The meeting of the ‘imbeciles’ will only take care of refugees. Moaz and co. will rule over them from exile. Another Palestine is looming.

Make maximum benefits of your donations by directly sending it to the FSA. Say no to Red Cross, say no to Red Crescent, say no to HCI, say no to agents of ‘charity=defeat’. Say yes to ‘Action Direct = FSA Victories’.

Watch how Islamists teaching children how to cut heads with swords here, Landis link needs sign up:

http://www.syriatruth.org/الأخبار/أحداثالسـاعة/tabid/93/Article/8761/Default.aspx

Millions of Moslems leaving Islam:

Incredible people,incredible stories

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DVSA0T0jvU

Prof. Landis, the title and your way of conveying the two stories – one about the sympathy for Jabhat al-Nusra from the 29 Facebook groups, another about the establishment of the new military command – is confusing and could be misleading. These are two separate stories and they are unrelated to each other, yet due to switching a couple of times between topics and using words like militias for both and mentioning the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists for the latter, it could give the impression that it is one and the same story.

New Footage from the Tomb of Shaykh Sirajuddin
http://freehalab.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/new-footage-from-the-tomb-of-shaykh-sirajuddin/

Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi Meets With Shaykh Moaz al-Khatib
http://freehalab.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/shaykh-muhammad-al-yaqoubi-meets-with-shaykh-moaz-al-khatib/

Aleppo’s Shaykhs on the Battle Front
http://freehalab.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/aleppos-shaykhs-on-the-battle-front/

After seeing a lot and hearing a lot more, I have to doubt the sanity or the sincerity of anybody who still think that the rebels are not dominated by Al-Qaida and its sister terrorist gangs,I find the announcement of 29 opposition groups in support of JAN very disturbing, Syria is another Iraq in the making,I warned about that a long time ago, you called me a regime sympathizer,Sunnis who say NO to these islamist violent groups will be the first targets,the same thing happened in Iraq and Pakistan, also the presence of these groups will open the door to foreign intervention,may be limited but non stop, in the name of fighting terrorism, there are reports already on chemical weapons “experts” from foreign countries (including israel)operating on syrian soil,it seems like the West is happy to attract terrorists to Syria from other countries then let the regime forces kill some while drones soon will kill others, the fact that Syria is becoming a failed state is not essential to the discussion as long as Israel is safe and those darn chemical weapons are secured.

See my point? You’re full of it Ghufran. If you’re so concerned about the state and fate of those “Sunnis who say NO to these islamist violent groups” then why don’t you support them? But how can you support something that barely exists, right? You don’t have to be an Assad supporter to not have a clue and be full of contradictions, even if you’re Syrian.

The use of banned chemical weapons by the criminal regime of the jackal Assad is now documented after the FSA captured chemical gear deployed by the outlawed gangs of the terrorist mafia regime of the Assad the thug,

#7. Visitor

Hanzala #8,

Chemical weapons do not ignite.

Water is not always a fire extinguisher. Some fires cannot be put off by water. Read…

http://www.hawsepipe.net/chiefhelp/firefighting/fundamentals_of_firefighting.htm

Bodies of foreign militants killed inside Syria arrive in Lebanon’s Tripoli
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/10/277153/bodies-of-syria-rebels-arrive-in-tripoli/

Does anyone know what the real situation in Aleppo, has the city fallen to the rebels, is it at standstill, or does the regime still controls it?

If the regime cannot hold Damascus, it is unlikely it can hold Lattakia against a determined FSA.

Ghurfan, if you are so worried about the state, why do we not hear more denunciations of the regime from you? IT’s policies have destroyed Syria. IT was the government in charge during the civil war up to now. IT’S brutality opened the door to foreign intervention and soldiers. Compared to the regime, even Al-Nusra has done little.

And no sent the jihadists, Ghurfan. They came on their own. They’re part of the same groups that fought the Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Why is it that so many Syrians and ex-pats still believe in stupid conspiracy theories? Why do they believe that the jihadists came to Syria out of some “foreign” agenda, when all evidence shows that they came to Syria on their own free will?

It is a tragedy of immense proportions that this regime opted for all or nothing, and that’s pretty much what they’re going to get.

It might seem a bit late, but regime supporters and especially fence-sitters should jump ship to have a say in the new Syria. It would be a shame if it were left only to the extremists. Worse yet, it is a shame that people are being driven to extremism, although under the circumstances it seems natural.

Truth and Reconciliation: let it be a mantra. Let not innocents on either side be harmed and put the criminals on trial.

Conversations: Kidnappings and Kids Hungry in Aleppo
5

As part of our effort to highlight civilian stories, below is a conversation between Syria Deeply and a young professional in Aleppo. He is married with children and works in an insurance company. He describes himself as a liberal member of the middle class who used to spend his evenings smoking waterpipes in local cafes, until violence swept his city four months ago.

The Free Syrian Army can take this city at any moment. They are able to take it now, but they won’t, because they are using the battle as a pretext to raise money from their backers.

We are sick of both sides, because we are the ones paying the price for their merciless war.

There are troops stationed in front of my dad’s medical clinic. I see them a lot. I befriended one of them, who is an Alawite from Tartous. He always brags about how strong the army is and that they are going to crush the rebels very soon.

I asked him what they were waiting for and why they let this much destruction happen to Aleppo. He said [his brigade] left their safe and comfortable homes in the coastal cities to come here and fight “terrorists.” He said they are risking their lives and dying, while the Sunnis of Aleppo are sending their sons out of country to avoid serving in the army.

He added, “the Sunnis are not paying us any ‘pocket money’ for guarding their factories and work places…they’re paying to support the rebels.” Then he asked rhetorically, “Why are we supposed to defend them and their businesses…let them burn!”

One of my clients was kidnapped a couple of weeks ago. We looked into how to help him and his family. Finally, we found the kidnappers and agreed to pay 500,000 Syrian pounds ($6,100) in exchange for his release. We went to the agreed rebel checkpoint, gave them the money, but then they told us to go deeper to the other checkpoint. There they demanded another 200,000 Syrian pounds. After the third checkpoint they demanded another 300,000 Syrian pounds!

Basically, each checkpoint was selling a kidnapped man to the next and making profit, so that all of them get a share of the prize. We could finally free our client, but the family had to pay one million pounds in total at the end of the day.

At home, my kids ate the last piece of bread today and we didn’t know if we were going to get bread the next day, even at a very high price. My kids’ lips were blue from the cold, because there is no electricity. Both sides, the regime and the rebels, are equal and united in one thing: crime against these innocent people.

Nowadays, the people of Aleppo seem united in pain. The crisis united us all, government apologists and opposition sympathizers. A few days ago the rebels invaded and took over the thermal plant, which provides electricity for Aleppo. Shortly after that the government came and bombarded the place with jets. Final conclusion: people in Aleppo are living without heat, without lights, and in extremely dire humanitarian conditions.

The whole world has abandoned Aleppo. We are left between the cruelty of the regime and the indifferent mobs of the opposition. But above all this, I cannot blame anyone but ourselves, because those who are raising the prices of fuel, electricity generators, coal, bread and all basics are also people from Aleppo. They are our new warlords, who are making fortunes on the expense of the poor people. I cannot ask the world to sympathize with Aleppo, when we are the ones who are starving each other and leaving each other in the cold. Our children are dying slowly while some people are using the chaos to make as much money as they can. And that is haram, haram money (cursed or forbidden money).
source : http://alpha.syriadeeply.org/2012/12/conversations-kidnappings-kids-hungry-aleppo/#.UMW-vlGa8Uh

Why The West Supports The Murderous Rebels in Syria
http://youtu.be/YeOmdyNHj70

http://youtu.be/BBDXnNfgEoY

That is the most fucked up video from Syria I’ve seen so far.

The glorious FSA makes a child behead a bound man.

I wouldn’t waste my time trying to convince Ghufran or Zoo to change their minds. They are most likely paid to do what they are doing. Once the regime falls they will simply disappear from SC.

الشريط الأكثر فظاعة في تاريخ البربرية: مجرمو”الجيش الحر” يستخدمون الأطفال لقطع رؤوس عسكريين بالسواطير
http://www.syriatruth.org/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%80%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A9/tabid/93/Article/8761/Default.aspx

17. Visitor

Lol, and who pays you then?

http://times247.com/articles/f-16-engines-stolen-from-israeli-military-base

I post this here, as it is such a bizarre story that it makes me wonder what can happen in Syria. If in Israel, the ultimate security state, this can happen, what can happen with weapons, including chemical weapons, in Syria, where the state is possibly on the brink of collapse?

I don’t think there is any region in the world more dangerous than the Levant right now.

join and get free airtime for making calls,sms and internet. http://mcent.com/ref/6ZD89K/?mref=rftw 100% guaranteed

Habib @19,

Even a kinderkarten kid will find you mediocre.!!!

Did you notice that I did not include you in the list of payees? Well, that was intentional. You are NOT worth ANY pay!!!

I hope this comment will give you another occasion to once again LOL like a buffoon clown.

Soon the rebels will isolate Assads men stationed in the city, much better strategy than fighting a very costly urban war. Just a few more bases left in the western countryside.

Bashar is stubborn as a mule.
Actually stubborn as an al-Wahsh.

