Syrian Government Promises: Free Press, End of Emergency Rule, Opposition Parties, Justice

Buthaina Shaaban has just announced on behalf of the Regional Command of the Baath Parth a list of reforms on al-Jazeera. Here is what I got

On the social side – Raise the salaries – today. Syria To Raise State Employees’ Wages By Up To 30% Zawya. Next week we will have another decision to raise salaries further to suit people’s standards of living

Create jobs and work opportunities – immediately

Parties – give opportunity for opposition parties to form and operate

May end the country’s emergency law

Give courts more power

Freedom of the press – immediately

She added that she was in the room when the President ordered the security agencies not to shoot anyone – not one shot.

She says there is no taboo on any subject protesters opened

Popular demands on the table fo the president

Offers condolences to people of Daraa and says that the people have legitimate demands. She added that it is not strange that Syria is being targeted. Reports of political protests have been exaggerated by some media organizations and there are signs that they have been funded by foreigners, she said.

From AlWatan

أصدرت القيادة القطرية لحزب البعث قرارات هامة ، بين أهمها قرار بتحسين الوضع المعاشي عبر رفع الرواتب سيعلن عنه قريبا، و وضع آلية جديدة لمكافحة الفساد، كما وضع دراسة لإنهاء العمل بقانون الطوارئ بالسرعة القصوى، وإصدار قانون جديد للإعلام ومشروع قانون للأحزاب ، وصدر قرار ايضا بتعزيز سلطة القضاء ومنع الاعتقال التعسفي كما تعديل القانون 49 القاضي بالعمل بإجراءات بيع الأراضي الحدودية وهو أحد أبرز مطالب أهالي درعا في احتجاجات الأحد الماضي. كما شكلت القيادة لجنة منها للتحقيق في أحداث درعا ومحاسبة المسؤولين والمقصرين، وقالت المصادر أنه سيتم الإفراج عن مجموعة كبيرة من المعتقلين ممن ثبتت براءتهم من أعمال الشغب الأخيرة

5 readers initial reactions:

1. Buthaina Shaaban did not say anything about releasing prisoners, there was only promises to study to discuss emergency law. This come extremely short of what the people want. Her explanation why Deraa was the reason for the begining of revolution seems to be satisfactory. There was nothing about guaranteeing transparency in the investigation.

2. Encouraging but could be a maneuver, plus what about political prisoners. Time will tell. SHA’BAN’s performance was pretty good.

3. Surprising and excellent move! Who expected all of these at the same time? i think just acknowledging that there exists an issue with Emerg Law and having parties is a big step.. Implementation is key now

4. WOWOWOWOOWOWWOWOWOWO  OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE EMERGENCY LAW will be off!!!
THE POLITICAL PARTIES will start!!!
THE FREE PRESS….
and all of this will happen immediately!!!  EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT :)

5. The new proposals seem to be very good, May GOD Save Syria .

Angry Syrians stage anti-Assad demo in Dubai

2011-03-24 14:30:38.838 GMT

March 24 (PTI) — Around 100 angry Syrians protested outside their Dubai consulate today to condemn the “massacre” of demonstrators in a city of southern Syria. Syrian President “Bashar (al-Assad) out, out, Syria free, free,” they chanted. “No more fear.”

“He who kills his own people is a traitor,” they chanted, referring to killings at the hands of security forces in the volatile city of Daraa, scene of a week of deadly anti-regime protests. More than 100 people were killed on Wednesday alone, according to rights activists and witnesses. Even Syria’s arch- foe, Israel, “didn’t do this to us,” one protester said. “No to Iran, no to Hezbollah,” they chanted, accusing the Syrian regime of using members of Lebanon’s Iran-backed Shiite

militant group Hezbollah for the killings in Daraa, a mainly Sunni tribal city near the border with Jordan. “Witnesses in Daraa have told us that Persian-speaking armed groups are attacking them,” said one protester, who identified himself only as a member of Daraa’s Al-Masalma tribe.

Comments (173)


democracynow said:

Every Syrian should kiss the land under the feet of those who protested and martyred in Daraa: THEY ARE THE ONES WHO GRABBED THESE DECISIONS FOR YOU. NO THANKS FOR THE REGIME.

March 24th, 2011, 1:17 pm

 

SOURI said:

My biggest fear now is that the regime may try to contain the situation by giving more concessions to the Islamists. The regime has a very bad record in this regard; since 1982, the regime has always favored concession to confrontation with the Islamists.

Any political concessions now will be a huge gain for the Islamists. If the regime has no other choice but giving political concessions, then it should at least try to take something in exchange from the Islamists.

There are only two domains in which the Islamists can be seriously hurt if they lose influence:

-religious education in schools.
-the family and marriage law.

Can the regime take anything from the Islamists in these two domains? I don’t think so, because it would make things only worse and infuriate those Islamists who are still calm now.

The regime must choose between giving free concessions to the Islamists and between going to a bloodier and larger confrontation with them. What will the regime choose? If the regime is really looking for the long-term interest of Syria and the Allawi community, they must choose confrontation now when there is still a chance of winning.

The Baath must pull itself together and fight this war against the bloody Islamists. Free concessions mean suicide.

March 24th, 2011, 1:24 pm

 

SOURI said:

I don’t know why people are so happy. These decisions will turn Syria into Mubarak’s Egypt. Is this where we want to go?

I say we should have a Turkish War of Independence and establish an Ataturkian republic. Come on, Baathists. Do not be cowards.

March 24th, 2011, 1:30 pm

 

Syrian said:

Promises… Promises to calm down the people prior to the Friday`s prayers! There was no time frame for implementation, no prisoners release. One more thing, she said that Mr.President has ordered the security forces not to use life ammunition against the protester. Tens of people has been killed, so who ordered the shooting? 11 years of promises, 11 years of studying, 11 years of waiting for political reform. Again, it is nothing but a tactical move prior to the prayers tomorrow. These promises might become reality down the road but for now, the blood will lead to more blood, and violence will lead to more violence! Handling the protests in Daraa with the 1982 mentality is the biggest mistake, and has shown the lack of knowledge about the region in Daraa. Daraa is not Hama, and the protesters are not members of the Muslim brotherhood. Syrian people will not wait for another48 years for reform! REFORM NOW.. FREEDOM NOW!!!

March 24th, 2011, 1:30 pm

 

Nour said:

What is your problem, SOURI? The only thing that will satisfy you is an all out civil war? What the heck is wrong with you? We are trying to avoid chaos and instability, but that seems to be exactly what you want.

March 24th, 2011, 1:33 pm

 

SOURI said:

These decisions are going to make Syria very unstable, and they will only postpone the inevitable civil war. The Islamists will keep pushing for a complete Islamist state and they will not accept less than that. Are the Alawis, Druze, Christians, secular Sunnis and Kurds willing to live in an Islamist state? If not, they must prepare themselves for the war from now, because those Islamists will not back off except by force.

March 24th, 2011, 1:36 pm

 

AIG said:

One month ago Assad was sure that no changes were needed in Syria and now these drastic changes under pressure? This just does not make sense.

March 24th, 2011, 1:41 pm

 

SOURI said:

The Islamists now will use these decisions to recruit more people and organize themselves. These decisions will make the Islamists stronger, and they will have more chances of taking over the country like they did in Egypt. The Baathists must have fought the war now while they are the strongest.

March 24th, 2011, 1:43 pm

 

Simon said:

Bashar should have made these concessions years ago. Now it is probably too late.

March 24th, 2011, 1:44 pm

 

Nour said:

As usual, AIG peddles false propaganda and lies. Please show us where Assad ever said “no changes were needed in Syria.”

March 24th, 2011, 1:47 pm

 

Syrian said:

Souri,
Obviously, you have no clue!! Freedom and Democracy are rights not a gift from the regime. The people of Daraa are proudly Muslims but no Islamist! The people of Daraa were the most loyal people to the government for almost 48 years, and what did they got? Bullets, just because they protest the arrest of their elementary/middle schools kids!!! your views showed that you are out of touch from reality, and they belong to the wrong side of history!!! Few weeks ago, Mr. President said that he has more time than Mubarak and Bin Ali to do some reform. It is clear that was not the case. Al Baath party has been ruling the country for more than 48 years and failed big time. They took the country backward not forward! I do not care for Isalmist but we ar so sick of Baathist and Mukhabarat!

March 24th, 2011, 1:48 pm

 

Solitarius said:

Souri

You are not making much sense. In the same token that said changes would benefit Islamists, it would also benefit the liberals and the democratically oriented. As long as we are given this precious little space to talk and express our opinions then we, or I am, very thankful. I am not afraid of Islamists when there is freedom of press.

March 24th, 2011, 1:55 pm

 

Ziad said:

SOURI

You already expressed your silly and senseless incitements multiple times, nobody is buying. Stop repeating them and keep quite.

March 24th, 2011, 1:57 pm

 

Syrian said:

Why my first comments were not published? Mr. Landis, Are you an agent for the Syrian Mukhabarat? such a shame!!!!

March 24th, 2011, 1:59 pm

 

Atassi said:

Good start.. But!! No one trust them anymore..Syrians asking for actions and NOW, the time for “study and discuss” is somthing in the past….

March 24th, 2011, 1:59 pm

 

SOURI said:

#9

You don’t understand. These decisions are only one-way, that is, they are meant to give more freedom to the Islamists to speak out, but anti-Islamists will not have the freedom to criticize them as long the Islamists threat with violence those who criticize them.

The Islamists don’t accept freedom unless it is one-way, freedom for them only.

The Islamists can only be defeated with force.

March 24th, 2011, 2:03 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

We credit Landis effort on Syria comment platform more than Daraa for this hopefully serious upcoming change. It has been almost Seven years now that we are using this platform daily to hammer out freely, our ideas and oppositions to the Baath party. This blog platform is well read in Syria by high officials and we noticed appreciable Syrian response to item mentioned here many time in the past. But the effect of this blog was not just one way, we too learned a lot from it and altered many of our outmoded concepts about what form of opposition to take from it. We connected with other Syrians, on the opposite side, who we read their stand on things and that galvanized our Nationalist agenda and widened its concepts.

The outburst of sectarianism that was very frequent here, gave us a better idea of the mind and concerns of minorities in Syria so that we can further accommodate and secure their interests and positions in the society. We hope that after all the troubles Syria gone thru that it will have a compodium of domestic policies that matches those foreign one that safeguarded Syria in the past decades. We could have easily drifted from National cause and separated into statelets. Someone here said “Syria is saved”, that is very true expression, because the outcome in couple of years would have been a Civil War that will leave Syria destitute, but it was the only option left. We are happy that President Assad had the courage to move forward and promises to play fairly, within the rules, to secure the safety and political and economic and social interests of the Syrian Nation.

We shall begin fresh next week and starts promoting ideas about the changes in Syria, we can send this directly, but prefer to post here, and encourages all to do so, even non-Syrians. But please leave sectarianism at minimum, let refer to it as minority and majority rights. This syriacommnet is in effect our temporarily Syrian Parliament and free press media, so let’s use it effectively and constructively.

So thank you Dr. Landis for everything, I know we have some hateful periods in the past, but you showed incredible patient and professionalism. Appreciate.

Metaz K M Aldendeshe
Syrian Nationalist Party
Chief Strategist

March 24th, 2011, 2:03 pm

 

Syria1 said:

This is a positive development. The only question is what will happen tomorrow on the streets after Friday Prayers?

We also could use a facelift in regards to a PR program to highlight progress and reforms and even setbacks. Part of the problem of Syria is that we allow others to define us rather than defining ourselves in the media and in the world community.

March 24th, 2011, 2:05 pm

 

Syrian said:

Souri,
I look at these promoises as an answer to the protesters demands. Isamists and Foursan Rufaat Assad cannot highjack the achievment of Daraa`s protesters. During the revolution in Egypt, there was a big concern in the USA that the Islamists are going to highjack the revoluation and take control of Egypt. It is a protest by the people and the families of Daraa. The syrian people are smarter than accepting a Taliban regime ater 48 years of Baathist regime.We do not want to take the regime down, we want to reform the regim, we want an end to the state of Mukhabarat!!

March 24th, 2011, 2:16 pm

 

Observer said:

No one trusts the concessions being made.
If the troubles were only due to a few fanatical wahabis then the response should have been a police action without undue force and with the full implementation of the law. (You are innocent until proven guilty and not under the state security tribunals law.) The fact that the concessions being made is an indication that the population at large is very dissatisfied with the state of affairs and that the grumbling is more widespread but subdued than originally thought.
There will be a give and take and a bad cop good cop approach to the dissent and attempts to placate some and satisfy some and curb some and divide and rule. The problem is that the genie is out of the box.
I posted before that the act of opening up to satellite TV was regretted by many old regime cronies and people in power thought that they will have more entertainment than news on those channels. I also posted before that the departure from Lebanon was a god sent to the country as it forced the regime to open up and allow for what was only available in Lebanon to arrive in Syria the problem is that once you open the dycke there is no way to stop the flow of information and goods and services and health care and proper administration and banks and the global world to reach you.
Finally just as in Bahrain the average Syrian is being priced out of competition by much cheaper labor from the Indian and southeast continent areas.

Finally there is going to be instability in the region no matter what simply because the regimes are inherently unstable and the countries themselves are also inherently artificial.

Syria currently is a failed state for there is nothing absolutely nothing that works properly. As a matter of fact is it a miracle that we do not have worse roads and hospitals and phone service and transportation. I know for a fact that the rate of childhood cancer mortality in Syria’s children’s hospital is near 90% whereas it is around 10% in a modern state. This is to the point that the regime has asked for major US and European institutions to come and take over the care and to staff the hospitals with US and European graduates.

On another note, the last time that I was in Lebanon when the Syrians forces were still present I saw not one but numerous army trucks and jeeps without proper canvas and without wheels and without doors and without head lights for they were being dismanlted and sold on the black market and I saw the troops as they withdrew from Lebanon with the trucks more often filled with looted furniture than anything else.

This regime like the Green one in Tripoli is as we say in French caduque. It has failed to deliver repeatedly.

Now those who think that the Syrian population will be less adamant about its resistance to occupation and oppression by the Zionists is sorely mistaken.

March 24th, 2011, 2:20 pm

 

Majhool said:

AVERROES

Thank you for the offer. One day we will lose our fake names and will have lunch, maybe a dinner. After all, i want to make sure that your bill be to the north of $50 per person, hehe

I don’t give a damn who is in power as long checks and balances are put in balance to curb abuse and corruption.

Alex could testify that i have been fearful of what’s to come (several years ago) and that all along i wanted reforms.

Friday prayers would have been detrimental to the regime so I salute their quickness to act.

All said, don’t mistaken the continuous demands for chaos. I still want

Prisoners to be released
Equality in the Armed forces and security apparatus including presidential guard
change the constitution ( Eliminate the monopoly of Baath)
Parliament to choose president in multi-candidate elections.

March 24th, 2011, 2:21 pm

 

Shami said:

This hypocrit bigot Al Buti ,is being used against the developpment of history on syrian tvs ,trying to convince the syrian people to not demonstrate ,it shows how much this regime lacks of any moral stantard ,this is purely tactical move after they get the heat.
Nowadays ,Michel Kilo,Annwar Bunni ,Aref Dalila are the honourable shouyoukh of the syrian people.

