Syria’s Security Measures are Failing

Photo taken by protester in Hama after Friday prayers, July 22.

Syria’s security measures are failing. Each week more Syrians join demonstrations and become participants in the general uprising. The Jazirah region become a new center of disturbance recently. Many inhabitants of Deir ez-Zor have joined protests and smaller towns, such as Bukamal, have also become centers of turmoil.

Hama and Homs remain the main centers of agitation. Video of the large Hama demonstration on Friday is provided by The LA Times blog. It went off peacefully.Anthony Shadid is reporting from Hama.

Homs was not peaceful. It is very hard to get an a accurate picture of events there. Activists paint a dire picture of a city under attack, where five civilians were shot on Friday and one or two during the week, as Nada Bakri describes in Syrian Forces Crack Down in Restive City With Raids and Gunfire. She writes that three buildings were destroyed by artillery or tank fire. Al-Jazeera also went with the artillery story,  but government officials deny that tank fire was used in Homs. Activists claim that tanks fired on this mosque and hit its minaret. See the video. Activists state in the video that it as an example of the “hatred for Islam,” of the soldiers who fire on mosques. Others argued the video was a hoax and fabricated because no damage was done to the minaret. Videos, such as these, make judging any given event very difficult.

Syrian state sources give a very different view of events. They describe an army that is being frequently sniped at and ambushed; rather than one that is victimizing Syrians. The task of urban policing is overwhelming soldiers who are sent out on patrol and told to keep roads open and make sure that barricades do not block streets. Sana interviews soldiers who claim that 32 law-enforcement members and 8 civilians have been wounded in Homs recently. Other soldiers were killed outside Homs near Rastan, when their bus was strafed by activists hiding in surrounding orchards along the main highway.

In Deraa, activists complain, “The many [government] check points prevent us from gathering in large numbers.”

No mater how one interprets the conflicting reports or how one counts the number of protestors in each city, it is hard to escape the conclusion that Syria is becoming more divided, more sectarian, that more towns and cities are becoming involved in demonstrations, and that the government is not getting control of the uprising. On the contrary, the government does not have a military answer to the problems and is hesitant to use lots of force. When it does use force, things become worse. When it does not, things become worse. In Hama, where the governor withdrew the military, demonstrations grew. The government has so far pursued political solutions – dialogue and compromise – without conviction and little real compromize. It is not willing to open up the political arena to real competition.

The opposition also seems to be divided and largely improvising as it feels its way forward to ever larger demonstrations. This is a success, but it does not point the way toward an end-game. Perhaps an end-game will materialize if numbers of protestors continue to grow. The danger of this lack of leadership and unity, is that as the opposition grows, it will be unable to restrict its members to non-violence. Elements of the opposition are getting arms and becoming militant. In Militias may form and take maters into their own hands, pushing aside the pacifists.

Fayiz Izz al-Deen, a government official, claims today on Aljazeera that Blackwater is behind armed groups in Homs. watch 2:21

Ziad Haydar in al-Safir -زياد حيدر – معظم قواعد حزب البعث مع «التعددية السياسية والديموقراطية وتعديل المادة الثامنة. writes that most Baath Party Leaders support pluralism, democracy, and doing away with article 8 of the constitution (the article which mandates the leadership of the Baath Party)

أكد نائب الرئيس السوري فاروق الشرع، في لقاء مع إعلاميين بينهم مراسل «السفير» في دمشق أمس، أن «الإصلاح يجري بمبادرة من الرئيس بشار الأسد، وأن الرئيس يقوده، وهو يحدد جدولا زمنيا له»، معتبرا في الوقت ذاته أن معظم قواعد حزب البعث مع «التعددية السياسية والديموقراطية وتعديل المادة الثامنة» من الدستو.

This al-Hayat correspondent states that most Arab papers are hostile to the Syrian government, particularly those based in London, including al-Hayat.  They are invested in providing negative views and news of the Syrian regime, he says.

Laying waste to humble Homs, The Economist

The embattled regime’s use of violent gangs is stoking sectarian fears

REVOLUTIONARY fervour in Syria has shifted back from Hama—last week’s hotspot—to neighbouring Homs. At least 33 residents have been killed by security forces and government thugs in the city in recent days. Several were shot at funerals. Others died in what are described as sectarian clashes. On July 16th the mutilated corpses of three regime supporters were found in the outskirts. In retaliation, gangs allied to the ruling Assad family from the minority Alawite sect smashed up shops in districts dominated by the Sunnis. Residents have also reported indiscriminate shooting from unmarked, speeding cars while security forces looked on.

Since the start of protests in mid-March, Syrian activists have repeatedly complained about thugs working alongside the security forces in a crackdown that has now killed more than 1,500 civilians. Amateur video footage from various cities shows plain-clothed thugs—known as “shabiha”—committing atrocities. Many are members of the Assad clan or smugglers and racketeers from the coastal region. The leaders are thought to be Munzer and Fawwaz Assad, first cousins of President Bashar Assad. Both men were targeted by European Union sanctions in May.

Gangs are a useful tool for the regime. They make up the numbers when exhausted security forces take a break after more than four months on duty. They also allow officials to deny responsibility for some of the worst killings. Perhaps most important, the gangs raise the spectre of sectarian war, as seen in Iraq or Lebanon. The government hopes this might frighten people off the streets. In Latakia, a coastal city in the Assad heartland, residents have seen shabiha groups attack Alawite and Christian districts posing as Sunnis. This has helped to rally some support for the regime. Meanwhile in Homs, anti-Alawite feeling has intensified.

Yet fears of a sectarian meltdown are overblown. Anti-regime protests do not spring from religious differences. Indeed, it has been striking how secular, or at least ecumenical, the uprising in Syria has so far been. Sunnis have called on Christians, Alawites and other minorities to join them on the streets. Protesters have shouted “Muslims, Christians and Alawites are one” and waved crosses. After the latest killings in Homs, several prominent Alawites circulated statements condemning the damage done to Sunni shops.

Comments from the last Post

Revlon writes in the comment section:

The ratio of commentators on SC is still in favor of the regime. Such also reflects the current balance of physical power on the ground.

However, over the last couple of months, several pro-regimers have either withdrawn or announced the intention to, from SC.

The reasons given have been:
Tired, disgusted, futile discussion,—–.

This is the 4th stage of Grief in Kübler-Ross model; The depression; ” I’m so sad, why bother with anything?”

It is hitting supporters at various speeds.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCbler-Ross_model.

SC commentators’ current standoff, in someways reflects the bigger picture on on the ground.
A large segment of the regime leadership and supporters have indeed lapsed into depression.

The good news is, they have finished 4 of 5 stages.
One more and they will be in the final stage: Acceptance — “It’s going to be okay.”; “I can’t fight it, I may as well prepare for it.”

SC will be around to host the resolution phase! Revlon will be around to read AlFati7a, only this time to celebrate the renewal of our friendship in a framework of respect for human and civil rights.

Majedkhaldun writes:

No Syrian will accept European or American interventions. The US will not give permission to Turkey to invade Syria. More demonstrations, as the regime resort to violent crackdown,,economy will deteriorate,inflation will hit hard as the Lira will loose its value,people will start complain publicly,more demonstrations will ensue,this will not lead to Bashar resignation, the elite will feel the crisis, as it will hit there pockets, they will talk to Bashar, he will decline,finally the protesters will recognize that they have to bear arms, to defend themselves, this will lead to much more casualties, among Shabbiha and security forces,they will run away, Bashar will be left with only the army to depend on, he will need more than 4th brigade,and republican guards, then the troops will start defecting in large numbers, army officers will separate creating cantons,they all will have one goal , to change the regime, but they all will be independent,pressure will mount on Bashar to quit,internal division will end the regime.new dictator will appear,we will not get our democracy that we yearn for,a lot of blood will be spilled, a lot of properties will be destroyed.

Louai writes:

Let me tell you about Bab el-Sbaa [in Homs, the center of the demonstrations]

it’s a wonderful neighbourhood , there are Christians and Muslims there living together without any problem there are two churches in that small neighbourhood and Muslims are conservatives but they do respect our freedom and traditions for example, almost every muslime girl there is wearing Hijab but if some one harassed a Christian girl because of her liberal outfit a conservative Muslim will deal with hem in case none of her family is there , it’s a wonderful and safe place unlike its recent reputation , the problem about Babelsbaa is its connected to ALwarsha Babeldreeb and bab el Turkman, people in Bab elsbaa believe that the armed gangs don’t belong to their neighbourhood (almost every one knows every one there ) they come from babeldreeb or other places because they take advantage of the small alleys passages and old Arabic houses in there plus they managed to close the neighbourhood using barricades ,the people of Babelsbaa DO demonstrate but I refuse to think they are using any arms as I do know my people plus my family never recognized any of the armed men but recently it become terrorists safe heaven because of the blocked neighbourhood and the rumour that the army will not enter there but the situation is unbearable now Babelsbaa is Babeldreeb and Alwarsha and babelturkman ,things are mixed up the army had to put an end to this rebels who converted the neighbourhood to a hub and a Refuge to terrorists ,my own family is under siege ,I cant call them or communicate with them but I am happy because I read the army is there hopefully it will manage to bring back peace and safety.

The Realist Prism: Regime Change and Demobilization in Iraq and Beyond
By: Nikolas Gvosdev | Column

Most experts believe that one of the most catastrophic mistakes made during the U.S. occupation of Iraq was the decision to disband the Iraqi armed forces in May 2003. The question is not merely of interest to historians and those writing “after-action” reports on the Iraq invasion. After all, other Iraq-style regimes — most notably in Syria, Libya and North Korea — are likely to fall in the near future.

Comments (72)


Akbar Palace said:

Professor Josh,

Have your in-laws joined the demonstrations yet?

July 22nd, 2011, 10:27 pm

 

edj said:

Hoping that everyone will pray for a peaceful outcome to the Syrian Revolution. The Syrian people in all their wonderful mosaic deserves better than this anomaly. Hoping, also, that President Bashar Al-Assad will start to listen very carefully to the Syrian people. He is not wanted, his family is not wanted and his Baath Party is not wanted….he needs to leave very soon. Him, his family and his party. The slaughter of a 13 years old boy at the hands of his goons was the turning point in this uprising. A point of no return. Even a blind man can see it and the end is clear … how about an eye doctor!?

July 22nd, 2011, 10:57 pm

 

aboali said:

I can happily report to everyone here that protests happened in a number of towns around Aleppo suburbs, I was fortunate enough to witness one in Bayanoon. Protesters gathered after Isha prayers outside a local mosque, and chanted “down with the regime” and “Syrian people will not be humiliated”. The whole town heard and rushed to see what was going on, many joined in. Obvious also was anti-regime graffiti, scrawled across a number of walls around the area. Some of it was painted over, but you could still make out some words like “Bashar the killer”. The checkpoint on the Ghazi Entab highway was moved up, it’s now just after Hrietan, previously it was opposite Shahba mall.

My own definitive analysis of how the situation will unfold in Syria: protests will continue to intensify, reaching a tipping point, probably during Ramadan. The regime will crumble and fall not due to defections, but to desertions. Security and military will simply refuse to carry out orders and go home, leaving the regime with no authority. Senior officials and officers will pack their bags, transfer their millions, and leave taking their families abroad with them. End result, a free Syria, rid of the Baathist and Assadian scourge that have blighted it for so many years. An interim government will be formed, made up of trusted and respected public figures. New elections will be scheduled, the constitution modified, and Mukhabarat agencies systematically dismantled or disbanded altogether. A new era will dawn on Syria, one where everyone is free to practice whatever politics or religion or beliefs they have, without fear of persecution. The country will begin to heal, the people will prosper, and a successful new nation will rise from the ashes of the old one. The past will be like a bad dream, quickly forgotten when daylight breaks.

July 22nd, 2011, 11:34 pm

 

Jad said:

شـبكـة أخـبـار جبلــة | J.N.N
لاتزال اصوات الدنميت واطلاق الرصاص السلميين على الامن والجيش مستمرين…الاسلحة متنوعة…قنابل كلاشينكوف مسدسات قناصات على مايبدو….والشيء الحقير…ان صفحات الخيانة على الفيسبوك تقتل القتيل وتمشي في جنازته….هذه ليست ثورة..إنها نفاق أعمى
heavy gunshots heard in Jableh cuased by armed protestors attacking govt. buildings..
الله يحمي الجيش والامن من غدر الغادرين…
#JNN #SYRIA #REALSYRIAN

July 22nd, 2011, 11:35 pm

 

jad said:

Protests organizers are short sighted covering the armed attacks on the national army, because if the army and security get tiered out the guys in the street won\’t even have a country to build, welcome to Afghanistan.