Anyway, nice cartoon. Not long now:

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/mka/lowres/mkan296l.jpg

Some updates on YS from earlier today:

AlexanderPageSY
Defected Officer Manaf Tlas: The #Syria’n regime handed out weapons to the opposition indirectly to give purpose to military crackdown.

http://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/alexanderpagesy-defected-officer-manaf-tlas-the-syrian-regime/

**********

KetyDC
Acc to a Brazilian newspaper, Bussaina Shaban, “personal assistant to Assad”, visited Brazil at the end of Nov, talked to Syrian bizmen (1)
(cont) here about the “possibility of transfering ppl and large ammount of money” from Syria to Brazil. 3 sources (1 opp; 2 pro-Assad) (2)
(cont) confirmed the purpose of the visit. Officially she came for medical treatment in SP but that doesnt explain why she visited Rio (3)

http://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/ketydc-acc-to-a-brazilian-newspaper-bussaina-shaban/

Shabeeha in FSA clothes?

More from YS:

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

SyrianSmurf

Before getting all mad about some video…remember that there are FSA shabiha…they go with the name of FSA to do what they want.

#pt these people are thieves and criminals…some were asked to defect by the regime to purposely ruin the FSA image.

http://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/syriansmurf-before-getting-all-mad-about-some-video/

*******

abuhatem ‏@abuhatem

@SyrianSmurf also there is no centralized leadership – rebels are anyone who call themselves rebels who could be anyone.
SyrianSmurf

@abuhatem exactly. I was assured by some FSA commanders that there are entire “FSA battalions” composed of regime shabiha…

http://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/abuhatem-%e2%80%8fabuhatem-syriansmurf-also-there-is-no-centralized/

Al Jazeera – Counting the Cost:

Syria’s war economy

Who has been backing President Bashar al-Assad with cash, and how it is fuelling the conflict?

08 Dec 2012

Trying to understand what is going on inside Syria is difficult to say the least. There is a devastating war raging, independent journalists are not allowed in, and for our purposes on this programme there is no official economic data.

But what information we do have points to a ‘war economy’ – money and food supplies are being kept aside for the government, the army and its supporters.

[…]

What are the ins and outs of a war economy? What does it mean for the people in Syria suffering from the war, who really need the kind of money and support that the Syrian government appears to have? And who has been backing President Bashar al-Assad with cash, and how?

Counting the Cost is joined by Jihad Yazigi, the editor-in-chief of The Syria Report, which provides economic news and data on the country, to discuss the Syrian economy.

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/countingthecost/2012/12/2012127115956188904.html

Prediction.

I’ll have a guess. The regime will fall soon and I’ll go for 27th December. A lot can happen in 3 weeks. If Assad (regime) survives into the new year I’ll give him no more than 2 weeks into 2013.

Allah Almighty Knows best.

Russia: The Geneva based political settlement is the only solution to Syria’s crisis.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-12/10/c_132030997.htm

The priority to solve the crisis should be forcing all parties involved to lay down their weapons instead of talking endlessly about Assad’s fate, Lavrov said at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin’s election agents.

Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s stance on Syria, calling for a Geneva meeting of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and the Arab League countries.

He also urged the full implementation of the Geneva communique as a basis for the political settlement of the crisis and complained that some of Russia’s Western partners have departed from former agreements.

Meanwhile, foreign players should exert their influences on the conflicting sides in Syria and urge them to stop violence immediately and go back to the negotiating table, said Lavrov.

Moscow has not changed its mind and would do its utmost to end the prolonged violence in Syria as soon as possible, he said.

Ironically, we will soon see the Turkish army fighting against the Al Nusra alliance when, failing to win in Syria, the Islamist terrorists will direct their weapons toward Turkey..
Now I understand Turkish call for NATO Patriots.

#27 Uzair8

You better stick to God and avoid making your own predictions.

#25 Uzair8

You twitter choices show that you are in a total confusion about whos’s who in this war.

Sa7haf the EWE said @29,

“Now I understand Turkish call for NATO Patriots.”

Me too!!

In order to shoot down the Nusra Migs!!

12. MarigoldRansaid:

And no sent the jihadists, Ghurfan. They came on their own. They’re part of the same groups that fought the Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan.
__________________________________________________________________

And now fighting for Israeli-Neocon interests wiping Syria off the map and rolling it Back. But Qatari do pay good money, so yeah why not, we know we are going to live in Paris and London in the end, and those underdog we fooled like those Syrian defects from the army, the hell with them. We did the same back in the 80’s and we ever cared then. WE ARE MOSLEM MERCENARIES MURTAZAKA, IT IS OUR JOB.

The ‘genius’ of Bashar, the jackal:

Replace the washing water inside washing drums with large quantities of explosives and fuel, normally used for heating in the cold winter, use the cigarete lighter of a smiling pilot to ignite the mixture, and air drop the drums on people lined-up in front of bakeries,

http://www.alarabiya.net/views/2012/12/10/254239.html

“بل انه ابتكر أساليب جديدة في علم الأسلحة واكتشف بعبقريته المدمرة أهمية براميل الغسيل عند استبدال مياهها بكميات كبيرة من المتفجرات وبعض المحروقات المخصصة أصلاً لتدفئة المواطنين بشتاء سورية القارس، وإلقائها على طوابير المواطنين المصطفين أمام المخابز للحصول على رغيف خبز لمن تبقى من أطفالهم، حيث لا يكلف إشعال فتيلها سوى شرارة من قداحة الطيار الهمجي الذي بنفس تلك القداحة يشعل سيجارته وهو يبتسم بحقد.”

navyjoc1655
@AlexanderPageSY Large hidden bunker South of Pres, Palace discovered.Tunnels connect it to palace & Mezzeh Airbase. 33.5018111N 36.238885E

http://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/navyjoc1655-alexanderpagesy-large-hidden-bunker-south-of-pres/

#34 Visitor said:

“The ‘genius’ of Bashar, the jackal”

You see you are not the only genius and jackal around!
Try that, Einstein:

The Patriots are against missiles too and your friends the Al Nusra criminals keep announcing they took army air bases and missile launchers…

“On 4 December 2012, NATO authorized the deployment of Patriot missile launchers in Turkey to protect the country from missiles fired in the civil war in neighboring Syria.”

Hey Zoo,

I left this comment for you under the previous thread,

https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=16906#comment-338003

Just in case you missed it

#35 Uzair8

yallasouria seems desperate, they are reporting just any stupid twitter as they have no news to announce that would cheer up they gloomy readers.
I guess you have become a Yallasouria mouthpiece

Hey ‘Edward Teller’ @36,

Would you care to explain to me (Einstein) why would my good friends from al-Nusra fire their newly acquired missiles at Turkey instead of Qurdaha for example, or even at Qasioun where the criminal, abominable jackal and his stooges live?

#37 Vistor

It’s nothing new to me. Miss Piggy is worried because after telling the same to the SNC, she will have to tell the FSA that they are irrelevant and face the wrath of Al Nusra and Al Qaeeda. Her job has become dangerous as she is now in many hit list, this is why she is quitting her job to discreetly join a travel agency.
Marakesh is probably going to be another disaster for the opposition as they will get few tap in the back and a big blow on the head.

#39 Visitor

Because the USA don’t want to do it and they can’t count on the Syrian army to do it ( as they are in Yemen)or on the Islamist FSA, they will probably oblige Turkey to use its military forces to get rid of the Islamists terrorists that are on the borders. That’s the continuation of the USA war on terrorism that in this case may threaten Jordan and… Israel.
Get ready for a change of tune from the UN and Western countries once Al Nusra is confirmed as a al Qaeeda terrorist group.
Got it, Einstein?

A typical melodramatic religious preaching on Youtube: from softness to hysterical anger… and calls for love

كلمة رئيس الائتلاف الوطني معاذ الخطيب للشعب السوري

What is at stake in Marrakesh?

Rundown: The Pre-Marrakesh Moment

http://alpha.syriadeeply.org/2012/12/rundown-pre-marrakesh-moment/#.UMYbUKC0r4Y

On Wednesday the US-led Friends of Syria group meets in Marrakesh, Morocco, in what could be a key diplomatic turning point in the crisis. Here’s a rundown of some things to know going into the week.

No reactions to the child beheading video?

21. Visitor

Lol, this pathetic Jihadi wannabe is on the verge of blowing up in his desk chair.

Don’t Let the Syrian Rebels Win
An outright victory by Assad’s enemies would be a disaster.

BY GLENN E. ROBINSON | DECEMBER 10, 2012
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/12/10/dont_let_the_syrian_rebels_win
…
In fact, the insurgents might be too good. Neither Syria nor the region would be well served by a decisive victory by either the Assad regime or by the opposition. Breathless supporters of Syria’s revolution need to be careful what they wish for. The most powerful elements of Syria’s armed opposition would almost certainly be no friend of liberal democracy were they to seize power for themselves. Consider this: The dissidents who brought down autocratic governments in Egypt and Tunisia, even the political Islamists among them, were far more politically liberal than what we see in Syria. And look at those countries now.

What, then? It is not fashionable to say so, but a negotiated outcome remains the best solution to end the killing and prevent the worst elements from either side ruling Syria. An outright opposition victory would likely produce a momentary air of euphoria before the steep decline toward autocracy and darkness begin.

Hey Ewe @41,

That’s way on top of my head, even for an Einstein!!!

“Because the USA don’t want to do it” The USA [sic] don’t want to do what?

“and they can’t count on the Syrian army to do it” .. count on the Syrian army to do what?

“Turkey to use its military forces to get rid of the Islamists terrorists that are on the borders.” But your Turkish version of SANA always maintained that Turkish public is against the war. What’s this sudden flip flop on your part ‘Eddy’?

“That’s the continuation of the USA war on terrorism that in this case may threaten Jordan and… Israel” But the war is over man. They can’t even hold onto Afghanistan, and Bronco Bama ain’t da man of war!! He is winding down. Remeber all the talk about the US going down the drain economically, militarily, and all the ‘excellent’ analyses of neo-nazi Albo with his numbers?