If they were honnest they would have started with the release of all political prisonners as guarantee,the end of the emergency laws as quick they did modify the constitution for presidency criteria for bashar accession ,the call for a large meeting of reconciliation that must include all parties.

March 24th, 2011, 2:22 pm

 

Syrian said:

Souri,
I look at these promises as an answer to the protesters demands. Islamists and Foursan Rifaat Assad cannot hijack the achievement of Daraa`s protesters. During the revolution in Egypt, there was a big concern in the USA that the Islamists are going to hijack the revolution and take control of Egypt. It is a protest by the people and the families of Daraa. The Syrian people are smarter than accepting a Taliban regime after 48 years of Baathist regime.We do not want to take the regime down, we want to reform the regime, we want an end to the state of Mukhabarat!!

March 24th, 2011, 2:22 pm

 

majedkhaldoon said:

What the regime promised is good,,so far it is promises,we will watch and count the days,we want actions,and we want release of political prisoners.
The regime felt the earthquake.and is scared.

March 24th, 2011, 2:31 pm

 

Nour said:

It is interesting that some participants in this blog (not all of course) had been saying that they wanted serious reforms in Syria which would guarantee individual liberties. Among those, they said, was the removal of the emergency law, the introduction of a new party law, and the reform of the judiciary. Now, when the regime answers their demands and says that they are going to eliminate the emergency law, introduce a new party and media law, and reform the judiciary, some of those same people are saying “this is not enough” and “it is already too late.” So what is it that these people want exactly? If the emergency law is lifted and multiple parties are allowed to participate in the country’s political life, why is this not “enough” for you? If you have good intentions for Syria, you should at least admit that this is a positive step, even if you clarify that you will not be satisfied until you see actual implementation, which is completely reasonable and fair. But to outright dismiss any positive step taken by the regime means that you have ulterior motives which have nothing to do with freedom, democracy, and reform.

March 24th, 2011, 2:36 pm

 

Shami said:

Nour ,this is because we are accustomed with their cheating nd tricks,remember that 5-6 years ago they launched meetings in order to make a multiparty law ,but suddenly they dropped it when the USA calmed their pressure on the regime ,the launching of Israeli-Bashar talks through Turkey and Sarkozy’s visit.
Only effective emergency presidential decrees can be accepted as a proof of their willingness.

March 24th, 2011, 2:57 pm

 

jad said:

Nour,
I totally agree with that, what the government offer is exactly what we were asking for, yes it is fair and reasonable to wait to see results but the step is EXCELLENT, and I support any move that save bloodshed and protect the Syrian society.
It’s the first correct steps and we need to all march with it to build a better future.

I respect Albouti for his call for calm and for people to be wise, It’s good for many to see that too, it showed that his interest is in building trust, to protect Syrians’ lives and to move forward in a peaceful manner instead of what the reckless revolutionists are keep calling for, many of those guys/organizations/entities wont win the call of destruction as long as we have wise majority of Syrians.

If those guys wouldn’t accept this peace offer they will loose the credit they may get for it, they should be smarter than what they are showing now, Syrians are not as naive as they think and we know the right from the wrong, we’ve been challenged too many times so far and we proved to be wise in our choices.

God protect Syria and all Syrians.

March 24th, 2011, 2:58 pm

 

AIG said:

This is what Assad said to the WSJ on Jan 31:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703833204576114712441122894.html

How is this not a “business as usual” statement? He is talking about “upgrading” the Syrian people, whatever that means. There is no acceptance of a state of urgency and the need for immediate changes.

March 24th, 2011, 3:01 pm

 

Averroes said:

Shami,

I really disagree with your description of al-Bouti. Sheikh al-Bouti is a well respected scholar and an honest man.

You say it’s purely a tactical move? How do you know that?

I agree that they needed a good shake to encourage the more hard line elements within the regime to move forward, but I’m not for going all out crazy.

Some people want real reforms and care about the country. Others want nothing but the removal of the regime. It’s not going to happen.

If the MB take these steps as a step of weakness and up the ante, they will be making the gravest mistake in three decades.

March 24th, 2011, 3:02 pm

 

SOURI said:

#24 NOUR

This is the only thing that will satisfy them:

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

March 24th, 2011, 3:09 pm

 

Shami said:

Souri,no one can deny that these weak minds have been inflitrated and manipulated by the Syrian security apparatuses among others ,since then they have been defeated by the brother tribes of Deraa and Euphrates valley and the Arab peninsula.
Qaida is a marginal and heretical group that is used as pretext by Bush and arab dictators in order to give substance to their policy…go play your game somewhere else.
Averroes ,al Buti is one of the most backward cleric ,he is the Damascene version of the big Aleppine hypocrites Shami and Hassoun.
Islam is against clericalism…

March 24th, 2011, 3:24 pm

 

Ziadsoury said:

This belongs here
Norman, Jad and all

How long should we give the committees to come up with answers? When will these committees be formed?

Notice Buthaina promised to form committees to LOOK into removing the emergency law. It took 24 hours to put the law in place. Why not announce that it will be lifted by the end of the month. I am sure the regime has been looking at it for the last 2 months. All these are smoke screens designed to calm people down. They already lifted the emergency law in Algeria. It took them a couple of months. They announced a date and delivered on it.

In 2005 the regime made similar promises about forming political parties. What happened? Six years later we still have a monopoly on power by one obsolete party.

Why not free all political prisoners? How about the massacres in the past few days? If the president did not order the firing, who did? Any accountability or justice on behaves of the people that lost their lives?

Do not blame the people that are suffering. They want dignity and they offered them a bribe instead.

March 24th, 2011, 3:34 pm

 

Atassi said:

-justices for what was done to The citizens of Darra …they merit a complete justices for the harm done to them
-The regime MUST immediately releasing ALL political prisoners
-The regime MUST implement reduction of the Baath party dominant role of the political system, and its imposed role as the leader of Syrian society.
-Facilitate a free and fair elections process, taking into account the open and transparent competition among election candidates and ensuring the highest ethical and moral standard of electoral conduct.
-Grant the freely-elected parliament most of the legislative power to effectively serve the interests of the citizens of Syria only.
-Amend the current constitution to explicitly set a limited term for the presidency.
-Abolish Decree #51 pertaining to a state of emergency”
-Establish an independent justice system to fight corruption and enforce transparency in public entities. Reinforce the independence of the judiciary system from the power of the executive branch and the security branches.
-Protect and govern a free media, which will operate in complete independence and allow all political parties access to the media to engage objectively in a free debate without abusing the system.

March 24th, 2011, 3:39 pm

 

Averroes said:

Shami,

Suhaib elShami is a crook, I agree. Hassoun is not perfect either. But Bouti is a much cleaner, much more pious Muslim, and a scholar of a whole different caliber. The other two you mentioned are not scholars. 3akkam in Aleppo is good.

Bouti is as backward or forward as the collective schools of Islamic theology. I don’t know who you might recommend as a more representative scholar in Syria.

But, we’re not discussing their clergy here, are we. You seem angry because of his political message, asking people not to demonstrate tomorrow. That’s not a religious discussion.

My condolences for the loss of Prof. Erbeken. I had great respect for that man and his death is a great loss to the Muslim world.

March 24th, 2011, 3:40 pm

 

Shami said:

Averroes:the removal of the regime. It’s not going to happen.

Averroes ,your divine statement here proves that your choice was wrong ,the great cordoban was a rationalist ,the regimes die, political change over could not be stopped ,Syria will be an advanced democracy ,this craddle of civilization deserves it.

March 24th, 2011, 3:48 pm

 

Atassi said:

All
We need to campaign for a new national Syrian holiday called “Darra Sacrifice Day”.. and I am serious

March 24th, 2011, 3:51 pm

 

democracynow said:

According to reports from Syrians on twitter, Mrs. Suhair Atassi has been released after a presidential decree that ordered the release of all those detained since the Daraa events began.

Mabrook to Mrs. Atassi and her family.

Long live the martyrs of Daraa.

March 24th, 2011, 3:55 pm

 

Nour said:

#29 SOURI:

Who is “them”? The vast majority of Syrians are opposed to these Wahhabi and Takfiri groups. And should those groups continue to try to make trouble in Syria, the removal of the emergency law is not going to stop the government from being able to combat them and maintain security in the country. No one is suggesting that they should remove all security precautions and eliminate the security apparatus in Syria. But the emergency law does more to target regular citizens attempting to express their views freely than it does to help in maintaining security.

March 24th, 2011, 3:58 pm

 

Averroes said:

Shami,

“Divine statement”?

I have no doubt that regimes die, evolve, and that history continues. There is no fortune telling there unless one starts to attach a time frame for it.

My assessment is that the regime will survive in the short term. I.e. there will not be large scale demonstrations aiming to topple the regime. And whatever other elements choose to use violence to ignite the situation will also fail.

On the long run, I hope that the regime will evolve rapidly and in a smart way.

You can’t even get my choice for a alias over an online forum. I don’t see much chance of you being more flexible towards the regime.

No soup for you!

March 24th, 2011, 4:02 pm

 

norman said:

Atassi,
That is not a holiday that is a sad day.

Ziadsouri,
TAWEL BALECK,
The opposition should show grace and accept and be complementary and give them a months or two in their announcement to see result, then wait and see .if they are genuine they will move fast .You can test them as they are testing you .investigation in what happen in Daraa is needed.and expected

March 24th, 2011, 4:03 pm

 

Shami said:

Averroes:Bouti is as backward or forward as the collective schools of Islamic theology.

I agree with this statement,

But dont forget the era prior Nasser and Baath take over,the islamic reform movement in Maghreb,Egypt,Turkey,Syria,Iraq,India-Pakistan ,for Aleppo :Al Kawakibi,Kamil al Ghazi,Ragheb al Tabbakh..the great aleppine musicians were shouyoukh ,like Ali al Darwish,Al Warraq,Omar al Batsh who worked with christians and jews.
This cultural renaissance has been massacred by the kind of totalitarian regimes that you still support.Once we get freedom and democracy ,the civil society will resuscitate again ,and there will be less sheeps for these shouyoukh.

March 24th, 2011, 4:04 pm

 

majedkhaldoon said:

I agree with Atassie demands ,but I would like to add one more
A law says from where you got this, Min Ayna laka Haza

Shami
,AlBouti says the opposite of what Muhammad Habash said

I think demonstrations must go on in different syrian cities,it should be peacefull,to keep pressure on the regime so what they promised is fulfilled,and should take few days not years.
Freedom and liberty is not what Baath,SSNP,Communist or MB say.
it is the future for Syria,and justice must prevail.

March 24th, 2011, 4:06 pm

 

Majhool said:

Just to be clear, I think that people should peacefully protest tomorrow to ensure the speedy implementation of the reform.

I was watching some videos and from the way the security militias were shooting at people, things are not adding up.

The regime must know that it can’t maneuver and trick the people.

Buthayma said it is ok to demonstrate. Let this be the first test.

March 24th, 2011, 4:10 pm

 

Averroes said:

Shami,

The destruction of that great culture has come first and foremost from the relentless advance of petro-funded Wahabism.

I personally heard vicious attacks on Bouti in Saudi Arabia just for being an “Ash3ari”.

March 24th, 2011, 4:12 pm

 

NK said:

Solitarius and others who wanted a link to the press conf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4giy9bKWS4

It’s in Arabic, I couldn’t find an English one in full length, I’ll try to find one and post it.

March 24th, 2011, 4:13 pm

 

Jad said:

If the news about Mm Attassi and all those who were detained is correct,
I congratulate the release of every and each one of them and hope for the release of every innocent political prisoner in Syria.

Ziadsoury,
Didn’t occur to you that what happen tonight might be the result of an interior conflict between politicians and militants in the upper circle and the victory was for the wise politicians camp? I’ll give them 6 months to 1 year to accomplish all these promises and not to see any other Syrian dead, won’t you?
What happened in the last few days and for all those people to be killed was unspeakable and I hope that we won’t see such thing anymore.
Building trust and democratic society needs lots of work from everybody and the good will and the positive look for a better future should reveal, we have no choice but to believe, hopelessness is not a choice.
I’m with any peaceful solution not out of weakness or support for anybody, I don’t trust any side, but out of a deep believe that violence circle is endless and it takes lots of innocent lives on the way.

March 24th, 2011, 4:19 pm

 

gk said:

Too little too late! Buthania and the Bashar regime are still in denial. The people had enough!!!!!!!!!!!!

March 24th, 2011, 4:24 pm

 

abu kareem said:

All well and good but the last sentence of Shaaban’s statement is telling. The regime still sticks to the paranoid belief that this is the work of outsiders. They can’t have it both ways; they either concede that the people’s demands are legitimate or the illegitimate agitation of outsiders.

March 24th, 2011, 4:26 pm

 

Majhool said:

Abu Kareem

Eshta2tellak!!

March 24th, 2011, 4:28 pm

 

Averroes said:

Abu Kareem,

It’s quite simple: the demands of reform, fighting corruption, political reforms are all legitimate and justified. Riding the wave and smuggling arms and using them against the security forces (those killed among them did not die from throwing roses at them) is the work of outsiders.

March 24th, 2011, 4:38 pm

 

HajiJinJal said:

I wonder why Bashar didn’t present those reforms to people of Syria that he’s suppose to be serving and protecting instead of delegating it to outspoken and far less credible Buthaina? Wouldn’t that give more assurance…

March 24th, 2011, 4:40 pm

 

Shami said:

Averroes ,Saudis have few influence on Syrians ,we influenced them.
We should not ask too much regarding Saudi Arabia ,the improvments are effective,in few decades,the sons of uneducated beduins have now reached a decent social level and the things evolve.During King Faysal rule ,he opened the doors to many sophisticated politicians and intellectuals who escaped the totalitarian hell (like Maaruf al Dawalibi from Aleppo)who took active part to the modernization of Saudi Arabia.
In democratic Syria and demcoratic Egypt we took the opposite direction,totalitarian regimes have eradicated an advanced and dynamic civil society.
The resume of the cultural renassance in Egypt and Syria ,will have an huge impact on the Saudis.
As for ash’arism,you are not lucky once again ,Ibn Roshd (Averroes)was an archetypal enemy of ash’arism.

March 24th, 2011, 4:52 pm

 

jad said:

Is it too little to late for you, GK, the Lebanese? For us, the Syrians, it’s a big deal.
when you write ‘the people had enough’ you mean the Lebanese had enough? If you, the Lebanese, had enough then go into Beirut’s street, nobody is holding you.

24 آذار , 2011
دمشق-سانا

بتوجيه من السيد الرئيس بشار الأسد تم إخلاء سبيل جميع الموقوفين بالأحداث الأخيرة.

http://www.sana.sy/ara/2/2011/03/24/338421.htm

دبي-العربية.نت، دمشق-وكالات
اصدر الرئيس السوري بشار الاسد امرا يقضي باخلاء سبيل جميع الموقوفين على خلفية الاحداث التي جرت في درعا مؤخر، الخميس 24-3-2011.

