpley.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-news-blog/2012/jun/05/bilderberg-2012-chantilly-occupy?fb=optOut

How disgusting is it that Syrian ‘businessmen’ now have $300 millions to spend on weapons that will destroy the homeland:

Syria businessmen abroad set up fund for rebels
(Reuters) – Syrian businessmen living abroad have created a $300 million fund to support rebels fighting forces of President Bashar al-Assad, opposition activists said on Wednesday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/06/us-syria-crisis-businessman-idUSBRE85515920120606

next, you’ll be muttering about the masons. tarpley thinks everybody is nato/cia.

‫قل لي من حليفك أقل لك من أنت
http://youtu.be/OvhK29Kf3jU

Syrian rebels now operating in Alawite heartland

NICOSIA — For the first time, Sunni rebels are conducting operations in the heart of the Alawite stronghold in Syria. Opposition sources said Sunni rebels have deployed in Syria’s Latakia province, regarded as the coastal enclave of the ruling Alawite community.

The sources said rebel militias were operating from several Sunni towns and villages in Latakia in an effort to attack strategic facilities of the regime of President Bashar Assad. “Three months ago, this would be unthinkable,” an opposition source
familiar with the campaign said.

[…]

The Free Syrian Army has claimed responsibility for the killing of more than 300 Assad troops and Shabiha members during the first week of June. FSA
military council chairman Brig. Gen. Mustafa Al Sheik said Assad’s military was converting its air defense batteries to shell suspected rebel strongholds. “The region has reached the edge of a volcano,” Al Sheik said.

The morning of 11 Sepember, is a day of Mourning,Al Qaeda attacked the twin centers , and the day a stupid Tyrant was born
Ban ki Moon,new name Ma Bi moon.
Bashar Ja3fari said he will not have dialogue with whom their hand has blood on them, that means he will not talk with Bashar.
Bashar told Barbara Walter, the one who kill his people is crazy, he finally admitted he is crazy.

Tara
If any observer get killed by Shabiha, there will be an attack that will target Bashar and his family,US knows exacly where he is

This news for you SNK,
Please don’t laugh, there is a chemical weapons’ attack according to the clowns of fsa and ‘israeli’s camera attack according to the masked ‘angel’:

The chemical weapon’s attack:
7 6 2012 هام يعتقد انها مواد سامه على مناطق سوريا
http://youtu.be/LBkt0Yoeun8

The israelis’ cameras analyses:
بيان العصفورية للجيش الكر حول النيازك
http://youtu.be/XPwViFcVkLg

Eyewitness account: Media lies about Syria

{…}
There are a lot of soldiers of fortune among the bandits. They are Chechens, Romanians, French, Libyans, and Afghans. Moreover, there was a very funny accident with Afghan soldiers. A few Afghans were caught and asked, ‘What are you doing here?’ They replied, ‘We were told that we came to Israel, and at night we are shooting at Israeli buses. We are fighting with the enemy to liberate Palestine.’ It might be funny, but it is true. The guys were really surprised, ‘Are we in Syria? We thought we were in Israel!’

Syria’s own criminals are also in armed gangs. These are real criminals who should be in prison. Such people can be found in any country. It is very typical that when they take control of a city they immediately burn criminal archives.
{…}

Who is the conflict in Syria between?

Tragically, Syria is an obstacle for the US to change the political balance in the Middle East. Read the book Where to Invade Next, edited by Stephen Elliott, and you will understand a lot about the Arab Spring.

Thanks to the global media, we all live in the alternative media reality. The whole world is watching a movie about something which does not in fact exist; it’s fiction in the guise of real events. This is a manipulation of public opinion.
{…}

Finally, do you support the Government of Syria?
Me? I don’t know anybody from the government. I support the people of Syria. Nobody else.

http://gbtimes.com/third-angle/syria/syria/eyewitness-account-media-lies-about-syria

Syrians see a correlation between the Zionist State and the West’s activities – Ammar Waqqaf
http://youtu.be/45Qfh_2J5N0

Yet Syrian’s may not go into so much detail on where the Zionist interests are. I actually caught Ammar inbetween interviews at Sky Television. He is a frequent speaker on Syrian affairs. And is known as being part of The Syrian Social Club in the UK.
He describes Russia’s interests very well.

More about Bassma Kodmani’s role in the plans to attack Syria and who is she working with against Syria…the ex israeli ambassador to the US..Ya slaam…and those wannabe politicians get offended when people call them traitors.

Post-Bilderberg, Attendees Ramp Up Push for Syrian Intervention

Fresh from Bilderberg 2012, top diplomats across the spectrum are now predictably ramping up the push for intervention in Syria. The shadowy group’s officially-leaked agenda discussed ‘the Future of Democracy, Russia, China and the Middle East,’ while the attendance of Bassma Kodmani, a top representative of the Syrian National Council and operative for the Ford Foundation and other Western institutes, make clear that the war/kinetic action in Syria is all but imminent.
2012 Bilderberg attendee Itamar Rabinovich, former Israeli ambassasdor the United States, is the latest, now prominently “blaming” the U.S. for allowing the Syrian massacre to continue unabated. The Times of Israel reports:
The real block [on Syrian intervention], he told Army Radio, is the US government. “The Obama administration is not looking for another major Middle East crisis before November.”
Asked therefore whether Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, despite her bitter rhetoric against Damascus, did not actually intend to take any action now, Rabinovich said, “Later, after November.”
In the false dichotomy that attempts to create the perception that the U.S. must intervene in Syria (just as Caesar finally felt he must accept the crown after being asked three times), top Bilderberg-tapped diplomats are playing out a phony script about whether to ‘wait on diplomacy’ as the death tolls piles up, or ‘do the right thing’ and using power to stop Assad’s regime.

[…]

http://www.infowars.com/post-bilderberg-attendees-ramp-up-push-for-syrian-intervention/

كلمة الدكتور بشار الجعفري 7 6 2012 ج1
http://youtu.be/PDkApgDKmKw

كلمة الدكتور بشار الجعفري 7 6 2012 ج2
http://youtu.be/0Er81uSH0Is

Syria: A small story about the situation in the Syrian village of Qusair.

“We are never safe from any nasty surprise. The day before yesterday, May 9, I saw a convoy of the Red Cross at the checkpoint in front of our village. I know the policemen, I have a grandson, whom I accompanied to school and who always is happy to greet them.

I’ve talked to them (Red Cross) and asked the driver of the convoy, if they need me as an interpreter. So I was very glad when I learned that this convoy – four jeeps, two “double tractors” and a normal tractor – should provide food to the residents of Qusseir (Qusair / the village). Today I learned to my great surprise from someone, who has come from Qusseir, that the convoy of the Red Cross has unloaded its supply directly where these gangs turn their weapons on us.

http://www.syrianews.cc/syria-international-red-cross-supplies-terrorists-759.html

Lebanese relatives identify Free Syrian Army kidnappers on TV

The wives and daughters of Lebanese Shia pilgrims kidnapped in northern Syria identified two of the kidnappers on Tuesday after seeing them in a television report about the Free Syrian Army on television.
The Lebanese Broadcasting Corp reported that several women, part of a group of pilgrims kidnapped in Syria and released without their male relatives, contacted it after seeing their kidnappers faces on a Monday broadcast.
The report featured men who identified themselves as members of the FSA.
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanese-relatives-identify-free-syrian-army-kidnappers-tv

Here is one of the FSA terrorist members who kidnapped the Lebanese pilgrims, the wives of the kidnapped recognized on TV:
صاحب أول صورة لمسلحين في سوريا يظهر بين خاطفي الشيعة اللبنانيين
http://syria-politic.com/ar/Default.aspx?subject=725#.T89cPlLAaa8

This one is extra from me, on top those two news, here is the same terrorist acting as a ‘humanitarian’ supporter at the Turkish border:
ارهابي فار من جسر الشغور الى تركيا يعود الى سوريا ضمن قافلة مساعدات مزعومة
http://youtu.be/bLe0ErrDyaM

It’s nice to get a jolt of propaganda. Of course reality is a different story. The songs of defiance continue, and the good people of Damascus gave the world a great example last night on what this revolution has always been about: taking back the country from the sectarian, terrorist crime family that has destroyed Syria over two generations.

http://youtu.be/tj7q5lQr8is

I’m sure the video is distressing to many here, given that there are so many 3ara3eer who haven’t been shot in the head yet, so here’s a video of Assad’s military in action that should fill the hearts of the we-love-you with hope and pride. This is the Syria that Assad’s supporters are willing to kill and die for. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Warning: This is what’s going on in Syria.
http://youtu.be/eEyOMNmyUCI

Basel Shahade made a short film

Its an interview with a young lebanese boy who has survived the 2006 israeli war against lebanon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hVceFcBh8Y&feature=plcp

if you have trouble to see the film, change your proxy server settings( internet options of your browser) and select an other foreign proxy site ( hidemyass.com fe.)

I like it when some of the guys here are living in the bubble of their own world and have no clue what’s happening outside, so they call everything that doesn’t fit their narrow twisted world, ‘propaganda’.
Masakeen!

113. JNA

This may be an advanced concept to some here, but the Ms Jaafari case is one of sexism at its most spectacular. Sexism both by her and her supporters – and it not only involves gender advantage, but sex as well.

She is a young woman who deliberately exploits her gender and uses sexy talk and behaviour as a way to get ahead. So my comments on her are on things SHE chooses to be noticed and judged on.

Let’s ask if Sheherazad Jaafari was instead a 22-year old named Saadallah Jaafari, would she be getting airspace with the Syrian “leader”? Or the attention of any of the men defending her here?

Or if she was a quiet, intelligent, professional woman, married with 2 children, who wore normal makeup, and didn’t flirt and make sexy comments while “working”. Would she be of any interest to Bashar Assad or certain men on this forum?

Go on, be honest. If an inexperienced, overconfident and unqualified Jaafari-type 22-year old female struts into your workplace, plays the sex card and gets instantly promoted by the boss ahead of you and every other man there, how will you react? There are actually rules against it in the west, and a few foolish men have lost their careers through their sexism in bringing in such women.

Halabi,

Eh Walla Meskeen inta living in a bubble and all, maybe a message from Midan can lift your poor meskeen spirit up:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chroniclesyrianuprising/7154748461/in/set-72157629992258299

Sectarian, who? The revos? Nooo… FSA, Nooo….never!! It’s all the regime including the ‘chemical’ hallucination circus…
(Rule #1 for the revos: never ever ever ever admit any wrong doing, just keep denying it, support terrorists, all kinds, including Alqaeda and every thug killing under your name, it’s all for the ‘democracy’ claim, wink wink!)

“Women and Children can be killed” (Free Syrian Army Hatemonger claims) (03/2012)
http://youtu.be/94UXvv3eQfA

مشهد اغتيال المقدم عز الدين عبد الله سويدان 6-6-2012
http://youtu.be/DVJL421RVGc

Jad,

A question from Zabadani:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chroniclesyrianuprising/7345162882/in/set-72157630003865133

In Syria, foreign intervention will only shed more blood

The US and its Gulf allies are already fuelling sectarian conflict in their proxy war with Iran. The fallout could be disastrous
Seumas Milne

As Syria descends deeper into civil war and human misery, pressure for yet another western military intervention in the Arab world is growing. Last week, General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, declared that the US might take the “military option” in Syria if it was “asked to do so”. Barack Obama’s Republican rival Mitt Romney is meanwhile demanding that the US government arm the Syrian opposition.

Today, Russian and Chinese leaders reaffirmed their opposition to forced regime change and support for UN envoy Kofi Annan’s peace plan. But Susan Rice, US ambassador to the UN, has made clear western powers might act alone and take action “outside the authority” of the UN. Even the new French president François Hollande has said military intervention in his country’s former colonial territory was “not to be ruled out”.
{…}
“The reality is that intervention in Syria by the US and its allies has already begun. The western powers have backed the fractious opposition Syrian National Council since the early days of last year’s uprising. So have the Gulf autocracies led by Saudi Arabia, who have stepped up the flow of weapons and cash to favoured Syrian rebel groups in recent months, while Turkey has provided a cross-border base. That is co-ordinated with the US, which supplies the same groups with “non-lethal assistance” and “communications equipment”.

In other words, the US and its allies are sponsoring regime change through civil war. And while paying lip service to the Annan plan for demilitarisation and negotiation, they are making sure it won’t succeed. The results can be seen on the ground. Overall, lethal violence is estimated by human rights groups to have dropped by 36% since the plan was supposed to come into effect, but government casualties have increased sharply over the same period (953 reported killed since mid-March). Rebel fighters claimed to have killed 80 government troops last weekend alone.

Syria is reported by the western and Gulf-controlled Arab media through the prism of a popular uprising against an authoritarian regime. But that is only one vital dimension of the conflict. And as brutal repression by a government which retains significant support has been met with a growing armed campaign, grassroots opposition has been displaced by foreign-backed groups whose strategy to win power is based on engineering outside intervention.”
{…}
“Anti-Shia incitement has been central to Saudi propaganda against reform in the kingdom itself, the crushing of democratic protest in Bahrain and the drive to focus opposition across the region against Damascus (Alawites being a quasi-Shia sect), rather than Amman or Riyadh. It’s also what has attracted al-Qaida and other Sunni volunteers to join the fight against the Assad regime, as tit-for-tat confessional killings multiply. For Syria and neighbouring Lebanon, with their precarious ethnic and religious makeups, that is a disaster.”
{…}
But full-scale foreign intervention would certainly lead to a far greater civilian death toll and many more Houlas.

Right now, lower-level intervention is bleeding Syria in a war of attrition. Short of an internal coup, the only way out of a deepening sectarian and regional conflict is an internationally guaranteed negotiated settlement that allows Syrians the chance to determine their own future. That means the US and its allies giving the Annan plan a chance, as much as Iranian and Russian pressure on Damascus. The consequences of the alternative – full-scale military intervention – would be incalculable.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/05/syria-un-intervention-bashar-al-assad

#140
حطا بتمك!

127. omen

There were rebels and demonstrations in Lattakia months ago.

Thanks Son of Damascus. These photo series are adding an extra dimension to the coverage. It’s amazing how peaceful protests have continued and expanded in the face of the terror unleashed by this regime. The stoicism, creativity and courage of the Syrian people is almost mythical, yet the stumbles and violence dents that image and clouds the future.

Still, the majority of humanity supports our cause and sees Assad and his supporters for what they are: people who sneer at freedom and democracy and champion racism, torture and oppression.

(Rebuttal: Saudi and Hamad and the Ottomans and 3ar3our…)

All the massacres happen in rebel HELD territory.
The rebel Islamists just attacked the UN when they tried to investigate.
They have attacked the UN at least 5 times now…
All the massacres are done in a style VERY familiar with international terrorists and sectarian insurgents.
The Syrian government has nothing to gain, the Islamists everything…
Who do you think did it???
I think you’d have to be crazy to think it was the government for even a second…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfHcfcNhvmk&list=UUpwvZwUam-URkxB7g4USKpg&index=3&feature=plcp
‘Foreign-funded terrorists to blame for Syria atrocities’
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Hama killings, some Western and Arab powers have made their own conclusions. With some leaders immediately blaming President Assad for the atrocity, and once again calling for action against his regime. Political analyst Christoph Hoerstel, who’s been covering events in the Arab region, says there are strong indications the Hama massacre was carried out by terrorists.

Bubble boy. Go and read SANA. It’s propaganda free.
.

Here is Abdel Barri for you
http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=today7z999.htm&arc=data\201266-077z999.htm

The use of chemical spray by the regime is escalation suggest desperation on the side of the regime, it may not be poisonous gas, but it will cause retaliation, Gas may be used in the mountain.

Observer
Abdulbari Atwan ,he is not supportive of the revolution,he is embarrassed by Assad,however.He sees the regime is losing ground, and he is surprised as most palastineans, how strong and enduring the Syrians are, and Professor Landis is surprised ,too.

Do I sense desperation? Do I sense complete confidence?

I am not sure what is the strategy of the regime. Some say it is confidence that Russia will protect the regime. Others say it is a desperate attempt to regain ground.

I do think that Russia is climbing down slowly in a face saving way to abandon Fredo. China is also doing the same.

