Syria Rejects Arab League Request that Assad Step Aside

Syria rejected an Arab League proposal calling for President Bashar al-Assad to step down and advanced elections to form a “national unity government.” The Arab League plan results from the deep divisions within the Arab League about how to deal with Syria. Firm action is prevented by the split between the two main camps within the League. The Iraq, Algeria, and Lebanon camp does not want to see foreign intervention. The Gulf camp led by Qatar is eager for intervention and a tougher international line on Syria.

But even within the Gulf, important disagreements have opened up. The Emir of Qatar has spoken out in favor of Arab military intervention. Saudi Arabia is not so keen on this idea. It has to deal with the glass house factor. the Saudis are queasy about a precedent for military intervention by the Arab League being set to promote democracy. What about Bahrain or even the Shia of the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia who have been demonstrating for change and the overthrow of the Saudi household?

Arab League calls for Assad to step aside, without the credible threat of foreign intervention, will not change much. Assad remains confident that he can contain if not beat the opposition. The UN is as divided over Syria as is the Arab League. No country is eager to lead a military intervention in Syria. Syria has become a hot-potato. International organizations are turning to each other, drawing a long face of horror over the Syrian situation and saying, “Do something. You first.”

‘The Arab League to Syria’s President: It’s time for you to go’ (Rania Abouzeid, Time)

“But instead of diplomatic politesse, proceedings were thrown into disarray after Saudi Arabia, stepped out of the background role it has played so far in the Syria crisis, to forcefully push for an end to the Syrian government’s ferocious crackdown against its opponents. For months, Qatar has taken the lead on Syria. In a move that likely persuaded other countries, especially Gulf states, to take a stronger line against Damascus, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told his counterparts that his country would withdraw its observers from the much-criticized League monitoring mission in Syria due to the continued shedding of “blood that is dear tous all.””

(Comment by JL) But Saudi did not second the Emir of Qatar’s call for Arab military intervention, an indication that it is weak on Syria. While in Saudi Arabia last week, I had the opportunity to quiz a well placed prince on this issue. He said that Saudi Arabia did not know what was motivating the Emir of Qatar to be so out-spoken on Syria but that Saudi Arabia would not participate in or encourage Arab military intervention in Syria. President Obama would find it very difficult not to back up the Arab League or Turkey if either led military intervention in Syria. NATO as well. But the UN cannot lead without a Russian “Yes” vote in the Security Council, and the US will not do so on its own. Saudi Arabia’s withdrawal from the Arab League monitoring mission is not an expression of its desire to lead, its interest in making a “forceful push” on the issue, or that it is “stepping out of its background role” on the Syria crisis, I suspect.

From a Friend in Damascus

With syp hitting 74, prices will soon go insane. Impossible for many to make ends meet. Even extended family members are running out of money by the 10th of every month. This military regime is very hard, if not impossible, to bring down. When it comes to people’s lives….simply forget it. A total meltdown. Everything has doubled in price in less than a year. Totally unprepared these guys were and are.

   بانوراما العربية: الدكتور برهان غليون، الأستاذ سمير عيطة Al-Arabiyya  Ghalioun and Samir Aita discuss the Free Syrian Army and armed resistance in Syria

Syria to Start Managed Float of Currency Next Week, Central Bank Head Says
By Massoud A. Derhally – Jan 20, 2012 7:02 AM CT

Syria’s Central Bank Governor Adib Mayaleh. Photographer: Joseph Eid/AFP/Getty Images

 Syria will introduce a managed float of its currency next week, central bank Governor Adib Mayaleh said. The move will allow the pound to devalue after demand for foreign currency drove a surge in black-market rates.

“We will have a partial managed float, allow the rate to be determined by the market and intervene when necessary,” Mayaleh said in a phone interview from Damascus today. “If we see a rate, like that of 70 pounds now, which I don’t like, then we will intervene, and next week there will be a positive intervention by the central bank with the injection of foreign currency into the market.”

The pound traded officially at about 47 to the dollar before the start of protests against President Bashar al-Assad in mid-March. As the uprising spread, the central bank raised the rate to about 54 pounds in December and 57 pounds early this month. The currency traded at as much as 70 pounds per dollar on Syria’s black market this week.

From Guardian Blog

Adib Mayaleh, the central bank governor, told the FT (behind paywall) the exchange rate had “jumped a lot of steps” and they needed to control it. ….Syrian oil minister, Sufian Allaw, said sanctions were biting: “We have suffered important losses as a result of our inability to export crude oil and petroleum products.”

Syrians cope with profound economic crisis as regime tries to crush revolt, By BASSEM MROUE

Jordan’s King Abdullah: Coming Weeks Critical for Syria, Assad, Arab League, PBS NewsHour

King Abdullah II of Jordan, the first Arab leader to urge President Assad to step down, sat down with Margaret Warner Thursday to discuss his expectation of more killings in Syria, the Arab League’s role in quelling unrest there as well as the latest …

“The problem with Syria — and we’ve been here in Washington for a few days talking to our colleagues here. And I’ve been in interaction with my colleagues around the world and the Middle East — nobody has an answer for Syria. And that is the most disturbing thing.”

… “And so, if I can predict what will be happening over the near future, again, the relationship between the Arab League and the U.N. on how to take it to the next step, understanding from our experience last year that, when the Arab League comes together as a bloc and makes a decision, it’s much more easier for the international community to then move to the next phase.”

Iranian Foreign Minister on Charlie Rose Show says Iran does not send arms to Syria

Charlie Rose: … there is a sense that … Iran is supplying the Syrians with weapons…

Mohammad Khazaee: …You know, Charlie, on Syrian issue, we follow our principles. The first point is that we believe that government should listen to their people. We have made it clear. ….Second, we do not, and we have not sent any arms to Syria. …

Mohammad Khazaee: ….we have some evidences that arms have been sent by … France, to Syria to support the militia group and opposition groups ….

Iraqi government and militias supporting Pres. Assad in Syria. by Joel Wing

Joel asked me, “why Iraq and Syria have improved relations so much after Damascus was one of the main supporters of the insurgency?” My answer:

  1. Because of the US presence and influence in Iraq. Both Iran and Iraq tried to push the US out of the region, when the US threatened both from Iraq. President Bush had an ambitious plan to reform the Greater M. E., which included pushing Syria out of Lebanon and ultimately regime-change in Damascus.
  2. Negotiating tactic. Once the US was on the ropes in Iraq, Syria moderated its support of the insurgency in an effort to convince the US to make a trade: the reduction of US sanctions against Syria and rekindling negotiations over Golan and Lebanon in exchange Syrian help in Iraq.
  3. Now that the US is out of Iraq and the Syrian revolution is under-girded by a Sunni insurgency in Syria, Damascus no longer has an interest in supporting the Sunni militias across the boarder. Both Iraq and Damascus have the common goal of suppressing Sunni militias and supporting Iran.

Ali Allawi on Iraq:

The Middle East is today experiencing a twofold upheaval of immense proportions: a dramatic acceleration of climate change, water shortages, urban growth, environmental degradation, persistent economic and resource imbalances, and population explosions that coincide with wars, invasions, foreign interventions, civil and religious strife, and mass uprisings. And the longue durée is now exerting its influence on Iraq.

The livelihood of Iraqis is overly dependent on a state that is entirely reliant on a single resource. Agriculture has effectively collapsed; the great river systems of Mesopotamia have shriveled; trade routes based on Iraq’s unique geography have vanished; and transport links have atrophied. Merchants and entrepreneurs are merely recyclers of state-owned and state-generated wealth and a previously open and culturally and religiously accommodating society has been replaced by beleaguered communities locked in laagers.

The Arab successor states to the Ottoman Empire have all proved to be unstable, prone to violence and easy targets of foreign intervention and control. Left unchecked, Iraq will remain hostage to the turbulent region in which it finds itself — and to the price of oil.

Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood tells world to isolate Assad (peacefully?)
19/01/2012

BEIRUT, (Reuters) – The leader of Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood said world powers should pile diplomatic pressure on President Bashar al-Assad and he called for a no-fly zone and “safe zones” to be set up to help the Syrian leader’s opponents.

Mohammad Shaqfa told Reuters that the Arab League, which has sent monitors to assess Syria’s implementation of a plan to end 10 months of violence, should press the U.N. Security Council to take “deterrent measures” against Assad….

بيان من مواطنون علويون تضامنا مع الثورة السورية

Pledge of solidarity with the Revolution by 106 Alawi, Syrians – half women. On Syria Politic

Russia warns West it risks war over Syria, Iran – January 20, 2012

MOSCOW: The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has warned outside encouragement of anti-government uprisings in the Middle East and north Africa could lead to ”a very big war that will cause suffering not only to countries in the region but also to states far beyond its boundaries”.

Mr Lavrov’s annual news conference on Wednesday was largely a critique of Western policies in Iran and Syria, which he said could lead to a spiral of violence.

He said Russia would use its position on the United Nations Security Council to veto any UN authorisation of military strikes against forces loyal to the government of Syria’s President, Bashar al-Assad.

Interview:
Rezan Bahri Shaykhmus, Chairman of the Kurdish Future Movement’s Office of General Communications:
»While a people’s revolution is taking place throughout Syria, the Kurdish Patriotic Conference is arguing and struggling over money«

KURDWATCH, January 19, 2012—Rezan Bahri Shaykhmus (b. 1962, married, four children) is the chairman of the Kurdish Future Movement’s Office of General Communications. The engineer lives in Syria. In a conversation with KurdWatch, Shaikhmus speaks about the Future Movement’s political work following the death of its speaker Mishʿal at-Tammu. [Read the interview]

Qatar: Kingmakers in Syria? by Jason Pack and Shashank Joshi

Comments (231)


Syrian Nationalist Party said:

Syrian Nationalist Party – الحزب القومي السوري

I understand that the majority of what is mislabeled as regime supporters on this blog and elsewhere are nothing more that smart kids who figured out the conspiracy against Syria in all its details and are worried about the ramifications this will have in the end to Syria as a country. Their concerns and worries are in place, their dedication is appreciated and they are the best of real Syrians.

However, even they cannot deny the fact that Syria is run by one of the most sadistic and cruel organized crime rackets Mafia of the 20th century and is operating under cover of a Political Party. They cannot deny the crudity of this mafia and its destructive impact on an entire noble nation. In fact a whole region of the Middle East, its negative and disruptive political and economic monopoly and vicious bloody crimes has destroyed the very moral fabric of the nation. It has reduced, using Socialism for cover, the entire Syrian population into mere State owned serfs.

Regardless of the conspiracy, and there are competing ones in the works, Syrians must move forward, beyond this dark period of History called Baathism. We must get the U.N. and the International community to help us regain and secure our rights, our human rights and dignity from this criminal enterprise that is holding millions as hostages. The U.N., under chapter 7, must pass a resolution mandating to the Syrian crime family what it must do, at any given period, or face military enforced sanctions against any country violating them. It shall also, include a provision for the surrender of war criminals responsible for the genocide that is going on in Syria. The head of this crime syndicate is a Shia terrorist by the name of Bakhtian/ Bakhtiar, an immigrant from Iran that is notorious for his sadistic crimes against Syrians while he maintained the Baath party offices for decades.

The Responsibility To Protect is a concept that must be enforced even without U.N. mandates, all countries, and all nations must get involved in bringing the atrocity and human right abuse in Syria to end. Those that refuse to do so should be condemned and sanctioned by the majority of Nations.

January 23rd, 2012, 10:36 am

 

jad said:

الخارجية الروسية: موسكو تؤيد مواصلة الجامعة العربية جهودها من اجل التسوية في سورية سلميا ودون تدخل اجنبي

تؤيد موسكو مواصلة الجامعة العربية جهودها من اجل التسوية في سورية سلميا ودون تدخل اجنبي. اعلنت ذلك وزارة الخارجية الروسية هذا اليوم، 23 يناير/كانون الثاني.

واكدت الوزارة ان “موسكو تعتبرهاما خيار الجامعة العربية حول مواصلة الجهود من اجل التسوية في سورية سلميا ودون تدخل اجنبي، وفي ظل احترام سيادة هذا البلد. ومن الضروري ان تعرض الحكومة السورية من جانبها وكافة تنظيمات المعارضة من جانبها ايضا، عمليا الاستعداد للتوصل الى قرارات سورية عامة لتسريع العمليات الديمقراطية في البلد. ولا يجوز السماح بانحدار الوضع الى نزاع مسلح واسع، وحتى الحرب الاهلية على خلفية طائفية اثنية. وموسكو على قناعة بان لهذا عواقب مأساوية بالنسبة لسورية والمنطقة كلها”.

واشارت الوزارة: “نعتبر البدء بحوار سياسي جدي وعملي بين الاطراف السورية، نقطة اساسية في جهود الجامعة العربية المتواصلة. ويتعين على السوريين انفسهم، ودون املاء خارجي، الانتقال خلال هذا الحوار بالذات، الى الاتفاق على خطوات محددة لتخليص بلدهم من الازمة”.

ويذكر انه عقدت في القاهرة في 22 يناير دورة استثنائية لمجلس الجامعة العربية على مستوى وزراء الخارجية، للنظر في الوضع في سورية. واستمع خلالها الى تقرير الامين العام بهذا الشأن وتقرير رئيس بعثة المراقبين في هذا البلد.

وذكرت الخارجية الروسية بانه “تثمينا للتقدم الجزئي في مجال تنفيذ الحكومة السورية التزاماتها النابعة من مبادرة الجامعة العربية في 2 نوفمبر/تشرين الثاني 2011، قرر مجلس الجامعة، بالتنسيق مع الحكومة السورية تمديد عمل المراقبين في سورية، فترة شهر آخر من اجل ضمان وقف العنف في البلد بشكل شامل، ومهما كان مصدره”. واشارت الوزارة الى انه “وجهت الى دمشق توصية بتنفيذ الالتزامات الآنفة الذكر بالكامل، واتخاذ خطوات اضافية لمساعدة بعثة الجامعة العربية، التي في النية زيادة عدد افرادها، وتحسين اجهزتها الفنية. وثبتت بشكل واضح دعوة للحكومة السورية وكافة تنظيمات المعارضة للبدء بحوار سياسي جدي برعاية الجامعة خلال فترة اسبوعين”. ولفت انتباه الوزارة انه “تقرر تعيين ممثل خاص لامانة الجامعة العربية لمراقبة العملية السياسية في سورية”.

المصدر: وكالة “ايتار ـ تاس”.
http://arabic.rt.com/news_all_news/news/576780/

January 23rd, 2012, 10:47 am

 

aldendeshe said:

“…..Mr Lavrov’s annual news conference on Wednesday was largely a critique of Western policies in Iran and Syria, which he said could lead to a spiral of violence….”

Mr. Lavrov, with due respect, Syrians will no longer live as serf, do something please.

Господин Лавров, с должным уважением, сирийцы больше не будут жить так, как крепостной, сделать что-нибудь пожалуйста.

January 23rd, 2012, 10:50 am

 

irritated said:

h#585 Syria Lover

“But my head swims with the unreality in 2012 of the survival of a regime that has killed, imprisoned, tortured and terrorised countless thousands of ordinary citizens,”

The USA regime survived and bloomed after much worse killing (millions) in Iraq, after already having a long history of massacre, the ameridiens, Vietnam, South America and others. They survived by electing a new head with the same system in place, it does the trick, you know!
If you argue that the difference is that they did not massacre americans, I would reply since when an american life is more valuable than an iraqi life or a vietnamese life? A human life is human life.

January 23rd, 2012, 11:18 am

 

mjabali said:

Syria is burning and all the Arab League was able to come up with is this list of ORDERS that we all know that al-Assad is going to refuse.

It is Amateur Hour at the Arab League. So far, al-Assad with all of his shortcomings, was and is able to defeat them in many games on the ground, even with all the money and support these rich Arabs are putting to remove al-Assad for their own interests.

The Arab League Observers’ game was won by al-Assad, even with the fake observer’s fiasco, and therefore the amateurs came with these orders now asking him to step down and give up his powers. Who taught these guys how to play the game? Notice: the ordinary Syrian people are paying the price while all of these dangerous games are taking place.

These are dangerous participants here since we have buses being blown, car bombs, assassinations, imprisonment, street battles, snipers, beheadings, RPG, Mortars…etc It is a shame to see this happen to Syria.

Hatred is not letting the anti-Assad Arabs see clearly, and of course they care less about the well being of the ordinary Syrian people. All they care about is to change al-Assad ASAP, who as it seems entrenched and hard to move and tougher than these overspending oil rich patriarchs.

Funny and tragic at the same time seeing one of those Princes of Qatar asking a country to democratize and giving a lecture to the public about democracy. Why didn’t the same Sheikhs who inherited the rule call for the democracy for BAHRIN a country about ten miles away from Qatar? Or why didn’t these hypocrites wish the same for their own country? From this point alone we see that these men are making a mockery out of democracy. No wonder the Arabs will never understand what is the true meaning of democracy.

The Arab governments are hypocrites most of the time. al-Assad is violent also and therefore there is no solution in the near future for Syria if you have the Arabs involved into solving things. You need someone really democratic helping in this case.

The Syrians are continuing to die by the regime and by the militant opposition that now had become way more violent and ruthless than the regime itself, as if we are in a competition here. What a mess! The militant opposition is taking Syria to hell if you couple that with al-Assad’s logic and the idiot sectarian Arabs on the sides cheering and sticking their nose.

The only solution for Syria is to sit on the table with all the Syrian contestants. Then you have to establish REAL political parties ASAP on the proper land of Syria with REAL agendas that all Syrians have to vote for ASAP also. Change has to come planed and well thought of and not because of hatred and political agendas.

PS: the Arab League idiots should have called for a halt in all types of violence by all parties before anything else. Violence has to stop.

January 23rd, 2012, 11:20 am

 

zoo said:

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in Qatar
Jan 24, 2012
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/NA24Ak03.html

“Equally, Wen made some candid remarks on Syria and Iran during his press conference in Doha, fully realizing that his host country would have a different point of view. Wen said Beijing is “very concerned” about the Syrian situation. He added in some detail:

Syria’s turmoil has been going on for quite some time. We have three comments on the Syria issue. First, we need to strive to seek a peaceful and political solution to the Syria issue. We oppose the killing of innocent civilians and should prevent it from happening. The order in Syria should be restored as early as possible.

Second, we must respect the requests of the Syrian people for change and their demands to safeguard their own interests. Third, we need to give play to the LAS’ [Arab League’s] role in this regard, especially its investigation and mediation role on the Syria issue, and enable LAS to provide help for the peaceful resolution of the Syria issue through dialogues and by political means.

Our goal is to find solutions, including meeting the requests of the people for change, continuing to develop economy and improving people’s livelihood, so that states experiencing instability such as Syria could achieve stability and development.

This is the first major policy pronouncement on Syria by the Chinese leadership and, most interestingly, it was made on Qatari soil. The impression one gets increasingly is that China is quite comfortable with both Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and doesn’t see the security paradigm in the Persian Gulf in quite those zero-sum terms. The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.) ”
….
The government-owned China Daily featured a commentary on Saturday in a wrap-up of Wen’s tour of the Persian Gulf, which said:

US is lobbying the international community to put the screws on Iran. But China should read into this game and refrain from succumbing under other big powers’ pressure … China should follow its own course, for Sino-Iranian trade is in accordance with international laws …

Iran is an essential overseas market for goods, especially technology-intensive ones, from China, which built the subway in Tehran … Oil imports from Iran are very important for China. If China stops importing oil from Iran, it will face an immediate shortage of fuel. Even if China can meet the shortage by importing from other countries, it would have to pay high prices and meet harsh conditions, which will deal a terrible blow to its economy. China has long suffered the whims of big oil-exporting companies and it is time their monopoly was curbed.

Wen was plainly dismissive about Western media reports that he was scouting for GCC oil to replace Iranian oil. “Some people think I have come for the oil. I think they are too narrow-minded. It should be said that I have come for the friendship. The biggest harvest of my trip is the enhanced mutual political trust.”

January 23rd, 2012, 11:41 am

 

Uzair8 said:

@1 SNP said:

“The head of this crime syndicate is a Shia terrorist by the name of Bakhtian/ Bakhtiar, an immigrant from Iran that is notorious for his sadistic crimes against Syrians while he maintained the Baath party offices for decades.”

Could you please tell us more about this person if possible? Thank you in advance.

January 23rd, 2012, 11:43 am

 

irritated said:

Revlon #605

Thanks for your interesting and realistic analysis of the AL proposal.

https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=13169#comment-292351

January 23rd, 2012, 11:44 am

 

Revlon said:

8. irritated
You are wellcome!
What is your take on the published details of the AL initative irritated?

January 23rd, 2012, 11:52 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

The regime started the violence
The regime continues the brutal violence.
The regime is not going to stop the violence.
The brutality of the regime is much worse than the anti regime violence.

after the regime stop the violence then dialogue is acceptable , not before.
Time is on the side of the people,as more defections, and as worsening the economy, more people will join the opposition.
The regime as a dictatorship, he can not back of,otherwise he will collapse.

January 23rd, 2012, 11:56 am

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Congratulations to the Egyptian people on the first post elections parliamentary session. Yes, the majority is MB and Salafis, but this is the choice of the Egyptian people. This lower house, unlike the previous one during the Mubarak era, is a reflection of the Egyptian society.

And no. I don’t agree with Angry Arab that it has to do with Wahhabi or Gulf money. http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2012/01/67.html

What is Angry Arab’s claim? That Egyptians are secular Liberals, who are bribed to vote for the Salafies ?
.

January 23rd, 2012, 12:16 pm

 

jad said:

A universal conspiracy needs a universal military intervention 🙂

Syrian National Council
Syrian National Council has taken a historic decision. It said that it won’t only ask for Arab League intervention followed by UN Security Council intervention. It said that it has now called on military forces from other planets to participate in a universal military intervention in Syria. All eyes are on Mars now.
Posted by As’ad AbuKhalil at 1:18 AM

I’m glad that no only mee see Haytham Manna as the best and most respected opposition figure so far:

Haytham Al-Manna`
The courageous Syrian dissident, Haytham Al-Manna` (whose leftist brother, Husayn `Uwaydat, was shot in his mouth by goons of the Syrian regime early on because they go after the capable leftist leaders first) gives an interview (the link to its origin has expired) and he categorically rejects foreign intervention. (thanks Blanche)
Posted by As’ad AbuKhalil at 12:27 AM

I also agree with Dr. Abukhalil on this:

Bashshar
What annoys the hell out of me is that Bashshar still acts like his relationship with Saudi Arabia is more than excellent. His propagandists in Lebanon and Syria even absolves Saudi Arabia from any responsibility in what is happening in Syria: they only blame Qatar. I dont think it is entirely foolishness and ignorance: there is plenty of that, but Bashshar still hopes for a deal under the table with the Saudi regime.
Posted by As’ad AbuKhalil at 12:20 AM

Dear SNK, be ready, the coming Friday will be a ‘Kandahar’ Jihadi style!

Friday of the Declaration of Jihad
Al-Quds Al-Arabis (the Qatari-funded newspaper which is fiercely opposed to the Syrian regime) reports that there is a debate about the name of the next Friday of protests in Syria: Salafites want to name it the Friday of the Declaration of Jihad and the March 14 liberals of Syria disagree. I remember only few months ago when people of the March 14 stripes and their supporters in the West were arguing with me whether 1) there are armed groups in Syria; 2) whether the fundamentalists are dominant or even present in the uprising. I remember that some were arguing with me that the entire uprising is the work of feminists and secularists.
Posted by As’ad AbuKhalil at 12:18 AM

http://angryarab.blogspot.com/

January 23rd, 2012, 12:25 pm

 

Tara said:

Amir

I am happy with the results of the parliamentary election in Egypt. Not that I support politicizing Islam, but rather because I think it is a phase muslim countrie must experience in their evolution to the developed world. It appears that lots of people in the Arab world have a “nostalgia” about “Islam is the solution”. Let them try it out and see. If it solves their problems and advances their society, great. If it doesn’t, then the society will be ready for enlightenment that brings it to the mext phase of development.

January 23rd, 2012, 12:31 pm

 

jad said:

عبد الحليم قنديل، كاتب مصري
=================================
هل تمضي الأزمة فى سورية على طريق السيناريو الليبي ؟، وإلى أى مدى يمهد تعنت ودموية النظام إلى فتح الباب لتدخل أجنبي مسلح، تتحول معه الثورة السورية إلى مأساة تهدد بقاء الكيان السورى نفسه .
الخطر قائم، وإن كان مستبعدا إلى حد كبير، فليس فى سورية مطمع أو مغنم بترولي كما هى الحال فى ليبيا، وفى العراق قبلها، وأمريكا ومن لف لفها يتصرفون بطريقة براجماتية جدا، ولا يعنيهم أن يسقط عشرات الآلاف جرحى وشهداء، وربما يفضلون أن يبقى الحال على ما هو عليه، وأن يجرى استنزاف قوة الجيش العربي السوري فى حرب دموية مع شعبه، وأن تجرى عملية ‘ خض ورج ‘ للنظام السوري، ودون أن يسقط تماما، فهم لا يعرفون بالضبط إلى أين تذهب سورية بعد نهاية حكم بشار، ولا يثــــقون فى تعــــهدات سلامية مع إسرائيل على طريقــــة برهان غليـــون، وهو ما يفسر تردد واشنطن وعواصم غربية فى الاعتراف الرسمي بمجلس غليون، فهو لا يضم سوى قطاع أساسي من المعارضة ممثلا فى جماعة الإخوان المسلمين، بينـــــما أغلب الباقــــين شـــخصيات مشكوك فى أمرها ونسبها، وأقــــرب إلى دوائــــر عمل مخابــــرات بينهـــا جهاز المــــخابرات السوري نفســــه، أو من نهازي الفرص، والباحثين عن ثراء حرام من دفاتر شيكات خليجية، إضافة لشخصيات من تيار إعلان دمشــــق محدودة الحجم والتأثير، وهو ما لا يغري واشنطن بالعمل معهم إلى النهاية، خاصة مع تكاثر وتناسل جماعات سورية تعلن عن نفسها تباعا، وتعتبر أنها ممثلة لقضية الثورة، وتتصرف مع الدم السورى على طريقة التاجر الشاطر، والذى يبيع بضاعة لا يملكها، ويقبض ثمنها مقدما.
وأمثال هؤلاء هم الذين يدعون فى إلحاح إلى طلب التدخل الأجنبي العسكري، وإقامة مناطق آمنة ومناطق حظرجوي، وبدعوى حماية المدنيين، ووقف نزيف الدم السوري، بينما أى تدخل عسكري أجنبي لايعني إلا المزيد من إراقة الدماء، ولا يعنى سوى تدمير سورية بشرا وحجرا، وتحويل قضية الثورة إلى حرب أهلية مفتوحة، لا يعود فيها شرف لدم، ولا تفوق أخلاقي للثورة السلمية، وقد تتفكك فيها سورية لاقدر الله، وهو ما يعني أن طلب التدخل الأجنبي ليس دواء لداء، بل معالجة للداء بداء أكبر، فضلا عن إهداره لهدف استخلاص الإستقلال الوطني، وتخليص الأوطان من عبادة الأوثان، وهو هدف جوهري لأي ثورة وطنية عظيمة كالثورة السورية المتصلة فصولها إلى الآن، وتبدو محاصرة فى مناطق الأطراف، ودون نفاذ سريع إلى القلب السوري، وبالذات فى دمشق وحلب، وحيث يوجد نصف عدد سكان سورية، وحيث يتمترس النظام بآلته القمعية الدموية الوحشية.
وقبل أسابيع، كان قد صدر بيان مشترك لهيئة التنسيق مع المجلس الوطني الذي يترأسه غليون، و’هيئة التنسيق’ تضم جماعة المعارضة الأساسية فى الداخل السوري، ولا يكاد يكون خارجها من طرف داخلي مؤثر غير جماعة الإخوان، وقد اتفق الطرفان على رفض التدخل الأجنبي بكافة صوره وأشكاله، واعتبرا أن التدخل العربي ليس أجنبيا، لكن التدخل العربي لا يبدو إلى الآن مجديا بما فيه الكفاية، وتتعثر مهمة المراقبين العرب، ولا يتوقف نزيف الدم فى سورية، ولا يبدو النظام العائلي الديكتاتوري مستعدا لأي تسوية، وهو ما يستثير أجواء نفسية مواتية لطلب التدخل الأجنبي، ويستدعي الخطيئة الكبرى، ويحول رغبة الانتقام من نظام بشار إلى انتقام من سورية ذاتها.
وأول المستفيدين من طلب التدخل الأجنبي هو نظام بشار ذاته، فطلب التدخل يسيء إلى قضية الثورة، ويلطخ سمعة أنصار الثورة، وييسر مهمة النظام في اتهامهم بالعمالة والخيانة، ويساعده على اتقان تزوير صورة ما يجري فى سورية، وإلقاء الظلال السوداء على الرغبة الشعبية العارمة فى إنهاء نظام قاهر وسارق لشعبه، وتصويرها كما لو كانت مؤامرة استعمارية ضد النظام الوطنى جدا، وهو ما يستريح إليه النظام، ويستثمره فى جلب وتأكيد تأييد قطاعات متردة فى الالتحاق بركب الثورة، خاصة أنه يعرف مدى صعوبة اتخاذ الأمريكيين لقرار التدخل العسكري، وهم الذين يمدون حبال التواصل مع النظام إلى الآن، ويكتــــفون بالتصريحات النارية ضد بشار فى العلن، ودون رغبة فى اقتحام حقل ألغام مشرقي مليء بدواعى الكراهية للأمريكيين رعــــاة الإسرائيليين، ولاالمبالغة فى معاندة روسيا، والتى تعتبر النظام السوري حليفها الأوثق فى المنطقة، واستخدمت ‘ الفيتو ‘ من أجله فى مجلس الأمن، وتسعى لوقف تدهوره، وتعرض جهودها لاقامة جسور حوار بينه وبين المعارضة داخل سورية وخارجها .
والمحصلة إلى الآن أن الأزمة متفاقمة فى سورية، وأن نزيف الدم لا يتوقف يوما واحدا، وأن قضية الثورة فى مأزق، ولن تتقدم خطوة واحدة باستدعاء التدخل الأجنبي، بل ربما يحدث العكس بالضبط، فطلب التدخل الأجنبي طريق ضلال مؤكد، وخيانة كاملة لقضية الثورة، والحل فى سورية نفسها، الحل فى الوفاء الحقيقي لدم عشرات الآلاف من شهداء وجرحى الثورة، الحل فى انتقال شرارة الثورة إلى القلب السوري بعد انتفاضات الأطراف، وليس ذلك مستحيلا، وإن أخذ وقتا إضافيا، فمع ثبات وبطـــولات درعا وإدلب وحمص وحماة والبوكمال، بدأ القلق الثوري ينتقل بنبضه إلى أطراف حلب، وإلى ريف دمشق، وبدأت انشقاقات الضمير تتزايد فى الجيش، وتلعب دورا مؤثرا أكثر فأكثر، وهو ما نتصور أنه سيمضي إلى إطراد، فما يبدو من تماسك النظام الدموي، وعدم وجود انشقاقات كبرى فى بنيانه المغلق، هذه الحال لن تدوم طويلا، فآلة النظام القمعية الأمنية يتزايد إرهاقها فى ميادين الدم، وكل مذبحة ترتكبها تضيف إلى العداوة لها، وإلى كسر المزيد من حواجز الخوف، ومضاعفة الميل إلى انشقاقات بداخلها، وبشرط الابتعاد عن التشويش بدعاوى استدعاء التدخل الأجنبي، والتى تساعد النظام على تجنيد آلته العسكرية الأمنية، والإيحاء لعناصرها بأنها تخوض معركة وطنية، والتغطية على حقيقة الحرب القمعية المؤثمة بشرائع الأديان والأوطان والضمائر.
والمعنى باختصار أن استدعاء التدخل الأجنبي يفيد النظام، ويزيف قضية الثورة، ويهدد بتفكيك سورية، وليس المطلوب لاقدر الله أن تسقط سورية، بل أن يسقط النظام وحده، وأن تقوم سورية من رمادها، وكما يريدها أهلها وطنا حرا عربيا ديمقراطيا.
‘ كاتب مصري

January 23rd, 2012, 12:32 pm

 

Revlon said:

589. Dear Norman:
Thank you for posting AlDabi’s statements.
Some are contradicted by videos that I posted earlier.
others serve to underscores the limited value of their observations due to quantitative (their small number compared to the vastness of their duty area) as well as qualitative (inability to access area without prior arrangement of the regime security forces) issues.