كما انسحبت قوات الامن السورية من المسجد العمري في وسط مدينة درعا الجنوبية حيث قتل ستة اشخاص، وتدفق الاف الناس في وقت لاحق الى المسجد للاحتفال بتحريره واطلقوا الالعاب النارية وابواق السيارات.
وذكر التلفزيون السوري في شريط اخباري عاجل انه “تم اخلاء سبيل جميع الموقوفين بالاحداث الاخيرة (التي جرت في درعا) بتوجيه من الرئيس السوري (السوري بشار) الاسد.

March 24th, 2011, 4:54 pm

 

Averroes said:

Shami,

“As for ash’arism,you are not lucky once again ,Ibn Roshd (Averroes)was an archetypal enemy of ash’arism.”

I don’t see what Ibn Rushd has to do with my statement that the Wahabis in Saudi Arabia hate Al-Bouti because he is “an As3ari”.

Did I say that I like him because he’s an Ash3ari?

Get over it, man. It’s just a name. Would you like me to change it to Spiderman? Are you going to keep chasing me with things that I can’t do that Spiderman can?

March 24th, 2011, 4:59 pm

 

Nour said:

This was released yesterday.

بيان الرئاسة الى الشعب في الشام

في هذه الظروف التي تمرّ بها الجمهورية الشامية، قلب الأمّة السورية ودرعها الحصين، ومع تواتر الأحداث وبسرعة تنذر بما لا يتمنّاه أحد من أبناء أمّتنaltا الأباة، نعود للتذكير بأن البلاد باتت في وضع يقتضي الانتقال إلى مرحلة العمل الجراحي النوعيّ المتمثّل بالإصلاح الشامل، وخاصة في الشأن السياسي. ولا بدّ لنا من الإعلان عمّا تقتضيه الخطوات الإنقاذية المطلوبة:
1- تشكيل لجنة مهمتها إعادة دراسة مواد الدستور وتكون متخصّصة بالقانون والسياسة والاجتماع… مشهود لأعضائها بالنزاهة بما يلبي حاجات الشعب السياسية والاجتماعية والاقتصادية.
2- رفع حالة الطوارئ والأحكام العرفية.
3- إصدار قانون عصري للأحزاب بحيث تصبح كافة الأحزاب متساوية في الحقوق والواجبات، ويقرِّر صندوقُ الاقتراع وزنَها السياسي.
4- إصدار قانون جديد للمطبوعات بما يفسح المجال لبروز منابر إعلامية وطنية حقيقية تقوم بواجبها في كشف الأخطاء والعيوب وفضح بؤر الفساد، ومخاطبة الشعب خدمة لقضاياه الكبرى.
5- استقلالية القضاء وإرساء مبدأ سيادة القانون وفصل الملفات السياسية عن الملفات الأمنية.
6- تعديل وتطوير قوانين الانتخاب الخاصّة بمجلس الشعب والإدارة المحلية.
7- منح الهويّة السورية لكلّ من تتوفّر فيهم شروط المواطنة الحقّة بغضّ النظر عن انتماءاتهم الدينية أو “العرقية”..
8- جعل الإصلاح ومحاربة الفساد والإفساد والهدر والفوضى منهجًا وتربية تلتزم بها كافة مؤسسات المجتمع.
إن الظرف مؤاتٍ للانتقال بالبلاد من الحالة التي هي فيها إلى وضع يجعل الشعب كلّه وحدة متماسكة في وجه الأخطار الخارجية ويهيّئه للقيام بخطوات التنمية والانتقال إلى عصر العلم والمعرفة.
إننا نراهن في إنجاز ما يؤمّن مصالح الشعب على ما نعهده في السيد رئيس الجمهورية العربية السورية من أخلاقٍ عالية وبُعد نظر وتفكير إستراتيجي؛ كما نراهن على شعبنا السوري المعروف بالوطنية وحبّ التضحية في سبيل المصلحة العليا.
وبالإشارة إلى أحداث درعا المؤسفة، فلا يمكننا إلا أن ندين ونشجب إطلاق النار من أية جهة صدر. وإنّ من بدأ إطلاق النار هو المسؤول عما آلت إليه الأمور، ونناشد الجميع الابتعاد عن العنف تجنّبًا لأيّ ضرر بمصالحنا القومية.
ولتحيَ سوريا حياة حرة كريمة مرفوعة الرأس

في 22 آذار 2011 رئيس الحزب السوري القومي الاجتماعي
الدكتور علي حيدر

http://www.alqawmi.info/alpha/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1276%3A2011-03-24-20-16-24&catid=71%3A2009-01-28-22-44-56&sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d8bad43d6783246%2C0

March 24th, 2011, 5:04 pm

 

atassi said:

Abu Kareem

I agree..
justices for what was done to The citizens of Darra …they merit a complete justices for the harm done to them
justices for what was done to The citizens of Darra …they merit a complete justices for the harm done to them
justices for what was done to The citizens of Darra …they merit a complete justices for the harm done to them
justices for what was done to The citizens of Darra …they merit a complete justices for the harm done to them

March 24th, 2011, 5:04 pm

 

Shami said:

There is an error :In democratic Syria and demcoratic Egypt we took the opposite direction,totalitarian regimes have eradicated an advanced and dynamic civil society.

must be corrected by :the advent of undemocratic and totalitarian regimes in Syria and Egypt

March 24th, 2011, 5:06 pm

 

Solitarius said:

Thanks NK for the link.

-This just released by SHAMSNN about the Sednaya prison massacre.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twx73NtcENg

why now and not before? someone just finally got the guts to leak it or is this deliberate campaign building?.. anyways some graphic scenes in there

March 24th, 2011, 5:14 pm

 

Ghat Al Bird said:

The announcements by Buthaina Shaaban are heartening as well as most indicative of the sagacity of all concerned.

Commendations and best wishes are extended to the present Syrian Government as well as all the people of Syria.

If I may be permitted a personal note the one that to me overrides most all views is that the “non- syrians” most anxious to have wanted Syria to explode have been denied their aims.

مبروك

March 24th, 2011, 5:30 pm

 

Majhool said:

SOLITARIUS

Christ!! Is this Maher Assad?

March 24th, 2011, 5:35 pm

 

Solitarius said:

I really don’t konw ya Majhool.

March 24th, 2011, 5:40 pm

 

Averroes said:

I received this email from a friend:

إخوتي الأحبة :
ترددت كثيرا قبل كتابة هذه الكلمات .. و راجعت نفسي مرارا و تكرارا علني اهتدي لما يغاير ما توصلت إليه ..
و لكني في كل مراجعة كنت أصل إلى نفس النتيجة ..
منذ أسابيع و إلى اليوم توجه دعوات عبر النت و بكثافة و همة عالية للتظاهر يوم الجمعة المقبل ( 25/03/2011 )

بل و ترسل رسائل نصية عبر الموبايلات من خارج سورية تحرض على الخروج للتظاهر في ذلك اليوم ..

و إن كنت لا أعترض على أي مطالب من أي نوع كانت .. سياسية أم إقتصادية أم إجتماعية .. بل أؤيد معظمها و خاصة في ما يتعلق بموضوع الإصلاح و محاربة الفساد .. و ألمني جدا جدا كما آلم كل السوريين سقوط قتلى في درعا ..

و لكن ما تبين من تفاصيل بعد الحوادث الأخيرة .. و خصوصا قضية وجود سلاح في يد البعض
و وجود ملثمين يجوبون الشوارع على الموتورات ( و هذا ليس كلام التلفزيون السوري بل كلام أصدقاء لي من بيت المقداد من درعا ) ..

جعلني أتوقف برهة للتأمل و التفكير ..

فعندما سهرت الليالي أمام التلفزيون أثناء ثورة تونس و مصر .. كنت فرحا جدا أن المتظاهرين قاموا بالثورة بكد أيديهم ..
و كنت فرحا أكثر أن المتظاهرين لم يطلقوا طلقة واحدة على الأمن أو الجيش ..
و بكيت فرحا عندما شاع خبر خروج طاغية مصر من الحكم ..
و لكن الوضع في سوريا يختلف كثيرا جدا جدا جدا ..
في سوريا توجه الدعوات ( من الخارج ) بكثافة منذ أكثر من شهرين للتظاهر ..
و لم يخرج الناس إلى الشارع و لم يلبوا طلبات الخروج للمظاهرات .. إلا بأعداد قليلة و بسيطة ( مع إحترامي الكبير لمن خرج و تأييدي لبعض مطالبه )

في سوريا خرجت أكثر من مسيرة في أكثر من مدينة و كلها كانت سلمية و جميلة و التقى المتظاهرون مع المسؤولين .. و قدموا مطالبهم لهم ..

( و إن شاب مظاهرة بانياس بعض الشد العصبي الذي مالبث أن تحول في اليوم الثاني إلى ندم و معاتبة و عناق بين من تظاهر و بين من تضرر )

في سوريا تخرج كل يوم و منذ اسبوعين مسيرات سيارة تعبر الشوارع بكثافة ( البارحة ليلا كان عدد السيارات في وسط البلد يتجاوز الألف سيارة تحمل علم سورية فقط )

في سورية الرئيس بشار يحظى بشعبية كاسحة ( و هذا ليس نفاقا و ليس عمالة للنظام كما يريد البعض القول بل محبة خالصة لشخص الرئيس بشار .. )

في سورية موزاييك فريد يتألف من طوائف و أعراق كثيرة .. و لا يوجد أغليبة ساحقة بل أقليات كبرى

( و ليس كما هو الحال في مصر أو تونس حيث تشكل طائفة واحدة 85 % من مكونات الشعب هناك )

في سورية يمكن ( إذا استطاع ) لمن يدعو للتظاهر حشد مئة ألف شخص .. فسيستطيع الطرف الأخر حشد مليون شخص ببساطة ..

في سورية الناس كلها تعيش بمحبة و وئام و لم تشهد سوريا عبر تاريخها الحديث أي مواجهات طائفية مفتوحة كما هو الحال في مصر ..

في سورية و في البناء الواحد لا بل في العائلة الوحدة نجد أفرادا من كل الطوائف و المذاهب و حتى من جنسيات مختلفة .. و كلهم يعيشون متضامنين متكاتفين متحابين ..

في سورية تضخم أحداث درعا بطريقة غير مفهومة إلا من جانب واحد .. و هو التحريض و فقط التحريض ..

فمن يكون المستفيد من كتابة مئات الملاحظات على الفيسبوك عن أن اعداد القتلى في درعا وصل إلى المئات

مع أن العدد لم يتجاوز الـ 15 شخصا من الطرفين .. ( رحمهم الله وجعلهم من الشهداء )
و من يكون المستفيد في القول على الفيسبوك أن النظام هو نظام علوي كافر و عميل لإسرائيل يجب ( اقتلاعه ) من جذوره ؟؟؟؟

و من يكون المستفيد من حرق المستشفى الوطني في درعا ؟؟؟؟

و من يكون المستفيد من حرق القصر العدلي و فرع مكافحة المخدرات في درعا ؟؟؟؟

كل هذا يحدث و كل هذا يسمى تحريضا صريحا .. ليس على التظاهر .. بل على الفتنة البغيضة ..

++++++++++++++
منذ فترة كنا جميعا نؤيد ثوار ليبيا .. و فجأة وجدنا أنفسنا و بظرف 24 ساعة أمام حصار جوي و قصف وحشي لليبيا قد يكون فاتحة لغزو عسكري كبير لها .. !!!!!

لقد تساقط على ليبيا في ساعة واحدة 110 صواريخ توماهوك تحوي كل منها 1500 كغ متفجرات تعادل قدرتها التفجيرية 4 اضعاف العبوة التي فجرت حي الأزبكية عام 83 ..

الكل شاهد كيف تتالت الأحداث في ليبيا و كيف كنا في قضية ثورة شعبية .. و تتالت لتصبح تمرد مدعوم من الخارج ، و يؤمن له حظر طيران و قصف وحشي .. و قد نصبح في قضية إحتلال ..

هل هذا ما يريده لنا في نهاية الأمر من يحرض على الفتنة بين أبناء الشعب السوري الواحد ؟؟؟؟

هل يريد لنا المحرضون على الفتنة أن نصبح ليبيا أخرى .. لا بل عراقا أخر ؟؟؟؟؟

++++++++++++++++
أمر أخر أود لفت النظر إليه و بشدة .. و هو عندما كانت ثورة مصر مشتعلة .. كنا نقرأ أسماء من كان يوجه و يدعو و يحرض على التظاهر .. و كانوا كلهم معروفون ..

أما في حالنا هذه .. فلم أقرأ حتى اليوم اي اسم صريح لمن يدعو للتظاهر !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

أقسم بربي أن هذا هو يومي رقم 55 و أنا أتابع التحريض للتظاهر و دعواته و لم أقرأ اسما واحد صريحا لا في الفيسبوك و لا في التويتر و لا الايميلات .. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

أليس هذا عجيبا غريبا و يثير الريبة و الشك في آن معا في أن من يحرض قد يكون غير سوري ؟؟؟!!!!!!!!!!!!

أليس هذا تساؤلا مشروعا ؟؟ من أين لي أنا الإنسان البسيط أن أخمن أو أحذر من يدعوني للتظاهر و الثورة !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

هل يجب عليّ أن أصدق كل من يهوّل الأمور و يضخمها و يحرض على بلدي ؟؟

سأنقل لكم تصريح أحد ( الغاضبين ) المحرضين على سورية بالحرف الواحد من موقع الفيسبوك :

Abo Shehab:
احبائي السوريين يلي بيحكو انكليزي منيح ابعتوا ايميلات الى مجلس الامن و الجامعة العربية و بان كيمون و الرئاسة الفرنسية و الامريكية

اشرحوا جرائم النظام السوري و اطلبوا اقامة منطقة حظر جوي فوق سوريا .

شوفو التاني شو كاتب :

Ahmad Aliraqi Syrian New
ادا مافي ثورة—-الحل هو اغتيالات مسلحة لكل من يعمل مع اجهزة الامن—تنظيمات صغيرة تتالف من 3-5 اشخاص تستهدف ضباط و عناصر المخابرات و الامن السياسي و الجيش

هذا تحريض مباشر على إحتلال سورية و على قتل السوريين …!!!!!!!!
و هذه غيض من فيض كبيييييييييييييير يكتب الأن و في لحظة كتابة هذه الرسالة على الفيس بوك و على النت ..

أي حقد هذا ؟؟ و أي معارضة هذه ؟؟ و أي ( شباب ) سيقودون سوريا في حال نجاحهم .. ؟؟؟

++++++++++++++++++++++

إنطلاقا مما سبق .. و أنا العبد الفقير لله .. و أنا مسؤول عما أكتب ..

و أعلم تماما أن الرسالة قد تصل ليد من لا يريد لها أن تكتب و قد يستهدفني يوما ما ..

أدعوا الجميع للتكاتف و الوقوف متضامنين في وجه مثيري الفتنة و المحرضين على التخريب ..

الأمر لم يعد مزحة .. الأمر تجاوز حدود العقل و المنطق ..

تجاوز حدود المطالب المشروعة و المحقة .. هناك من يفبرك حتى الفيديو ليستثير الهمم ..

البارحة فقط نشرت العربية فيديو عن مظاهرة درعا تبين فيما بعد انه مفبرك تماما و هو عن مظاهرة جرت في بلد أخر ..
الأمر تجاوز حدود المطالب السلمية المحقة ..
هناك حقد اسود على سوريا و على شعب سوريا .. هناك من يستغل الظرف الدولي ليفرغ شحنات حقد و جحده و كرهه لسوريا و لشعب سوريا ..