I am amazed at some pro regime that used to hide behind a discourse of dialogue to allow for ordered reforms to be conducted by Fredo abandon this tack and move full speed ahead with the “armed terrorist gangs with a world wide conspiracy” to topple the “resistance regime” story. It is really a bankrupt discourse that cannot allow for any defense of the regime. It is a FAILURE for it failed to protect and it is responsible for the violence.

I think some are inside the very circle of Fredo.

Does anybody have any information on Bashar (War Criminal) al-Assad’s usage of chemical bombs against peaceful demonstrators?

Salute to Syrians’/Palestinians’ “stones vs. firearms” resistance!

If there is nothing to hide, if the terrorist opposition is committing massacres, then why aren’t the U.N. observers, who were all approved by the Syrian government, allowed access the crime scene?

From CBS: “A contingent of U.N. staff was blocked from the village on Thursday by Syrian military personnel at checkpoints, and by mobs of angry locals chanting pro-Assad slogans and warning the observers that they would be met with violence if they entered Qubeir.”

I know why. Rafiq Lutf is setting the stage and putting together a narrative for his next four hour confession show, which is really the only legal system left in Assad’s Syria…

U.N. observers mass outside alleged Syria massacre site

(CBS News) Three teams of observers from the United Nations monitoring mission in Syria traveled to the outskirts of the village of Qubeir, where the opposition says regime forces massacred scores of people on Wednesday.

CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer, traveling with the U.N. observers, says that in total three teams – from Damascus, Hama and Homs – were expected to try and get into the village in 11 vehicles, traveling in “waves”. One vehicle entered the village, which Palmer described as little more than a collection of houses, to assess safety conditions. Other vehicles remained outside awaiting the green light to enter.

…
Until the U.N. monitors can get into the village, the vastly different accounts of what happened in Qubeir coming from the regime and the opposition cannot be reconciled.

Even when the observers do get in, questions will be asked about what may have taken place in the village between the incident and the arrival of those first impartial eyes.

For two days now, only the Syrian government has had access to Qubeir. The worry is there might not be much left for the observers to observe when they finally make it into the village.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-57449393-503543/u.n-observers-mass-outside-alleged-syria-massacre-site/

Your heads in America sent State Department representative on Syria Fred Hoff and agreed with Russian about below written:

Russia: Annan’s peace plan for Syria could be adjusted
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_06_08/77504840/
Moscow believes that Kofi Annan’s peace plan for Syria can be adjusted, Russia’s Middle East envoy Mikhail Bogdanov stated after talks with a US delegation in Moscow. The mission was headed by the State Department representative on Syria Fred Hoff.

According to Mr Bogdanov, the strategy will not be revised but it could be adjusted to ensure that it is complied with by all the parties to the conflict.

The situation in Syria deteriorated recently after the Houla massacre.

Bogdanov added that Russia still supports Syria’s sovereignty and is against external interference in its domestic affairs. Russia believes that the current priority is to coordinate efforts to implement Annan’s strategy in the country.

[…]

The ship Lutfallah,which was captured close to Tripoli,was carrying weapons belong Jabal Muhsen

Just came back from the TLV Gay Parade. It was the hugest I’ve witnessed in Tel Aviv so far, with some estimated 20,000 tourists who came especially for the occasion.

A good friend of mine whispered in my ear (it was quite noisy there): look at what is going here, and some 200 km to the north, people are butchering each other for stupid religion and ridiculous sectarianism.

I really wish Syria some gayer, more happy times in the future, Insha’alla.
.

Is Syria’s UN Ambassador peddling influence to the west and betraying his country? For Syria’s sake, he has got to go.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9317809/Syrian-aide-to-Bashar-al-Assad-gains-admission-to-Columbia-University.html

157.
what is going here, and some 200 km to the north, people are butchering each other for stupid religion and ridiculous sectarianism

stupid religion : Respect and keep yourself !

Amir

Please correct your freind. This has not started because we want a Sunni president. It started because we wanted our god -given rights, to not be enslaved and to have Karamah(dignity). Hailing this as people killing each other for stupid religion is incorrect and not fair.

President Obama is at least 20 minutes late for his conference, he was talking to Putin

Tara,

I respect your opinion.

With this said, tell me: If Syria was secular and/or free from sectarian issues, would the massacres took place as they are?

Can you agree with this statement: the ones who are being butchered in Syria these days are (mostly) Sunni civilians and Alawi army-men ?
.

Not obvious US enthusiasm for the Qatar-Turkey candidate: a 9/11 denier.

Brother Number One
Meet the man who might be Egypt’s president: the Muslim Brotherhood’s second choice, and 9/11-denier, Mohamed Morsi.

BY SHADI HAMID | JUNE 7, 2012

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/06/07/brother_number_one

Egypt is on the cusp of its first real experiment in Islamist governance. If the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi comes out on top in the upcoming presidential runoff election, scheduled for June 16 and 17, the venerable Islamist movement will have won control of both Egypt’s presidency and its parliament, and it will have a very real chance to implement its agenda of market-driven economic recovery, gradual Islamization, and the reassertion of Egypt’s regional role.

Amir

I most definitely agree. The revolution that started for freedom, dignity, and social justice unmasked severe sectarianism, hatered, and savegry. Syria appears to have been a fake country all along. Had their been no religious hatred taught since childhood, shabeehat al Assad would not have been able to kill children, and some Christians could not have been able to believe in the regime’s narrative only. The brainwashing did not just happen. It must have been since early childhood. We, the naives, just discovering it now.

Fake people, fake country, and even fake emotions.. Fake love, and fake indignation.

And I genuinely thoughts that Syrians were different.

162
keep your opinion, away from religious humiliation !

How come?

Syrian rebels tried to get me killed, says Channel 4 correspondent
Alex Thomson says crew was led to ‘free-fire zone’ as deaths would discredit Bashar al-Assad’s regime

Channel 4 News chief correspondent Alex Thomson has claimed Syrian rebels deliberately tried to get him and his crew killed by gunfire from government forces in a bid to discredit the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Thompson alleged a small group from the Free Syrian Army deliberately guided the vehicle in which he and his Channel 4 News colleagues were travelling into what he described as a “free-fire zone” on a blocked road in “no man’s land” in the vicinity of the city of al-Qusayr, because “dead journos are bad for Damascus”.

He also claimed UN vehicles the Channel 4 News team were travelling with later abandoned them when they were surrounded by “shouting militia”.

Thomson said after being led into no man’s land between Syrian army and rebel forces by four men in a black car, his team were fired upon and forced to take evasive action, eventually managing to “floor it back to the road we’d been led in on”. The incident took place last weekend and Thomson is now back in the UK.

“Suddenly four men in a black car beckon us to follow. We move out behind,” Thomson wrote in a Channel 4 News website blog published on Friday morning.

“We are led another route. Led in fact, straight into a free-fire zone. Told by the Free Syrian Army to follow a road that was blocked off in the middle of no-man’s land,” he added.

“At that point there was the crack of a bullet and one of the slower three-point turns I’ve experienced. We screamed off into the nearest side-street for cover. Another dead-end.

“There was no option but to drive back out on to the sniping ground and floor it back to the road we’d been led in on. Predictably the black car was there which had led us to the trap. They roared off as soon as we re-appeared.

“I’m quite clear the rebels deliberately set us up to be shot by the Syrian army. Dead journos are bad for Damascus.”

Thompson said this conviction was only strengthened half an hour later when “our four friends in the same beaten-up black car suddenly pulled out of a side-street, blocking us from the UN vehicles ahead”.

“The UN duly drove back past us, witnessed us surrounded by shouting militia, and left town. Eventually we got out too and on the right route, back to Damascus,” he added.

“In a war where they slit the throats of toddlers back to the spine, what’s the big deal in sending a van full of journalists into the killing zone? It was nothing personal.”

A spokeswoman for ITN-produced Channel 4 News said: “The safety of our journalists is of paramount importance and we only ever send experienced teams into these hostile environments.

[…]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/jun/08/alex-thompson-syrian-rebels?CMP=twt_gu&fb=native

Post revolution Egypt: political chaos

Egypt’s political future tangled in legal web
08/06/2012
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=29914

CAIRO, (AP) — Egypt’s newly elected parliament could be dissolved, the presidential election may have to be abandoned and the country’s new constitution has yet to be drafted.
more..

NATO Special Forces in Syria now Official.

SAS and other NATO Special Forces Reported in Syria. The Daily Star is reporting that SAS Special Operations Forces as well as agents of the United Kingdom´s Foreign Intelligence Service MI6 are operating in Syria. That makes it official, what nsnbc and other not state or corporate sponsored media have reported for months. The Daily Star also reports that other countries, including Turkey, France, and “possibly” the USA are operating in Syria.

SAS archive image

A whistle-blower and high-ranking officer of the U.S. Special Operations Forces stationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, disclosed already in late August 2011 that the USA had deployed Special Forces along with other NATO-Member States special forces in Syria.(1) The high-ranking officer had become disillusioned about the USA and the US and NATO´s increasingly aggressive expansionism, stating that Special Forces increasingly were deployed to support terrorist organizations and terrorists who are officially on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations and the list of wanted terrorists.

The officer stated already in August 2011 that the USA was actively preparing for at war on Syria, Lebanon and Iran, that US-Special Forces were on the ground in Syria, supervising and cooperating with among other armed fighters of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Al-Qaeda associated Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, and a cohort of other terrorist organizations.The officer further stated, that the training of foreign fighters, and the entire “operation” is planned and executed along the guidelines of a Special Forces Training Circular for Foreign Fighters and agents, called TC 18-01. The confidential Training Circular has been published in it´s entirety in a previous article on nsnbc. (2) When comparing the evolution of the crisis in Syria with the training manual in unconventional warfare it becomes evident that the development in Syria is cynically planned and executed by foreign powers.(ibid.)
{…}
https://nsnbc.wordpress.com/2012/06/04/nato-special-forces-in-syria-now-official/

#166 Jad

Thanks for posting the article from a journalist in Syria.

The technique used by the rebels is to isolate the victims in areas where they are exposed to be killed without witnesses and the killing blamed on the government. It was time the journalists and the UN observers realize that the rebels are using vicious plots to kill them and arrange to blame the death on the government. Truth will emerge.

Alex Thomson:

“I’m quite clear the rebels deliberately set us up to be shot by the Syrian army. Dead journos are bad for Damascus.”

Thompson said this conviction was only strengthened half an hour later when “our four friends in the same beaten-up black car suddenly pulled out of a side-street, blocking us from the UN vehicles ahead”.

Tara,

You are being too harsh on Syrians and on yourself. “Fake” is too strong word to describe this.

It is a result of suppression of natural developments in a nation’s life. The junta suppressed all inter sects dialog, and forced unnatural Baathi “secularism” on the Syrians. Just as it happened in the former communist and “secular” Yugoslavia, it blew in every bodies’ faces.

If not the Baathi suppression, It is possible that over the 40 or so years, the Syrians could have developed ways to live together, while respecting each other’s faith. I blame the Baathi ideology.
.
.

Rift within the FSA about the Annan plan.
Al Sheikh rejects it, Rashid Al Hamoud accepts it.

The FSA fear Al-Assad may us WMD
06/06/2012
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=29895
…..
As for the FSA’s resumption of operations on the ground, chairman of the FSA Military Council, Brigadier General Mustafa al-Sheikh, informed Asharq Al-Awsat that that Annan’s initiative was dead on arrival and that killing in Syria is on-going.
… He also laid the blame on “the international community’s delay in taking a decisive resolution” adding “this is something that will lead to civil war.
…
However FSA Colonel Arafat Rashid al-Hammoud informed Asharq Al-Awsat that it was not in the FSA’s interest to abandon the ceasefire stipulated in the Annan initiative. …
He added “Annan’s initiative has failed to stop the violence but we cannot say that we will be moving to offensive operations because we do not have the means to carry out such operations, and it is in our interest to win international trust and legitimacy, not incite the international community against us.”

Alan,

Speaking on sanctity, I’m going now to take my holy Friday afternoon nap. See ya later.
.

The daily terrorist attack by the criminals of fsa that innocent civilian Syrians have to face because some of the so called “Syrians” with their israeli supporters are calling for and promote.
Enjoy the scene!

التفجير الإرهابي في منطقة قدسيا بريف دمشق 8-6-2012

Prof Landis was on the BBC World Service in the early hours. I intended to post this earlier this morning but it hadn’t been put up yet although a later news broadcast had been put up.

It’s a good listen. It’s about syria from the beginning. Prof Landis is on after 2 min 30 sec.

If your interested a defector living in Canada speaks about the Shabeeha straight after. A good listen. The guest said how academics from Damascus University advised the regime to use a third party, deniables, to do the dirty work in order to avoid facing international legal consequences.

He also says that Shabeeha names and addresses are being collected and some are being eliminated.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00stmy0

Hi Bronco,
You are welcome.
I’m surprised of how delusional some comments are, at least the sheikh majnoun is still leading the way to heaven for some, wow!
How about the “chemical” attack? Some on here are even believing it, lololol…I can’t wait to hear what that crazy sheikh Jacob have to say…oh mighty sheikh, take your medication!

‘Foreign-funded terrorists to blame for Syria atrocities’

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

Political analyst Christoph Hoerstel, who’s been covering events in the Arab region, says there are strong indications the Hama massacre was carried out by terrorists.

Please use a different user name, and address commentators by their chosen handle.

SC Moderator

Ya AhmadinaJAD JAD,

The only delusion is what is going on inside your head

Please check your email

SC Moderator

Only sick barbarians would enjoy seeing Syrians slaughtered. Which explains apologists still blindly supporting the Junta and their deep seated hate for dignity.

While you are at the guardian Jaddie boy JAD why not check out all the other Articles that Thompson and other journos had to say about your precious criminal batta forces, or do you suffer from selective reading, there is a great eye doctor in Damascus that might help you with that

Jad

You know well that WMD has been the eftah ya semsem for foreign intervention.
As all the attempts to get the Western countries to move militarily have failed, the opposition strategists have said why not, let’s bring in the chemical weapons in, maybe that would make them move their ….. and that would also be a great distraction from the unraveling of the lies about the Qubeir massacre where from 100 death, the toll is now 9 and from the same family, in addition to the foreign journalists and the UN observers who are starting to doubt about the ‘honesty’ of the FSA.

Let’s see if the media will pick the WMD up… It usually sells as well as massacres.

Welcome
We have a new hyper on board who can’t make up his mind about choosing the right nickname.

Things can not last like this for long, Ban Ki Moon said, How many times we will denounce Assad massacres, while Syrian blood is spilled.
I think Syria is very close to big explosion,more demonstrations will spread to the inside of Damascus, they will be hard to control.

I find it impossible that USA and UK has troops inside Syria, these are false rumors, by pro regime.
I think the pro regime should stack up on nervousness medications,and antidepressants, many will commit suicide once Assad is gone.I wish there is medicine to stop lying, or to stop accusations, the regime is desperately needing them, what a shame.
The real reason that Israel is helping Assad and preventing USA from actively remove Assad, is that the Syrian revolution is genuine revolution, it has the potential to spread to Iraq, infact if and when this revolution succeed,Maliki days will be numbered .

158. Alan said:

I gave Alan a thumbs up and don’t feel bad about it. 🙂

Quickly moving on. I’m prepared to trust Alex Thompson. The FSA leadership must investigate. All freedom fighters should be reminded of the noble and honorable cause they are defending.

Did someone mention Webster Tarpley? Nah! I must have imagined it. Lol.

SC moderator!
where is my comment? i just submitted, is the site still eating up anti west comments because it doesn’t fit with the american/israeli propaganada.
thanks

Welcome back Khaled Tlass, nice name you come up with, I’ll call you *** FEEK? You’ve been banned 4 times already, I wonder when SC will become no place for sectarian thugs like you…*** FEEK!

Moderator, if you want to hide what I wrote about Sheikh Yakoub, you may need to hide Sheikh Yakoub’s writings too.
I’m also happy that you colour the insults in red without deleting them…

“All freedom fighters should be reminded of the noble LOLOLOL and honorable LOLOLOL cause they are defending.”
I thought mercenaries are paid in $ and Riyal for the ‘Noble’ and ‘Honorable’ ‘JOB’ they do, which is slaughtering innocent Syrians for TV shows and bombing civilians in the cities, arming children and abuse them and spread the sectarian hatred feeling allover the country…Noble&Honorable indeed!

