The wind of change will blow away the line in the sand. This regime is over. Have no doubts about it.

Tomorrow is again Friday. A great Friday A huge Friday an incredible Friday it will be. The Syrian youth will tell Bashar tomorrow, what they think about his reforms.
Oh man.. how I want to be in Syria tomorrow !
.

Hassoun is the most despicable hypocrite that could exist.

The situation will be under control tomorrow. The army, security, and Amn are extremely strong, and will easily handle the demonstration. They will allow peaceful ones yet they will draw the line in the sand for any terrorists. The majority of the Syrians do not want to move the country that direction. Tomorrow is going to be a normal day, normal Jumaa. God bless Syria, the president of Syria, the people of Syria, and the security/army.

People want freedom!!! Lifting the emergency law and implementing one worse is not the solution. Shabbiha are all over the country, stop it and take the responsible people to court. If he (Asad Jr.) wants to prove that he is a President, he must prevent the Shabbiha from killing people. People want Freedom! What did the President accomplish after 11 years? More unemployment, more poverty, no Golan, more corruption, economy is controlled by Makhlouf’s and Assads. Israel hit a nuclear plant that cost Syrian more than a billion dollar and our PPresident did nothing! Israeli airplans went above his palace for hours and did nothing. Maghneigh was assasinated in Syria and the president did not stop it or punish the people who are responsible! Please guys, tell me what did Bashar accomplish in the last 11 years!!!

Souri-Amerki

Do not worry. Tomorrow is your good great Friday which you have been waiting for. You will get your freedom and all you mentioned. Relax.

Fadi,
Are you serious?

Are you saying that Bashar will accomplish by tomorrow what he did not do in the last 11 years?

Are you saying that will be no unemployment?
Are you saying that will be no corruption?
Are you saying that Makhloufs and Assads will not control the economy?
Are you saying that the Shabbiha will be arrested?
Are you saying that Syria will defend its air space?
Are you saying that who is responsible for assassinating Maghneih will be punished?
Are you saying that there will be political parties other than Baath Party?

Great! Now I can relax!!!

Fadi,

Is your beloved Bashar willing to explain in concrete terms how he plans to create jobs instead of all the time trying to find excuses? Is he willing to put his record of 11 years on the line and go to free elections? Of course not. All he can say is that maybe without him things will be worse because he can start a civil war. Is that really a platform or is he just blackmailing the Syrian people?

Till now no leader had stepped out to negotiate. All your leaders are leaving it to the people in the street to bring you freedom and the rest. If you are not expecting all these things to happen tomorrow why have you been pressing Assad to make all these laws happen in a second. I am just saying relax and your revolution will make that happen in few hours for you.

Souri Amerki: “Great! Now I can relax!!!”

I am glad you can relax and enjoy tonight, will meet you tomorrow and get the news

Fadi,

You must believe the Syrian people are really stupid. The moment a leader identifies himself, he will be put in prison or worse. After all, that is what the Assads have been doing for 40 years. What is there to negotiate? You claim Bashar is loved by the people. Well then, why are you afraid of free multi party elections?

Dear Dr. Landis,
Couple small correction to your post:

-“fired governors of Banyas and Deraa governates”
They fired and detained the governors of Daraa and Homs.
They fired and detained the security head of Daraa
They fired and detained the security head of Banyas

-“The Grand Mufti of Syria, Hassoun, gives a pro-revolution speech, declaring that the demonstrators are not terrorists or after bread, but fighting for dignity.”

He denied that and he claimed that this was just one part of a longer speech he gave in Sanameen:

مفتي سورية…لم ولن أنضم إلى ما يسمى
الثورة السورية
20/04/2011
نفى مفتي سورية العام الشيخ أحمد بدر الدين حسون نبأ كاذباً بثته قناة «العربية» عن انضمام المفتي إلى ما دعته القناة /الثورة/

واصفاً الخبر بـ«المفبرك» بهدف إحداث شرخ بين الشخصيات الاعتبارية وأبناء الوطن. وفي بيان خاص عبر المفتي حسون عن حزنه «على فقدان المصداقية والصدق في إعلامنا العربي الذي كنا نتوقع منه أن يكون إعلاماً لحفظ الدماء العربية، وليكون موحداً للأمة لا مفرقاً، وملغياً للتقسيم العرقي والطائفي والمذهبي الذي أصبح هذا الإعلام بوقاً مسخراً لخدمته».