Here is what I meant:
((BBC
قال الفريق أوَّل مصطفى الدابي، رئيس بعثة المراقبين العرب إلى سوري إنَّ السلطات السورية سحبت منذ بداية البعثة مهمَّتها الآليَّات والأسلحة الثقيلة كافَّة من المدن والبلدات السورية، وأكِّد أنه لم يشهد قصفا بالمدافع والطائرات منذ وصوله إلى سوريا.
I personally posted videos of Aldabi with other observors and activists in Baba Amr, with armored vehicles in sight!

وقال الدابي: “لقد عايشنا الواقع وعكسنا ما شاهدناه في التقرير، ولم نتكلَّم عن شيء لم نشاهده. فمنذ أن وصلت البعثة إلى سوريا، سُحبت كلُّ الآليات الثقيلة من المدن والبلدات، ولم نشاهد طائرات، أو نسمع قصفا.”
AlDabi: We reflected what we saw and refrained from discussing what we did not see.
This statement summs up the limitations of this report.
The report is based on direct, visual observations. All other observations are discarded.
100 observors can make observations in a maximum of 100 blocks at a time.
Assuming that all of them were in Homs, with an arbitrary figure of 10,000 residential blocks would mean that 9,900 or 99% of residential blocks of Homs were not under direct observation at any given time!

AlDabi did not reflect what he did not personally see.
The hundreds of families and activists that offered personal testimonies and documentary evidence were not represented in his report; their plight was not seen live by AlDabi. He did see women and young girls being raped, children tortured, activists kicked, and homes shelled.
Is there any thing the AL can supply AlDabi and his team with to overcome this limitation; I suggest a crystal ball.

وحول ما إذا كان قد طلب تمديد مهمَّة البعثة أو تعديلها، قال الدابي: “أنا لم أطلب تمديد مهمَّة البعثة كما ورد، وليس هناك من شيء كذلك. بل كتبت في توصيتي أنَّه إن كان هنالك من نيَّة لتمديد البعثة، فلا بدَّ من أن تُدعى الجوانب الإدارية والسياسية، وتأمين الدعم السياسي والمادِّي لتمكين البعثة من القيام بعملها.”
Doubling or tripling their number shall make no difference.
Giving them Thuraya telephones, notebooks, 3D cameras, printers, Rayban sun glasses and extra pocket money shall make their stationary look neater and life more comfy, while that of the observed deteriorate.

Cheers.

January 23rd, 2012, 12:37 pm

 

Juergen said:

Tara

Our biggest german salafi Pierre Vogel or Abu Hamza as they call him( or the most outspoken one) is currently in Cairo for studies in Arabic and Sharia. I am not sure if i like more the fact that he is gone for a while or that he is not in Saudi Arabia. May be at the end he will see how far Salafism will bring people in Egypt. I think that there is nonevertheless quite a paranoia here in the west, i think with the ichuan one could live, they have proven to look for compromises, the Salafis have not shown such an effort yet.

January 23rd, 2012, 12:38 pm

 
 

Tara said:

Jeurgen,

I don’t think Islam is the solution. We all can say that until we are blue in the face to no avail. I think interested society ought to try it to reach the same conclusion. As long as the Islamists come to power through fair and clean election and can be voted out. The danger I see is if once they get the power, they cling to it and becomes dictatorial.

January 23rd, 2012, 12:49 pm

 

jad said:

WMD of Iraq are now in Syria…….reading such oppositions comments make me sick!

Assad’s fall could solve Iraqi weapons mystery

“If Syria’s regime falls, the U.S. will be in a better position to answer one of the lingering questions from the long Iraq War: Did Baghdad ship weapons of mass destruction components to Syria before the 2003 American-led invasion?

An opposition leader tells The Washington Times that a new, secular democracy in Syria would allow outside inspectors to survey and ensure destruction of what is believed to be one of the largest stockpiles of chemical weapons in the Middle East.”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/22/assads-fall-could-solve-iraqi-weapons-mystery/?page=all#pagebreak

January 23rd, 2012, 12:54 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Tara #13

I couldn’t agree more with what you said. Let them play. Now, the burden of proving capable is on the Islamists.
.

January 23rd, 2012, 12:57 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Haytham Manna3 is delusional,watch this

January 23rd, 2012, 1:02 pm

 

Tara said:

Zoo

Funny Chinese prime minister. No? He visited a “cultural desert” for friendship not for business. Are we supposed to believe him?

January 23rd, 2012, 1:12 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

A nice little interactive feature on the individuals at the heart of the Mafia clan. Check it out.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2012/01/201212391849968939.html

January 23rd, 2012, 1:21 pm

 

jad said:

3 parts showing how the Libyan scenario played and the stages it went through in the media and how is the same scenario with the same stages and lingo is used on Syria:

“هذا فيلم يوضح السيناريو الذي جرى في ليبيا بخطواته كلها و من ثم يمكن لللانسان ذو العقل و المنطق ان يقارنها بالخطوات التي يتم اتباعها في تنفيذ نفس السيناريو في سوريا و سياقة نفس الاعذار و نفس الذرائع و نفس الخطوات نفس التغطية الاعلامية و كل شيئ مطابق مئة بالمئة و بالحرف الواحد”

Devil-ution from Libya to Syria P- 1 ثورة الشياطين من ليبيا الى سوريا
http://youtu.be/zAhCaf4SQVs

Devil-ution from Libya to Syria P- 2 ثورة الشياطين من ليبيا الى سوريا
http://youtu.be/AfnkAHgZDZg

Devil-ution from Libya to Syria P- 3 ثورة الشياطين من ليبيا الى سوريا
http://youtu.be/Vw0_YudfFe8

January 23rd, 2012, 1:26 pm

 

Juergen said:

Tara

Thats not my agenda either, a friend of mine was in Cairo last week and he met some teachers of Al Azhar. The current grand sheikh is not liked not because Mubarak choosed him, but because he is seen as too liberal, some deak was made with MB that he serves just one term though. As soon as Egyptians will see that the Manna is not raining many will see that those islamic politicans will be as corrupt as others. I think Amir can tell us a story how many corruption charges there were with the ultraright wing jewish parties, they just arent saints.

January 23rd, 2012, 1:27 pm

 

jad said:

More stories about smuggling weapons to Syria, that will lead to a civil war nothing else:

Syrian exiles smuggling weapons, goods to revolutionaries

BEIRUT — Syrian dissidents based in Lebanon have stepped up efforts to help the opposition in their country by smuggling medicine, satellite phones, cameras and weapons into Syria – and refugees and injured fighters out.

From their safe houses in Beirut, Tripoli and the border village of Wadi Khaled, the dissidents remain in constant contact with activists inside Syria, as the bloody 10-month-old conflict devolves toward civil war.

“Because of the social media, because of the new ways to make a revolution, borders don’t matter anymore. We’re always in touch with the opposition inside. It’s a live community with an organic connection,” said “Mohammed,” a Syrian exile whose last name has been withheld to protect his safety.

“I could get myself smuggled back in, but I’m more useful here on this side because I help getting things inside.”

In Tripoli, the dissidents receive support from local associations such as Al-Bashaer, a Sunni group that openly opposes Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime.

Al-Bashaer has donated clothes, medicine and money to hundreds of Syrian families in Tripoli, said Wassim Bashir, a spokesman for the group.

“We are as concerned as Syrians by the current situation,” Mr. Bashir said. “We have all suffered from this regime.”

Al-Bashaer also helps wounded Syrians smuggled across the border into Lebanon, he said, adding that one or two arrive every day.

The Lebanese government is aware of the smuggling activity, but officials refuse to acknowledge it publicly. The Lebanese government has set up a few checkpoints, but the army is too small to patrol effectively the 200-mile border with Syria.

Lebanon has long had a tense relationship with Syria, which occupied the country for nearly 30 years before leaving in 2005. Today, Syria and Iran exert influence through Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist group that dominates the Lebanese government.

One of the most active smuggling areas in Lebanon is the village of Wadi Khaled, nestled in hills about three miles from the Syrian border. Locals have long survived on agriculture and smuggling.

The trafficking usually has revolved around fuel and food, both cheaper on the Syrian side. But since the revolution started, shipments have changed. Now the black market in weapons is booming, and the prices of arms are skyrocketing, villagers say.

Assault rifles, shotguns and other weapons are sold to the Syria revolutionaries and smuggled into Syria on a regular basis. Since the outbreak of violence, the price of a Kalashnikov assault rifle has almost doubled to about $2,000, smugglers say.

Lebanese arms dealers sell their weapons to the highest bidders, and many now are Syrian revolutionaries who no longer believe in peaceful protests.

“We will prevail, not with the help of the international community but thanks to our own people and with guns,” said one Syrian dissident who identified himself only as Abdelhakim. “We will take our [freedom] back.”

Syria has reinforced security at the border by planting mines and posting additional troops. However, the Lebanese border remains porous, like Syria’s northern border with Turkey and southern border with Jordan.

Syrian opposition sources say they also are getting weapons from Turkey and Jordan.

The arms trafficking generally has been an ad hoc enterprise; but as the violence escalates in Syria, the trade is growing larger and more lucrative, locals say.
{…}

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/22/syrian-exiles-smuggling-weapons-goods-revolutionar/

January 23rd, 2012, 1:37 pm

 
 

jad said:

Are we going to see KSA forcing the Syrian opposition to start the dialogue in a way to get Syria out of this mess or is Qatar with its media are going to intensify the violence in support of a Libyan style ending:

الحكومة السعودية:الوضع السوري بالغ الخطورة وعلى الجميع تحمل مسؤولياتهم

شدد مجلس الوزراء السعودي على أن “الوضع في سوريا بالغ الخطورة ويتطلب من الجميع تحمل مسؤولياتهم التاريخية أمام الله”.
جاء ذلك وفقا لبيان صحفي أوردته وكالة الأنباء السعودية خلال جلسة مجلس الوزراء السعودي التي عقدت هنا اليوم برئاسة خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز.
ونقلت وكالة الأنباء السعودية “واس” عن بيان عن الحكومة السعودية، تأكيده أن “المجلس اطلع على نتائج اجتماع مجلس جامعة الدول العربية على مستوى وزراء الخارجية العرب الذي عقد في القاهرة أمس وتضمنت مطالبة الحكومة السورية وكافة أطياف المعارضة السورية بالبدء في حوار سياسي جاد تحت رعاية الجامعة العربية. ويهدف هذا الحوار إلى تشكيل حكومة وحدة وطنية تشارك فيها السلطة والمعارضة برئاسة شخصية متفق عليها تكون مهمتها تطبيق بنود خطة الجامعة العربية والإعداد لانتخابات برلمانية ورئاسية تعددية حرة بإشراف عربي ودولي”.
وأشار البيان إلى أن “المجلس استعرض موقف المملكة سحب مراقبيها نظرا لعدم تنفيذ الحكومة السورية لأي من عناصر خطة الحل العربي التي تهدف أساسا لحقن الدماء السورية الغالية”.

January 23rd, 2012, 2:03 pm

 

Revlon said:

بيان إدانة واستنكار من الإعلاميين العرب لتخاذل العالم مع الثورة السورية ::
A statement from Eminent Arab Newscasters and journalists denouncing the international community for failing the Syrian Revolution.
22/01/2012
http://www.facebook.com/monasiqoon

في خضم ما شهده وتشهده المنطقة العربية من ربيع وثورات ألهبت المنطقة بأسرها وأصبحت شغلا شاغلا لنا نحن الإعلاميين العرب .
وبشكل خاص ربيع سوريا وما نراه جميعا من قتل وتنكيل بإخواننا السوريين بما يقارب العام .

ووضوح الموقف الجامعة العربية الغير معلن صراحة والواضح لنا جميعا ووقوفها إلى جانب النظام السوري ومحاولة إنقاذه من محنته الحالية وبشتى الطرق الممكنة حتى إذا كان ذلك على حساب الدم السوري.
وانطلاقا من قيمة مهنتنا الإعلامية ومهمتها في إيصال صوت الحقيقة إلى الرأي العام .
It is clear to us that the AL have been affording the Syrian regime tacit support and opportunities to survive the current crisis, even if it were on the expense of loss of life of Syrians.

ندين ونستنكر القمع الوحشي للمتظاهرين السلميين في كافة أنحاء سوريا ونعلن أيضا عن دعمنا لهم بكل ما استطعنا أن نقدم لهم من دعم إعلامي ومعنوي .

مطالبين أيضا الضمير العربي والعالمي بالتحرك الفوري ضد النظام الهمجي وجميع من تلطخ يده بدماء السوريين الأبرياء .
نحن الإعلاميين العرب الموقعين أدناه : وضاح خنفـر
منتهى الرمحي
نجوى قاسم
عدنان الشريف
احمد الشيخ
توفيق طه
جمال ريان
أحمد منصور
محمد خير البوريني
إيمان بنورة
فيصل القاسم
خديجة بن قنة
ليلي الشايب
محمد كريشان
الحبيب الغريبي
ليلي الشيخلي
صهيب الملكاوي
صهيب المهداوي
ابراهيم القاسم
مي الشربيني
ميسون عزام
سهير ابراهيم القيسي
سهير مرتضى
طاهر بركة
سميرة ازغيدر
زياد عبيدات
يوسف الحاج
دينا سالم
حمدان جرجاوي
جيزيل خوري
تركي الدخيل
حسن معوض
ملاحظة هامة :
نحن الموقعين نعلن جميعا أن هذه الرؤى تمثل رأينا الشخصي وليس لجهات العمل التي نعمل بها أي علاقة

See Translation
37 minutes ago

January 23rd, 2012, 2:08 pm

 

jad said:

The MBs are willing to accept studying the AL road map plan, if the MBs say yes, then the SNC will have no choice but to say yes:

جماعة “الإخوان المسلمون” السورية تبدي استعداها لدراسة مبادرة الجامعة العربية الجديدة

أشارت جماعة “الإخوان المسلمين” في سوريا، اليوم الاثنين، إلى أنها مستعدة لدراسة المبادرة الجديدة للجامعة العربية التي تدعو الرئيس بشار الأسد بنقل المسؤوليات إلى نائبه الأول.

ونقلت وكالة الأنباء الفرنسية (أ ف ب) عن الجماعة قولها، في بيان لها، “بعد الاطلاع على الأطروحات الجادة في مبادرة الجامعة العربية الأخيرة نرى في هذه المبادرة ما يعبر عن الجدية، ويستحق الدراسة المتأنية”، مشيرة إلى ذلك يعد “انتقالا بالموقف العربي من دوامة التسويف إلى محاولة التطوير الجاد والملتزم، ينم عن شعور بالمسؤولية العربية”.

وكان مجلس الجامعة العربية على المستوى الوزاري أقر مبادرة عربية، يوم الأحد، تدعو إلى تشكيل حكومة وحدة وطنية سورية خلال شهرين، وتفويض الرئيس بشار الأسد نائبه الأول بصلاحيات كاملة للقيام بالتعاون التام مع حكومة الوفاق الوطني لتمكينها من أداء واجباتها في المرحلة الانتقالية.

فيما أعلن مصدر سوري مسؤول أن سورية ترفض القرارات الصادرة عن مجلس الجامعة العربية على المستوى الوزاري بشأن سورية، وتعدها انتهاكا لسيادتها الوطنية وتدخلا سافرا في شؤونها الداخلية وخرقا فاضحا للأهداف التي أنشئت الجامعة العربية من أجلها وللمادة الثامنة من ميثاقها.”
{…}

http://www.syria-news.com/readnews.php?sy_seq=143079

#29, as As’ad Abukhaleel wrote, it’s a universal conspiracy against both the Regime and the Oppositions…..tough luck for both sides’ radicals, the majority of Syrians will take over now.

January 23rd, 2012, 2:12 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

I like the following comment from an Al Arabiya opinion piece:

“We are aware that armed struggle was not the first choice of the Syrian revolution, which started as a peaceful uprising and remained so for several months. Yet, the brutality of the regime and the prevalence of violence and systematic killings were shocking to everyone following what is happening, including army officers themselves.”

http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2012/01/23/190050.html

Brutal violence was the first choice of the regime.

January 23rd, 2012, 2:19 pm

 

jad said:

ارتباك عربي تجاه سورية
رأي القدس
اختتم وزراء خارجية الدول العربية اجتماعهم المخصص لبحث تقرير المراقبين في سورية والخطوات التي يمكن اتباعها بناء عليه باظهار حالة من الارتباك غير مسبوقة، وربما يعود ذلك الى وجود انقسامات حادة بين الوزراء، وبالتحديد بين جناح الصقور الذي يضم وزراء خارجية مجلس التعاون، وبين الحمائم ومعظمهم من دول معارضة لاي تدخل عسكري عربي او اجنبي في سورية مثل الجزائر ومصر والسودان ولبنان والعراق.
تقرير المراقبين ركز ولاول مرة على وجود اعمال عنف من الجانبين، اي القوات السورية من ناحية، والجيش السوري الحر وجماعات مسلحة من ناحية اخرى، كما اعترف بالتزام النظام ببعض نقاط المبادرة العربية مثل الافراج عن معتقلين وسحب بعض الآليات العسكرية من المدن، ولكنه اكد في الوقت نفسه ان هذا الانسحاب لم يكن كاملا، كما ان المراقبين لا يعرفون عدد المعتقلين وهناك من يقدرهم بعشرات الآلاف.
قرار وزراء الخارجية بتمديد عمل لجنة المراقبين لمدة شهر آخر هو دليل افلاس، وانعدام البدائل الاخرى، ونجاح جناح ‘الحمائم’ في كبح اندفاعة جناح الصقور، فقد بدأت لهجة وزراء الخارجية تتسم بلهجة اكثر هدوءا واقل تصعيدا، عما كان عليه الحال في السابق حيث كان الوزراء يهددون النظام السوري بعقوبات قاتلة مثل وقف رحلات الطيران، ومقاطعة البضائع السورية، ويمهلون النظام بضعة ايام للتطبيق والا عليه تحمل العواقب الوطنية.
الامير سعود الفيصل وزير الخارجية السعودي عبر عن استياء جناح الصقور من التمديد لفريق المراقبين العرب بالاعلان عن سحب المراقبين السعوديين، لان بلاده لا تريد ان تكون شاهد زور على قتل المواطنين السوريين برصاص النظام، وهذه هي المرة الاولى التي نستمع فيها الى موقف سعودي داخل اروقة الجامعة العربية، ناهيك عن كونه موقفا قويا او ضعيفا، فقد غاب الموقف السعودي الحاسم تجاه الملف السوري طوال الاشهر الماضية، وفضل وزير الخارجية السعودي الالتزام بالصمت، وترك الامور لنظيره القطري الشيخ حمد بن جاسم رئيس الوزراء ووزير الخارجية.
هناك تفسير واحد لهذا التشدد السعودي العلني والمفاجئ، وهو ازدياد سخونة الوضع المتفجر في مضيق هرمز، ورغبة السعودية في اخذ زمام المبادرة لدعم اي توجه غربي ضد ايران، وبالتالي حلفائها في سورية ولبنان والعراق، وربما في فلسطين ايضا (حركتي حماس والجهاد الاسلامي).
المعارضة السورية الممثلة بالمجلس الوطني اصيبت بخيبة امل كبرى لان بيان وزراء الخارجية العرب لم يتخذ موقفا بنقل الملف الى مجلس الامن الدولي، ولذلك قرر المجلس اخذ زمام المبادرة بنفسه لتدويل الازمة، والذهاب الى الامم المتحدة مثلما قال معظم المتحدثين باسمه في مقابلاتهم التلفزيونية وعلى رأسهم الدكتور برهان غليون.
مطالبة وزراء الخارجية العرب مجددا بوقف القتل، والافراج عن المعتقلين، وسحب الدبابات من الشوارع، وتشكيل حكومة وحدة وطنية هي دليل على ان وزراء الخارجية العرب وصلوا الى طريق مسدود في تحركهم تجاه سورية، مثلما هي دليل ايضا على تراجع الخيارات العسكرية لحماية المدنيين السوريين، فالدعوة الى تشكيل حكومة وحدة وطنية في سورية اعتراف صريح بهذه الخلاصة، وتوجه نحو الحوار للتوصل الى تسوية سياسية.
عدم صدور قرار عن وزراء الخارجية بالذهاب الى مجلس الامن يعكس قناعة بان هذه الخطوة غير عملية، لان ‘الفيتوين’ الروسي والصيني جاهزان لمنع التدويل او صدور اي قرار بتشريع عمل عسكري ضد النظام السوري، تماما مثل ‘الفيتو’ الامريكي الجاهز دائما لمنع اي مشروع قرار عربي بادانة اسرائيل او فرض عقوبات عليها بسبب الاستيطان او اجتياح قطاع غزة.
وزراء الخارجية العرب اعترفوا بان الازمة في سورية تنزلق الى حرب اهلية طائفية، وان لم يقولوا ذلك بمثل هذا الوضوح، وربما يلجأ هؤلاء، او الصقور منهم الى صب الزيت على نار هذه الحرب، من خلال ضخ الملايين لتجنيد المتطوعين والاستشهاديين منهم خاصة، وتمويل عمليات شراء اسلحة وتهريبها الى من يريد استخدامها ضد النظام السوري.
العاهل الاردني الملك عبدالله الثاني قال قبيل سفره الى الولايات المتحدة قبل اسبوع ان سورية ستشهد اياما صعبة في الفترة المقبلة، وربما يشير ذلك الى هذا السيناريو الخطير، اليس هو اول من تحدث عن الهلال الشيعي الذي يتحول بدرا هذه الايام؟!

http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=data/2012/01/01-22/22qpt999.htm

January 23rd, 2012, 2:38 pm

 

sf94123 said:

The Syrian path downwards.
The unrest and ethnic fighting become permanent. It can last for years, destroying Syria as a state. It is similar to the situation in Sudan.

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012/01/23/64407425.html

January 23rd, 2012, 2:54 pm

 

jad said:

Violence is not the answer:

Skh Bashir Kefah
نادى مناد قائلا .. أن حي على الجهاد ..
قلت يا صديقي ها نحن نجاهد و نقارع منذ عشرة شهور ..
قال .. فقل لي إذا : كم قتلت من الخصوم ..
قلت له يا مخادع .. إذا قل … حي على السلاح ..
أنواع الجهاد أربع :
1-جهاد النفس (حبذا لو أردكو أنهم سبب البلاء)
2-جهاد الشيطان (لا تحتاج إلى تفسير)
3-جهاد الظالمين (الظلم لا دين له ولا عرق )
4-جهاد المنافقين (أولئك القابعين بيننا .. وهم انعكاس لصورة المستبد الظالم)
حينما تكون المصطلحات مطية للرعاع ..
يكون معنى الجهاد ..السلاح والسلاح فقط ..

عونك يا وطن يا أبو الحضارات ..

Motaz Morad
يلومونا الكثير من الناس، قال نحنا يلي جعلنا الثورة بداريا مو متل غير مناطق، يعني ماعاد صار عنا مظاهرات بالآلاف وبث مباشر وغيرو، وكل مظاهراتنا طيارة ومن دون حماية مسلحة. صحيح هالحكي، بس في حدا بينكر كمان، انو طريق النضال والكفاح السلمي يلي اتبعوا الشباب، وفر عالبلد عشرات وعشرات الشهداء؟!
بإدلب من يومين أكتر من 100 جثة تم تسليمهم لأهاليهم، من ضمنهم المعتقلين الذين تم قصف باصهم، ممكن نتخيل شو يعني هالحكي؟!
التفكير بكل أسلوب يخفف أكبر قدر ممكن من القتل والدمار، هو واجب على كل إنسان، لان ذلك يعني المحافظة على طاقة البلد البشرية والثورية أكبر فترة ممكنة، فلا أحد يعرف متى ينتهي المشوار ….

January 23rd, 2012, 3:06 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

The AL said they could not stop the regime brutal violence, they should have admited their failure. why didn’t they?
Why is Turkey so quiet?
Why the US is not putting pressure on Nouri AlMaliki?
Why Egypt is not supporting KSA position?
What was the official reaction of Russia to AL initiative.?

January 23rd, 2012, 3:20 pm

 

Juergen said:

A feature of Jürgen Todenhöfer, this freelance german writer who met with Assad and reported from Syria. Its more or less a feature about his life, and its worthwile because his stand is quite unique. He would say things like, we are the terrorists,not the muslim or arabic world dominates us.

Its in english:

http://mediacenter.dw-world.de/english/video/#!/377851/Talking_Germany

this is a german version:

January 23rd, 2012, 3:33 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

After I heard the AL decission yesterday night I had some faith in the future. I thought it was a good middle solution. Specially when generouly SNC accepted this solution after having suffered thousands of victims on the syrian opposition side.

But in a question of hours the Syria Assad Regime fastly destroyed any idea of peacfull solution by rejecting any agreement proposal by AL and by bringing back again the CONSPIRACY PARANOIA.

Now, I think it is clear, what was previously the so-called Assad Doctrine, ME OR CHAOS, should now be replaced by the ARAB SPRING DOCTRINE, which has probed to be a successfull one, WITHOUT YOU OR UNENDING REVOLUTION.

Now I see it clearer, Mr. Bashar Al Assad is finished. One month or ten years, but he is already gone.

January 23rd, 2012, 3:46 pm

 

Juergen said:

Sandro

I think not even optimists would give this regime a year.

January 23rd, 2012, 3:51 pm

 

Tara said:

Jad

Im regard to your earlier post, You are victimizing yourself again. I would not want you banned for your opinion. You are entitled to any opinion you choose to have. I would want you banned when you use a filthy language. Ever thought why anti-regime gals and guys miss certain people with opposite opinion? It is the way of communicating one’s opinion that begets respect or lack of it….

Above will conclude “this communication” with you as it is going nowhere and is becoming tiring.