July 22nd, 2011, 11:52 pm

 

Syria no kandahar said:

Aboud&Manners
Getting manners from you is like getting شرفfrom
Pr….t.
Getting manners from you is like getting spirituality
From the Hitler of Islam Alaaroor.
Getting manners from you is like having hijab on the head and making living from below the waist.
I much rather go through مكينة العرعور لفرن لحمة العلويين then have him throw me to the dogs than learning manners from you.
Going back to mr Jindi ,I dont know what god is going to do with all the dead syrians he has now,which one is going to be 100% shaheed or 50% or 0%,we are talking about an influx of dead syrians:jindi

July 23rd, 2011, 1:00 am

 

jad said:

الغـرب والعـرب: دعـم الثـورات ونهـب الثـروات
لمـاذا قبـل الإخـوان المسـلمون التـقارب مـع أميـركا؟

سامي كليب
«ناديا» شابة سورية تحلم بأن تصبح نجمة تلفزيونية. دفعها فقرها لهجرة قريتها «جبلة» الساحلية وجاءت تبحث عن لقمة عيش شريفة في دمشق. تعيش ناديا في غرفة شديدة التواضع، وتقطع كل يوم أكثر من ساعتين بالسيارة ذهاباً وإياباً إلى عملها. لم يحصنها انتماؤها إلى الطائفة العلوية ضد الفقر، وما كادت تبدأ بالخروج من تواضع الحال حتى بدأت تلملم حوائجها بحثاً عن مكان أكثر أمناً بعد أن تفاقمت مشاعر المذهبية في حيها.
«شادي» شاب سوري أشقر الشعر أزرق العينين. كل شيء في شكله وسحنته يوحي بأنه أوروبي الانتماء. يحلم هذا الفتى الحلبي بأن يصبح رجل أعمال ناجحاً. لم يجد في مدينته عملا يعيل منه عائلته، فجاء إلى دمشق يبحث عن لقمة عيش شريفة. «شادي» سني الطائفة لكن انتماءه إليها لم يحمه من الفقر رغم كل ما يقال عن رأس المال السني الكبير في مدينته حلب.
يتفق شادي وناديا على ضرورة إصلاح النظام. يعتقدان بأنهما ضحية الظلم الاقتصادي والإداري والاجتماعي. هما من الجيل الذي انتقل من الطفولة إلى المراهقة في العهد الحالي. أحبا الرئيس بشار الأسد وكرها النظام (شادي بدأ يغير رأيه بالأسد بعد تزايد الدم في الشوارع). تنحصر صورة حزب البعث في ذهنيهما بقيادات عجوزة هرمة، وخطابات مملة، وبهرجات حزبية وسيارات فخمة سوداء، وبانسلاخ عن لغة العصر.
حين بدأت الثورات العربية في تونس وسقط زين العابدين بن علي، هبَّت رياح الحرية على الوطن العربي (بل الأوطان العربية المفككة أصلا). لم يعتقد شادي وناديا بأن الرياح ستصل إلى سوريا. كان كل شيء ساكناً في هذا البلد ذي نظام الحزب الواحد منذ أكثر من 40 عاماً.
كان بشار الأسد يعزز الانفتاح الاقتصادي ويعد بانفتاح سياسي. حقق الاقتصاد قفزات جيدة، (انتقال إلى الليبرالية، انفتاح مصرفي كبير، السماح بتداول الدولار، تسهيل قوانين الاستثمار المحلي والخارجي، تشجيع السياحة… ذكر مثلا التقرير السنوي لصحيفة «لوموند» الفرنسية أن الناتج القومي الخام انتقل من 21،1 مليار يورو عام 2005 إلى 43،9 مليار يورو في عام 2010. أدت خصخصة القطاع المصرفي إلى انتعاش القطاع الخاص. تم فتح بورصة سوريا عام 2009. حققت السياحة 3،5 مليارات يورو فقط في الأشهر الأولى من عام 2010. وصلت تحويلات السوريين في الخارج إلى مليار يورو… ألخ).
انتعش الاقتصاد إذاً وبقيت السياسة بانتظار فرج لم يأت. بررت السلطات السورية طويلا تأخر الإصلاح بالهجمة والحصار اللذين تعرضت لهما سوريا في أعقاب اغتيال رئيس الوزراء اللبناني رفيق الحريري، لا بل قبل ذلك بقليل منذ التمديد للرئيس اللبناني السابق إميل لحود وبداية التباعد، ثم التنافر، مع فرنسا.
اعتقد النظام السوري ان الانتعاش الاقتصادي سيغير الكثير من انماط التفكير السياسي ويمحو أحقاد التاريخ، لكن سرعان ما تبين منذ الشرارة الاولى في درعا، ان ابناء الأرياف هم في طليعة المتضررين من النموذج الاقتصادي المستورد. وتبين أيضاً ان الوجود الكثيف للقيادات البعثية وللبعثيين في تلك المناطق الريفية (درعا، إدلب، الرستن… وصولاً الى جسر الشغور ومحيطها) لم ينجح مطلقاً في إخماد شرارة الانتفاضة، لا بل لعله عززها نظراً للأحقاد الدفينة ضد النماذج القيادية البعثية العالقة في التاريخ والمصالح والفساد.
تسلح النظام بالانتعاش الاقتصادي، ولكنه تسلح أيضا بالالتفاف الشعبي حول بشار الأسد بعد خروج سوريا من لبنان، ثم في أعقاب انتصار المقاومة عام 2006 على إسرائيل. لم يعر انتباهاً كثيراً للحريات التي أنعشها الأسد نفسه حين شجَّع مثقفي وسياسيي «ربيع دمشق» على التعبير بحرية عن آرائهم قبل أن يزج بهم في السجون بتهم ضعيفة الإسناد.
كان لا بد اذاً ان تنتقل عدوى الثورات العربية الى سوريا. فهل اخطأ الأسد في التقييم حين استبعد احتمال وصول النموذجين التونسي والمصري إلى بلاده؟
ربما، ولكن الأكيد ان سوريا تشكل نموذجاً خاصاً في سياق الثورات العربية حيث تختلط عند تخومها العوامل الداخلية والإقليمية والدولية، بحيث يصبح النظام البعثي هدفاً سائغاً لكل الذين لم يستسيغوا دوره ومواقفه في السنوات القليلة الماضية، تماماً كما يصبح هدفاً لجيل من الشباب بات توقه إلى الحرية أقوى من كل التوقعات.
حاجات غربية وثورات عربية
كان شادي الشاب الحلبي السوري يحلم قبل فترة بأن يحصل على تأشيرة سفر إلى الخارج. خاطب عدداً من السفارات. لم يأته رد إيجابي. حين يتحدث اليوم عن تجربته المريرة تلك يضحك. يقول :«حسناً فعلوا بأنهم لم يعطوني تأشيرة، ألا ترى ان الغرب بات مفلساً».
لا شك انه من الظلم بمكان ان يقال عن الثورات العربية بأنها وليدة مؤامرة خارجية. هذا بحد ذاته جهل بطبيعة المجتمعات التي تحركت فيها الثورات ونجحت. يقول العالم الفرنسي ايمانويل تولد: إن الثورات في العالم نشأت حين صار نصف المجتمع متعلماً. حصل ذلك في فرنسا وبريطانيا وفي ايران وغيرها. ويقول ان المجتمعات العربية ثارت بعد ان بلغت النسبة نفسها، وبعد ان تقلص عدد الإنجاب الى نسبة ولدين او اقل في العائلة الواحدة، ذلك انه كلما تعلمت المرأة قلَّ الإنجاب وازداد الوعي. وكلما ازداد الوعي تضاعفت الرغبة في تحسين ظروف الحياة.”
…..
“الإخوان المسلمون حلفاء مؤقتون
تدرك واشنطن ان تيار جماعة الإخوان المسلمين في الوطن العربي هو القوة الوحيدة المنظمة وعابرة الحدود. لا يمكن التفكير بإقامة تحالفات مع هذا الوطن من دونهم. ذهب تيار في الإدارة الأميركية منذ عهد الرئيس السابق جورج بوش يقول بضرورة التحاور معهم. كان النموذج الاخواني التركي، عبر حزب العدالة والتنمية، يوحي بإمكانية تمدد التحالف صوب العالم العربي. كشفت وثائق «ويكيليكس» أن الحكومة الأميركية كانت تعمل مع «الإخوان» والمعارضة منذ فترة طويلة. تبين أن قطر أيضا ترعى بقوة هذا التيار وتساعده سياسيا وماليا تماما كما تفعل أطراف في السعودية والكويت. ولعل بول بريمر قد بارك العلاقة مع «الإخوان»، ذلك أن تجربته معهم في العراق كانت أكثر من ممتازة.
إن نظرة سريعة لواقع العرب بعد الثورات أعطى ذاك التيار الأميركي مبررات فتح الخطوط واسعة مع «الإخوان». في تونس صارت حركة النهضة بقيادة الشيخ راشد الغنوشي قوة ملحوظة. في مصر تم التأسيس لمرحلة مقبلة قوية بين «الإخوان» ذوي الشعبية والمجلس العسكري. حصل ذلك بمباركة أميركية. في اليمن لم يترنح عرش الرئيس علي عبد الله صالح من دون الوجوه الاخوانية أو الإسلامية من الشيخ حميد الأحمر مروراً باللواء علي محسن الأحمر وصولا إلى حزب الإصلاح والشيخ عبد المجيد الزنداني.”
……………..
“كسر حواجز الهيمنة الجديدة
لو سلمنا جدلا بأن الغرب، بقيادة أميركا، يريد خيرات العرب من نفط وغذاء وثروة حيوانية وزراعية.
ولو سلمنا أيضا بأن الغرب يريد الحفاظ على مصالحه وأن إسرائيل تشكل الجزء الأهم لهذه المصالح لكونها القاعدة العسكرية المتقدمة.
إذن يمكن القول إن الهدف الأول والأخير تبقى إيران نظراً لدورها في توثيق عرى الخط المواجه. لا بد إذا من كسر هيبتها وإضعاف هيمنتها، او القبول بصفقة كبيرة معها. وسوريا في هذا المجال تبدو الآن الحلقة الأضعف. من الصعب التفكير بهدوء أوضاعها إلا في حالتين، فإما أن تقبل بصفقة سياسية مجحفة، أو أن تلجأ إلى عملية عسكرية واسعة وحاسمة ما لم توصل خطوات الاصلاح إلى انفراج.
لم يكن مفاجئا إذا أن ينبري ثلاثة من غلاة المدافعين عن إسرائيل في الكونغرس الأميركي اليانا روس ليهتينين، وآليوت انغل، وجو ليبرمان الى دفع الرئيس باراك اوباما لإعلان حكم الأسد فاقداً للشرعية. وقبل هؤلاء كان مجلس الديموقراطية في لوس انجلس يؤكد دعمه لقناة «بردى» التلفزيونية المعارضة. وكانت برقية مؤرخة في نيسان 2009 وصادرة عن السفارة الأميركية في دمشق تقول «إن مجلس الديموقراطية تلقى 6،3 ملايين دولار من الخارجية الأميركية لإدارة البرنامج المتعلق بسوريا». هذه المخصصات كانت وصلت إلى 12 مليون دولار عام 2010، فما هو هدفها؟ لقد أكدت وثائق «ويكيليكس» أن هذه الأموال تدار من قبل الخارجية الأميركية لإضعاف النظام السوري.
قد يبدو هذا الكلام للبعض بمثابة القول بأن ما يحصل في سوريا هو فعل «مؤامرة» فقط. العكس هو الصحيح. إن حركة الشارع هي التي عززت عند البعض احتمالات نجاح خطة إضعاف النظام السوري حتى شل قدراته الخارجية. لو لم تحصل انتفاضة في سوريا لكانت الأنظار ستتوجه إلى قوة عربية مستعادة تقوم على تحالف سوري- مصري. ولو أضيف لها قوى المقاومة عبر «حزب الله» و«حماس» والتيار الإسلامي في الاردن لربما احدث ذلك قلقاً فعلياً على إسرائيل وعلى المشروع الاميركي والغربي الجديد في المنطقة.
يكفي ان نلاحظ ان 4 عمليات تفجير انابيب للغاز المصري الذاهب الى اسرائيل قد حصلت مؤخرا. اسرائيل تستورد من مصر 46 في المئة من حاجاتها الغازية، وهذا الغاز يوفر لها 40 في المئة من حاجاتها الكهربائية بأسعار مخفضة. الآن يقوم جدل كبير في مصر حول هذه المسألة. يجري كلام مقلق في اسرائيل منذ القرار المصري بفتح معبر رفح. يتنامى القلق ايضا منذ قال وزير الخارجية السابق (الامين العام الحالي لجامعة الدول العربية) نبيل العربي بضرورة التقارب مع إيران. فكيف لو ان سوريا بقيت من دون انتفاضة؟
اُبعد نبيل العربي عن وزارة الخارجية، جيء بالوزير محمد العرابي الذي كان دبلوماسيا في سفارة بلاده في تل أبيب، وقبل أن يصبح وزيرا سابقا، تراجع الكلام عن التقارب مع إيران. تم الإعلان عن ضم الأردن والمملكة المغربية إلى مجلس التعاون الخليجي. أعطيت قطر مركز الصدارة في الدبلوماسية العربية وسط غموض المستقبل السعودي. ضبطت سريعا اوضاع البحرين. حصل تدخل اميركي هائل في اليمن المهدد للسعودية والخليج لو ساءت أوضاعه أكثر. لا بد من الحفاظ على استقرار الخليج، مصدر الثروة النفطية والمبالغ المالية الهائلة والنفوذ الأميركي. وبين هذا وذاك بدأت عملية الاستيلاء على أموال الرؤساء المخلوعين، ومعظمها في مصارف أجنبية وتقدر بأكثر من 200 مليار دولار.
الثورات العربية مهمة، لا بل انها الحدث الأهم في تاريخنا الحديث بعد الانتصار على إسرائيل في لبنان وهزيمة أميركا في العراق. فهذه الثورات فتحت آفاقا هائلة أمام الشباب العربي، وأسقطت أنظمة شمولية متعفنة في التاريخ والقمع، وتهدد أنظمة شمولية أخرى بالسقوط ما لم تبادر إلى تلقف الشارع بسرعة وتلبية كل مطالبه.
ولكن السؤال الأهم الآن: هل ان العرب هم المستفيدون فعلا من ثوراتهم. ألم يقل الثائر الأرجنتيني الشهير في كوبا تشي غيفارا إن «الثورة يطلقها مغامر، ويقودها بطل، ويستغلها انتهازي»؟”
http://www.assafir.com/Article.aspx?EditionId=1903&articleId=2582&ChannelId=44881&Author=%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%20%D9%83%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A8