It looks to me, ‘Eddy’, like the whole issue can be resolved by giving my good Nusra friends the time to aim those missiles at Qurdaha and the Muhajereen, fire them off and get rid of the criminal Jackal and the missiles with him. Finito!!!

I am not going to revise ‘my’ famous equation because of your stupidity ‘Edward’!!

[…] 83 battalions of rebel fighters have issued a statement expressing solidarity with Al Nusra (h/t Joshua Landis) and told the Americans to mind their own […]

A dose of reality for Ewe at the Zoo about what will happen in Marrakesh and why Ms. Clinton is feigning sickness,

ولم يستبعد هيغ رفعا جزئيا لحظر توريد الأسلحة لدعم المعارضة السورية عندما يحين موعد التجديد خلال ثلاثة أشهر، ولكنه أشار إلى أن هذه الخطوة تتطلب تفكيرا حذرا.

وفي الأثناء، أفادت صحيفة فايننشال تايمز اليوم بأن المعارضة السورية والدول الخليجية الداعمة لها ستضغط على الحكومات الغربية هذا الأسبوع لتزويد الثوار بالأسلحة، وذلك بعد التقدم الكبير في توحيد الكتائب المسلحة وإخضاعها للسيطرة المدنية.

وأضافت الصحيفة أن مطالب المعارضة تقتصر على إمدادات الأسلحة وخاصة مضادات الدبابات والطائرات دون حاجة للتدخل المباشر، وسيبحث ذلك في اجتماع مراكش بالمغرب الأربعاء المقبل.

ونقلت فايننشال تايمز عن وزير الدولة القطري للشؤون الخارجية خالد بن محمد العطية قوله إن اجتماع مراكش يجب أن يسمح للسوريين بالدفاع عن أنفسهم ومواجهة القوة الجوية لنظام الأسد.

assad has failed to end the revolution, and infact he lost a lot of territories,and the rebels now around Damascus,Losing and failing will cause losing respect,his generals are able to challenge him openly since he failed,it is not his decision alone anymore,their decisions are more likely to be what count, and such decisions will be conflicting,and more mistakes will be expected.It is impossible for him to run to the Jabal,where his generals are probably will kill him,history tells us that a defeated leader is unlikely to survive his generals.It may be that he will die in his palace.

Oh ya sure Majed fits in perfectly into the famed CIA Analyst team. They never won a single war, just made a lot of money, got new drug sources, and walked out leaving millions of people homeless, life shattered, hopless, perfect drug users,physicaly and mentally deformed from Agent Orange to DU.

There have been talks into putting Assad, his regime and shabi7a on the terror list, thus treating Assad supporters in the West the same as #Alqaeda affiliates.

http://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/shabiha-militias-and-the-destruction-of-syria

Agreed. It looks increasingly likely that Assad will die at the hands of his Alawite generals.

If the generals don’t kill him, the FSA will. If the FSA don’t, NATO will. Assad’s made a lot of enemies in his two years of war.

Negotiated solution? Perhaps, but after the FSA wins in Damascus and Assad is dead or exiled. At that point it would be clear to everyone that the regime has been defeated.

Assad and his shabiha have done enough terror to be put on the terror list.

The only reason America has not done that is because Assad’s regime have never DIRECTLY targeted US interests.

@SNP

Yes, part of your statement is accurate. Some of the fighters are paid by people in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

But why is that a bad thing? Qatar and Saudi Arabia are ok countries to live in, or at least better places to live in than Syria. For all your comments about NATO and Turkey and Qatar and Saudi Arabia, ALL of those countries are better places to live in than in Syria right now.

Baathism is stupid and disastrous. All of the former Baath countries (Iraq, Syria, Libya) are messed up countries.

Assad’s only friends left are the Israelis however I will doubt that they would openly offer him assylum

ALL of those countries are better places to live in than in Syria right now.
_________________________________________________________________

All those countries, each one is a 1000 time richer and 10,000 times more resourceful. How you are going to heal and rebuild, your destructive action left Syria in far more worse conditions, on every level, than what Baathism did. Syria will never recover. I say to Bashar Pak up and move to the coast, leave the rest for the low life to live in the swamp cities and swage holes they made for themselves.

The jackal of Damascus has now resorted to white phosphorous bombs against civilians,

http://www.aljazeera.net/news/pages/27ddc4ab-7c14-4556-9868-6707cb83c3f4?GoogleStatID=1

These weapons are banned by the Geneva Convention from use against civilians,

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

Is Bashar the jackal not a war criminal yet?

Hanzal @8,

The video you linked shows phosphorous bombs.

By the way, I have instructed all SNPIER’s for entire month of December, from Dec 10- Jan 10, not to click neither thumb down or up for my / SNP posts or anyone alse. Doing some Market testing, real contributors profiling and count.

‘Public Hunger Strike’ in Saudi Arabia for Imprisoned Activist Al-Bajady
Posted 10 December 2012 17:19 GMT

Written by
Osama Khalid

Free Mohammad al-Bajady
 
Saudi human rights activist Mohammad al-Bajady has been getting much attention in the Saudi Twittershare in the last few weeks. Al-Bajady is one of the co-founders of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) and he has been detained since March 21, 2011, after taking part in a protest calling for an end to arbitrary detainment in front of the Interior Ministry building in Riyadh. He was secretly tried and sentenced last April to four years in prison.

On November 14, ACPRA issued the following statement [ar]:

في آخر اتصال هاتفي للناشط الحقوقي محمد بن صالح البجادي على زوجته، في تاريخ 3 ذو القعدة 1433هـ، الموافق 19 سبتمبر 2012م، أخبرها أنه سيضرب عن الطعام فور انهاءه للمكالمة احتجاجا على سوء معاملته، ثم وردت أنباء عن نقله بعد ذلك إلى زنزانة انفرادية وعزله عن العالم الخارجي، ومنذ تاريخ اعلانه للإضراب عن الطعام لم يرد منه أي اتصال هاتفي

In the last phone call from human rights activist Mohammad al-Bajady, which was on 19 September 2012, he told his wife that he would start a hunger strike right after the phone call to protest maltreatment. Our sources told us that he was then taken into solitary confinement. Since he announced hunger strike, no phone call was received.

Yesterday, December 9, @freealbjadi announced a public hunger strike to support al-Bajady on December 10, which marks the international Human Rights Day:

عش تجربة البجادي في السجن وأعلن اضرابك غدا عن الطعام…

@freealbjadi: Experience what al-Bajady is facing in prison and announce your hunger strike tomorrow…

“Save al-Bajady” campaign logo
Tens of reformist figures announced that they will be taking part in the public hunger strike in the hashtag #سأشارك_غدا_بالإضراب_عن_الطعام_تضامنا_مع_إضراب_البجادي (I will be participating in the hunger strike in support for al-Bajady), including activist Mohammad al-Qahtani, ex-political prisoner Matrook al-Faleh, and famous blogger Fouad al-Farhan along with over 200 other people, while the previous public hunger strike in support for al-Bajady, which took place last March, had only 38 participants. This led activists to announce success.

By strictly prohibiting demonstrations, Saudi Arabia invites new methods for public dissent, mostly undertaken by young people.

Written by Osama Khalid
Posted 10 December 2012 17:19 GMT ·

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/12/10/saudi-arabia-public-hunger-strike-in-support-for-imprisoned-activist/

Above is the link for my previous post.

Are Syria’s Rebels as Violent as Assad?

By Dashiell Bennett | The Atlantic Wire – 4 hrs ago
http://news.yahoo.com/syrias-rebels-violent-assad-160219596.html

Syrian rebels are starting to choke off the government’s access to its own country, bringing hope that the war may be slipping away from Bashar al-Assad. But the gains have also come with disturbing new signs — video decapitations, al Qaeda links, and more — that the rebels may end up nearly as brutal in victory as the regime they’re hoping to replace.

“60. ZOO said:

Are Syria’s Rebels as Violent as Assad?”

Until rebels start decapitating children for putting anti Moaz al Khatib graffiti, beating parents of musicians suspected of participating in anti FSA march, raping women suspected of sympathizing with the Assad regime, imprisoning relatives of those suspected of supporting Assad, then the answer is NO.

Like Ghaliun, a few FOS meetings ago, Moaz al Khatib is now lobbying for a wide diplomatic recognition as ” The sole representative of ( the aspirations of) the Syrian people” and ideally “the government in exile”.
In addition he is expecting lots of funds and weapons to take control and lure the FSA away from the Al Qaeeda Islamists.

Let’s guess what he will get in Marakesh from the big players like the USA?

http://news.yahoo.com/eu-foreign-ministers-meet-mideast-syria-mali-104854965.html

Hague said foreign ministers would be briefed by Mouaz al-Khatib, a moderate cleric who heads the new, Western-backed opposition coalition in Syria. Hard-line Islamist groups in the country have not joined the new coalition. Al-Khatib is expected to speak about attempts to unify the Syrian opposition as the coalition seeks greater diplomatic recognition.

The EU does not itself offer formal recognition — that is left to the individual member countries — but it has said the coalition is a legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

Bildt said it was important for EU foreign ministers to send a message of strong support to the opposition, and also to Lakdhar Brahimi, the joint U.N.-Arab League peace envoy for Syria, who Bildt said has been making “good progress.”

Those associated with the jackal regime are becoming pariah in many countries as Germany kicks out 4 mini-jackals,

http://www.aljazeera.net/news/pages/c887ecce-ddc5-46de-a427-8489726987c4?GoogleStatID=9

It is about time that these outcasts become what they actually are.