Although one could easily agree with letting the Syrians do their own revolution the US has a lot greater role to play without necessarily putting boots on the ground in Syria.
Those who express fears emanating from the Iraqi experience do omit the fact that the main cause of the protraction of the war in Iraq and the losses suffered by the US armed forces and the Iraqi civilians were caused mostly by insurgents harbored, trained and armed in Syria in collaboration with Iran. The strategic mistake committed in Iraq was in leaving the Syrian regime intact. In Syria after Assad there will not be any bordering nation that could stir trouble there. A big advantage that policy maker should consider when deciding the size of their interference in Syria.
It is better for the US to be as active as possible in the support of the Revolution because whatever the outcome a Middle East without Assad will be a lot better place.

Using mosques as places to launch terrorist attacks.
So if we see some footage of many men killed in one place we should know by now, who are they and what were they doing and that they are not ‘civilian’
ما يسمى بلواء صقور الشام مستخدماً المجسد مركز عمليات في محاولة فاشلة للسيطرة على حاجز الأربعين في ادلب
http://youtu.be/6_GYcsXf3Y4

Syria Qubair: Bloody traces of massacre seen in village

Paul Danahar, BBC News:

“The only clue as to where the bodies of the dead people had gone was etched into the tarmac of the road nearby. The tracks were made by military vehicles, said a UN observer.”

Bronco

Below is a full image of the brilliant, beautiful, and sensational (as Barb described her) .  Note the artificial eyelashes, the sparky eyeshadow,  the heavy makeup, and the sparky dress…understated elegance indeed,  I again congratulate you for your taste.  Very impressive.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2156153/Syria-Bashar-al-Assads-glamorous-aide-Barbara-Walters-tried-job-Piers-Morgan.html

Messages leaked by Syrian rebels in March show her asking another of Mr Assad’s advisers to tell him: ‘I love him so so so much and that I miss him.’

The leak revealed flirtatious and suggestive emails from three admirers, including a provocative photograph of an unknown woman in white lingerie.

Mrs Walters first met Ms Jaafari when the young woman’s father hosted a cocktail party in his New York apartment in March 2011.

‘(Ms Jaafari) was bragging that they had a great relationship after she came to her house for a cocktail party,’ a diplomatic source told the newspaper. 

The New York Post reports that the two women bonded that evening, and an unidentified diplomatic source said that the then-21-year-old ‘was bragging that they had a great relationship after she came to her house for a cocktail party’.

That connection came in handy when the veteran reporter began dealing with Ms Jaafari on a regular basis leading up the ABC News’ exclusive televised interview with the Syrian leader. 
….
The pair appear extremely close, with Ms Walters signing her emails with ‘hugs’ and ‘love’ and Ms Jaafari promising to bring back jewellery from Syria for her so-called adoptive mother.
….

Mr Wald responded that while his position at the Journalism School is unconnected to the School of International and Public Affairs, he would do his best to help, saying that ‘through the Admissions Office network, I will get them to give her special attention. I am sure they will take her.’

Now Columbia is saying that while she was accepted, Mr Wald’s intervention- if any- had nothing to do with it.

(…)  

172. AMIR IN TEL AVIV
with not patience if the meeting will be on 33 parallels as the man to the man are chosen the representative!

here is a lebanese guy who was so in love for Basel that he put a tattoo of him on his body…

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/kaempfe-in-syrien-greifen-auf-den-libanon-ueber-fotostrecke-83423-2.html

funny cartoon about hijab

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=392195430816706&set=at.184094914960093.33379.168639329838985.618015978&type=1&theater

Bronco,
They’ve been trying that for a while now, here is one of those gems, so some ‘journalist’ are saying that nuclear Iran is NOTHING compared to the WMD in Syria!

Fearful of a nuclear Iran? The real WMD nightmare is Syria
Article Highlights
Syria has one of the largest and most sophisticated chemical weapons programs in the world and may also possess offensive biological weapons.
Longstanding terrorist groups and newly arrived Al Qaeda-affiliated fighters from Iraq have been active in Syria during that country’s recent insurgency.
The United States and regional powers — including Saudi Arabia and Iran — need to start planning now to keep Syria’s WMD out of terrorist hands if the Assad regime falls.

http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/op-eds/fearful-of-nuclear-iran-the-real-wmd-nightmare-syria

what is this?

https://twitter.com/AlexanderPageSY/status/211130076627083264

1:17

The Germans are now trying to capitalize on the crises and on the expense of the Syrian blood, no wonder the government there is committed that much!

Vulture “Friends of Syria” plan the “Rebuilding of Syria”, from Berlin Office financed by Germany and the U.A.E.

By Christof Lehmann – NATO Special Forces and NATO-Allied Al-Qaeda, Muslim Brothers, also called “The Free Syrian Army” intensify their campaign of terror and declare the Anan Six Point Peace Plan for dead. Yesterday it became official, SAS and other NATO Special Forces operate in Syria. (1) Today we learn that the governments of Germany and the United Arab Emirates, (UAE) are sponsoring a Secretariat of the “Friends of Syria” in Berlin. A Secretariat to plan the war and the rebuilding of the Syria they are about to destroy.

A disgusting symbiosis of Hawks and Vultures is going for the kill, planning how to dissect the carcass and spoils before it´s dead. There can´t be any doubt about that the beaks and claws of State-Sponsored Terrorism and NATO-Terrorism are inflicting deep and painful scars on the people of Syria and the country. The question is if they will be breaking their feathers and beaks when they have gored themselves on the soft tissue and hit the bone. Massacres on unarmed civilians, like the recent one in Al-Houla are relatively easy objectives, but confronting the Syrian military forces, Iran, Hezbollah and in the final equation Russia are an entirely different meal to chew on.

Even the unarmed civilian population of Syria is not as easy a dinner as the Vulture Friends of Syria would like them to be, and thus the Arab League needed to demand from Arabsat and Nilesat to cease carrying Syrian TV signals so Syrians could be sufficiently brain-wahshed by Al Jazeera and colleagues. (2) The German State-Sponsored TV-Stations ARD and ZDF, and their corporate financed pendants rigorously continue on the path of war propaganda.

The people of Syria are resilient against attempts to divide on the basis of sectarianism. The charade of “fighting for freedom and democracy” of the Gulf Kings who themselves behead women for “sorcery” like not to long ago in Saudi Arabia (3) are not credible among Syrians. The Hollywood Arabism of the GCC Dress-Up clowns, which would make the Palestinian scholar Edward Said, who coined the term “orientalism” turn in his grave, is understood too well by Syrians to let themselves be impressed. What or whom should they be impressed by to teach them about freedom and democracy ? Impressed by Gulf Dictators who seem to try to live up to all and any of the stereotypes about corrupt Arabs that are perpetuated by Hollywood, or the witch-hunt beheading mania of the Saudi Royalty ? Or the Jordanian Hashemite Royals who called on the Israeli Airforce when Syria sent a column of tanks in response to the Jordanian Military´s slaughter of PLO fighters in Amman during the Black September ?
{…}
http://nsnbc.wordpress.com/2012/06/05/vulture-friends-of-syria-plan-the-rebuilding-of-syria-from-berlin-office-financed-by-germany-and-the-u-a-e/

سوريا | تحشيد دبلوماسي يمهّد لتصعيد ميداني تطال شظاياه شمال لبنان
سوريا تودّع أنان: استعدادات لمواجهة دامية

بينما يغسل مجلس الأمن يديه من مبادرة المبعوث الخاص كوفي أنان، تشهد سوريا وحدودها مع لبنان وتركيا استعدادات غير مسبوقة، تشارك فيها عواصم إقليمية ودولية، وسط استنفار استخباري غير مسبوق يمهّد لجولة من المواجهات على الأراضي السورية قد تمثّل مفصلاً حاسماً في وجهة الأزمة

تؤكّد مصادر موثوقة أن الأزمة في السورية في طريقها إلى وجهة من التصعيد، وأن الانقسام الدولي بشأن الموقف من الأزمة السورية انتهى إلى تشدد الفريقين، وأن كل الرسائل الدبلوماسية والمبادرات التي ترمى في الهواء هدفها إعلان كل طرف أنه غير مسؤول عن الفشل في التوصل إلى حل للأزمة، بينما يشعر المحور الذي تقوده الولايات المتحدة وأوروبا وتركيا ودول الخليج العربي أن المرحلة تتطلب تعديل الواقع الميداني على الأرض. وعلى هذا الأساس تقررت مجموعة خطوات عملانية، أبرزها العمل على دفع قوى المعارضة السورية في الخارج إلى إعلان الانتقال إلى مرحلة «الثورة المسلحة» والشروع في خطوات نوعية على صعيد تسليح المجموعات المعارضة وتوحيدها بالقدر الممكن.

وتذكر المصادر أن المعلومات والتقارير الواردة من عواصم عدة تشير إلى أن المحادثات الجارية بين المحافل الدبلوماسية لا علاقة لها بما يجري على الأرض من استعدادات عملانية، ومن أهمها إدخال أسلحة نوعية إلى المجموعات المعارضة تستهدف توجيه ضربات إلى فرق المدرعات في الجيش السوري، وإلى الطائرات المروحية، إضافة إلى مدفعية ثقيلة مهمتها مواجهة تجمعات وثكن للجيش السوري، إلى جانب تدريب مجموعات كبيرة على القيام بعمليات على طريقة حرب العصابات تستهدف السيطرة على مناطق على طول الشريط الحدودي مع لبنان وتركيا، وخلق مناطق «محررة» بالقرب من المدن الرئيسية، ولا سيما في ريفي دمشق وحلب.

{…}
وتتوقع المصادر أن تقرر القيادة السورية سريعاً ما إذا كانت ستبادر إلى عملية هجومية استباقية تحبط مساعي معارضيها وخصومها في الخارج، أم هناك آليات أخرى للعمل. لكن المصادر تلفت إلى أن الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد تقصّد في خطابه أمام مجلس الشعب الجديد التشديد على الفصل بين العملية السياسية الداخلية وبين مواجهة المجموعات المسلحة، وأنه أراد توجيه رسالة إلى الداخل وإلى الخارج مفادها أن دمشق لن تنتظر طويلاً قبل أن تبادر من جديد إلى القيام بكل ما يلزم من عمل عسكري وأمني لتحقيق هدفها بضرب خصومها المسلحين.
وتقول المصادر إن من بين الأسباب التي تعجل في هذه الأمور، نجاح خصوم سوريا في لبنان، وبدعم مباشر من جانب دول خليجية ودولية، في السيطرة على مناطق حساسة من شمال لبنان، بالتزامن مع قرار السلطات التركية إفساح المجال أكثر لمجموعات المعارضة المسلحة بالعمل على طول الحدود مع سوريا، إضافة إلى ما تجمّع مع معطيات استخبارية لدى الجانب السوري عن الاستعدادات التي تقوم بها الجهات المعادية لها داخل سوريا وخارجها.
(الأخبار)
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/95024

Suddenly four men in a black car beckon us to follow.

there are cultural differences to hand signals. they had this problem in iraq. u.s. soldiers would signal cars to stop. iraqis thought it meant come forward.

Russia is shifting away from its overall support of the Assad regime

“We have never said that Assad will remain in power,” let it be known, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilow. Munzer Hallum, an opposition from the Democratic Forum of Syria, described the shift in Moscow’s attitude this way: “Russia can now imagine a future without Syria’s Assad Initially there was something like a wall..”

Hallum is only since August in Moscow, he had been involved in the uprising against Syria and Assad, a group called “Together for a democratic and free Syria,” directed. After his family was threatened, he fled to Russia to friends. He now links the Syrian insurgents with the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The fact that the Russian side also now gives more attention to the Syrian opposition, confirmed Mahmud al-Hamza. As a member of the Syrian National Council, he has attended three talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.”

http://translate.google.at/translate?hl=de&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.welt.de%2Fpolitik%2Fausland%2Farticle106447991%2FRussland-kann-sich-Syrien-ohne-Assad-vorstellen.html

an other interesting article on the alawites/ sunni relationships in Tripoli

“On top of the hill they worship Bashar al-Assad: His name adorns the walls of buildings as graffiti, his poster the local cafes. Scrawled “King of Hell” has someone on a poster. It is meant as a compliment.

Down in the valley they hate Assad and his followers from the mountain to the death: “When the rebel war in Syria have won, we will wipe out up there,” say the men who sit in the district of Bab al-Tabbane in the shadow of the houses . You wait for the evening, the next battle in a decades-old guerrilla war, which could soon make headlines worldwide.
The mountain, called Dschabel Mohsen, dominated the Lebanese port city of Tripoli. On it lies about 50,000 people: Alawites, followers of the Islamic Faith Community, a member of the Syrian ruler Assad family. Down in the city itself between mountain and sea life, half a million Sunnis. Most of them are avowed opponents of the Syrian regime.”

http://translate.google.at/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spiegel.de%2Fpolitik%2Fausland%2Fsyrien-konflikt-greift-auf-tripoli-im-libanon-ueber-a-837739.html

189. JUERGEN
logically brag of own traditions instead of strangers
Unisex Marriage
http://cbp.s3.amazonaws.com/img/0/0/2/2/8/3/revt-010-revel-and-riot-unisex-foam-finger-t-shirt-new-silver-d.jpg

Probably the Tunisians just woke up on the fact that they are losing many of their brainwashed youths begin killed in Syria while doing their ‘holy’ ‘war’:

Tunisian spokesman calls on preachers to stop pushing jihad in Syria among the youth
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/tunisian-spokesman-calls-on-preachers-to-stop-pushing-jihad-in-syria-among-the-youth/2012/06/08/gJQAiXsuNV_story.html

182. UZAIR8
the same thump up for you !

Alan
I dont see any connection to what i have posted, does Assadist love go together with political redneck macho airs?

speaking of tattoos:

A disturbing video has surfaced on the Internet in the last 24 hours. It appears to show an alleged Hezbollah follower forcibly tattooing the phrase, “Oh father of Abdullah, Hussein,” a reference to the revered imam of Shia Islam, onto the forehead of an unidentified man who appears to be Syrian.

Depleted Uranium weapons in the hands of the terrorists in Syria, how did they get them without the approvals of the US army?

أدلة قطعية على وجود أسلحة أميركية تستخدم اليورانيوم المنضب والمواد المشعة بين أيدي المسلحين السوريين

المخابرات الجوية صادرت قبل شهرين قاذفا أميركيا يستخدم اليورانيوم المنضب ، ودبابة سورية جرى تدميرها يوم أمس في أريحا بقذيفة تحتوي على هذا النوع من اليورانيوم !؟

دمشق ، محافظات ـ الحقيقة (خاص من : حسين كردي و “ن .ن.”) : في 27 كانون الثاني/ يناير الماضي، نشرت “الحقيقة” تقريرا خاصا كشفت فيه ، استنادا إلى معلومات من مراسلتها في تل أبيب ليا أبراموفيتش وإلى صورة لاستهداف إحدى المدرعات في حمص، وجود قواذف “شيبون” الإسرائيلية المضادة للدروع في أيدي مسلحي “كتيبة الفاروق” الأصولية في حمص. وقد لاقى التقرير صدى إعلاميا لافتا ، مع التشكيك بصحة المعلومات طبعا واعتبارها “طعنا بوطنية المعارضين السوريين”، رغم أن الناطق الإعلامي باسم “الجيش الحر”في إدلب ، حمزة عبد الرحمن ،كان يتبختر قبل ذلك بعدة أشهر برشاش “عوزي” الإسرائيلي ويلتقط معه الصور التذكارية ليضعها على صفحة الفيسبوك الخاصة به!

الآن لدينا دليلان قطعيان على ما هو أخطر من ذلك بكثير ، وهو وجود قواذف أميركية تستخدم قذائف تحتوي على اليورانيوم المنضب والمواد المشعة في رؤوسها الحربية. الدليل الأول هو شريط وصلنا للتو (الأول المنشور جانبا) يظهر عملية استهداف دبابة (أو مدرعة ، فالصورة ليست واضحة تماما) في قلب مدينة أريحا (محافظة إدلب) يوم أمس الخميس. احتراق الدبابة / المدرعة ، وشكل اللهب الصادر عنها وطريقة الانفجار، تؤكد كلها على نحو لا لبس فيه أنها استهدفت بقذيفة تحتوي على اليورانيوم المنضب. وهذا ما يعرفه خبراء الأسلحة جيدا.
{…}
عند مراجعتنا المصادر المعنية بالمبيعات العسكرية عبر العالم ، نرى أن هذا القاذف مباع من قبل الولايات المتحدة إلى العديد من حلفائها في العالم ، ومن ضمنها حلفاؤها في الشرق الأوسط ، وتحديدا : تركيا وإسرائيل. كما أن السلاح استخدم من قبل الجيش الأميركي في العراق.