January 23rd, 2012, 3:53 pm

 

defender said:

brilliant ! shortly i will be in your town to meet you !

January 23rd, 2012, 4:01 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

38. JUERGEN,

I do not know if you are syrian or have lived inside Syria for a long time or even if you write from inside Syria. But I just can tell that I know quite well the reality of the country from inside, the regime real structure and the day-by-day interaction between power-repression apparatus and people on the streets.

I think this regime can long under siege for years. Saddam did it from 1.991 until 2.004 and only US could pit him aside with tragic consequences. Gaddafi could stand for years too was it not for the massive military siege he suffered.

Some say a pesimist is just a well informed realist. I hope I am wrong but I am afraid the syrian regime was built with the clear idea of not letting anyone substitue it. Until now they have been succesfull. Only the people on Syria with a brilliant leader and international cooperation could subsititue this mafia regime before it is too late and most oppositors are underground (buried or in prison)

January 23rd, 2012, 4:07 pm

 

defender said:

Mr Jürgen Todenhöfer !
sorry!!! I am not right in relation to you!!! I ask the application!mey be i will in Berlin shortly i hope to meet you!

January 23rd, 2012, 4:16 pm

 

jad said:

As written before, Lebanon may become the victim of its own sick radical politicians, Alqaeda fighters are imported and multiplying allover the country:

دخلوا بالمئات وتوزعوا بفنادق.معلومات عسكرية لـ”صوت المدى”: عرب مصابون بأزمات تطرف الى لبنان من ثم الى سورية
رندلى جبّور –

القاعدة في لبنان واقفة وتتحرك كذلك.. السياحة الإسلامية نشطت في الفترة الأخيرة ومعلومات عسكرية أكدت لصوت المدى دخول عرب إلى لبنان للنفاذ إلى سوريا. ومن يتعذر دخولهم من الشبابيك غير الشرعية يدخلون عبر الباب الشرعي، مرة تحت مسمى عاملين في بعض المطاعم ومرة أخرى في برنص العلاج الطبي.

وكانت إذاعتنا سألت منذ أسبوعين تقريباً عن سبب استقدام خمسين ليبياً لمعالجتهم في مستشفيات بيروت وكان فقط ثلاثة منهم في المستشفى والآخرون في الفنادق. لماذا؟ أجبنا لأنهم مصابون بأزمات نفسية. ولكن يبدو وفق المعلومات العسكرية أنهم مصابون بأزمات تطرف وقد دخلوا بالمئات وتوزعوا بفنادق لا تثير الشبهات ليعبروا إلى الجريمة التي تأخذهم في اعتقادهم إلى الجنة.

وما كتبه الزميل رضوان مرتضى في الأخبار اليوم يؤكد المعلومات لا نقلاً عن جهات أمنية وحسب بل نقلاً عن الإسلاميين أنفسهم. وهم اكدوا له وصول موفدين من ليبيا وتونس والعراق وسوريا والسعودية لتهيئة الأرضية لإطلاق الجهاد وأشاروا أنهم يحتضنون الجيش السوري الحر ويملكون منازل آمنة في دول عدة ينتقلون في ما بينهم وينقلون الأسلحة وثبتوا أن تنسيقاً تاماً يقوم بين الإسلاميين وما يسمى بالجيش السوري الحر.

وقفت القاعدة معلنة على الملأ الجهاد في لبنان أو منه على الأقل في اتجاه سوريا. فهل سيبقى المسؤولون في لبنان قاعدين يتفرجون وكأن المشهد ليس أكثر من مسلسل مدبلج.

http://www.tayyar.org/Tayyar/News/PoliticalNews/ar-LB/kaiida-pb-61304482.htm

January 23rd, 2012, 4:24 pm

 

Afram said:

Russians Hawk Jets to Syria Regime

eat your heart out muslim terroristas

Russia has reached a deal to sell Bashar al-Assad’s regime three dozen Yak-130 fighter jets, a Syrian business newspaper reported today. The twin-engined jet is capable of attacking ground targets,Experts say the contract, which is reportedly worth $550 million, is a sign of Russia’s confidence that Assad will remain in power.

The sale comes despite an EU weapons embargo against Syria, which Russia has said it won’t cooperate with.

January 23rd, 2012, 4:38 pm

 

Juergen said:

Defender

Berlin will welcome you. If you look for Todenhöfer, you have to visit him in Munich. Here are his contact details:

Jürgen Todenhöfer

Thalkirchnerstr. 57
80337 München

Email: jtbuero(at)googlemail.com

Sandro

No i am German and I have lived in Syria only shortly, a couple of months at the most, usually i stay 2-4 weeks when i come. Sure you have a better picture of the day to day live in Syria, i depend very much on my experiences and some friends in the country.
I have some business friends and i do think that they could not live as Syrians lived under Hafez in the 90s now. I mean if you dont have much you dont want much either, if you are used to some luxury, you will surely miss it. I mean do you really think those business folks which make up an significant number of regime supporters will stand aside and let their chances go?

January 23rd, 2012, 4:40 pm

 

defender said:

45. JUERGEN
Vielen Dank! Gern!

January 23rd, 2012, 4:48 pm

 

irritated said:

#12. jad

The Saudis want to remain the leaders of the Arab Sunni countries and the only Arab favorite of the USA. Any competition in these two levels is not acceptable. I think the Saudis hate the Qataris and the Turks more than they hate Syrians because these are sunni countries who have the arrogance of influencing other Arab sunni countries into a ‘democratic’ islam and who are loved by the USA.

The Saudi fear the Iranians but they don’t see them as a competition first because they are Shias and not Sunnis and second because the USA hates them.
I am not surprised the Saudi will ignore the Qatari initiated plans. They’ll come with their own.
No wonder Bashar Al Assad counts on them to counter Turkey and Qatar.

January 23rd, 2012, 5:00 pm

 

Juergen said:

how much i love those salafi shaikhs

now they have issued an fatwa against SPONGEBOB!!!

January 23rd, 2012, 5:03 pm

 

irritated said:

31. Uzair8

There was a second peaceful choice instead of armed struggle for the opposition that Tunisia used and that we have not seen in Syria:
Self immolation.

January 23rd, 2012, 5:06 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

45. JUERGEN

No bussinesmen based on corrupt relationships (I calculate 95 % of them depend on knowledge of key corrupt officials and paid permissions and licences) or any corrupt-linked person will turn sides until the day the president falls. For the simple reason that nobody will believe, after 40 years, that the president has fallen until Bashar is really gone. And nobody will risk being seen by the regime as a traitor anti-Assad agent after getting beneffits from this corrupt regime, paying with prison and ruin for this mistake. Like it or not this are facts. Aleppine and Damascene middle and high classes have learnt to live with and from the status quo leaving aside values and ideologies. This is why change is so difficult. This is why change can bring chaos. This is why they will not cause Assad fall. And this is why Assad fall can only be provoked by a total economical failure and a widespread war against Damascus power centre. And this is not going to happen in 24 hours since Iran, China and Russia still play the game.

January 23rd, 2012, 5:20 pm

 

aldendeshe said:

3. aldendeshesaid:

“…..Mr Lavrov’s annual news conference on Wednesday was largely a critique of Western policies in Iran and Syria, which he said could lead to a spiral of violence….”

Mr. Lavrov, with due respect, Syrians will no longer live as serf, do something please.

Господин Лавров, с должным уважением, сирийцы больше не будут жить так, как крепостной, сделать что-нибудь пожалуйста.

4 7

7 clickers clicked thumb down on this comment. 7 got a lot to lose, all the criminal life they lived robing and murduring Syrians is coming to end soon.

January 23rd, 2012, 5:24 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

49. IRRITATED

If you try to self inmolate in Syria you will be stopped before you light the fire by a ¨turmus¨ street seller, then send to interrogation to Kafr Sussa, then send to jail without trial, then torturated until you ask the guys to kill you. Self-inmolation is not possible in Syria, ¨THEY¨ will do the job for you with pleasure.

January 23rd, 2012, 5:27 pm

 

irritated said:

#35. majedkhaldoun

Let me try to reply

“The AL said they could not stop the regime brutal violence, they should have admited their failure. why didn’t they?”

Because they are not in Syria to stop violence but to report who is doing the violence and to prepare the ground for a dialos bewteen the government and the opposition as required by the AL initiative. They would no be stopped by violence.

“Why is Turkey so quiet?”
Because it is are amazed and confused by the incredible resilience of the Syrian regime. They are thinking now of how to dump the FSA because supporting it is triggring increasing accusations. Arab countries are loosing the trust they had on Turkey because they see them interfering in arab matters, so Turkey prefers to shut up and wait.

“Why the US is not putting pressure on Nouri AlMaliki?”
Because the US supports democratically elected Al Maliki in trying to put order in the chaos they left. Also Al Maliki can play a role as an intermediate with Iran

“Why Egypt is not supporting KSA position?”

Because Egypt does not want KSA to own it and the military are not happy with the financial support that it is giving to the islamists in Egypt. They secretly admire Syria’s economical independence when they have to beg from the IMF and international organizations to avoid a collapse of their economy.

January 23rd, 2012, 5:27 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

45. JUERGEN

No bussinesmen based on corrupt relationships (I calculate 95 % of them depend on knowledge of key corrupt officials and paid permissions and licences) or any corrupt-linked person will turn sides until the day the president falls. For the simple reason that nobody will believe, after 40 years, that the president has fallen until Bashar is really gone. And nobody will risk being seen by the regime as a traitor anti-Assad agent after getting beneffits from this corrupt regime, paying with prison and ruin for this mistake. Like it or not this are facts. Aleppine and Damascene middle and high classes have learnt to live with and from the status quo leaving aside values and ideologies. This is why change is so difficult. This is why change can bring chaos. This is why they will not cause Assad fall. And this is why Assad fall can only be provoked by a total economical failure and a widespread war against Damascus power centre. And this is not going to happen in 24 hours since Iran, China and Russia still play the game.

January 23rd, 2012, 5:29 pm

 

irritated said:

Sandro Loewe

“Self-inmolation is not possible in Syria”

Your explanation is not convincing as there has not been one single attempt. There must be another reason.

January 23rd, 2012, 5:31 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

IRRITATED,

All prisoners in jail are self-inmolators. Challenging the regime is a way of self-inmolation since by bullet or by torture dead is the most probable result. Syrians who took the streets peacefully from 15th march were potential self-inmolators, and many self-inmolated for freedom and dignity under regime discrectional fire.

January 23rd, 2012, 5:44 pm

 

Observer said:

عشرة اشهر مرت منذ بدء الانتفاضة السورية والنظام في دمشق لم يقدم اي مبادرة حقيقية للاصلاح تكون بديلا عن الحلول الامنية، فماذا كان يضيره لو اوقف آلة القتل الدموية مبكرا، وقدم كل رموزها الى المحاكم، ودعا المعارضة الوطنية الشريفة لتشكيل حكومة وحدة وطنية، ودعا لانتخابات برلمانية ورئاسية مثل دول عربية اخرى، بل شكل حكومة جديدة من غير المعروفين الذين لا يجيد وزراؤها غير تأليه الحاكم وامتداح عيوبه على انها محاسن جمة.

This is an excerpt from the editorial today by Atwan in Al Quds please check the whole article as he describes the political movements around the crisis in Syria but this paragraph encapsulates the stupidity of the regime in dealing with the issue in one dimension. Today 150 000 went out in Douma at the funeral of 12 killed yesterday by the regime.

January 23rd, 2012, 5:45 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

OBSERVER,

Good article,

The Assad Regime has nothing to offer, nothing to negotiate. They simply do not know what negotiate means. The only tool they know is repression and fear and when it does not work then kill and torture. All said.

January 23rd, 2012, 6:11 pm

 

Juergen said:

Uzair

Do you know a man called Salim Spohr?

January 23rd, 2012, 6:21 pm

 

Juergen said:

Just got word out of Mar Mousa that Father Paolo is still among his congregation.

January 23rd, 2012, 6:24 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

5. MJABALI

Your exposition is nice but something fails when you get your conclusion that diallogue is the only possible way.

1) The AL has asked Mr. Assad to seat on th table with opposition to create a national union government, and he fastly burnt bridges.

2) Assad has rejected from the beginning any negotiation with real oppositors by calling the conspirators and terrorists.

January 23rd, 2012, 6:38 pm

 

Ghufran said:

أفاد مراسل العربية في ليبيا بأن أنصار الرئيس الليبي السابق معمر القذافي سيطروا بالكامل على منطقة بني وليد، رافعين العلم الليبي القديم، مضيفا أنه قتل خمسة من الثوار وأصيب نحو 20 خلال الهجوم.

January 23rd, 2012, 7:21 pm

 

jad said:

سوريا على عتبة التدويل
دمشق ترفض المبادرة العربية ومبعوث الكرملن يلوّح بعدم تكرار الفيتو الروسي وجولة جديدة من عقوبات الاتحاد الأوروبي

رفضت دمشق رفضاً قاطعاً مبادرة الجامعة العربية التي أعلنت من القاهرة أول من أمس. وفي حين تلقفت دول أوروبية المبادرة لإقرارها في مجلس الأمن، ردّت الخارجية الروسية بموقف فاتر مع إعلان مسؤول روسي بارز أن الوضع «وصل إلى طريق مسدود»

ردّت دمشق، أمس، على المبادرة السياسية للجامعة العربية التي دعت الى تأليف حكومة وفاق وطني خلال شهرين، وطالبت الرئيس السوري بتفويض نائبه صلاحيات كاملة، بإعلان إدانتها لقرار الجامعة رقم 7444 وقالت إنه «جاء في إطار الخطة التآمرية الموجهة ضد سوريا». وأعلن مصدر مسؤول في سوريا أن دمشق ترفض القرارات الصادرة بشأنها، معتبراً أنها «تدخل سافر» في الشؤون الداخلية السورية.

وقال المصدر إن دمشق «ترفض القرارات الصادرة بشأن سوريا خارج إطار خطة العمل العربية، وتعدّها انتهاكاً لسيادتها الوطنية، وتدخلاً سافراً في شؤونها الداخلية، وخرقاً فاضحاً للأهداف التي أنشئت الجامعة العربية من أجلها، وللمادة الثامنة من ميثاقها».
ومن القاهرة، أعلن مندوب سوريا الدائم لدى جامعة الدول العربية، يوسف أحمد، أن «قرار مجلس الجامعة تحريض لبعض أطراف المعارضة على رفض الحلول السياسية، ونسف لإمكان الدخول في حوار وطني للتوصل إلى حل سوري للأزمة». بدورها، أعلنت الجبهة الوطنية التقدمية التي تضم عدداً من الأحزاب السورية أن «قرارات الجامعة تصعيد عدائي». كذلك انتقد وزير الخارجية اللبناني عدنان منصور، لدى عودته من القاهرة، قرار الجامعة، معتبراً أنه «يركّز على طرف واحد» ولا يقود إلى حل.
وندّدت لجان التنسيق المحلية بالمبادرة العربية الجديدة لوقف الأزمة في سوريا، معتبرة أن الجامعة العربية «فشلت مرة أخرى» في إيجاد حل في سوريا.
وفي خطوة أولى نحو تدويل الخطة العربية، صرّح المندوب الألماني في الأمم المتحدة، بيتر ويتيغ، بأن ألمانيا وعدداً من الدول الأوروبية ستطلب من مجلس الأمن الدولي «إقرار» الخطة العربية الجديدة. وقال إن الأوروبيين يريدون من الأمين العام للجامعة العربية مناقشة المسألة السورية «بالسرعة الممكنة»، وسيسعى الأوروبيون إلى الحصول على «إقرار» من مجلس الأمن لخطة الجامعة الجديدة لوقف العنف في سوريا.
وفي موقف يفترض أن يترك تداعيات واسعة في أروقة مجلس الأمن، قال مسؤول رفيع المستوى في الكرملن أمس إن موسكو لا يمكنها عمل المزيد للرئيس السوري بشار الأسد. ونقلت وكالة «إيتار تاس» للأنباء عن ميخائيل مارغيلوف، المبعوث الخاص للرئيس ديميتري مدفيدف إلى أفريقيا، والذي شارك أيضاً في الدبلوماسية بشأن سوريا، قوله إن «استخدامنا حق النقض (الفيتو) ضد قرار مجلس الأمن الدولي كان الوسيلة الأخيرة التي تسمح للرئيس بشار الأسد بالحفاظ على الوضع الراهن على الساحة الدولية». وأضاف أن حق النقض «كان إشارة جادة للرئيس من روسيا». وختم «يمكننا القول حالياً إن الوضع في سوريا وصل إلى طريق مسدود».
وفي سياق الموقف الروسي الفاتر، رحّبت وزارة الخارجية الروسية بنتائج أعمال اجتماع وزراء خارجية دول جامعة العربية، وقراره مواصلة الجهود المبذولة لحل الأزمة السورية بالطرق السلمية ومن دون تدخل أجنبي. ونقلت وسائل إعلام روسية عن بيان للخارجية أن «موسكو ترى أهمية خيار الجامعة العربية في القاهرة بمواصلة جهودها لتسوية سلمية في سوريا من دون تدخل خارجي، مع احترام سيادتها». وأضافت أن «على الحكومة السورية والمعارضة إظهار استعدادهما لاتخاذ قرارات بتسريع العمليات الديموقراطية في البلاد».
وفي موقف سعودي جديد من الأزمة السورية، نقلت وكالة الأنباء السعودية عن وزير الشؤون الاجتماعية، وزير الثقافة والإعلام بالنيابة، يوسف بن أحمد العثيمين، قوله عقب الجلسة الأسبوعية لمجلس الوزراء السعودي التي عقدت برئاسة الملك عبد الله بن عبد العزيز، إن «المجلس شدّد على تطبيق بنود خطة الجامعة العربية والإعداد لانتخابات برلمانية ورئاسية تعددية حرة بإشراف عربي ودولي».
من جهتها، أكدت جماعة الإخوان المسلمين في سوريا أنها مستعدة لدراسة المبادرة الجديدة للجامعة العربية، مشيرة خصوصاً إلى «البند الذي ينص على تنازل بشار الأسد عن مسؤولياته لنائبه ليستطيع شعبنا الانتقال إلى المستقبل الذي يريد».
وتنص الخطة العربية التي تلاها وزير الخارجية القطري الشيخ حمد بن جاسم بن جبر آل ثاني، في ختام الاجتماع الوزاري الذي استمر خمس ساعات، على أن ترأس حكومة الوحدة الوطنية «شخصية متفق عليها»، وأن تكون مهمتها «تطبيق بنود خطة الجامعة العربية والإعداد لانتخابات برلمانية ورئاسية تعددية حرة بموجب قانون ينص على إجراءاتها وبإشراف عربي ودولي». من جهة أخرى، اعتمدت دول الاتحاد الأوروبي عقوبات جديدة على سوريا. وهذا القرار الذي اتخذ خلال اجتماع وزراء الخارجية الأوروبيين في بروكسل «سيزيد الضغط على المسؤولين عن العنف والقمع غير المقبول الذي يمارس في سوريا»، كما أعلنت وزيرة خارجية الاتحاد الأوروبي كاثرين أشتون. وأوضح الاتحاد الأوروبي، في بيان، أن العقوبات الجديدة هي تجميد أرصدة ومنع الحصول على تأشيرات دخول إلى أوروبا تشمل «22 شخصاً مسؤولين عن انتهاكات حقوق الإنسان وكذلك ثماني شركات تقدم دعماً مالياً للنظام». ورحّب وزير الخارجية البريطاني وليام هيغ بجولة العقوبات الحادية عشرة التي فرضها الاتحاد الأوروبي، مؤكداً أن بلاده ستواصل ممارسة الضغوط عليها.
ميدانياً، ذكر المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان أن عشرة مدنيين قتلوا بأيدي قوات الأمن في سوريا، في حين قضى خمسة جنود في الجيش النظامي السوري وجرح 13 آخرون في معارك مع منشقين في محافظة حمص، وفي مدينة البوكمال على الحدود السورية العراقية. وفي دوما، سار الآلاف في تشييع 12 مدنياً قتلوا فجراً وفي الأيام السابقة، في وقت لا تزال فيه قوات الأمن تنتشر على مداخل المنطقة ولم تدخل إليها. وفي أدلب، أقدم مسلحون على اختطاف مدير صحة محافظة إدلب الدكتور بهيج دويدري.
(الأخبار، سانا، أ ف ب، يو بي آي، رويترز)

http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/33447

January 23rd, 2012, 7:28 pm

 

ann said:

*** OUR TOOTHLESS PAPER TIGER (NOW COLON LESS) ERDOGAN RECEIVES
*** A HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD FROM HIS FRENCH ALLIES / MASTERS 😀

French Bill’s Passage Sparks Turkish Anger – JANUARY 23, 2012, 7:23 P.M.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204624204577179311508730928.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

PARIS—Turkey vowed to take reprisals against France after the French Senate approved a bill making it a crime to deny that the massacre of Armenians in 1915 was genocide, further straining relations between Paris and Ankara and raising the prospect of a significant diplomatic rift between the two North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies.

The bill, which France’s lower house of Parliament overwhelmingly approved in December, was passed Monday by a vote of 127 to 86. It will require President Nicolas Sarkozy’s signature in the next 15 days in order to become law.

The proposal is set to make the denial of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes that are recognized by French law punishable by up to a year in prison and a €45,000 ($58,143) fine. The only two mass killings recognized by French law as genocide are the killing of Armenians during World War I and the Holocaust. Denying the Holocaust is already illegal in France.

The news fueled outrage in Turkey, which accused France of flouting international law and pledged to “take every step” to counter the “irresponsible” decision. “In case of the completion of the finalization process for the law, we will not hesitate to implement, as we deem appropriate, the measures that we have considered in advance,” the Turkish foreign ministry said.

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was set to address his ruling AK Party on Tuesday in Ankara, where he is expected to detail his government’s response, Turkish television reported.

Ankara reacted furiously when the lower house passed the bill last month, withdrawing its ambassador from Paris and freezing political and military relations.

Armenia praised the move, stressing that the day would “be written in gold in the history of friendship between the Armenian and French peoples, but also in the annals of the history of the protection of human rights world-wide.”

While many countries recognize the killing of as many as 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as genocide, Turkey contests the scale of the losses and says they were casualties of war. It argues the genocide issue should be left to historians to decide, rather than legislated by governments.

Relations between the two countries were already frosty, in large part due to Mr. Sarkozy’s vocal opposition to Turkey’s bid to join the European Union.

Turkey’s government has repeatedly insisted that the bill is politically motivated, alleging Mr. Sarkozy was trying to win the votes of 500,000 ethnic Armenians in France ahead of presidential elections in three months.

Turkey’s top politicians took to the airwaves on Monday ahead of the vote to build pressure on Paris. Prime Minister Erdogan vowed to never visit France again if the bill was passed, stressing that the proposal “violates freedom of speech and is only a ploy for the coming elections in France in May to get the Armenian vote.”

The sternest warning came from Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who said the government was ready to take new measures if the bill passed. The foreign minister also decided to stay away from a Brussels meeting on Syria with the EU foreign ministers on Monday, signaling that the dispute could spread beyond Paris to affect broader EU ties.

EU-candidate country Turkey can’t impose economic sanctions on France, because of its membership in the World Trade Organization and customs-union agreement with Europe. But the row could cost France profitable bilateral business contracts and would fuel diplomatic tension as Turkey takes an increasingly influential role in the Middle East.

As the seven-hour debate got under way Monday, rival pro-Turkish and pro-Armenian protests gathered outside the upper chamber in Paris, separated by a cordon of police.

Before Mr. Sarkozy signs the bill into law, it can still be challenged if lawmakers request a review by the country’s constitutional council.

Some lawmakers argue that the text could be regarded as unconstitutional, as the Armenian genocide has never been recognized by an international or French court. That means the French law on the Armenian genocide could be considered tantamount to legislating on history, possibly impeding on historical research, critics said.

In 2001, the French Parliament voted to officially recognize the Armenian genocide of 1915. Since then, French lawmakers have made two unsuccessful attempts to pass bills making denial of the genocide illegal. The most recent text was deemed unconstitutional and rejected by the country’s Senate last May.

Armenians say as many as 1.5 million Armenians were systematically killed during World War I in today’s eastern Turkey, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey denies the allegations and says hundreds of thousands died in warfare and famine, and that many Turks were also killed by Armenians.

January 23rd, 2012, 7:54 pm

 

jad said:

حكاية الانقلاب على البروتوكول الموقع واستبداله بمشروع للتدويل كلينتون تحركت لتمرير الصيغة المستنسخة عن الحل اليمني
محمد بلوط

ما هي ظروف القرار المتشدد الذي خرج به وزراء الخارجية العرب بعد اجتماعهم الاخير ضد سوريا، وكيف جرى تعميمه في اروقة الجامعة قبل مناقشة تقرير المراقبين العرب؟
تؤكد مصادر ديبلوماسية مطلعة ان شيئا ما بدأ «طبخه» منذ اسبوعين لتجاوز مهمة المراقبين والقفز الى الهدف الاول والاخير، وهو تدويل الازمة السورية بغطاء من الجامعة العربية. ورافق هذا الجهد محاولات «جسّ نبض» اميركية وغير اميركية للتحقق من الموقف الروسي وامكانية تعديله، لكن جواب موسكو كان واضحا في مجلس الامن وخارجه.
وتضيف المصادر ان الحكومة الروسية ابلغت من يعنيهم الامر ان لا تعديل في موقفها الذي يلخصه مشروعها المطروح في مجلس الامن، والذي يرتكز على امرين اساسيين: رفض اي تدخل عسكري خارجي ضد سوريا او اي قرار يغطي مثل هذا التدخل، وثانيا التأكيد على الحل السياسي المبني على الحوار بين السلطة والمعارضة.
وترافق الجواب الروسي مع زيارة القطع البحرية العسكرية لميناء طرطوس، والتصريحات التي ادلى بها القادة العسكريون الروس خلال لقاءاتهم مع قادة الجيش السوري.
ووفق المعلومات فان الخطة الجديدة التي اعتمدت قضت بالرجوع الى «المربع الاول» الذي كان وزير الخارجية القطري قد تولى التحرك من اجله، والذي يقضي باستصدار قرار في الجامعة العربية يشكل «غطاء رسميا وصريحا» لتدويل الازمة السورية.
وتقول المصادر ان هذه الخطة كانت لقيت منذ البداية تأييدا سعوديا وخليجيا، وتراوحت المواقف الاخرى بين متريث ومتحفظ ومعارض. وجرى التركيز بشكل خاص على الموقف المصري الذي لم يكن متحمساً للتسرع في تغطية الدعوة الى التدويل، وكان يميل اكثر الى الاكتفاء بالتمديد للمراقبين العرب وتعزيزهم.
وحسب المعلومات فان وزير الخارجية القطري ادرك انه بحاجة الى عون ودعم اميركي واوروبي لنجاح تحركه خصوصا وان دعوة امير قطر لارسال قوات عربية الى سوريا لم تلق اي قبول من الدول العربية لا سيما من مصر.
وتقول المصادر الدبلوماسية ان الادارة الاميركية وفرنسا تحركتا في الايام الماضية لتوفير المناخ الملائم لنجاح مشروع تدويل الازمة السورية بغطاء عربي، وانه جرى التمهيد لهذا المسعى بنعي مهمة المراقبين العرب قبل انتهاء المهلة الاولى ووضع تقريرهم، لا بل جرى اطلاق النار عليها من الجانب القطري، والمعارضة السورية، عدا عن عمليات الترغيب التي حصلت لاقناع بعض المراقبين بالانسحاب.
والى جانب استهداف مهمة هؤلاء المراقبين تقصّد الساعون الى التدويل ان يرفعوا وتيرة الجدل المفتعل حول الاقتراح القطري بارسال قوات عربية الى سوريا، مع العلم ان مثل هذا الاقتراح لم يكن سوى «شمّاعة» للانتقال الى الطرح الجدي الذي كان يجري العمل لتسويقه وتمريره.
ووفق المعلومات لدى المصادر الدبلوماسية فان قرارا كان اتخذ من قبل دول الخليج قبل اجتماع وزراء الخارجية العرب يقضي برفض التمديد للمراقبين العرب بعد ان تسرب للمسؤولين في هذه الدول مضمون التقرير الذي تضمن نقاطا عديدة لصالح النظام السوري.
في هذا الوقت، بدأت واشنطن بتحرك من اجل تنضيج صيغة مشروع التدويل الجديد، آخذة بعين الاعتبار الفيتو الروسي والصيني ضد اي مشروع قرار في مجلس الامن يتضمن تدخلا عسكريا خارجيا مباشرا ضد سوريا.
وفي هذه المداولات داخل الادارة الاميركية ومع الحلفاء، ارتأت ادارة اوباما اعتماد خيار الغطاء العربي لتدويل الازمة السورية تحت عنوان مشروع سياسي لنقل السلطة في سوريا من خلال استنساخ الصيغة اليمنية التي لم تكن بالاصل صيغة عربية او حلاً عربيا بقدر ما كانت حلا خليجيا مدعوما بشكل واضح وصريح من قبل الادارة الاميركية بدليل ان واشنطن تستضيف في الأيام القليلة المقبلة الرئيس علي عبدالله صالح للاستشفاء والراحة.
وفضلت واشنطن اعتماد هذه الصيغة لاسباب عديدة ابرزها:
ـ إدراكها مسبقاً صعوبة او استحالة استصدار قرار عن مجلس الامن عبر شن عمليات عسكرية على سوريا.
ـ الرهان على محاولة «تطويع» الموقف الروسي وموافقته على مثل هذه الصيغة التي تأخذ شكل حلّ سياسي، لكنها تؤسس في الحقيقة الى اعادة طرح التدخل العسكري الخارجي بعد التمكن من تعديل او تغيير موقف موسكو وبالتالي تفادي تكرار تجربة «الفيتو».
ـ اعطاء المعارضة السورية زخماً سياسياً وميدانياً بعد أن ثبت في الاونة الأخيرة تراجع ملحوظ «لحركتها الشعبية».
ـ «ترتيب» هذه الصيغة التي تبدو في الظاهرة صيغة سياسية لحل الأزمة السورية، الأمر الذي يعزز موافقة اعضاء الجامعة العربية عليها. وهذا ما حصل فعلاً حيث اتخذ لبنان منفرداً موقف النأي بالنفس، واعلنت الجزائر تحفظها على قرار الوزراء العرب.
وفي ضوء تبلور المشروع لدى الادارة الاميركية سارعت وزيرة خارجيتها هيلاري كلينتون، كما تقول المصادر الديبلوماسية، الى ابلاغ الحلفاء في دول الخليج السعودية وقطر على السير في الصيغة الجديدة المستنسخة عن المشروع اليمني، وعملت لدى مصر عبر الاتصال بنظيرها المصري لازالة التحفظات على المشروع وبالتالي سير القاهرة وتأييدها له.
ولا شك ان كلينتون اجرت اتصالات مماثلة بعيدة عن الاضواء مع عدد من الوزراء العرب، لتسويق وتمرير القرار وتأمين الاجماع حوله وواكب ذلك الاتيان ببرهان غليون ورفاقه الى القاهرة للاجتماع مع بعض الوزراء.