هل مارست السلطة ضبط النفس في جمعة أحفاد خالد بن الوليد؟
سوريا: ازدياد عدد المتظاهرين وانخفاض عدد القتلى

عاشت سوريا أمس يوماً جديداً من أزمتها، زاد خلاله عدد المتظاهرين وانخفض عدد القتلى والجرحى، بالمقارنة مع ايام الجمعة الماضية، في مؤشر الى ان السلطة مارست قدراً أكبر من ضبط النفس، في الخيار الأمني الذي اعتمدته بشكل رئيسي طوال الأشهر الخمسة الماضية، والذي أدى الى تصعيد التحدي الشعبي،

http://www.assafir.com/Article.aspx?EditionId=1903&articleId=2623&ChannelId=44875

July 23rd, 2011, 1:08 am

 

Syria no kandahar said:

Cont from my prev post:
We are talking about an influx of dead syrians:jindi,Janoud ,Tallawi,his kids,Hamza,the soldier puplically hanged,hundreds of other soldiers,MB spice it up victims,Shabiha’s victims…
So how is god going to determine who is shaheed and who is not?he might have a shaheed killed by shaheed,or 50%shaheed,or what is he going to do with the Christians who were killed in Homs,they can’t even get one virgin,is he going to give themعجوز مطرطره or may be he will do that to punish the soldiers you don’t consider shaheed.
The bottom line mr Aboud is that this is very dirty
And god help us and help himself deal with the mess we are in,if this was a ware to defend our nation I will be more than agreeable with you.this is just a fashion to change your countries pants and get a new pants.All the signs are that we are not getting Lives Jeans,we are getting دشداشهbrown from the back,yellow from the front.

July 23rd, 2011, 1:15 am

 

jad said:

«الأخبار» في دير الزور: رحلة في مدينةٍ… عنوانها القهر
طارق عبد الحي
دير الزور | عبر المساحات الشاسعة لمدينة الفرات، تواردت الأنباء المختلفة وتضاربت الآراء في دقّتها، رغم محاولة بعض وسائل الإعلام التركيز على ما يجري في مدينة البوكمال تحديداً، ومن ثم تقدير عدد المتظاهرين في حماه ودير الزور وحدهما بما يقارب مليون ومئتي ألف متظاهر، رغم تسريبات عن زيارة الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد لدير الزور بعد بدء الاحتجاجات، وتناقل أحاديث عن تعهدات من مشايخ العشائر هناك بعدم المشاركة في الحراك الشعبي والابتعاد عن التظاهرات. لكن الأسابيع القليلة الماضية دلت على أن هناك رأياً آخر. فقد انضمت دير الزور إلى قائمة المحافظات السورية المتظاهرة.

تشق الحافلة الممتلئة بالركاب طريقها بسهولة من دمشق إلى دير الزور. في الطريق ثلاثة حواجز أمنية توحي كأنك تنتقل من دولة إلى أخرى. عند كل حاجز، يتكرر المشهد: ينزل مرافق الحافلة حاملاً معه قائمة بأسماء المسافرين، يعطيها لرجل الأمن الذي يقرأها بدقة ثم يقارنها بقائمة أخرى لديه. بعد ذلك، يعيدها للمرافق طالباً منه إكمال الطريق مع حرصه على التعاطي بمنتهى الأدب مع المارين رغم تعبه الظاهر.
ظلت دير الزور تشبه المنفى الحقيقي في مخيلة الدمشقيين؛ إذ يحكي أهل الشام أنّ أقسى عقوبة ممكن أن تحل بموظف حكومي هي نقله إلى دير الزور ليوقّع استقالته بيده، فضلاً عن السمعة السيئة بحق المدينة من حيث «عدائية» أهلها. أخيراً، تقرأ لوحة «دير الزور ترحب بكم»، لترى المدينة كعجوز ثكلى أنهكتها قسوة الزمن وقبضة القدر المحكمة حول عنقها، فاتشحت بالسواد حزناً على موتاها الذين يستقبلوننا قبل أحيائها. كل شيء متناقض فيها. يشير أحد الركاب إلى المدخل فيقول: «قبل سنوات، كانت الأراضي هنا عبارة عن مقابر متفرقة، لكن الدولة نقلت القبور إلى مناطق أخرى، وباتت الأراضي مكاناً للسكن الجامعي والمشفى الحكومي، وإلى جانبهما مركز قوى الشرطة والمرور». ويتابع قائلاً إن «دير الزور شهدت نهضة عمرانية أخيراً، لكن أسباباً كثيرة تدفع أبناء ثانية كبرى محافظات سوريا للاحتجاج ضد النظام».
داخل المدينة، الحياة تسير على طبيعتها. الأسواق المفتوحة تعج بالناس، بينما تمتلئ المقاهي تقريباً على نحو كامل، إلا أنّ شيئاً ما يوحي بتوتر في الأجواء وعلى الجدران؛ فمن جهة، عبارات تدعو إلى إسقاط النظام، ومن جهة أخرى لا تزال الخدمات الحياتية في المحافظة على حالها.
في المقابل، تُعدّ ساحة التمثال أو السبع بحيرات، التي تضم مقارّ الشرطة العسكرية، ملتقى الفريق الموالي. لكن الموقف هنا يختلف بالنسبة للمؤيدين عن بقية المحافظات السورية؛ فكما ينغّص رجال الأمن على التظاهرات المعارضة، بدأ المناهضون للنظام ينغّصون على مؤيديه، فالخيمة التي نصبت للاحتفال اليومي لهم، سرعان ما أزيلت، شأنها شأن تمثالين للرئيس الراحل حافظ الأسد والثاني لنجله الراحل باسل الأسد، ليصبح اسم الساحة «ساحة الحرية». هكذا خلت دير الزور من التماثيل، باستثناء صرح شاعرها محمد الفراتي، الذي ينتصب وسط المدينة التي بغالبها تأخذ صبغة المعارضة اليوم.
ما هي مطالبكم؟ الإجابة جاءت شبه موحدة وبنفس حجم السؤال بكلمتين: «إسقاط النظام». تردّ بسؤال آخر يبدو أكثر صعوبة من الأول: لماذا إسقاط النظام؟ فيجيب هاني، أحد الناشطين في التظاهرات الليلية ويقول: «دير الزور عانت كثيراً من الإهمال والقمع. الجميع يتجاهلها. إنها آخر محافظة يفكرون في تنميتها، رغم أنها الأغنى طبيعياً، فالنفط والغاز يتركز هنا، والزراعة شأن بديهي في محافظة يُعد نهر الفرات شريان حياتها، ولو أنهم اهتموا بالمدينة سياحياً، لنافست بالفرات وحده أهم المعالم السياحية الأخرى». لكن المدينة شهدت اهتماماً من الدولة أخيراً، فافتتحت فيها جامعة حكومية وبدأت المصارف الخاصة تفتح فروعها فيها. يقاطعنا الشاب مجدداً: «ما الفائدة إذا كانت كل المنشآت تغرق في الفساد؟».
في المقابل، يرى وليد الصيدلاني أن «الإصلاحات التي قام بها النظام لا تسمن ولا تغني من جوع. فما جدوى إلغاء قانون الطوارئ، مع استمرار الاعتقالات وإذلال الناس؟ أما قانون التظاهر السلمي، فهو فعلياً قانون منع التظاهرات المعارضة، واعتقال من يتظاهر بحجة عدم الترخيص». ويذهب أبعد من ذلك بقوله: «حتى الحديث الحالي عن الدعوة إلى انتخابات رئاسية مبكرة، لن يجدي نفعاً، ما دامت سلطة التهديد تعمل أبشع ممارساتهم أمنياً وإعلامياً».
تحاول أن تستقرئ الآراء في الإعلام السوري، فتسأل عن التخريب الذي تتحدث عنه قناة الدنيا والتلفزيون الرسمي. الإجابة تبتعد عن أخذ الحديث نحو تقويم لأداء الإعلام السوري، إذ يقول هاني: «لا ثورة في العالم تسير وفق القالب المحدد، وقد تحدث بعض التجاوزات»، فيما يرى أحمد أن «تصرفات بعض الأفراد لا يمكن صبغها على كل الثورة في المدينة». ويعترف الشاب الناشط في المجتمع المدني، أن عدداً من المتظاهرين أحرقوا بالفعل سيارات أشخاص قرب مقار حزب البعث، لاعتقادهم أنها تابعة لهم». وفي السياق، يقول جورج، وهو صاحب محل للحلويات في المدينة، إنّ «مسلحين هدّدوه بتكسير محله إن لم يغلق في يوم الخميس مع الإضراب العام»، وهو ما يرى خالد أنه «من فعل الأمن لإبراز المتظاهرين وكأنهم إرهابيون». لكن خالد يعود ليؤكد أن «الشاشات الأخرى أيضاً تبالغ؛ فحديث قناة العربية مثلاً عن خروج نصف مليون متظاهر يوم الجمعة مبالغ فيه بشدة؛ إذ إن عدد سكان المدينة يصل الى أربعمئة ألف شخص».
أما «تنسيقيات الثورة» في دير الزور، فارتكبت بدورها أخطاءً في عملها، رغم عملها الافتراضي الهائل. هكذا يتحدث هاني عن شاب خرج لسرقة الدراجات النارية التي استولت عليها قوات الأمن، فأطلقت الأخيرة عليه النار، بينما كان يهم بالسرقة لتعدّه التنسيقيات «شهيداً». هنا تحاول التذكير بما حدث في محافظات أخرى كدرعا، فتسأل: «ماذا لو دخل الجيش أو الفرقة الرابعة؟». وهنا يأتي الجواب سريعاً؛ لأن «الوضع هنا مختلف عن باقي المحافظات. الريف هنا مسلح بالفعل، ودخول الجيش يعني الوقوع في حرب عواقبها هائلة»، على حد تعبير طلال الذي يؤكد أن السلاح جاء من العراق.
من دير الزور، كان يجب التوجه نحو المكان الأكثر خطورة، لما يشهده من أحداث متلاحقة، أي إلى البوكمال التي يفصلها عن مركز المدينة في دير الزور قرابة السير لمدة الساعة. هناك، يؤكد الأهالي أن الحدود مفتوحة والسلاح دخل بسهولة للبوكمال، ومنه إلى بعض مناطق دير الزور. ويشير آخرون إلى أن سعر البندقية لا يتجاوز ألفي ليرة سورية، وأن تشاهد مضادات طائرات «فهو أمر عادي».
أما ماذا حصل في المدينة الحدودية، فهناك روايتان: في الوقت الذي أكدت فيه مصادر السلطة وممثلوها هناك، أن المسلحين هاجموا قوات الأمن، وأطلقوا النار على عناصر مدنية، قبل أن يحرقوا مقر الشؤون المدنية والمحكمة ليتدخل الجيش عبر إنزال جوي قبل أيام، فإنّ سكان المنطقة لهم رواية أخرى، تتقاطع مع حرق المراكز المدنية التابعة للدولة، لكن السبب هو اعتلاء قناصة أسطح هذه المباني، وهروب عناصر الأمن منها بعدما أطلقوا النار عشوائياً. دخلت الدبابات المدينة، فاستولى عليها المتظاهرون. هكذا يقول الطرف المعارض.
بالنسبة إلى أهل المدينة والمحافظة عموماً، لا يعني الشيخ عدنان العرعور شيئاً، حتى إن كثيرين أقسموا إنهم «لم يكونوا يعرفونه قبل بداية الأحداث»، والغالبية ترى فيه «شيخ فتنة».

http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/17301

July 23rd, 2011, 1:18 am

 

SYR.Expat said:

“Syria’s security measures are failing.”
The vicious response by Syria’s security services has backfired spectacularly. The Syrian people have broken through the barrier of fear and there is no going back. Every time a demonstrator dies, more join the protests.

People were going to demonstrate anyway, but Assad could have enacted real reforms or chosen what Adeeb Shishakly did by leaving and sparing the country civil war.

July 23rd, 2011, 1:55 am

 

Aldendeshe said:

Landis, The video about the mosque minaret attack is a digital fake. Our digital analysis shows that the explosive was present inside the minaret. It was placed there, exploded from within.

Digital testing, enhancement and frame by frame test result: There were no projectile traces approaching the minaret.

I see you are working diligently, providing a platform for murderers now. After spending years getting people upset at your support to Assad (like all world Governments and leaders) Anti regime is all one hear and read on your blog, are Wahabis in Bedouin Arabia paying you too?

July 23rd, 2011, 2:39 am

 

Abughassan said:

The truth is that many syrians want the regime to fall regardless of the price. Even lawyers and human rights activists have joined the group of revolutionists in denial : denying that we now have an armed resistance against the government and the army in addition to the usual unarmed anti regime protesters. Others have also refused to admit that there are sectarian killings in Syria calling that “regime lies”.
I still believe that Bashar must resign but he must give his post to a military council which will supervise a transitional period. The opposition is not ready to lead yet and it remains to be seen who syrians want to get them out of this dangerous mess,it is not the islamists for sure.
The army must act to restore security and peace but Bashar needs to do the right thing and resign.