ليس معلوما بعد مصدر القاذف ، علما بأن مصادر مقربة من “المجلس الوطني السوري”، الذي أصبح للكثير من أعضائه علاقات صريحة لا يخفونها مع إسرائيل، أكدت لـ”الحقيقة” أن “المجلس” تمكن من تزويد مسلحي ذراعه العسكرية (“الجيش السوري الحر”) بحوالي 30 قاذفا أميركيا من الطراز المذكور، فضلا عن قواذف وقناصات حرارية تشترك إسرائيل والحلف الأطلسي في إنتاجها، وسبق لـ”الحقيقة” أن كشفت عن وجودها حين غطت معارك “بابا عمرو” في تقارير خاصة.
{…}
http://www.syriatruth.org/news/tabid/93/Article/7535/Default.aspx

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=400706156648031&set=a.173295672722415.56348.172683116117004&type=1&theater

More from the ‘beloved’ Syriatruth about the massacre in Hama and how it was committed by the armed terrorists militias of fsa:

مئات المسلحين يجتاحون منطقة “الحفة” في ريف اللاذقية ويتركون الأرض وراءهم كعصف مأكول: حرق لجميع مؤسسات الدولة عن بكرة أبيها
حماة ، اللاذقية ـ الحقيقة(خاص) : ريف حماة يستنسخ مجزرة “تاورغاء” الليبية التي اقترفتها عصابات الإسلام الأطلسي وظلت طي الكتمان حتى افتضح أمرها ، قليلا فقط، خلال الأسابيع الأخيرة! هذا ما يمكن قوله دون تردد عندما يرى المرء شريط الجثث المتفحمة في منطقة كفر زيتا ـ القبير بريف حماة ، التي عثر عليها صباح أمس الأربعاء وعاينها الطبيب الشرعي! وبحسب تقرير الطبيب الشرعي، فإن الجريمة وقعت عند العاشرة من صباح أمس . وقال مصدر محلي صديق من “آل رستناوي” في بلدة “مورك” المجاورة لكفر زيتا في اتصال مع”الحقيقة” مساء أمس “إن الجهة المسلحة الوحيدة التي كانت في المنطقة صباح اليوم(أمس) هي مجموعات مسلحة تتبع لكتائب أحرار الشام (جبهة النصرة) وكتائب ابن الخطاب ، ولم نلحظ حصول اشتباك بالأسلحة الثقيلة في تلك المنطقة في هذا التوقيت”. وأوضح بالقول” صودف إني كنت عائدا بسيارتي إلى مورك في ذلك التوقيت من اللطامنة بعدما قضيت ليلتي عند صديق، ولم ألحظ وجود أية اشتباكات بالأسلحة الثقيلة هناك . سمعت فقط تبادلا متقطعا لإطلاق النار بأسلحة كان واضحا أنها رشاشة . عندما وصلت إلى تخوم بلدة كفرزيتا ، كان المسلحون يعجون في المنطقة ، وعندها أقفلت راجعا ، لكنهم لحقوا بي بسبب الشبهة ، فاضطررت للتوقف ، حيث تركوني أعود أتابع سيري بعد أن عرفوا أني من مورك ، ولست علويا شبيحا حسب تعبيرهم”!
يشار إلى أن الجريمة تأتي قبل ساعات من انعقاد جلسة لمجلس الأمن ، وهو أمر أصبح يتكرر في الآونة الأخيرة على نحو لافت كما كان يحصل في لبنان بعد العام 2005 ، إذ كانت كل جلسة تسبتق بعملية تفجير أو اغتيال لإحدى الشخصيات اللبنانية!
{…}
http://www.syriatruth.org/news/tabid/93/Article/7528/Default.aspx

A Syrian man involved in arming the deserters said the main source for weapons “is the Syrian army itself.”
“With the corruption that has infested the country, you can buy a lot from the army,” he said. “I heard of one case where a whole arms depot was being offered to be cleared but there were no takers because it was feared it could be a trap.”

it’s plausible that some of the weapons russia shipped in could wind up in fsa’s hands. how ironic is that? russia could inadvertently be arming the rebels.

a regime so chaotic and undisciplined that it isn’t even able to hang on to their own arsenal – isn’t long for this world.

Omen

My God.  This is awfully disturbing!  As disturbing as the act of killing.  This ruined my day…I thought the alawite Shabeeha are a class of their own.  I am so saddened to see that the Shiaa are that criminal and hateful.

I realize not all Alawites are shabeeha.  I do not know if this criminal represents part or most of his sect.  What an animal!

It takes the patience of Job not to hate everyone .

I think I now hate everyone.  

Tara

dont think in stereotypes, i think the hisbollah movement can be seen as the cancer of shia islam, same applies for the salafiya movement in sunni islam.

Are those who behead other people in the name of Almighty Allah a representative of the Sunnis? Of course not!
So why to take the sectarianism to its max unless the person is highly sectarian from the core.
Whoever did any of those horrific and disgusting crimes and actions are nothing but a paid agent to make a sectarian strife and they don’t even know anything about Allah. Period.

@jad

I gotta say i’m usually impressed by the articles you post, but please don’t trust people like Lehmann, these people, Hoerstel too, have a very bad rep here (in germany) and usually post a lot of lies. They’re like debka.
Also: the office in Berlin was known of for over a week, for more info on that check out http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/58308 .

The unusually loud German diplomacy right now has only one reason: that Guido Westerwelle is totally incompetent. This view is shared here not only by the entire press and population, but also by prominent former ministers of his own party.

Germany has not really a big problem with bashar, the GIZ (former GTZ) has been very active in syria in the last decade and in 2002 German Federal Police inspectors even brought a German terror suspect to damascus to be tortured.

Lest we get distracted by reports of the chaos in Lybia and the doom and gloom surrounding the fate of Egypt and the conflict in Abyieh in Sudan and the world press conspiracy let me bring the following review of the news from the pro regime side

http://rt.com/politics/putin-anti-rally-law-384/

http://arabic.rt.com/news_all_news/news/587027/

http://arabic.rt.com/news_all_news/news/587026/

http://www.champress.net/index.php?q=ar/Article/view/1442

http://www.champress.net/index.php?q=ar/Article/view/1439

http://www6.almanar.com.lb/adetails.php?eid=250729&cid=21&fromval=1&frid=21&seccatid=23&s1=1

http://www.addounia.tv/

Addounia on its front page has the Koudsaya bomb and nothing on the massacre

AlManar has a small paragraph of armed terrorists committing the massacre

RT in both English and Arabic has nothing about the massacre and only about talks. As a matter of fact RT has both Syrians flags together.

So on top of the lack of UN and independent media being able to report directly from Syria we have versions of what is happening on the ground.

I have a source that just left Syria for the time period as he sent his family away more than 6 months ago and stayed behind to take care of other family members and he tells me that there are check points in Malki and in Abou Rummaneh and Mezzeh and districts that are close to the President’s home.

He tells me that there is breakdown in law and order on a scale not seen recently

If you also read Cham Press you can see that the economic situation is in shambles.

So what gives?

Some think that time is on the side of the regime and that Russia is giving more cover by calling for this International meeting while the aim is to crush the rebellion once and for all.

Is it possible to do so? how much violence do people think is needed to crush the rebellion? What happens after? Will people be enslaved? Will there be some fundamental reforms? Will anyone be brought to justice? Who is going to pay for reconstruction? How will the country return to the international arena?

If as is likely the rebellion continues, the violence seems to deepen the crisis what options does Russia have as it wants to hold the card no matter what? If Fredo goes into exile what happens to his entourage/ Will they defect, kill him, go with him, have a coup and replace him?

Instead of cut and paste from dubious second hand sources I would like to have the discussion move to the next level.

Two more things; truth and reconciliation commission and I would invite Tutu and the South Africans for that and second minority protection to avoid revenge killings and fair trials for the criminals.

KARABENNEMSI
Thank you very much for the explanation, I really appreciate any information that helps me to understand the media better.

199. JUERGEN
this is your post about ME cultur :
funny cartoon about hijab
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=392195430816706&set=at.184094914960093.33379.168639329838985.618015978&type=1&theater
and this is my recomendation to you to brag of own traditions instead of our
Gay Marriage
Germany legalises gay marriage
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1468031.stm

There are many Syrian in New york, they must go to columbia university, and demonstrate against Assad there, I am sure she has not seen demonstrations against Assad, people must tear Assad pictures . This is not against Columbia University, FBI must watch her too.

http://www.gtz.de/en/aktuell/680.htm

An insight into the Syrian armed opposition’s modus operandi.

http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/hostile-territory/1863

“Instead of cut and paste from dubious second hand sources I would like to have the discussion move to the next level.”

WOW!!
That is a new phase, one of the most anti-dialogue commentator is calling for a ‘Dialogue’/’Discussion’ with the ‘delusional’ after he was making jokes after jokes and attacking anybody who calls for dialogue and a solution for this madness and calling them names and commending others not to even ‘bother’ responding?!
“Do not bother responding to JAD” does that ring a bell?

I’m not sure about other similar ‘delusional’ ‘likes’ to me on SC and who shares some of my views, but I’m more interested to understand how ‘he’ changed his mind and become a ‘dialogue’ person out of the sudden rather than the ‘discussion’ itself that he is calling for, because a discussion with someone who was calling for the segregation of Syria according to sects and ethnicity, which doesn’t even exist in the first place is a useless task.
‘There is no such thing as Syria, JAD and SNK and Irritated and ZOO and the likes…’

See Mr. discussion caller, we are not worth the reply nor the discussion not even worth mentioning our names, we are useless ‘sectarian’ as you called us…we only ‘cut&Past’ BS articles that worth not to even read…
So please go enjoy the discussion with the israelis the Americans and the Europeans and ignore the majority of the Syrians, they are not worth your ‘discussion’ table.

219, 218. JAD
🙂

In Focus → Moscow Presents new Proposals on Syria
http://english.ruvr.ru/radio_broadcast/25369469/77551480.html

The spread of the Syrian revolution according to our Moslem Brotherhood local strategist.

It will only spread to countries where there is majority of Shias.
All “Sunni” countries like, Jordan, KSA, Qatar etc.. will be spared. Why? He is the only one who knows.

http://www.activistpost.com/2012/06/us-un-openly-waging-war-on-syria.html
US & UN Openly Waging War on Syria

TARA, put the brakes on this talk of Syrians being sectarian and haters underneath all along, and how you thought they were “different”. Both things are NOT TRUE.

In fact, you can be proud of most Syrians for being the opposite.
So far, they have been amazingly rational, tolerant, brave and resistant to panic given the economic distress, violence and size of the manipulation and provocation from the “leadership”.

Everybody, everywhere in the history of the world will suddenly see enemies in the next street when they feel under economic or physical threat and propagandists fire them up.

And I mean everywhere. For quick, clear lessons you can look at World Wars I and II, when ordinary peaceful communities in countries across the west and Asia brutally turned on those among them they imagined had some connection to the enemy, however far away the battle was being fought.

Massacres of families, local vigilantes, forced ejection from homes, round-ups of “aliens” for prison camps – it’s a dirty chapter in living memory in many, many different countries. Afterwards, it quickly fades with democracy and security, but is always kept by dictatorships as a handy dog to unleash.

Syrians are normal humans suffering abnormal and terrible circumstances.

And so far, they have been doing better than most. We have seen so much strength and powerful decency and dignity, and that many desperately hope they will not find themselves losing trust and becoming afraid of shadows and the people in the next street or village.

It makes me more of a Syria lover than ever.

The Chinese president told Erdogan that China will NOT use the veto next time around.. 

Baku-APA. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has once more reiterated that Syria’s embattled President Bashar al-Assad, formerly good friend of the prime minister, will “sooner or later leave,” urging the international community to cooperate and do “what it needs to do” to end the 15-month long violence, APA reports quoting Today’s Zaman.

In a joint news conference with South African Vice President Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe, Erdoğan said he had a 3.5-hour meeting with Assad in Aleppo in early 2011, where he urged Assad to reform and make steps to democratize the country.

“In fact, there were very good relations with Syria in the past seven and half years. These relations were also blossomed between our families. Both me, President [Abdullah Gül], foreign minister [Ahmet Davutoğlu] matured this relationships,” Erdoğan told reporters.

“But Syrian leader has never honored his promise,” he underlined.

Erdoğan, who several times referred the Syrian president with his first name in a sign of belittling, noted that Assad can silence dissent by killing but the “humanity will never remain silent.”

Turkish prime minister also claimed that Syrian opposition is moving forward in the country while “Bashar is surviving by the help of few countries.”

Saying that the entire world is against the Syrian president, Erdoğan said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the UN General Assembly that Assad has lost all his legitimacy.

Ban said each day in Syria sees more “grim atrocities” and for many months it has been evident that Assad and his government “have lost all legitimacy.”

Stressing that Turkey will never remain silent in the face of mass killings in Syria, Erdoğan said Assad will sooner or later leave and he is now preparing his end. He added that “you already know which countries are helping him.”

Erdoğan said the most immediate need in Syria is to end this massacre, recalling the mass killings in a farmland in Hama province.
…
Erdoğan said joint UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan’s latest remarks is a clear evidence that promises of the Syrian government are not honored. He added that UN’s Ban implied during his speech before the General Assembly on Thursday that Annan peace plan has come to an end, adding that these are signs of the start of a new process, without elaborating.

He noted that Chinese President Hu Jintao told him during his China visit that China will not use veto with respect to Syria, adding that he doesn’t know if China will live up to its promise. He said he is planning to make diplomatic overtures, if possible, with Russia to urge Moscow to help end violence in Syria.

…more
http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=173375

And maybe some of the pro-regime commentators here are otherwise normal people who are desperate and/or in denial at seeing their comfortable personal world and networks threatened by opposition to Assad.

Moderator

Time for banning people for personal attacks.

SyriaLover,
Very well said in #226 I have the exact same feeling toward the majorities of the Syrians.

Jad, every single person in Syria who was previously not involved in violence and corruption is a victim, even when they turn to these things to survive.

The Syrian way should be to understand and accept that when this nightmare is over. I believe Syrians can do it.

Syrian TV to Broadcast Documentary on Damascus Terrorist Bombings

Jun 08, 2012

DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Syrian TV is set to broadcast a documentary shedding light on the Damascus terrorist bombings and those behind it on Saturday after the 8:30 PM news.

The documentary includes interviews with families of victims and relatives of the terrorists who carried out the terrorist attacks.

H. Sabbagh

http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2012/06/08/424258.htm

*******************************************************************

Oh man, it probably clashes with the Euro tie Germany v Portugal.

227. Uzair8

¨The documentary includes interviews with families of victims and relatives of the terrorists who carried out the terrorist attacks.¨

I wonder which relatives of terrorists who carried the attacks will apear on TV, the sister of Assef Shawkat or maybe the wife of Maher Al Assad…

Feekum personal attacks go against the rules of Syria Comment, if you continue to choose to do so I will regretfully place you under moderation for one week.

SC Moderator

You have to be barmy to stomach some of the sh*te these blokes are selling, a bunch of chinese whisper is all it is.

Snake oil for sale, get your snake oil!
It’s AhmadinaJAD approved!

Don’t you love it, I mention nothing about religion and thisbugger assumes I am a sectarian thug! You got me all sussed out youcheeky moneky.

Note to AhmadinaJAD about this sectarian thug. you got your facts arse about face mate, my pop is an Alawi from Tartous and my mum an Anglican from Manchester. If I am sectarian it would be against Sunnis, but unlike you who is a sectarian wanker I don’t suffer from Bashar Syndrome AKA Sunni Phobia.

MOD I dont put my email in an obvious bashar lovers den, you want to censor me go ahead, I already know what to expect its ok to attack sunnis but dear old me regime lovers wont stand for one word to be said about the minorities.