الديار

January 23rd, 2012, 7:59 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

I am sure Bashar will be more isolated,following AL initiative,Iraq supported AL initiative, and Russia can not go back and retract their previous support to a plan similar to Yemen plan,how could Russia veto such decision in SC while they asked for such plan

Bashar has not sent his response yet, I suspect that Farooq Shar3 will decline the offer, and withdraw from his job,and Bashar will appoint another V.P. soon,who will be this man? is it possible he will appoint his brother?

January 23rd, 2012, 7:59 pm

 

ann said:

Turkey reduces diplomatic presence in France
By REUTERS
01/24/2012 01:56

PARIS – Turkey’s ambassador to France said on Monday Ankara may reduce its diplomatic presence in Paris to charge d’affaires and said the decision to pass a law making the denial of genocide illegal would rupture relations between the two NATO allies.

Asked if he would be returning to Turkey after the vote was announced, Tahsin Burcuoglu told reporters: “Most probably. It will be diplomacy on charge d’affaires (level), not embassies.”

Charge d’affaires is the lowest rank of diplomatic representative recognized under the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations.

Burcuoglu said Turkey would never accept such a law. “You can imagine everything and anything because it’s a sensitive issue for Turkey. Now everybody will pay some price including Turkey, France and Armenia,” he told reporters.

January 23rd, 2012, 8:02 pm

 

Ghufran said:

This is the time for mediators to seek reps from communities and groups that are unwilling to see the SNC and the islamists capture every aspect of public life in Syria. I do not buy the theory that there are no patriotic Syrians who are not happy with the regime but are also not satisfied with the SNC. People who are talking freedom and democracy must put their actions where their mouth is. A transitional government will not replace elections but prepare for elections that meet international standards with observers from countries that have democratic tradition not countries like Qatar and KSA. Russia in particular must make it clear to the regime that the game of buying time is over. I sense that Bashar supporters may finally be willing to accept the new reality and put Syria’s long term interest ahead of pride and ideological gesturing.
The army and community leaders must respect the will of people,all people,not just the regime or the SNC,I see no exit out as long as hardliners have the upper hand and the army remains hesitant to do the right thing,it is either now or never.

January 23rd, 2012, 8:12 pm

 

Tara said:

Is KSA and Qatar are going to buy Chinese veto?

Situation in Syria grave: Cabinet
By ARAB NEWS
Published: Jan 24, 2012 01:51 Updated: Jan 24, 2012 01:51

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said Monday that the situation in Syria is extremely grave and urged all parties to take their historic responsibility to the people in the country seriously.

The Kingdom’s statement came at the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers at Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah chaired the meeting.

“The Kingdom pulled its observers because the Syrian government did not comply with any of the Arab solutions intended to end the bloodshed,” Minister of Social Affairs Yousuf Al-Othaimin, who is also acting minister of culture and information, said in a statement on the discussions.
….
The council authorized the minister of petroleum and mineral resources to negotiate with China on a modified protocol draft for cooperation in petroleum, gas and minerals sectors.

Read more:
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article567234.ece

January 23rd, 2012, 8:17 pm

 

jad said:

After today’s Ali Farzat call to ‘burn the president’, it seems that the assassination is on the table and what is making Syria stand together so far is the Syrian Army.
This whole political situation in the region is like Lebanon in the late 70s allover again. I hope that I’m wrong but it seems that the situation is going toward a bloody escalation by many sides.
Allah Ye7mi kil al souriyeen!

تقرير دبلوماسي يتحدث عن «النموذج اليمني» والمخاوف من اغتيال الأسد
وحدة الجيش السوري وتماسكه يدفعان واشنطن لتغيير استراتيجيتها

داود رمال
«وحدة أي جيش وانضباطيته وعقيدته هي التي تحدد مسار أي معركة سلباً او ايجاباً، وفي اي عملية تغيير او استهداف لبلد، تتوجه الأنظار الى الجيش باعتبار ان دوره طليعي وحاسم في الوصول الى النتائج المرجوّة»، فهل صحيح ما قاله مصدر غربي من ان «الحديث عن انشقاقات وعمليات فرار واسعة من الجيش السوري كذبة كبيرة؟»،
يجيب تقرير دبلوماسي ورد الى بيروت بأن «وحدة الجيش السوري وانضباطه وقوة العقيدة لديه اذهلت الاميركيين وأجبرتهم على تغيير الاستراتيجية المتبعة ازاء الوضع في سوريا».
واللافت للانتباه أن التقرير الذي ورد الى مراجع لبنانية قبل عشرة ايام من اجتماع وزراء خارجية الدول العربية في القاهرة، تضمن اشارات الى استياء غربي وعربي من مسار بعثة المراقبين العرب في سوريا، وتضمن أيضاً اشارة واضحة الى الخطة السياسية المتدحرجة التي قرر القطريون والسعوديون السير بها وتتضمن أفكاراً أقرها الاجتماع الوزاري العربي الأخير.
يضيف التقرير الذي نشرت «السفير» الجزء الأول منه امس، وتضمن التحديات التي واجهها الرئيس بشار الأسد منذ العام ألفين حتى الآن، أنه «يمكن الاستدلال على هذه حقيقة تماسك المؤسسة العسكرية والأمنية، من خلال فشل التحالف الغربي ـ العربي بقيادة الولايات المتحدة في فرض حظر جوي في المجال السوري، أو إقامة منطقة عازلة داخل الاراضي السورية، لا بل على العكس، قابل هذا الفشل، سيطرة روسية على المنطقة البحرية، ما منع اي قوات اطلسية او غيرها من التفكير بإقامة رأس جسر بحري بري لإقامة منطقة عازلة او للإسناد اللوجستي والتسليحي».
وفي إجراء له دلالات كبيرة في ظل الاحتدام الذي تشهده الازمة السورية، عمدت روسيا ايضا الى تزويد سوريا بصواريخ ارض سطح لضرب اي محاولة انزال في البر السوري، وذلك في توقيت يحمل معاني كبيرة، وقابل ذلك، فشل اميركي ـ غربي في تأمين الغطاء القانوني لتوجيه ضربات جوية لبنك أهداف في سوريا من شأنه ان يزعزع استقرار النظام، وهذا الفشل سببه «الفيتو» الروسي والصيني في مجلس الأمن كما اصبح معروفاً».
في ظل هذا الواقع، يوضح التقرير «واستناداً الى تجارب سابقة في دول اخرى مثل ليبيا، تم التركيز على شق الجيش السوري، فكان الاصطدام بالحقيقة المرة من أن سوريا ليست ليبيا. أما حالة العقيد رياض الاسعد، قائد ما يطلق عليه قائد «الجيش السوري الحر»، فإن تسمية جيشه تذكر بتجربة قادها ضابط لبناني (سعد حداد) حين انشق عن الجيش اللبناني في العام 1977 وشكل «جيش لبنان الحر» وكانت النهاية دراماتيكية يعرفها الجميع بالصوت والصورة يوم تخلى الاسرائيليون عن وريثه انطوان لحد، في العام ألفين. ويضيف التقرير «هذا العقيد المنشق ليس الا قائداً لجيش وهمي تماماً على طريقة جيوش الـ«بلاي ستايشن»، علماً ان التفجيرات الارهابية الدموية التي تستهدف العاصمة السورية دمشق ومرافق أخرى وضعته في موقف سيئ جداً امام الشعب السوري والرأي العام العربي والدولي سواء أكان مسؤولاً عنها أم لا».
ولعل الفشل في الرهان على انقسام الجيش السوري، يضيف التقرير «دفع الادارة الاميركية الى ادخال الجامعة العربية للمرة الأولى في تاريخها، في عملية شراء الوقت، لأن الادارة الاميركية وفي زحمة الاستحقاقات الخارجية والداخلية، اضحت في مرحلة ضياع وتشتت وارباك، ما يدفع الى الاستنتاج ان اي تطور نوعي على صعيد المنطقة لن يبصر النور قبل الانتخابات الاميركية المقبلة في تشرين الثاني 2012. وما يزيد في الإحراج الاميركي، تقارير لجنة المراقبين العرب المنصفة بحق السلطة السورية الأمر الذي دفع الأميركيين والفرنسيين، وقبل تقديم المراقبين تقريرهم الى الجامعة العربية، الى اتهام هؤلاء المراقبين بقلة الخبرة وبطرح مسألة تدريب المراقبين على يد خبراء أمميين مقدّمة للتأثير على مضامين التقارير المقبلة».
اي خيارات محتملة ستنتهجها الإدارة الاميركية بعد الانتخابات الرئاسية الأميركية؟
يقول التقرير «إن واشنطن ستتجه الى لعب الورقة الطائفية لإرباك النظام السوري وزيادة منسوب تدفق السلاح الى المجموعات المسلحة عبر تركيا والعراق ولبنان والاردن». ويضيف «إن واشنطن ستلجأ الى هذا الخيار بعدما فشلت محاولات دفع الجيش السوري للقيام بدور على الطريقة الليبية، ولأن الاستطلاعات التي أجريت من قبل جهات غربية وظلت نتائج معظمها سرية اظهرت ان أغلبية كبيرة ووازنة من الشعب السوري تؤيد النظام في مساره الإصلاحي».
ويشير التقرير الى ان «هذه المعطيات دفعت الأميركي للانتقال الى دق الباب الايراني ولكن باليد العراقية، وما شجع واشنطن على سلوك هذا التوجه، ادراك الادارة الاميركية ان هالة النظام السوري وهيبته التي هي أهم عنصر جوهري للنظام قد تضررت وتعرّضت لضربة قاسية، الأمر الذي يتطلب استخدام عنصر الوقت من خلال خطوات ومبادرات تبادر اليها الجامعة العربية».
ويشير التقرير الى ان قوة العقيدة لدى الجيش السوري وتماسكه وانضباطه لعبت ايضاً دوراً كبيراً باستقبال نوري المالكي في البيت الابيض والقبول بتدخل عراقي في سوريا عبر ما سمي بالمبادرة العراقية. وفي موازاة ذلك استمر حلف الناتو بتقديم مساعدات ودعم لوجستي وتسليحي للجماعات المسلحة عبر عمليات سرية تنطلق من الاراضي التركية وهذا ما دفع وزير خارجية سوريا وليد المعلم الى توجيه الاتهام الى انقرة بأنها تلعب دوراً عدائياً ضد سوريا».
ولكن ماذا في الكواليس؟ يجيب التقرير «ان الأميركيين يسعون الى تسويق النموذج اليمني في سوريا اي صياغة مبادرة يتنازل فيها الاسد عن صلاحياته لنائبه فاروق الشرع، وهذا يعني بروز مخاوف من احتمال تعرض الاسد لمحاولة اغتيال، لأن الفشل الاميركي سيعني ردود فعل جديدة من قبل الادارة الاميركية، ولكنها مؤجلة الى ما بعد الانتخابات الاميركية التي هي في صلب اهتمامات الرئيس باراك اوباما».
اذاً «قطب الرحى» حسب التقرير الدبلوماسي «هو الجيش السوري المبني على عقيدة وطنية وقومية كما على قناعة بأن الغرب لا يريد جيوشاً عربية قوية، وبالتالي لا ثقة له بالغرب. لذلك تتوضح صورة المعادلة القائمة راهناً، اذ ما بين شرعية النظام ومشروعية الحراك السلمي في مطالبه المحقة التي استغلها الخارج بتعميم نموذج المجموعات المسلحة، يبرز دور الجيش السوري بحماية الحراك السلمي وشرعية النظام بما يؤدي الى الإصلاح المنشود».
وفي حال قبول واشنطن بهذا الدور، يختم التقرير «يعني ذلك قبولها بالرئيس بشار الاسد رئيساً وبحكومة يقودها تنظيم «الأخوان»، في حين ان الاسد لا يقبل الا بشخصية مستقلة وهذا يعيدنا الى ازمة الدور، وهنا تبرز حقيقة الدور الإيراني والصفقة التي قد تنضج بين واشنطن وطهران في عصر نوري المالكي».

http://www.assafir.com/Article.aspx?EditionId=2058&ChannelId=48920&ArticleId=2136&Author=%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%AF%20%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84

January 23rd, 2012, 8:18 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Farouk Alsharaa will only take the offer if Bashar agrees,but even if Bashar says yes,Maher and Asef are not likely to accept, the regime will prefer to sacrify Bashar to save the regime assuming that there will be a division inside the royal family which may not be true. An outsider with support inside the army may have a better chance of ending this situation but this move will undoubtedly trigger an armed confrontation, with the republican guards taking Maher’s side. A friend who has some knowledge of secretive interrelations in the royal family thinks it is unlikely that the Assad family will split,and if he is right,we are only left with two options: a coup or a surprise move by Bashar. Bashar’s history and personality make it unlikely that he will stand against his own family.

January 23rd, 2012, 8:28 pm

 

Tara said:

Russia appears ready to sell Bashar in a public auction.

Russia: ‘We Can Do No More’ for Syria
Moscow has reached its limit and says it can “do no more” to help Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad remain in power.
By Chana Ya’ar

First Publish: 1/24/2012, 12:15 AM

ITAR-TASS/Russian Federation
Moscow has reached its limit and says it can “do no more” to help Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad remain in power.

Senior Russian lawmaker Mikhail Margelov said Moscow’s veto of a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Assad’s savage crackdown on dissidents, together with China, with the “last instrument” possible to keep Assad in office.

“This veto has exhausted our arsenal of such resources,” Margelov was quoted as saying Monday by Russia’s Itar-Tass news agency. However, Russia signed an arms deal with Damascus the same day, agreeing to supply 36 fighter jets to the Assad regime.

more…

January 23rd, 2012, 8:35 pm

 

jad said:

الوصاية على سوريا؟
سليمان تقي الدين

حاولت «الأكثرية» من بين وزراء خارجية الجامعة العربية فرض الوصاية على سوريا. وضعوا برنامجاً مفصلاً لمرحلة انتقالية يبدأ «بحكومة وحدة وطنية تتعاون مع نائب الرئيس السوري» تليها «هيئة تأسيسية لدستور جديد وانتخابات برلمانية ورئاسية»، لكنهم عجزوا عن دفع الأمور في اتجاه مجلس الأمن الدولي، وإن أصروا على إعطائه علماً بما قرّروه، وهو لا يحتاجه. حصل ذلك بشبه إجماع. عجزت هذه «الأكثرية» عن تعريب أو تدويل الأزمة السورية واضطرت إلى التخلي عن التدخل العسكري الخارجي المباشر سواء أكان عربياً أم أجنبياً. العزل والعقوبات والضغوط المعنوية والمادية بما فيها التمديد للمراقبين العرب هي الوسائل المعتمدة.
لم يقر وزراء الخارجية إرسال قوات عربية لكنهم مهّدوا الطريق لكل عمل يؤدي إلى وقف القتل ونزيف الدم والفوضى. لم يعترفوا بالمجلس الوطني الانتقالي كمرجعية وحيدة لكنهم دعوا إلى تسوية تجمع المعارضة بجميع أطرافها ومكوّناتها مناصفة مع قوى السلطة في حكومة واحدة. القرارات العربية المعلنة تطلق حركة الدعم غير المعلن بأشكاله المختلفة للمعارضة في سوريا وفي لبنان. تجاوز وزراء الخارجية العرب عائق الدور الروسي فهم لا يدعون لتدخل عسكري دولي، ونجح ممثلو مجلس التعاون الخليجي ومن معهم في محاصرة الدور الإيراني سياسياً.
رفض الناطق باسم السلطة السورية فوراً هذه القرارات واعتبرها تجاوزاً على السيادة وتدخلاً في الشؤون الداخلية. هي فعلاً قرارات وصاية جاءت إليها السلطة السورية بنفسها متجاهلة ما يجري على أرضها وما يدور حولها في العالم. منذ عشرة أشهر وهي تحاول التملّص من استحقاق التغيير والإصلاح السياسي والمشاركة مستخدمة القوة لفرض سلطتها متحدية عاصفة التغيير العربي بكل أبعادها الاجتماعية والسياسية الداخلية والخارجية. حكومة الوحدة الوطنية كانت وما تزال المخرج الوحيد الذي يوقف حمام الدم والفوضى ويعترض الانهيار الشامل ومنزلق الحرب الأهلية. كل ما يملكه النظام من أوراق القوة التي يستند إليها أو يوحي باستخدامها ليست إلا تعميقاً للمأزق وتوسيعاً لدائرة العنف واستدراجاً غير محدود لكل أشكال التدخل الخارجي. فلا يمكن للنظام العاجز عن معالجة شأنه مع شعبه أن يرفض التعريب ويستقوي بدعم إيراني من هنا وروسي من هناك بذريعة صد «المؤامرة».
لقد صار الحرص على سوريا شعباً وكياناً ودولة وتراثاً وتاريخاً ودوراً مرتبطاً باستجابة النظام لحل سياسي لا يحتمل التأجيل والتسويف والمداهنة تحت عنوان إصلاحي لا قيمة له ولا يقدّم ضمانة ما لم تسبقه حكومة شراكة وطنية هي التي تتولى ملف الإصلاح وبناء مؤسسات الدولة وتؤمّن المسار الوحدوي الديموقراطي. نعرف كم هو مؤلم مثل هذا القرار وكم هو مزعج هذا الإملاء العربي وقد خبرناه في لبنان مراراً حين صرنا دولة بلا سقف. لكن البدائل مستحيلة والآفاق مقفلة على مصير دموي يستنزف الشعب السوري ويهدد استقرار المنطقة.
لن تكون لقرارات وزراء الخارجية ترجمات ميدانية إلا تشجيع المعارضة على المزيد من استدعاء التدخل الخارجي. ليس خافياً أن جزءاً من الأطراف السورية خارج السلطة المركزية وأن انحسار السلطة يتزايد كلما تفاقمت تداعيات الحل الأمني.
قيل إن ما يقترحه وزراء الخارجية العرب على سوريا هو نموذج الحل اليمني حيث الرئيس يفوّض صلاحياته لنائبه فيضمن شكلاً من الحصانة لأركان النظام. ربما كان الحل المتاح في سوريا يأخذ في الاعتبار ازدواجية السلطة ومكوّناتها. قد لا يكون من السهل كسر النواة الصلبة للنظام لكن من المستحيل إعادة سيطرتها في المدى المنظور على الكيان السوري. ما راكمته الشهور العشرة حتى الآن من المشكلات كفيل وحده بأن يقنع المراهنين على تجديد النظام والسلطة بالتخلي عن هذا الوهم. ما يحصل الآن لا يعدو كونه المنافسة بين الحل السياسي واستمرار الفوضى.
لا يملك حلفاء سوريا أن يساعدوا النظام أكثر من هذه الحماية من أي تدخل عسكري خارجي، وأن يحسّنوا شروط التسوية إذا استجاب لها. أما خصوم النظام في الخارج فهم يراهنون على عجز النظام عن اجتراح التسوية.

http://www.assafir.com/Article.aspx?EditionId=2058&ChannelId=48918&ArticleId=2159&Author=%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%20%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%8A%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86

January 23rd, 2012, 8:51 pm

 

irritated said:

64. ann

No more Ghalioun and his band in Antalya or Istanbul’s hotels.
Next will be Doha Palace or Dustbin Palace?

January 23rd, 2012, 8:54 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Ghufran
If something happen to Bashar who will be president?

January 23rd, 2012, 8:56 pm

 

irritated said:

MajedalKhaldoon

“is it possible he will appoint his brother?”

Why not? It’s a good idea. That shouldn’t be a problem for the Qatari and the Saudi who have their family all over the government.

January 23rd, 2012, 9:00 pm

 

irritated said:

Sandro Loewe

“Challenging the regime is a way of self-inmolation since by bullet or by torture dead is the most probable result.”

Totally different… Self immolation is a peaceful act of despair, challenging the security forces is an act of provocation whose consequence could be the death of others.

January 23rd, 2012, 9:05 pm

 

irritated said:

#60. Juergen

“Just got word out of Mar Mousa that Father Paolo is still among his congregation.”

So what was the big media propaganda and fuss about?

January 23rd, 2012, 9:10 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Irritated,

How about Bashar declare himself Caesar, it is a much nicer title than King don’t you think?

Although with his lisp, I would imagine caesar to be tough for him to pronounce. At the very least Makhlouf could bank role a movie about it, The Caesars Speech.

January 23rd, 2012, 9:10 pm

 

Tara said:

Unfortunately, Bashar is not smart enough to realize that his end is approaching.  Had he been intelligent enough, he would’ve started working on an exit strategy to save his own life, and the life of his loved ones.  I almost started feeling bad for him and I am not being sarcastic.  He was thrown into a position that he was not fit to handle.  He mishandled the country and he mishandled the crisis.  He was not smart enough to see through the crisis and it showed.  It is not his fault that he was not inherently intelligent.  Late Hafez committed a serious crime against his son by throwing him into this position.  Bashar made one mistake after the other, one bad prediction after the other until the crisis got completely out of his hand.  He is probably being held hostage to the hawks in his family, and in turn he held most Alawis hostage to his reign.  His father started the process and he just followed his path.  The father managed to deprive the sect from it’s  identity brsinwahing most into personality cult and turning them against other Syrians.  Bashar supposedly married a smart women but unfortunately Asma was also not smart enough or effective enough.  She did a good job convincing the western media of not to continue isolating Syria until the crisis hit.  The brutality Bashar showed handling the crisis was not predictable to those who personally knew him.  I don’t really think he was evil,  I think he was just not fit… 

January 23rd, 2012, 9:15 pm

 

zoo said:

Is Turkey’s economic miracle about to fade away?
Patrick Cockburn
Sunday, 22 January 2012
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/patrick-cockburn-is-turkeys-economic-miracle-about-to-fade-away-6292806.html#
While its neighbours stumble, the country that is a role model for Islamic democracy could become a victim of overconfidence

Is Turkey about to pay a price for the overconfidence bred by a decade that brought it triumphant success while its neighbours suffered decline or disaster?
….
it is lauded worldwide as a moderate Islamic state which ought to be the role model for Arab Spring countries.

Excessive belief in their (Greece and Ireland) own booms produced disastrous economic bubbles.
..
Will Turkey be similarly damaged by myths about its own recent success? Some experts there fear so. Atilla Yesilada, an economic consultant at Istanbul Analytics, part of Globalsource, says: “It is as if the entire nation is hypnotised and drugged into believing we are unique and we have created our own successful economic model.” He suspects that Turkey is about to be hit by a devastating credit crunch. “Our belief in our own invulnerability means that the ultimate crash will be all the worse when it comes,” he says.

The Turkish economic miracle depended on the inflow of foreign capital, and this may soon stop… She warns: “Turkey is playing a risky game.”

In foreign policy Turkey may likewise have seen the high tide and the turn. Twenty years ago it was ringed by hostile countries, but by 2009 these had largely become friends. Turkey was becoming an important influence in Iraq and Syria and other parts of the Middle East. It was a close ally of Bashar al-Assad of Syria and friendly with Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. Trade followed the flag. “Turkish companies are even collecting the garbage in Baghdad and Basra,” an Iraqi friend said last year.

The sort of moderately Islamic democracy the Arab Spring protesters were demanding sounded very like what Turkey had already achieved. The Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, received an ecstatic reception in Egypt where he astonished many Turks – and dismayed Egyptian Islamists – by praising the virtues of the secular state even for committed Muslims such as himself.

Mr Erdogan’s government likes to bet on winners.

With Syria, Turkey has been much less successful. Indeed, Soli Ozel, a lecturer in international relations at Kadir Has University in Istanbul, says flatly that “Turkey’s Syria policy is an abject failure”. He argues that it has ended up with having no leverage in Damascus and took excessive offence over being misled by the Syrian government over the latter’s willingness to compromise. “Not to have a decent dialogue with the regime puts you at a disadvantage,” he says.

As with the economy, overconfidence led to serious mistakes. At first, Turkey wrongly imagined it had enough influence in Damascus to get President Assad to implement serious reforms, share power with his opponents, or even step down. It then became clear that the Syrian leadership had no intention of doing this and was simply muddying the waters and stringing the Turks along.

In Iraq, Turkey has a significant but still limited presence. It has, rather remarkably given their past hostility, good relations with the Iraqi Kurdish leaders, more fearful these days of Baghdad than of Ankara. But in Iraq as a whole, Turkey has expended a lot diplomatic energy without getting great benefits. Its main success has been commercial: Iraq is its biggest export market after Germany.

Turkey helped to set up the opposition party to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, during the last parliamentary election. Not surprisingly he was not pleased and criticised Turkey for meddling. “What have the Turks gained in Iraq for all their efforts?” a senior Iraqi official asked me last year. “They have a few politicians in their pocket, but nothing else.”

January 23rd, 2012, 9:18 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Majed,
It depends on who removes Bashar,but the truth is nobody knows. My own opinion is that if he is removed by his own circle,unlikely,Asef Shawkat will be Syria’s ruler for a while,but if Bashar is removed by an outsider,a military council will rule Syria and keep certain figures in their position until elections are held.
Despite the shortcomings of Egypt’s transition,I still prefer it over Libya,in my own assessment,Libya will go through another civil war.
Our blogmates who support Bashar,a support I respect but disagree with,will insist that the only solution is keeping Bashar to lead a transitional period,I do not think he can do it even if he wants to.
The buttom line is,my dear Syrian brothers and sisters,is that Syria needs a new leadership and a new thinking that is tolerant and inclusive. My main concern is not the MB or even the army loyalists,it is those rogue armed elements from both sides that were responsible for much of the killing that took place,those elements have an interest in keeping the situation fluid and unstable,they enjoy new power and new money. Those of you who are now celebrating violent acts against average Syrians,who may or may not be guilty,will have to confront a new force that is far worse than regular regime forces,mark my words.

January 23rd, 2012, 9:20 pm

 

zoo said:

Failed treasury auction portends Egyptian disaster
By Spengler
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/NA24Ak02.html

Investors bought less an a third of the 3.5 billion Egyptian pounds (US$580 million) worth of Treasury bills offered to the market on January 22, a red flag warning that Egypt’s foreign exchange position is close to the brink.

Egypt faces a disaster of biblical proportions, and the world will do nothing about it. Officially, Egypt’s foreign exchange reserves fell by half during 2011, including a $2.4 billion decline during December – from $36 billion to $18 billion, or about four months of imports.

But the situation almost certainly is worse than that. More than $4 billion left the country during December, estimates Royal Bank of Scotland economist Raza Agha, noting that the December drop in reserves was cushioned by a $1 billion loan from the Egyptian army and a $1 billion sale of dollar-denominated treasury bills.

The rush out of the Egyptian pound is so rapid that Egyptian investors refuse to hold debt in their own national currency, even at a 16% yield. After Islamist parties won more three-quarters of the seats in recent parliamentary elections – 47% for the Muslim Brotherhood and 25% for the even more extreme al-Nour Party – the business elite that prospered under military rule is counting the days before exile.

The first reports of actual hunger in provincial Egyptian towns, meanwhile, are starting to trickle in through Arab-language press and blog reports. A shortage of gasoline accompanied by long queues at filling stations and panic buying was widely reported last week.

In some towns, for example Luxor in Upper Egypt, the disappearance of diesel fuel shut down bakeries, exacerbating the spot shortages of bread.