ALDENDESHE/SNP

Your hostility and contempt for Syrians living inside Syria is as extreme as your ecstatic fascination with extraterrestrials, “the mark of the beast” and other delusionary junk.

You aren’t just a harmless nut, you are sinister and ugly in your thinking.

Re-read your latest sick, nasty message to Syrians (like you have often said here):

“I say to Bashar Pak up and move to the coast, leave the rest for the low life to live in the swamp cities and swage holes they made for themselves” #55

What planet are you on? No, please don’t tell us.

What is al Nusra waiting for? They should listen to their friend, the SC military Einstein’s advices?
He knows it all. All his predictions failed, but there is still hope that one would succeed. Bravo!

“It looks to me, ‘Eddy’, like the whole issue can be resolved by giving my good Nusra friends the time to aim those missiles at Qurdaha and the Muhajereen, fire them off and get rid of the criminal Jackal and the missiles with him. Finito!!!”

#61 AJ

Oh, no.. The Alahuakbarites rebels are angels.

They don’t decapitate children, they make children decapitate soldiers.. Ok, they say Allah u akbar before, during and after…

ZOO,

I read bad will and indifference towards Syrians in your posts that confounds me.

How can anyone who is not suffering the same “problems” as ALDENDESHE/SNP think like that towards the people of Syria?

The extremists have come in and they are dirtying the revolution.

What exacly are they fighting for? Not the people of Syria.

They are having a delusionary “holy warrior” adventure which is more exciting and more self-important feeling than their derailed lives back in their home countries.

Let’s wait for them to explain their real mission to the real world.

Especially those who will later be doing the usual whining and blubbing for their home countries to repatriate them because of their “human rights”.

Watch that space. The cycle is inevitable.

“66. ZOO said:

#61 AJ

Oh, no.. The Alahuakbarites rebels are angels.

They don’t decapitate children, they make children decapitate soldiers.. Ok, they say Allah u akbar before, during and after…”

I know you would prefer having your soldiers decapitate our children but even when our kids want to bring those who committed the Houla massacre to justice, we, revolution supporters, condemn it.

I have never seen one post of you menhebakjiyi one word to condemn Assad’s actions.

You see, that’s the difference between us. You will NEVER EVER speak against Assad. We on the other hand, are free to say whatever we want, starting from 3ar3our, to Ghalioun and even to the fatso Hamad of Qatar.

Continue defending him, Allah kbeer

69. AJ

Talking about your ‘freedom” I wonder when you ever said anything bad about the opposition…

I don’t need to say bad things about Bashar al Assad, this blog is full if it with shameful vulgarity, hatred and arrogance.
Please don’t stop doing it.. if it makes you feel good and “free”

And also please don’t get God involved, you are certainly not his mouthpiece.

Hey Ewe @65,

You mean all those regiments, the battalions, the airbases, the oil fields, the dams, the airports, the missiles, the border crossings and the countless other victories do not count in your eyes?

Did you forget to cry ما today?

The MB should be put on the criminal list for their meddling role in enabling the extremists to get in the way of the real FSA and dirty the revolution.

The MB are traitors and parasitic self-seekers in this conflict. Syrians don’t need them.

They should be given a sledgehammer boot in the backside from the Coalition before they do any more mischief.

They are part of Syria’s current problem, not the solution.

Not sure what I’m talking about? Read this – and there’s plenty more out there to explain it to you:

Article: How the Brotherhood builds power in Syria’s opposition

http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/how-the-brotherhood-builds-power-in-syrias-opposition

#68 SL

Are you waking up to the bitter reality that I have been warning about for months and was laughed at?
The opposition is polluted beyond repair and has let itself become rotten from inside rather than call for a compromise when it was still time.

The Syrians are all paying the price of these miscalculations and underestimation of the dangerous path the uprising took when, instead of showing willingness to a dialog, it naively called for external countries to get involved militarily in a revolution that concerns only the Syrians.
Now the external forces and dark ones have taken over the country and the country is trapped in a cycle of endless violence. Great achievement, indeed…

#71

“..the border crossings and the countless other victories do not count in your eyes?…”

All is smoke in the eyes.
What counts now is the USA, Russia, Iran, the EU, the UN etc.. nothing else. The crisis is not going to be solved in Idlib or Deir Ezzzor. Every country has a stake in it, it is not a Syrian issue anymore, it is an international issue and the opposition made it so.
So ‘liberated villages’ on the borders, helicopter shot down.. It is all irrelevant to the solution.

ZOO #73,

Wrong. A cheap shot from a toy gun.

I have been very consistent in condemning the al queda kid gangs.

Their arrival in Syria and getting out of control are a well-documented by-product of the regime’s strategies.

And at some other stage you were no doubt applauding Bashar for using them. You probably still are.

What planet are you on? No, please don’t tell us.
_________________________________________________________________

Unfortunately I live on a planet that has way too many subhumans like you, we need to exterminate them all efficiently and bring earth back to the proper inheritance of real humans.

The existence and brainless entity, uneducated brain, is threat to all humanity and its future. The extermination of these people posing this threat to our evolution is Job # 1

Read about the plan for your demise here:

And of course Youtube only deletes videos of FSA atrocities, so here it is again:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=25c_1355177064

You can say much about the regime, but at least they don’t have child executioners.

#75 SL

I never, never supported Islamist terrorists or the MB or the Salafists while many of you were rejoicing when they were claiming military victories with a profusion of Allah u Akbar.
I always trusted the secular Syrian army and its dedication to the country while many of you were calling and thanking KSA, Qatar when we all know that Qatar supports the MB and KSA the salafists.
I am glad to see that your eyes are finally opening on the worse danger these people represent for Syria.

Ewe @ 74,

You are some accomplished ewe startegist!!!

Where did you learn all that?? Your Zoo must be one of a kind!!

It seems to me that all those countries you’re hanging you hopes on are either hesitant or outright scared to send in foot soldiers. So where are they going to solve the problem, if not in Idlib, Deir Ezzor and Damascus? In Cafe de Paris?

O’ I forgot your Mullah-stan is willing to send in few pasdrans. No problem. We’ll keep sending them more Nusras.

Video showing the moments when Syria’s version of the Pentagon was attacked and ransacked by three fighters only! The fourth fighter had detonated a car bomb on the other side of the complex as a distraction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OY6Dhg14_tY

After the revolution had turned to a military showdown and after several bombing attempts, you would have thought that the Arkan complex was almost impenetrable. Watch the ease with which the trio make their way in. The video is short, but very telling.

#79 Visitor

I have learned with the chimpanzes on SC… Great teachers, thanks

Ewe at 78 is that you saying this?

“I always trusted the secular Syrian army and its dedication to the country while many of you were calling and thanking KSA, Qatar when we all know that Qatar supports the MB and KSA the salafists.”

have you served in the so-called ‘secular Syrian army’?

http://www.aljazeera.net/news/pages/d1e2e5f9-3fb3-4c85-b521-ab0bfd241201?GoogleStatID=9

——————————

Ewe @81

“#79 Visitor

I have learned with the chimpanzes on SC… Great teachers, thanks”

Keep coming back so that you may not lose your ‘edge’.

Mursi ridiculed… Can he survive Egyptian ‘freedom of expression”?

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/graffiti-depicting-egyptian-president-mohammed-morsi-pharaoh-arabic-photo-212046069.html

Poor Moaz.. he has to learn how to swallowing disappointments as more are on the way.

“Alkhatib said he expected to get a decision on Wednesday from the EU over whether it would recognize the coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.”

On Monday the EU has promoted it
from ‘legitimate representatives of the Syrian people aspirations”
to “legitimate representatives of the Syrian people”
but not the “sole” ones.
Great promotion, indeed, great disappointment too.
As expected, it was another tap on the back and some humanitarian funds. Maybe in the next FOS?

“On Monday, the European Union made a step towards full recognition of the Syrian opposition, led by Moaz al-Khatib. The EU fell short of making a full endorsement, however.

EU foreign ministers recognized al-Khatib’s council as “legitimate representatives of the Syrian people.”

http://www.dw.de/eu-edges-towards-recognizing-syria-opposition/a-16443111

اعتبر الاتحاد الاوروبي الاثنين الائتلاف الوطني للمعارضة السورية “ممثلا شرعيا” للشعب السوري في ختام لقاء مع رئيسه احمد معاذ الخطيب ووزراء الخارجية الاوروبيين ال27.
وفي اعلان مشترك، قال الوزراء الاوروبيون انهم “يقبلون” “الائتلاف الوطني السوري لقوى المعارضة والثورة السورية ممثلا شرعيا للشعب السوري
judging by the composition of the coalition,it is fair to assume that they have the support of around 30% of the population, that gives them the power to form a political party and participate in a future unity government ,if we ever have one,but:
A- this coalition does not represent all of the opposition
B- the opposition does not represent all of Syria
playing with words will not change those basic facts.

Like Ghaliun and his now defunct SNC before him, Moaz has still two steep steps to climb to ‘full recognition’ of his coalition.

1) Get the ‘sole’ word in so his coalition becomes “THE sole representative of the Syrian people”
2) Remove the word ‘representatives” of the opposition to become “THE Syrian government in exile”

The SNC reached the same stage in April 2012. Can I refresh your memory?