وأضاف حسون: إن ما بثته «العربية» كان «حديثاً مجتزأ لكلمة طويلة ألقيتها في بلد الصنمين حينما ذهبت معزياً لأبنائها بشهدائهم ومنبهاً لهم أن دماءكم هي دماء أبناء الوطن، وأن أعراضكم هي أعراض أبناء الوطن، وأن الرئيس بشار الأسد متألم لكل قطرة دم تسيل على أرض وطننا الطاهر، ونقلت لهم في هذه الكلمة تحيات القيادة، وأن مطالبهم ستكون مكاناً للتحقيق وكان على أثر هذه الكلمة فك الاعتصام وعودة الحياة الهادئة حينما أحس أبناء الصنمين الطيبون أنهم في قلب الوطن، ومحط اهتمام قائد سورية وأبنائها».

وأكد حسون: إن «شعب سورية بأجمعه اليوم في يقظة جديدة لبناء وطنه وعودة التلاحم بين القيادة والشعب بكل مكوناته، وخصوصاً بعد الكلمة التي ألقاها الرئيس الأسد في مجلس الوزراء»، مشدداً على أن /الوطن لا يبنى إلا بالتواضع والعمل والتكامل بين كل أبنائه/

وأضاف: /إن الغاية من مثل هذا الخبر المفبرك إيجاد نوع من الشرخ بين الشخصيات الاعتبارية وأبناء الوطن، وقد ظنوا أنهم بمثل هذه الأخبار يمكن أن يحققوا ما عجزوا عنه مواجهة/

وبثت قناة العربية الاثنين في نشرة أخبارها أن المفتي حسون انضم إلى الثورة في سورية، مقتطعة جزءاً من حديث سماحته لأهل الصنمين عندما قال: «الأمر يتعلق بالحرية»، وقد أثار هذا الاقتطاع ردود أفعال كثيرة، وتناقلته وكالات الأنباء.

الوطن

http://www.syriasteps.com/index.php?d=110&id=66608

I don’t understand why there is a picture of a protest from Yemen attached to this article. And the post mischaracterizes the position of President Bashar al-Assad, who never claimed that the protesters are terrorists. He said there are conspiracies against Syria, and that this was normal, but that we cannot claim that all demonstrators are conspirators because that would be inaccurate. He stated that many of the demonstrators had legitimate demands. Moreover, a new law was passed governing the process of demonstrations, which is a law similar to most western countries, requiring the granting of a license for protesting. It is highly destructive and dangerous to frame the issue in this manner, basically daring people to go out and confront the security forces.

Bashar needs a vacation: http://www.google.com/moderator/#16/e=74942

very pleasd with the goverment new moves ,lets pray that the people are really asking for reform not using nice word to cover ugly goals.

where did you get this pictuer from? its not even the Syrian flag !!! shame.

there is no longer reason to demonstrate;
Are you kidding, not till the regime get rid of opression forces, that some call them falsly AMN,release political prisoners, ,and get serious about free election.

This What Happened in Homs….By a resident doctor in Homs Hospital
كان أخي وهو طبيب مقيم في المشفى الوطني مناوياً يوم الأحد ونقل لي
مايلي:في حوالي الساعة الخامسة والنصف مساء وبعد يوم هادئ تماماً نقل إليهم مجموعة من عناصر الأمن المركزي أي مكافحة الشغب (أي أشد مافعلوه سابقاً كان فض مشاكل الجمهور بعد مباراة حساسة)كان وضعهم كالتالي:أحمد الأحمد متوفى بثلاث طلقات خردق كبير الحجم في الرقبة وعشر إصابات في الأطراف وإصابة خطيرة واحدة فقط كانت لعنصر دخلت الرصاصة -يرجى الانتباه لمسار الطلقة-من فوق عظم العانة وخرجت من الصفن واستقرت في الفخذ.بعد إجراء العملية الجراحية لهذا العنصر وبعد تحسن حالته سأله مستغرباً كيف أصبت بهذا الشكل فقال له وصلتنا أوامر بالتوجه إلى باب السباع حيث توجد تظاهرة ويمنع إطلاق النار ولكن امنعوا الحرق والتخريب وذهبنا إلى هناك وكانت التظاهرة سلمية جداً جداً وكانوا حوالي 50 رجل وأخذوا يتراجعون رويداً رويداً لنأخذ محلهم وبعد حوالي ربع ساعة هربوا فجأة ليبدأ إطلاق النار من بعض الأسطح وليسقط العديد منا جرحى فقمنا بالرد فوراً وعندما حاولنا دخول البنايات التي تطلق النار منها كانت الأبواب مغلقة ولم يفتح أحد الباب لنا فحاولنا الاحتماء في الشارع وطلبنا النجدة والتعزيزات ..أي ببساطة كان الكمين محضراً…العنصر كان يتحدث إلى الطبيب الذي أنقذه وليس للفضائية السورية أو سواها وتحدث قبل أن تأتي أي جهة وتملي عليه مايقول والسؤال هل يتحمل الأمن شرارة الأحداث …وهل يتحمل كل أهل باب السباع مسؤولية هذا الكمين….بعض الأطباء المناوبين مع أخي دافعوا بالقول إن هذا من عمل البدو فسألهم هل أهل باب السباع بدو فقالوا أكيد من خارج الحي فسألهم من أين لهم مفاتيح الأبواب؟