(…)

January 23rd, 2012, 9:21 pm

 

jad said:

On the subject of executing the president, yesterday at the AL conference a strange and stupid comments came from supposedly the highest diplomats of the AL. If such a comment to come out of any EU politician mouth the media will go nuts against it:

Alarabi answering a comment by a reporter:
Reporter: The Syrian people want to execute the president.
Alarabi: Please, go ahead! Execute him! What can we do to you!
Hamad: Who is stopping you? Did we stop you?

العربي: طيب إتفضلوا اعدموه احنا حنعمل إيه؟
حمد: ومين منعكم؟ احنا منعناكم
http://youtu.be/aJFg8aW9ipg?t=35s

January 23rd, 2012, 9:32 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Ghufran
I was talking ,let us say a bomb exploded and no one knows who did it, and he get killed,or became invalid,I do not think anyone from his family will do it.
would it be Farooq Shar3 ,or who? are we going to see his brother inaugurated soon,next day.

January 23rd, 2012, 9:37 pm

 

irritated said:

#SOD

Famous people with a lisp:
– Winston Churchill (lisp, cluttering, stutter)
– Thomas Jefferson (lisp)
– Bashar Al Assad (lisp)

January 23rd, 2012, 9:37 pm

 

irritated said:

85. majedkhaldoun

There would be blood bath in Syria.

January 23rd, 2012, 9:38 pm

 

zoo said:

Where is BABA NATO?

Pro-Gaddafi forces capture Bani Walid, 5 NTC troops killed – report
Published: 23 January, 2012, 20:23
http://rt.com/news/libya-new-civil-war-489/print/

Fighters loyal to late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi have clashed with revolutionary forces in the former-regime stronghold of Bani Walid, taking control of the city in the process.

The head of Libya’s National Transitional Council Mustafa Abdel Jalil today warned of the threat of another civil war.

At least five NTC troops were killed and 30 others injured in the violence, Interfax reports.

M’barek al-Fotmani, a local official, says the pro-Gaddafi rebels who seized control of Bani Walid were using heavy weaponry including 106mm anti-tank weapons.

He also said that authorities called for help when the attack began, but the NTC did not send any troops.

“There are between 100 and 150 men armed with heavy weapons who are attacking. We have asked for the army to intervene, but the Defense Ministry and NTC have let us down,” he told Agence France Press.
(..)

January 23rd, 2012, 9:45 pm

 

jad said:

LOLOL
المجلس [اللوطي] السوري
http://youtu.be/aHvYgxqucmI

January 23rd, 2012, 9:48 pm

 

Ghufran said:

I hope that Syrians understand that violence will trigger more violence. If Bashar was the target of an assassination,something I vigorously oppose,his supporters will automatically blame the opposition and the chances of a peaceful solution,or a less bloody solution,become unattainable,then a hawkish figure,not alsharaa,will take over and start using every weapon in his disposal to pacify any opposition. Maher,to my knowledge, is more likely to lead behind the scenes in such condition,he will ask Asef to take the throne. Regardless of how you feel about Bashar,using violence against him is not in Syria’s best interest,it will speed the marsh towards civil war.

January 23rd, 2012, 9:52 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Irritated,

Winston Churchill: Led the Allies in WWII, was one of the greatest orators of the english language, was Democratically elected, is remembered in history as one of the greatest statesmen.

Thomas Jefferson: One of the founding fathers of the USA, one of the co-authors of the Declaration of independence, and third President of the United States.

Bashar AlAssad: inherited his presidency, used Syria as his personal playground, reacted like my 2 year old nephew when asked to share, and is blaming everything and everyone but himself for the conundrum that he has placed our country in.

I don’t know what you are trying to accomplish comparing betho to Churchill, or Jefferson. He has not accomplished and will never accomplish anything remotely close to what the first two gentlemen you mentioned.
Bashars claim to fame is inheriting his power, and butchering his people when they dared to speak out against him.

Here is a better comparison in my opinion:

1 Saddam
2 Muammar
3. Bahsar

Guess what they will all have in common?

January 23rd, 2012, 9:59 pm

 

jad said:

Many SNC members on their FB sites are backing the MBs decision, they are supporting the AL roadmap plan not because it may save Syrian lives and go forward, NO, because according the them the regime will refuse it!!
It’s shortsighted taking a decision not out of conviction but out of speculation that the other side will refuse, what if the other side accept, would they refuse it later?
Saving Syrian lives not scoring points is what matters at the moment.

January 23rd, 2012, 10:00 pm

 

Ghufran said:

المرصد السوري لحقوق الانسان
عبد الرحمن
يبدو أن المعارضة السورية تشهد انقسامات واسعة بين مؤيدين ورافضين للتدخل الأجنبي، هل تعتقدون إمكانية تجاوز هذه الخلافات؟
دعيني أقول إن هذه المعارضة المتشرذمة هي سبب إطالة الأزمة السورية، نحن في المرصد نلقى معارضة كبيرة من طرف من يسعون لأن يكونوا أوصياء على ثورة السوريين، على اعتبار أن هناك من لا يتوانى في نعتنا بالخونة لمجرد إعطائنا معلومات حول مقتل أفراد من قوات الأمن النظامي، مع العلم أننا نقوم بإحصاء كل الضحايا والانتهاكات أيا كانت بدقة، هذا من جهة. من جهة أخرى فإن المعارضة السورية منذ لقائها نهاية السنة الماضية بوزير خارجية بريطانيا، أكد لنا أنه لا يمكن للعالم أن يقدم أي مساعدة للثورة السورية ما لم تتفق المعارضة وتوحد صفوفها، لكن يبدو أن هذه المعارضة هي السبب في استمرار معاناة الشعب السوري

January 23rd, 2012, 10:01 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Is Maher in good term with Asef?

Saleh in Yemen ,there was an attempt to kill him,there was no blood bath,or civil warHitler was subject to assassination, and so Abraham Lincoln,this is not rare in history.

January 23rd, 2012, 10:04 pm

 

zoo said:

The Arab League’s potent sting has stunned Damascus
Phil Sands Jan 24, 2012
http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/the-arab-leagues-potent-sting-has-stunned-damascus?pageCount=0

Bashar Al Assad’s regime thought it had neutralised the threat posed by other Arab states and their monitors. It was wrong, Phil Sands, Foreign Correspondent, reports

DAMASCUS // A month after Arab League observers arrived in Syria, the authorities in Damascus believed they had blunted any threat posed by the mission – and the league – to Bashar Al Assad’s rule.

On Sunday night, that belief was demolished when Arab foreign ministers, led by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, lined up behind a timetabled plan aimed at removing the president from power.

According to the blueprint, the Syrian regime and the opposition should sit down for league-mediated talks within two weeks. Within two months, Mr Al Assad would be required to transfer power to his moderate, politically astute deputy, Farouk Al Shara, who would work with a national unity government to draft a new constitution and arrange free and fair presidential elections.

“The new Arab initiative adopted by the foreign ministers envisages the peaceful departure of the Syrian regime,” said the Qatari premier Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani. He said it was similar to the deal in Yemen, which resulted in Ali Abdullah Saleh stepping down as president.
….

That press conference was not broadcast on Syrian television.
….
Public response from the Syrian authorities has so far been limited to angry denunciation of interference in its internal affairs and charges of hypocrisy against other unelected Arab leaders.

Walid Moallem, Syria’s long-serving foreign minister, is due to hold a news conference this afternoon in which he is expected to announce what concrete actions Damascus will take. One possibility is to end co-operation with the monitors and suspend its dealings with the League.

What he will certainly not be announcing is that Mr Al Assad will accept the league’s plan and prepare for his own departure.

In his most recent speech to the nation earlier this month, the Syrian president made it clear he would fight on. He had heavily criticised the Arab League but also said he was willing to cooperate with the group.

Now, however, Arab foreign ministers are moving much farther and faster than he is prepared to accept. A constitutional committee created by the Syrian president as part of his reform programme has said it is still “too early” to talk about limiting presidential terms of office – let alone entertaining the idea of Mr Al Assad’s no longer ruling the country.

Similarly, officials have hinted that they will establish a national unity government of some kind, but even very moderate critics of the regime – those denounced by activists as “tame opposition” – have not been invited to take part.

“The Arabs have run out of patience with Assad once and for all. They have made their final decision on this. They want him gone,” said a Syrian analyst.

“The Syrian regime thought it had outsmarted the Arab League but the opposite has happened and it is running out of room for manoeuvre.

“It is still much too soon to say the regime is finished but its chances of surviving the uprising have just dropped very significantly.”

January 23rd, 2012, 10:07 pm

 

irritated said:

#SOD

“Guess what they will all have in common?”

Two “a’ in their names?

January 23rd, 2012, 10:09 pm

 

jad said:

It’s all about Iran:

حمد يفكر بـ«آخرته» والفيصل يتهم الأسد بعدم احترام الأعمار والدابي يقول: «لست مطية»
خطة خليجية تصاعدية لنقل الملف السوري إلى مجلس الأمن
مارلين خليفة

«يتجه الوضع السوري مباشرة صوب مجلس الأمن الدولي بمبادرة ومباركة عربيتين»، هذه هي الخلاصة التي خرج بها اكثر من دبلوماسي شارك في اجتماع جامعة الدول العربية على المستوى الوزاري يوم الأحد الماضي في القاهرة.
وساد انطباع لدى المتحفظين على ما صدر من قرارات أن بعثة المراقبين العرب لم تكن سوى «مناورة عربية»، لأن المجتمعين لم يناقشوا التقرير الذي تلاه رئيس بعثة المراقبين الفريق الأول مصطفى الدابي الذي فهم منذ بداية الاجتماع أن تقريره سواء جاء سلبيا أو إيجابيا لا يهم المجتمعين، وبالتالي صار جدول الأعمال محكوما بمناقشة خطة سياسية لإطاحة رأس النظام السوري، وعندها لم يتردد الدابي في الإعلان عن سخطه مرددا في بداية الاجتماع ثلاث مرات متتالية: «أنا لا أسمح بأن أكون مطيّة لأحد!».
المواجهة العربية، وخاصة الخليجية، مع النظام السوري باتت ظاهرة للعيان ومحسومة سواء قام الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد بإصلاحات أم لا، «والهدف هو جبه «الخطر الإيراني»، وليست سوريا سوى مرحلة في اتجاه تقويض هذا النفوذ، بعد مرحلة أولى تمثلت بسحب ورقة حماس»، كما يقول أحد الدبلوماسيين الذين حضروا الاجتماعات، مشيرا الى أن «الهدف في سوريا لا يكمن البتّة في حماية أرواح المدنيين وفي الحفاظ على حقوق الإنسان، وبالتالي فإن ما قاله وزير الخارجية القطري الشيخ حمد بن جاسم للمجتمعين من أنه يفكّر بآخرته ناصحا «إخوانه» المجتمعين بالتفكير مليا بنظرائهم المسلمين الذين يقتلهم «نظام بشار» لم يقنع أحدا من الوزراء العارفين بخفايا الأمور».
ماذا في تفاصيل اجتماع الأحد الماضي؟
«عاصف» هو التوصيف الذي أعطاه أكثر من دبلوماسي في القاهرة لاجتماعات اللجنة الوزارية المصغرة التي استبقت اجتماع وزراء الخارجية العرب الذي انعقد في مقر جامعة الدول العربية في القاهرة متأخرا ساعتين عن موعده الأصلي.
في اجتماع اللجنة الوزارية الذي انعقد في فندق «الفور سيزنز» تلبد الجوّ بين المشاركين، إذ كانت بعض الدول ومنها قطر والسعودية معترضة بشدة على استمرار أعمال العنف تحت أنظار لجنة المراقبين العربية مفضلة نقل الملف الى مجلس الأمن الدولي، لكن دولا مثل عمان حاولت ترطيب الأجواء ومنح مهلة أكبر للنظام لمعالجة ما يحصل.
وفيما التزم المصريون الصمت في تعبير عن رغبة ضمنية بعدم السير بخيار إسقاط النظام السوري وبالتالي تشجيع الذهاب الى تسوية سياسة، فإن الخليجيين بدوا محكومين بسقف قرار سياسي يرفض المهادنة ويريد المضي بالمعركة مع النظام السوري للنهاية، في اطار «المعركة الأكبر» المفتوحة مع ايران، على حد تعبير دبلوماسي عربي شارك في الاجتماعات.
هذا الجو المتناقض والملبّد الذي ساد في اللجنة الوزارية انتقل بعد الظهر الى اجتماع وزراء الخارجية العرب الذين فوجئوا بمسودّة أولى توزّع عليهم وصفها أحد الدبلوماسيين الحاضرين بأنها «كانت قاسية وملأى بالأخطاء الإجرائية ومخالفة لميثاق جامعة الدول العربية».
ومن الأخطاء نصّ المسودة على طلب جامعة الدول العربية تكليف نائب الرئيس السوري بمهام رئيس الجمهورية! فتمّ لفت النظر الى أن هذا الأمر يشكل خرقا لسيادة الدول ولا يحق لمنظمة إقليمية أن تتدخل في الشؤون الداخلية لدولة ما. ولفت الانتباه الى هذه النقطة أيضا وزير الخارجية اللبناني عدنان منصور الذي اعتبر أنه «توجد دساتير في الدول يجب احترامها»، فما كان من رئيس الجلسة رئيس وزراء قطر ووزير خارجيتها الشيخ حمد بن جاسم إلا ان التفت بغضب صوب الأمين العام المساعد لجامعة الدول العربية أحمد بن حلي وسأله: «يا بن حلّي إيه الشغل ده؟».
وتوالى التوتر بعد اعتراض الدابي على تجاهل تقريره الذي تبين أنه لم يذكر البتة في مسودة القرار الأولى التي ما لبثت أن عدّلت ثلاث مرات. في المرة الأولى، صححت أخطاء كتابية في الصياغة. في المرة الثانية، عدّلت الديباجة كليا لتضمنها مخالفة إجرائية إذ احتوت على تعدّ صارخ على السيادة السورية وهو أمر مخالف لميثاق جامعة الدول العربية، أما في المرة الثالثة، فقد تمت إضافة موضوع تمويل بعثة المراقبين «حفاظا على ماء الوجه لأن النقاش كان في مكان آخر، فالمجتمعون كانوا يتداولون عمليا في الخطة السياسية المقبلة في مواجهة النظام السوري بغض النظر عن مضمون التقرير» بحسب الدبلوماسي العربي الذي حضر الإجتماعات.
وانقسم المجتمعون الى دول تصر على نقل القضية السورية لمناقشتها في مجلس الأمن الدولي وفي مقدمها قطر والسعودية، ودول أخرى هي دول «الربيع العربي» التي تريد إكمال هذا « الربيع» في دمشق، ودول ثالثة تنطلق من المصالح الوطنية والقومية مثل العراق ولبنان والجزائر والسودان.
وبعد أن قدم المشاركون ملاحظاتهم على المسودة الأولى وخصوصا لجهة خرقها للسيادة الوطنية لدولة مستقلة وعدم تطرقها نهائيا الى موضوع المراقبين، اعترض وزير الخارجية السوداني على ضرب المجتمعين للتقرير عرض الحائط، كذلك برز اعتراض على طلب حمد بن جاسم «طلب الدعم الدولي» واعتبر بعض الوزراء أن ذلك يعني تدويل الأزمة السورية، فأجاب حمد بالنفي مشيرا الى أنه يعني «الدعم المعنوي». فلفت بعض الوزراء ومنهم الوزير اللبناني عدنان منصور الى ضرورة التوضيح «بعدم التدخل الخارجي المباشر».
ولفت الانتباه في النقاش وجود اتجاه خليجي قوي صوب خيار مجلس الأمن الدولي، ودار نقاش حول كيفية طلب الحوار في ما تتجه بعض الجهات الى تمويل تسليح المعارضة بحجة الدفاع عن النفس.
ويعلق دبلوماسي شارك في الاجتماعات بقوله: «ظهر جليا أن ما يريده العرب هو التفاوض مع النظام السوري لكن من دون رئيسه أي بشار الأسد. وهذا ما يعيدنا الى رسائل عدة تم تداولها أخيرا عبر قنوات دبلوماسية سورية سعودية أفادت بأن الرئيس الأسد ابدى استعداده لبدء برنامج إصلاحي متدرج ينتهي عام 2013 يؤول في نهايته الى انتخابات تجعله ينسحب من الحكم بلا عنف وبطريقة تحفظ كرامته وكرامة سوريا إلا أنه تم رفضها. وظهر جليا في اجتماع الأحد حنق وزير الخارجية سعود الفيصل على خطاب الرئيس بشار الأسد الأخير الذي تحدث فيه عن «المستعربين» فأشار في مداخلته الى أن «البعض لا يعطي اعتبارا للعمر».
وأشار الدبلوماسي نفسه الى أن «النموذج السوري مختلف كليا عن النموذج الليبي، فالأسد لا يسيطر على مناطق من دون أخرى ولا يستخدم الطائرات وبالتالي يصعب اللجوء الى حظر جوي أما بالنسبة الى الممرات الإنسانية فهي تحتاج الى تجمعات بشرية ضخمة هي ليست موجودة لأن الأكثرية الشعبية التي تطالب بالإصلاحات هي صامتة ولا تقوم بالتظاهر فيما المتظاهرون هم فقط مؤيدو النظام ومعارضوه وهم لا يزالون قلّة». وأضاف أن «المخطط يكمن بإفقاد النظام شرعيته وجعله معزولا وتهميش الرئيس الأسد قبل البدء بأي حوار جدي، تماما كما حصل عندما تم تحييد الرئيس المصري حسني مبارك وبدء الحوار مع الجيش مباشرة. إلا أن الأمر مختلف في سوريا لأن الجيش يحمي النظام».

http://www.assafir.com/Article.aspx?EditionId=2058&ChannelId=48920&ArticleId=2126

January 23rd, 2012, 10:12 pm

 

irritated said:

#92 Jad

I am surprised that the SNC accepted the plan as they may find themselves forced into a dialog with the regime hardliners when they systematically refused a dialog with Bashar Al Assad.

If some countries consider that Bashar al Assad is not the legitimate president of Syria, why are they keeping the Syrian embassies operating in their country? They should expel them, no? As Syria rejected the plan, the UNSC can’t do much as Syria’s government is legitimate and recognized worldwide

China and Russia will veto any resolution blatantly intervening in a country affairs, especially that the Libya’s NATO “success” is transforming into a new nightmare for the UN.

Ultimately the Arab League will be obliged to negotiate and change the plan…

January 23rd, 2012, 10:34 pm

 

Ghufran said:

من اول ما بلشت الثوره و نحنا عم نقول و نحذر انو يا جماعه لا تاسلمو الثوره او عالقليله ما تعطو انطباع انو عم ناسلم الثوره و ركزو على الشعارات الوطنيه و الاهداف الوطنيه و الاسماء الوطنيه و كل شي وطني لانو ثورتنا ثوره وطنيه بالدرجه الاولى و هي ليست ثوره دينيه لانو اهدافها ليست محاربه الروم و الكفار و القرامطه و لا هي ثوره لنشر دين الله في اصقاع الارض انما هي ثوره وطنيه سوريه ضد القمع و الظلم و الفساد ,ثوره من اجل حريه سوريا و شعبها و كرامته ,ثوره ضد الظلم الاجتماعي و الاقتصادي والسياسي يعني هي ثوره وطنيه مع اهداف اجتماعيه اقتصاديه و سياسيه ثوره ضد عصابه فاسده تستغل الطائفيه لكي تستمر بقمع و سرقة الشعب السوري الكريم.

من اول يوم و نحنا نحكي هالحكي و مع ذلك ما استفدنا شي , يعني صارت الشعارات عالارض دينيه بحته و كاننا نحارب كفار قريش ,و ظهرت اللحى السلفيه لاول مره في سوريا بين الثوار والعساكر المنشقين , لك حتى اسماء كتائب الجيش الحر كلها اسلاميه جهاديه !!!!!!!!

طيب يا اخي لماذا? يعني مثلا اذا سميت كتائب الجيش الحر اسماء وطنيه بيكون غلط?? اذا الثوره وطنيه ليش لا? يعني من شو بيشكو اسماء متل يوسف العظمه? ميسلون? العاصي? ابراهيم هنانو? سلطان باشا? يا اخي كتيبة قاسيون او بردى? جول جمال? كتيبة الفرات? او كتيبه غياث مطر? قلة اسماء وطنيه عنا? لك تاريخنا كلو مكتون بدم شهدائنا و كل هدول ما عجبوكن? انو ليش اسماء جهاديه? بعصة بمين?? بوطنيه الثوره?

لك ما عم تعرفو قديش هالشغلات الصغيره بتأثر بتغيير وجهات نظر الصامتين و الخائفين و المرعوبين!!!!!!!! لما يشوفو انو هديك الثوره يلي بلشت وطنيه انقلبت اسلاميه و مسلحه كيف بدكون ياهن يوقفو معنا? هلق بيطلعلي واحد و بيقلي اي نحنا ما بيهمنا هدول!!!!!! لك يا عمي انشالله مفكر النظام واقف على تاييد ٥%? لا حبيبي لا,النظام صامد على استغلالو خوف الصامتين مننا مع العلم انهن ما بيطيقو النظام,و هذا الخوف عم نغذيه بغباءنا المنقطع النظير!!!! لك حتى قسم كبير من الاعلام صار عليها شعار التوحيد بادلب و حمص و لك حتى بالشام!!!!!! هذا اسمو غباء!!!!!لك ٦٠% من اي نصر هو بروباغاندا يا ناس,يعني دعايه, و نحنا دعايتنا بس بتفيد النظام!!!! في اغبى من هيك!!!!!!!!!!!!طيب المنشقين العساكر دبهون الحماس و عملو هيك,طيب تنسيقيات الثوره ليش ما بتشرحلون اهميه التركيز على شعارات الوحده الوطنيه?ليش ما عم نعرف نتصرف بحكمه و ذكاء? اذا الثوره هي ثوره وطنيه باهداف سياسيه و اقتصاديه و اجتماعيه ليش ما تكون كل شعاراتها وطنيه? ليش?

لك والله ثورتنا بهيك اصدقاء ما بدها اعداء!!!!!!!!نحنا بنكفي و بنوفي!!!

كل ما طولنا بضم الناس النا كل ما طال عمر النظام و كل ما زاد عدد الضحايا و كل ما زاد الحقد و الطائفيه و رغبة الانتقام , و هذا الشي مو بس بيأخر انتصارنا انما كمان بيخرب مستقبل سوريا !!!! هذا اذا بقي سوريا يا احرار.

حسبي الله و نعم الوكيل فيكم و بقلة وعيكم.

لو تعرفو قديش عم تضرو الثوره و سوريا و وحدة سوريا المستقبل,لكن لا حياة لمن تنادي.للاسف.

ابو فهمي الشامي

January 23rd, 2012, 10:34 pm

 

irritated said:

(Edited for hateful comments)

That is not rare either.

January 23rd, 2012, 10:40 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Ehsani
We missed you

January 23rd, 2012, 10:41 pm

 

Aldendeshe said:

3. aldendeshe said:

“…..Mr Lavrov’s annual news conference on Wednesday was largely a critique of Western policies in Iran and Syria, which he said could lead to a spiral of violence….”

Mr. Lavrov, with due respect, Syrians will no longer live as serf, do something please.

Господин Лавров, с должным уважением, сирийцы больше не будут жить так, как крепостной, сделать что-нибудь пожалуйста.

6 12

———————————————-

12 sadistic Baathist lover, who enjoys torturing children and killing own people, robbing teh nation left me 12 thumb downs.

YOUR DAYS IS COMING, JUDJEMENT IS COMING, JUST WAIT A LITTLE.

YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU WILL NOT HIDE, WILL FIND YOU AND THE CASH YOU STASHED. GET READY FOR : MAHKAMAT MIN AINA LAKA HATHA.

January 23rd, 2012, 10:47 pm

 

son of Damascus said:

irritated,

Had I asked what they do have in common you would be correct, my question was what will they have in common.

January 23rd, 2012, 10:50 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Majed,
The analogy is wrong,I think most readers here would agree.
I am not an expert on the royal family,I heard that the rift between Maher and Asef is a thing of the past after Asef married Bushra and won the trust of Bashar and the late Hafez Alassad. There is a lot to say about Asef background,some even doubt that he has clear alawi roots,but that is not relevant and I could not care less,what is more relevant is that Asef has certain personality characteristics that qualify him,in the eyes of the inner regime circle,to lead. He also seems to have a lot of support among the non Qirdahi officers.

January 23rd, 2012, 10:51 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Irritated,

Had I asked what they DO have in common you would be correct, I asked what WILL they have in common.

January 23rd, 2012, 10:53 pm

 

jna said:

92. jadsaid: Many SNC members on their FB sites are backing the MBs decision, they are supporting the AL roadmap plan… https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=13191&cp=2#comment-292446

Good news. Now let’s see if the Assad regime will reciprocate and begin dialogue with Opposition to implement the plan.

January 23rd, 2012, 10:53 pm

 

ann said:

*** GOOD NEWS FOR THE ISLAMIST TERRORISTS WAITING FOR NATO TO
*** INVADE, DESTROY, AND CARVE OUT SYRIA INTO PIECES FOR YOU.

IMF’s Lagarde urges Europe to act to avoid depression-era collapse of the economy – January 24, 2012

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-street-journal/imfs-lagarde-urges-europe-to-act-to-avoid-depression-era-collapse-in-demand/story-fnay3ubk-1226251899280

THE global economy faces a depression-era collapse in demand if Europe doesn’t quickly act to dramatically boost the size of its debt crisis firewall, implement pro-growth policies and further integrate the eurozone, the head of the International Monetary Fund warned overnight.

“It is about avoiding a 1930s moment, in which inaction, insularity, and rigid ideology combine to cause a collapse in global demand,” IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said in prepared remarks before the German Council of Foreign Affairs in Berlin. “A moment, ultimately, leading to a downward spiral that could engulf the entire world,” she said.

January 23rd, 2012, 10:56 pm

 

ann said:

*** THIS FAT HYPOCRITE LOSER IS THREATENING TO AGGRAVATE
*** THE SITUATION INSIDE SYRIA

Situation in Syria grave: Cabinet – Jan 24, 2012

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article567234.ece

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said Monday that the situation in Syria is extremely grave and urged all parties to take their historic responsibility to the people in the country seriously.

The Kingdom’s statement came at the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers at Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah chaired the meeting.

January 23rd, 2012, 11:24 pm

 

Aldendeshe said:

*** GOOD NEWS FOR THE ISLAMIST TERRORISTS WAITING FOR NATO TO
*** INVADE, DESTROY, AND CARVE OUT SYRIA INTO PIECES FOR YOU.

Well thank you for that prayer Anny, how sweet of ya. Can’t wait to see if it will ever come true. NATO destroy Baathism, like it did another sadistic Baathist killer Saddam and carve out Syria for us. That is a dream come true. Finally, just finally @59 years of age, I get a chance to get my land back and not only that, a piece of Syria for me. That is a whole lot more than what Baathist Assad gave us, he took everything, all the land, the entire country, every means to make a living was in his Baathist hand and his criminal mafia property. We could not even leave the country, get married, enter school, nothing, I mean nothing at all. On top of it all, Syrians had to be serf for his Baathist/ Alawite Shia State. About time millions of Sunni Moslems are freed from the shakles to a diabolic slavery of a shia clown and puppet.

January 23rd, 2012, 11:24 pm

 

ann said:

109. Aldendeshe said:

What does Aldendeshe mean in English? is it Blacksmith?

January 23rd, 2012, 11:28 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Memo To: ANN

RE: “…what does Aldendeshe mean in English?…”

(edited for personal attack)

January 23rd, 2012, 11:36 pm

 

aldendeshe said:

@ANN
It is a derivative of this family name in the link below. In Hebrew DANDASHI(T) means “Dandy Person” who cares about his appearance and attires (clothing). In older neighborhood of Homs they call it DANDASHLI, which also means decoration, the name stuck from Ottoman times because the Dandashi used to elaborately decorate their horses in gaudy way like the Bostat in Syria nowadays still do.

http://files.usgwarchives.net/special/family/dandashi.txt

ARE YOU READY TO FLIP? YOU GET TO KEEP SOME CASH AND YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOW.

January 23rd, 2012, 11:42 pm

 

ann said:

dale (i’m not jewish) anderson

our chosen one natural born loser!

how’s our village idiot today?

still suffering from loneliness I see!

January 23rd, 2012, 11:45 pm

 

ann said:

112. aldendeshe said:

“””ARE YOU READY TO FLIP? YOU GET TO KEEP SOME CASH AND YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOW.”””

I don’t own a house or cash in Syria. Was that why you changed sides?

How many IDs do you own on SC?

January 23rd, 2012, 11:50 pm

 

Husam said:

Dear WWS:

…from last thread.

Thanks for taking the time to write back, I am glad that all what I wrote did not go in vain on 7ee6an. What I don’t like from the hardcore anti-regime camp is isqat elnizam now and ask questions later.

Good comments get fuzzied by cut/paste mile long articles and by personal attacks on SC. There are a few characters that love nothing more than showing there 3adalat hiding behind a computer screen calling people names.