Well as my Syrian half is Alawi I will say what nobady can dare to say, we are being hijacked and our youth are being used and manipulated by a bunch of cheeky bastards that never cared about their alawi heritage. I am more scared by what these liars are doing to my people than what comes afterwards, because what we are doing now WILL AFFECT US AFTERWORDS.

Jad personal attacks go against the rules of Syria Comment, if you continue to choose to do so I will regretfully place you under moderation for one week.

SC Moderator

The terror wave and the killing of innocent Syrians and the destroying of the infrastructure of the state continues with the help of every terrorist organization and every lunatic in the world,***Feek, enjoy your bloody ‘revo’:

Five Law Enforcement Members and 3 Civilians Martyred in 2 Terrorist Bombings in Damascus Countryside and Idleb

http://www.sana.sy/servers/gallery/201206/20120608-145420_h424191.jpg

‘Terrorist Group Sabotages High Voltage Converting Station in al-Qaboun

An armed terrorist group on Friday targeted in a sabotage operation a high voltage converting station in al-Qaboun area.

Minister of Electricity Imad Khamis told SANA reporter that the firefighters managed to extinguish the fire which was resulted from the sabotage act and caused a heavy black smoke emitting.

Khamis said this station supplies a number of Damascus and its countryside areas.

” The initial estimate of damages amounted to more than 200 million SYP, and the work is underway to supply the areas which the electricity was cut off in from alternate stations, ” the Minister added.

He said that maintenance teams started the work to repair the station and replace the burned converters to re-run them in three days.”
http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2012/06/08/424191.htm

http://mow.gov.sy/

Revolt in Syria is still growing
Tue 5 Jun 2012

As the West discusses a “military option” in Syria, Simon Assaf examines how developments in the revolutionary movement are deepening the revolt

[…]

The most significant developments are taking place inside the revolution itself. The popular calls for outside intervention, beyond that of humanitarian aid, have faded.

[…]

The massacre in Houla was a major turning point. A call for protest strikes by the revolutionary leadership inside the LCCs has tapped into growing mood of disgust with the regime among sections of the population that have, until now, remained passive.

[…]

The strikes began in the capital Damascus and spread quickly to other parts of the country, including the major industrial and commercial centre of Aleppo.

It is in this city that has seen the most significant development over the past week.

Read more:

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=28731

As the rockets and shells rain down over Damascus, I pray for everyone I know my heart is bleeding for you. Allah ye7mekoum

Russia Vows to Block Any UN Mandate for Intervention in Syria
The Russian FM denounced efforts of foreign meddlers to bring down Assad
by John Glaser

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Thursday stated unequivocally there would be no UN Security Council mandate for outside interventionin Syria, making clear Moscow would use its veto to block any military action.

“There will not be a Security Council mandate for outside intervention, I guarantee you that,” Lavrov told reporters, while speaking out against efforts by the U.S. and its allies to bring down the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

“Either we gather everyone with influence at the negotiating table or once again we depart into ideology… where it is declared shamelessly that everything is the fault of the regime, while everyone else are angels and therefore the regime should be changed,” he said.

As Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma and an expert on Syria, wrote in Foreign Policy this week, “Let’s be clear: Washington is pursuing regime change by civil war in Syria. The United States, Europe, and the Gulf states want regime change, so they are starving the regime in Damascus and feeding the opposition.”

But Lavrov argued the opposition could not be trusted. ”There are sides in the Syria conflict, especially the so called Syrian National Council, who are saying no negotiations with the regime, only continued armed battle until the Security Council gives a mandate for outside intervention,” he said.
{…}

http://news.antiwar.com/2012/06/07/russia-vows-to-block-any-un-mandate-for-intervention-in-syria/

233. son of Damascus

Are rockets and shells raining down in Damascus today? Is there fight inside Damascus? Any link please. Or did you mean Syria instead of Damascus?

#186 USEONE

“Iraqi civilians were caused mostly by insurgents harbored, trained and armed in Syria in collaboration with Iran”

The insurgents were 100% Sunnis extremists, the exact enemies of Syria and Iran and the best friends of KSA and Qatar.
That is as absurd as saying that USA is training Palestinians to kill Israelis.

Not sure about Damascus but something seems to be happening in daraa balad:

http://twitter.com/#!/sherbalkis

#222. Tara

One veto is enough and while Erdogan hopes that China won’t, Russia has reaffirmed it firmly.
Time for Erdogan to backpedal and court Russia as if he continues his aggressive rhetoric, he will soon be invited to send troops to bring the FSA soldiers he sponsored back to their camps in Hatay.

Sandro,

I was one the phone with my family the shelling and rocket sounds seem to be happening in barzeh but the thuds are clearly audible in the heart, so much so that I heard it over the phone. I heard automatic gun fire that sounded awfully close to my family (they live near Sahet el Rawda).

I have only what I heard from them and over the phone, I wish I had more information I am very worried for the safety of my family.

#239 SOD

Does your family prefers the Syrian army or the FSA to protect them?

Lets’ s get our drones and Turkish troops in action before a civil war breaks out.

Why a Syrian Civil War Would Be a Disaster For U.S. National Security
Robert Satloff
June 7, 2012 | 7:04 pm
http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/103951/why-syrian-civil-war-would-be-disaster-us-national-security
…

For Washington, the potential fallout of these scenarios is truly frightening. Chemical or biological weapons in the hands of Alawite vigilantes, Islamist terrorists or criminal gangs. Full-scale fighting along Syria’s borders. The release of pent-up ethnic and religious hatreds in Lebanon or Jordan. A renewal, after forty quiet years, of shooting between Syria and Israel. Military victory for what might eventually become the jihadist-dominated rebels leading to the establishment of Taliban-style rule in Damascus and the possible creation of a breakaway Alawite canton in the mountains of Latakia
…
Such resolve could include a mix of cyberwarfare, to interfere with Syrian government communications efforts; unmanned drones, to target key installations and weapons depots; air power, to establish and defend safe zones; and a manned element based in neighboring states, to execute a train and equip mission to support rebel forces. At the same time, it is essential that the United States, teamed with Arab, Turkish and other allies, inject urgency and energy into the task of upgrading the cohesion and message of the Syrian political opposition, so that there is a clear answer to the important question of what comes in the wake of Assad’s demise.

more…

عاجل : دمشق اصوات الانفجارات والاشتباكات الى الان في الاحياء التاليةالميدان – المزة – عدوي – الروضة – برامكة – شارع بغداد – برزة – القابون – زملكا -ضاحية قدسيا – الميسات – ركن الدين – جوبر.
An hour ago

#239 These shooting sounds you heard on the phone had been a DAILY routine for the last two months in Damascus and its suburbs, it’s EVERY NIGHT from after 11pm until 2-3-4am with bombs, some of them are RPG and some are sound bombs by the ‘angels’ of fsa, and sometimes at exactly 7am, some bombs in some car in some civilian neighbourhood will go off like the one we had today in Qudsaya killing innocent Syrians.
I guess, some of us don’t believe until they start to face reality…Welcome to the real world!

Uzair8,

Dera’a ElBalad is seeing a massacre, so far over 20 people reported dead by indiscriminate shelling. Snipers are reportedly shooting at anyone trying to approach the hospital as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1PziP6KXjU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TxLE2x-rss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWKYd57xBY4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvNw6pr5sy4

Russia’s choices

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-07/syria-could-unite-russia-and-china-against-the-u-s-.html

….
What can Russia do? There are just two options. One is to stick to the current approach
…
The alternative would be based on an idea recently invoked by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
Lavrov and most recently his deputy, Gennady Gatilov, have said they would be willing to accept a solution that involves Assad’s departure, so long as that doesn’t involve a foreign military intervention. This is, potentially, a point of convergence between the U.S. and Russia.
…
Instead, the U.S. should make it clear to Russia that it doesn’t foresee military intervention or forced regime change in Syria, and that it would lean heavily on the opposition in Syria to agree to talks and a political transition with the regime in Damascus, though not with Assad.

Russia, for its part, should tell Assad: Your time is up, we will no longer ship arms to a government involved in a civil war, and the only thing we can do for you now is to help negotiate your safe passage out of the country. Letting go of Assad at this point, while encouraging members of the Syrian military not implicated in atrocities to take over and open talks with the opposition, would not plunge Syria into a civil war — that has already begun. What it might do is shorten the conflict and save lives. If lives are more important than regimes — and they are — then this is the path to follow.

more…

Irritated,

you want to insult me go ahead keep my family out of this.

#243
إذا كرهتني ما رح أكرهك مو لأني أحسن منك بس ما بدي أشعر أو اتبادل بنفس المشاعر معك

http://www.rt.com/news/bahrain-rajab-arrest-protests-424/

Bahraini police battled the biggest anti-government protests in weeks as tens of thousands of protesters rallied in support of Nabeel Rajab. The activist was arrested again reportedly because of posts on social networks.

Police fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse protesters. There have been no reports of injuries so far.

Opposition activists called for massive rallies after the new arrest of Rajab, the president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, earlier this week.

#246 SOD

Sorry, no intention of insult. I guess you prefer not to answer, which is an answer by itself.

Jad,

The rebels have attacked and bombed the electricity distribution station in Barzeh that explains the heavy fighting going on there to night from 10 p.m to 2 a.m
The Syrian army were there to stop them.
………………………………………

In Damascus, government troops clashed with defectors from the Free Syrian Army in the Kfar Souseh district in some of the worst fighting yet in the capital. The clashes were a clear sign that the ragtag rebel group has succeeded in taking its fight into the regime’s base of power.

“I’ve been hearing shooting and explosions for hours now and can see smoke rising from the area,” a witness who spoke on condition of anonymity for security concerns told The Associated Press.
http://news.yahoo.com/un-team-sees-massacre-syrian-village-210405702.html

The Assad Milicias were there to stop them. But could not stop them. The syrian army destroyed the electicity station.

The UN monitors were allowed access to al-Qubair today, 2days after the massacre.  Enough time for the regime to whitewash the evidence.  What is the regime excuse of not allowing them then?  Concerns in regard to their safety? What happened to the elusive “armed gangs” threatening the safety of the observers?  They suddenly disappeared via a miracle?  Why is the regime no longer concerned about their safety?  It is clear that the safety concern is a cover up to give the regime enough time to destroy the evidence.     

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/08/un-syria-monitors-al-qubair

UN monitors on Friday entered for the first time the Syrian village where up to 78 people were reportedly killed in cold blood on Wednesday, the latest in a series of atrocities that have underlined the gravity of the escalating crisis.
More

Zoo,
The terrorists armed groups are attacking the Syrian Army and residential neighbourhoods every night for the last two months, so the army retaliate when possible, they already destroyed the life in all Syrian cities, tonight is a bit more intense than usual, because the mercenaries got some orders to do it and if they got killed, the cries ‘massacre’ will be the only word we hear as if those terrorists have the permission to kill people and nobody should touch them…because they are ‘holy’…

#246, Why to hate you or to hate anybody else, I have no reason and I never had any hatred toward anybody, I hate .hate’ itself, because it’s the core of all kind of evil.
Hatred is a commitment and we can see that by some and we have couple of them on SC already.
I was merely explaining to everybody through your comment, what’s going on for the last two months, there was nothing about ‘feelings’ in my comment at all.

Damascus, welcome home girlfriend. It is high time…

Dear SOD,

وقل لن يصيبنا إلّا ماكتب الله لنا . Have no fear. I too have family in Damascus.

Some info about what´s happening in Damascus tonight.

http://youkal.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53751%3A2012-06-08-23-34-38&catid=54%3A2011-04-29-12-25-44&Itemid=126

Assad take your flight to Moscow as the traitor you are.

If hits in Damascus intensify in time and violence we can still dream of Assad Jahsh Wahsh II leaving power.

Tara,

كل شيء بقدر الله و امكانه، الله يحفظ الشعب و يخلصنا من هل سفاح

Notice the white shoes…are they Shabbiha disguised in FSA or the other way around?
Syria rebels preparing for war
http://gulfnews.com/news/region/syria/syria-rebels-preparing-for-war-1.1033514
Fighters lose faith in peace plan and are using the time to rearm for a bigger conflict

…
“The final battle is going to be in Damascus, just like it was in Tripoli,” in Libya, Jumaa said.

Arab League’s letter to Security Council on Syria: Act under Chapter 7
7 June 2012 
النص الرسمي لقرار المجلس الوزاري العربي بدعوة مجلس الأمن الى التصرف بموجب الفصل السابع لحماية المدنيين  أنقر هنا.
 
…
     I have the honour to transmit herewith resolution No. 7507, dated 2 June 2012, adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at the ministerial level, concerning developments in the situation in Syria. The resolution calls upon the Security Council to take forthwith all the necessary measures to protect Syrian civilians and impose a complete cessation of all acts of violence and crimes committed against the Syrian people. The international observers in Syria must be granted all the powers necessary to enable them to undertake the mandate that has been delegated to them, and the plan of the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States must be implemented immediately and in full, within a specific time frame.
I hope that you will take the action that you deem to be appropriate with regard to the circulation to Security Council member States of the resolution which is annexed hereto, and that it may be considered an official document of the Security Council.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

(Signed) Nabil Elaraby
Secretary General
http://un-report.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/arab-league-letter-to-security-council.html

Heavy fighting reported in Damascus
Zoi Constantine
Jun 9, 2012
http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/heavy-fighting-reported-in-damascus
mascus

….
About 600,000 people took part in marches in the province of Hama yesterday, said a Syrian opposition activist in Turkey.

“There were protests all over the province,” Omar Shawaf said, adding that Syrian security forces bombarded parts of Latakia after protests there.

“Half of Latakia is under fire. Protests are growing by the day.”

Ok. Come on now. I wear a white sneaker to the gym everyday.

I think I was an FSA fighter reincarnated into Tara.

#258 Tara

It’s a copy of the Libyan resolution calling for foreign intervention.
No western country seems ready for a military adventure in Syria unless they decide to use drones and the Turkish army to give a hand to the FSA. It will take time, in the mean time revegenful acts will proliferate.

#260 Tara

It may well be.. but do you believe in reincarnation now?

Al Mayadeen Tv: New Kid on the Block

By: Bassem Alhakim
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/al-mayadeen-tv-new-kid-block
Published Monday, June 4, 2012

The new satellite news channel, launching June 11, is promising to be an independent and unbiased commentator.
…
The channel is intent on “broadcasting the most precise information possible, the news we receive and what our cameras prove,” says the chairperson of the board of directors and director of programs, Ghassan Ben Jeddo. Ben Jeddo stresses the channel’s objective and unbiased approach.

Concerning the station’s launch next Friday,
Ben Jeddo says: “I wanted it to be in one of the Palestinian refugee camps since Jerusalem will be our point of reference and our central cause, but the guys convinced me of the need to hold the press conference in a closed room and so we decided to have it at the Bristol Hotel.”

The Tunisian journalist distances himself from the sharp division in Arab politics “which is no longer a legitimate political division as it is threatening the region and its stability.”

He alludes that that he will not fall in the “trap” that Al Jazeera fell into by abandoning professional standards, which is what led him to resign from the station over a year ago.
..
The channel will include prominent Lebanese journalists such as Kulaib, Zahi Wehbe, Lina Zahreddine, Lana Mudawwar, Muhammad Alloush, Ahmad Abu Ali and Dina Zarkat. In addition to two Syrian journalists, Ramia Ibrahim and Futoun Abbasi, Palestinian Kamal Khalaf and Ahmad Sobh, and Yemeni Mona Safwan.
freedom at the channel will be unparalleled anywhere else and we have no taboos except ethical standards

The head of the reporters division, Ali Hashem, says “the channel will have offices in Arab and world capitals.” There are offices in Beirut, Washington, New York, London and Moscow.

The channel will also have a regional office in Tunisia, equipped to broadcast news and other programs, another in Cairo with three reporters and a big studio, and a third in Tehran.
more…

More…

Zoo

Well, the literal interpretation of the 72 virgins promised to men only, does not suite me. I am looking for an interpretation that I like.

Forgive me God.

#264 Tara

Easy, reincarnate in a man…

Jad,

Why to hate me or anyone else? I don’t know that is a question you need to ask yourself not me. Twice you attacked me when I never alluded to you at all.

You tell me to shove a slipper in my mouth then instead of showing a little bit of concern over my post (or even not saying anything at all) you chose to write that I don’t live in reality or the real world.