Josh, you write that “The great weakness of the opposition is that it does not have a leadership.” I am surprised to see you write that because it is totally wrong. If the revolution had had a leadership, that leadership would have been arrested a very long time ago and the revolution beheaded.

It is precisely because the revolution does NOT have a leadership that is has been able to survive. It was the same in Tunisia and Egypt.

Nour,
Yemen, Bahreen..it’s all SYRIA lately.
Enjoy!
تلفزيون الدنيا – التضليل المشبوه

There is a report about Mr. Nidal Janoud killing on the hands of the ‘peaceful’ ones in Banias, it’s so graphics, I wont link it but please go check Addounia’s Youtube site….be ready to feel horrible!
http://www.youtube.com/user/addounia

Amir in Tel Aviv,
If you want so much to be in Syria on Friday, well then go. Otherwise stop yapping away. This Friday is known worldwide to be Good Friday. A day of peace and reflection; not a day that should be turned into a call for further demonstrations. Positive reforms have been put forward and implemented. It is time that people should see that and be positive. Stop inciting further negativity. The Assad government of Syria delivered. The Syrian revolution is still calling for demonstrations, they obviously do not want peace in Syria, their organisation does not stand for peace, only destruction, violence, mutilation and downright evil. That is what they stand for.

Shami,
I don’t think Hassoun holds you in high regard either.

Suri-amreki,
Just look at the country of Syria and you will see what Bashar has accomplished. Open your eyes and stop living in fairytale land. In fairytale land, do all sentences start with: Are you saying that?

AIG,
Have the government of Israel give the Palestinians their rightful concession. Has your government given them their basic human rights to begin with, then discuss what there is to negotiate.

Majedkhaldoon,
No, there is no longer need to demonstrate. Try to be positive, it won’t hurt you, on the contrary, you might find it uplifting.

Wishes to everyone for a safe and healthy Good Friday. May it be a day of peace and harmony.

People must stop criticizing Joshua Landis for what he writes. His perspective changes radically every few days, so it is obvious that his main concern is public relations and what he writes does not necessarily reflect all that he knows. You should not try to classify him as pro or anti-regime because it is obvious that he controls what he writes so that his perspective remains similar to that of the mainstream media.

http://www.syriatruth.info/content/view/2033/36/

متظاهرون في بانياس يقتلون بائع خضار بطريقة وحشية
متظاهران قتلا بائع الخضار نضال جنود بالسكاكين والعصي ومثلا بجثته بطريقة وحشية بسبب انتمائه المذهبي ، دون أن يجد من فيه شهامة وطنية يدافع عنه ويحميه من القتل والتمثيل

Killings against the Alawis are rampant before even the regime falls. This is a very strong message to all the minorities, not just the Alawis. What makes the message even stronger is that the Islamists still idiotically accuse the regime itself of the killings! This is very similar to the 1970’s-1980’s events. Until today, the MB won’t take responsibility for the crimes they did and they still accuse the regime of doing them! And they expect people to follow them!

No Wonder What So Called Old Guards Resisted Reforms ,in My Country We Export Everything Even Revolutions !!

All What We Need Hungry Media And A Lot Of Lies ….how Many People On He Streets Asking For Freedom? And More Important Question What Is Freedom For Them? We All Know Who Is On The Street And Who Is Abroad ….in My City Homs For Example People Are Scared To Death To Go To The Streets Because Of The ‘Mujahdeen’ And What Is On The News?? The City Of Homes Is Mourning Its Deaths!!!!!

The So Called Demonstrators Are Covering What They Have Lack in Numbers By All The Killing To Show That A Big Movement Is Taking Place ,,,to Prove It Watch What Happened After Last Friday Where No Incident Was Recorded So What They Did The Other Day?? They Massacred My City’s Peace.

finally forgive my poor English

Suddenly, and without Warning, Syria has a “Terrorist” Problem

The regime is moving toward defining the protesters as terrorists and mukharabiin vandals.