“Second, the Friends of Syria recognized the Syrian National Council in exile as “a legitimate representative of all Syrians and the umbrella organization under which Syrian opposition groups are gathering.”

http://carnegieendowment.org/2012/04/05/syrian-national-council-wins-recognition-abroad-but-may-lose-out-at-home/a6n7

In my view the international community is building it just to represent a partner in a political negotiation and an opposition group in case there are elections… nothing more.

85. GHUFRAN said:

اعتبر الاتحاد الاوروبي الاثنين الائتلاف الوطني للمعارضة السورية “ممثلا شرعيا” للشعب السوري في ختام لقاء مع رئيسه احمد معاذ الخطيب ووزراء الخارجية الاوروبيين ال27.
وفي اعلان مشترك، قال الوزراء الاوروبيون انهم “يقبلون” “الائتلاف الوطني السوري لقوى المعارضة والثورة السورية ممثلا شرعيا للشعب السوري
————-
تصريحات لاتحاد الأوروبي هذه سفيهة و تافهة !
ان الف باء الشرعية تأتي من الشعب عن طريق احترام ارادته وعدم التدخل في شؤونه ! ليلملم هذا الاتحاد الأوروبي نفسه فشعوبه يوميا على شاشات التلفزة تظهر للعالم سخونة أمراضه المزمنة !

3,000 Obama”s troops secretly return to Iraq via Kuwait
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/09/277127/3000-us-troops-secretly-return-to-iraq/

may cause you to feel need to vomiting!!
http://youtu.be/dlkLVejR2Vw?t=23s

# 78. ZOO said:

“I am glad to see that your eyes are finally opening on the worse danger these people represent for Syria.”

My eyes did not require opening. They have never been glued shut like certain Assad apologists we know.

I have always seen very clearly who is the worst danger for the people of Syria.

It’s Bashar Assad, and the extremist element in the revolution are one more by-product of the regime’s idiotic manoeuvres.

Citizen, are you a Shiite? Don’t you think it’s bizarre that people like Castro (atheist), Hugo Chavez (Nazarene), and Mahmoud Eichmann-Nejad (Shiite) are all allied together?
The only thing they have in common is hatred for the Free World !!

Somehow they are able to set aside all these differences, in pursuit of their anti-freedom ideals.

If you think about it though, it is stupid that you as a Ruskie are supporting an Ayatollah.
I hope people will in time realize that this Atheist-Christian-Shiite pact is intellectually bankrupt.

#90 SL

Then you should be contented (not totally happy) if the Islamist terrorists replace Bashar Al Assad and rule over Syria with their version of democracy as, in your eyes, they will be a lesser evil.

I wonder how many Syrians share your views.

Syria – trigger the Apocalypse. War will begin on December 17

Sources close to the French Ministry of Defense said that the Western-Arab military intervention against the regime of Bashar al-Assad should start soon with the U.S., France, Britain, Turkey, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, the UAE, as well as the Special Forces of Qatar.

Military sources said that the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Marine Corps is in the Mediterranean Sea, joining the aircraft carrier Eisenhower as part of the strike group, and at least five British warships, which also have a large force of marines.

Hackers broke into the computers of U.S. admirals on the aircraft carrier Dwight Eyzenhuver. According to them, the attack on Syria is scheduled for 17.12.2012 years.

Hacked computers are not fighting, and personal, through which conducted the correspondence of senior officers of the U.S. Army over insecure channels. It was there that mentions December 12-17 (17 – the deadline) as the beginning of an attack on Syria.

Aleppo is Starving
http://freehalab.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/aleppo-is-starving/

Arabs offer Palestinians $100 mln a month “financial safety net”
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=32114

So generous…less than half of what the Palestinians asked for and who knows how much they will really deliver.

“Last Thursday, the Palestinian cabinet said at a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah that $240 million were needed every month to meet demands arising from the Israeli decision to stop customs revenues transfers and the failure of donors to transfer previously pledged funds”

91. DOLLY BUSTER
No Dolly Buster ! I am not Shiite !
I feel disgusted by your religious and sectarian Engineering!
Here is your true Free World !!
FEMA Concentration camps in USA with Google Earth – Google REX – 84
http://youtu.be/bwTLixg3RbQ?t=37s
http://youtu.be/Vxd_hsiZ1Ak?t=1m12s
http://youtu.be/VTKr8303l98?t=40s
http://youtu.be/zPg-AokqOt0?t=49s

In shining armor: Apache-piloting Prince Harry to ‘help oust Assad’
http://rt.com/news/prince-harry-sent-syria-721/

Zoo is very consistent in his support of the regime. He never says a single bad word about Assad and the regime.

Ghurfan and others, even the nutcases like SNP and Aldendeshe, criticize the regime. Not Zoo. He has never said a bad word about Assad or the regime.

I’m inclined to think he is a paid stooge.

@Zoo

Actually, most people in Syria share SL’s views, which is why the FSA is winning, and the regime is losing.

Last time I checked, the regime was having trouble fielding soldiers. It looks like to me that the regime is less popular than the FSA, who have no trouble in finding soldiers.

Also, please note that the defections go FROM the army TO the rebels, and not the other way around. When’s the last time you’ve heard of a rebel defecting to become a government soldier? And how often do you hear of government soldiers/prosecutors defecting to become rebels?

Say what you want about the jihadists, but they are the lesser evil compared to the regime.

You’re the minority- the unapologetic regime stooge.

American Presidents have long been criticised for being too in thrall to the Jewish lobby. That American Jews influence US foreign policy and that explains America’s unwavering support for Israel.

So what happens if American Jews fall out of love with Israel? That’s what the Jewish American academic Norman Finkelstein claims is happening. He says they are now so unhappy with what Israel is doing that they want to distance themselves from the country. But then he is nothing if not controversial. He, after all, is famous for accusing Jews of exploiting the Holocaust. And his actions have so incensed Israel it’s banned him from entering the country. Could he be right and if he is what does that mean for Middle East policy?
http://youtu.be/hNAKWF1uQ08?t=7m7s

US designates Syria’s Jabhat al-Nusra front a ‘terrorist’ group at lightning speed – December 10, 2012

The US State Department designated Syria’s Jabhat al-Nusra, one of the militias fighting Bashar al-Assad, a foreign terrorist organization

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2012/1210/US-designates-Syria-s-Jabhat-al-Nusra-front-a-terrorist-group-at-lightning-speed

The US State Department designated the Jabhat al-Nusra militia fighting Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria a foreign terrorist organization today.

The speed with which the US government moved to designate a fairly new group that has never attacked US interests and is engaged in fighting a regime that successive administrations have demonized is evidence of the strange bedfellows and overlapping agendas that make the Syrian civil war so explosive.

The State Department says Jabhat al-Nusra (or the “Nusra Front”) is essentially a wing of Al Qaeda in Iraq, the jihadi group that flourished in Anbar Province after the US invaded to topple the Baathist regime of secular dictator Saddam Hussein. During the Iraq war, Sunni Arab tribesmen living along the Euphrates in eastern Syria flocked to fight with the friends and relatives in the towns along the Euphrates river in Anbar Province.

The terrain, both actual and human, is similar on both sides of that border, and the rat lines that kept foreign fighters and money flowing into Iraq from Syria work just as well in reverse. Now, the jihadis who fought and largely lost against the Shiite political ascendancy in Iraq are flocking to eastern Syria to repay a debt of gratitude in a battle that looks more likely to succeed every day.

The Nusra Front has gone from victory to victory in eastern Syria and has shown signs of both significant funding and greater military prowess than the average citizens’ militia, with veterans of fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya among its numbers.

The US of course aided the fight in Libya to bring down Muammar Qaddafi. In Afghanistan and Iraq, the chance to fight and kill Americans was the major drawing card.

In Iraq, the US toppled a Baathist dictatorship dominated by Sunni Arabs, opening the door for the political dominance of Iraq’s Shiite Arab majority and the fury of the country’s Sunni jihadis. In Syria, a Baathist regime dominated by the tiny Alawite sect (a long-ago offshoot of Shiite Islam) risks being brought down by the Sunni majority. Iraq’s Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is in the odd position of now rooting for a Baathist regime to survive, frightened that a religiously inspired Sunni regime may replace Assad and potentially destabilize parts of his country from Haditha in Anbar’s far west to the northern city of Mosul.

For the US, the situation is more complicated still. The Obama administration appears eager for Assad to fall, but is also afraid of what might replace him, not least because of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile. If the regime collapses, the aftermath is sure to be chaotic, much as it was in Libya, where arms stores were looted throughout the country. The presence of VX and sarin nerve gas, and the fear of Al Qaeda aligned militants getting their hands on it, has the US considering sending in troops to secure the weapons.

That’s the context in which today’s designation was made – part of an overall effort to shape the Syrian opposition to US liking, and hopefully have influence in the political outcome if and when Assad’s regime collapses. But while the US has been trying to find a government or leadership in waiting among Syrian exiles, Nusra has been going from strength to strength. Aaron Zelin, who tracks jihadi groups at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, notes in a recent piece for Foreign Policy that 20 out of the 48 “martyrdom” notices posted on Al Qaeda forums for the Syria war were made by people claiming to be members of Nusra.

Zelin writes that it’s highly unusual for the US to designate as a terrorist group anyone who hasn’t attempted an attack on the US. In fact, the US only designated the Haqqani Network in Afghanistan, which had been involved in attacks on US troops there for over a decade, this September.

The U.S. administration, in designating Jabhat al-Nusra, is likely to argue that the group is an outgrowth of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). While there is not much open-source evidence of this, classified material may offer proof — and there is certainly circumstantial evidence that Jabhat al-Nusra operates as a branch of the ISI.