Thats fine, I just won’t share or even feel those same sentiments with you, I don’t care to.

Zoo

Very clever! And funny..

That is not what I meant. I think it is rather a punishment. 72 is a burden. There is only one person that your heart can ache for… but what do I know.

Syrian workers are leaving Lebanon in masses..

Syrian workers terrorized
However, always terrified, the Syrian workers continue to flee Lebanon, the kidnapping of Shiite pilgrims in the Aleppo region mid-May increasingly affectring their situation. Last weekend, the exodus of thousands of Syrian workers to their countries after war had begun due to the intimidation they suffered in the southern suburbs and Bekaa. Now it is in southern Lebanon that they are being targeted: in Hula (a village in South of Lebanon), handwritten leaflets were distributed, signed by “free men of Hula.” They threaten the Syrian workers who “dare” stay in the village. “This time, the leaflets are written in ink, the next time they will be with your blood”, highlight the text, calling on workers to leave the town within 24 hours.

http://www.lorientlejour.com/category/%C3%80+La+Une/article/762998/Pour_le_Hezbollah%2C_la_chute_d%27Assad_generait_la_resistance.html

267. Tara

Would you object to 72 non virgin muscled men waiting for you?

Zoo

The Syrian worker are threatened by whom exactly? HA?

9. MAJEDKHALDOUN said:
It is strange
Joshua is saying US is helping the opposition, suggesting that US is arming the FSA, while the FSA has denied receiving specific weapons from USA, and infact they have very simple weapons only, the most they have is simple guns and RPG, I was told that their weapons are inferior to Assad army weapons.they said SNC got the money from KSA but trickle got to the FSA. Who should we believe?The facts on ground suggest the FSA is not getting enough help from outside. USA is talking,only talking,and it is for purpose of winning political campaign only. 8:00 am
.

i, too, suspect a lot of washington rhetoric is bs. a reporter on cnn said the rebels he saw in one town were ill equipped. they didn’t even have communication equipment the u.s. promised. but that case might that might not be representative. other brigades in other areas sound like they are better equipped, as these clashes in latakia and damascus being reported on this thread suggests. even if the borders have been tightened, making arms traffic difficult, the rebels are managing to obtain weapons from regime depots through the backdoor. the fsa aren’t waiting around for foreign help and are managing to ratchet up their effectiveness.

watch a tank go boom!

there are countless videos like this.
how many tanks does the regime have?
at this rate, they’re going to run out soon.

Zoo@269

That is the whole premise in the Turkish soap opera and it’s soft power in the Arab world. The theme has always been 2 and sometimes 3 very handsome men dying for this one woman and she may or may not like any. It is never the other way around.

i wonder if this recent tactic, of sending in shabiha to finish off the killing, is because the regime realizes they can’t rely on shelling alone because inventory is starting to run low. or they realize they’re going to have to ration their output or risk running out.

the regime shelling hour after hour, as been reported, you’re going to deplete your inventory.

3eni,
-When you post a picture of a slipper directed at me, you will get it back, it’s just fair.
-I already wrote you a reply to all your attacks last time but your friend WSS didn’t show it.
-Again, I was merley telling you and others that this fsa terrorist attackes are happening every night what’s wrong or insensitive in that
At the moment I, too, not interested in sharing any feeling with you, it’s mutual, don’t worry.

272. Tara

That’s in the Middle east. In the West, it’s the other way around.

Tara #270

As the Lebanese Shias kidnapped by the FSA have yet not been released and no one know their fate, I guess the Lebanese Shias as a whole are angry and are retaliating by kicking out the Syrians who are supportive of the FSA. I am sure many neutral poor Syrian workers are also paying the price.

I also read that in Tripoli, the Sunni Lebanese, first welcoming, are becoming fed up with the anti-regime Syrians activists who are involved in lucrative arms smuggling and create tensions in their city..
Overall it seems that anti-regime Syrians are not welcomed in Lebanon anymore.

Some really do not get it.

The websites I mentioned are from pro regime sites and from Russian sites to show that you can tell by reading information that
1. Russia may be in dilemma about what to do or

2. Russia does not give a hoot what happens to Syria and Syrians as long as it maintains a foothold in the ME.

3. Russia want to have a bargaining chip by appearing to negotiate the containment of the crisis in Syria into an implosion rather than an explosion.

4. There is no dialogue with a regime that failed in ushering in any reforms and is using daily massive power to crush a legitimate revolution.

5. If the regime prevails for a while it will be short lived and at such a price that for all practical purposes it will be severely weakened and I doubt very much that it will prevail

6. Once it falls it is very likely that revenge killings may happen and therefore to pre empt further bloodshed and reprisals a truth and reconciliation commission is in need of being ready to act immediately.

7. The discourse that there are armed terrorist groups that are operating daily and that the armed forces are being forced to respond in kind is the ultimate in cruelty and the ultimate insult to the intelligence of man and to the dignity of humanity.

8. The regime cannot protect Syrians if one were to believe the narrative and therefore the logical conclusion is that it needs help and needs more observers and more monitors to check on the breakdown of the ceasefire. I challenge every regime apologist on this post to tell us why more observers and more monitors and more independent media outlets are not allowed in and why humanitarian aid is not allowed into the country and why the Red Crescent and the Red Cross are not allowed to operate in the stricken areas.

9. Every massacre that is reported and according to the shameful Sana and regime propagandists is never followed by a visit from the interior minister or the Red Crescent or the Red Cross or even UN team

10. Explain to us where did these massive terrorist groups come from? How come they operate freely? Where do they get their support? Who funds them? How come they are in Deir and Deraa and Duman and Homs and Rastan and Latakia and Idlib and Bab Alhwa and Aleppo and Hama and Kamshli? How is it possible that they escaped the vigilant work of the 17 security services that operate freely and under the state of emergency and under the old constitution that exempted them from prosecution while “performing their duties”.

11. Even those regime apologists and supporters are at worst silent or at best now recognizing the brutality of the regime. Atwan in his Op-Ed clearly puts the blame on the regime and its militias in the brutality of the massacres.

12. The shrill of some on this blog is truly telling of the desperation of the regime in trying to justify the abhorrent and the unjustifiable.

“Dudes” and” Keepers” and “Adoring fans” and “Sanctimonious Apologists” at least read what the other side is saying. My reading of the pro regime sites tells me that the game is UP. Get it?

Cheers

#273 Omen

“i wonder if this recent tactic, of sending in shabiha to finish off the killing, is because the regime realizes they can’t rely on shelling alone because inventory is starting to run low.”

Very good imagination… The reality is much simpler.

Observer
Do you need a drawing? There has been hundred of articles giving you exhaustive explanations. Just go back in SC and read the hated ‘cut and paste’ , that’s where you can find answers.
Just one hint: All the cities and towns you mentioned are strangely close to the borders. Draw your own conclusions.

“10. Explain to us where did these massive terrorist groups come from? How come they operate freely? Where do they get their support? Who funds them? How come they are in Deir and Deraa and Duman and Homs and Rastan and Latakia and Idlib and Bab Alhwa and Aleppo and Hama and Kamshli? How is it possible that they escaped the vigilant work of the 17 security services that operate freely and under the state of emergency and under the old constitution that exempted them from prosecution while “performing their duties”.

Irritated,
Proffesional observers don’t read cut&past news or analyses at all, they are way way way above that ‘human’ activities, they only read their own writings.
BTW, have you ever read for any Syrian celebrating the destruction of Syria other than Ajami and his likes, the neo-con and the zionests?
I haven’t until recently…unbelievable!

“-When you post a picture of a slipper directed at me, you will get it back, it’s just fair.”

Directed at you? Why are you the newscaster that got hit in the face with the slipper? If so I will ask the Moderator to take it down immediately, I linked the picture because it was humours and since the newscaster was hit in Aleppo and Halabi being well Halabi, and me being shami. The fact that you were insulted by it is your problem not mine, you are the one seeing insults that are not there, I did not mention you or even allude to you, I just tried to put a smile on a commentators mouth that was exposed to your usual tirades.

“-I already wrote you a reply to all your attacks last time but your friend WSS didn’t show it.”

Sorry to break it to you, you have a history of attacking and bullying other commentators, if WSS chose to place your comments in the trash bin I am sure he had his reasons to do so, and his friendship or lack thereof with me or anyone else had nothing to do with it. You seem to think its OK to sully anyone that does not agree with you, I won’t stoop to that level, it is my personal choice. I would suggest for you to take a look at my posts and compare them to yours, to really understand what “usual attacks” really mean.

“Again, I was merley telling you and others that this fsa terrorist attackes are happening every night what’s wrong or insensitive in that
At the moment I, too, not interested in sharing any feeling with you, it’s mutual, don’t worry.”

You can tell me and others your “facts” all you like, but when you INSULT ME along the way I won’t sit here and exchange empty pleasantries with you, just keep that in mind. BTW calling someone not in touch with reality or not living in the real world is pretty much calling someone irrational, crazy, illogical and other similar adjectives, which would constitute to being an insult, and a personal attack…

Omen
Syrian army has 1700 tank

The rebels they are gentle reasonable,their virtues are altruism and humanity, they believe in their fight for freedom and dignity, a friend is more dear to them than their own family,they are generous, there where you will understand the meaning of the word in Arabic, Nakhwa, very little to sleep, and very little to eat.
they call each other by “abu flan’you will forget their real name
I truely admire them

278. IRRITATED said: The reality is much simpler.
.

how does that go?

weapons: a handy guide on regime hardware.

SOD
You defiantly have a problem, go have someone else to hassle, I’m not interested with your endless comments and accusations.
I liked the logic that anybody can attack me and I should let it go, why? do you think I care about the feelings of those who attack me at all? I don’t.
I wrote it million times already, if you or anybody else come close to me in an attack you will hear something back with or without the moderator, live with it all of you.

Before I leave you with the usual rant you will come back with, Just a reminder to what you wrote about my comment to Halabi:

لك خيو أش بدك فيو؟!!
هيك وسخت شحاطتك فيو!!!
—————–
140. SON OF DAMASCUS said:

Halabi,

Eh Walla Meskeen inta living in a bubble and all, maybe a message from Midan can lift your poor meskeen spirit up:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chroniclesyrianuprising/7154748461/in/set-72157629992258299

8  16
——————

Yet I’m the bully who is attacking people out of the blue..sure!!
And please don’t ask the ‘fair’ moderator to delete your comment, it’s like deleting history to justif your words against others and he shouldn’t delete any comment that is already written.

What Jad said, that gunfire is heared daily for the last two months is not true, what happened in Damascus today is much more, it lasted more than an hour, and heavy gun battle was going on , and it was in several places, I bet the regime will not sleep well,and we will know more of what happened tomorrow,
The picture from AlBAb, 50 KM east of Aleppo,was a huge demonstration,over 100,000.

Khaldoun,
You are correct that tonight was more than usual but these fights and gun fires and bombing happened every night in Damascus and Aleppo for the last two months, go ask!

test

Alan
you should know by now my stand against salafi/wahabi thinking. I posted this cartoon to mock about their influence on mainstream islam. If that is an inspiration for you to analyse that I am mocking about the ME culture, I may suggest that you seem to be a guy who hides for laughing.

Karabennehmsi

I always thought that you live in Germany. I think when you wrote that many see Westerwelle as an incompetent minsiter, its partly true, but one has to give credit to him that he has improved his skills and work attitude. Sure the German government supported and used the Assad regime, so did the international community, they all got fooled by this eyedoctors smile and like Sarko by his wife. ( a bad guy cant have such a beaty as his wife) I dont know any western government ( except Israel) which boycotted the regime prior to the revolution.

Here is a funny video which made my morning. Two masked guys demolished an Assad statue in midday in Bagdad street in Damascus and threw it afterwards in the garbage. I assume in the near future there will be large dumping grounds filled with Assad pictures and statues from allover Syria. I would love to make an exhibition of the worst Assad pictures, in my travels I have came across some real ugly artworks, but as they say you cant dress a pig and look like a swan…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CNExtyjrVGE

Kafranbel published this photo yesterday:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3804455983630&set=a.2692351901723.2135478.1044280638&type=1&theater

An allusion to Assad’s last speech in which he claimed that any Syrian demonstrators gets 2000 Syrian liras for participating in a demonstration from abroad. And here is the reward, depending on when the demonstration takes place: Evening demo: 2000 Syrian lira Demo on Friday: 4000 Syrian lira Demo Tomorrow: 3000 Syrian lira Armed demonstration: 5000 lira. Banner of Amuda.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=377468372313238&set=a.176959985697412.46458.176847359042008&type=1&theater

Thank god they didn’t elect George Sabra and elected another la2lou2 instead:
3bd Albase6 Sieda the new face of the MBs SNC, which means that the gulf won over EU in taking over the council, we are heading to war, brace yourselves your dreams to destroy Syria will come true in couple weeks:

ذكرت “المستقبل” ان “المكتب التنفيذي لـ”المجلس الوطني السوري” خلص في اجتماعه في احد فنادق اسطنبول، الى التوافق على انتخاب عبد الباسط سيدا رئيساً له خلفاً لبرهان غليون، على ان تلتئم الأمانة العامة للمجلس اليوم لاعلان ذلك والانطلاق منه الى خطوات تنفيذية عدة، وصولاً الى وضع برنامج عمل موحد لسوريا المستقبل”.
وافادت مصادر المجتمعين “للمستقبل” ان “الاجتماع الذي عقد امس في حضور كل أعضاء المجلس الوطني، شهد توافقاً عاماً ومن دون اي تحفظات على انتخاب الناشط الكردي سيدا رئيساً للمجلس”، مشيرة الى انه “شخصية سياسية وأكاديمية فكرية مرموقة، ويملك خبرة واسعة واستثنائية في العمل السياسي والنضالي ويمثل المكون الكردي الذي هو جزء أساسي من مكونات المجتمع السوري”.
وشددت على ان “التوافق على سيدا هو ايضا ترجمة للقاعدة التي حكمت عمل المجلس منذ تأسيسه والقائلة بالتناوب على رئاسته، وما حصل وسيتأكد وسيعلن اليوم خطوة في ذلك الاتجاه”، علماً ان “الخطوة التالية ستكون من خلال بدء العمل لضم كل مكونات “الثورة الوطنية السورية” في اطار المعارضة الموحدة”.

 http://www.elnashra.com/news/show/484559/التوافق-على-انتخاب-الناشط-الكردي-سيدا-رئيسا-للوطني

290. JUERGEN
we are Muslims more suitable for trial in this detail! you representative of the European outlook! and we look for in your comments that valuable instead of this mockery!

UK journalist: Syria rebels led me into death trap

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/UK-journalist-Syria-rebels-led-me-into-death-trap-3620063.php#ixzz1xGyx0Nzk

http://www.rt.com/news/iran-syria-resistance-intervention-441/
Iran: Syrian intervention ‘will be defeated’
../../..
“A conflict in Syria will engulf the region and its main victims will be the people of Syria themselves,” he also noted. “The Zionist regime and the interests of the enemies of Syria are all within range of the resistance fire.”
“The defeat of the enemy at this stage will be a big event and, God willing, we will witness that,” Jazaeri added.
Mashragh earlier reported that Iran’s armed forces had formed a joint war room with officers from “the resistance,” which includes Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, which controls parts of Lebanon.
Brigadier General Mohammed Reza Naqdi, the head of Iran’s Basij militia who was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for alleged human rights abuses, said Tehran would not tolerate foreign interference to topple President Bashar al-Assad. He alleged that the United States was considering taking action in Syria to protect Israel.
../../..

I dont know if you all have seen this video of an saudi women get harassed by the obnoxious religious police (with the license never to smile) for her nail manicure. Very funny. The saudi authorities have acknowledged that this officer was going too far.

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/idf-preparing-for-conflict-in-lebanon/2012/06/06/
IDF Preparing for Conflict in Lebanon
By: Solomon Burke
Published: June 6th, 2012
Col. Shmulik Olensky, commander of the “Barak” armored brigade on Israel’s northern front, said that the Israel Defense Force is “dealing with extensive preparations for fighting in Lebanon.”

Speaking at a conference earlier in the week about the First Lebanon War, Olensky said that the next “Lebanon war is going to be different, different from the first and second…There are no longer Christian villages in the south, all have become Hizbollah military compounds, found at every level and in every village. At the entry areas, there will be observation officers and anti-tank missiles.