July 23rd, 2011, 2:51 am

 

SYR.Expat said:

“Digital testing, enhancement and frame by frame test result: There were no projectile traces approaching the minaret.”

Your analysis is flawed. You cannot rule out projectiles approaching the minaret using this video unless you’ve used some magical software that can show you what’s behind the minaret.

Additionally, you cannot prove “that the explosive was present inside the minaret” using this low-quality video.

Having said that, the video doesn’t show who was targeting the minaret. So one cannot blame the army using this video alone.

Note to Prof. Landis: Thank you for this new post. You’ve made clear that “Videos, such as these, make judging any given event very difficult,” but some people don’t get it.

July 23rd, 2011, 3:10 am

 

SYR.Expat said:

الكاتب وطن
الجمعة, 22 يوليو 2011 20:02

كشفت صحيفة “الأخبار” انه إثر اندلاع الاحتجاجات في سوريا، عرضت قطر على القيادة السورية القيام بوساطة مع بعض القيادات المعارضة. وكانت تغطية قناة “الجزيرة” للاحداث عادية “ومن دون مبالغات” كما يقول السوريون. لكن دمشق، من جهتها، تمنت على الخارج عدم ممارسة اي نوع من الوصاية عليها. وأبلغ الرئيس بشار الأسد امير قطر حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني انه جاد في الاصلاحات وسيمضي فيها حتى النهاية.

الصحيفة لفتت الى ان “شيئاً ما حصل، لا تزال ملابساته غامضة حتى الان”، بحسب جهة قامت بوساطة غير ناجحة بين الجانبين. وتعتبر هذه الجهة ان الامر “سياسي بالدرجة الاولى”، وان امير قطر ابلغ جهات دولية، بينها الرئيس الاميركي باراك اوباما، بأنه حصل على تعهد من الاسد باجراء اصلاحات عميقة وسريعة. ولاحقاً، عندما بدأت الامور تتطور في سوريا، ورفض الرئيس الاسد كل الوساطات التركية والقطرية والمداخلات الغربية، طالب الاميركيون أمير قطر بما سبق ان ابلغه اليهم. فتصرف الاخير على انه “طعن شخصيا في مصداقيته”. وترافق ذلك مع ارتفاع مستوى التغطية النقدية لـ”الجزيرة”، وسط مناخات اكثر وضوحا في معارضة النظام السوري عبّر عنها اعلاميون في القناة.

وبحسب “الأخبار”، ارسلت قطر في وقت لاحق احد ابرز مستشاري الأمير الى دمشق، وعقد سلسلة اجتماعات تركزت على سبل استئناف التواصل. لكن الرئيس الاسد ربط كل ذلك بعدم التدخل. وفي مرحلة ثالثة، حصل تباين ادى الى امتناع الاسد عن استقبال شخصيات بارزة مثل رئيس الحكومة حمد بن جاسم، ليتم بعدها الاتفاق على قناة مثّلها احد العاملين في مكتب الامير، والذي عاد الى سوريا مقترحا على الاسد كتابة رسالة الى امير قطر يشرح فيها ما يجري. وهو ما حصل بالفعل ليعود الرجل بعد ايام حاملا رسالة خطية جوابية من امير قطر. وكانت صدمة القيادة السورية ان امير قطر ضمّن رسالته مطلبا بان يتم تشكيل اطار سياسي انتقالي تتمثل فيه حركة “الاخوان المسلمين” بنسبة لا بأس بها.

عند هذا الحد، بدا واضحا ان القيادة السورية لم تعد تتعامل مع الموقف على انه تباين في وجهات النظر. رفض الاسد ترتيب أي لقاءات اخرى. فيما رفعت “الجزيرة” سقف الحملة على النظام، واستدعت عدداً كبيراً من المعارضين الاسلاميين الذين اطلقوا حملة مباشرة تدعو الى اسقاط النظام. ومن يومها توقفت العلاقات.

ولفتت “الأخبار” الى انه عندما قرر رئيس “جبهة النضال الوطني” اللبناني النائب وليد جنبلاط، أخيراً، السفر الى الدوحة، بادر الى اثارة الامر مع القيادة السورية عارضا القيام بوساطة. ابلغه السوريون انهم لا يريدون وساطة، ولكنهم لا يمانعون ان يقوم باي جهد، وحرصوا على نفي طابع المهمة، وهو ما حرص جنبلاط بدوره على ابلاغه الى امير قطر خلال الاجتماع به في الدوحة. لكن جنبلاط سمع نقدا قاسيا سياسيا وشخصيا للرئيس الأسد، وعاد ليبلغ جهات لبنانية وسورية توقعاته بأن الازمة طويلة بين الجانبين.

ويشار هنا الى ان ايران حاولت القيام بدور بين الجانبين، على هامش المباحثات الايرانية – القطرية حول الوضع في البحرين، لكنها شعرت بأن الامر معقد اكثر مما يعتقد كثيرون.

Read more: الأخبار البنانية: سوريا رفضت استقبال حمد بن جاسم http://www.watan.com/news/2011-07-22-20-03-08.html#ixzz1SucPJzb3

July 23rd, 2011, 3:45 am

 

Aboud said:

@8

Despite my considerable command of the English language, I’m afraid I couldn’t make heads nor tails of your posts. But it sounded like you were complaining, as usual.

@ 11 “I see you are working diligently, providing a platform for murderers now. After spending years getting people upset at your support to Assad (like all world Governments and leaders) Anti regime is all one hear and read on your blog, are Wahabis in Bedouin Arabia paying you too? ”

Professor Landis, welcome to the Plot to Unseat Junior. Doubtless you will be surprised to discover you were part of this organization all along. Don’t worry, they all feel the same way when they find out. I’ll do my best to secure you a nice agent number.

*facepalm* Aldendeshe, are you seriously accusing professor Landis of taking Saudi money to post what is so blatantly obvious to the entire world (obvious to everyone except a menhebak)

July 23rd, 2011, 3:56 am

 

kingcrane jr said:

Dear fellow Syrians, Syriophiles and Syriophobes;

I am an independent expatriate who has never liked the clique that put us in a failed union with Egypt, then taken us out of it, only to come up with “reforms” that have not necessarily worked. But:

1-The cycle of futility that started Syria on a bad slippery slope was started by a certain Husni Zaim, a puppet that served foreign masters and a dictator who was probably the most nefarious ruler in post-independence Syria.

2-Westerners used to make fun of Syria because, as they point out, of the fact that we had 10 coups in 10 years (a very approximative figure); in fact it is mostly because of Syriophobia, a feeling made of 50% fear and 50% resentment. This is the equivalent of primary anti-communism. Anti-Syrian westerners would engage in a conversation with Palestinians or Iraqis, but they do not want to deal with Syrians: too scary and too proud from their point of view; they cannot understand why we are so dogmatic about issues like the usurpation of Palestine while we are so pragmatic about some of our views in the domestic arena; I will say more about Syriophobia when I come to “dreams of civil war in Syria”

3-Syriophobia is a very manifest Western tradition, from Gouraud and his “Saladin nous revoila” to the Western machinations that stripped Syria from a variety of territories where an overwhelming majority of the inhabitants wanted to stay within Syria, but where Western powers decided against such legitimate aspirations.

4-The real errors of the Baath party: no real socialist reforms, nepotism, clientelism, oligarchy, monopoly of the political and mediatic arenas, trickle down economics in some areas, absence of long term planning, poor ways of involving the average secular not-necessarily-violent citizen, and paranoia about everything and anything. If Syria had some of the (perfectly childish) political discussions permitted in Lebanon, we would have had a semblant of free speech; instead, perfectly innocent verbal opinions can be construed to be anti-national, that is anti-Syrian. This paranoia, present in the monarchies of southwest Asia, is staggering when it comes to the political establishement; it reminds me of… Iran, the Theocracy of southwest Asia. Incidentally, ask libertarians in the “land of the free” how much freedom there is when it comes to the real issues: foreign policies dominated by a clan, economics and finance dominated by executives from Wall Street (etc…)

5-Deciphering what the opposition is can be very challenging; one definitely apparent trait is a smell of sectarianism, and even more so a strong whiff of Jihadism. Non-Sunni families in mostly Sunni areas where extremist elements are operating ask such families to join “the Jihad” or else. They feel empowered by their backers, NOT by a legitimate feeling that Syria needs better than the current rulers.

6-When talking about reforms, it is inevitable to look at the Syriophobes’ agenda for Syria: A sectarian state where minorities will be repressed and an initial semblant of hostility towards the entity to the South to put the citizens to sleep, before an inevitable “peace agreement” (spelled A B D I C A T I O N and backstabbing of the Palestinians) will be forced down our throats.

7-Dreams of civil war: The Syriophobes’ ideal scenario. Parts of this new generation of Syrians, people who have barely heard of Shukri Quwwatly, Nazem el-Qudsi, the Sheikh Rushdi Kekhya, Hashem el-Atassi, Zaki Arsouzi, and Fares el-Khoury… (obviously I am not a fan of Aflak or Bittar)… the new generation will embark on a failed adventure that will play in the hands of the Syriophobes, shady characters who want to dominate the area from the Nile to the Euphrates. I must mention that the Euphrates is not what it used to be, the Turkish side having appropriated itself most of the water, as my Upper Mesopotamia agriculture-minded friends keep telling me.

8-So, does anybody wonder why are the Western media and the media of the Arab Counter-revolution in love with the protests, jubilating when the numbers and the casualties mount, exagerating everything? Does anybody wonder why the top foreign-policy official in the “land of the free” is now acting as if Syria was theirs (the Western powers) to rule? What if an actual election, a real one, brought in a pro-Palestinian leftist coalition to power?

9-To the Syriophiles, my wish is that, once the dust settles, Syrian society will remain pluralistic (I do not like the consocional system in Lebanon or the Iraqi system drawn on sectarian lines) and that sectarianism will not plague us.

10- As to the current (or future) authorities, I have only one wish: when the new constitution will be proposed (by whoever has to propose it), please call the Syriophobes’ bluff and include:

A-That all territorial agreements with our neighbours (including the one with Turkey) must be ratified by the Syrian people via REFERENDUM, with retroactive effect; in other terms, it will apply to the said agreement with Turkey

B-That all public services will be real public services; we have seen in Lebanon how corruption in the area of privatized essential services have taken the average citizen hostage

C-Bring in transparency and get rid of corrupt judges… easier said than done

D-Separation of Church/Mosque and State in a radical way; obviously, people will say that I am dreaming

E-Mandate that all political lists at elections (any level) have 50% women to ensure that 50% of the elected officials are women

F-In summary, CALL THEIR (the Syriophobes) BLUFF. The Syriophobes have only one interest: to please their leaders. They are very powerful, but the Citizenry of Syria can be much more powerful.

With this post, I am back posting on SC, and I expect many attacks, particularly from people who read the lines and between the lines. As to the silent majority, those who do not go to the street to attack the authorities and who do not go to the street to support the current administration, I say that there is hope; let us call the Syriophobes’ bluff: we want elections, and we may elect a cadre of young dynamic people who will be the leaders for all Syrians and who will settle our collective accounts against the enemies of the nation (we know who they are). But we must be Syrians first and foremost. Syria first. Merde a tous les autres.

July 23rd, 2011, 4:08 am

 

Syria no kandahar said:

Pony tail
Excellent way to run away,it is ok:
الهروب عند الهزيمة شجاعه
Blame it on English….

July 23rd, 2011, 4:12 am

 

Aboud said:

@16 “let us call the Syriophobes’ bluff: we want elections”

Expect to get a visit from junior’s men in leather jackets at some point. Free and fair elections might as well be the apocalypse for that man.

“They feel empowered by their backers”

Who….are….these…backers? Oh my God, I can’t believe after four months the regime still hasn’t figured out who it is supposed to be fighting. How clueless can junior be?

July 23rd, 2011, 4:29 am

 

SYR.Expat said:

خبر عاجل
اسرائيل قررت الانسحاب من الجولان وتقول ..اذا بشار الأسد بشعبو عمل هيك..!!!!شو رح يعمل فينا اذا اجانا !!!!؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟وصرح مسؤول اسرائيلي وقال..يللي مابخاف من الله خاف منه بقلم الصادق.

http://www.ali-ferzat.com/ar/%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84_.html

July 23rd, 2011, 4:35 am

 

Syria no kandahar said:

Syria Exp
تفاهات علي فرزات
Making fun the way he did it in favor of isreal tells you how much nationality Ali has left in him.Trying to make isreal look like an angel is one goal or outcome of what is happening .

July 23rd, 2011, 4:55 am

 

Mango said:

19. SYR.EXPAT
وصرح مسؤول اسرائيلي وقال..يللي مابخاف من الله خاف منه

July 23rd, 2011, 5:08 am

 

syau said:

Terrorists sabotage the railway line running from Aleppo to Damascus; the area where the railway line was sabotaged was in Alsawda. There were reportedly over 480 passengers aboard the train, including people travelling to undergo surgeries.

Parts of the railway line were removed, which caused the train to derail, as a result of the derailment, eight carriages overturned, with one burning. Unfortunately the driver was martyred. It was a miracle that none of the passengers died and only a few were injured.

It seems as though the next step has begun and the terrorists have moved on to insurgencies, targeting as many people as possible.
May God protect the Syrian people against the terror these gangs are unleashing.