Getting Syria’s rebels to disavow Jabhat al-Nusra may not be an easy task, however. As in Iraq, jihadists have been some of the most effective and audacious fighters against the Assad regime, garnering respect from other rebel groups in the process. Jabhat al-Nusra seems to have learned from the mistakes of al Qaeda in Iraq: It has not attacked civilians randomly, nor has it shown wanton disregard for human life by publicizing videos showing the beheading of its enemies. Even if its views are extreme, it is getting the benefit of the doubt from other insurgents due to its prowess on the battlefield.

Will it hurt the group’s support inside Syria? It’s hard to see how. The US hasn’t formally explained its logic yet, but it’s hard to see how that will matter either. The rebellion against Assad has raged for almost two years now and the country’s fighters are eager for victory, and revenge. The US has done little to militarily assist the rebellion, and fighters have been happy to take support where they can get it.

Most of the money or weapons flowing into the country for rebels has come from Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar and some of that support, of course, has ended up in the hands of Islamist militias like Nusra.

[…]

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2012/1210/US-designates-Syria-s-Jabhat-al-Nusra-front-a-terrorist-group-at-lightning-speed

Joshua Landis on Syria Deeply

http://www.youtube.com/embed/rbG1nPaxgwY

There is a lot of stories about the suffering of people in Aleppo, the most disgusting involves turkish merchants who are buying equipment and machines ,that belonged to Syians private and public factories , from the rebels who also control a large section of home natural gas tanks market. Another nauseating report is about the theft of wheat , Fluor and crude oil while 2 million Syrians in that area are struggling to find bread and heating oil,etc. theft and smuggling is not limited to anti regime elements, a number of known officials are getting rich by forging documents showing the sale of essential goods to citizens while these goods are sold in the black market for a large profit.
Syria is being destroyed with the help of foreigners but that destruction was not possible without the participation of Syrians many of whom do not deserve that beautiful and unique country.

Clinton cancels trip to Arab world due to illness – Dec 10, 2012

http://www.nbc29.com/story/20306497/us-declaring-syrian-rebel-group-as-terrorist-body

WASHINGTON (AP) – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pulled out of a weeklong trip to the Arab world because of a stomach virus, officials said Monday, as the Obama administration declared a Syrian rebel group with alleged ties to al-Qaida as a terrorist organization.

“Since she’s still under the weather, we’ll be staying put this week instead of heading to North Africa and the Middle East as originally planned,” Clinton’s spokesman, Philippe Reines, said.

[…]

http://www.nbc29.com/story/20306497/us-declaring-syrian-rebel-group-as-terrorist-body

A conversation between a shabih murderer and one of his surviving victims
http://youtu.be/-Py-rO-X8-8

HAMOUDEH AL-HALABI #94

Thank you for posting those devastating and infuriating reports from Aleppo, where the population is now at risk of starvation. I am in tears reading it, and you must have wept putting it together.

Please, can someone PLEASE EXPLAIN just how bloody HARD could it be for international aid agencies to be getting lifesaving supplies to these people via Turkey?

The FSA and LCC distribution networks are standing there with access to the Turkish border empty handed.

I mean, what’s the problem?

Is it fear that some al qaeda smartass might grab a few tins of baby milk?

Whatever, somewhere in this scandal of withheld, misdirected and stalled assistance the dirty smell of the Syrian MB floats through like a toxic cloud.

The Syrian opposition Coalition has been promised the world if they can only get consensus.

I say, get consensus OVER THE MB’s DEAD BODIES instead of the starved and frozen dead bodies of those innocent, desperate people in Aleppo.

8 rebel groups (Kataeb) announced its withdrawal from Damascus and the areas around the city according to an opposition site, Jabhat Alnusra was not one of them, if confirmed that would leave JAN with little help from the FSA. Numerous voices have called on the FSA to spare Damascus and focus on reorganizing and repositioning after making considerable gains in a number of areas, western governments have also expressed their desire not to see another Aleppo. Damascus is still the home of a sizable fighting force from the RG , around 80,000, that remains largely intact.
While we exchange insults here, the first victim of the cold weather was reported in a Turkish refugee camp, a little girl who died yesterday.

Citizen, about these conspiracy theories.

Imagine the following scenario:
We wipe out this entire universe, and then we create a new one. In this new universe, there are no conspiracies. All the Illuminatiez and Reрtiles have been removed.

OK, so now in this perfect world — is it not possible that some doofus will again stand up and start talking about conspiracies ?
 
 
Yes!

nauseating report is about the theft of wheat
__________________________________________________________________

@GHUFRAN

Assad playing a good strategy of letting the people disgusted with revolutionaries Terrorists. Soon, after the disgust reach proper level, he will send in the provocateur and arm the people militia to kill the Islamic-Mossad terrorists and expel them out of Syria. This way he saves his main Alawite force and let the Sunnite do the fighting with help from Sunni units of the army (300,000 idle forces now) backing them up. It will no longer be Alawites against Sunni, but Sunni against foreign and domestic terrorists. Will see soon the second phase of Egyptian revolution coming forth as well.

Two weeks after the “Syrian Uprising” started in mid March 2011, president Assad of Syria spoke to his people on national TV and made the following announcements:

“1. I will instruct the current parliament to amend our existing constitution to restrict a president to run for two terms only
2. I will not be running for a third term in 2014 per the new constitution. Instead, I will focus my remaining time on helping my beloved country transition to a true democratic state.
3. I will instruct the parliament to amend the constitution to allow for other political parties to emerge, and eliminate the monopoly that the Baath party has on the state.
4. Staring today, we are lifting the emergency law. Citizens have the right to demonstrate peacefully.
5. Anyone who was involved in shooting and killing peaceful demonstrators over the past few weeks will be brought to justice and punished.
6. We will establish a new cabinet and instruct it to focus on building institutions to assist our country and people in the transition to true democracy
7. We will open our doors to all international NGO’s to assist us in launching a country-wide educational campaign to educate our people on the democratic process
8. We will launch a program for “reconciliation” to allow people to bury the resentment and hatred of the past – an essential ingredient in building the new Syria. Our friends in South Africa have committed to helping us learn from their experience.
9. We will work diligently to slowly and gradually fight and eliminate state corruption at the highest levels. I will start by asking my cousin, Mr. Rami Makhlouf, to sell all his corporate assets and donate the proceeds to fund the programs above.
10. Let me make it very clear: we will not tolerate chaos, violence, lack of security, sectarian incitement, and any forms of extremism. Our army and police forces are called upon to protect our peaceful demonstrators, citizens and public and private properties.
11. Once the parliament votes on a the amendments, it will be resolved. I will call for free elections for a new parliament, one that is monitored by international observers.
12. The new parliament first task is to create a new constitution for the new Syria
13. We are opening the doors to all international media to come in and report freely about what is happening in Syria. We want the world to watch and celebrate with us our new beginning”

President Assad frequently acknowledged in his speech the aspiration of his people, and thanked them repeatedly for what he called a “wake-up” call to put him on the right path. For the first time in his speeches, president Assad made no reference to America, Israel, or the “West”. He said it was time for the people and the government of Syria to work together to build the new Syria. He called on all opposition leaders to join him in a 2-day summit to help him in building the new institutions. These political leaders, all of whom had political aspirations, had no choice but to work with the sincere president to demonstrate to the people of Syria that they were worthy of their future votes.

The streets of Syrian cities were flooded with people supporting the reforms. In the summer of 2012, a new parliament was elected in Syria. By the end of 2012, more than 100 political parties were registered. Throughout 2013, democratic institutions slowly emerged, national centers for reconciliation were buzzed with activities, and the people of Syria engaged in passionate but healthy debate about the future of Syria. In 2014, a new president was elected and the new republic of Syria was born. President Assad, the father of the new republic of Syria, continued to live in Damascus with his family, and is now working on writing a book which will hopefully guide other leaders- who truly love their countries- in transitioning their police states to democratic states.

Assad went down in history as the person who saved Syria from a dark and long civil war, and as the father of the new Syria. It would be very hard to imagine what would have happened to Syria, had he not have the vision, the leadership, and the love he had for his country.

END OF DREAM.

The latest vintage, excellent article by OTW. I wonder whether it will make it in Joshua’s next selection

http://7ee6an.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/bashar-is-bombing-us/

” Anyone who thinks that there is a shred of humanity or of rationalism in the Assad gang is a fool who has blinded himself to forty years of history leading to two years of anti-historical nightmare. No one is responsible but the regime, and anyone claiming otherwise is complicit in the great Syrian Genocide. The list of regime crimes include, in addition to the evil murder of tens of thousands of Syrians, the torture of hundreds of thousands, but most vile of this contemptible gang’s crimes is the attempted murder of their souls and of their humanity.”

It is pretty stupid to suggest that Al-Qa’idah is somehow Israeli.

In fact: Al-Qa’idah calls for the elimination of Israel.

That makes them unique, because most Arab players concede Israel’s existence.
Assad himself did not believe in the removal of the state of Israel.

[…] https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=16924 Share this:Like this:LikeBe the first to like this.   […]

110. Hopeful

I think I had that same dream. Now I have to be content with just hoping that there are no more massacres and no destruction of Damascus, which seems to be the only city left that hasn’t seen massive destruction (aside from the coastal ones perhaps).

What a calamity this has been. But the blame for this calamity, as some commentators have said, is surely to be pinned on the regime, which led Syria to its first ever civil war. Aside from being extremely immoral what they did, it is of the utmost stupidity.

Do they seriously think they can rule over the majority so harshly and so arbitrarily forever? That they do shows the hardheaded, backward mentality of this ruling “elite”. No foresight, not even proper hindsight characterizes these barbarians. I held hope against hope that Bashar would be different, but to imagine that he would be even worse?