“A flare-up in Lebanon can occur at any time,” Col. Olensky said. “Therefore we are preparing as much as possible, with unique plans, improved models, and joint training.”

The conference was held in the shadow of increasing concerns that the crisis in Syria will spill over into its notoriously-sectarian neighbor Lebanon. Already, a recent intra-Muslim clash in Tripoli left two Sunni clergymen dead. Adding to the volatility are recent threats by high-level Iranian officials that Western military intervention in Syria will result in an attack on Israel. Taken together, there is substantial concern that Hizbollah will be called on to do Iran’s bidding and attack Israel…/../..

OBSERVER #277

I completely agree with you. And you’ve apparently hit a sore point that gave Irritated a surge of irritation.

And for those who keep telling us terrorists were either controlling or freely running in and out of the massacre locations, I say, sorry, I can’t follow what you’re saying. I’m too busy looking at the satellite images proving the Syrian army was encircling those areas, and reading survivor and witness accounts from non-controlled sources.

It will be telling when the dust has settled in those areas to see who has grabbed whose land.

Juergen #295, thanks that video of the Saudi lady cheered me up.

I know a few feisty Syrian ladies who could be her sisters.

I like the bit where she dismissively tells the religions police donkeys that she’s just sent a film of them in action to twitter and facebook.

She makes them look so out of their depth and ridiculous.

Syrialover

arabellion may come to the saudis through lipsticks and manicured fingernails…

294
http://www6.almanar.com.lb/adetails.php?fromval=1&cid=21&frid=21&eid=250879
“إسرائيل” تجري تدريبات استعداداً لدخول “الوحل اللبناني”
يجري جيش العدو الصهيوني تدريبات موسعة للواء “جفعاتي” في مناورات تحاكي شن هجوم بريّ على الأراضي اللبنانية، حسبما ذكرت صحيفة “هآرتس” الصهيونية.

وقالت الصحيفة إن التدريبات أُجريت في معسكر “الكيام” الواقع وسط الأراضي المحتلة، وتضمنت التعامل مع تضاريس لأراضٍ تشبه إلى حد كبير قرى جنوب لبنان. كما جرى إعداد خنادق ومخابئ أرضية مشابهة لما يُعده حزب الله بحسب فرضيات العدو الصهيوني. وتم نشر قوات من القناصة ووحدات الصواريخ وكأنها معدة لاستهداف الكيان، فيما تقدمت وحدات لواء “جفعاتي” بحسب سيناريو يفترض وجود قرار من قيادة جيش العدو بالتحرك البري باتجاه الجنوب اللبناني وتخطي الحدود.

وتابعت هآرتس أن القوات المشاركة تقدمت إلى معكسر جرى تجهيزه وفقاً للتصور الموجود لدى الجيش الصهيوني عن تجهيزات حزب الله وكيفية انتشار عناصره في القرى الجنوبية.

وتهدف هذه التدريبات إلى الإبقاء على وحدات الجيش على أهبة الاستعداد للحرب القادمة، وخلق حالة معنوية تمكن الجنود الصهاينة من خوض المعارك.

هذا ويقر بعض قادة لواء “جعفاتي” بأن الواقع قد يكون مختلفا عما يجري من إعداد وتدريب تماماً كما حدث في حرب تموز 2006. وتنقل الصحيفة الصهيونية عن عدد من الضباط بأن الحرب القادمة مع لبنان ستكون مختلفة عن سابقاتها، ويتحدث البعض منهم عن حرب قصيرة الأمد يكون لسلاح الجو فيها دوراً بارزاً كما في السابق، بالتزامن مع تحرك سريع للقوات البرية لفرض سيطرة مؤقتة على المناطق التي تنطلق منها صواريخ المقاومة نحو العمق الصهيوني…/../..

Apparently Sheherazad Jaafari may be deported from the US.

Globalists Push Forward With Another New Massacre in Syria
Patrick Henningsen
Infowars.com
June 8, 2012
http://www.infowars.com/globalists-push-forward-with-another-new-massacre-in-syria/
Globalist operators in Washington DC and London were caught out pushing the last massacre in Houla, Syria, publicly calling for regime change – on the strength of an 11 year old, and Syrian man running his human rights outfit out of a flat in London. On closer examination, the corporate media hype immediately blaming the Assad government for the massacre… fell far short of reality.
Not disheartened by their failure thus far in getting a UN-sanctioned humanitarian intervention based on lies and half-truths, the globalists – led by the “Friends of Syria” unofficial chair Hillary Clinton and her new Syria-side-kick Timothy Geithner, may have staged another massacre in the town of Hama on Wednesday.
According to corporate media reports, at least 30 people, and possibly more, have been killed in the town of Qubair, northwest of Hama. The Washington Post reports:
There were unconfirmed reports of a fresh massacre in Syria on Wednesday as representatives from 55 countries assembled in Washington to explore ways to sharpen the impact of economic sanctions against the Syrian government.
The reports said dozens of civilians in a small village near the central city of Hama were slain by pro-government militias Wednesday afternoon, echoing the circumstances of the killings of more than 100 people in the village of Houla on May 25…/../..

upon reflection, observer is probably right re ethnic cleansing. but i don’t know about resettlement. what purpose is there of the regime’s continuous shelling but to render a region uninhabitable.

299. JUERGEN said: arabellion

nice pun.

you don’t mind if i repost your iranian piece on another board, do you? what a story. it deserves to be wider known.

figures the u.s. would betray another lamb to the wolves. seems to be a habit. the u.s. likes to set up iran as the villain but they share with it an enmity for dissidents and reformers. remember how cia gave a list of marxists & labor unionists for saddam to kill.

US, puppets hire terrorists to topple al-Assad Govt: Analyst
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/06/09/245297/us-nato-puppets-hire-terrorists-topple-alassad-govt/
The UN peace plan for Syria slips away as foreign-backed militants continue with bombings, massacres and destruction and the US agenda to remove Assad…/../..

Someone said that the Syrian revolution,(crisis)may spread to the whole region.
What is wrong with that?
Iraq and Jordan need revolution, need changes, and so is KSA and Iran they all are backward goverment systems, It is time to catch up with the world,and democracy is better system than dictatorship,all Middle East countries need changes,

Another massacre in Deraa,this is clear escalation by the regime, It is necessary to arm all Syrians,this situation is not much worse than civil war, US Russia Friends of Syria, enemies of Syria, Annan plan, Nabil Al Arabi plans,along with AL plan,they all gave Assad more time to kill more Innocent Syrians, the one need to be killed is Assad and his family, he is the cause of all these killing,and the world would be much better without him,Syria must get back to its people,minorities must be protected, but they should not have the upper and controlling hand, because minorities always follow dictatorship pattern,while majority benefit from democracy.

Omen

I dont mind at all, i was astonished to learn that this story received almost no attention.

There is a video on a fb page of Basel Shahade, it may give us a glimpse what his personality was like.

https://www.facebook.com/helen.kurkjian

There is two kinds of Shabiha,Alawi,and Sunni,The Sunni shabiha has been killed by Alawi shabiha,who don’t trust the Sunni shabiha.

12 minutes yesterday in Homs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iN_FAD1x7U

Is this the way to fight “armed terrorist gangs” ? By random bombardment from the ground and from the air?

What is the purpose of this if not to scare and to evict the city’s population?
.

Who paid these men?
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/anti-sexual-harassment-protest-harassed
“A mob of hundreds of men assaulted women holding a march demanding an end to sexual harassment Friday, with the attackers overwhelming the male guardians and groping and molesting several of the female marchers in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

From the ferocity of the assault, some of the victims said it appeared to have been an organized attempt to drive women out of demonstrations and trample on the pro-democracy protest movement.”

The informative observations of the western journalists and the UN observers at Qubair

The revealing observations of the journalists that visit Qubeir is not that the real number of death ( probably not 78, but less than a dozen) and what actually happened but that “burned flesh smells” and that there a feeling of ‘death in the air’.

http://news.yahoo.com/un-team-sees-massacre-syrian-village-210405702.html

#308 Majed

A new brand, Shabbiha sunni? Doubly traitor, then.

On the 19 june G20 meeting, it’s all about breaking up Russia’s resistance to a forced regime change in Syria.
Hopeful Erdogan affirms that he got blank check from China that “will no longer veto UNSC resolutions on Syria”.

G-20 to roll up sleeves for new Syria road map

“Western powers will try to break the resistance of Russia and China over Syria during the G-20 summit to be held in Mexico on June 19, where a fresh road map aiming at a swift democratic transition in the conflict-torn country may be agreed on.
….
The Turkish prime minister argued that China was of the same opinion with Turkey on Syria, as he had heard this from Chinese President Hu Jintao when he visited Beijing a few months ago. “Now it seems Russia is the sole country supporting Syria,” Erdoğan said, adding that the Chinese leader had told him that China would no longer veto resolutions on Syria at the U.N. Security Council.
more..
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/g-20-to-roll-up-sleeves-for-new-syria-road-map.aspx?pageID=238&nID=22759&NewsCatID=359

Majed

Has there been Christian shabeeha? Ones that practice physical tashbeeh?

Again I start the day by looking into the news with Addounia, Cham Press, Al Manar, RT, and also other outlets.

I just listened to Lavrov with his points

1. There are outside forces vying for regime end

2. There is double standards when it comes to victims; remember the Iraqis and the Serbs

3. The Christian community is threatened

then

4. We want a broad based meeting under the umbrella of the UN that involves the 5 permanent members of the UNSC, KSA, Qatar, AL, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran.

5. Syria is on the brink of a massive civil war and Russia will not permit the UNSC to use force

So I read it simply as “Kofi Annan rescue plan”/ It is nearly dead, we have stuck ourselves with it and please let us see how we can revive it.

The plan is now dead for all practical purposes. So is this another attempt to give the regime more time to finish the rebellion? Or is the rebellion getting stronger and therefore time is running out on the regime?

So for those of you that wish to realize how bad the situation is in Syria I would invite you to read the following posts that talk about the rise in electricity fees, the rise of fuel prices, the desperate attempt to inject money into moribund institutions, and all of this from pro regime sites.

If they are publishing these stories then the regime is truly in dire state now

http://www.champress.net/index.php?q=ar/Article/view/1539

http://www.champress.net/index.php?q=ar/Article/view/1526

http://www.champress.net/index.php?q=ar/Article/view/1543

http://www.rt.com/news/iran-syria-resistance-intervention-441/

http://arabic.rt.com/news_all_news/news/587100/

Anis the arabic name for Ernie from Sesame street turns into Anisse…funny

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=306955716056231&set=a.206832836068520.53395.115708715180933&type=1&theater

Observer
be careful too much consumption of the Assad courtmedia might be harmful.

Iran: Syrian intervention ‘will be defeated’
Published: 09 June, 2012, 07:29

http://www.rt.com/news/iran-syria-resistance-intervention-441/

“After the expulsion of the Americans from Iraq, and the disruption to their defensive posture in protecting the Zionist regime, America in order to defend the regime of the occupier of the Quds [Jerusalem] is after a new scenario in Syria,” he said. “But they will be defeated.”

Furthermore, he stressed that any attack on Syria or Iran would have negative consequences for Israel.

“Today all the people of the region are ready for wiping out this cancerous tumor and reaction to any aggression will be the freedom of Quds,” he said.

More..

#315 Observer

“If they are publishing these stories then the regime is truly in dire state now ”

Wasn’t that the whole purpose of the sanctions, weaken the regime?
Well, it seems the regime is turning it to its advantage.
It is publishing and emphasizing the hardship resulting from the sanctions in order to fuel resentment and hatred toward the western countries and the Gulf countries for the common Syrians.
Ask anyone in the street of Damascus.

Journalist Alex Thomson reports that Syrian rebels set him and his crew up to be killed by Syrian troops in a bid to show Damascus in a negative light.
http://www.rt.com/news/syria-journalist-rebel-trap-436/

Full interview with Alex Thomson

‘Both sides involved in very dirty tactics’

RT did an extensive interview with Thomson on the details of his ordeal, and the situation in the country in general.

RT: What you are basically saying is that rebel forces set you up to be shot at by the Syrian army?

Alex Thomson: I have no doubt in my mind what happened, nor independently, does the very experienced cameraman I was with, and, perhaps more importantly than that, neither does the driver or the translator we were working with have any doubt at all that we were deliberately led out of that town, which the rebels knew was dangerous. We were led there in a car with four men. Two or three of them were armed. They told us to go down a route which looked dangerous to us, but we trusted them, we said we would go down the route and turn. We turned and found it was blocked. That was a roadblock which they had to have known was there. There was nobody around and at that point we were forced to turn the vehicle around in a free-fire zone and were duly fired upon. We were definitely exposed to a dangerous situation. And I have absolutely no doubt they did it deliberately. When we reappeared, still alive, the car full of men saw us, turned round and drove off at speed.

RT: So the car you were in, the Syrian army had no way to tell that you were foreign journalists?

AT: We did have a small sign in the windscreen saying press. We did not mark the car up with large letters saying TV or anything like that. There were very few journalists in this area. We were the only ones, so I think we were moving under conditions of reasonable safety.

RT: Why did you trust the rebel forces in the first place?

AT: We had no reason not to trust the rebel forces any more than we had any reason not to trust the Syrian army. By and large, when we spoke to Syrian people on both sides of the war, they were pretty honest and pretty straightforward in their assessments of the situation. That was the situation in places like Homs, on both sides, in Houla, on both sides. It was certainly the case on one side in al-Qubair. But when we got to the rebel side of al-Qubair, there was something different and for the first time, we encountered a degree of hostility and suspicion about us, because they had never seen foreign journalists who had a visa from Damascus, who were in the country legally, not illegally. And that immediately aroused suspicion on their part.

RT: So most foreign journalists are there illegally?

AT: That’s a fact. Most foreign, Western journalists who cover the war from the rebel side are smuggled in from Lebanon and so forth illegally to the country

more….

Zoo

Why the selective credibility of western journalists?

Please explain to me why pro-regime crowd only believes western press when it comes against the revolution and trashed any pro revolution article even when it comes from the same journalist?

Zoo
What does Russia have as a solution to the Syrian situation?
Do you believe Russia has a solution to end the killing ,? It is not a solution to say No western intervention,this is not a solution. is it that Russia wants the regime to win? and Assad must kill millions who oppose his rule, so far I don’t see a road map presented by Russia to end this crisisall what Russia has said is not practical at all.

Tara
Good morning.

Russia looks to capitalise on a stalled peace plan in Syria

Alan Philps
Jun 8, 2012

http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/russia-looks-to-capitalise-on-a-stalled-peace-plan-in-syria#full

…
Seeing the imminent collapse of Mr Annan’s plan, the Russians have now raised the stakes. They want to include Iran in a contact group that would align the policies of outside powers towards Syria. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, insists this contact group should displace the existing “Friends of the Syrian People” grouping, made up of countries that want Bashar Al Assad toppled and which is meeting in Paris in early July.

Mr Lavrov is demanding a less “disproportional representation” of countries in Paris with, in addition to Iran, both Russia and China. Clearly a meeting under the Russian formula would be less about regime change and more about regime preservation.

This idea of bringing Iran into the fold is unlikely to fly in Washington. Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, told a gathering in Istanbul that the US was insisting on nothing less than complete regime change in Syria, what an aide to Mrs Clinton called a “post-Assad transition strategy, including Assad’s full transfer of power”. This prompted speculation that she was preparing to abandon the search for consensus at the UN and go it alone in removing the Syrian leader.

But this raises the question of who and how. The starting point for the Russian defence of the Assad regime, and that regime’s ruthless military response to the opposition, is the shared assessment that US President Barack Obama is weak and unwilling to risk going to war in Syria, particularly when he has to face a war-weary electorate in November.

If the western powers are in a mess, they have themselves to blame. The Annan plan, as the Russians never cease to point out, does not call for regime change, but only political dialogue. The Americans are calling on Mr Al Assad to engage the opposition in dialogue and then consign himself to history. From Moscow’s perspective, the Americans are trying to turn the Annan plan into a Trojan horse.

Given the end point of western policy it is hard to see why Mr Al Assad should even start the dialogue if, at the end of it, he and his cohorts are going to be removed, and their Alawite co-religionists left to the mercy of the Sunni majority.