July 23rd, 2011, 6:04 am

 

Tara said:

Aldendeshe,

I am all for freedom of speech, but I find your comment unacceptable as it contains false accusation. Josh provided the 2 points of views fairly. You may want to ask Talib Ibrahim to start a blog for you and others who think like you as I think it may be the only blog that would make you feel comfortable. I know the regulars mnhebaks here do not agree with you.

This revolution is colored by lies, and from both sides, and until you provide us with a proof of your false accusation, the only category your comment belongs to is lies/ misinformation one.

July 23rd, 2011, 6:50 am

 

HSyrian said:

Saboteurs Target a Train Traveling from Aleppo to Damascus, Driver Martyred

HOMS, (SANA) – A group of saboteurs on Saturday targeted a train in al-Souda area in Homs at 03:00 am while it was traveling from Aleppo to Damascus with more than 480 passengers onboard most of them are children, women and patients who were traveling to undergo surgeries.

SANA Correspondent mentioned that those terrorist groups loosed parts of the railway as the train derailed and its cabin was burnt and the driver was martyred while a number of the passengers were injured.

Official source: the sabotage act aimed at committing massacre against innocents

An official source at the Interior Ministry announced that the sabotage act aimed at committing a massacre against 480 innocent passengers traveling from Aleppo to Damascus.

“The Ministry urges all citizens to cooperate with security and police apparatus to give any information available about the saboteurs and criminals who exploit and hide behind demonstrations to carry out terrorist acts that target civilians as well as damaging private and public properties,” the source added.

It underlined that the authorities will firmly and decisively deal with those saboteurs.

Homs Governor Ghassan Abdul-Al described the sabotage act as a heinous crime against a train which transports women, children and patients who were heading for Damascus for treatment.

In a statement to SANA, Abdul-Al referred to the existence of railroad pieces that were loosed by the saboteurs, clarifying that a freight train had crossed from an opposite direction from Homs to Aleppo before 1.00 a.m. when the railroad was safe and tight, adding this leads to the fact that sabotage happened between 1.00 and 3.00 a.m.

About the motives of saboteurs to select this spot to commit their crime, the Governor said that the area of the incident is considered as an arch for the railways from a mechanical point of view, so any derail or sliding will be deadly, but the care of God has rescued that train.

He pointed out to the presence of tracks for motorcycles’ tires near the bride that was selected to derail the train, particularly the road is very slippery here and might lead to a huge number of losses.

Director of the Railways’ General Establishment George Makaabari added that selecting this place to carry out the criminal act by saboteurs indicate their plot was targeting to kill all passengers, particularly they have loosed the links of the railroad and a number of beams to a distance of scores of meters.

R. al-Jazaeri / Mazen
http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/07/23/359899.htm

Photographic evidences on the site are very telling .

July 23rd, 2011, 7:34 am

 

HSYRIAN said:

Your comment is awaiting moderation.*

Saboteurs Target a Train Traveling from Aleppo to Damascus, Driver Martyred

HOMS, (SANA) – A group of saboteurs on Saturday targeted a train in al-Souda area in Homs at 03:00 am while it was traveling from Aleppo to Damascus with more than 480 passengers onboard most of them are children, women and patients who were traveling to undergo surgeries.

SANA Correspondent mentioned that those terrorist groups loosed parts of the railway as the train derailed and its cabin was burnt and the driver was martyred while a number of the passengers were injured.

Official source: the sabotage act aimed at committing massacre against innocents

An official source at the Interior Ministry announced that the sabotage act aimed at committing a massacre against 480 innocent passengers traveling from Aleppo to Damascus.

“The Ministry urges all citizens to cooperate with security and police apparatus to give any information available about the saboteurs and criminals who exploit and hide behind demonstrations to carry out terrorist acts that target civilians as well as damaging private and public properties,” the source added.

It underlined that the authorities will firmly and decisively deal with those saboteurs.

Homs Governor Ghassan Abdul-Al described the sabotage act as a heinous crime against a train which transports women, children and patients who were heading for Damascus for treatment.

In a statement to SANA, Abdul-Al referred to the existence of railroad pieces that were loosed by the saboteurs, clarifying that a freight train had crossed from an opposite direction from Homs to Aleppo before 1.00 a.m. when the railroad was safe and tight, adding this leads to the fact that sabotage happened between 1.00 and 3.00 a.m.

About the motives of saboteurs to select this spot to commit their crime, the Governor said that the area of the incident is considered as an arch for the railways from a mechanical point of view, so any derail or sliding will be deadly, but the care of God has rescued that train.

He pointed out to the presence of tracks for motorcycles’ tires near the bride that was selected to derail the train, particularly the road is very slippery here and might lead to a huge number of losses.

Director of the Railways’ General Establishment George Makaabari added that selecting this place to carry out the criminal act by saboteurs indicate their plot was targeting to kill all passengers, particularly they have loosed the links of the railroad and a number of beams to a distance of scores of meters.

R. al-Jazaeri / Mazen
http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/07/23/359899.htm

Photographic evidences on the site are very telling .

July 23rd, 2011, 7:48 am

 

syau said:

Reports coming in of 68 gunmen arrested in Homs Friday and a large amount of weapons confiscated which include 800 Kalashnikov (ak47) rifles, 250 sniper rifles and 4 RPG launches.

These are weapons that are known to be used for urban warfare by ‘revolutionists’.
This revolution is sounding more and more ‘peaceful’ as days go by.

Also, Aldounia tv reports in Al Areeda, one of the Syrian/Lebanese borders, border control officers confiscated 556 hi-tech mobile phones, in addition to $110,000 hidden inside a water tank onboard a bus travelling from Lebanon to Aleppo.

Tighter border control is exactly what is needed to prevent any further weapons or illegal devices being smuggled into Syria.

July 23rd, 2011, 8:07 am

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

KINGCRANE JR,

First of all, thanks for your insights. It was interesting to read.

You blaming “Syriophobes” for Syria’s misfortunes, resembles the regime blame of “armed terrorist gangs”. Instead of looking outward, focus inwards, to understand why Syria is disliked by many.

You do a good job by pointing out many of the reasons: “…nepotism, clientelism, oligarchy, monopoly of the political and mediatic arenas … paranoia about everything and anything … (no) free speech … perfectly innocent verbal opinions can be construed to be anti-national, that is anti-Syrian … it reminds me of… Iran”.

You didn’t mention Syria’s independent (not to say chaotic yet stubborn) foreign policy, that made Syria “immune”, remember?

So there are plenty of reasons to fear and dislike Syria’s policies. This Syriophobia is not without a reason.
.

July 23rd, 2011, 8:10 am

 

syau said:

It looks as though Saudi royals are drafting an anti-terror legislation that will brand political dissent as an act of terror.

http://wireupdate.com/wires/18966/amnesty-saudi-anti-terror-law-would-strangle-peaceful-protest/

July 23rd, 2011, 8:19 am

 

Aboud said:

@24 Your “68 gunmen” include 50 people arrested at random from Al-Khaldia. If there were really armed gangs with the weapons you described, Homs would have been a bloodbath months ago.

The fact is, only the army could possible accumulate such a stockpile. I think they ship the same crate of weapons all over the country, and have Al-Dunya broadcast them for the gullible.

July 23rd, 2011, 8:34 am

 

syau said:

Aboud #27,

Don’t bother fabricating the events in Homs, today I received news that one of my cousins was injured on Friday, during clashes with armed gangs, so I’m not really interested in the fabrications you put forward, the truth is evident and your blatant lies and cover ups are ridiculous.

July 23rd, 2011, 8:58 am

 

Sheik said:

PLZ refrain from attacking DR.Landis.I knew him for the past 7 or 8 years.He is an honest,smart man,who is not afraid to speak his mind.He crticized the regime in public at the time when no one dared to.He loves Syria and its people,and wants the best for our country.We Syrians are known to be much more civilized than what some of the comments show.Let us not loose what made us such a great, open minded,proud people.All the best to all who care about our future and stand by us.

July 23rd, 2011, 8:58 am

 

Observer said:

My analysis of the current situation would be as follows:
1. The workings of the inner circle of the regime are foggy and I have not been able to discern a strategy. My impression is that the first reaction was one of disbelief that this could happen in Syria followed by a self serving propaganda campaign that unfortunately the regime believed its own tall tale of armed gangs and what have you.
The hard line elements in the regime do not have the sophistication and control and discipline that the late President had, in the use of force, in the measure of the use of force, in the control of the use of force, and in the ultimate fact that force is one of many political tools and not an end in itself.
Therefore I concur that the use of force has become counter productive on the long run and is exhausting the resources of the regime. Those resources are far less than what the late President had for they are much weaker and less disciplined having been gutted by 10 years of a bad example of nepotism, theft, and corruption.
2. The extreme die hard regime supporters who have everything to lose from its departure and nothing to gain from any change. Some are of the Alawi sect and others are minorities driven by genuine fear of the radicalization of the region. There is a core within this group that has dehumanized the other and therefore makes the use of force extremely dangerous for it will be without bounds. Those elements rather than the inner circle are the real danger to their communities and to the regime as they will not hesitate to commit crimes against humanity to stay in power. Those are not the wealthy connected to the regime but those that depend on the graft and nepotism and corruption to continue a parasitic life on the Syrian society. Those elements will be sacrificed by the regime if need be and no matter what happens I believe they will be the ultimate big time losers. The regime if it stays and reforms will cut them out and if it collapses will abandon them.
3. The majority of the Syrian people who are fed up to the core with a system that is incapable of change and that has actually taken the country to a dead end with its previous 50 years of pseudo socialism, resistance, solidarity, and false modernity and progress. The burden of making out a living without a say in their daily lives and in the future of their children sent them to the streets and it is a perfect demonstration of their desperation that they continue to dare to defy the dreaded security services that Syria is known for.
This majority will demonstrate even further where it not for the heavy hand of the regime as shown in Hama and Deir when their absence led to wider and more peaceful demonstrations.
4.A shrinking silent upper middle class that is looking at the events with horror and wondering what to do: leave the country for a while, for good, stick around, hedge our bet here or there and that after they smuggled most of their wealth out of Syria where the coffers of the Lebanese banks are bulging with money they do not know what to do with. As this drags on, they understand that the recovery from this disaster will take longer the longer this crisis drags on. So even if all returns to normal in a month, return of investments and of tourists and of commerce and of money will take years.
5. The high civil servants of the regime that have served it well with the Lebanese crisis and the Iraq war period I see following instructions of the inner circle without true conviction as I note how the VP is the one to run the dialogue and the FM that wiped Europe from the map only to swallow his words in the last press conference.
6. As for the opposition it is true that it is fragmented and diverse and does not see an end game but it reflects the true diversity of Syria and the weak national identity feeling and the spectrum of ideologies that led to many thinkers and poets and parties in the past.
My conclusion for this post is that Junior as we all know missed his chance at reforms more than once, now he is missing his chance at repression, and he is missing his last hold on power and that is convincing the sects that support him that his salvation is their salvation, we see more and more of the leaders of the sects moving to the fence as they see themselves sinking with his ship.

July 23rd, 2011, 9:02 am

 

beaware said:

“This situation is getting worse – and rather ridiculous – because there is no intelligen­t analysis or discussion of the real problem, only the creation of antagonism and contempt between groups of people with different opinions­.

“For 23 years we didn’t know about politics; we used to talk only about football,” Hassen Aldawess, an activist in his twenties, said. “Now everyone thinks he is some kind of genius, and what was a solid stand by a united nation [during the revolution] has become a weak population divided by religious and cultural differences. The only side who will profit from this is the current government who gain more time to continue with its failures.”

Many young people are trying to raise awareness of religious extremism, while emphasising the importance of holding the current government to account, through youth groups, the internet, art and music.

Tunisia Experiences Secular-Religious Rifts
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/119944/tunisia-experiences-secular-religious-rifts.html

July 23rd, 2011, 9:23 am

 

Syria no kandahar said:

SYAU
Pony tail is moving around on the ground posting from Homs using his I phone and 4G network his informations are much more accurate,He admits that the number of arrested armed gangs was 18 so this is 75%less armed than what you are saying.As far as the train ,Aboud was ther,he so a shabiha sniper firing on that train he so the tires blowing up and the train got of line .it is all Shabiha’s
Act.And by the way Norway’s terrorism act Yest was done by Shabiha’s ,affiliated with mola krikar who is affiliated with Assad .France will have the security council meet to condem Assad for that.
Dr landis,if you know 100% that someone is lying day and night in your site,telling people that he is in Homs,and you know 100% that he is not,is’t it right to either stop lying or be banned?that is ok for one or 2 days,but 24 hours aday 365 days a year…makes you feel that this is :Aldouna Comment…or Alzazera Comment…or Aboud Comment.

July 23rd, 2011, 9:24 am

 

Revlon said:

11. Dear Aldendeshi,
You said:
“Landis, The video about the mosque minaret attack is a digital fake. Our digital analysis shows that the explosive was present inside the minaret. It was placed there, exploded from within”

Shelling and destruction of Mosques is part of the legacy of irreverence to peoples sentiments of the Baath regime.
It was practiced in both of the civil unrests of Hama city, dubbed by the regime, like the current one in Homs, as armed insurgencies.

The first was in April 1964. Syria was led then by the late Gen. Amine AlHafez.
In his interview with AlJazeera several years back, he made it clear that the decision to fire at AlSultan Mosque was taken by an army commander, who belonged to a certain minority and still refused to offer his name.
At the time, and to preempt any sectarian repercussions, General AlHafez took full responsibility for the actrocity.

A main Mosque was also targeted and destroyed, together with the old quarter of the city of Hama by Asad Sr regime in February of 1982.