Professor Josh,

Thank you for translating for us the intentions of the Syrian Government.

You serve an important role here. Don’t forget that!

As a biased observer and fellow semite, I must say, this whole “terrorist” thing is, IMHO, “poetic justice”.

I guess a few million dirt poor and forgotten Syrians now have a “name”.

Dear Jad
Thank you for your post @#18 where you show the unequivocal staging, fabrication, manipulation and grotesque insults to our intelligence by these fake clips.

To Revlon, N.K. and others who have been linking all these fake clips. You come across as highly educated, smart, eloquent who should be able to defend your position with winning arguments within the framework of intellectual debate, but yet you stoop to the lowest level by linking fake sensational clips that diminish your position and cater to the primal instinct and the lowest common denominator of barbaric reaction of a wounded animal.

Off The Wall
How many malicious fake clips does it take? I would guess for someone with your intellect and integrity, one should be too many.

The new “demonstration laws” a priori consider unauthorised demonstrators as terrosists. Replace the word demonstrations with terrorism and you get a de facto anti-terrorism laws; a wolf, in sheep clothing.

People can be arrested, even while sleeping at home, and charged with terrorism for :
Participating in, inciting, planning or pondering demonstrations.
Associating with, befriending, borne to, married to, aquainted with, twinned to, or named after a demonstrator.
Tweeting, facebooking, Youtubing, and blogging, including Syriacommenting, or any social-media browsing in support of demonstrations.

It takes years to build an inkling of trust
It takes one lie to loose it for good!
The regime has built nothing but mountains of mistrust.

Take your new laws …….

It looks like Suri and other pro-Syrian regime can not even list one accomplishment of the regime in the last 11 years!!!

Dear Joshua, you posted an excerpt from Sami Moubayed article in Asia Times
“A previous decision to replace emergency laws with a law for counter-terrorism, similar to the Patriot Act, has been cancelled”

I say, such decision has not been cancelled. The replacement was given a deceitful, yet more convenient name.

Having gone through the motion of arrest and charge, the poor demonstrator would have to go through the nightmarish proceedings.

The proceedings can take years, “Courts are not equipped yet to handle thousands of cases, we shall be told”.
People could be indefinitely arrested or their life becomes indefinitely disrupted, while on bail, by legal procedural entanglements.

My knowledge in civil law in Syria is second to nothing.
Notwithstanding, I bet it has no such charge as “terrorism”.

Therefore, the new anti-demonstrations / terrorism act has to provide a legal platform for trial, conviction and imprisonment, outside the boundaries of civil courts of justice.

The regime plans to continue its violent crackdown, using the same pretext, under a different name.

What I find amusing about regime sympathizers is expecting demonstrations to stop because the president allowed demonstrations or lifted emergency law.

The reason the 1st demand was to allow freedom of expression is to exercise that freedom.

That freedom will be exercised to demand what most people want, basically the end of this illegitimate regime.

Dear Joshua, Leaders of, or who are agreeable to the revolution, to guide the nation through a transition period abound.

You said “You are correct Lennart. Having no leadership is a strength in getting the revolt off the ground and avoiding arrest for the activists, but in the Syrian case, I also believe it will turn out to be a weakness. Because civil war is a possible result of trying to remove this regime, Syrians want to know what comes next”

Syrian people know where their potential leaders are.

As for you Joshua, you may ask 3asef Showkat for a list of names of
– Regime’s Most hated prisnors of Ra2y
– Regime’s Most hated, not-imprisoned yet, ground activists
– Regime’s Most wanted, in-exile activists,
– Members of declaration of Damascus, etc….

After having the list of these names, do a random number generator and select any number of them. He/she, or they would be agreeable leaders for the revolution.

The revolution is still counting on time, for bringing the wise elements in the regime to the fore, to negotiate and form a transitional, coalition government.

The time for announcing an independant governing council by the revolution and declaring the regime’s government illegitimate, has not arrived yet.

Time is on the side of peaceful transition to freedom.

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?ID=217338&R=R1

Dear WILLIAM SCOTT SCHERK
Thank you for your interest in what is going on in my country or Origin. Revlon gave you an answer, albeit a partial one to your questions. You had asked if there exists an official record (repository) of all laws and decrees. The answer is YES. Most Arab countries do have something called (Aljareeda Alrasmyyah), or The Official Paper. All high-level (Cabinat and up) decrees and laws are concluded wit the following phrase:
This (law, decree, order) is to be transmitted to those responsible for its implementation and is to be published in the official paper

Jourdan has successfully ported many years of their official paper on line, So did Algeria, as for Syria, I went yesterday on the Ministry of Justice and I found that there was a decent search Engine, but all my attempts to search came back empty handed. This could be because of the fact that I was doing blind search (no law name or subject). The funny thing is that the date choices in that search engine go all the way to 2020. :). I have done chronological data base search forms and every year, on December 22, we add the new year to the search form.