هناك من يريد تخريب سوريا .. هناك من يريد تخريب سوريا ..

هناك من يريد إرجاعنا للقرون الوسطى .. هناك من يريد تدمير حبنا و ولاءنا لوطننا و لشعبنا ..

أدعوكم ألا تعطوه الفرصة .. أرجوكم ألا تعطوه الفرصة ..

دافعوا عن بلدكم في كل مكان .. لا تتركوا الفرصة له ..
ضيقوا المساحات على من يريد بث الفتنة .. أشعروه بوجودكم .. و بصوتكم و برأيكم ..لا تتهاونوا .. فالوقت مناسب لإيضاح المواقف .. لإثبات الوجود .. و لإيصال الصوت

رجوكم ألا تتهاونوا .. قوموا بدوركم في يوم الفتنه الكبير ا ..

إذا اقتنعتم بالكلام فارجو النشر للجميع .. و إذا لم تقتنعوا فلا داعي لإرسال رد يطلب عدم إرسال المزيد .. فقط احذفها .
أخوكم في الوطن

د.أسامة الصالح

March 24th, 2011, 5:40 pm

 

Majhool said:

in Dubai today

March 24th, 2011, 5:52 pm

 

majedkhaldoon said:

#57
This is definitely Maher AlAssad

March 24th, 2011, 5:58 pm

 
 

NK said:

Nour

What we saw today is a positive gesture, but not a Step. A step is when you move from point A to point B, we’re still at point A.

Jad

I have a lot of respect for Albouti, until today that is, I’m not sure what his motives are but all he talked about was the possibility that some outside shadowy figures are trying to manipulate people in Syria for unknown reasons.
A- He didn’t mention the people in Daraa. At least condemn the violence going on there, at least say “الفاتحة” instead of praying for the “القيادة السورية” Syrian leadership.
B- He painted the demonstrators in the Omayyad mosque last Friday as outsiders, “people who don’t attend mosques and don’t look like someone who will attend a mosque”, he accused them of not praying and waiting outside to start chaos even though we saw people demonstrating inside the mosque in all the videos, and finally he didn’t say a word about what the security forces did inside the mosque, a really pious man would be furious that people are beaten inside a place of worship, but no, not Mr Albouti, again I don’t know what his motives are, but shame on him.

Attasi

There should be a monument to commemorate the martyrs of Daraa, with the names of every single one of them engraved on it. However let’s not get ahead of ourselves, so far we only saw promises of reform, and until we see actual implementations it’s not yet time to celebrate our freedom or mourn those who died demanding it.

Norman

We should test those promises with more peaceful demonstrations, today we finally have a true shot to force the regime’s hand and implement immediate and meaningful reform, the Syrians would be fools to let this opportunity go to waste. Those promises must go into effect BEFORE the parliament elections later this year, another rubber stamp Parliament overseeing political/ constitutional reforms.

All in all, this was a very positive gesture from the Syrian regime, I hope they follow with actual steps to save Syria going into any kind of chaos.

March 24th, 2011, 6:04 pm

 

Shami said:

Averroes,
Why do you brought here the sectarian paranoia.Anyway,
What Bashar ,Hafez and their gangs did is not nice at all,and some weak minds in the alawite community believe what they are told by the Asad mafia that the SUNNIS will slaughter them after the end of his regime thus they consider themselves as a doomed people.This sectarian paranoia induced by Asad regime is intolerable because political change over is an inescapable fact in history
As much deep is the pain ,the syrian people is not going to repeat the massacres or the sectarian selection of Hafez an Bashar.The syrian people are as much civilized than that of Tunisia and Egypt.
Only the responsible of the crimes must be put on trial ,for example,the soldiers of low rank who took part to these crimes could be spared.This is a general consensus.

March 24th, 2011, 6:14 pm

 

Solitarius said:

I want to say that the current events have definitely had an impact on the way I view certain things, and I thank SyriaComment and its commentators and staff for having this very valuable venue of expression and for allowing us to participate in it freely.

For one thing, it became frighteningly clear that outsiders have a much simplified view and understanding of events that happen in other countries. This causes them to feel like an expert. Like everything is clear. So they tend to be quick to pass judgement, and worse of all, launch campaigns thinking they are doing the right thing.

Supporting revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt (relatively homogeneous countries) might be one thing, but supporting them in Libya and Yemen now appear to me as being something different. (Yes I read Friedmann’s latest article) What do I know really about the intricate details of these countries and what interests do foreign groups hold towards them? I was certainly angry when I heard that the Syrian government was opposed to the No-Fly-Zone over Libya.. but now with the NFZ becoming a ticket to attack Libyan troops on the ground versus only air defences, who would decide where to stop? Perhaps the Syrian decision was taken to support Gaddafi as a dictator.. but also perhaps it was taken in order not to make this sort of western intervention a habit (against Syria or just in concept). Imagine if some Syrian army generals decided to make a coup (which is pretty much essentially what is happening in Libya now and in Yemen.. and what could have happened in Egypt if it wasn’t for their coherent system), would this warrant military intervention? Who are we to know what these Libyan rebels are doing, planning or have in mind for the future? Have they yet released a statement describing their take on New Libya in terms of human rights and method of governance?

So now it seems that it’s better not to support any of those so called revolutions.. (especially if you are living miles away). Yes they are super attractive.. but if I’m unable to support the same sort of thing in my country, then I better not do that to other people. Let THEM decide how to deal with it.

And here’s a little rant

These twitter activists are really getting on my nerves with their blind idealism and over-simplification of matters. Now I’m only a twitter observer, and only since the recent Egypt and Syria events, but if the same personality profile is shared amongst all “tweeters”, Syrian or Egyptian, and if this trend is to only get more popular, then God/Nature be with us. How is 140 characters by idealistic cyber couch potatos going to drive us to safety and guarantee accuracy of news and depth of analysis? On the other hand, how can you also trust the average joe on the streets to bring us democracy and human rights? Point is.. what we have here on SC is valuable, and civil discussion and analysis of all the intricate details of our country’s events should continue, in order to be able to draw the most well-informed conclusions, and not have to rely on some unknown facebook group or twitter or foreign media.

Thank you for reading.

March 24th, 2011, 6:18 pm

 

Nour said:

NK:

It all depends on your interpretation of “step” in this case. A step is not necessarily when you move from point A to point B, as that is the entire journey. Point A is the starting point, and point B is the destination. We have not reached our destination yet, but announcing those decisions was a step in the direction of our destination. Whether we make it there remains to be seen.

In any case, I’m also fine with the term “gesture” :-).

March 24th, 2011, 6:19 pm

 

Averroes said:

Solitarius,

Well said.

March 24th, 2011, 6:28 pm

 

trustquest said:

here the elder of Daraa crying and telling the media exactly what happened and demand the Syrian media to tell the truth…Also he cross Bashar Assad openly for the first time in history 40 years of this regime. The Syrian media still they show protest and claim that is support to their president lies all over..that should hurt those people to lost according to this elderly over 80 persons not 23 as Shabban claimed. The thing which shaaban did not say which will be the turning point for calmer Syria is are they going to punish the perpetrators or they will protect them. I wish to hear the regime would remove the emergency law tomorrow that would make a big difference and apply the measures he promised right away not to study it just to appease people.

March 24th, 2011, 6:29 pm

 

SOURI said:

The people who started this revolution will not stop until they get what they want. Tomorrow is an important day, if the Islamists surprisingly pour into the streets and the security forces lose control, Bashar must immediately resign and the Baathist army officers must take control and declare that they are going to institute a new democratic constitution.

After that, the war should begin and the Islamists should be made to accept a secular constitution by force. The Alawis should look at it this way: there is nothing to lose. Instead of running away to the Alawi mountain and trying to fight off the Islamists, they must attack first and paralyze the Islamists before they can gain any military strength. This is the best chance the Alawis have got, and they won’t be alone since that all the minorities will be with them. Running away to the Alawi mountain and hiding there will be the worst imaginable thing to do.

Either fight now or you will become virtually extinct. Syria itself will become extinct if those savages take over power.

March 24th, 2011, 6:30 pm

 

jad said:

NK

“B- He painted the demonstrators in the Omayyad mosque last Friday as outsiders people who don’t attend mosques and don’t look like someone who will attend a mosque”
Yes, Mr. Al Bouti is correct, many of the guys who start the protest inside Omayad mosque weren’t even Muslims, some of them were Alawites, that is not by my imagination it was written in the comments by many on the revolution facebook site.

“He accused them of not praying and waiting outside to start chaos”
Again he is telling the truth, the rule of engagement for the protesters was for some of them to stay outside the mosque and wait until couple people to start the slogans and then to get inside

“and finally he didn’t say a word about what the security forces did inside the mosque, a really pious man would be furious that people are beaten inside a place of worship”
You only see this part, how about the other part? Bringing political issues and protests inside his mosque without his agreement, isn’t that wrong too?

Do you remember when I wrote to you that I’m not ok with starting the revolution inside the place of prayers and you wrote me back some explanation? I still believe in this principle.

“But shame on him.” I disagree, I think he did the right thing that will save many lives in result.

March 24th, 2011, 6:49 pm

 

Averroes said:

Souri,

I think this is a little over the top. Calm down. There are no indications that anything like you’re describing is going to happen.

March 24th, 2011, 6:49 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

One giant step toward humiliating defeat of Syria’s enemy, one giant step forward for progress and brighter future of Syria. Zionists, both in Arabia and elsewhere are teething about the reform plan announced by the Syrian Leadership. They feel the misery of the defeat. They plotted for months to bring Syria’s demise. Cowards could not defeat it politically, economically, militarily, nor diplomatically, so they resorted into using Guantanamo Islamic University Graduates, managed by ALCIADA to bring revolutionary chaos to the nation. The aim was clear, weaken it and divide it into 5 parts. Anyone that cannot see through this plot is blind idiot. Just look at the effective campaign managed, this is a Western styled modus opry, and this is not an Islamic fundamentalist reaction. Telltale of this plan were known three months ago, weeks before Tunisia and Egypt. It was defeated by vigilance of the Syrian nation, but not only that, by ignorance of their knowledge of Syria and its societal make up.

Defeated, defeated, the ignorant are defeated. TAHYA SOURIA. We look forward to working with the great Syrian and Iranian leadership in continuing to bring changes and savior hope to the rest of the oppressed world. It is a New Dawn, but not that of the Great Deceiver; he only wishes he can have one, even for a day. But he cannot because he lives in the cavity of earth where he was bound. While leaders of SNP will soon be introduced to the world, by name and face, the coward, has to relies on fictitious people and software programs that simulates fake id’s to introduce themselves behind the screens and the coward evil leader behind them, that deceived the whole world for Two Millennia’s.

March 24th, 2011, 6:53 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Poor Ms Sha’aban. So pathetic so desperate, I could smell her sweat in Tel Aviv.

This is not over. Despite desperate and pathetic manouvers. Let me predict that over the coming days, we’ll see demonstrations growing and spreading, reaching Dimashk. Asad knows it. Listen to what he said (from the interview that AIG linked to):
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703833204576114712441122894.html

WSJ: From what we have seen in Tunisia and Egypt in the recent weeks, does it make you think there are some reforms you should be accelerating? And is there any concern that what is happening in Egypt could infect Syria?

President Assad: If you did not see the need for reform before what happened in Egypt and in Tunisia, it is too late to do any reform. This is first. Second, if you do it just because of what happened in Tunisia and Egypt, then it is going to be a reaction, not an action; and as long as what you are doing is a reaction you are going to fail.
===
Mr. Asad and his personal envoy for highly embarrassing moments, Sha’aban, know that the train has left the station. Now they are reacting, not acting. Or as Majhool nicely phrased it, “The wall of fear has fallen”. Now they try to contain Daraa, but we saw that a Tsunami is un-containable.

No Nour. I’m not advocating civil war in Syria. But if you suggest oppressing the people in the name of fear (from Islamists from the MB from whoever), and you argue that a 7% minority oppressing and usurping the rest of the population is just, then I say – you deserve a civil war. If you can’t do justice peacefully, then lets force you to.
.

March 24th, 2011, 6:55 pm

 

NK said:

Souri

Those savages you want to murder are fellow Syrians, stop instigating sectarian strife, it’s sickening.

Jad

Even if people stayed outside, it doesn’t make them any less Syrian or any less patriotic. Plus it’s not his mosque, a mosque is a public place and it belongs to all Syrians and if I want to stand in the middle of it and cry freedom, I have every right to do so as long as I’m not disrupting a prayer. Let’s see if you can come up with a better excuse justifying the beating of a person for shouting “Freedom”. And why did you skip over A ?

Nour

I meant B as a point between A and Z, as long as you actually do move. 🙂

March 24th, 2011, 7:05 pm

 

Majhool said:

OK things are worst than I thought. The regime will crumble in few weeks if they are lucky. I think it was too little to late. What Maher forces did in Dar’a was a mistake and it will cost us all dearly. They should not have messed with the tribes.

That’s my guess.

March 24th, 2011, 7:16 pm

 

Nour said:

Ameer fi Yafa al mou7talla:

It is clear that the very thing you fear the most is for the Syrians to effectuate political reforms and move forward as a collective unit in developing and advancing their country. Are you really that excited about “revolution” in Syria? And do you really think that you can every understand whether this is “over” or not? Or are you one of the people calling for demonstrations in Syria on these internet sites?

And when did I suggest oppressing the people in the name of fear? I have been asking for these reforms for sometime and blamed the regime for the consequences of refusing to head the calls for reform. Not that this really matters to you, for instability and chaos in Syria is something you would relish. But luckily the Syrian regime outsmarted the fools trying to sow discord in Syria.

As far as your quote of Assad, what is it that you are trying to prove exactly? Assad has been saying for a long time that there is a need for reform in Syria but that priorities change depending on circumstances on the ground. In this extracted part of the interview with the Wall Street Journal, he explained that if you are going to wait for uprisings and revolutions to decide that you need to reform, then it would be too late. But in any case, Assad just did what you had been desperately hoping he wouldn’t do.

March 24th, 2011, 7:16 pm

 

jad said:

NK,

Stick to what I wrote to you word by word, I didn’t say that any protester is not Syrian nor your comment was referring to that so please don’t change the subject of my reply, I simply was showing you that Mr. Al Bouti was telling the truth that you are criticizing him for in your point B.

“Let’s see if you can come up with a better excuse justifying the beating of a person for shouting freedom.”
I never did justify the beating of anybody in any comment I wrote on here for three years, I never ever called for violence, I never ever called for not treating humans in the right and most respected way possible, and I never ever tolerated any kind of sectarian language by many commentators on here, you can ask every one on SC about that, so please think twice before you accuse me of any of the things I didn’t write, for both of our credibilities.

Finlay, I didn’t reply to point A because I agree with you on it.
As simple as that.

Thank you.

March 24th, 2011, 7:18 pm

 

Majhool said:

Mr. Landis,

Here is some news for you.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=108616612552725&oid=173132032739195&comments

supposedly this is Maher Assad. see once people see this there is no turning back, i am afraid.