There has hardly been any revolution’s YouTube video that has not been described either as fake or manipulated.
Soldier AlQash3ami was but an example.
Scores of defector officers and soldiers have been videotaped and some even interviewed by independant press.
Yet till this moment, the regime supporters are bent on denying this and other painful realities.

Shelling Bab AlSeba3 Mosque is aserious act of agression against people’s sentiments.
Whether it was ordered by the higher authorities as part of their strategy to provoke a sectarian response, or by frustrated Asad-loyal field commanders is irrelevent to how the people will take it.

Even if later videos showed a projectile rather than a fixed explosive induced destruction of Bab AlSeba3 Mosque, you Mr. AlDendashi and company will be quick to offer another conspiracy theory to discredit evidence.

July 23rd, 2011, 9:48 am

 

Aboud said:

@30 Contrary to what you might think, Landis is not your personal mukhabarat, to vet and check people because you can’t compose competent rebuttals to them 🙂 If he had to install a BS meter on this website, the crap coming from the regime’s side alone would be enough to allow the professor to retire from academia and start his own fertilizer business.

The story of the train, from the Syrian revolution Website. Apparently, it was a case of poor maintenance of the tracks. Tragic, but not surprising. If it was a “terrorist” act, then the group responsible would want the regime to know why and by who. There’s no point in exacting revenge if the person receiving it doesn’t know why he’s getting it.

هـــام :: وردنا :: القصة الحقيقية حادث القطار في منطقة السودة و الإعلام السوري كاذب كاذب ::

حوالي الساعة الثالثة فجرا حصل حادث انحراف لقطار قادم من طريق حلب بأتجاه دمشق و عند موقع السودة على طريق مصياف و عند الجسر تماما انحرف القطار من على السكة المخصصة له مما ادى الى خروج الرأس عن مساره و انقلابه دون خروج القطار المتكون من 11 فركونة و السبب من الخبراء بالمكان هو نتيجة قلة الصيانة و الإهمال,

الذي أدى الى كسر في السكة الواصلة بين شمالي الجسر و جنوبي الجسر ونتيجة انقلاب الرأس و المحرك في حالة دوران اشتعل الالرأس و حرق السائق و كسرت قدم المعاون دون وجود لاطلاق نار على القطار و الدليل عدم تصوير الجثة و عدم تصوير القطار من مكان اطلاق النار و لا وجود لعمل ارهابي او تخريبي و الحكومة تتحمل كامل المسؤولية و بمكان الانحراف تقوم المؤسسة بشكل دوري بصيانة الجسر للخطورة و لم يصب اي راكب بأي اذى بعون الله و هذا كل ما حصل

And I love that the menhebaks now call this Aboud Comment. It’s just glory after glory for me on this website. I wish the Israeli websites were this easy, back in the day…..

July 23rd, 2011, 9:52 am

 

Revlon said:

هل ما يرتكب في سوريا “جريمة إبادة”؟
محمود المبارك
وجد ثلاثة عوامل تشير بشكل جاد إلى أن ما يحدث في سوريا “جريمة إبادة” بالمعنى القانوني الدولي

العامل الأول: الاعترافات التي أدلى بها عدد من الجنود والضباط المنشقين عن الخدمة العسكرية، حين صرح هؤلاء بأن الأوامر صدرت إليهم بالقتل الجماعي للمتظاهرين لأجل التخلص منهم، وأنهم أمروا بقصف البيوت والمساجد على من فيها في مناطق معينة.
وهذه الاعترافات من الكثرة بحيث يصعب دحضها أو التشكيك في صدقيتها. وغالب هؤلاء مستعدون للإدلاء بشهاداتهم أمام المحاكم الداخلية أو الدولية.
يضاف إلى ذلك أن بعض الضباط والجنود المنشقين شهدوا حالات قتل لعسكريين سوريين رفضوا تنفيذ أوامر إطلاق النار على المتظاهرين.

العامل الثاني: تطويق العديد من المدن السورية من قبل الجيش السوري بالدبابات وأفراد الجيش، وقطع الكهرباء ومنع وصول المواد الغذائية والدوائية إلى المدنيين، الأمر الذي نتج عنه تعريض المدنيين لأحوال معيشية نتج عنها هلاك بعضهم، خصوصا الأطفال بسبب منع الغذاء والدواء.

العامل الثالث: التشبيه غير الإنساني، الذي تفوه به الرئيس السوري في خطابه يوم 20 يونيو/حزيران 2011، حين تم تشبيه عمل المتظاهرين بعمل “الجراثيم”، الأمر الذي يمكن أن يفهم منه تشريع التخلص منهم.
يؤكد هذا الطريقة التي اتبعها أفراد الجيش السوري في قتل المتظاهرين جماعيا، في اتباع طريقة التخلص من المتظاهرين بطريقة التخلص من “الجراثيم”.
هذه العوامل الثلاثة قد تشكل في مجموعها أساسا قانونيا صلبا لإثبات تهمة “جريمة الإبادة” ضد مسؤولين سياسيين وعسكريين في الحكومة السورية، على رأسهم الرئيس السوري الحالي بشار الأسد.
وغني عن القول إن إنكار الحكومة السورية لهذه الانتهاكات والجرائم القانونية الدولية لا ينفي ثبوت التهمة، ومنذ متى كان المجرم يعترف طوعا بجريمته؟
ذلك أن الجريمة في القانون الجنائي تثبت بإحدى ثلاث طرق، الاعتراف أو البينات، بما في ذلك شهادات الشهود، أو القرائن المتضافرة.
وفي الحالة السورية يوجد من البينات وشهادات الشهود ما يغني عن الاعتراف الذي لا يتوقع له أن يكون، فضلا عن تضافر العديد من القرائن التي تعين على إثبات التهمة على المتهمين.

المطلوب عمله
المطلوب من الحكومات العربية والإسلامية في الوقت الحالي هو ما يلي:

1- إحالة الملف السوري إلى لجنة حقوق الإنسان التابعة للأمم المتحدة لإحالة الحالة السورية إلى لجنة قانونية دولية، بقصد عمل تحقيق دولي على غرار التحقيق الذي أجرته المنظمة بعد الحرب الإسرائيلية على غزة، المعروف باسم “لجنة غولدستون”.

2- أن يطلب من مجلس الأمن إحالة الملف السوري إلى المحكمة الجنائية الدولية، بطلب ملاحقة المجرمين دوليا ومحاكمتهم على الجرائم التي اقترفوها.

3- مطلوب من العلماء والكتاب والمحامين والإعلاميين رفع الصوت أمام حكوماتهم وتذكير المنظمات الدولية والإنسانية بالقيام بدورها الرائد والمنشود قبل أن يسبق السيف العذل.
وخلافا لما يعتقده البعض، فإن “جريمة الإبادة” لا يشترط لها أن تشمل قتل الملايين أو مئات الآلاف من الأبرياء، ولنتذكر أن الرئيس العراقي السابق صدام حسين حوكم وأعدم بتهمة “جريمة إبادة” فيما قيل إنه تسبب في مقتل 148 شخصا!

http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1D7AE01F-268C-482E-95A8-35D4C18264AB.htm?GoogleStatID=24

July 23rd, 2011, 10:07 am

 

syau said:

Syria no Kandahar,

Lol…

Your right, it’s interesting he actually admits to armed elements this time, even if he does reduce the actual number dramatically. It’s also interesting at approximately 2-3am Syria time, during the gun battle between the army and the armed terrorist gangs in Homs, he was on line, fabricating stories about comments of all things and picking on silly things like spelling mistakes as well as boasting about his skills in the English language. People who actually live in Homs would be possibly just a little worried about the situation unfolding in their home town, and not be re butting comments that are not to thier liking, or picking on non important things such as spelling mistakes. There were no comments from his ponytailness during US sleep time. But what is sad is that he actually has people believe he lives in Homs.

And just as I guessed, the lies begin regarding the incident with the train derailment. It’s just one fabrication after another. I would also expect Abu umar to be unleashed soon.

July 23rd, 2011, 10:13 am

 

vlad-the-syrian said:

KINGCRANE Jr

yes سوريا فقط

don’t mind the attacks
beacuse you will have much more praises
“particularly from people who read between the lines”

(your humble Zorro included)

keep on posting i pray you

تيس سوري
( التيس اقو من الحمار )

July 23rd, 2011, 10:29 am

 

Norman said:

For the security services to control the streets it needs political reform to back them up, with political reform, the majority of the people will feel that they got what they wanted and the current violence is futile.
Without political reform that will cancel article 8 and set time for elections, the support that the president has will erode and he will be forced to leave and leave Syria without a head.

July 23rd, 2011, 10:36 am

 

Revlon said:

Foreigh Minister W. Al Mu3allem enjoying Maza, among other things!

فضيحة!! المعلم ورقصني يا جدع والشعب السوري يذبح

http://the-syrian.com/archives/22144

July 23rd, 2011, 10:40 am

 

aboali said:

to all of you who still disbelief that security forces desecrated mosques, take a look at these photos of the Omari mosque in Daraa at the outset of the uprising – burnt pages from the Koran, with cigarette burns:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.123010761111443.30252.114744738604712&l=3aae946195

July 23rd, 2011, 10:43 am

 

vlad-the-syrian said:

AS RECEIVED !!! ANOTHER SCENARIO !!!!!

Media sources reveal details of a conspiracy by Bandar Bin Sultan and Feltman to “destroy” Syria

(FROM PROF. ADIB KAWAR; NAZARETH/ BEIRUT)

Several media sources have revealed the details of a “well-organized” plan to destroy Syria and create chaos in the country. The plan is said to be drawn up by Bandar bin Sultan, the former Saudi ambassador to the United States, in collaboration with the former U.S. Ambassador in Lebanon, “Jeffrey Feltman” to overthrow the regime in Syria and to bring Syria back to the “stone age”, according to the sources.

The lengthy and detailed plan, developed by Bandar bin Sultan and his friend Feltman in 2008 with a funding reached $2 billion, consists of many items and precise details which significantly intersect with the incidents of disturbances the city of Daraa has recently witnessed.

According to sources, the plan “strategically” depended on the exploitation of peoples’ legitimate desire in freedom, dignity and getting rid of corruption and on the turning of these wishes into a revolt against the regime through convincing the people that the road to reform from within the regime is closed and the solution is an all-out revolution.

However, the plan tactically divided Syria into three areas (big cities, small cities and villages), and the established five types of networks:

1. The “Fuel”: This network comprises educated and unemployed youths who are to be linked in a decentralized way.

2. The “Thugs” network, which includes outlaws and criminals from remote areas, preferably non-Syrians.

3. The “Ethnic-Sectarian” network which consists of young people with limited education representing ethnic communities that support or oppose the president. They must be under the age of 22.

4. The “Media” network that comprises some leaders of civil society institutions which have European funding not American one.

5. The “Capital” network which comprises traders, companies owners, banks and commercial centers in Damascus, Aleppo and Homs only.

On how to use these networks and link between each others, the plan provides for:

The utilization of ambitious young people from the first network (Network of fuel) through attractive phrases such as:

s You must have a voice

s Change can’t be achieved except by force

s Your future is yours to determine

s Your silence is the cause, and so on .

The plan also provides for exploiting the skills of members of the second network (Network of thugs) through:

s Training the thugs on professional killing including sniping and murdering in cold blood.

s Training them on burning public buildings quickly by using flammable substance.

s Training thugs on penetrating prisons police centers and security buildings.

According to the plan, members of the third network (sectarian ethnic netwrok) will be exploited by

s Feeding their strong feeling of support for or opposition against the President.

s Making them feel that their communities are threatened in all cases.

s Creating the concept of using excessive force against others.

s Convincing them of the idea that all who oppose them in anything are traitors.

s Leading them to a “state of color blindness”, so see only black and white.

s -Exploitation their age and lack of knowledge of history and geography and leading them to the brink of being ready to do anything.

The fourth network (media network) will also be exploited to serve the plan. Members of this network will be recruited and their skills will be enhanced to lead the (public opinion) through:

s Enabling them to communicate with the media by satellite phone that can’t be monitored or cut off.

s Promoting them as nationalists and as individuals who don’t oppose to the regime, but call for civil society.

s Qualifying cadres and training them on techniques of modern media such as blogging and using the Internet which help them communicate with the public.

s Holding regular meetings with them and coordinating their efforts so that no one will contradict the other.

The fifth network (capital network) will be exploited by using their fear of their money being wasted, so the following must be achieved:

s Linking traders with trade officials in the European embassies under the cover of trade relations.

s Holding luxurious parties to be attended by businessmen and during which exclusively Arab Gulf deals and investments are to be made.

s Threatening them with certain sexual relations that are filmed for later blackmailing them.

s Urging them against the regime and creating ideas such as: “The country is yours and outsiders control you. The regime makes wealthy people on your expense. You are the ones who build the country and others rule it. Bashar al-Assad steals you via taxes and his supporters enjoy it. All your businesses projects are a loss due to bribery and corruption. Your wealth is threatened and must be transferred outside Syria because the regime will collapse. We will make you rule the country after the collapse of the regime.”

The plan also contained in its “executive” chapter several scenarios, and precise details of how to start and move, how networks will be exploited and how to move forward.