Needless to say, the official paper is not something new, it was initially established by the Ottomans. I hope that our fellow poster Shami, who has encyclopedic knowledge of Ottoman times can shed light on that topic.

I know that printed copies of the paper are transmitted to many state offices and usually kept in the office of the highest administrative official in the agency who usually is not the director, but someone with a a capacity of general secretary, or at the office of the chief documentarian (rais aldeewan).

In his speech in front of the new cabinet, the president highlighted the need to automate (computerize) the Ministry of Justice. May be such efforts will result in getting a data base and search engine that works.

I hope this answers your question.

JOSH: Keep up the good work. I know you have little or no time to comment on the pages of SC, but your interviews are getting better by the day. Syria needs someone here in the US to explain what is happening who is not encumbered with political agendas. I, and few other old timers believe that you are fitting that role quite nicely. We are very polarized now, and we are still far from being inclusive in our political culture (due to lack of politics in the country and decades of despotism and single party rule). You are bound to be accused by both (all) sides. Best wishes, and best regards to the family.

I still am keeping my pebbles close to me (a few left after losing the last game). But to Jad, Riad, and ZIADSOURY, a sincere thanks from the heart. I think I owe my buddies on SC, and myself, to keep trying and to persevere. Come to think of it, the rougher the surface, the more challenging pebbles are.

MONTANGARD

You are giving me much credit for intellect I do not have.

Clips do not matter anymore. The regime has gained ground in framing the narrative by excluding professional journalists from the ground. So if someone on the other side think they are smart and go on manipulating clips, which already indicate that there was a demonstration, it does not mean much to me anymore. I will look beyond the sign. I am first a skeptic, and second a biased skeptic in the sense that I DO NOT trust anything from the Syrian Media Machine. In fact, I find them to be the more desperate party lately resorting to stupidities beyond comprehension. You see a fake sign, and ignore the massive (by Banyas’s standards) group of people gathering. Again, It is no longer about narrative, just as Bassam Haddad said.

One day, and not in the distant future, all who are facilitating the regimes propagation of siege mentality, which seems to be working especially among the semi-intellectual brats of the upper middle class and some merchants in big cities will come to recognize how criminal and selfish is this strategy of making Syrians more paranoid than they already are. Off course that is only if the regime gets to survive this crises without further concessions, which is what it has to do to protect its key beneficiaries.

One of the interesting observations a friend of mine had was how surprising was it to find Palestinians in the west bank, who suffer daily results of Israel’s greed and the impacts of multi-scale conspiracies to steel yet one more square inch of their land,one more gallon of their water, and squeeze one more dollar of their hard earned money in form of fees and taxes, talking much less about conspiracies than upper middle class Syrians, who seem to be having fun. I guess it is because they are busy resisting real conspiracies not inventing ones out of dark sinister shadows.

Another friend of mine, whom I hold much respect for was seriously concerned about the future mental health of Syria as a nation. I share these concerns, but given the posts I have been reading here, no one seems to pick up of the catastrophic impacts of the hysteria being drilled into the minds of unsuspecting Syrians. This Hysteria if allowed to take hold, will result in a state worse than many call the bad eighties. And if anyone here think that those living outside Syria are going to be safe from it, well think again before you act selfishly and propagate a mental disease on your fellow Syrians.

The current dormancy of critical thinking is also something to reckon with. We have posters arguing that Syria is confronting a conspiracy made in the US, and those same posters in a matter of days now are convincing those who are seeking a normal human condition to exist in the country after 50 years if abnormality to give up the quest because the US supports the Syrian regime. I am surprised that someone with your intellect ignores such contradictions. The reality is that the regime, the mightier side by all measures, is the one shaking in fear and committing political blunders notwithstanding atrocities, and trying to drag the entire Syrian nation into its fear and siege mentality. They started the violence thinking that they can calibrate it to create the necessary type of fear. Violence can never be calibrated, you can start it, but you never know how it will end.

I am posting just a couple of hours or so before a much anticipated hopefully peaceful event. Personally, i think the opposition has raised expectation for today, and they may not be able to deliver today. I will wait and see.