We can be assured that the US and its allies will exert efforts to keep the Russians engaged. The message will be passed to Mr Putin that the Assad clan is on its way out, and he should join the winning side. Convincing Mr Putin of this may not be a totally lost cause, if the price is right.

A new policy analysis published by the Carnegie Moscow Centre warns foreign leaders not to treat Mr Putin as an immovable ideologue. “Putin is a transactional, results-orientated politician. He can be an important and valuable partner, but he will bargain hard to get the best deal he can. Despite the increasingly complex and complicated nature of ruling Russia, Putin still has all the domestic authority he requires to pursue his foreign policy objectives.”

So what are his objectives? Top of the list must be not allowing the US to use the UN Security Council as a green light to change regimes that Washington does not like. Ultimately Russia wants to keep the upper hand on dealing with the Syrian crisis, and to maximise its rather weak position in the region. These goals do not in principle exclude the possibility of an orderly transfer of power in Damascus to some more credible leader than Mr Assad, who is clearly not cut out for the job. Unfortunately, it is probably already too late for that.

#320 Tara

There are so rare western journalists that dare admit what is going on and the majority are trashing the government non-stop with all kind of unfounded accusations based on assumptions and dubious activists and eyewitnesses.
For once that an official western journalist is on the ground, moves freely and says what he sees without the bias we’re used to, it is certainly a premiere.
There is no clean war.

Zoo
It is obvious that Russia has no plan to end the killing NOW, Bashar lied , he signed a paper approving Annan plan then he did not do what he promised, dialogue may or may nor succeed,and dialogue could take years, it is not going to end the killing now.
The regime is using force, and to stop him the opposition must use force.
You keep denying facts.

BTW I hope the SNC choose a president ,and choose vice president, we need two persons

Annan roadmap on the way out?

Arabic News Digest
Jun 8, 2012
http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/annan-roadmap-on-the-way-out#full
….
“Bashar Al Assad is a lucky man: he has gained the support of all polarities,” argued Khaled Al Qashtini in the UK-based newspaper Asharq Al Awsat.

“The loads of contradictions in the Middle East lead the US policies to become contradictory, too,” the writer said. The US stances towards Libya and Syria are a stark example. Some think logistics complexities on the ground prompt the US to sit on the fence over using force against the Syrian regime.

“But I would rather attribute it to Israel,” he noted. “Israel has not given the US the green light to intervene in Syria. Concerned about an Islamic alternative, it suits Israel that Bashar stays in office.”

Bashar has exploited all contradictions at hand: Israel, Iran, Russia, China, Hezbollah, the Syrian Communist Part, US undecidedness, and Arab League inaction.

“It would be more useful for the Syrian opposition to address Tel Aviv and avoid wasting time with Washington,” he said. “I think Israel should not be worried about the regime change in Syria. Any substitute for the Baath party would be for many years busy redressing the devastating wrongs of Assad.”

Any replacement would have to deal with such thorny issues as unemployment, victim compensation, return of migrants and refugees, debt payment and economy boosting.

#324 Majed

“The regime is using force, and to stop him the opposition must use force.”

and vice-versa, this is why only dialog is the solution, with or without Bashar.

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_06_09/77633394/
Moscow will never agree to UNSC sanctions against Syria
Syria is balancing on the brink of a full-scale civil conflict, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at today’s press conference.

He also stressed Moscow would never agree to UN Security Council sanctions against Syria, since they can lead to grave consequences for the whole Middle East.

Mr Lavrov said he believed it is not too late to start up a dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition.

The country has been engulfed in anti-government protests for over a year, with reports of both civilian and military casualties coming in daily. The death toll has already exceeded 12,000 people.

A bus with Russian experts was shot at in Syria today, in what has already become a common case in the region.

Syrian opposition masterminded from abroad – Lavrov

Moscow has slammed “outside forces” for orchestrating military operations of the Syrian opposition and stressed it had enough evidence to prove its standpoint.

This came in an announcement of Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a press briefing today.

Lavrov underscored that opposition war chiefs were well-known to the Kremlin, as well as the whereabouts of the Syrian Liberation Army’s headquarters and countries that channeled money to opposition militants.

Moscow reiterates Syria conference call

Russia has reiterated its call for an emergency international conference on Syria.

Appearing at a Moscow news conference Saturday, Foreign Minister Lavrov said this conference should be all-inclusive and allow powers other than the so-called ‘Friends of Syria’ to have their say. He also said he expected this conference to coordinate action to implement Kofi Annan’s settlement plan and create conditions for the conflicting sides in Syria to enter into a dialogue. He argued that putting pressure on any of these sides is inadmissible, and the future of the Assad regime is a matter for the Syrian people.

Mr Lavrov criticized several Gulf nations for supplying the Syrian opposition with arms, which is often turned against Syrian civilians. He defended Russia’s arms sales to Syria, saying they are limited to anti-aircraft systems which can only be used for defence.

Russia says is not against Assad’s departure

Russia will not oppose the departure of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad if such a move is a result of a dialogue between Syrians themselves and is not enforced through external pressure, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday.

“If the Syrians agree (about Assad’s departure) between each other, we will only be happy to support such a solution,” Lavrov told reporters. “But we believe it is unacceptable to impose the conditions for such a dialogue from outside.”

World’s future hinges on outcome of Syria conflict – Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov underlined that the outcome of the Syrian conflict would shape the future world.

He also noted Moscow saw no alternative to the peace initiative put forth by Arab League’s and UN’s Special Envoy Kofi Annan.

Damascus imports no Russian air defense systems

Russia’s arms trade deal with Syria prohibits exports of air defense artillery to Damascus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has claimed.

../../..

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_06_09/77630671/
Rebel groups in Syria backed by NATO?
Interview with Rick Rozoff, the manager and the owner of the STOP NATO website and mailing list, and a regular contributor to the Voice of Russia.
What correlations do you see between the situation going on in Syria and Kosovo? What do you know about rebel groups in Syria being funded and backed by NATO?

I mean, we all have heard and it’s a matter of substantiating it, but I think we have enough proof already to establish the fact. The parallel to Kosovo you draw is remarkable given what occurred earlier yesterday, where NATO troops and armored personnel, carriers, vehicles faced off against ethnic protesters in the north of Kosovo, firing live ammunition at them, as well as deploying helicopters, gunships and so force, and what is currently going on in Syria…/../..

Sergey Lavrov Speaks Truth About Syria 06-09-12

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ARC vc FOS

Annan, Russia and China (ARC) have a peace plan, while Qatar, Turkey and the ‘friends of Syria’ (FOS) have a proxy war plan.
ARC wants dialog, FOS wants violent confrontation
ARC wants to keep the country united, FOS wants it broken in pieces and weak
ARC uses the UN to promote their plan, FOS uses the media and a group of handpicked countries sharing their enemity with Syria.
ARC invokes security of the region, FOS invoke destruction of any alliance with Iran.

Broadcast of large demonstration in Derraa yesterday

http://bambuser.com/v/2727999

Iran role in finding Syria solution essential: Hamas official

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/06/09/245357/iran-role-in-syria-solution-essential/

A Hamas official describes Iran’s role in achieving a comprehensive political solution to the ongoing Syrian crisis as essential and influential.

Osama Hamdan, head of Hamas’s international relations, made the remark in a meeting with Iran’s Ambassador to Beirut Ghazanfar Roknabadi on Saturday.

He referred to the critical situation in the region and said, “The US and Israel seek to tamper with the transition period [of regional revolutions] to change the future fate of the uprisings as well as the Islamic Awakening to benefit them (the US and Israel).”

He said regional equations are expected to go under significant changes as the result of the revolutions, which will not be to the interests of the US and Israel.

The Hamas official questioned the US claim of advocating democracy in Syria and said, “The US is not concerned about Syrians and only seeks to guarantee the security and survival of Israel.”

Syrian Tsunami

Zoo

While Syrians may be able to reconcile with each others, I really doubt that we in new Syria can reconcile with Iran for quite some time. I realize that in foreign policy, one needs to be pragmatic, but I think the emotional component will really affect new Syria’s foreign policy for long time.

Iran may pay hefty price for sending IRG to assist
in killing Syrians in term of mutual relationship. It was a stupid decision the Mullahs made. They could not envision that the revolution will eventually prevail.

Majed

Good afternoon.

“They are deceived who flatter themselves that the ignorant and debased slave has no conception of the magnitude of his wrongs. They are deceived who imagine that he arises from his knees with back lacerated and bleeding, cherishing only a spirit of meekness and forgiveness. A day may come – it will, if his prayer is heard a terrible day of vengeance, when the master in his turn will cry in vain for mercy.”

– Solomon Northup, 1854

Zoo
Zoo
Zoo
“this is why only dialog is the solution”
We say in Syria, Beat the water ,still have water.
How is dialogue that will take years,stop the killing now?
Dialogue while Assad is killing Syrian, is not rationally and humanly possible,Dialogue can be done if Assad stop the killing,The regime made a choice, it is the violence choice,the regime is sectarian and murderer he is killing 50-100 daily for more than 15 months, do you say ,keep talking another 2-3 years while killing is going on?
This is not the answer,you might as well say I don’t know, say I don’t have a solution,stop the murders then we talk.

Alan

Thank you for this crosstalk post. Now i know why i dont like RT, to me a biased anchormen is not a sign of quality journalism, its more a sign of O’Reilly factor of this state owned news channel. But amazingly they dont care at all, no covering up of this fact.

Bronco
Let us say USA start bombing Iran, and continue bombing day after day, hour after hour,.
Would Iran do nothing and call for dialogue?

A tsunami is coming.
A tsunami of freedom, dignity, justice and peace.
To wash away the pain and suffering.
To bury the past along with the regime.
Clearing the path for building of justice and civilisation.
A better future. A better Syria.
Embrace the inevitable.
Hold on to what you can.
Even driftwood.
Darkness will disappear.
There’s calmer waters ahead.

Again:
Annan plan ‘only chance for peace’ but stalled by intervention supporters – Lavrov

External players are goading opposition in Syria to military action; this may lead to a Libyan scenario, the Russian Foreign Minister says. Moscow is calling for an international conference “under the UN umbrella” to implement the Annan plan.
The situation in Syria has significantly worsened in the past weeks as two massacres left dozens of civilians dead.
Speaking with journalists in Moscow, the Foreign Minister voiced concern about “the reaction on the part of some foreign players”, who, he said, “support armed groups of the opposition and at the same time demand that the international community take decisive steps to change the regime in Syria.”
Lavrov also stressed that Russia has enough evidence about arms being supplied to the Syrian opposition.
“Our Saudi colleagues, our Qatari colleagues…just yesterday, there was a forum for businessmen who want to support the Syrian opposition. All this information is openly available,” he said.
The main reason the peace plan proposed by Kofi Annan is stalling is because those who support external intervention in Syria impede its implementation, said the Russian Foreign Minister.
Lavrov said the plan is not progressing because certain parties “don’t like” the idea of the stabilization it can bring.
“They want the international community to be filled with indignation and start a full-blown intervention in Syria,” he said.
Lavrov said the Syrian government is responsible for people’s security and human rights, as well as for everything that is going on in the country. Nevertheless, tragedies like Houla and the other numerous violent acts are a result of confrontation, which is increasingly actively supported by external forces.
He reiterated Russia’s position that it will “never agree to sanction the use of force in the UN Security Council”.
He said that this would lead “to severe consequences for the entire Middle East region”.
Lavrov stressed that Russia does not protect the regime, but does protect chances to achieve stability in the region. “The way the Syrian crisis is resolved will play an important role in the world tomorrow; whether the world will be based on the UN charter, or a place where might makes right,” he added.
Lavrov said that in order to justify a foreign intervention certain parties “keep talking about the refugees from Syria. However, nobody talks about refugees inside Syria itself.”
“This is similar to the former Yugoslavia. Does anybody think about the refugees from Serbia and Slovenia?” he enquired.
Referring to the UN commissioner, Lavrov said the number of refugees from Syria currently stands at around 80,000. He stressed that these people all need support.
But at the same time, according to some estimates, there are about a million refugees from Iraq and half a million Palestinians in Syria, and “people don’t talk much about that,” Lavrov said.
The minister said that the UNSC will not sanction armed interference, and this is not because Russia is protecting Assad and his regime, but because it knows how difficult and complex Syrian society is. He said that those who want to see military intervention in Syria want to change the delicate situation with different religious groups. They want to use Syria to fight for domination in the Arab world, Lavrov said, adding that Russia will do everything it can to prevent this.
Speaking about media coverage of the events in Syria, Lavrov said that “blocking Syrian government and private channels from broadcasting” does not “square well with freedom of speech.”
He also recalled the case of UK journalist Alex Thomson, who reported that Syrian rebels set him and his crew up to be killed by Syrian troops in a bid to show Damascus in a negative light.
“We should all be on the same page regarding freedom of speech and how it should be respected by the international community to ensure access to information – no matter what kind of information it is,” Lavrov said.
{…}
http://www.rt.com/news/lavrov-syria-opposition-military-476/

#316 Observer

Thank you for your informative post and links.

It is time to find a way to get my family out of Syria. While everyone is worried about a Libya scenario, I am actually more worried about an Iraq+Algeria scenario – years of economic sanctions and hardship (Iraq in the 90s) + a civil war marked by random gruesome killings under the nose of a military dictatorship (Algeria).

#339 Majedalkhadoon

“Let us say USA start bombing Iran, and continue bombing day after day, hour after hour,.”

Iran will destroy Israel.

#336 MajedalKhaldoon

Most wars stops either if there is a winner or when the two exhausted parties realize there cannot be a victor. ( WW2 and Iran-Iraq war)
Negotiations for ceasefire happens while bombs are still falling, not after. After, there are negotiations to maintain the ceasefire and further discussions.
As long as the opposition are made to think they will win and the regime too, there is no chance for a ceasefire.
Each party has its allies telling them: you can win , we support you

So why would any one compromise?

Bronco
Why not Iran call for dialogue while bombs and missiles are raining in Iran?

Bronco said
Iran will destroy Israel.

Good, we will get rid of two enemies,then

Jordan does not seem interested in being a launch pad for “jihad”

http://www.aljazeera.net/news/pages/a8d5ee74-585e-457a-9dce-0d85c6d6763a?GoogleStatID=20

Lebanon could backfire, because Israel doesn’t want to go back in time.

The US is putting increasing pressure on Turkey

http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/syria-crisis-less-lebanon-more-turkey

Aside from the Kurd issue the Turks probably have a major problem with an open-ended committment and no real plan, although I am sure they can convince the GCC to foot the bill.

Oh well…. Back to the drawing board, mean time with “leadership” and having a strategic vision both being major issues for the SNC, they continue to be at the mercy of their patrons and have no voice of their own. They seem to be able only to parrot what they hear from Hillary or Hamad on TV.

With the media blitzkrieg failing, I am hopeful that cooler minds will prevail in the coming period.

With the hardening of the Russian and Chinese stances vis a vis Syria, the West is left with very few options, and plan “B” is still not clear.

http://www.raceforiran.com/pushing-china-to-act-against-its-interests-in-iran…and-for-what

http://www.moonofalabama.org/2012/06/lavrov-on-syria.html

Look for more massacres in the coming days as the Jihadis get instructions to create more mayhem… But it is a sign of desperation.

The russian proposal, seems designed to put the West on the back foot, as they have been trying their best not to give Iran a seat an ANY table, even the nuclear one!

The Russians and Chinese are saying to the west and the US especially, you have reached the limits of your power and influence and you need to back off!

But this is a very dangerous game, and this is why the US has desperately trying to farm this issue out to a local satrap and avoid playing a leading role, so any backing down can be done without loss of face.

Really, the only workable option now is goading Turkey into trying to set up a buffer zone to further pressure the regime, as continuing with the current plan will not bear fruit, especially with time on the side of the Syrian government. The rebels, despite all the favorable press, are still a guerilla force and not able to hold any ground and will not be able to do so without a serious supply chain… Smuggling won’t cut it.

The next thing the Americans need to weigh is the lack of any major fractures within the regime, this is probably the most frustrating part for them, especially with the massive disinformation campaign… During the Libyan crisis, detections were happening on a regular basis… For Syria, it’s been mostly a joke, the last major defections were from the SNC and the FSA!