According to executive chapter, the plan adopts the following stages:

1- If a targeted person from the Fuel Network responded, another stage will immediately begin based on exploiting his/her need for money, so the plan starts to:

s Provide him/her with small amounts of money.

s Ensure him/her a rented car, a cellular phone and Internet connection.

s Ask him/her to look for and bring other young people and use the same method with them.

s When the number of young people reach 5000 in major cities and 1500 in small cities and 500 in the villages, these people are asked to start to express their desire in change and reform. At this very stage any talk against any side of the people must be avoided. Not a word on sectarian, partisan, rightist or leftist basis is allowed at this stage.

As this stage proceeds, objections by non-enthusiasts are to be faced by a set of appropriate responses such as:

s If someone says there is a change, the response must be: “There is no change at all. This is all a lie”

s If he says change is coming, then the response must be: “We have heard this for more than 40 years”

s If anyone says that time is not suitable, the response must be: “So when must we move. Are we going to move after 100 years?”

s If one says that of our dignity lies in resisting America, the response must be: “We have nothing to do with resistance, we want to live” and so on…

s A Moving group has to be pushed into streets inside already existing gatherings such as in crowded markets, in mosques after prayers and in narrow alleys. This group is divided into three rings: The shouters, the photographers, and the hidden people. The shouters gather at the center of the circle and begin chanting within the gathering. This ring is surrounded by the ring of the hidden people, while the photographers’ ring surrounds all. If anyone tried to disperse the shouters the hidden people defend them under the pretext: ” let them speak”, and if no one try to disperse them, the same ring of the hidden people assaults the shouters and disperse them. In both cases,” We get an excellent picture for the media.”

s In general, the authorities have to be provoked to be drawn into the use of torture and cruelty. Here the authorities have to choose one of two solutions; either to intervene or not to intervene.

s If the authorities don’t interfere, the number of enthusiasts will begin to increase, because young people’s demands will attract a bigger number of new enthusiasts who all, according to the plan, must not know anything about the network link.

s If the authorities intervene and arrest one of the network members, he/she must make himself/herself appear “innocent and pathetic”, immediately change his/her stance and illusively promise the authorities not to do that again. According to the plan he/she is to be completely frozen to the final stage, but funding continues.

s If the authorities intervene and arrest one from outside the network, the incident must fully be exploited by raising the level of demands. If the security forces torture him/her, this will be better as it will help in fueling the people’s feelings and here phrases linking torture to the whole regime not only to the security forces are to be promoted and the following statements and ideas are to be disseminated: “Have you seen what happened to the poor man, this is what the president wants. It isn’t fair, the man wants only to live. Do those traders only have the right to have money? Is it a government or a group of thieves? The reason behind this is the top leadership”, and so on …

2- When moves start in the streets, people must be instigated as fast as possible to change their just demands into calls for the downfall of the regime. Here the following must be implemented:

s The second network, “network of the thugs”, is introduced to the scene immediately to attack all of the demonstrators and security personnel.

s Videos and photos for dramatic events which hurt religious and social feelings, such as attacking women, preferably veiled ones, must be taken. As a result alleged demonstrators shout general slogans and if they are attacked by security forces it will be very excellent. But if they are attacked by civilians, the group says “security forces dressed in civilian clothes,” attacked the demonstrators. However, if no one attacks them, a member of the same group will attack the demonstrators, even if this leads to minor injuries. Video shots must not last more than 20 seconds and they must be taken from a very close position not from a far one.

s The rapid use of bloodshed, because of its significant impact on the people. This includes the killing of a protester from outside the network, preferably a youth from big and famous families, or a youth who has major social ties or a highly educated person, especially a doctor, an engineer or an intellectual. The killing must be committed rapidly by snipers and with bullets of the same type used by police or security forces. This stage also includes the killing of security personnel or guarding police.

s Burning properties of the traders who have been involved in the plan and dragging them into a state of fear together with other economic figures with the purpose of having influence on the lives of as many people as possible.

s Provoking Bashar al-Assad loyalists and engaging them in polemics with others, especially the Islamists. Here the loyalists are to be accused of being from the intelligence and that they are horns of the regime and beneficiaries from the authority.

s Creating mistrust and tension between the loyalists and the people, telling about the near end of Bashar al-Assad and calling for random supportive demonstrations and calls advocating slaughter, murder and terrorism are planned to be launched. In turn, opponents keep calm and delay any move till after the creation of sectarian and ethnic killing. They have to be well-organized in their calls for political reform, freedom, democracy and civil life.

s Foiling any attempt to attain political solutions by the regime through burning symbols of power such as the Baath Party headquarters, police stations, prisons and security forces centers in addition to distorting Bashar al-Assad pictures.

3- The fourth network (The media) is introduced. The aim here is to link Bashar al-Assad to all previous era and to devalue all his actions by opening all the old files and holding the current regime responsible for them.

s Bandar bin Sultan recognizes in his plan that Bashar Assad enjoys a real popularity inside and outside Syria that should not be underestimated. He believes that this popularity must be exploited and transformed from a point of strength into a point of weakness through the use of the enthusiasm of supporters against demonstrations.

s To undermine the military, the government and the security system, Bandar believes that they must be torn into sects, and here comes the role of the third network the ( “ethnic-sectarian” network) taking into account the neutralization of major doctrines like the Shafi’I and the Hanafi. This will be done as follows:

s Urging each sect to commit horrible bloody massacres against violators. These crimes must be filmed and posted to the media as soon as possible. The start should be in places far from Damascus and there should not be a lot of blood for fear that people may retreat.

For instance, in Lattakia and Tartous, people from the Alawite sect from the network slaughter youths from the Sunni sect, cut parts of their bodies chant long live Bashar.

In Aleppo, Salafis from the network attack Alawites’ villages, burn their homes and terrorizing the people to leave their villages and chant “Death to the “Nasirien” death to the enemies of the Sahaba”.

In Hasakah, Arabs from the network slaughter and hang some young people and make fun of the Kurds in a visual way without language and clear enough to be understood by the Kurds without translation. Some Christians, particularly Armenians are planned to be killed.

In Daraa, “snipers” from outside the city of Daraa kill young people from the Jawabra and the Mahamid families without approaching anyone from the Abazeed and the Masalmeh families.

In the city of Al-Boukamal, the Shi’ites kill Sunnis and scream, “Oh Karbala, Oh Hussein”.

In Homs, Arabs kill Turkmen and loot their shops, particularly gold shops and also kill Catholic Christians and Murshdis.

In Sewidaa, Druze members of the network kill a number of Christians in surrounding villages and burning several churches

In Qamishli, Kurd members of the network avenge the killing of Kurds in Hasaka. Some Armenians also kill Arab Muslims.

In Deir Ez-Zour, “snipers” from outside the city kill young people from the Agidat and Bani Naeem tribes without approaching smaller tribes like the “Rolla”, the “Jabour” or the “Shummar” and scream during the filming in the name of the “Bokhabour and the “Mohassan”.

Bandar thinks that the regime as a whole will be busy trying to settle the disputes between communities and ethnic groups. Bashar al-Assad will send delegates from his government to resolve sectarian and ethnic differences while Damascus will be empty of government pillars and here comes the turn of Damascus where each minority group avenge and the city flares up from all sides. This will be done as follows:

s The Christians in the east of Damascus kill Muslims who live among them in areas like Qassaa and Bab Touma. They also kill the Druze in the village of Jaramana.

s The Sunnis in the south of the city kill Shiites living among them in the “Shaghour” and the “Muhajereen” areas.

s Salafis in the areas of “Duma” and “Darayya” burn the headquarters of the municipality, courts and police stations.

s Alawites in the west of the city in “Mezze Jabal” area kill Sunnis who live among them.

s Kurds in the north of the city in “Rukn Eddin” area attack Arabs from all sects.

Meanwhile, Bandar believes that the army will be divided, the security systems and the government will collapse and Bashar will only have the Republican Guard, which he will not be able to move because the army will stand against him. This will make Bashar al-Assad’s presence in power the cause of all problems, and here comes the role of the fifth network the (network of the capital). The following has to be implemented:

s Holding a meeting between capital owners (businessmen) and leaders of the army and security bodies as well as ministers from Damascus and Aleppo. The plan is to convince them to abandon Bashar al-Assad promising them survival after the end of the President’s rule.

s In case some businessmen refuse to cooperate, they are threatened of canceling authorizations, of withdrawing investments and of sex scandals if they are among those penetrated by sexual relations.

s In case some army leaders refuse, they are threatened of imprisonment or assassination. If it is possible under a state of chaos, officers of high ranks, not from Damascus or Aleppo, could be assassinated to terrorize them.

s A national council of businessmen, ministers and security chiefs must be formed and recognized by the United States, France, Britain, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Bandar believes that at this stage, the following must be achieved

s The Council must demand Bashar al-Assad’s resignation.

s The Council must cut Syria’s ties with Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.

s The Council must secretly undertake the responsibility of completing the peace process with Israel.

s The Council must form an interim government to dissolve parties and call for early elections and for the amendment of the constitution.

s The Council must set up an inquiry commission to investigate all the symbols of the former regime. It must blame the events on the Muslim Brotherhood exclusively.

s The Council must exclusively open the Syrian economy to the U.S., European, Saudi and Egyptian companies.

In the same context, al-Alam satellite news Channel revealed that what is being posted on “Facebook” is run by about 200 people who work for a company called “Dot and Com” and who have been trained to create sedition.

According to the channel, the company and its employees work in silence and secretly under the protection of Jordan, but the company’s funding and the strategy which control the company’s works are set up by the Saudi intelligence – Bandar bin Sultan’s Branch -.

The channel’s report said the company “Dot and Com”, is apparently a private company owned by someone called Mohammed al-Qaisi. The company’s major center is based in the Jordanian capital Amman. It has branches in major Saudi cities. The company works with the Saudi Ministry of Defence and provides services to the Saudi intelligence system and the Ministry of Interior.

The Channel also confirmed that the company has established a crisis cell that works directly under the orders of Bandar. Two hundred internet specialists led by Saudi officers who are supported by U.S. advisers and psychological war experts, work in the company to hit Syria through Bandar bin Sultan’s crisis cells particularly in southern Syria. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Marwan Hamadeh, Basem al-Sabe’ and Hani Hammoud in cooperation with US Psychological war experts and a specialists in rumors called Elie Khoury manage similar crisis cells supported by officers from the Information Branch of Saad Hariri.

Bandar bin Sultan, the former Saudi ambassador in America, currently serves as Secretary General of the Saudi National Security Council. He was the only ambassador in Washington who enjoyed permanent guardianship by the US Presidential Guard. He is known for his link to issues related to supporting anti-resistance and pro-Israeli forces.

July 23rd, 2011, 10:45 am

 

Abughassan said:

Only syrians have a genuine interest in a new and democratic system. Other countries have and will continue to try to influence events and Syrian citizens including the opposition to shape the new regime according to their interests. Our neighboring governments and almost all western governments could not care less about who is in charge as long as the new government is hostile to Iran,cuts ties with Hizbullah and goes along with a Saudi-led regional block. The influx of money and weapons into Syria should not surprise anybody except those who thought that our borders are safe and that Syrian border control agents are corruption-proof.
I am afraid that the real demands of Syrian youth and the sacrifices many syrians made may not be on the table now,not in Doha,Riyad, Paris or Ankara..

July 23rd, 2011, 11:07 am

 

Revlon said:

Why protest is lagging in Aleppo?
Read this analysis on AlMundassa website
حلب , الشبيحة بالسكين فقط
http://the-syrian.com/archives/22167

It looks like the regime has mobilised tens of thousands of his thugs to Aleppo city to pre-empt any uprising.
They are using knives and machetties and avoiding guns,in order to avoid stirring up a wider unrest.

أوغاريت حلب اعتداء واهانة وضرب متظاهر في سيف الدولة أمام جامع آمنة ج3

July 23rd, 2011, 11:11 am

 

N.Z. said:

Big explosions in the School of Army, no reports from the Assads. SILENCE. Later we hear a derailed train. Non stop reports.

The most dangerous is the announcement of defected persons in the Syrian army decided to take up arms. We do not know if they are organized by the Assads, or truly free from any political affiliation. Regardless, we are reaching a point were things might get uglier very fast.

Syrians, are more valuable than a bunch of gangsters that will leave havoc behind them as they disappear from the Syrian political stage. On their way out, they will not hesitate to kill countless number of innocent Syrians, same mind set different names, Qadafi, Assad, Saddam.

We have one option and one message, we are with the people who are demanding change, we are neither with the regime, nor, with the armed gangs. So far, we know that 99.999 percent of the atrocities have the hallmark of the regime. Tomorrow, we will not know who is shooting whom.

So far, and thanks to Syrian traits, the sectarian card, was a losing card. The last card, seems to be, planting armed gangs inside the protestor ranks, claiming they are defected officers. This regime is more malicious beyond our imagination. They care for their survivor, and only them.

I feel that unless we unite, as we did against the sectarian card, by saying “one, one, one All Syrian are One” The regime might be successful in turning this conflict, into an unarmed one. We will all lose, and the regime will be watching. We know how dirty it was in Lebanon, Assads perverted minds is at work.

July 23rd, 2011, 11:11 am

 

beaware said:

Syria Conflict May Be Shifting Flow Of Fighters

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/21/138581652/flow-of-fighters-shifting-on-iraq-syria-border

Tribal Connections Across The Border

….The tribes of this region, though, are not just confined to Syria — the same tribes span into Iraq, too. All that separates them is a border fence — albeit one with razor wire and Hescos, a type of sand-filled bomb barrier.

The border is so fortified now because during some of the most violent years of the Iraq war, it was here that militants and weapons crossed from Syria into Iraq.