Every Syrian should recognize, whatever background they are from, that there is no going back. The longer regime supporters hold out, the bigger the price to pay for this disaster, for everyone. There must be a way to negotiate an end to this before everything is destroyed.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION. I’ll repeat it.
(The other choice closely resembles an Apocalypse).

#110. HOPEFUL

What you’ve posted is a cynical manifesto of contempt, insulting lies, stale gas and dangerous delusionary BS dumped on the Syrian people (who knew it was rubbish and ignored it). The rest of the world thought it was a send-up comedy routine.

Maybe you were one of the scriptwriters for Assad.

Anyone want to read Bashar Assad, look here. It’s more cleverly crafted with more substance than what HOPEFUL posted above:

https://twitter.com/bashar__asad

113. ALTAIR

In Syria, people who support a brutal military dictatorship ARE a minority, so are the people who support Islamic extremism. The good people of Syria – the majority – will produce a leadership (political and military) that will reject and defeat both dictatorship and religious extremism. Syrians have suffered enough and they deserve an outcome that is free of dictatorship, radicalism, and hollow ideology.

Ghurfan laments the death of one girl, when hundreds die in Syria from the war.

There will be no peace until the brutal regime is destroyed and its leaders exiled and killed. Assad and the regime chose war, so war it shall be.

93. Citizen said:

‘Syria – trigger the Apocalypse. War will begin on December 17’

Putting aside the reliability of the above claim/source for a moment, this date would fit into my prediction (27th Dec).

Ever since Sh. Yaqoubi shared the ‘glad tidings’ I’ve been expecting the regime to fall in a matter of weeks. If the translation was correct, the Sh. informed us that a ‘friendly power’ would get involved with planes.

We wait and see what scenario develops.

NuffSilence
A colonel pilot defect from Minnegh mil. airport, not in a barren room for a change: #Syria

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=o8o6Z5shPN8

http://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/nuffsilence-a-colonel-pilot-defect-from-minnegh-mil/

Rusty Shackleford ‏@mypetjawa
#Syria #beheading tracked down src of child beheading video to “Syria Tube” http://www.facebook.com/SyrianTuBe If this is jihadi vid, why not on forums?

https://twitter.com/mypetjawa/status/278281137145643008

116. UZAIR8
be careful in the wishes to see what scenario develops.! It may be irrevocable earthquake and multiple reflection earthquakes! This is not a movie theater.
if the West will go to brazen acts that response will be accepted and in other potential countries!
Unwelcome it happen!

Hot Issue: New Arab-Kurdish Front Could Strengthen Assad
http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=40221&cHash=76a6154321d72e1033f9fb9a652d3bcd

هيلاري كلينتون لن تحضر مؤتمر أصدقاء سوريا في المغرب بسبب فيروس في المعدة!!!!!

New fascism is preparing a new provocation
http://topwar.ru/21874-novyy-fashizm-gotovit-novuyu-provokaciyu.html
Americans look “white and fluffy” and almost the saviors of the world.
…….
Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, Syria, giving an interview with Lebanese television channel “Al-Manar”, pointed out the danger of provocation following scenario: foreign sponsors and helpers give into the hands of terrorists toxic chemicals. Bandits, in turn, use them against civilians. And then maybe the accusations against the Syrian leadership – they say, “dictatorship” used against the people of chemical weapons. So, the “world community” must intervene immediately. And then – start “humanitarian” intervention, without Security Council resolution. Americans look “white and fluffy” and almost the saviors of the world………

What’s going on inside Bashar’s pin-sized head?

It’s all here:

https://twitter.com/bashar__asad

Somali pirates threatened to execute the journalist Ankhara Kochneva
Journalist Ankhara Kochneva, kidnapped in October in Syria, can be executed on Thursday. This will happen if the kidnappers did not pay $ 50 million.
Syrian lover ” Messenger of the free world” ! komentiruete fact as an organizer!

HOPEFUL #15

Great statement!

I’m printing it out.

It’s what we all need to re-read and remember in the daily tsunami of horror and hysteria.

HOPEFUL #15 – read this

Story: In Turkish border town, Syrian doctors and other refugees plan for new future

EXCERPT:

“We are in the final stage of the collapse of the regime, and we have to be ready from Day One,” said Yazji, who lived in the United States for 20 years and runs a Syrian medical relief charity based in Turkey.

The hospital, he says, will repudiate everything Syrian President Bashar al-Assad represents. That means treating captured security forces members who fought against the rebels to prop up Assad’s government, the same government that has arrested, tortured and killed physicians who provided medical assistance to protesters and rebel fighters over the course of the 20-month-old conflict.

“We are not like them,” said Yazji, speaking in his unmarked office in an apartment building in Reyhanli, on the Turkish side of the border.

The town is suspended between war and peace. It is filled with dreamers who are forging ahead with plans for new hospitals and town councils, civil courts and police departments, even trash collection, in parts of northwestern Syria that are controlled by rebel forces. It also is a place steeped in pain. Hundreds of wounded Syrians have been brought across the border, in need of specialized care that, right now, is unavailable here.

Reyhanli’s 60,000 residents are mostly Sunni Arabs with close familial ties to the Syrians who live on the other side of the mountain, beyond razor-wire fencing that marks the border. They have largely welcomed the 15,000 Syrians who have sought sanctuary among them — a stark contrast to Turkish cities with large populations of Alawites, members of Assad’s Shiite-affiliated sect, where demonstrators have come out in support of the Syrian president.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-turkish-border-town-syrian-doctors-and-other-refugees-plan-for-new-future/2012/12/09/d1415b08-40b5-11e2-ae43-cf491b837f7b_story.html

Foreign Policy: The strongest part of the (Syrian) armed opposition will almost certainly be opposed to liberal democracy

Bashar takes his family out for a break sightseeing

http://twitpic.com/bkmree/full

SL,

Their next public picture will be splashing at the Nile.

Al Nusrah becomes a dominant force in the Syrian insurgency

The Al Nusrah Front has by far taken the lead among the jihadist groups in executing suicide and other complex attacks against the Syrian military. The terror group has now claimed credit for 42 of the 51 suicide attacks that have taken place in Syria in the past 12 months. The group has also conducted numerous other attacks against the Syrian military and government.

The Syrian terror group is known to conduct joint operations with other Syrian jihadist organizations. In mid-November, Al Nusrah reported that it attacked a base in Idlib along with the Ahrar al Sham Brigades, and even shot down a Syrian MiG fighter aircraft.

The Al Nusrah Front is also known to conduct joint operations with the Free Syrian Army, which is often upheld as the secular resistance to Assad’s regime. On Oct. 11, Al Nusrah, the Free Syrian Army, and Chechen fighters overran a Syrian air defense and Scud missile base in Aleppo [see LWJ report, Al Nusrah Front commanded Free Syrian Army unit, ‘Chechen emigrants,’ in assault on Syrian air defense base]. In August, Al Nusrah said it attacked a police station outside of Damascus along with the Al Sahaba Battalion, a unit of the Free Syrian Army that operates in the capital [see Threat Matrix report, Al Nusrah Front conducts joint operation with Free Syrian Army].

Al Nusrah has become more appealing to Syrian rebels as the group’s fighters are better organized and have expertise from waging jihad in Iraq and elsewhere, and have integrated their operations with the Free Syrian Army.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/12/al_nusrah_front_alli.php#ixzz2EkloCL7C

Libyans Say Sharia Will Be Law of the Land

Dec 11, 2012 4:45 AM EST

Most Libyans—even women’s-rights activists—accept that their new Constitution will be based on Islamic law.
…
“Islamic countries more often than not replace tyrants with religious dictators who can become even more despotic than their predecessors. Look at Iran. Unfortunately, look at Egypt.”

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/11/libyans-say-sharia-will-be-law-of-the-land.html

The US and the UN want a political solution, the opposition and its cronies wants a military one.

Syria opposition rejects U.S. moves to blacklist al-Nusra fighters

By Saad Abedine and Laura Smith-Spark, CNN
updated 7:54 AM EST, Tue December 11, 2012

…
“The United States decided to single out the Nusra Front because of their recent rejection to the political opposition front and (because) they have a different approach to post-Assad’s Syria,” he told CNN.

The designation would make it illegal for any U.S. citizen to give “material support or resources” to the al-Nusra Front, including money, training and weapons.

Now as Syria is in chaos that was forecasted right from the start, the chaos-promoters only infantile argument is: He started first.

As if this was going to solve the problem. Yet it gives them the feeling that ‘we are not responsible, he is’.

All Syrians are responsible of the way that premature and improvised “revolution” slipped away in a dead end and its is it the responsibility of all Syrians to stop it and a find a solution.. together.

The US behavior towards the Syrian people is becoming callous and unacceptable. From practically giving Bashar a license to kill by declaring that the use of chemical weapons is the US only redline, to rushing into declaring al Nusra a terrorist organization while Assad regime being the prototype example of terrorism. Hillary needs to retire and stay home with Bill and Obama needs to open his eyes to what he is really doing.

Ghufran

“8 rebel groups (Kataeb) announced its withdrawal from Damascus and the areas around the city according to an opposition site…
“Numerous voices have called on the FSA to spare Damascus”

The generosity of Al Nusra is without limit. They don’t withdraw because they got a good beatings, nor that it is a tactical retreat this time… no… they retreat because of their COMPASSION and RESPECT for Damascus.