I get excited like everyone else for a new beginning, but unfortunately, the reality is Bashar isn’t going anywhere soon, the street & FSA is not retreating in a million years, and no they can’t sit peacefully and talk over tea. Syria has entered a dark period of many years of civil strife, blood, and fighting 7arah/7arah Lebanese style (look at the blog here and you get my drift).

Re: Jad, various people tried to get the goodness back into him, but they failed. There is no point, if he wants to be left alone, so be it. The owners of this blog, have left people have dog fights and eat each other…so you are really in zoo with no chains. On 7ee6an, they let one loose too…

January 23rd, 2012, 11:58 pm

 

jad said:

Irritated,
The moment the MB announced that they may accept the plan, the SNC members started to give their support, will see how things go for them.
SNC, reminds me of the national front in Syria where the members blindly repeat what the Baath party tell them to say without reasoning their decision.
I’m still waiting to hear an official statement from the NCB regarding the AL plan, Mr. Manna3 in his interview on BBC wasn’t clear in his position, he only said that he thinks the plan is in the right direction without any elaboration.

JNA
I personally don’t think that the regime have any political power left to reject this plan, unless it wants the civil war and chaos as a way out.
I think the regime will be forced by its international supporters to accept or else, which should be a ‘good news’ as you put it, let’s just hope that the oppositions don’t change their minds when the regime accept (IF it does).
This bloody struggle needs an end before violence destroy the ‘State’ elements and foundations, reason must prevail.

January 24th, 2012, 12:00 am

 

zoo said:

‘Qatar isolated, not Assad’: Arab League extends Syria mission
Alistair Crooke (video)
23/01/2012
http://info-wars.org/2012/01/23/qatar-isolated-not-assad-arab-league-extends-syria-mission/

And RT’s Sara Firth’s been to the town of Zabadani, which has seen some of the fiercest battles between security forces and armed opposition groups.

And for more on the situation around Syria – RT talks to Alastair Crooke, a Former EU Middle East Mediator and Director of the Conflicts Forum in Beirut.

January 24th, 2012, 12:13 am

 

aldendeshe said:

@Anny, the most disliked person for SNP, not because you side with the criminals, well that too, but your long cut & paste job, you literally aggravate SNP members trying to skip over your junk news posts for 15 minutes sometime. Do you know how weird a man feel having to flip his finger on the I phone screen for 15 min in the metro or tram.

Well, what was your question!!! (if you ask me another one I think you flirting with me)…oh ya.. Back in 2005, I used to have something like 50 of them. Half wrote for the Assad lovers and half for the Bush”IS SYRIA NEXT”- and few anon for the cussing. However, Alex got it nailed down to one for SNP, and one in my name. Does that answer your question dear Baathist Chick? Anny is your name KHADIJA by any chance?

January 24th, 2012, 12:14 am

 

jad said:

Aldendeshe,
Try to install an app called End Of Page for your IPhone.

January 24th, 2012, 12:21 am

 

jad said:

Trouble in heaven; the ‘Angels’ officers are having too much disagreements that may result in their ‘divorce’ into couple militias, as if Syria doesn’t have enough armed terrorists to have more of them:

Rivalry among Syrian defectors could mean another military coup

Disagreements between the army officers and soldiers could lead to the creation of separate militias, which could make it difficult to build a consensus around a leadership that could serve as an alternative to the regime.

Even as the Arab coalition against the Syrian regime tightens, and while Saudi Arabia has withdrawn its inspectors to the country and Qatar has upped the pressure to refer the crisis to the United Nations, fissures are emerging within the Syrian opposition which threaten to transform the uprising in the country from a civil protest movement into a military coup.

The fault line runs between two senior officers locked in a struggle for power over the Free Syrian Army, a force composed of deserters from the Syrian military, which numbers over 20,000 combatants. The force scored a number of achievements recently, the most important of which thus far is the takeover of the resort city of Zabadani, 45 km from Damascus. The deserter army is commanded by Col. Riyad al-Assad, who defected several months ago and set up his command headquarters in Turkey, as well as a logistical base and a bank account to which donations by citizens and governments are transferred.

However, two weeks ago, a Gen. Mustafa al-Sheik, head of the chemistry department and security officer of Syria’s northern region, defected from the army, along with his son, also an officer, and thus created a problem in the command hierarchy of the Free Syrian Army. Al-Sheikh demands the creation of a supreme military council, headed by himself, which will coordinate all of the military operations against the regime.

On the other side, al-Assad decided that, despite al-Sheik’s senior rank, he, al-Assad, is the supreme commander of the Free Syrian Army, as he was the first senior officer to defect, as well as the one who laid the force’s organizational and operational infrastructure. The argument between the senior officers is already causing a rift among the defectors, some of whom have already abandoned al-Assad’s loyalists and joined al-Sheikh. All this after it became clear that al-Assad was not capable of paying his loyalists, as Turkey has decided to close his Turkish bank account.

Into the controversy stepped Burhan Ghalioun, head of the Syrian National Council, the umbrella group of the civilian protest movement. Ghalioun met with General al-Sheikh, angering the spokesperson of the Syrian Free Army, Lama al-Atasi. Last week al-Atasi published a Facebook status saying, “We heard that you are pushing division within the ranks of the Free Syrian Army. I ask you: Who are you working for?”

While the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian National Council have had their differences about how to conduct the uprising, this was the first time that such harsh words were exchanged publicly. At the same time, officers of the Free Syrian Army began to speak out against the civilian occupation organization. According to a report published on Ilaf, one of the defecting officers, Khaled Yousef, said that “the Syrian National Council does not represent the revolution.” According to him, “The Council is disconnected from the suffering of civilians, and we request of the people that they reject its legitimacy.”

The immediate concern is that the disagreements between the army officers and the soldiers will lead to the creation of separate militias, each of which will conduct its own, independent battle and attempt to attain achievements in the field, but that this will also make it easier for the Syrian army to act against each force separately. Additionally, the disagreements are making it especially difficult to build a consensus around a leadership that could serve as an alternative to the regime, at a point when Arab states are already sending funds to each body separately, and thus the entire struggle could end up losing. Over the longer term, the military activities of both forces could be a basis for taking power from Assad, creating a situation in which Syria will exchange one military regime for another.

Alongside the military conflict, there are also differences of opinion within the civilian opposition. Part of it, primarily the leadership of the Syrian National Council, supports UN intervention and additional sanctions, while the others demand Western military intervention. However, there is no Western will to intervene militarily, while the ruler of Qatar’s proposal that Arab forces be sent to Syria is unacceptable to the Arab League. The result is that the Arab League remains with the proposal to continue the useless inspections, which show how more and more Syrians are being killed each day.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/rivalry-among-syrian-defectors-could-mean-another-military-coup-1.408828

January 24th, 2012, 12:31 am

 

aldendeshe said:

@JAD, thanks, I have that installed, along with 300+ other apps (I am an app fanatic) but a reader needs to scrawl through and read comments sometimes, then you hit Anny 3 in a row and most just quit reading / scrolling shortly afterward. When you in USA, you can get away with flipping, but in places like Paris subway ride, Stockholm tram and Amsterdam coffee shops, it does not look manly at all.

January 24th, 2012, 12:34 am

 

jad said:

The armed militias are ready for more terrorist attacks, they are preparing us for ugly days to come.
qatar-ksa money, ottoman weapons, french and american trainers and the terrorist criminals have appetite for more Syrian blood:

نائب قائد “الجيش السوري الحر”: سنزيد وتيرة العمليات العسكرية في سوريا

إعتبر نائب قائد الجيش السوري الحر العقيد مالك الكردي أن “للقرارات الأخيرة التي اتخذتها الجامعة العربية وجها سلبا وآخر إيجابا”، وأوضح في حديث الى صحيفة “الشرق الأوسط” أن “الإيجابية هي أنها وضعت الكرة في ملعب النظام الذي كنا متوقّعين أنّه سيعلن رفضه للمبادرة، وبالتالي سيخضع للمزيد من الضغوط الدولية، وفي وجهها السلب فهي أعطته مهلة إضافية للمزيد من القتل. لذا نطالب الجامعة العربية بالعمل على إيقاف القتل الذي يتحمّل مسؤوليته المجتمع الدولي وعلى رأسه روسيا التي هي شريك النظام في القتل”.
ولفت الكردي الى أنه “كنا على يقين بأنّ النظام لن يوافق على هذه المبادرة، ولا سيّما تسليم لمهام لنائبه. والقرارات العربية الجديدة لن تختلف عما سبقتها. النظام يراهن على عامل الوقت متسلحا بالأسطول الروسي والموقف الإيراني، علّه يستطيع إخماد الثورة عبر اللجوء إلى العنف والمزيد من القتل”. وتابع “ندرك أن المجتمع الدولي يرى أنّ الوقت لم يحن بعد لإصدار قرار بحق النظام السوري، ولم يعط بالتالي الضوء الأخضر للجامعة العربية”.
وفيما يتعلّق بخطة الجيش الحرّ في المرحلة المقبلة أكّد الكردي “العمل على زيادة وتيرة العمليات العسكرية في ظل تزايد الانشقاقات، مع التأكيد على أنّ وجود الجيش الحرّ هو للدفاع عن سلمية الثورة”.
واعتبر أنّ “تراجع حدّة القتل في اليومين الأخيرين كان حيلة من حيل النظام السوري وسياسته التي يتبعها منذ أكثر من 40 سنة، وهي بشكل أساسي “المراهنة على الوقت”، ولا سيّما قبل أيام قليلة من اجتماع الجامعة العربية لبحث تقرير بعثة المراقبين، محاولا إظهار أن حدّة القتل تراجعت. لكن ورغم ذلك يؤكّد الكردي أنّ “عدد القتلى منذ بدء عمل بعثة المراقبين وصل إلى نحو 795 قتيلا بحسب إحصاءات الهيئة العامة للثورة السورية، وهذا خير دليل على أنّ وجود المراقبين لم يردع النظام، وبالتالي تمديد مهمتهم لن تغيّر من الواقع شيئا”.
وفي حين لفت الكردي إلى أنّ “هناك انشقاقات لافتة سجلت في الفترة الأخيرة في صفوف عدد من الضباط العلويين والدروز من السويداء وهناك بوادر لازديادها مع تقدّم الضغط العربي والدولي”، أشار الى أنه “ما نزال نعوّل على المجتمع الدولي لينصفنا ويتّخذ قرارات ليدعمنا بالسلاح، الأمر الذي سيساعدنا في زيادة وتيرة عملياتنا الدفاعية، أمّا في حال لم يتخذ قرار بهذا الشأن، فنحن لن نتوانى عن استخدام كلّ ما لدينا من إمكانات لإسقاط النظام والدفاع عن الشعب وعن أنفسنا، ونؤكّد أنّنا مستمرون بتأمين الأسلحة وشرائها من الدعم المالي الذي يقدّمه لنا المواطنون السوريون، إضافة إلى ما يحمله معهم المنشقون من الغنائم، وما نستطيع الحصول عليه وشراءه من كتائب الأسد والشبيحة ووسطاء التهريب”.
وعما إذا كان هناك من تنسيق حصل بين “الجيش الحرّ” والمجلس الوطني بعد مبادرة الجامعة العربية وقراراتها، أجاب الكردي: “كان لنا اجتماع مع وفد من المجلس الوطني قبل اجتماع الجامعة العربية، ووضعنا كلّ الاحتمالات والحلول المقترحة لها، وكانت لدينا وعود من بعض الجهات بأنّه سيتم رفع القرار إلى مجلس الأمن، أما اليوم وبعد صدور هذه القرارات، فسنعقد اجتماعا مشتركا بين الجانبين في الساعات القليلة المقبلة لوضع آلية للتعامل معها”.

http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&article=660381&issueno=12110

January 24th, 2012, 12:52 am

 

ann said:

118. aldendeshe said:

“””@Anny, the most disliked person for SNP, not because you side with the criminals, well that too”””

I side with Democracy and freedom. I despise the brotherhood of islamist terrorist. The world needs to mind it’s own business when it comes to Syria. You know qatar, saudi arabia and those rich sheekdoms would be occupied israeli territory today if it wasn’t for Syria.

SC already established rules about posting articles on the blog. Full articles are allowed to post if they’re about Syria. Abbreviated (a few paragraphs) articles that are related to Syria.

You wouldn’t be flipping for 15 minutes on you i-phone if SC is not worth the trouble sometimes.

No my name is not KHADIJA it’s AISHA named after after the profit’s favorite 10 years old wife.

January 24th, 2012, 12:55 am

 

jad said:

Ann,
Thank you for linking articles on SC.

January 24th, 2012, 1:03 am

 

ann said:

124. jad said:

Ann,
Thank you for linking articles on SC.

with pleasure jad

January 24th, 2012, 1:05 am

 

Aldendeshe said:

“……No my name is not KHADIJA it’s AISHA named after the profit’s favorite 10 years old wife…”

Well, I promised SNP members that I will leave Islam and Moslems alone, so I will not comment of the 10 years old prophet Mohammad (PBUH) wife.

I have nothing against your posting, the post are adding to the total overall daily picture about Syria and updating events. Jad and the other gal do it too. That is not the issue, it is why can’t you write a summary and post a link to the article? You write well in English, so why not edit and link. It really don’t bother me personally, I am sitting on a desk station having 16 laptops and 4 servers underneath, a total of 24 monitors that I am surrounded with. It is the older gentlemen of SNP in Europe that complains a lot to me about doing something about it. Imagine a 72 years old man flipping for 10 minutes.

Now Aisha, something a bit strange about you, I thought initially you liked Moslems like TARA, what it is now you are complaining about MB. If you say you side with Democracy and Freedom, then if you are sincere in that proclamation, you should do like SNP and accept the fact that you have to share power with them, and that they do have a followings in Syria that will probably give them 5-6 seats in a freely elected parliament, just as they owned back before 63’. Who knows, the way parliamentary blocks will be implemented, it may be that SNP will needs their 5-6 seats desperately to form a Government. Israel, offer you a good example of this arrangements and compromises.

So, here you say that I flipped, no I did not, it was SNP decision and I have explained it in detail in previous post. We never were Menhebbek, we always been in opposition, just like the MB were. We sided with the regime to slow things down and maintain control to keep Syria intact. Now, we are moving to Phase II, convincing the Russians and putting the word out for a U.N. mandate that is reform centric, one that can land Syria in one peace with less violence. We at SNP are very disappointed that Bashar did not prove to be the LEADER that he projected himself to be. It was cunning and deceptive posturing. But since he failed to land Syria flat, we had no choice but to go into Plan B /Phase II. We are Nationalists and represent the older established Syrian families that most left Syria back in 1963. We are not like the newly rich MURTAZAKA, you see on the news every day. SNP is bold and take bold strides because we are independently financed, we answer to no one.

January 24th, 2012, 1:32 am

 

ann said:

555. Ghufran said:

“””Libya is at the verge of total collapse of the state and whatever is left of its institution. Western governments are still keeping more than $ 100 billion in Libyan money.”””

It’s $200 billion Ghufran. Also, Libya is going back to be occupied by Italy again:

Italy to help Libya protect borders and oil installations – Libya PM

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFL6E8CL07M20120121

TRIPOLI Jan 21 (Reuters) – Italy will help Libyan authorities protect the North African country’s borders and oil facilities, Libyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib said on Saturday.

January 24th, 2012, 1:40 am

 

Juergen said:

Irritated

Well tell me why this regime would like to throw him out after 20 years in the country, must their be a reason behind it? As far as I know those in function to decide probably have never seen or met with him.

Dont you be ashamed to put Bboy in line with Jefferson and Churchill?
Who will remember him after lets say 100 years?

January 24th, 2012, 2:01 am

 

Juergen said:

Will i ever again enjoy dabke music? I didnt know that there are so many mediorcre singers out there who love to prostetute themselves for the supreme leader. Syrians will not forget those crocodile tears of those artists, i hope they have a job besides singing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1EcNKj6meJo#!

watch even the mufti is part of the song!

January 24th, 2012, 2:03 am

 

ann said:

125. Aldendeshe said:

“”” why not edit and link? “””

Because links are sometimes mysteriously deleted by the publishers. Without a hard proof these articles are gone forever.

“”” Who knows, the way parliamentary blocks will be implemented, it may be that SNP will needs their 5-6 seats desperately to form a Government. “””

What parliamentary blocks?! Look at what’s happening in Libya!
Those islamist terrorists don’t want to share with you anything!
They’re targeting military and civil institutions with guns and bombs. They’re asking outside countries to invade, destroy and to deliver them the power to rule the country (or what’s left of it) uncontested. Have you heard of what depleted uranium bombs do and the wonderful things they leave behind?!

“”” Israel, offer you a good example of this arrangements and compromises “””

israel is an apartheid country. would you want to live like a Palestinian in Gaza and call that arrangements and compromises?!

“”” We at SNP are very disappointed that Bashar did not prove to be the LEADER that he projected himself to be. “””

Do you really still believe that what’s happening to Syria is about Bashar or Saddam or Bugs Bunny?!

“”” We are Nationalists and represent the older established Syrian families that most left Syria back in 1963. “””

I have serious doubts about you and the old established families wanting to go back to a Syria pot marked with depleted uranium.

January 24th, 2012, 2:16 am

 

Juergen said:

“I can not eat as much as i would like to puke.”

Max Liebermann 1934

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtIqr0lxldk

http://www.youtube.com/user/2120060a

See Webster Tarpley thinks he is in Bagdad. Hillarious. Is there an other word for Journalist? I really dont think this noble term suits those. Any suggestions?

January 24th, 2012, 2:19 am

 

Revlon said:

تسليم الجامعة العربية نسخة من “التقرير الموازي” لبعثة المراقبين العرب
SNC hands Arab League its Field Report on AL observers mission to Syria.
23/01/2012
https://www.facebook.com/Syrian.Centre

سلم وفد من المكتب التنفيذي للمجلس الوطني السوري أمين عام جامعة الدول العربية الدكتور نبيل العربي (الاثنين 23/01/2012) نسخة من “التقرير الموازي” المتعلق بأداء بعثة المراقبين العرب.

ويتضمن التقرير وملحقاته الذي يقع في نحو 100 صفحة، إضافة إلى عدد من الأفلام والصور، توثيقاً دقيقاً لمراحل عمل المراقبين والجرائم التي ارتكبها النظام السوري بحق المدنيين في غالبية المدن والبلدات والتي تجاهلها التقرير االذي أعلنت عنه الجامعة وأعده رئيس بعثة
……….More

January 24th, 2012, 2:58 am

 

jad said:

The usual sectarian statements of the Syrian MBs and the pathetic cheering for the saudi king…Menheba’SH’!!

الشقفة:سحب السعودية للمراقبين يؤكد حرصها على حقن الدم ووقف القتل المنظم
الخبر برس : الإخبارية اللبنانية

ثمن المراقب العام لجماعة “الإخوان المسلمين” في سوريا محمد رياض الشقفة، سحب السعودية للمراقبيها من سوريا، معتبرا هذا الموقف “يشرف الشعب السوري ويؤكد حرص السعودية على حقن الدم، وسعيها لوقف القتل المنظم بحق المدنيين العزل”.
وأوضح الشقفة في تصريح لصحيفة “عكاظ” السعودية أن “السعودية بقيادة الملك عبد الله بن عبد العزيز عودتنا على المواقف العربية السديدة والحكيمة في الأزمات، ونحن في المعارضة السورية والإخوان ننظر بإيجابية بالغة لموقف المملكة المساند للشعب السوري”، موضحا أن “العرب لا غنى لنا عن الدور السعودي الحيوي والمؤثر لحل الأزمات العربية”.
ورأى أن “السعودية عمق استراتيجي وحيوي لسوريا، لذا فإن الشعب السوري يعول كثيرا على مواقف السعودية ويعتبرها الأكثر أهمية، لما لها من تأثير بارز على السياسة العربية والإقليمية والدولية”.
وحمل ما يجري في سوريا من قتل وتنكيل بحق المدنيين إلى بعض الجهات العربية، معتبرا أن “الإخوة الإسلامية والانتماء القومي يقتضي وقفة تاريخية للقادة وللشعوب على السواء إلى جانب الشعب السوري”.
واتهم الشقفة بشار الأسد أنه “يفضل الدور الإيراني والروسي على الدور العربي”، لافتا الى أنه “في حين يتحدث النظام عن السيادة والشأن الداخلي، يرفض الدور العربي، مفضلا الدور الإيراني والروسي”.
وحول بعثة المراقبين، أفاد “لقد أثبتت بعثة المراقبين العرب منذ الأيام الأولى لتوليها مهمتها أنها تعمل خارج الإطار الذي أقر لها. وأنها قد تسلل إلى صفوفها من لا يصلح للشهادة، ومن لا يحسن القيام عليها”.
وأشار إلى أن “الرسالة الجازمة والحاسمة يجب أن تصل إلى بشار الأسد وإلى حكومة طهران ومرجعيتها، وإلى الحكومتين الروسية والصينية أن الدم السوري ليس رخيصا على العرب. وحول مبادرة الجامعة الأخيرة حول تنازل الأسد عن مسؤولياته لنائبه فاروق الشرع، أوضح الشقفة أن هذه المبادرة تستحق الدراسة المتأنية في إطار تحقيق مطالب شعبنا في العدل والحرية والعيش الكريم”.

January 24th, 2012, 3:08 am

 

ann said:

Economy chief looks to self-reliance in Syria – January 23, 2012

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7d4c4a48-45df-11e1-acc9-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=rss

International sanctions have had a severe effect on Syria and driven it to focus on domestic markets after a plunge in revenues from sectors such as oil and tourism, the country’s economy minister has said.

As Syrians grapple with fuel shortages, a plunging currency and rising prices, Mohamed Nedal Alchaar dismissed suggestions of imminent economic collapse and laid out an austere vision of a nation committed to self-sufficiency.

“The sanctions have affected every aspect of the average citizen’s life and it is our duty and responsibility to better manage the crisis that we live in,” he said, in an interview in his Damascus office. “The best way is to return to the inside, and focus on our internal affairs and empower our productive capacity.”

His remarks echo Damascus’s political response to the crisis. The regime has closed ranks as it attempts to crush a 10-month uprising that started as a protest for reform of the repressive state and has evolved into a campaign to oust Bashar al-Assad, the president.

As diplomatic pressure on Syria grows after the Arab League’s call on Sunday for the formation of a government of national unity, Mr Alchaar’s comments are a measured and defiant – if contentious – assertion of Syria’s ability to tough out economic hardship by falling back on its own resources.

“I can say with comfort that Syria is self-sufficient,” he said. “What we need to do today is increase the efficiency of this self-sufficiency, so it compensates for what we lost.”

While the Assad regime is not yet having to deal with obvious food shortages in Damascus, electricity power cuts have been increasing and petrol prices have gone up steeply.

Some other goods have increased in price. Cylinders of cooking gas have jumped from 250 to 400 Syrian pounds. A woman having lunch at a restaurant in the swanky Damascus Boulevard shopping centre on Monday pointed out that prices were now given on stickers attached to the menu.

Other shoppers suggested there might be a political cost to a return to an isolationist economy built on import prohibitions of the kind overseen by Mr Assad’s father, Hafez, in the 1980s and partly dismantled since.

“There were no diapers, no milk, no bananas. We only had oranges and apples!” recalled one woman. A businessman warned: “You can’t go from a socialist economy to an open economy and then go back.”

Mr Alchaar said he did not have final economic data for the calendar year just ended, but he was expecting a low single-digit fall in gross domestic product and a drop in government revenues of as much as a quarter.

Oil production had fallen from 385,000 to about 220,000 barrels a day, he said, after western countries imposed an export embargo on some Syrian oil products and multinationals pulled out. Tourism to the country of internationally renowned historical sites, such as the Roman city of Palmyra, had fallen at least 60 per cent, he added.

Mr Alchaar said Syria was responding by trying to lower its reliance on foreign goods and by promoting local manufacturing, which could involve measures such as import restrictions – though he did not want to see these – and tax and energy price discounts for local businesses.

In a step aimed at ensuring Syrians have enough for their essential needs, the government has imposed temporary or permanent bans on the export of various foodstuffs, including sheep to Gulf countries.

While Mr Alchaar said the measures were in part a response to the crisis, some of the changes were needed anyway to reverse harm to cottage industries – such as furniture making – by deregulation and the consequent flood of cheaper imports.

“All this restructuring that took place in the last 10 years has produced some ills in the Syrian economy. Today we are treating those ills,” he said.

The scion of a prominent business family in Aleppo, Syria’s commercial capital, the immaculately-tailored Mr Alchaar joined the government in April last year after a “call of duty” from Mr Assad. While he painted a picture of an economy bending but not breaking under pressure, the grey and threadbare ministry outside his ornate office told of a government and country not rolling in cash at the best of times.

Back at the Damascus Boulevard, one woman gave a sense of how people’s political tolerance of the economic reality might be limited if a new culture of self-reliance meant imported goods disappeared from the shelves. “It might get to the point where [they are] very expensive,” she said. “but not to be here at all? No way.”

January 24th, 2012, 3:10 am

 

Revlon said:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
احياءً لذكرى مجزرة حماة 1982 التي تصادف في 2 شباط 2012
Preparations are underway to commemorate Hama massacre that was carried out by Assad forces in 1982.
Set days and daters are Thursday and Friday, February 2-3. Activities shall be held across Syria and various other countries.

SNC
23/01/2012
http://www.facebook.com/TheSyrianNationalCouncil
تم اعتماد البرنامج التالي داخل سوريا احياءً لذكرى المجزرة على ان يترافق مع فعاليات في عدة دول عربية واجنبية يقوم عليها بعض الاخوة من المغتربين وسيتم البدئ بملف محاكمة مجرمي المجزرة في محكمة الجنايات الدولية وانتزاع اعتراف دولي بها
بالاضافة لفعاليات ميدانية للنشطاء في كل محافظة حسب طبيعة الوضع الحالي فيها

Link to the Promo of the event
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BzXgIX5TE9gTZWNmNjNkOTctZTg5NC00YzRhLWE2MGEtZTk1ZTg2NWU0NTA5

يوم الخميس 2-2-2012 سيكون مخصصاً باسم المجزرة ومحاكمة مجرميها
Thursday shall be dedicated to the Massacre and the trial of the perpetrators.
ويوم الجمعة 3-2-2012 سيكون اسم الجمعة… (عذرا حماة ..سامحينا) … تضامنا من سوريا مع ضحايا المجزرة
Friday shall be named “Forgive us Hama”

البرنامج مدعوم من قبل:
The program has been sponsored by various organisations of the revolution as well as their representative the SNC.
المجلس الوطني السوري
الهيئة العامة للثورة السورية
لجان التنسيق المحلية
المجلس الاعلى لقيادة الثورة
مجلس ثوار محافظة حماة
صفحة الثورة السورية ضد بشار الاسد
شبكة شام الاخبارية
شبكة فلاش سوريا
شبكة اوغاريت الاخبارية
المركز الاعلامي السوري
الصحافة السورية الحرة

January 24th, 2012, 3:13 am

 

ann said:

Arab League observers reject criticism – Jan 24 2012

League continues mission in Syria

CAIRO (CNN) – The head of Arab League observers in Syria rejected criticism Monday that his team had failed to stop killing in the country

Sudanese Gen. Mohammed Ahmed al-Dabi said Monday at a news conference in Cairo that the mission was designed not to bring an immediate end to violence but to investigate and observe the situation.

Despite the continuing violence, al-Dabi defended his team’s work, saying that it was able to persuade the Syrian government to remove tanks from neighborhoods and to reduce the number of military and security teams deployed near demonstrations.

Observers documented 136 deaths and the release of thousands of detainees during the 20-day mission, al-Dabi said.

January 24th, 2012, 3:21 am

 

jad said:

Both of the propaganda machine channels, the Qatari and the Saudi are now using the Syrian blood for their own gain in one of the cheapest way possible against the Arab League’s work. Disgusting!

أصدر مذيعو قناتي الجزيرة والعربية بياناً مشتركاً استنكروا من خلاله من اعتبروه “وقوف الجامعة العربية إلى جانب النظام السوري”.

وجاء في البيان الذي يتصدر الموقعين عليه، مدير شبكة الجزيرة السابق وضاح خنفر:

“في خضم ما شهده وتشهده المنطقة العربية من ربيع وثورات ألهبت، المنطقة بأسرها وأصبحت شغلا شاغلا لنا نحن الإعلاميين العرب ، وبشكل خاص ربيع سوريا وما نراه جميعا من قتل وتنكيل بإخواننا السوريين بما يقارب العام ووضوح الموقف الجامعة العربية الغير معلن صراحة والواضح لنا جميعا و وقوفها إلى جانب النظام السوري ومحاولة إنقاذه من محنته الحالية وبشتى الطرق الممكنة حتى إذا كان ذلك على حساب الدم السوري. وانطلاقا من قيمة مهنتنا الإعلامية ومهمتها في إيصال صوت الحقيقة إلى الرأي العام .

ندين ونستنكر القمع الوحشي للمتظاهرين السلممين في كافة أنحاء سوريا ونعلن أيضا عن دعمنا لهم بكل ما استطعنا أن نقدم لهم من دعم إعلامي ومعنوي .