March 24th, 2011, 7:25 pm

 

Nour said:

Majhool:

This is supposed to be the Saydnaya prison massacre in 2008. Who would have taped the after math from inside the prison and then released its contents at this very time. Why would no one have seen it all these years and then all of a sudden, on the day that the reforms are announced, someone releases this video.

March 24th, 2011, 7:34 pm

 

NK said:

Jad

I’m sorry if I sound offensive with my posts, it was not my intention to charge you with anything, what I meant with “it doesn’t make them any less Syrian or any less patriotic” wasn’t directed at you, I was further explaining why I didn’t agree with Al-Bouti’s statement, I felt his address was hinting toward smearing them as “منقادين أو مدسوسين” being led by outsiders or outsiders, which is rather unfair.

I started following this forums after Dr. Landis’ interview back in early February, I believe with CNN. But yeah I’m fairly new here and I hope I’m not stepping on too many toes, at the end of the day as we say in arabic “الخلاف لا يفسد للود قضية”

Thank you 🙂

Nour

I agree, it’s very fishy, I hope there isn’t a struggle behind the scenes among the Syrian regime top officials, that could turn very ugly.

March 24th, 2011, 7:39 pm

 

Majhool said:

Nour,

I think the answer to your question is simple. They waited for the right time, And hell this is def not going to help.

What do you think of this massacre.

March 24th, 2011, 7:44 pm

 

Norman said:

NK,
Are you Syrian and from where if you do not mind?.

March 24th, 2011, 7:48 pm

 

NK said:

I’m Syrian from Aleppo

March 24th, 2011, 7:51 pm

 

Norman said:

I watched the video and saw destruction of building and concrete on the ground , I saw blown up limbs as if a bomb was used or an artillery or a tank, was there such destruction in Saidnaya, did the security destroy the prison? I am not an expert but it looks like something we see in Iraq after a suicide bombing.

March 24th, 2011, 7:55 pm

 

Norman said:

Dr Landis,
I am really going to complain , How come about 90% of the people on this blog are from Aleppo, do they get special deal?.

I feel lonely, Anybody from Homs or Hama,?

March 24th, 2011, 8:00 pm

 

Nour said:

Norman:

I agree with you that it looks like some sort of explosives were used and buildings were destroyed. I don’t have audio at work so I don’t know if there was any sound to the video. But if you look, the chair that was on the rubble looked like a chair you would have at a coffee shop.

March 24th, 2011, 8:00 pm

 

Nour said:

Norman:

My grandfather’s family is originally from Hama, but they then moved to Urfa and then Qamishly, which is where my dad grew up. I do have family in Aleppo though :-).

March 24th, 2011, 8:03 pm

 

Nour said:

Majhool:

Is there any sound to the video?

March 24th, 2011, 8:04 pm

 

Majhool said:

Looks like they bombed certain sections of the prison and the bullet you hear is the finishing of the wounded.

This is going to make difficult to keep him in his position. Its a Rif’at all over again.

Nour this is not a coffee shop, we had no bombing in coffee chops. In the background you hear shooting to finish off the wounded.Notice the Quoran books, looks like that they were reading off of them when they died.

Allah Yestor men bokra

March 24th, 2011, 8:12 pm

 

Majhool said:

كذب الإعلام الرسمي السوري الواضح : نرجو التركيز وسماع الصوت جيداً ولا حظوا ما يلي : عند النداء ” بالروح نفدي وطنا” يختفي صوت اأبواق السيارات!!! وهذا دليل على إدخال الصوت في الفيديو عند النداء “بالروح نفديك يا بشار” صوت أبواق السيارات واضح.. يا تلفزيون سورية مشان الله بس بدكم تكذبوا عالناس جيبوا ناس بتفهم بالمونتاج مشان الله …!!

March 24th, 2011, 8:24 pm

 

Revlon said:

Junior cannot look the nation in the eye.

The conciliatory statement on plans for reforms was issued by the regional command of the Baath party.
The regime is gradually, but surely going under!

It took 10 days and wasting of dozens of precious lives to acknowledge the seriousness and fairness of the revolution’s demand.

Their offer is too vague and came too late for their own credibility, and survival as future political partners.

“To study” the lifting of the emergency rules means to give themmneeded time and power to formulate and implement an alternative 21st century relevant, face-book and you-tube savvy, national sentiment rules.

The lack of clear action plan and time frame is suspicious of their already demonstrated
deceitfulness.

The people across the nation are aware of their devious intents. There is no longer any a place for the regime or their supporters in the future of free Syria.

March 24th, 2011, 8:32 pm

 

Nour said:

The video is not clear as to where that is. I’m not sure that looks like a prison compound, although I’m not sure what Syrian prisons look like. And Majhool, how did you conclude that the sound of gunshots are shots to finish off the wounded? There is a lot of fabrication and disinformation going on to incite people; this is irresponsible behavior. The bottom line is that we really do not know what this is a video of, and it is highly suspicious that a random person would have videotaped the aftermath of the prison attack and somehow leaked it right this moment. Who would have access to such video other than people very high in the security apparatus who would have been present there at the time?

March 24th, 2011, 8:33 pm

 

Nour said:

Let me put all those outrageous predictions to rest. There is not going to be a “revolution” tomorrow. People in Syria were generally happy with today’s announcements, regardless how annoyed some are. And all this fabrication and disinformation that so-called “opposition” people have been practicing puts into question their credibility. The rug has been pulled from under the instigators before it was too late, and they are deathly afraid of losing their PR momentum.

March 24th, 2011, 8:38 pm

 

Jihad said:

It is hilarious that the pronographic government in Dubai has finally allowed a protest against…Syria!

Even more hilarious that one of the protestors in Dubai was told by someone who knows inside Syria that “Persian-speaking” persons were helping in the crackdown in Der’a.

Those Wahhabis will say it is dark even if the sun is up and shining!

March 24th, 2011, 8:38 pm

 

aron said:

On the video posted by 58 Solitarius:

Is it possible to confirm that this is really Maher? It sure looks like the few pictures of him available online, but it’s hard to tell.

Agreed that the timing of the release is very fishy. Some of the content as well – the weirdest thing is the Quran just lying there in the rubble, among the exploded body parts. That’s a bit hard to believe, frankly. On the other hand, there WAS a massacre in Seidnaia, so…

And PS, everyone — stay clear of that video if you have a problem with graphic pictures. It’s really unpleasant.

March 24th, 2011, 8:39 pm

 

Majhool said:

Nour,

you were wrong in the past and will be wrong tomorrow.

March 24th, 2011, 8:40 pm

 

Norman said:

Revlon Said,

((( The people across the nation are aware of their devious intents. There is no longer any a place for the regime or their supporters in the future of free Syria.))),,

There might not be a place for you or anybody else if Syria ends up like Iraq, and that what will happen if trouble is seen tomorrow.

March 24th, 2011, 8:51 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

NOUR,

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b02.htm (see Chronicles B, 2-15)
Timber from the Lebanon was shipped to the Jewish port of Yaffo (NOT Jafa..plz!), when king Salomon build the temple for the residents who own this land. How could Yaffo possibly be occupied by it’s lawful owners? any way…
===

“…Assad has been saying for a long time that there is a need for reform in Syria but that priorities change depending on circumstances on the ground”.

Are you that naive? I expected more from you…
===

It’s a time to refute the myth that Israel wants chaos and civil disorder in Syria. I believe that most Israelis would prefer Syria that resolves it’s differences in a democratically elected parliament. And that a potential peace treaty with Syria will be democratically approved by a majority of Syrians. This will happen one day. Presumably after a bloody and brutal civil war, that you and other Syrians who think like you do (waiting for Asad’s reforms..LOL ) will be responsible for.
.

March 24th, 2011, 8:53 pm

 

syria1 said:

There are unconfirmed reports of a crackdown in Qamishli and Al-Midan…so if true…where does that leave us?

This whole Sednaya thing feels completely staged…maybe this is Bashar against Maher. Lets not forget that Maher’s father in law was “in charge” in Dara’a as its governor.

March 24th, 2011, 8:54 pm

 

Norman said:

Nour,

I am glad that you are from Hama, as you know , when you are from Hama, you are from Hama no matter where you move or live , we are from Hama,

I wonder sometime if what we are seeing is the West following the Motto,

If you can not beat them then join them

It is the West and the US joining Al Qaeda and fulfilling it’s objectives, all the states involved in problems are against Al Qaeda,
I wish i can see the future,

March 24th, 2011, 9:12 pm

 

NK said:

Someone just posted this on Syria-News

تعويض التدفئة طار طار
ليش تم الغاء تعويض التدفئة شو عم يضحكوا على الشعب ما 1500 بالاصل ضمن الراتب وين القطاع الخاص من هل التجرى

Did they really cancel some of the aids/”handouts” ?

March 24th, 2011, 9:28 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Lessons from Secretary Gates:

Drawing a parallel between the unrest in Syria and the protests that unseated Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s former president, Mr Gates said: “I’ve just come from Egypt, where the Egyptian army stood on the sidelines and allowed people to demonstrate and in fact empowered a revolution. The Syrians might take a lesson from that.”

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f4197d9c-5622-11e0-8de9-00144feab49a.html#axzz1HZPy84Ah

March 24th, 2011, 9:28 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

About that video, it was taken and transmitted via cellular network. Israel and the United States maintain highly advanced eavesdropping and espionage network in Syria and Lebanon that spies on every single communication in those countries. So who would release this video now? I doubt any member of Assad circle, most likely the very same people that are becoming very desperate and are sitting on tons of videos and other tids bits of valuable information’s ( Hariri case for example) obtained clandestinely from Syria’s and Lebanon networks that released it. Just another proof that the whole shebang was nothing more than an outside job from the get-go. It was obvious. No leaders, no groups, no organization, no agenda, no structured outcome, all clandestine fictitious operatives, having in positions valuable information like this video. It could be Riffat, but Mossad and ALCIDA just as probable. Riffat is on good terms with Maher, Maher talks to Riffat on the Phone. Just fishy, and as they getting desperate by the minutes, wait they will release more and more until it becomes clear of the source and motives.

Anyway, a Civil War in Syria is estimated to cost 2.2 million lives and utter destruction of Syria economy and infrastructure, totally. So why not avert this outcome at all costs.

March 24th, 2011, 9:34 pm

 

من زمن مضى said:

تعرى النظام و بطشه. وعهره السياسي لن يخدع جموح و توق الشعب للحرية.

March 24th, 2011, 9:37 pm

 
 

Revlon said:

The masochistic demeanor of Asad clan is now on video, for all to see.

Thank you Majhool for enlightening every one of the dark, hidden side of this regime and the promising proceedings of the Syrian People’s revolution.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=108616612552725&oid=173132032739195&comments

At Sidnaya prison, not only a barbaric massacre was callously committed and supervised coldly by Maher Asad.

A video clip of then event was also kept as a souvenir for him and the gang and as a sick entertainment to enjoy later, in their free time.

It took several years, and either an awakened conscience or a mistake to release this video in Latakya.

A video clip of the regime’s crimes against humanity, committed by Rif3at Asad in Tadmur prison is not yet available. Part two, in Sidnaya, committed by Rif3at’s nephew, is on tape now.

What a pedigree!

March 24th, 2011, 10:23 pm

 

Ziadsoury said:

Abu Kareem, NK, Revlon, Shami, Majed and Majhool

I can not wait for tomorrow to come and see the reaction of the regime. Hopfuly, cooler heads prevail and no more massacres. Souria 7oura.

Alex,
You are very quit?

Jad, Norman, Alex, and Nour

I got sick after watching that video. How about you guys? Any emotions? Any condemnations? Mr. Asad standing there very calmly taking pictures and videos. It is business as usual.

The massacres have not stopped. How could you not shout and scream against these butchers?
How many more massacres should happen before it is too late? How many more thefts should we put up with before they form committees to study the ????

We all need to stand in one voice and demand our rights now! Not tomorrow, not in six months but now.

Do you trust these people to let go of their power and be held accountable. Instead of wondering why this video came out now, you should demand justice.

Norman,

You have been saying for so many years Israel will not give up the Golan unless Syrians take back by force. Well my friend, the Syrians want their freedom and the regime told them to wait until hell freezes over. What are their options other than demanding it by demonstration through out the country?

March 24th, 2011, 10:41 pm

 

Ed said:

It would appear that Mr. Bashar Al-Assad is in serious bind these days. Eleven years promising reforms and he did nothing!?
Well, the time of reckoning is here.
Here is some advise if he wants to extricate himeself and Syria from its current quagmire:
A- First Steps:
1- Suspend immediately the emergency laws existed since March, 8-1963. A reminder! John F. Kennedy was still President of the USA.
2- Suspend the 1973 so-called constituation of his father.
3- Re-institute the 1950 Syrian constitution.
4- Dissolve immediately the Baath party and freeze the financial accounts and assets of all party members who do not have practical jobs beside being party functionatries and goverment payrols. Leaches and blood sucking little insects on the Syrian body
5- Immediately release all political prisoners. And make sure that he does not release murderers, theives and thugs into the society like that of Saddam Hussein , Hosni Mubarak and Mommar Al-Qaddafi.
6- Suspend all judicial orders until courts and judges are evaluated and judged neutral by international standards.
B- Second Steps:
1- Call for a constituational Convention to write a new Syrian Consitution that is permenant and fair to all segments of the Syrian society.
2- Call for a bicameral chambers within the new Parliament. A lower house of representatives ( majlis al-nowabs), that serves various districts and an upper house that represent the various provencies (let us call it majlis al- shoukhs).
3- Emmulate The US Constituation with this regards, because it had served the multiple cultural diversity of the US that is similar to that of Syria with all its wonderful mosaics. Learn from the experince of others.
4- A new Syrian consitution needs to allow individuals running for themselves and by themselves regardless of party affiliations, and I mean one man one vote. This step will allow the eliminations of radicals of both the right and the left outside the Syrian political spectrum.
C- Third Steps:
1- Mr. Assad has to resign from his post to allow for a new leadership and presidential elections of the country under a new Syrian Consitution.
2- If he wishes to run for office, then so be it.
By the way, I am hoping that he will go back and practice medicine because I have heard that he is a good doctor and practitioner of medicine.
Look, Mr. Assad …the time for Al-Baath and other parties that was created between the two world wars are over. You need to deBaathify Syria from their current enemies. You need to deIslamise Syria from the wolfes in sheep clothings. You need to disinfect syria from the rabid pan-nationalists movenments plaging Syria.
You can do it but you need to do it now …or it will be all over …for you… for your buddies and for Syria.
Best of Luck Assad.
EDJ

March 24th, 2011, 10:42 pm

 

NK said:

http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=data\201133-24\24qpt699.htm