Jad, #18,

I saw both those particular clips yesterday on the news, thankyou for highlighting them on SC. Isn’t it amazing how modern day miracles work, these days banners just float in mid air, no need for anyone to be holding them, and, it also amazes me how much Bahrain resembles Syria, even the shops are mirror images!

Aljazeera and their mirror images have lost so much credibility, one would think they would save face and not continue on their downward spiral, but they just keep descending with lie after lie and fake video upon fake video.

Hopefully some would think twice before believing these videos and be so ready to attack their country of origin and its leader without making sure they are credible

Souri,
That article just proves that Syria needs Bashar as the leader.
I will also ad that the Americans and the Israelies will be over the moon to see Syria torn appart. Lets hope that they do not get satisfaction, and Syria will emerge from this debacle a stronger and even more united country than before.

May the Arab world finally open its eyes and see who the real enemies are, and unite as one to overthrow them. Unite as one and not give the enemies an opportunity to destroy their mateship. May the arabs finally realise that the only way to overcome adversity and to protect itself from enemies is to unite. We arabs should be one. We will be stronger. All the arab countries in the world will be indisputable. Enshallah. But the sad thing is, is that fellow arabs, such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan would rather shake hands with the outsiders, rather than with its brothers.

May people who are against Dr. Bashar al Assad finally realise that he is the only hope for Syria to remain a united country. And that he is the hope for all arabs to unite.

YA JAZEERA YA HAKIRA!!
YA JAZEERA YA HAKIRA!!
YA JAZEERA YA HAKIRA!!!!!!!!!!!

Off the wall – #31,

Obviously you took quite a while writing your long, long essay.
Mine wont be that long. You seem to be under the notion that the Syrian government started the violence. It was not.

The Syrian revolution, it’s co conspirators and the foolish people who were so ready to betray their country for money, are the ones sanctioning and instigating the violence. Do not get that wrong.

The opposition definately has a raised expectation for today, whether they see the fruits of their expectations will probably depend on how much they are willing to pay. But then again, if they are looking for a turnout to the magnitude the expect, they will have to think again because there are only a small amount of people in Syria who will betray their country and its leader.

Dear Off The Wall
I appreciate your humility, but I have read many of your comments over time, to know that you possess the intellect and the integrity I am crediting you with.

I share with you your concern about critical thinking and sanity away from paranoia. The fake clips with both their content and the idea of passing them as legitimate, taint a lot the credibility of the cause, and can be a major turn off from an otherwise a noble aspiration for a better future and positive change.
We all know the deficiencies of the Syrian regime/government/society and I am not surprised when they blunder.
But when proponents of change, who are held at a higher standard as they are expected to do better than the status quo, fall short by resorting to unscrupulous actions, the disappointment is enormous.

زخ الحــــناجر .. سلمية سلمية …. سلاحنا ضد الحكومة القمعيه

Another poem, dedicated to the Syrian revolution and its Martyrs

حركة سوريا شباب من أجل الحرية Youth Syria For Freedom
شام : حمص : استشهد يوم أمس الشهيد البطل نادر سويدان من بني خالد الرطوب
وذلك بإطلاق النار المباشر عليه عند أحد الحواجز الأمنية في حمص وإصابة كل من أخته وعمه وابن أخيه والمحتجزين حالياً لدى قوى الأمن …
9 minutes ago

AlFati7a upon his soul. May God bless his family with solace and empower them with patientce.

Revlon,
You and your videos disgust me.

look at these:
http://youtu.be/sMEkWua4BIQ

http://youtu.be/iqgFlRHt4HY (this one is a couple of years old…but still the best song)

http://youtu.be/dTyumwTgxuE

http://youtu.be/SB32xtVCcCU

This is what people should be listeming to. Not that crap that you put up.

Just as much as there are people out there who hate 3umna Dr. Bashar al Assad, there are millions more who love him.

You, as well as everyone else knows that people make videos like that to suit their possitions on the issue. Well, may those who died rest in peace, but what happened was thanks to the outside entities who encouraged violent actions by ant-government people. Not thanks to Bashar.

Allah Yehmik Ya 3umna Dr.Bashar al Assad.

Great Friday’s Country-wide demionstrations Kick-off!