On wonders where that was when they destroyed Aleppo to punish it of not joining their ‘noble cause’,
Pathetic and no shame… and these ridiculous and hypocritical hoolligans want to take the place of the Syrian government!

Tara

The opposition behavior towards the USA is becoming callous, arrogant and unacceptable.
Beggars can’t be chosers.

Face it, it’s here to stay since the FSA and the opposition are too weak to survive without it.

Al Qaeda in Syria
Published: December 10, 2012 60 Comments

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/11/opinion/al-qaeda-in-syria.html?ref=global-home

The presence of rebel fighters in Syria that were trained and supported by Al Qaeda poses a serious problem for the United States and Western allies. The Nusra Front, an offshoot of Al Qaeda in Iraq, has become one of the most effective forces fighting against President Bashar al-Assad.

The fear is that the group could hijack the revolution and emerge as the dominant force in Syria after Mr. Assad is ousted from power. Obama administration officials have been increasingly frank about this threat, along with the possibility that sectarian conflicts among the country’s Sunni, Alawite, Christian and other groups may well rage on after Assad.

Hillary skips the FOS meeting in Marakesh about what to do if Bahasr al Assad “falls” and what to do with the 500,000 refugees waiting for that.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has canceled her trip to Morocco this week to attend the Friends of the Syrian People meeting due to a stomach virus, the State Department announced Monday.
Hillary Clinton Ill, Will Miss Friends of the Syrian People Meeting

According to Reuters, Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns will attend the meeting in her place.
…
Arab and Western states will consider two key issues concerning the 21-month conflict — the political transition in the event of President Bashar Al-Assad’s fall, and mobilizing vital humanitarian aid as winter sets in.

Zoo,

How so? The US has been very detrimental to the Syrian cause blocking the legit rebels from obtaining advance weapons all along. Had it not been for the US, the rebels would have neutralized the regime long ago
—
On another topic, I see one of the poster accused you of “being paid”. I personally do not think so but if true, it would make me very sad.

Syrian Kurds form their own army, the US supports it?

http://www.albawaba.com/news/syria-kurds-army-455918

Published December 11th, 2012 – 07:42 GMT via SyndiGate.info

Syrian Kurds who took control of areas in the north of the country earlier this year are creating an independent army, according to Middle East news portal, Elaph.

This year Kurdish residents, backed by PYD militiamen, took control of towns near the border with Turkey as pro-government forces withdrew to fight elsewhere, sparking tensions with rebel forces.

Having established their own government, an independent army is reportedly being formed.

The head of the Kurdistan National Assembly of Syria, Sherkoh Abbas, reportedly told Elaph: “The main goal of our army is to protect the territory of Syrian Kurdistan from any armed intervention, whether Assad’s forces or Islamist militant groups.”

To prevent the spread of radical Islam in Syria, both the US and western European countries have reportedly offered military and financial assistance to support the establishment of an independent Kurdish army.

Gufran/Zoo
“8 rebel groups (Kataeb) announced its withdrawal from Damascus and the areas around the city according to an opposition site…
“Numerous voices have called on the FSA to spare Damascus”

Why can’t they do the same and pull out of Aleppo now and save what’s left of it. Is it not worth sparing?!? Where is their compassion?!?

It looks as if al-Assad’s fall will take a while

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/it-looks-as-if-al-assads-fall-will-take-a-while.aspx?pageID=449&nID=36550&NewsCatID=405

The Syrian briefing was given by Edward Djerejian, who served as the U.S. ambassador in Damascus until a short while ago. He is a diplomat who has spoken to Bashar al-Assad numerous times and written special reports to Washington.

He believes it would not be easy to topple al-Assad. “He sits on such an ossified state structure, handed over to him from his father, the interests are so much intertwined with each other that [al-Assad] will not collapse so easily. … He will not stay in power forever, but his fall will take a long time,” he said.

If there are those in Ankara who think differently, they better take note of these words.

Everybody agrees that Washington does not want to be engaged in a military intervention. There are two reasons for this stance:

The United States burned its fingers in Iraq and Afghanistan; it wants to get away from those places. Even though Syria is small, it does not want another military initiative. Neither the public nor U.S. President Barack Obama has such an intention.

Another reason is that Syria has an army that should not be underestimated. For years, this army has been equipped by Russians against Israel. It was said that this army would make any intervening party suffer.

Whoever will enter the war should think twice and be prepared for losses.

Well, what will happen? Who will say “stop” to this course of events?

Everybody is expecting the opposition to bring al-Assad to heel. The opposition forces, though, are disintegrated, and they have few weapons. As you can understand, the situation is not very bright.

Well, will the international public just watch? Djerejian has these estimations:

“As the civil war spreads and as the number of casualties increases even more, then it would be a must to act. We will wait until that time. Because, there is still the fear whether radical Islam would replace him after al-Assad leaves. It is feared that separation of Syria will inflict more bloodshed to the region. This situation makes al-Assad’s job easier.”

Well, in this case, how is Turkey perceived? I have come across the same reply at every time. “Hopefully [Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan does not make a rash move and initiate a military intervention.”

I, in turn, tried to explain insistently that Turkey would not fall into that trap.

141. Majed97

Aleppo was taken by surprise, this is why a small groups of rebels aided by islamist terrorists succeeded in holding some areas of Aleppo and taking the population as human shield and hostages. Also Aleppo is close to the Turkish borders where they get their supplies of criminals and weapons.
In Damascus they got two beatings. The border with Lebanon is not helpful anymore and the city is well prepared.

They are just too outnumbered and weak to hold anything significant for long and with Al Nusra maybe now against them, they are in very serious trouble.
The northern region they hold is the hostage of the Turks for food, supply, medical etc.. Should the Turks change their mind, the whole shaky structure they have built in the ‘liberated zones’ will collapse. It is only a matter of time,as Turkey is suffocating with the costs of the refugees and the Syrian Kurds are becoming too organized and could threaten even more Turkey.
It does not bode well for the armed rebels, despite their youtube videos claiming theatrical victories.

#139 Tara

These are some of the stupidest comments on that blog:

– He started it
– You are paid
– You are delusional
….
Usually these reactions fuse when the comment hit a sensitive cord and the reader has no strong argument to counter it, so he resorts to use these cliches, not to mentions the amount of insults and vulgarities..
They are too infantile to attach any importance to them and also they say a lot about the one who writes them.

I am now blasé. These type of remarks fly high over my head.

#139 Tara

Contrary to you, the USA is not romantic.
It knows that Bashar al Assad not only has still a strong army but he has a strong base among the Syrians. They know that the opposition does not represent a large majority of the Syrians. They know that the FSA is polluted with criminals and extremists who have a quite different agenda.
Therefore they are trying to evaluate if the coalition is able to reach more than expats and islamists within Syria and if the FSA would be able to survive after they get rid of their al Qaeeda allies.
So, until the USA sees that, it can’t commit to help the FSA and therefore is repeatedly giving encouragement to the coalition so they widen their base in Syria.
Also the USA is against any military take over of Syria as Syria borders Jordan and Israel and, in case the military command of the rebels is not totally neutral about Israel, the USA will not take any chance of having Syria becoming another Gaza and Islamists threatening Israel, because the USA would have to intervene militarily to protect their ally.

So you see.. there is a long way to go… and ultimately, time may show that what the USA is hoping for may never happen.
Then the Russian proposal will become the only game in town.

In the meantime, Syrians are suffering and dying..

PIPES: Islamists are worse than dictators
Morsi moves prove U.S. mistake

By Daniel Pipes

Monday, December 10, 2012

Who is worse, President Mohammed Morsi, the elected Islamist seeking to apply Islamic law in Egypt, or former President Hosni Mubarak, the dictator ousted for trying to start a dynasty? More broadly, will a liberal, democratic order be more likely to emerge under Islamist ideologues who prevail through the ballot box or under greedy dictators with no particular agenda beyond their own survival and power?

Mr. Morsi’s recent actions provide an answer, establishing that Islamists are worse than dictators.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/10/islamists-are-worse-than-dictators/#ixzz2ElBHAbU9
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter

The collapse of the FSA as we knew it is closer.. Maybe it’s time it changes its name..
600 attacks and suicide bombings imputated to Al Nusra

U.S. blacklists al-Nusra Front fighters in Syria

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/11/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html

..
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland confirmed Tuesday that al-Nusra Front had been added to the list of aliases for al Qaeda in Iraq, already designated a foreign terrorist organization.

She said the group had claimed nearly 600 attacks in the past year, including suicide bombings, in several cities and was responsible for the deaths of “numerous innocent Syrians.”

Al-Nusra “has sought to portray itself as part of the legitimate Syrian opposition while it is, in fact, an attempt by AQI to hijack the struggles of the Syrian people for its own malign purposes,” she said.

The designation makes it illegal for any U.S. citizen to give “material support or resources” to al-Nusra fighters, including money, training and weapons.

#146 Zoo

We are quoting Daniel Pipes now? Really? Do you know who this person is and what his views are towards Arabs , Muslims and Palestinians?

Al-Zawahiri picks his own candidate in Egypt politics
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/al-qaeda-leader-calls-abu-ismail-reignite-revolution

148. hopefu

Many of your friends incessantly quote Al Jazeera, Al Arabia, Fouad Ajami etc.. why should I refrain from quoting Pipes who reflects a line of thoughts in the USA as bully as the others.

Zoo,

“It knows that ….he has a strong base among the Syrians”

I insist not… The only base he has is Alawi and Christian base. All Syrians I know except perhaps one family want him vanished.

[…] Islamists) it is an increasingly significant one given the dedication of its combatants and their willingness to take a leading role in the toughest combat […]