النظام السوري بعد مجزرة الجامع العمري: اقتربت الساعة!
صبحي حديدي
2011-03-24

خلال السنوات الثلاثين من حكم حافظ الأسد أُريقت دماء السوريين مراراً، بدم بارد، في صيغة مجازر جماعية واسعة النطاق (مدينة حماة، شباط/ فبراير 1982: 30 إلى 40 ألف قتيل)، أو مجازر أضيق نطاقاً وأقلّ ضحايا (جبل الزاوية، 13ـ15/5/1980: 14 ضحية؛ سرمدا، 25/7/1980: 11 ضحية؛ سوق الأحد، حلب، 13/7/1980: 43 ضحية؛ ساحة العباسيين، دمشق، 18/8/1980: 60 ضحية؛ حيّ المشارقة، حلب، 11/8/1980، صبيحة عيد الفطر: 100 ضحية…). يُضاف إلى هؤلاء مئات القتلى في السجون، سواء بسبب التصفيات الجماعية المباشرة (مجزرة سجن تدمر، 27/6/1980: 500 ضحية على الأقل)، أو تحت أفانين تعذيب كانت تتجاوز النزوعات السادية إلى الحقد الهمجي الصرف؛ وآلاف المفقودين (17 ألفا، في إحصاء منظمات حقوق الإنسان المستقلة).
ليس جديداً، إذاً، أن يستأنف بشار الأسد هذا الإرث الدامي في محافظة ومدينة درعا هذه الأيام، بطرائق ليست البتة أقلّ همجية، وإنْ كانت تنهض على مقاربة تختلف بهذا المقدار النسبي أو ذاك، بسبب من متغيرات شتى تخصّ الشارع الشعبي، والمحيط الإقليمي، وأنساق التواصل، ومناقلة المعلومات، وسطوة الصورة؛ فضلاً، بالطبع، عن صفات تخصّ شخصية الوريث ذاته، بينها الطيش وقلّة الخبرة والغطرسة وقصر النظر والفذلكة العقلية واستيهام الشعبية. وليس بمنأى عن المنطق البسيط، استطراداً، أنّ تكون 11 سنة من توريث الابن هي محض إضافة حسابية إلى سنوات حكم الأب.
وذات يوم نُسب إلى الأسد الابن قوله، في اجتماع مشترك للقيادة القطرية لحزب البعث وقادة الأجهزة الأمنية، إنّ ‘حافظ الأسد يحكم سورية من قبره’، ولم تكن العبارة مزيجاً من الوعيد والتهديد والتمنّي، فحسب؛ بل انطوت على مقدار كبير من الصحة، عملياً، لجهة إدامة الإستبداد والفساد، والحفاظ على بنية النظام وتوازناته الداخلية الأساسية، ومحاصصة القوّة وأنساق النفوذ وحُسن توزيعها على الأطراف. وهذه السطور ستكتفي بالشأن الداخلي السوري في استقراء انعكاس صيغة الحكم من القبر، مع إشارة ضرورية إلى انعكاساتها في السياسة الخارجية أيضاً، ولكن ضمن مواصفات القصور ذاتها التي اتصف بها الابن بالمقارنة مع الأب.
وأجد ضرورة في التأكيد، اليوم أيضاً، على جانب خاصّ في حكاية حكم الموتى للأحياء، هو أنّ النرجسية العالية (التي يردّد العارفون بشخصية الأسد الابن أنها العنصر الطاغي على تفكيره اليوميّ)، قد لا تكتفي بتحويل ماضي ‘الحركة التصحيحية’ إلى مرجعية دائمة للحاضر وللمستقبل، فحسب؛ إذْ قد تنتقل، في طور لاحق أخذ يتجلى أكثر فأكثر، إلى نزوع طبيعي نحو قتل الأب، ليس كرهاً له بالطبع، وليس حرصاً على محو ذكراه أيضاً، بل رغبة في التفوّق على صورته القوية المهيمنة. وبذلك فإنّ العبارة يمكن أن تحمل المدلولَيْن، معاً، وبصفة متكاملة: أنّ الأب حاكم لأنّ تراثه مقيم، ثابت، مقدّس؛ وأنّ قتله خطوة واجبة لكي يدخل تراثه ذاك في صيرورة تحوّل، باسم الابن هذه المرّة!
أجدني، كذلك، أستعيد هذه الفقرة الدالة، من حديث الأسد الابن مع صحيفة ‘نيويورك تايمز’ الأمريكية، أواخر العام 2003 (وهي فقرة حذفتها وكالة الأنباء السورية، ولم تُنشر في أيّ من الصحف السورية الرسمية)، جواباً على السؤال التالي: ‘تدور في مصر نقاشات حول مَن سيعقب مبارك، ويقول البعض هناك: نحن لسنا سورية. أترى في هذا إهانة لكم’؟ أجاب الأسد: ‘كلا، لأنّ الرئيس الأسد ليس هو الذي جاء بي إلى السلطة. حين توفي لم أكن أتولى أيّ منصب. ولهذا يجب أن تتوجه بالسؤال إلى الشعب السوري. إذا ذهبت إلى الـ CNN وغيرها من المحطات التي أجرت مقابلات مع السوريين، ستجد أنني جئت من خلال السوريين، وليس من خلال الرئيس الأسد’!
وهكذا، لم يتوقف الابن عند تذكير الناس بكلّ ما انطوت عليه عقود ‘الحركة التصحيحية’ من قمع وفساد ونهب وتخريب، للسياسة والاقتصاد والاجتماع والثقافة والنسيج الوطني والسلم الأهلي، بل ذهب أبعد وأسوأ، واختار من ألوان الإستبداد ما هو أشدّ فظاظة تجاه كرامة المواطن، من جهة أولى؛ وأكثر خفّة، واستهتاراً، بحاضر سورية العربي والإقليمي والدولي، من جهة ثانية. أعود، هنا، إلى مثال أوّل يتيح المقارنة بين سياسات الأب والابن، وأعني قرار رئيس مجلس الوزراء الذي قضى بصرف العشرات من الخدمة في الدولة، بسبب توقيعهم على بيانات سياسية معارضة، أو داعية إلى الإصلاح.
هنا وجه المقارنة: خلال سبعينيات القرن الماضي، في السنوات الأولى من عهد ‘الحركة التصحيحية’، أصدرت وزارتا التربية والتعليم العالي (بتوجيهات مباشرة من القيادة القطرية لحزب البعث) سلسلة قرارات قضت بإبعاد أعداد كبيرة من المدرّسين الشيوعيين، وكذلك المدرّسين ذوي الخلفيات الإسلامية، من قطاع التعليم إلى وزارات أخرى لا صلة لها البتة بالتعليم. وبناء على تلك القرارات، توفّر مدرّس لغة إنكليزية يعمل مراقباً للتموين، أو مدرّس رياضيات يعمل في وزارة الأوقاف، أو مدرّس تاريخ يعمل في وزارة الكهرباء!
وبهذا المعنى فإنّ السلطة كانت تسعى إلى درء الأخطار السياسية والتربوية والفكرية التي يمكن أن تنجم عن بقائهم في قاعة التدريس، وليس إلى عقابهم على انتماءاتهم السياسية أو أفكارهم، وإلا لما اعتورها أيّ حياء في إلقاء القبض عليهم. لكنّ الطرد من الوظيفة، بسبب التوقيع على بيان وليس الإنتماء إلى حزب معارض بالضرورة، أثبت قناعة الأسد الابن بأنّ العقاب على الأفكار ينبغي أن لا يقتصر على كمّ الأفواه والمنع من السفر والإعتقال والإحالة إلى محاكمات كاريكاتورية قرقوشية؛ بل يجب أن يشمل قطع الأرزاق أيضاً، وربما أوّلاً. نحن البلد، ونحن الدولة، ومَن لا ينضوي في صفّنا، سياسياً وعقائدياً وأمنياً أيضاً، فلا يهتف ‘الله! سورية! بشار وبسّ!’ (لاحظوا أنّ الهتاف هذا يستبدل بشار بالحرية، مقابل الهتاف الشعبي الشائع اليوم: ‘الله! سورية! حرّية وبسّ!’)… فليس له مكان في دولة(نا)، ولا رزق له في ‘وزارات(نا) ومؤسسات(نا)!
لكنّ الأسد الابن، حين أعطى أوامره لأجهزة الأمن باستخدام الرصاص الحيّ ضدّ المتظاهرين في درعا، واختار وحدات خاصة في الجيش لاقتحام مسجد المدينة العريق وسفك المزيد من الدماء في باحته وداخل جدرانه، كان قد عبر نهر الروبيكون، الدامي تماماً كما يتوجب القول، ليصبح الدم هو الفاصل بينه وبين الشعب، وهو الفيصل الصريح والأقصى. ولقد دقّ، بنفسه، بمطارق الإستبداد والفساد إياها، ثلاثة مسامير كبرى في نعش نظامه الآيل إلى سقوط، بَعُدت اللحظة أم دنت، وتعددت طرائق الخداع والتضليل والكذب أم اقتصرت دفاعات السلطة على إراقة الدماء هنا وهناك.
المسمار الأوّل هو الإطمئنان، الناجم بالضرورة عن اختلاطات الطيش والغطرسة والنرجسية، إلى أنّ هذا الحراك الشعبي، في دمشق وبانياس ودير الزور وحمص والقنيطرة، قبل درعا، لا يمثّل إلا فئة من ‘المندسين’ و’العملاء’، لأنّ الشعب بأسره يحبّ الرئيس، بدلالة هذا الشعار الذي تغصّ به شوارع سورية: ‘منحبّك’!
وكان أمراً تلقائياً، أو بالأحرى غريزياً، أن يفضي ذلك الإطمئنان إلى يقين الدكتاتور، وناصحيه من شركاء النهب والحكم العائلي، بأنّ علاج هذه الفرقة الضالة يحتاج إلى خيار الأرض المحروقة، والبتر المبكر، على الفور، دون أي ترجيح حتى لاحتمال العلاج بالكيّ. ولقد كان مذهلاً، حتى لأصدقاء النظام الإقليميين (رئيس الوزراء التركي رجب طيب أردوغان، على سبيل المثال)، أن يلجأ النظام إلى الذخيرة الحية في مواجهة أوّل تظاهرة سلمية نوعية، وأن يسقط أربعة شهداء في ساعات قليلة.
المسمار الثاني هو الإستهانة بالمغزى الرمزي، قبل ذاك الديني، لاقتحام مسجد أوى إليه جرحى ومواطنون لا يحملون حتى الحجارة، وليس لهم أن يتسببوا بأي أذى للمفارز الأمنية والوحدات العسكرية التي تطوّق المسجد.
ولكي تًضاف الإهانة إلى الجرح، وتُخلي المأساةُ مشهدها الدامي لصالح مهزلة ركيكة سخيفة مكرورة مستهلكة، دخلت عدسات إعلام السلطة إلى المسجد لكي ‘تضبط’ الأموال والأسلحة المخزّنة هناك، والتي وصلت إلى ‘المندسين’ من جهات خارجية. كأنّ الأسد لم يتعلّم أبسط الدروس من اتهامات مماثلة، ساقتها سلطات الإستبداد العربية في تونس ومصر واليمن وليبيا، ولم تعد أضحوكة المواطن العربي، والبشر في مشارق الأرض ومغاربها، فحسب؛ بل صارت مبعث اشمئزاز وقرف.
أو، في مقارنة أخرى، كأنّ الابن نسي حرص أبيه ـ وكان أشدّ بطشاً واستشراساً في قمع الاحتجاج، أياً كانت طبيعته أو نطاقاته ـ على تفادي اقتحام المساجد، حتى حين أعطى الأوامر بقصفها، خالية كانت أم على رؤوس اللاجئين إليها من بني البشر. صحيح أنّ رهط المنافقين من المشائخ، المطبّلين المزمّرين للنظام، التزموا الصمت المطبق؛ ومثلهم فعل رجال دين عرب ذوو حظوة ومكانة، مثل الشيخ القرضاوي والسيد حسن نصر الله؛ إلا أنّ اقتحام مسجد آمن مسالم يتجاوز بكثير حرق الأصابع جرّاء لعب الهواة بالنار. هذا، أغلب الظنّ، ما أدركه الأب الأريب، وفات على الابن ‘الممانِع’ و’المقاوِم’ أن يتحسب له.
المسمار الثالث هو احتقار الذاكرة الشعبية السورية، عن طريق اقتراح حلول تنطلق من افتراض الدرجة صفر في الذكاء الأخلاقي للمواطن السوري، أو الدرجة صفر في كرامته الوطنية، كما حين اختار الأسد أن يكون وسيطه في الحوار مع أهل درعا هو اللواء رستم غزالي، أحد كبار أدوات الفساد والإستبداد، دون سواه! الأرجح أنّ منطق اعتماد غزالي انطلق من اعتبارات مناطقية صرفة، كأن يكون اللواء من أبناء المحافظة، وأن تكون له بالتالي ‘موانة’ على أهلها وشهدائها، أياً كانت موبقات غزالي في قمع أبناء محافظته أنفسهم، لكي لا يتحدّث المرء عن ‘أمجاد’ اللواء في عنجر وسائر لبنان.
وفي كلّ حال، بينما كان ‘الوسيط’ يسعى إلى ممارسة مهاراته في التفاوض، كما اكتسبها من سيّده السابق اللواء غازي كنعان، أو من مراقبة ألاعيب أصدقائه الساسة اللبنانيين الأفاقين، كانت وحدات عسكرية خاصة قد تلقّت لتوّها الأوامر بحصار المدينة، وقطع الكهرباء عنها، وكذلك اتصالات الهاتف الجوّال والإنترنت، تمهيداً لارتكاب المجزرة في المسجد العمري، بعد ساعات قلائل. في السياق ذاته، بدا الأسد مستعداً لتقديم كبش فداء إلى مواطني درعا، تمثّل في مرسوم إقالة المحافظ فيصل كلثوم، متناسياً أنّ أهالي المحافظة يدركون جيداً أنّ الأخير لم يكن سوى بيدق صغير في شطرنج بيت السلطة، ومسنّن أصغر في آلة الفساد الجهنمية، ومن الإهانة اعتبار إقالته بلسماً لجراح المحافظة ولأمهات الشهداء الثكالى.
هذه، غنيّ عن القول، مسامير أولى سبقت سواها، ولسوف تعقبها أخرى، ما دامت مطارق النظام تشتغل دون كلل لإدامة حال عالقة، مستعصية في الفساد وعصية على الإصلاح، فصار دوامها من المحال، وأخذت ملامح انقلابها ترتسم أوضح، حتى إذا بدت أبطأ، ولاحت تباشير أثمانها أبهظ وأغلى. ومجزرة الجامع العمري، بين علائم نبيلة كثيرة أخرى، دشّنت اقتراب الساعة، وانتصار الشعب، وبزوغ فجر سورية الحرّة الديمقراطية الكريمة.

‘ كاتب وباحث سوري يقيم في باريس

March 24th, 2011, 10:48 pm

 

Norman said:

Ziadsouri,

Are you Syrian or Israeli,and from where in Syria,

The regime buckled, the opposition should enjoy the winning instead of nagging, you got what you want stop dwelling on it,

March 24th, 2011, 10:51 pm

 

Ziad said:

If you got tired from this current subject and want to get some distraction, or maybe get different point of reference, I recommend watching this 9 mins video which aired today on PBS News Hour.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/jan-june11/inequality_03-24.html

I particularly liked what Sam Bull said at minute 8.

“Guard Labor: For every three workers in America that are producing something there is one worker for just keeping the lid on. Those are the private security personnel, these are the police officers, these are the prison guards, the armed forces …”

March 24th, 2011, 11:06 pm

 

Ziadsoury said:

Norman,

I am very sad too see you question my motives and citizenship. Let’s not play this game. Let’s keep focusing on the real issues at hand. What happened to freedom of speech? You can’t even tolerate me questioning the intentions of this regime.