Qamishlo, April 22nd,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fUA3Z_ASnUQ

Al Bu-Kamal

Dear MONTAGNARD

Again, many thanks for the kind word. I could not agree more regarding the potential for tainted credibility of the media presentation of whatever coalition is participating in the opposition actions (please note that so far I have not dubbed it revolution, but off course my assigning labels does not matter as it only reflects my attempts to claiming intellectual honesty). But again, one must also think a little beyond the individual manipulation of tapes, which reflects an open, seemingly expanding composition of the opposition, and its moderate ability to control the message, its fragmentation, lack of headquarters, and the fact that its coordinators on the inside are operating under constant threat of a very brutal and well known for efficiency oppression machine. In such environment, which no one can deny is imposed by the regime, one can hardly ask for absolute purity of every single tape. Needless to say, there will always be some who think they are bolstering their cause by spicing up a little tape. But the background remains there, and the regime has been caught with its pants down in much more serious incidents than the demonstrators.

I find the persistent focus by some intellectuals on parroting every claim by the Syrian media under the pretense that one should ask the demonstrators for purity because so that their methods are 110% consistent with the message of freedom and peace to be both hypocritical, duplicitous, and foolish. Hypocritical because most of the advocate of such purity never challenge the Syrian Media, and when it gets caught with pants down, they never even acknowledge that and issue an apology for being passive tools. It is also duplicitous because it implicitly recognizes the legitimacy of the causes of the demonstrators, but refuses to acknowledges such recognition because those demonstrators are not as highly educated, sophisticated, or principled as one would like peaceful protesters to be. And I find it foolish, because by doing so, intellectuals who are the first victims of tyranny and despotism It me of old Arabic stories about the foolish Syntactic scientist enjoining the commoner who tried to save him from thugs because he was cussing at the thugs using bad grammar.

Off course I am disappointed every time a blunder or bad grammar is used, but I am willing to give a latitude to inexperienced phone-camera citizen journalists operating under extreme pressure. I hope that I can filter out their zeal. Now, does using these footage affect the credibility of satellite networks who have no means to verify events, were deprived in sinister way from seeing the truth first hand. I have to say that there are many more serious problems with their credibility of any Arab media outlet. But most of all, the ones who are operating within the hereditary republic of fear. More than a month a go I have argued that the young activist in Syria will learn from their mistakes, will eventually identify a coherent message that will slowly but surely resonate. I still believe that, and to a large extent, I do not feel that I was wrong in that prediction.

Comment 33

US and the Israel might like what is going on in Syria but not to the extent you imagine. If this remains an internal problem within Syria then of course they would love to keep it. The fear if this gets out of control. Israel and US will regret it. You may be able to eventually divide the country, but that wont be without a cost and the cost will be devastating to Israel. Look at Lybia, the coalition forces are in a mess.

I hope that the Arabs would open their eyes to the fact that there unity is important. Well guess what, I think the Arabs ,you named few, will be thrilled to join any coalition army in the future (if that is even possible), finance it, and give all the support to bring the regime down.

having said all of that, I think Bashar Assad is listening to his people. I think the majority of the people in the streets have legitimate concerns, and rights that needs to be addressed which is is addressing on a daily basis now. I believe he is working very hard to advance the laws and regulations, fight corrupt. The majority of Syrians wants positive changes, and support a reform, but do not want blood shed. They do not want to see another Iraq. Demonstrations are healthy, and the Syrian government signed a law allowing such healthy demonstration out. Through this demonstrations the leader will listen to his people’s need. Any criminal acts will be punished and the law will be applied regardless; that happens in all countries even US

Having heard so much about his honesty and leadership qualities, God-all-mighty may seriously consider taking Bachar to heavens to name him; Angel-In-Chief.
Therefore, I have asked myself the question; What would become of:

First, his supporters on this blog?
Are they going to apply to follow him to heavens?
Can they love, or at least live with another president?

Second, the regime itself?
Is there a plan B?
Can anyone name a leader / cameo, who may be acceptable to the establishment!

Just thinking aloud!

Revlon,
Your thinking aloud is quite stupid really.

God-Almighty will think of taking Bashar to Heaven, after many, many, many healthy years of living. After 3umna Bashar has lived a full and health life, he will be greeted most lovingly by God-Almighty in Heaven.

His supporters on this blog will either be hopefully supporting someone who resembles our current leader or on their path to heaven also, after many healthy years of living, unlike people like you who will be…well, lets not go there.

We can live with and love another President. One who is just like Bashar. One who truly loves his people. One who truly wants unity. One who does not separate between people and their religion. Not someone that you and others like you have been promoting.

There are your answers. Consume them, then go and cry, because you are a loser and have nothing better to do than think stupidly aloud.

Oh, i forgt to mention…From now till then, we will enjoy being ruled, led and loved by our father, our brother, our beautiful 3um, Dr. Bashar al Assad!!!!!!!!!!!