مطالبين أيضا الضمير العربي والعالمي بالتحرك الفوري ضد النظام الهمجي وجميع من تلطخ يده بدماء السوريين الأبرياء “. انتهى البيان.

وضم البيان نحو 30 اسماً من العاملين في قناتي “الجزيرة” القطرية و”العربية” السعودية، بينهم سوري واحد هو فيصل القاسم ……@
جريدة السفير

January 24th, 2012, 3:23 am

 

Revlon said:

While Jr’s Forces were out, Duma people were celebrating freedom with elation.

جمعة معتقلي الثورة – دوما 20/1/2012

January 24th, 2012, 3:30 am

 

jad said:

Another one of the fine posts of The Syria Page, impressive research:
—————————————————————–

Analyzing the largest Syria crisis Facebook polls

Several Facebook polls on the Syrian crisis have been conducted over the past year, eliciting widespread responses among Syrian and Arab Facebook users. While sample sizes vary, many are much larger than regular online polls thereby ensuring representativeness of the sample, at least among Facebook users. It is worth noting here that Facebook polls prevent account owners from voting multiple times from different computers as they usually can for other online polls. Although some online activists have more than one Facebook accounts, the effect of this bias is negligible given that activists from both sides of the political divide are expected to be equally likely to own a second account.

A significant number of responses by non-Syrian Arabs should be expected given that many of them support the Syrian revolution just as many Syrians supported the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions before them. However, since the contribution of non-Syrian Arabs to the survey remains unknown, it is impossible to tease out Syrian responses from Arab ones. Moreover, it should also be cautioned that Syrians with FB accounts are not a truly representative sample as the sampling frame excludes Syrians without FB accounts as well as Syrians with no internet access. Results, therefore should be read with these limitations in mind.

Having said that, the large sample size of the polls selected here, in addition to the consistent results across a large number of polls make them worth analysing.

Below is a selection of the largest (20,000 to 170,000 voters each) Facebook polls on the Syrian crisis, Voting and community initial biases (where the question first originated) are specified under each question.

{…..}
http://creativesyria.com/syriapage/?p=129

January 24th, 2012, 3:30 am

 

Revlon said:

Busr Al Harir voice their dismay at AL-Dabi’s Report:
“When have no shame, you can say whatever you want!”

حوران مدينة بصر الحرير مظاهرة ترفض قرار تمديد اللجنة وتهتف بإسقاط النظام 23 1 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-S4vSdDLzmw

اتحاد تنسيقيات الثورة السورية | Syrian Revolution Coordinators Union
درعا مهد الثورة – بصر الحرير ::

مظاهرة ترفض قرار تمديد اللجنة وتهتف بإسقاط النظام 23 1 2012
لبيك لبيك … لبيك يا الله

حوران مدينة بصر الحرير مظاهرة ترفض قرار تمديد اللجنة وتهتف بإسقاط النظام…

January 24th, 2012, 3:42 am

 

Revlon said:

An interesting testimony cum conversation of a young, Christian lady with an AL Observor!
Bab Qibli, Hama
22/01/2012
حماة 22 1 باب قبلي ولقاء فتاة مسيحية حرة وشهادتها أمام اللجنة – حي على الجهاد – أموي

January 24th, 2012, 4:10 am

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

GULF STATES TO WITHDRAW OBSERVERS FROM SYRIA

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/01/201212493527272847.html

I wonder what kind of scoria is inside the Assad regime empty heads to send the country to such a civil war? They are incredibly rich people and maybe think they are inmune?

Now, real civil war is going to begin. Hama will be massacred, arms and help will be massively sent from outside and finally troops will enter Syria. In my opinion Assad is gone crazy.

January 24th, 2012, 6:05 am

 

Juergen said:

Defender

what do you mean by this phrase:

602. JUERGEN
Do you mean be surprised with lack of culture of the Slangs?

January 24th, 2012, 7:05 am

 

Juergen said:

Cracks Widen in Syrian Economy

As the Syrian uprising enters its tenth month, the country’s economy is suffering. Since last March, the Syrian government has been cracking down on pro-democracy protests, and the once peaceful uprising has morphed into a full-blown armed rebellion in areas such as Homs, Hama and Jabal al-Zawiya.

“The crisis is taking a toll on the financial sector. The Syrian Pound has lost nearly 50 percent of its value against the dollar as a result of capital flight…”

more:

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=106525

January 24th, 2012, 7:13 am

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Although is common to see the following expression in most papers and TV:

¨Syrian uprising is entering its tenth month¨

I just wanna remark that this is a wrong expression. Syria revolt has accomplished 10 months on 15th January. But from this very same date Syria is entering its 11th month, not its 10th months as usually said.

January 24th, 2012, 7:21 am

 

Ghat Al Bird said:

According to this website Saudi Arabia is calling for intervention.

http://theuglytruth.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/saudi-arabia-calls-for-outside-intervention-in-syra/#more-34640

If true wonder what the reaction would be if say some one called for an “intervention” in SA?

January 24th, 2012, 7:22 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Muallem in his press conference,did not acknowledge the fact that over 975 death at the hands of regime forces, has died since the observers started their job.thus the regime did not abide by its promise to halt violence.
Muallem did not acknowledge that the political prisoners ,counted by sixty thousands are still in prison, and while hundreds were released, hundreds were arrested.
Muallem did not acknowledged that news media like Aljazeera and Arabyeh has not been able to enter Syria.
Muallem still deny that the opposition, the true opposition,are not recognized by his regime.
He is begining to to be dull.

Ann said she stands for freedom and democracy, what an ABSURD staement while she and Jad still defending such brutal regime, by their admission, they are thus against freedom, and for despotism and tyrany.

GCC all decided to withdraw their observers, this means the observers team is useless, the regime rejected AL initiative, and today is preparing all out assault on Hama, and possibly other areas, immidiate action by the the world is expected , and the red line that Turkey put,must not be crossed, If Assad massacred Hama, he should expect foreign intervention, he is to blame for that, he is killing his people.

FSA is not splitting as Jad reported,he took his news from Haartz jewish news, FSA is not terrorist entity, it defends the freedom and they are truely like Angels, GOD BLESS FSA.
Ann says her name is Aisha, not khadija,, this is not true.

January 24th, 2012, 8:11 am

 

Tara said:

Majed

You know who Ann is. She is the “women” walking at the edge of the street while Jesus Christ was dragged and tortured in “passion of the Christ”

Ann Dear, remind me again, how young was the youngest child molested by a Catholic priest?

January 24th, 2012, 8:36 am

 

irritated said:

#141. SANDRO LOEWE

“GULF STATES TO WITHDRAW OBSERVERS FROM SYRIA”

I guess the stories of their bedroom been watched have discouraged these not so courageous tourists. GCC officers has never been known to take any risks during their holidays.
Walking in Hama with dishdashas is also not very convenient, one full month in trousers and a orange coat is far too much to bear!

January 24th, 2012, 8:40 am

 

Juergen said:

Walid al-Muallem: “In Syria, we are a mountain, solid and unshaken.”

Thinking of Muallem that sounds reasonable. Not even in his family all have this kind of faith.

January 24th, 2012, 8:43 am

 

Tara said:

Irritated

Are you related to Bronco? You think like him and you talk like him.

January 24th, 2012, 8:44 am

 

irritated said:

TARA #148

“You know who Ann is. She is the “women” walking at the edge of the street while Jesus Christ was dragged and tortured in “passion of the Christ”

You are totally wrong, Ann is the mother of Holy Mary.

Please don’t mislead even more someone who already thinks he knows so much about good and bad infidels.

January 24th, 2012, 8:48 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Irritated is Bronco

January 24th, 2012, 8:50 am

 

irritated said:

Tara #151

Bronco? I thought he left disgusted.

I think you write like Sheila and Annie.. Are you their sister?
They too left this blog, disgusted.

January 24th, 2012, 8:52 am

 

zoo said:

Moroccan law graduate who burned himself dies
By PAUL SCHEMM | Associated Press – 1 hr 40 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/moroccan-law-graduate-burned-himself-dies-125939810.html

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — A 27-year-old Moroccan who set himself on fire to protest his unemployment died from his burns Tuesday in a Casablanca hospital, his wife said.

Abdelwahab Zaydoun was part of a group of unemployed graduates who occupied an Education Ministry building in Rabat, the Moroccan capital, to protest their unemployment and threatened to set themselves fire when police didn’t let supporters deliver them food.

“I saw him in the morgue, he is dead and I accuse the makhzen of killing him,” Amina Naddam, 25, told The Associated Press by telephone from the hospital, referring to the ruling elite that many say controls the kingdom.
(…)

January 24th, 2012, 9:41 am

 

Syria no Kandahar said:

Tara
He was the same age of one of the 20 wife’s of your stud Master.

January 24th, 2012, 9:59 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

من يرغب في سقوط الاسد لا يفهم بان الاسد الضعيف هو مصلحة اسرائيلية واضحة، ومن الافضل للغرب أن يفهم ما سبق لتركيا أن فهمته خير حكم ضعيف للاسد من سقوطه. الفوضى في مصر هي تذكير لما هو متوقع في سوريا مع سقوط الطاغية السوري.

معاريف 23/1/2012
Pro regime thugs and Israel has one thing in common, they both support Bashar,as this israeli newspaper says.

January 24th, 2012, 10:11 am

 

Juergen said:

Anyone has an opinion about the first salafi video which leaked today? in it an group called Dschabhat al-Nusra claims that the group has started to fight against the syrian regime. An other video from Muallems video collection?

January 24th, 2012, 10:14 am

 

Tara said:

Kandahar

With only two major differences, hone. He married her with her parents’ approval and she loved him. Some girls you know like older men. He did not molest her behind a church curtain. Additionally, most girls at that time 1300 some years ago married around that age so it is not an extraordinary relation given the context. People physiological built was different then and their life span was much shorter.

January 24th, 2012, 10:18 am

 

Aldendeshe said:

@ANN Said: “…I have serious doubts about you and the old established families wanting to go back to a Syria pot marked with depleted uranium…”

You gotta blame Bashar and yourself for that outcome. We are trying to avert a much worse outcome, be appreciative.

January 24th, 2012, 10:28 am

 

jad said:

Jurgen
Why don’t you link the clip?

Until the salafi clip become available, here is a clip of a collapsed building in Homs after being burned down according to this site:

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=217020208388960

HNN| شـبكة أخـبار حمص

انهيار مبنى مؤلف من أربعة طوابق ومبنى مجاور له صباح اليوم
حيث تعرض المبنى لعمليات نهب وسرقة
من قبل المجموعات الإرهابية المسلحة
والتي قامت بإضرام النار فيه بداية ومن ثم اطلاق قذائف آر بي جي عليه
وجماعة العهر في تلك المنطقة التابعة لقنوات العهر الخليجية
تسوق على أنهم تم قصف البنائين من قبل الجيش
يعني شو هالقذيفة إلي بهدها تلف من حاجز باب تدمر للبنايتين

خاص شبكة أخبار حمص الأولى
http://www.facebook.com/HNN.SYRIA

January 24th, 2012, 10:45 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Kandahar no syrian
The prophet in my opinion did commit mistake in marrying Aaish who was 10-11 year old,and this was not the only mistake, practically all his marriages were wrong.
Do not forget that destiny is stronger than our will,much much stronger, 3a2esha(aaisha) played a major part of Islamic history, and that was a destiny, and infact Aaisha did commit several mistakes.
And as Tara said we live in different time, king David married 100 wives,and his son Soloman,had thousand wife,practically 50% of girls in his country, but this is different time we have no right to judge. remember Adam had two sons and a girl, ons son married his sister, this is not acceptable now.
The prophet is not God to worship,we should not celebrate his birthday,this is different from some sect who call themselves Muslem and they glorify a man.

January 24th, 2012, 10:53 am

 

Revlon said:

Wreckage of Assad forces armours should be turned into slides and swings and put up in children play grounds around Syria, in memory of the hundreds of children that have been savagely tortured and killed by Assad forces.

Photo 1 / 24
A Syrian boy stands in front of a damaged armoured vehicle belonging to the Syrian army in a street in Homs January 23, 2012.
REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/slideshow?articleId=USRTR2WRS3#a=1

January 24th, 2012, 10:54 am

 

Syria no Kandahar said:

Tara&Majed
Thx.My point is :Pedophilia and terrorism are wrong
Regardless of who does them.

January 24th, 2012, 11:01 am

 

jad said:

Dear SNK
Be the wise one in this discussion and don’t get involve, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let us not to talk about religion. PLEASE!
Did you have time to check The Syria Page new post? What do you think?
Analyzing the largest Syria crisis Facebook polls
http://creativesyria.com/syriapage/?p=129

Here is something funny:
سوريا – بعد اخفاء الدبابات في حمص: خفايا جديدة تظهر !!!
http://youtu.be/Wd-Ly1L9h1w

January 24th, 2012, 11:03 am

 

jad said:

The Russian statement which Reuters published yesterday claiming that Russia is not going to support Bashar anymore are 2 months old and Reuters removed the news form its site:

المكتب الصحفي لمارغيلوف: “رويترز” تنقل تصريحات مضى عليها شهران

المكتب الصحفي لمارغيلوف: “رويترز” تنقل تصريحات مضى عليها شهران
أكد المكتب الصحفي لرئيس لجنة مجلس الاتحاد الروسي للشؤون الدولية ميخائيل مرغيلوف يوم 24 يناير/كانون الثاني أن تصريحه بأن “روسيا استنفدت كل الوسائل التي تسمح للرئيس الأسد المحافظة على وضعه القانوني في المحافل الدولية” والذي نشرته وكالة الأنباء “رويترز”، يعود في الحقيقة إلى 23 نوفمبر/تشرين الثاني الماضي.

وقد أبلغت “رويترز” المشتركين بأنها قد ألغت الخبر المتعلق بهذا الصدد.
وكان التصريح الأخير لمارغيلوف حول الوضع في سورية صدر عنه يوم 23 يناير/كانون الثاني لوكالة الأنباء “إيتار-تاس” الروسية وقال فيه: “لابد من الاعتراف بأن الوضع في سورية وصل حاليا إلى طريق مسدود، وأن الجامعة العربية لن تتراجع عن خطتها الجديدة”.
ويمكنكم مشاهدة مقابلة مارغيلوف مع قناة “روسيا اليوم” حول موقف موسكو من الوضع في سورية في برنامج “حديث اليوم” قريبا على شاشة قناة “روسيا اليوم” وعلى موقعها الإلكتروني.

http://arabic.rt.com/news_all_news/news/576877/

January 24th, 2012, 11:21 am

 

Revlon said:

After Bab Houd, Terrorist forces of B. Assad shell Karm AlZeitoun neignbourhood causing coomplete collapse and destruction of the building and killing or wounding its inhabitants.

This attack shall not show up in next Al-Dabi’s report, and the scores of civilian martyrs and wounded shall not feature in his records; He did not see it!

Mr Manna3 must be delighted with those civilians for paying their life in support of his sacred mission of peacefully bringing the regime to justice for crimes against humanity; The irony is he does not believe in the capital punishment!

Scenes of the destruction and evacuation of casualties.
مجزرة حي كرم الزيتون 2.flv
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNntdFxf-Tg&feature=youtu.be

Scene of on site first aid treatment of a wounded child.
مجزرة حي كرم الزيتون 3.flv
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVqWcj9X_X4&feature=youtu.be

Scene of an evacuated, mutilated body
مجزرة حي كرم الزيتون 4.flv
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT9AFM1ONGs&feature=youtu.be

Uploaded by mouhmdbbb on Jan 24, 2012
مجزرة حي كرم الزيتون اثار قصف المنازل بي الهاون 24/1/2012

January 24th, 2012, 11:30 am

 

zoo said:

Will Syria give its agreement to the extension of the mission of the Arab League observers?

http://www.africasia.com/services/news_mideast/article.php?ID=CNG.8d5e2552ac41ed92a266b1f1bc84371c.da1

“If the Syrian government does not give its agreement to (further) extend the mission, the observers will suspend their work, will remain in their places of residence and will not move” until receiving a response from Syria, he added.

January 24th, 2012, 11:36 am

 

norman said:

Can Syria accept the monitors without the AL Road map, IE that president Assad steps down.

January 24th, 2012, 11:47 am

 

Revlon said:

A little girl, who survived the shelling of Karm AlZeitoun today, searches for toys and other personal items of her and other relatives in the debris of the destroyed building.

طفلة تبحث عن العابها تحت الأنقاض 24-1-2012 في حي باب تدمر

January 24th, 2012, 11:54 am

 

Tara said:

What is exactly the goal of extending the AL’s observers mission? Does any one know? The mission reported its findings. I thought that was the goal? Do we need more reporting?

January 24th, 2012, 11:56 am

 

jad said:

I don’t know what happened in Homs and how those buildings went down, but I condemn whoever did this act of terrorism by killing innocent people and those criminals must pay.
But what I know very well is that using this tragedy to blame a nonviolence advocate like Mr. Mannaa by a sectarian who never stopped celebrating every act of violence and advocate every terrorist act is beyond hypocrisy.
Why don’t he blames the terrorist gangs of Homs he is their mouthpiece, oh, I forgot, those are only good for bombing gas lines, trains, buses, kidnapping, killing the army and whoever they don’t like and making clips of themselves doing the ‘job’.

January 24th, 2012, 12:03 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

I think Bashar and Maher al Kharatein will find a sad end. They are really getting too many points to be killed wherever whenever. Next days Syria will face terrible massacres that could never be forgotten. Assad should be made disapear fastly before it makes too many mistakes. It is better if nobody knows where he is.

January 24th, 2012, 12:08 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

This sad show we are being shown in Syria is the probe that almost all high ranks between military officials are there to suck and steal, and never to defend the land and the poeple of Syria. They have to values, no principles, no ideology, no religion. They are the real cancer of this country. But now their time has come. Whatever happens, the end of this system is sure and determined by the growing number of young people asking for a mean of life, dignity and justice.

January 24th, 2012, 12:17 pm

 

norman said:

Jad, what happened in Homs?

January 24th, 2012, 12:22 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

171. jadsaid:

¨I don’t know what happened in Homs and how those buildings went down, but I condemn whoever did this act of terrorism by killing innocent people and those criminals must pay.¨

Normally, in a war zone, a building comes down when it receives a bomb impact or when detonation takes place inside. Do you understand now how this building came down? Of course it was a terrorist gang, but the problem is that this terrorist gang is called Assad loyalists and paid by syrian taxes.

January 24th, 2012, 12:23 pm

 

Revlon said:

168. Dear Norman:
((Can Syria accept the monitors without the AL Road map, IE that president Assad steps down.))

The AL observer’s protocol signed by the regime was an introductory step in the implementation of the initial “Arab League Agreement”, that Jr refused to sign over a months ago.

The AL understanding of the purpose of the Observer’s protocol was that it represented a step to cease aggression and create peaceful conditions to start a “dialogue”; AL Mu3allem, the smart Alec he was, chose to stick to the perfunctory meaning of the protocol and ignored the context.

The new/elaborated Arab League Initiative came as a fitting response to AL-Dabi’s report.
The claimed positive progress in life conditions since its arrival prompted the activation of the next phase of the initial Arab League Agreement; The political dialogue and the formation of a unity government.

The intransigence of the regime in complying with All of the AL demands, as per AL-Dabi’s report, was appropriately countered by applying more political pressure through asking for SC involvement.

In brief and to answer your question, The primary goal of the observer’s mission has been accomplished!

Jr has to move to the next step; the political solutions, according to the AL-UN terms, or else face the SC.

Cheers

January 24th, 2012, 12:28 pm

 

norman said:

where did these buildings and how many come down .

January 24th, 2012, 12:33 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

@155. Syria no Kandahar

This is an unacceptable insult to muslims (unless I have misunderstood). Take issue with whatever but why use insults?

If you dared to repeat that in front of any muslim you’d get a good beating. People wouldn’t put up with anyone insulting their mother. Imagine how they’d react if their beloved Prophet (S) was insulted. For whom muslims would sacrifice their family and everything. Whom, to complete their faith, muslims must love more than anything else including their families and their ownselves.

It just goes to show what kind of Islamophobes the syrian revolution is dealing with. Even pro-regime Syrians, Lebanese,Iranians and Shia people will be embarrassed (and insulted) by such insults and would want to distance themselves from them. I would like to think that is the case.

On the age of Marriage this can be answered and I hope others do so but if not then I’d get back with a reply. One thing for sure this marriage was not a ‘mistake’ and for a muslim to say this is a massive no-confidence in Allah Almighty and His Prophet (S).

On another point.

As the Islamic month of Rabi ul Awal is starting if it hasn’t already done so, muslims all across the world will be celebrating the blessed birth of the greatest gift to Mankind. The Mercy to the universe. The Blessed Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wa Salam.

As the Quranic verse commands us:

[Duha 93:11] And abundantly proclaim the favours of your Lord.

Allah SWT Knows best.

January 24th, 2012, 12:40 pm

 

jad said:

Norman,
A building collapsed from being hit either by an RPG or by a shell, depends on which news network you read.
It said that 21 Syrians were killed in this attack, I have no more details.

January 24th, 2012, 12:49 pm

 

norman said:

To all of you,
please stay away from religion.nobody has a religion that is better than the other.

January 24th, 2012, 12:52 pm

 

jad said:

يوميات المخابرات الأميركية في بيروت..الأسماء والوقائع والصور 2/2
نادر عزالدين

بعد أن كشفنا في الجزء الأول من يوميات المخابرات الأميركية في بيروت عن وثيقة تؤكد وجود الرئيس السابق لمحطة التجسس الأميركية لويس كاهي على الأراضي اللبنانية، وعرضنا بوليصة شحن تؤكد بأنه يمتلك شركة باسمه الشخصي ومقرّها السفارة الأميركية في عوكر، وبعد أن كشفنا اللثام عن صورة الرئيس الحالي لمحطة التجسس دان ماكفيلي وزوجته اندريا وتعدد أدوارها، نستكمل في الجزء الثاني عرض المزيد من الحقائق عن المخابرات الأميركية في لبنان، ونجيب على الأسئلة التي سبق وطرحناها: كيف يمكن فهم تعدد أدوار اندريا ماكفيلي؟! ما علاقتها بالجنرال باتريوس؟ من هو تشاك لايزنبي؟ ومن أي بلد طار إلى لبنان وما الذي اقترفه بحق اللبنانيين؟ ما علاقة السفيرة الأميركية مورا كونللي بمجموعة التجسس؟ ولماذا عيّن الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة ديريك بلامبلي ممثلاً شخصياً له في لبنان؟
{…}

“حزب الله هو الهدف … أم سورية؟

لو جمعنا كل ما عرضناه في الجزئين، وأضفنا إليهم استقدام مورا كونللي من سوريا إلى لبنان، حيث كانت تشغل منصب “القائمة بأعمال السفارة الأميركية” في دمشق، وأضفنا أيضاً تعيين الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة بان كي مون للبريطاني ديريك بلامبلي كممثل شخصي له في لبنان، مع معرفتنا المسبقة بأن بلامبلي كان رئيس “مفوضية التقييم والتقدير” المناط بها متابعة تنفيذ اتفاق السلام الشامل بين شمال وجنوب السودان، ومن أهم بنود هذا الإتفاق كان الإستفتاء حول حق تقرير المصير لأهالي جنوب السودان، والذي أصر بلامبلي عليه وأدى في النهاية إلى تقسيم السودان إلى بلدين. والتسريبات حول مفاوضات بلامبلي مع عمر البشير، والتي أقنع فيها الرئيس السوداني بالموافقة على تقسيم بلده مقابل إقفال ملفه في محكمة “لاهاي” الدولية.

نستنتج بأن واشنطن، تساندها رئاسة الأمم المتحدة، استقدمت من السودان وسوريا والعراق مجموعة من أهم الضباط والجواسيس الاقليميين، وجمعتهم في محطة لبنان، فهل المستهدف هو لبنان؟ وهل يريد بلامبلي نقل تجربته مع البشير إلى الضاحية الجنوبية والتفاوض مع حزب الله حول المحكمة الدولية؟ أم أن المراد هو أن يكون لبنان غرفة عمليات يجتمع فيها ممثل الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة ديريك بلامبلي وخبرته التقسيمية، مع ضابط الأمن الاقليمي تشاك لايزنبي القادم من السودان، والسيدة المتعددة الأدوار اندريا ماكفيلي القادمة من العراق، وزوجها دان رئيس محطة التجسس في لبنان، ومورا كونيللي القادمة من سورية والعالمة جيداً بالشأن السوري، وقائد المنطقة الوسطى في الجيش الأميركي ديفيد باتريوس الذي قام بزيارة خاطفة إلى لبنان أثناء تواجد بان كي مون في بيروت … وبالتالي استخدام لبنان كغرفة عمليات لإسقاط الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد وتقسيم سورية، في استكمال لما بدأوه في السودان والعراق وأفغانستان من تطبيق عملي لمخطط الشرق الأوسط الجديد؟”

http://almanar.com.lb/adetails.php?eid=171979&cid=136&fromval=1&frid=136&seccatid=426&s1=0

January 24th, 2012, 1:02 pm

 

Tara said:

Norman

Agree. Please note that Ann’s post provoked the response.

January 24th, 2012, 1:03 pm

 

jad said:

Thank you Norman, I totally agree.

January 24th, 2012, 1:05 pm

 

ann said:

146. majedkhaldoun said:

“”” Muallem in his press conference,did not acknowledge the fact that over 975 death at the hands of regime forces, has died since the observers started their job. “””

Because he’s not a liar like you ABOUD.

AL observers documented 136 deaths and the release of thousands of detainees during the 20-day mission, al-Dabi said.

Arab League observers reject criticism – Jan 24 2012

League continues mission in Syria

CAIRO (CNN) – The head of Arab League observers in Syria rejected criticism Monday that his team had failed to stop killing in the country

Sudanese Gen. Mohammed Ahmed al-Dabi said Monday at a news conference in Cairo that the mission was designed not to bring an immediate end to violence but to investigate and observe the situation.

Despite the continuing violence, al-Dabi defended his team’s work, saying that it was able to persuade the Syrian government to remove tanks from neighborhoods and to reduce the number of military and security teams deployed near demonstrations.

Observers documented 136 deaths and the release of thousands of detainees during the 20-day mission, al-Dabi said.

January 24th, 2012, 1:16 pm

 

Juergen said:

Norman

That should be a guideline here.

Jad

There was just a report of DER SPIEGEL on the video, i tried to find it, but they said they have found the video on a salafi chat site, and ntil now they have not posted it.

here is the link to the report,as i remember you speak German.

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,811058,00.html

January 24th, 2012, 1:17 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

180. Norman

Do you think that by saying this you solve the problem? If this is true then simply ignore religion. You know the basis of this crisis is not religious but a much deeper one. Religion is totally a personal question and even the secular regime in Syria has been playing with it. The word salafi, sunni, wahabi, christian has been mostly introduced by anti-arab spring posts.

By the way, are you syrian? Are you inside Syria?

January 24th, 2012, 1:22 pm

 

Aldendeshe said:

In Syria they build with re-inforced concret. If it is not a structural failure, someone wired the building with large amount of explosives or detonated a parked truck laden with one. If explosion sound heard, that maybe the case.

January 24th, 2012, 1:26 pm

 

Aldendeshe said:

101. Aldendeshe said:

3. aldendeshe said:

“…..Mr Lavrov’s annual news conference on Wednesday was largely a critique of Western policies in Iran and Syria, which he said could lead to a spiral of violence….”

Mr. Lavrov, with due respect, Syrians will no longer live as serf, do something please.

Господин Лавров, с должным уважением, сирийцы больше не будут жить так, как крепостной, сделать что-нибудь пожалуйста.

6 12

———————————————-

12 sadistic Baathist lover, who enjoys torturing children and killing own people, robbing teh nation left me 12 thumb downs.

YOUR DAYS IS COMING, JUDJEMENT IS COMING, JUST WAIT A LITTLE.

YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU WILL NOT HIDE, WILL FIND YOU AND THE CASH YOU STASHED. GET READY FOR : MAHKAMAT MIN AINA LAKA HATHA.

2 11

————————————

محكمة من أين لك هاذا ـ جاي جاي ارجعو عالضيعة وشغل التنور

January 24th, 2012, 1:34 pm

 

jad said:

Jurgen
Thank you!

January 24th, 2012, 1:34 pm

 

zoo said:

Erdogan is singing his old song to Irak and insults Al Malikii

Turkey warns Iraq against fomenting sectarian unrest
http://news.yahoo.com/turkey-warns-iraq-against-fomenting-sectarian-unrest-153843184.html

“(Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri) al-Maliki should know that: if you start a conflict in Iraq in the form of sectarian clashes, it will be impossible for us to remain silent,” Erdogan said in remarks to his lawmakers in parliament, carried on television.

“Those who stand by with folded arms watching brothers massacre each other are accomplices to murder,” Erdogan said.
The Turkish leader heavily criticised Maliki for his accusation that Turkey was intervening in Iraq’s affairs.

“I consider Maliki’s attitude … as very ugly and very unfortunate,” Erdogan said.

“We expect the Iraqi government to leave aside sectarian discrimination and express a responsible attitude to prevent sectarian conflicts,” Erdogan said.
(..)