It is not about wining or losing. It is about human rights for SYRIANS. We both live in the US and enjoy our lifestyles and liberties. We both send our kids to good schools and never worry that our kids will disappear or get shot and never see them again because they voiced their opinions and theirs did not match the government’s one. Do not tell me that Syria has many enemies, the country will go into civil wars, country will be divided or any other excuse. It is all hogwash.

BTW, I am homsi and very proud of it. I also want to make Syria the best place on earth and I am very inclusive.

March 24th, 2011, 11:08 pm

 

nafdik said:

Watching this video is a wake up call.

The spirit of Hama is alive.

The regime is ready to do the same if they feel it is to their advantage.

Syrians have to be ready to stand together and not leave Daraa people alone or their blood is on our hands.

March 24th, 2011, 11:10 pm

 

SOURI said:

Again, I truly and honestly hope that the Alawi generals have a good war plan ready for implementation immediately if things deteriorate. Trying to find out local solutions for the Alawis won’t work. They must attack and paralyze the Wahhabis immediately and before they can form any significant military strength.

Aren’t there at least 100,000 armed Alawis in the military? This is more than enough to occupy Syria and cripple the Wahhabis before they even realize what is happening.

Hafez Assad won over the Ikhwan because the Ikhwan never expected him to go into a full-scale civil war against them. They thought that he was going to run away as soon as the Ikhwan declare general insurgency. This time is exactly the same, those Wahhabis are very confident that the Alawis will run away as soon as the situation collapses. This is their weak point, and the Alawis must make use of it. Those Islamists are stupid bigots and they always think that other people are cowards and will run away in front of their Islamic hordes. This stupid overconfidence will kill them if the Alawis know how to act fast and decisively.

It is a very winnable war. No need to be afraid at all. They have nothing.

March 24th, 2011, 11:11 pm

 

nafdik said:

Ziadsoury,

Do not feel that you have to justify yourself. It is those who use intimidation and insinuation to hide their shame who have to justify themselves in front of their children and grand-children who will ask them one day: where were you when Syria was ruled by the Assads?

March 24th, 2011, 11:15 pm

 

Majhool said:

Souri,

I am very happy to see you show your real sectarian face,

Mr. Landis,

Souri is calling for the murder of syrians. I think this violates the forum rules of conduct.

Souri, from now till noon tomorrow, watch this

March 24th, 2011, 11:17 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

@ZIADSOURI,
What is your age and are you living in Syria, or outside in Langley,VA, have you lived in Homs till what age?

March 24th, 2011, 11:18 pm

 

SOURI said:

The steps should be as follows:

1-Bashar resigns.
2-a military council assumes command.
3-the military council declares a new secular constituion.
4-the military council moves troops to restore order in the country and enforce the new constitution.

These are very legitimate steps and no one in the world will be able to intervene on behalf of the Wahhabis, even if 10,000 of them are killed.

March 24th, 2011, 11:22 pm

 

Norman said:

Ziadsouri,

You mentioned what i have been saying about the need for force to get the Golan back,

By the way where in Homs that you are from .I know Homs,

March 24th, 2011, 11:27 pm

 

Mali Majnoon said:

All the reforms sound great, but I became disenchanted when I came across this line:

“She added that it is not strange that Syria is being targeted. Reports of political protests have been exaggerated by some media organizations and there are signs that they have been funded by foreigners, she said.”

I watched the video on the BBC, she goes on to say that foreign influences chose Deraa for it’s proximity to the border, ability to funnel money, etc.

False statements issued by the regime, carefully crafted to save face, show that they are not serious and don’t understand the magnitude of the issue.

March 24th, 2011, 11:28 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

@NORMAN I want to get to the bottom of this, if he will ever repsond, couple more questions ready for him and will see.

March 24th, 2011, 11:31 pm

 

Norman said:

Good to know a fellow Homsi,

March 24th, 2011, 11:41 pm

 

SOURI said:

If the Alawis try to seek a safe enclave for themselves, this won’t work and they will end up slaves for the Wahhabis, and they most probably will be exterminated. The only real option for the Alawis is to hit the Wahhabis very hard and cripple them as fast as possible. This is the only way to survive, and it worked great with the Ikhwan in 1982.

March 24th, 2011, 11:43 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

@119. SOURI said:

The steps should be as follows:

1-Bashar resigns.
2-a military council assumes command.
3-the military council declares a new secular constituion.
4-the military council moves troops to restore order in the country and enforce the new constitution.

Was that the intended CIA plan for Syria, You mean ala Tunisia huh, and those military members of the council are? let me guess, Shahabi will provides the list of notable members that are closely associated, and whoever been on Mossad /CIA payroll. They will stay in power until new constitution passed but not before desmatling Syria’s weapon programs and Hezbullah.

I don’t need to tell you where to shove this plan do I? But Souri, are you really Syrian, If you want us to consider your plan give me this info first, so I know am not dealing with Mossad agent online.

Age
City of Birth
Are you excile or living in Syria
If you are not in Syria, when did you live in there
and until what age.

Few more questions after getting reply and we will know if you are freedom fighter, or just a Hebrew or Omaha accented boy, could be fat girl, who knows.

March 24th, 2011, 11:47 pm

 

Revlon said:

#10 Ziyad: Sidnaya’s massacre video clip, should and will prompt all concerned, to start legal proceedings for crimes against humanity, committed by Asad’s family.

The issue now is no longer the introduction of just reforms.

It is bringing Asad’s family and accomplices to justice.

Serial killers shall and will be brought to justice.

Justice shall be served.

March 24th, 2011, 11:48 pm

 

nafdik said:

Souri,

This is not a fight between Allawi and Wahhabi.

It is a fight between the syrian people and the assad family.

Bashar, Maher and Rami must go.

The army can keep the security of all. If it does not interfere in politics, the people will accept its role.

March 24th, 2011, 11:49 pm

 

Vedat The Turk said:

Where Have All The Critical Thinkers On This Blog Gone?

Come on everyone! With all due respect, lets stop squabbling amongst ourselves and start leading an analytical discussion about what is happening in our beloved Syria. People on this thread should be more critical of what the main page headlines are rather than just accepting them as the gospel truth and quarrelling about their interpretation of them!

Two weeks ago, the headline to this blog asserted that it was highly unlikely that Syria would take part in the widespread demonstrations sweeping the Arab world. It was claimed that Bashar Assad was too popular a President and that Syrians were too fearful of the sectarian dangers that it would usher in. What rubbish!

Two weeks before that, it was claimed that the US influence in the region was in decline and that Washington no longer had any serious power / influence in the Middle East. The actions in Libya and Bahrain show how wrong these proclamations were.

Why aren’t fellow commentators calling out these inaccuracies for what they are — one sided and slanted towards the Baathis regimes party line. We cannot hope to expand each others views without being more critical.

Allow me to begin by expanding the topic to examine Bashar Assads past actions and how they are now limiting his options in handling this crisis. Unlike his father he has seriously isolated his regime and it is in the interest of much of the countries involved in the region to see him fall.

Assad badly needs the help of regional Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and Jordan more than ever to appease the Sunni tribes which are rising up against him. For example Saudi Arabia could easily invest the necessary funds to appease many of the tribal elders in order to de-escalate the protests. But he has so infuriated these countries by his ever growing alliance with Iran that it is in there best interest to see him fall. In fact it should surprise no one if they were actively trying to promote the unrest against Assad — after all this is what governments do when they view a neighboring regime as a threat to there hegemony.

The same can be said of the US and Europe. Because Assad has actively antagonized much of the Western powers with his actions (Hamas, Hezbollah, Hariri, Islamic Jihad, Iran, etc) it is very likely that any violent action he takes against the demonstrators would result in a counter action by the US and EU. He cannot expect them to look the other way as they have done in Bahrain. Rather the West will look for a way to seriously punish the regime and hope that it brings about its collapse. Why wouldn’t they? For them any government in Damascus is better than the present one. If a Sunni government was to come to power it would be in there interest because it would seriously weaken Iran & Hezbollah.

For the regime to survive it must reverse this isolation. The reason I say this is because Assad has the military might to easily crush any dissent. Like in Hamma it could kill 20,000 people if not 200,000! But the problem that Assad faces is that any action he takes vis-a-vis the demonstrators is not done in a vacuum and that those nations he has antagonized in the past could easily punish the country in a way that makes its collapse inevitable either in the short term (arming the demonstrators), the medium term (covert psychological operations) or the long term (punitive multilateral sanctions) .

March 24th, 2011, 11:50 pm

 

Ziad said:

GUYS

Stop discussing with SOURI. He is a fake, a Zionist implant. He was assigned to play the role of an Alawi with extremist murderers views, so you get to love the Alawis more. He is clueless about Syria and knows only the two words Alawi & Wahabi, and Googled few Syrian towns.

March 24th, 2011, 11:54 pm

 

Nour said:

Majhool,

What was I wrong about in the past?

March 24th, 2011, 11:59 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

@ZIAD,
You have great ideas and impressive commnents. Can you give us idea about you, birth place, age, schooling, anything man to flush the crap out of this silly Mossad/CIA game. Get this blog to discuss important reform issues and keep Bashar on schedule.

March 25th, 2011, 12:02 am

 

nafdik said:

Vedat,

The reason we are not complaining about the blog titles is that this blog has long become the mouthpiece of the regime so we do not bother anymore.

It serves more as a cafe than a real source of information or analysis.

As for your analysis that Saudis or the west want to get rid of assad. I beg to differ.

At this juncture all the dictators and sticking together and they want to see the storm over. Every new dictator that falls makes their day of reckoning closer.

As for the west, in particular the US. They are afraid of the consequences of change for access to oil and for Israel dominance. Again they prefer to take a breath and see how things turn out in Egypt before seeing more revolutions.

March 25th, 2011, 12:03 am

 

Revlon said:

111. Dear Ed, In the wake of Sidnaya massacre video release, No Syrian or non-Syrian human being now bear to see or hear of Asad or his name.

Your well thought out plan was advocated at the start of the events. People, gave Jr the benefit of the doubt.

His crimes in Dar3a have been seen on video. His family members crimes are also now on video.

The aim of the revolution now is seek justice.

March 25th, 2011, 12:04 am

 

SOURI said:

The Wahhabis are counting too much on foreign aid. They believe that America is going to prevent the Syrian military from hitting them.

Well, we saw in Libya how long it took the “international community” to act. The Syrian military will have more than enough time to restore order in all of Syria if it acts fast.

If things develop into an armed conflict between the military and the Wahhabis, the worst thing that could happen is for the regime to continue as it is. If things develop into war, the regime must institute serious and deep secular reforms alongside democratic reforms. This is the only way that the regime can keep legitimacy after using military force against the people.

Some of the reforms that must happen after the war:

1-a new secular constitution.
2-reformed religious education in schools.
3-a secular family law.
4-banning of religious symbols in state institutions.

It would be a catastrophe if we win a civil war against the Wahhabis and we don’t get these secular reforms.

March 25th, 2011, 12:06 am

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

@REVLON
Are you from banias, Syria?

March 25th, 2011, 12:06 am

 

Norman said:

If violence erupt in all Syrian cities on Friday then the regime and Syria are in trouble , if violence is limited to Daraa then the government is going to make it clear that this is coming from Jordon and probably will hit hard ,

Vedat,
You want the KSA to bribe the tribal leaders, I thought we want to fight corruption or that is not because it is from the KSA .

March 25th, 2011, 12:06 am

 

SOURI said:

Commenting on #130:

Hafez Assad’s external and internal relations were much worse than Bashar’s, and he still won over the Ikhwan who were directly trained and armed by Iraq and Jordan. What you say is not that important really. Bashar is in a much better place than his father.

March 25th, 2011, 12:11 am

 

Ziadsoury said:

Nafdik,

I am not worried about justifying myself to anyone. These guys play the same game as the Israelis and right wing nuts in the US. They want to de-legitimize you so you can lose credibility. We need to stay on the message. We want accountability. These people who lost their lives did not do it in vain.

Norman, SNP
You guys are pathetic. You have adopted the Mukhabarat mentality. What does it matter if I am from Al aazizya or Malkie. You have no right to ask these questions. This is “shoot the messenger” and ignore the message.

However I will play along.

I am from Jouret Alshia7. I used to buy my falafel from the Mazloom and travel by the Karnak. Karameh is my team and I hated the El Itihad from 7aleb. Am I dating myself?

I do not live in VA. I live in one of the most exclusive towns in the US. I am very well educated. I work as a technology executive and have over 400 people report to me. I came to the state with few $$ in my pocket and made it on my own.

Now, I do not believe for a second that you are Syrian especially SNP.

March 25th, 2011, 12:17 am

 

Revlon said:

#117
Dear Souri: The prospect of a national or international tribunal for crimes against civilians for the regime and supporters should be of concern to you.

A national or international court shall lodge formal request with websites (blogs Youtube, facebook) to divulge account data to enable justice to track down all suspected regime’s criminals and accomplices.

You can run!
But you can not hide.

March 25th, 2011, 12:20 am

 

Nour said:

It seems like a lot of people are getting desperate. They were not counting on the regime taking the decisions they did today, so it didn’t take long for their true colors to show. They have to make up ground and try to recreate the wind that was taken out of their sails. So they resort to fabricated videos and articles from clownish journalists for hire. And of course always eyewitness accounts, although somehow all those “eyewitnesses” are constantly contradicting each other. One eyewitness can verify that 23 people were killed in Deraa. Another assures us it’s 37. Then a third says it’s 80, a fifth 100, a sixth 150, and so on. We then have one of those clownish journalists tell us that in Syria there are 10 security officers for every citizen!!!! Got that everyone? Somehow this regime is so monstrous that they can reproduce security officers at a very high rate. This means that if Syria has a population of 20,000,000 the number of security officers they have must be 200,000,000. Or maybe what that clownish journalist meant was that of the 20,000,000 Syrian citizens only 2,000,000 are civilians and the rest are members of the security force.

Then of course “revolutionists” themselves claim that demonstrations are taking place all over Syria, and not only in Deraa. Fair enough, we at least know of the demonstrations in Homs and Banyas and the few in Damascus. So then the question becomes why aren’t security forces killing demonstrators in those other cities? Why is it only in Deraa? Is there something special about Deraa? Does the regime have it in for Deraa? It absolutely can’t be that there are indeed armed gangs in Deraa for that would totally disrupt the story of the evil regime cold-bloodedly killing unarmed, peaceful protesters. But they always come up with some explanation for things that don’t add up. How were members of the security force killed if the “demonstrators” were unarmed? After much careful thought the geniuses of the “revolution” arrived at a brilliant explanation. Those security men refused to attack the Omari Mosque and were thus killed by their own security forces. YES. Now it all makes sense.

This reminds me of the time Haitham Al Mannaa appeared on Al Jazeera and claimed that Nizar Nayouf was kidnapped by the regime in Brussels and was threatening that this would not go unpunished. We discovered a few days later that Nayouf was actually just hiding and Al Mannaa knew that all along. So if these shady characters, clownish journalists, fabricated propaganda, sectarian incitement, and anonymous internet aliases are what make up this “revolution” good luck tomorrow. The funniest part of all is that some people actually think the regime is going to fall by tomorrow afternoon.