Syrian state TV recently claimed that route is being reversed, and that the guns and fighters are now coming into Syria, to help in the fight against the government.

NPR asked a local border commander, who did not want to be identified, about the claim. Through an interpreter, he said they are trying to do their best to protect the borders. But, he adds, it is a long border — there must be some cases of infiltration. He says they’re doing their best with the little they have…

A Better Life In Syria?

The troubles in Syria are not just affecting businesses and tribes. They’re also affecting the thousands of Iraqis who fled to Syria during the war’s most violent years.

One woman, who goes by the name Umm Salwan, fled Iraq when insurgents fired a rocket at her house. She says life in Syria has been hard. But until recently, it was still better than Iraq.

That changed with the protests and the crackdowns.

Through an interpreter, she says that she told her husband: “Listen, I have suffered enough. Five years is enough. I want to go see my family and see what I have to do … to find a solution.”

Umm Salwan and three of her four children took a bus back to Iraq, where her parents’ house has only a few hours of electricity a day.

She says she came here to find that things are much worse — that there is nothing here.

For now, Umm Salwan says she wants to return to Syria. But with the land border closed, she’ll have to spend her savings on plane tickets.

July 23rd, 2011, 11:17 am

 

N.Z. said:

TYPO,

Armed, in the last paragraph.

July 23rd, 2011, 11:33 am

 

Syria no kandahar said:

Revlon
How did you know it was walled ?were you their?
You are so much مفلس you are using كبريهات evidence.And even if it is true what is the big deal?he didt come out of cave like you mr (hijabless=topless).what would you call this woman in this vidio:completless,فاسقه,عاهره?Bil Clinton was a good president and he was\’t impeached with a proven lewinsky\’s incident,this vidio is like all your other ones complete fabrication,and in a way you have sinned because you watched it.you really have serious Taliban way of thinking,you call women with no hijab topless,you google to bring up videos with fat people with white hear to use them in your lying campaign .look at Turkey which is lead by
The non-Taliban,religion-merchants-adala they even have nude beaches because they don\’t have you

July 23rd, 2011, 11:39 am

 

Jad said:

Dear Louai,
I’m sorry to link this on SC:

إجبار ثلاثة شهداء على الاعتراف قبل قتلهم و التمثيل بهم

July 23rd, 2011, 11:40 am

 

Aboud said:

If I had to stop functioning as a human being everytime the shabiha scum went on a rampage here in Homs, I’d have gotten nothing done these past four months. And naturally I stay up late. I am a man of the world, I can’t stick to Homsi time all the time 🙂

July 23rd, 2011, 11:43 am

 

AIG said:

Suddenly, out of nowhere, come people like King Crane that want to convince us that the purpose of the Syrian people is to fight Israel and obtain justice for the Palestinians and therefore everything that Bashar does should be forgiven.

Well, that may have worked in the past but not anymore. The purpose of the regime and Bashar Assad is to SERVE the Syrian people and give them freedom, dignity and a growing economy. Since Bashar wants to serve himself and not the people, he will go. If the Syrian people, after getting the government they deserve decide to fight Israel, that is their right. If they decide no to, that is their right also. But no Syrian government has the right to use that as an excuse for how awful it is.

July 23rd, 2011, 11:52 am

 

beaware said:

Syrian soap operas sidelined by protests and censorship

Phil Sands
Jul 23, 2011

http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/middle-east/syrian-soap-operas-sidelined-by-protests-and-censorship
…Najdat Anzour, the drama producer – long considered critical of Syria’s autocratic regime – was among those outraged by what he derisively called the “milk statement”.

In response, he and 21 production companies issued a notice of their own, announcing they would never again work with anyone who had signed the petition, saying they had “offended both the Syrian nation and its government”.

“The milk statement lied about the situation in Deraa,” Mr Anzour, now viewed as firmly pro-regime, said in an interview. “There was never any shortage of food or milk. It was a political statement. The authorities were dealing with armed terrorist groups in Deraa.

July 23rd, 2011, 11:56 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

“les autres” R Us

KINGCRANE said:

But we must be Syrians first and foremost. Syria first. Merde a tous les autres.

Which is true for every country on the planet. Nothing wrong about Syrians putting their country first.

However, this whole Syriophobe/Syriophile is moot. One can say Assad is putting Syria first, and others (like the demonstraters) can say he isn’t.

That is why BASIC human rights, like a multiparty elections, is imperative.

July 23rd, 2011, 12:28 pm

 

Revlon said:

42. Dear No Syria and No Kandahar,
You said: “The video is fake”
I say: what else is new.

You said: “And even if it is true what is the big deal?
Bil Clinton was a good president and he was’t impeached with a proven lewinsky’s incident”

I say:
– So now president Clinton, who subjected the Iraqi children for years of brutal sanctions and bombed a fertilizer factory in Sudan to cover up for his court hearings, was a good president to you?

– Or do you mean he was good to American citizens?
I am not surprised that you used such a lame parallel tot!
Had Clinton been caught with such an act during a national crisis he would have found himself forced to resign in no time!

– Codes of conduct vary between societies.
What is acceptable in France may not be so in the US .
What is acceptable for Berlusconi might not be so for Toyota of Japan
In Arabic, we call such codes of social conduct: A3raf.

– Al3orf in our society dictates that representatives in the government uphold their highest social and moral values. An evening in a night club and watching a belly dancer is far from that.
– Al3orf dictates that if your neighbour is grieving, you do not indulge in partying.

Finally, I welcome you Mr. No Syria and No Kandahar to the Syrian free information age. A reform introduced and enforced by the revolution, notwithstanding Jr’s reticence to adopt it.

Abuses of power can no longer be committed in the safety of censorship and claims of protecting the sacred national sentiment.

July 23rd, 2011, 12:31 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

July 23rd, 2011, 12:32 pm

 

Ss said:

Comment 12 by AboGhassan

“I still believe Bashar sould resign”

I believe that the president is listening to you, but he is debating, what would be the best way to make a smooth transition of power to you Mr. AboGhassan who bored us for months with your position. I belive and dream, and continue to believe in my belives and dreams.

July 23rd, 2011, 1:09 pm

 

Tara said:

Abughassan

Tara is not bored by your comments.

July 23rd, 2011, 1:16 pm

 

ziadsoury said:

My sources tell me WD, Norman and all bashroupies are getting ready:

Aboud, Hamster enjoy

July 23rd, 2011, 1:38 pm

 

5 dancing shlomos said:

diseased minds with lies for brain cells (many of their kind comment here):

Settlers start fires across the West Bank
Ma’an – 22/07/2011
BETHLEHEM, Palestine — Palestinian firefighters have been battling blazes across the West Bank as Israeli settlers (squats) set fire to land in multiple locations on Thursday night.

Reports earlier on Friday said that settlers (squats) had torched agricultural fields near the village of Burin in the West Bank city of Nablus. (their only creation/contribution to life is hate)

…and the thug govt of these thugs with the zionized usa’s assistance is trying to burn syria. (a cleansing of all things not jewish)

President Asad should resist the externally assisted violence and destabilization with calm and firmness and appropriate force.

once the rabble, the deluded, along with their external sponsors are defeated, the syrian govt and the people of syria can determine the country’s future.

first, the u.s. and israel and other parties need to be thoroughly smashed.

with minimum 85% popular support, the government will win.

July 23rd, 2011, 1:39 pm

 

Syria no kandahar said:

Devlon
You started changing names soالبادي اظلم
I have been outraged by your hijab comment,that is an insult to 30-40% of Syrian women,you calling women with no hijab (topless)is an insult to every Christian Syrian woman,every Alawi woman,every durzy woman,90%of Kurdish women.it is an insult to سويداandكسبand صلنفهandقامشليandقصاعand…….
It is an insult to many free Sunni women who choose not to wear it.it is an insult to your little sister.you can do whatever you want inside your family,but you have nothing to do with others,that is why we hate MB.it is a war of ideas,it is a war between dark and light.whoever is calling this menhabak and mabenhabak war is stupid.you can cover your wife face,hands,legs,nose…you can even have her walk with oxygen tank and put the oxygen tube through the veil to her nose,I don’t care,but don’t act as إدارة الامر بالمعروف .how do I know that you are a good person,how do I know when do you put your zipper on and off and for what,and why should I care about that?so you don’t get your nose in other people dressings or manners.You have to specifically apologized from people who wereغرر بهنand joined your dark force like مي سكافand جورجيت علمand mrs Attassi
Because you called them topless,same thing with mr Killo because you called his mom,who died while he was in prison,and his sisters and all his family topless.
As far asرقصني ياجدعthat is your way to get away from seriou dicussion,you can just replay it and enjoy it.
As far as prs Clinton,he was a good American president.I am not like you who lives in the west and drink from their water and they give him their citizenship,and then he spits on them,but when he needs their help tp bomb his country he starts to kiss their ass for them to bomb his nation.Clinton,Obama,Sarkozi,Assad,Erdogan…..none of them is an angel,but they are not :Devilon.

July 23rd, 2011, 2:01 pm

 

5 dancing shlomos said:

i hate to interpose into someone else’s conversation (and to get way off syria) but i have to comment re pres clinton.

both domestic policy and foreign policy, he was shit. a criminal.

little difference from reagan, bush, clinton, bush, obama, and the next whoever.

only got worse for americans and other peoples. will continue downhill.

they are all evil. very evil. intentionallly evil. self serving evil.

July 23rd, 2011, 2:08 pm

 

MGB said:

#47 Jad
Could you provide the link to the original video that contains the confessions, which presumably was made by those who later executed these guys and which should also give the outfit that made and uploaded that original video or at least their youtube channel.

July 23rd, 2011, 2:14 pm

 

Joshua said:

Dear Dandashle

I am not sure why you are so disgruntled about my inclusion of the minaret video.

I explained everything you claim I did not. I linked to your video claiming it was a fabrication and explaining that no damage seemed to be done or falling stones were visible with the supposed impact. Best, Joshua

July 23rd, 2011, 2:41 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Jihadists are hard to Satisfy

5 Dancing Ahmads states:

little difference from reagan, bush, clinton, bush, obama, and the next whoever

5 Dancing Ahmads,

Which country do you live in? Perhaps we can learn to do better from your esteemed president.

In contrast, we can say:

tiny difference between assad, assad, assad, assad, assad and the next assad

July 23rd, 2011, 3:09 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Tanks a Million

Although I take Debka with a “large grain of salt”, the question still remains: isn’t there a better use of tanks than against one’s own people?

http://www.debka.com/article/21140/

No, that’s right folks, “reagan, bush, clinton, bush, obama, and the next whoever” never deployed tanks against american citizens.

July 23rd, 2011, 3:30 pm

 

Norman said:

Ziadsouri,

Do you think that we will continue to see clips like these in with girls wearing short skirts and boys in your new Syria, i doubt it ,Syria today is more conservative that 30 years ago, The wahhabi Islam is influencing all the Mideast and probably the world with the help of the Saudi money. .

July 23rd, 2011, 3:45 pm

 

louai said:

Dear Jad , its very painful to see them before they got killed ,another sad day I am having because of those three guys ,its more than sadness I think its depression ,maybe the depression Revlon quoted earlier in the stages of accepting change ,maybe its time to accept the reality that the civil war started already and the country we love soon will be no more , Syria is becoming Kandahar and much worse ! congratulation to all of us.

Another three men found dead after being tortured and their bodies mutilated in Al Bayyada ,Homs !

مثل بجثثهم .. العثور على جثث ثلاثة شبان في حي البياضة بحمص

الاخبار المحلية
شارك

أفاد مراسل سيريانيوز في محافظة حمص أنه “تم اكتشف صباح يوم الجمعة جثث ثلاثة شبان بالقرب من حاوية قمامة في حي البياضة قتلوا ومثل بجثثهم.

وأضاف المراسل “بالإضافة إلى ذلك تم العثور على شخص رابع يدعى علي الجردي مصاب بجروح بالسكاكين ولديه تهشم في العظام نقل إلى المستشفى الوطني وهو الآن في العناية المركزة”، موضحا أن “علي الجردي موظف في الشركة العامة للغزل والنسيج تم اختطافه يوم الخميس بعد خروجه من المعمل”.

http://www.syria-news.com/readnews.php?sy_seq=135305

July 23rd, 2011, 5:57 pm

 

louai said:

MGB

i odont think the killers uploaded the video on youtube , i heard that people found a CD next to the bodies contain the killers torturing their victims ,maybe this part was taken from the same CD .

July 23rd, 2011, 6:10 pm

 

Vex said:

There is absolutely nothing the regime or its apologists can do to stifle the natural coarse of social progress and evolution. The more the regime tries to suppress, the angrier people get and the more concessions the more people view them as fruits of their sacrifice and courage.
Protesters will try harder and grow. This is the only way to impose real reform on an unrepentant Mafia disguised as government.

People are hopeful Ramadan will provide a catalyst for change. I believe that will be the case. With the nature of the month and its rituals, this is going to be a decisive month and dangerous for the regime.

You know they’ll slip and when that happens, Bashar better have his one way ticket back to London on standby.

July 23rd, 2011, 7:31 pm

 

Adam Neira said:

Prayers for Syria.

The current GDP of $105.238 billion, $5043 per capita must be raised. The GDP of the nation can grow by at least 5% per annum over the coming 38 years if the right moves are made. All the Syrian leaders must come together and seek to make the nation as peaceful and prosperous as possible. The children of Syria deserve a decent future. The adults in charge must recognize this.

July 23rd, 2011, 10:23 pm

 
 

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