January 24th, 2012, 1:39 pm

 

jad said:

Russian ambassador to the UN is saying that nothing ‘new’ in the Russian position regarding Syria while France is trying again its older version of the resolution in the UN, they are looking for a military intervention:

-السفير الروسي بمجلس الأمن: روسيا لا تزال ثابتة في مواقفها تجاه سوريا
أكد السفير الروسي في مجلس الأمن فيتالي تشوركين لتلفزيون “الجديد” ان لا شيء جديدا في المواقف الروسية من سوريا وان روسيا لا تزال ثابتة في مواقفها.

-فرنسا توزع مشروع قرار جديد حول سورية بمجلس الأمن يدعم المبادرة العربية
نقلت وسائل إعلام عن دبلوماسي في مجلس الأمن قوله إن “فرنسا وزعت مسودة مشروع قرار جديد في مجلس الأمن الدولي تشابه التي تم رفضها في تشرين الأول الماضي من قبل روسيا والصين، إلا أنها تضم جهود الجامعة العربية وتطالب بدعم مبادرتها”.

Zoo,
Syria accept to extend for the AL Observers mission:
سوريا توافق على التمديد لبعثة المراقبين العرب شهراً اضافياً
اعلنت وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين السورية، وردا على رسالة الأمين العام لجامعة الدول العربية، موافقة الحكومة السورية على التمديد لبعثة مراقبي الجامعة العربية شهرا آخر اعتبارا من تاريخ 24/1/2012 ولغاية 23/2/2012.
واشارت الوزارة في بيان الى ان وزير الخارجية والمغتربين السوري وليد المعلم وجّه مساء اليوم رسالة إلى الأمين العام للجامعة العربية نبيل العربي يبلغه فيها بموافقة الحكومة السورية على ذلك.

Jurgen
DER SPIEGEL article analyzing the footage about ALqaeda fighters and their veterans organizing themselves in Syria and using the struggle for their own agenda is a very serious materials, I know that they are questioning some points of the clip, however, it seems that the magazine message is clear: there are Alqaeda fighters in Syria and we need to watch them closely. Pity that the report is in German, but I guess it’ll spread out soon.

January 24th, 2012, 2:08 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Since Syria refused the last Arab League initiative, GCC withdrew their observers, Qatar Hamad ibn Jasem quarreled withAlDabi, there is nothing the AL can do except to say they reached dead end,and has to turn the crisis in Syria to the UN SC
I is absurd that Syria accepted the extension to the observers, after refusing the last initiative, Syria knows what is coming their way,no other choice,the regime to blame.

January 24th, 2012, 2:12 pm

 

zoo said:

Syria tells Arab League to head for U.N. “or the moon”
Reuters By Alistair Lyon | Reuters – 2 hrs 16 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/gcc-says-pulling-monitors-syria-mission-093700704.html

“Heading to the Security Council will be the third stage in their plan, and the only thing left is the last step of internationalization,” he told a news conference in Damascus.

“They can head to New York or to the moon. So long as we are not paying for their tickets it is none of our concern.”

Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby and Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, who heads the League’s committee on Syria, had sent a joint letter to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon giving details of the organization’s latest plan for a political solution in Syria.

The letter asks for a “joint meeting between them in the U.N. headquarters to inform the Security Council about developments and obtain the support of the Council for this plan,” a League statement said.

The Saudi ambassador to Britain, Prince Mohammad Bin Nawaf, said the idea of resorting to the Security Council was to rally the world behind the Arab League peace initiative for Syria.
(…)

January 24th, 2012, 2:22 pm

 

defender said:

Thanks all for discussions and for tolerance, I will be engaged in the business!for all good luck!

January 24th, 2012, 2:22 pm

 

irritated said:

Majedalkhadoon

“I is absurd that Syria accepted the extension to the observers

It is much more absurd that the AL offers to extended the mission after they received a clear rebuff from Syria on the “Yemen Road Map”.

January 24th, 2012, 2:30 pm

 

zoo said:

Is al-Qaeda Infiltrating Syria through Lebanon’s Beka’a Valley?
Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 10 Issue: 1
January 12, 2012 02:42 PM Age: 12 days
By: Nicholas A. Heras
http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=38875
….
Arsal’s reputation has not been improved by recent events. On November 21, 2011 the Lebanese Army briefly entered Arsal in order to follow- up on reports that a person tied to international terrorist groups might be present in the village, although no arrests were made in connection with the operation (Daily Star, December 29, 2011). The village is viewed by some as being a node in a smuggling network of weapons, drugs, and jihadists that includes the Beka’a village of Majdal Anjar, the Akkar district of northern Lebanon, and the purportedly militant Salafist neighborhoods in Tripoli. Majdal Anjar is another predominately Sunni Muslim, March 14 coalition-supporting village in the eastern Beka’a near the Lebanese-Syrian border. The link to Majdal Anjar is considered incriminating by some in Lebanon because the village is already notorious for having been a staging point and safe haven for militant Salafist fighters from Lebanon, especially from around Tripoli and the Akkar district, through Syria and into Iraq to confront the U.S. military there. Since the defeat of Fatah al-Islam fighters in Nahr al-Barid in 2007, Majdal Anjar is viewed as a likely place for confrontation between the Lebanese Army and militant Salafist fighters. Weapons smuggled in the region of Majdal Anjar are suspected of being used by Salafist fighters in “front-line” areas of Lebanon, such as the Tarek al-Jdeideh neighborhood in Beirut and between the Sunni Muslim Bab al-Tabbaneh and Alawite Jebel Mohsen neighborhoods in Tripoli. The village is also thought to be a source of Salafist fighters for these front-line districts, though not on the scale of the Tripoli neighborhoods of Qibbeh, Abu Samra, and Bab al-Tabbaneh and the village of Dinneyeh north of Tripoli. A Lebanese Army intelligence officer told the author that: “Majdal Anjar is the next Nahr al-Barid. It isn’t getting better there, it is worse.” [1]
(..)

January 24th, 2012, 3:02 pm

 

Jad said:

Diffender
All the best, it was nice having you around.
Please come back whenever you have time.

January 24th, 2012, 3:35 pm

 

Tara said:

I always liked eating in Majdal Anjar. I hope it doesn’t become a battlefield.
(..)

January 24th, 2012, 3:39 pm

 

jad said:

The draft of the French proposal at the UN:

حصلت “النشرة” على مسودة مشروع القرار الفرنسي الذي قُدم اليوم الى مجلس الأمن الدولي، وفيه ادانة لاستمرار الانتهاكات الجسيمة والواسعة لحقوق الإنسان والحريات الأساسية من قبل السلطات السورية مثل استخدام للقوة ضد المدنيين، والإعدام التعسفي والاضطهاد وقتل المتظاهرين وممثلي وسائل الإعلام، والاعتقال التعسفي والاختفاء القسري.
ويطالب الحكومة السورية بوضع حد فوري لجميع انتهاكات حقوق الإنسان والهجمات ضد أولئك الذين يمارسون حقوقهم في حرية التعبير والتجمع السلمي وتكوين الجمعيات، وحماية السكان.
كما يطالب جميع الأفرقاء في سوريا، بما فيها الجماعات المسلحة، بوقف اي اعمال عنف او انتقام على الفور، بما في ذلك الهجمات ضد مؤسسات الدولة.
كما يشير الى ضرورة محاسبة المسؤولين عن العنف وانتهاكات حقوق الإنسان.
ويطالب الحكومة السورية ، وفقا لخطة عمل لجامعة الدول العربية، بـ:
أ-وقف جميع أشكال العنف
ب-إطلاق سراح جميع الأشخاص المحتجزين تعسفا بسبب الأحداث الأخيرة.
ج-سحب جميع القوات السورية وقوات الأمن من المدن والبلدات، والعودة إلى ثكناتهم
د-ضمان حرية التظاهر السلمي
هـ-السماح بالوصول الكامل ودون عوائق والتنقل لجميع المؤسسات في إطار جامعة الدول العربية وسائل الإعلام العربية والدولية في كل من سوريا للمشاركة بتحديد حقيقة الوضع على الارض ورصد الحوادث.
و-السماح بالوصول الكامل ودون عوائق لبعثة جامعة الدول العربية لمراقبة البعثة.
ويعلن القرار دعم مبادرة جامعة الدول العربية الموضوعة في في 22 كانون الثاني 2012  لتسهيل عملية انتقال القيادة السياسية الى نظام ديمقراطي تعددي، يكون فيه المواطنون متساوون بغض النظر عن الانتماءات أو الأعراق أو معتقداتهم، بما في ذلك تشجيع نقل السلطة من رئيس الجمهورية واجراء انتخابات شفافة ونزيهة تحت إشراف عربي ودولي، وفقا للجدول الزمني المحدد من قبل جامعة الدول العربية.
وبالنسبة لبعثة المراقبين، يطالب القرار السلطات السورية، ووفقا لبروتوكول جامعة الدول العربية بما يلي :
أ-السماح بدخول المعدات التقنية اللازمة للقيام بهذه المهمة بنجاح لتنفيذ واجبات، وتوفير مقر للبعثة في العاصمة السورية وغيرها من المواقع في البعثة التي تراها ضرورية.
ب-وصول آمن وحرية التنقل لجميع أعضاء بعثة المراقبة وكما تراه ضروريا.
ج-توفير وصول بعثة كاملة لزيارة السجون ومرافق الاحتجاز ومراكز الشرطة والمستشفيات كلما دعت الضرورة.
د- ضمان حق البعثة في مقابلة اي فرد بحرية في أي منطقة من سوريا، وتلقي البلاغات من أي فرد أو جماعة أو هيئة من الأفراد في سوريا، فضلا عن الحق في عقد اجتماعات.
هـ-ضمان عدم معاقبة أو مضايقة أوالانتقام من أي شخص، يتواصل مع البعثة العربية او يقدم معلومات لها.
و-يشدد على ضرورة تقديم كل المساعدة اللازمة للبعثة.
اما بالنسبة للدعم الدولي والتعاون، فينص القرار على:
-مطالبة السلطات السورية بالتعاون الكامل مع مكتب المفوض السامي لحقوق الإنسان ومع لجنة التحقيق التابعة لمجلس حقوق الإنسان، بما في ذلك السماح بوصولها الكامل وبدون عراقيل إلى البلد.
-دعوة جميع الاطراف الى السماح الكامل لوصول موظفي الإغاثة الإنسانية، بغية ضمان تسليم المساعدات الإنسانية إلى الأشخاص المحتاجين للمساعدة في الوقت المناسب.
-مطالبة الأمين العام بأن يتخذ كل التدابير اللازمة لتوفير الدعم للجهود التي تبذلها جامعة الدول العربية في تشجيع التوصل إلى حل سلمي للأزمة السورية، بما في ذلك تعيين مبعوث خاص.
-الاحاطة علما بالتدابير التي فرضتها جامعة الدول العربية على السلطات السورية في 27 تشرين الثاني 2011 ، وتشجيع جميع الدول على اتخاذ خطوات مماثلة، وعلى التعاون تعاونا كاملا مع جامعة الدول العربية في تنفيذ تدابيرها.
كما يطلب مشروع القرار من الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة أن يقدم تقريرا عن تنفيذ هذا القرار في غضون 15 يوما، وتقديم تقرير كل 15 يوما بعد ذلك.
كما قرر استعراض ما نفذت سوريا من هذا القرار خلال 15 يوما، وفي حال لم تمتثل سوريا، فيتم اتخاذ مزيد من التدابير.

January 24th, 2012, 3:44 pm

 

Mawal95 said:

Some excerpts from Walid Al-Moallem’s press conference today 24 jan 2012 translated by http://www.facebook.com/SyrianTruthEnglish?sk=wall and/or by http://www.facebook.com/syria.news.news?sk=wall and/or by http://www.facebook.com/News.About.Syria?sk=wall

“The Constitution will be out in the upcoming days…. The solution to the Syrian crisis is a Syrian solution based on the interests of the Syrian people. Firstly, we’ll have the completion of the reform program commenced by President al-Assad. Secondly, National Dialogue. Finally, it is the duty of the Syrian government to take all protective measures against the armed terrorists…. The security solution is a popular public demand…. The security solution is a necessity, the necessity of which is clear with the presence of the so called “Free Syrian Army”.”

“In Doha [Arab League meeting on 2 Nov 2011], we agreed that ALL armed manifestations would stop. Yet armed men were still present…. The Arab League observers report [on 22 Jan 2012] confirmed the existence of armed gangs committing sabotage acts and attacking law enforcement officers and civilians. The report also confirmed the existence of media propaganda…. This evidence was presented to the Arab League, yet they chose to turn against the observers report…. They were planning a new plan for Syria as if there was no government in charge of this country.… They turned against the observers report and made a political pronouncement which they already knew we wouldn’t accept, as it infringes on our sovereignty…. With this latest action, they have killed the Arab League’s role in solving the Syrian crisis…. No more Arab solutions are possible after this point. Unfortunately they are the ones who abandoned us.”

“The foreign trade sanctions negatively affect the people’s lives but do not affect the political situation. The political framework has been announced and will be carried to completion on time.”

Question or comment by a Reporter: “Yesterday, I was in Hamediya in Homs where other reporters were. A certain channel reporter called her channel abroad and told them the army was firing at citizens. None of that was true. Armed men were firing at our army.” Response by Al-Moallem: “Once the reporters are on ground, they can chose to lie or tell the truth, that’s their problem. Our responsibility was getting them on ground.”

January 24th, 2012, 4:05 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

I found it hard that Russia will veto the french suggestion to yhe UN,it should pass

January 24th, 2012, 4:08 pm

 

Mawal95 said:

Video uploaded 18 jan 2012. In Zabadani town a substantial crowd of working-class women and children applaud armed rebels parading in front of them. The rebels are armed with AK-47s and RGPs. The women chant “God protect the Free Army”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-p1VSAZf6g . More footage of armed rebels showing off their weapons and driving through the streets of Zabadani at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uBZXGPRMAY

Uploaded 19 jan 2012. In Hama a team of Arab League observers is surrounded by a large crowd of rebels, with many of the rebels carrying automatic rifles and/or wearing military clothing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bhscx5S-u0 . More of the same in Hama at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFL6DDT6Fmk .

Uploaded 18 jan 2012. A platoon of armed dissidents in Homs present themselves up close to the camera holding AK-47s and RPGs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as4GFb8a-B4 . Same kind of video from Homs uploaded 22 jan 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWxMuoUs8yw . Same kind of armed rebel platoon presentation in Idlib uploaded 21 jan 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb0uzmwgrWM . Same kind of thing from another platoon, uploaded 7 Jan 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZsPMRt-Wv0 . A large platoon in Idlib, upload date 15 dec 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auZm56AE9YU . Another Idlib platoon 2 dec 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re-WkmmneDE . Another Idlib platoon 17 nov 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNU9Bx1ZqJc . The next two are again presentations of armed rebel platoons, but they have the significant difference that the rebels are covering their heads and faces with cloths so that they can’t be personally identified. All the other videos above are more worrisome for us on the pro-regime side because the armed rebels openly present their faces in front of the camera. Uploaded 23 and 23 jan 2012 and said to be from Idlib: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U1WvtWYn-k , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdaWNX-c-3c

I’m not one who says Syria is or will be in a civil war. In my opinion the rebels don’t and won’t have enough men to conduct anything more than a very low grade civil war. But the above videos illustrate that a low grade civil war is happening. Walid Al-Moallem said on 24 Jan 2012: “The security solution is a necessity…. The security solution is a popular public demand.” I fully agree. Al-Moallem also said: “Any [foreign] military presence would lead to escalation [of the internal violent unrest in Syria].” I fully agree. According to my values, every civilized person around the world should be supporting the Syrian government’s suppression of this armed rebellion.

January 24th, 2012, 4:09 pm

 

jad said:

Aldendeshe @187
It seems that you may be correct in the reason of why the building collapsed in Homs.
Later is another version of the incident, it’s saying exactly what you wrote, it claims that the explosion happened in the basement where they were making explosives, it also claims that there are no women or children killed in the incident, and the building itself was occupied by the armed militia in a neighbourhood run only by them.
Checking the building’s footage again I think that you are right, that is a result of an explosion not a result of neither an RPG nor explosive Shells:

HNN شبكة أخبار حمص
هام : تفاصيل الانفجار الذي حدث اليوم في باب تدمر

حصل اليوم انفجار كبير في منطقة باب تدمر (جانب فرن الصفيحة) في بناء سكني مكون من ملجأ ( قبو )وطابق أرضي عبارة عن معرض برادي واقمشة لصاحبها عبد القادر العواني فوقها شقق سكنية , و قد حصل الانفجار في قبو البناء والذي يستخدمه المسلحون كورشة لتصنيع العبوات الناسفة, وقد اسفر الانفجارعن انهيار المبنى و مقتل اكثر من 12 ارهابي من أخطر المطلوبين في حمص , ولا يوجد بين الضحايا اي أطفال أو نساء , حيث أن البناء مسكون من العناصر الارهابية التي قامت بطرد سكانه منذ شهور

ملاحظة هامة : المنطقة التي حصل فيها الانفجار خاضعة بشكل كامل لسيطرة المجموعات الارهابية ولا يمكن للامن الدخول إليها
https://www.facebook.com/homs.news.network

January 24th, 2012, 4:48 pm

 

Jerusalem said:

Interesting video from the Gulf.

January 24th, 2012, 4:54 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

Thanks to Aboud on ‘the Walls’ for bringing the following to our attention.

How Syria, where everything is normal, according to Johnson:

http://blogs.channel4.com/world-news-blog/syria-where-everything-is-normal-according-to-johnson/19850

You may remember this discussion from November regarding this issue:

https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=12791&cp=all#comment-284956

January 24th, 2012, 5:05 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Ex pimps becoming sudden revolutionaries

اعترف جنود منشقون عن الجيش السوري بتسهيل وصول النساء إلى مقرّ بعثة المراقبين العرب، بغية تصويرهم وابتزازهم فيما بعد.

وقالوا في شريط مصور، بثّ على شبكة الإنترنت، إنهم كانوا يظللون بعثة المراقبين العر، ويأخذونهم إلى أماكن محددة.

وبرّروا انشقاقهم عن الجيش السوري بأن كان بسبب “الجرائم الكبيرة التي شهدناها في مدينة حمص من قبل قوات الأمن السورية من قتل واغتصاب في ظل وجود المراقبين العرب”.

وأضافوا أن النظام السوري كان يجبرهم على تشويه الحقائق وتظليل وتمويه لجنة المراقبين العرب، وأيضاً إطلاق النار على المراقبين لإخافتهم ومنعهم من إكمال مهمتهم.

وختموا حديثهم بالقول: “كنا شهوداً على إطلاق النار على الصحافيين الأجانب في وجود المراقبين العرب، حيث قتل الصحافي الفرنسي”.
This is from the new media garbage: alarabiya

January 24th, 2012, 5:05 pm

 

zoo said:

After having attacked Bashar Al Assad and Al Maliki now Erdogan attacks Sarkozy

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-defies-french-vote-eyes-court-action.aspx?pageID=238&nID=12251&NewsCatID=338

Erdoğan said the law was “entirely null and void for Turkey” and echoed the “footsteps of fascism” in Europe.
“The votes in the French Parliament and the proposal that has been adopted are an open demonstration of discrimination and racism and amount to a massacre of free thought,” he said.

Erdoğan said Sarkozy’s grandfather was a Jew born in Salonika, then part of the Ottoman Empire, where his ancestors had fled from persecution in Spain.
{..}

January 24th, 2012, 5:23 pm

 

zoo said:

Syrian Kurds and Turkey
23 January 2012

http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist-269349-syrian-kurds-and-turkey.htmlhttp://www.todayszaman.com/columnist-269349-syrian-kurds-and-turkey.html

“Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one senior Turkish official told me that there are credible intelligence reports indicating that Assad has been supplying arms and munitions to some Kurdish groups in areas close to the Turkish border. Syrian opposition figures even speculate that Assad has gone as far as promising autonomy to Kurds in exchange for support to his regime and loyalty. What is more, using the PKK trump card, Damascus also seems to have succeeded in creating a split among Kurdish groups in Syria, preventing them from supporting the opposition.
….
All in all, some 2 million Kurds among Syrian’s 23 million people, Syria’s largest ethnic minority, may be decisive in determining the fate of Assad in the coming months. A meeting planned by the end of this month in Arbil among Syrian Kurdish groups may be a harbinger of what will happen next in Syria. Turkey should tread carefully in addressing concerns of Kurds in Syria while trying to foil Assad’s attempt to win over mainstream Kurds. Ankara should put the minds of Arabs at ease without alienating Kurds in Syria while picking a fight with the PKK and its political extensions there. It is certainly a difficult balancing act but future peace and stability in Syria may very well hinge on that balance.

January 24th, 2012, 5:31 pm

 

irritated said:

Bravo Moallem!

Moallem is really daring: He wants to send the half-men to the moon now.
Obviously Syria is not impressed by the Gulf rich undemocratic monarchies who are giving orders to poorer emerging democracies and trying to buy them with the money they made with the sweat of their behinds.

January 24th, 2012, 5:48 pm

 

Tara said:

Irritated ,

Sorry, but your comment is a bit naive. No offense. You get the loudest barks from the tiniest dogs. Everyone is capable of verbal threats and defiance even a 6 years old. He in my opinion deserves no Bravo.

January 24th, 2012, 5:59 pm

 

Aldendeshe said:

باب تدمر

I remember the name, but not the location, where it will be this area in Homs, west of Khalidiyye or west of the القلعة

January 24th, 2012, 6:05 pm

 

irritated said:

Tara #210

About threats, I wonder who is barking louder, Sheikh Hamad and his GCC bunch or Moallem?
While most arab (and western) countries bow in front of them, it just show that Moallem is strong and proud enough not to be impressed by these rich and arrogant US puppets with golden watches and white robes. And to this I repeat: Bravo! Bravo!

January 24th, 2012, 6:12 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Irritated,

Did not realize Mou3alleq was poor, I wonder how many booklets he uses at the food bank to fill his tummy?

January 24th, 2012, 6:15 pm

 

irritated said:

#213. Son of Damascus

After the lisp of Bashar Al Assad, now the tummy of Moallem…. you’re a good observer, who’s next?

January 24th, 2012, 6:24 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Zikrayaat by um Kulthoum playing on sham fm
To many Syrians,that is what is left from Syria
So sad.

January 24th, 2012, 6:26 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

IRRITATED, JAD, SNK, ANN,

Your old popular dictatorship style Syria smells bad. Take last 11 years of Assadism as an extra time, as a gift from the syrian people. But now frankly I believe it is time for you to leave. There is no place in the world for regimes like this. Maybe now you do not want to accept reality but after months or years it will be reality that will not accept you. Refresh yourselves and help the country to reach the place it deserves in the world.

Only a fool can deny that all this mess began when Assad paramilitars began shooting at peacefull rallies. You know it well.

January 24th, 2012, 6:29 pm

 

Tara said:

Ghufran

Thank you for your instilling some artistic aspects here and there. There was a Nizar’s poem you once posted then retracted that I liked very much. Please excuse my ignorance but how do you get Sham FM?

Also, please give my regard to Abu-Ghassan

January 24th, 2012, 6:34 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Irritated,

You claim other peoples predictions as false, while you falsely predict events. Mou3alleq “showed bravado by standing up to the Sheiks of the Gulf”, was he still standing up to them when he was kissing their hand for a handout before this conflict? Or do you just like leaders that flip flop on the drop of dime for the easiest route while not dealing with the real issues at hand? Is this the same Mou3alleq that showed fabricated videos in his news conference to the world as undeniable truth?

You want to talk about arrogance of the gulf yet turn a blind eye on the arrogance this regime you support that is slaughtering its own people.

And by the way Mou3alleq and Betho are self appointed public figures, and as public figures they should be able to take not only the praises (which they have earned none) but the ridicule that comes with the job, if not please TELL THEM TO RESIGN.

January 24th, 2012, 6:39 pm

 

zoo said:

Russia plans sale of jets to Syria

Deal would cement Moscow’s opposition to U.N. sanctions.

MOSCOW • Russia has signed a contract to sell combat jets to Syria, a newspaper reported Monday, in apparent support for President Bashar Assad and open defiance of international condemnation of his regime’s bloody crackdown.

Igor Korotchenko, head of the Center of Analysis of the Global Arms trade, an independent think tank, was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying: “With this contract, Russia is expressing confidence that President Assad would manage to retain control of the situation, because such deals aren’t signed with a government whose hold on power raises doubts.”
….
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/russia-plans-sale-of-jets-to-syria/article_a3210a2a-ec74-5186-8374-af17df759fc3.html#ixzz1kQE3JtQ5

January 24th, 2012, 6:40 pm

 

Mawal95 said:

This evening the Syrian government agreed to extend the Arab League’s observer mission until 22 February. Earlier today Walid Al-Moallem said the question of whether or not the Syrian government would agree to it “is being studied” and Syria’s concern is that “Syria wants to know the mission’s role in terms of dealing with the issue of armed terrorists in some areas.” To appreciate what this concern is, take a look at the following video which shows a team of Arab League official observers in Hama surrounded by a large crowd of rebels, with many of the rebels carrying automatic rifles and/or wearing military clothing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bhscx5S-u0

January 24th, 2012, 6:48 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Tara,
http://www.shamfm.fm
Politically,this is a station sympathetic to the regime but I have no doubt that this will change,those guys can not now be hostile to the regime,they can lose their license.
Listen often and enjoy.
Abughassan is not doing very well,he like few others is disgusted by how 11 months of blood shed was not enough to unite Syrians against the destruction of their country. He told me that the US and Syrian embassies were not helpful at all when he tried to send supplies and money to Syria,even the Syrian American medical society is political now and many of its members left it.

January 24th, 2012, 6:48 pm

 

zoo said:

Israel Only Western State to Enshrine Religion –

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/modest-distortion-is-no-mistake-1.408901

Judaism has many faces. But the real issue is not religion, but the status it is granted. There is no other country in the Western world where the supremacy of religion is as blatantly enshrined in law, including the Basic Laws that comprise a de facto constitution, as it is in Israel.
By Uri Misgav

January 24th, 2012, 6:53 pm

 

Ghufran said:

استقالة سفيري ليبيا في ايطاليا وامريكا
ليبيا: وزير الداخلية يتوعد مؤيدي القذافي
ثوار يتظاهرون في طرابلس ضد عبد الجليل
By the spring,Libya may be in the middle of another spring,a bloody one.
Western media has not yet reported on the level of destruction in Libya caused by both NATO and Libyan fighting factions. Libya’s money for the time being is being used by western governments and western banks.

January 24th, 2012, 7:16 pm

 

Ghufran said:

أديب الشيشكلي
February,25,1954
‘حقناً لدماء الشعب السوري الذي أحبه، والجيش الذي أفتديه، والوطن العربي الذي أردت أن أخدمه بتجرد وإخلاص؛ أقدم استقالتي من رئاسة الجمهورية السورية إلى الشعب السوري العزيز الذي انتخبني ومنحني ثقته الغالية، راجياً أن يكون بذلك خدمة لبلادي، وأن يحقق وحدتها ومنعتها، ويأخذ بيدها إلى قمة المجد والرفعة’.

January 24th, 2012, 7:23 pm

 

Ghufran said:

اجتمع الزعيم عادل إمام والدكتور مصطفى الفقي والدكتور ماجد الشربيني والفنان تامر عبد المنعم في أحد الفنادق المطلة على نيل القاهرة، في جلسة سريعة، حيث تحدث الزعيم قائلاً: ‘الناس بتطلب مني في الشارع أرشح نفسي للرئاسة قلت لهم أنا موافق بس ما أروحش شرم الشيخ في النهاية’.. وسط ضحكات الحاضرين

January 24th, 2012, 7:28 pm

 

Syria, Egypt and Middle East unrest – Tuesday 24 January | News 1st said:

[…] Divisions in the Arab League and UN mean there is no foreseeable prospect of change in Syria, argues…, the director of the Centre for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma. Assad remains […]

January 24th, 2012, 7:35 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Assad will soon realize that the forces of change can not be reversed, and human dignity can not be denied
Obama, was he strong enough against Assad?,I wish he was more critical against Assad since Bashar is the last dictator facing revolution for freedom and democracy.

January 24th, 2012, 10:31 pm

 

Juergen said:

Ghufran

I listen to madinah fm sometimes, it seems like there is a quote of patriotic songs they have to play, 3-5 songs in an hour. I mean those cheap dabke singers who came out of the dark with their besho love songs.
Do you think the regime proposes such a quote or the stations do that in a submissive obedience?

Funny was the last time there was an fair in Damascus for clothing. The director of the fair was in the studio and quite desperate, because the people werent coming. He said that he does not understand why the Damascenes are staying in their homes, and most funny he complained that he can not make any friday trips to the countryside anymore.

January 25th, 2012, 2:36 am

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Madina Fm and Sham Fm both belong to young alawis from Lattakia. All radio stations are under control of the regime and their young pseudo-reformist strange modern-looking hubble bubble smokers in-front-of-plasma style shabab.

January 25th, 2012, 8:47 am

 
 

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