March 25th, 2011, 12:31 am

 

nafdik said:

Nour,

I fail to see your point.

Are you saying people have not died in Daraa.

If they did, why do you seem more concerned with journalistic errors than with the death of fellow Syrians?

March 25th, 2011, 12:46 am

 

nafdik said:

ps

Nour, did you see the video of Maher assad taking souvenir photos of prison massacre?

What is your comment on that? Is it fabricated by clownish journalists?

March 25th, 2011, 12:48 am

 

SOURI said:

#142 NOUR

The regime may fall indeed if they lose Hafez Assad’s determination and foresight. Syria can easily collapse if the regime does not act like I’ve been saying.

Concessions don’t work with the Islamists, because what they want goes far beyond any reasonable compromise.

If the regime does not already have a war plan, then it is perhaps too late to save the country.

Syrian Islamists in general won’t revolt against the regime, the problem comes from the Wahhabis who are found in large numbers in Hauran, the eastern region, rural Aleppo, rural Damascus, and rural Homs. Those Wahhabis can go out tomorrow and cause trouble, and things then can escalate into a full Islamist insurgency if non-Wahhabi Islamists decide to join.

As long as the Wahhabis have the determination to revolt, everything is possible tomorrow.

March 25th, 2011, 12:53 am

 

Revlon said:

#137 Dear SNP, Keep guessing where I am from!
But I will answer you, if you give me the name of the last victim that you tortured personally at your Mukhabarat branch!

Check out the advice that I gave to your mate, Soury @117

#140 Dear Ziadsoury,
Be carefull about what you say to these imposters. They have huge data files on every soul in Syria. They are willing to interrogate and torture a whole neighbourhood to get to your true identity and hurt your family. They are evil.

For our sake, time is running out for them. They will soon be running to hide or begging for mercy

Every day brings us closer to our freedom!

March 25th, 2011, 12:54 am

 
 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

@ZIADSOURI,
Thank you, we just wanted to make sure that we are really dealing with Syrian, that is all. Whatever your opinion is, if it is for the benefit of Syria we support you, regardless of who you are.
We are proud of your ability to make it on your own in America. Syria can use your experience and abilities.

Ok, that is good, you named a town that give me assurance you maybe Syrian, Homsi جورة الشياح . Other stuff is touristy, so can you please tell me اسم المدرسة الابتدائية او الاعدادية اعميل معروف.
I will give you mine:
معتز الدندشي, ثانوية عبد الحميد الزهراوي, المحطة.

March 25th, 2011, 1:02 am

 

abbas said:

Bashar just ordered the cancellation of Fridays and to make the week from SAt to Thurs

March 25th, 2011, 1:04 am

 

Vedat The Turk said:

TO NAFDIK:
Thank you for pointing that out. I was unaware of that others too felt the main page was a mouthpiece for the regime. Having said this, it does provide insight into the mindset of the Baathists.

TO NORMAN
It’s not called bribery when you are purchasing influence. Saudi Arabia does this all the time to the trans national tribes of the Middle East. I would be shocked if the Saudi’s were not already in southern Syria covertly gathering intelligence and trying to influence events. Make no mistake, Riyadh views the Baathist under Bashar Assad as an extension of the Iranian threat. Moreover the fall of the pro-Iranian Baathist regime and replacement by a friendly Sunni government would delight the House of Saud and much of the region. Think of the earthquake this would cause to Iranians and Hezbollah. It would forever turn the tables on Hezbollah in Lebanon. Moreover from what I have been able to tell Bashar is despised by the rulers of the region on a personal level. His self agrandizement and penchment to insult of other leaders is well established.

For all of these reasons and more the countries of the region are not only quietly praying for Assads fall but are more than willing to expend the resources to insure it occurs! Anyone who argues otherwise is simply not well versed in the history and ways of the Middle East.

March 25th, 2011, 1:22 am

 

Revlon said:

#148 SNP,
Your response to Mr Ziadsoury was “Thank you, WE just wanted to make sure that we are really dealing with Syrian, that is all. Whatever your opinion is, if it is for the benefit of Syria we support you, regardless of who you are”

“WE”, Means you are speaking on behalf of a group. Your iterrogative questions and friendly tone when getting positive response betray your true profession, a half-buttoned shirt (HS, the German counterpart used to be called SS!) (Mukhabarat).

Your like chairmanship and to be creative ! lol! I bet you have both. You are sitting on a chair and thinking of new ways to torture your victims in the prison basement.

Your naiivity is your stongest asset, not your brut. Your name is now on record.

March 25th, 2011, 1:44 am

 

Aldendeshe said:

You need to ignore SOURI, he is not Syrian. He is a paid agent on seditious mission. He is basically trying to get the Syrian army, or he thinks all are Alawites, to launch a bloody sectarian attack on Wahhabi’s, which he thinks that after the attack, they will not be called Wahhabi’s, but Sunnis or Sunni Syrians. What is happening in the past couple of days, after it became obvious of the failure of treasenous, sedition in Daraa, Israel panicked and felt it took a huge strategic blow by the improved Syrian situation under the reforms. It now realized that this failure is leading to stronger Syria and stronger ties with Iran.

So now they are desperately trying to get the army to attack for one purpose, get the video and run to U.N. to get Syria under similar regime to Libya or Egypt, step down Bashar, hand to military bla, blab la, you know the rest. The Syrians are too smart to fall for this and it seam there is a conflict happening in the U.S. administration, or maybe a rogue elements within the apparatus is carrying out this plot for the benefit of Israel, drug smuggling, running Iraqi oil to Mediterranean, dismantling Syria and its weapon, removing support for Hezbollah, and cutting Iran off. Hence we get the shouts about no Hizb, no Iran etc, etc. If you to count all the winners and losers in this Bay of Daraa fiasco, Israel is the #1 looser. Just count how much it lost by the new strength Syria gained by the reform announced today.

March 25th, 2011, 1:51 am

 

Aldendeshe said:

And of course you should ignore NON SYRIAN REVLON, his dimm brain and agenda is obvious. I think the plot is clear, exposed and defeated. So frustrated Israeli with this failure, that it is Foreign Minister lashed out at Washington today, demanding immediate bombing of Syria and Iran, saying that Libya is no threat to Israel.

So here it is 2 clowns already out. XXXX SOURI , REVLON and will see if more are real Syrian oppositions or just a bunch of paid agents that Landis know about (was informed) perhaps!!

March 25th, 2011, 2:01 am

 

annie said:

I agree with Aldendeshe; Souri is no Syrian. He is feeding us the Zionist line.

March 25th, 2011, 2:42 am

 

Abdo said:

The Baath regime is buying time , he knows that no matter what it cannot quiet the revolution. In the next few weeks many key figures that lead the protests will disappear or commit suicide, and few greedy business men ( FOBs friends of Bashar) will be happy to be tried and jailed as long as the regime is happy. The Baath regime is the most brutal regime in the middle east, and Bashar himself knows that if he even shows a sign of weakness he will be overthrown, just as he almost was back when he took over and wanted to introduce changes to the country ( the spring of damascus)

March 25th, 2011, 2:51 am

 

NK said:

Syrian director Tamer Awam :

By the way, CNN’s Anderson Cooper challenged the Syrian government to give international journalists visas so they can travel to Syria and cover the events taking place in Daraa/Syria … quoting him on twitter
” @andersoncooper Anderson Cooper
#syria says trust only syrian govt news. No visas for int’l reporters. Makes it seem like they’re hiding something, doesn’t it. #ac360 10p”

March 25th, 2011, 3:01 am

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

Video- Another call to sacrifice more souls to please the Lord of Dawn of New Day. His love and insatiable thirst to blood is legendary. This director message is lost on those logical strategists. No one denies the truth of what he said and the conviction of which he delivered the message, but his call for demonstrations tomorrow, knowingly what will happen is somehow evil and selfish, after all, he sits in safety; in Germany, demanding hoards of sheep’s to be brave to go to be slaughtered for his coward’s ass.

IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY IN SYRIA. And you will not get support of the majority of Syrians because, now listen carefully why, it will ends up placing Syria on U.N. no fly zone and possible ground troupes invasion of Syria. No matter how bad it is now, it is much worse, and much more humiliating to be under foreign mercenaries guns, shot at for fun, than the security team of Bashar Assad.

Why all these, so called Syrian oppositions, which day by day becoming more of seditious and treasonous people out to fulfill foreign interests agenda against Syria, don’t they see that they are being used. For 50 years no one cared about them, only now, suddenly they are of interests to everyone. Why this director did not send this video a decade ago, even a year ago, to all member of U.S. Congress for one example, to Criminal Bakisungyoungmoon at the U.N. to Saudis MOSLEMS rulers asking for help, why all the sudden, this consorted effort, in flash, is being orchestrated.

You want to get change in Syria, you need to get the majority on your side, and you need to stop listening to dimwitted foreign enemies who sees Syria as a Sunni Majority and Alawi Minority. Syria is majority that wants change, been wanting change since March 8, 1963, but many of you bastards, were in the streets barking Ahdafuna, no more Iktayee, no more Intihazieh, no more this and no more that. It was not Alawites that marched with these slogans on that day, it was you low life Sunni Moslem of lower classes. And because of your action on that day, because of all your support to the Baath Party, many Syrians paid a heavy price, some the depression was so intolerable, they committed suicides.

So here it is idiots, we all now need a change, are you happy, but it has to be on our terms and our direction, one that will insure that Syria remain strong, intact and Sovereign. The majority of Syrians are not going to have you screw us up for another 50 years.

President Bashar Assad Government had agreed to the changes needed, you have no cause today, when non delivery day comes in, you can voice your loud mouth again, and please do, we need you, but we (the majority Syrians-made up of all sects) must remain in control.

That is the deal, take it or leave it. You have the right to demand, but not the right to commit sedition and treason against us.

March 25th, 2011, 3:50 am

 

SecularLB said:

Nour #142

You are Mme. Shaaban or Mme. Assad 😉

March 25th, 2011, 5:34 am

 

FHMETKom said:

just yesterday any syrian who’d call for these reforms would be dragged to jail and would have a complete trial with a at least 3 years in prison … now Lady Bouthina says these are legitimate demands for Syrians

March 25th, 2011, 6:04 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

Souri,

How does it feel to be a Zionist? Yes, an Arab who doesn’t “toe the line” is now smeared with the worst epithet know to (Arab) Man.

Democracy has a looooong way to go in the “tolerant” ME…

Ziad stated,

I believe that Palestinians have the right to fight their oppressors, occupiers, jailers and thieves by the only weapons they got.

Ziad,

It doesn’t matter what “weapons they got”, be it knives or F-16s. It is how the weapons are used.

That is why organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah have made no progress for their people.

March 25th, 2011, 7:19 am

 

Ziadsoury said:

SNP,

I think my memory is fading a little. I just remembered that I am from Bab al-Nasr in Aleppo. I went to Nablus High. My favorite team is Al 7ouriah and I hated Al Thawrah.

Also my favorite restaurant is Al Rowdah and I used to pray at the Al-Nuri Mosque.

I told you I can play this game.

Revlon,

They can search all they want. As they say “garbage in, garbage out”.

Now let’s get back to the real issues.

March 25th, 2011, 7:37 am

 

Norman said:

Vedat
And political contributions are buying influence , YES they are all bribes, you can call what you want, and can you explain to me why KSA has the right to interfere in Syria with it’s money, That is exactly why there is fear in Syria of outside money buying influence and affecting the national stand of Syria.

Ziad souri,
What is your contribution to the improvement of Syria,i am sure that you are able, you went to school there and probably university and paid nothing in the process, how much did you pay back, I did not pay anything therefore i do not have the right to sit back and complain, You and i and everybody else should put up or shut up.

March 25th, 2011, 7:53 am

 

Solitarius said:

Feeling proud as a Homsi today (I always do.. today a bit more)

March 25th, 2011, 7:53 am

 

Revlon said:

#161
Hey Solitarious, do not just keep it to yourself! What is happening down Homs alleys? Please elaborate!

March 25th, 2011, 8:01 am

 

CC said:

Can anyone enlighten me as to why Deraa is referred to as a “tribal city” in several news reports?

March 25th, 2011, 8:48 am

 

majedkhaldoon said:

More demonstrations in Marjeh in Damascus, thousands were there,the regime arrested few,also demonstrations in Omayya Mosque.
In Homs hundreds demonstrated in support of Deraa,where several thousands shared in the funeral of victims died by the security forces.

We need measures to assure us that what the regime promised will be implemented,promises are no more than fish in water.

March 25th, 2011, 8:51 am

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

I want to confirm to you guys, that Souri is a Zionist agent.
How do I know? Because I met him during our last meeting of the Elders of Zion, where we plotted to do harm to Syria and to the Arabs.
All of what you see on your TV screens and YouTube was planned and rehearsed in that secrete meeting of the Elders of Zion..

===
Any way, Now it’s in Homs and in Dimashk. Sooner than I expected.
Even AlJezeera is unable to ignore it any longer, and they report about Syria with great amount of reluctance.

Shabat Shalom.

March 25th, 2011, 8:51 am

 

Rami Yazje said:

Buthaina Shaaban appeared last night on BBC World Service. what annoys me most about her appearance is the attitude! the last thing you want to do on live news is park like mad and shout that ‘we love our people’….do you love me buthaina? do you? do you?

and Buthaina: in a democracy you DO report to the media!

March 25th, 2011, 9:09 am

 

Solitarius said:

Revlon

I don’t know the details. I’m watching the same youtube videos. Frankly I don’t dare call home and won’t expect honest answers over the phone anyways.

March 25th, 2011, 9:15 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

The Cat is Out of the Bag NewZ

Amir in Tel Aviv,

These meetings with the Elders of Zion were supposed to be kept secret so we could finish the baking of the “bloody” (yet tasty) Pesach Matzos.

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

Please submit your resignation letter to the Neocons in congress, and leave your badge at the CIA front desk.

Thank you.

March 25th, 2011, 9:25 am

 

Ziadsoury said:

Norman,

It seems to me that you equate complaining about what is going on in by the regime Syria to complaining about Syria. These are 2 different things.

The first one is for improving Syria and the second for denigrating Syria.

The regime does not represent the Syrian people. No one was voted in.
The constitution put in place by the Baath party is a racist one. It prevents 60% of the population from becoming president.
Syria is not in the resistance camp. It is begging to be in the peace camp. And as you have been saying the Golan is not coming back unless we make the Israelis feel pain from holding on to it.

So I am paying back by asking for a change. A complete change and a promise to look into change. I said before and still say Bashar could be the president but he has to be elected by the people. Then he gets his power from the people which is the ultimate one.

March 25th, 2011, 11:12 am

 

Saint Sief Homs said:

Our Bashar is such a beautiful dictator. He kills the people of Dar’aa with pink bullets. All these people who say bad things about our Bashar. They don’t know how good he treats his workers. We now have another $32.50 to spend at the Baath party store. I think I’ll buy some flags…maybe make a charitable donation to Hizballah…my Shi’a brothers in the Lebanese territories.

March 25th, 2011, 10:02 pm

 

What Revolution? (Part 1) said:

[…] by unknown gunmen in the ensuing weeks as the regime sought to de-escalate the situation with reforms and […]

September 19th, 2013, 10:19 am