Homs demonstrators today chant:

We are neither Moslem Brothers nor Salifies,
Our goal is freedom!
People want to down the System!

Comment 44

We are neither Moslem Brothers nor Salifies,
Our goal is freedom!

Sure, they have the right to demonstrate, but is it really healthy. My take to this clip is that:

1. there no poster
2. Define freedom????They have been repeating this word forever. They have needs let us address them in a civilized way
3. There is no women in this demonstration again I ????? their intention, do they want it peaceful one, or they are gangs going to make trouble

As you can see from the clip, the government will allow them to demonstrate and express themselves in a healthy way which is by itself a huge step the government has taken into freedom of speech and expression. This is all healthy and I am sure our current government will do more in the future. Freedom comes from addressing the concerns not just by shouting freedom, we want freedom. We want to address their concerns, sit on the table, and have healthy constructive, not destructive debates

الشعب سوف يسقط النظام

Revlon,

I also find myself thinking aloud, and find myself wondering who you would find acceptable as a leader. I have a few ideas as to who you would endorse.
1- The leader of the muslim brotherhood.
2- The Saudi king Abdullah
3- The Jordanian King Abdullah
4- Your leading activist and current face of the SR -A. Abdulhamid
5- Saad Harriri
6- I find myself going back to #1, the leader of MB.

None of the above will certainly be looked upon by the Almighty Allah with any favour. They all sanctioned the violence and evil mutilation of their victims by your ‘peaceful protesters’. The malicious and pre meditated murders along with the violence and destabalisation of the peaceful nation of Syria.

As George Galloway said “The reason Syria is facing this crisis, is not because of any bad thing which Syria has done, or any weaknesses within it’s democracy, or within it’s economy, or within its human rights record, the reason why Syria is being threatened is not because of anything bad she is doing, but because of the GOOD which she is doing”.

Make no mistake, this is definately a conspiracy against Syria. People need to open their eyes to the agenda of the conspirators. No amount of fake videos, old, archived or dubbed footage should blindfold anyone to this agenda.

http://arabic.cnn.com/2011/syria.2011/4/22/qardawi.newsyria/index.html

LOOK WHAT THIS EVIL IS SAYING
القرضاوي: وزير الأوقاف السوري أبله والأسد سيذهب
الجمعة، 22 نيسان/ابريل 2011، آخر تحديث 16:01 (GMT+0400)
القرضاوي أحد رموز تيار الإخوان المسلمين
دبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة (CNN) — شن الداعية الإسلامي، يوسف القرضاوي، هجوماً قاسية على النظام السوري للجمعة الثالثة، وخص المؤسسة الدينية في دمشق بانتقادات عنيفة، خاصة بعد بيان “كبار العلماء” الموجه ضده، فوصف وزير الأوقاف السوري بـ”الأبله،” وندد بـ”العائلات الجمهورية” في سوريا واليمن وليبيا، وقال إنهم جميعاً “سيذهبون.”

OTW

I appreciate your eloquence and your subtle critique of the regime’s handling of the situation and your apology of the awkward ways of the opposition. I agreed that trying to make any change under a tough and ruthless hand is a daunting task that requires imagination and courage.
I just regret that the opposition response is showing lack of imagination. Most videos, fake or true, show men walking with scarce written posters, that make you wonder if they are prevented from doing so by shadowy or virtual leaders for fear of showing the real demands of the demonstrators or where they are geographically. Aren’t they aware that written messages are more real and powerful that chants? I just can’t understand that. Egypt and Tunisia have used posters extensively in arabic in english knowing that TV and Internet will carry the message internationnally and they never used faked videos.

This makes me very suspicious not only of who is really behind these protests but also put doubts in my mind of the ability of this opposition to conduct the country in phase 2 if ever.
In addition I have not seen any of the ‘opposition’ respected and known supporters showing up in any of these demonstrations or even making public declaration about their intentions for the future of the country. I reject the argument that they could be killed. Firstly I think the regime will not openly kill a known opposition leader, secondly a revolution is about risks and courage.
This leaves too many unknown in the mind.
For many Syrians “One evil you know (and have shaken) is better than the one you don’t”

Comment #49

الشعب سوف ينقذ النظام

S.S,

The Evil that is Quaradawi can talk his empty talk until he runs out of breath. No one but he who is just as evil as Quaradawi will listen to anything he has to say. Evil is a minority.

Not for the finicky, video clip.

Martyr in Qaboon, Damascus today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW-cjewqKkk&feature=player_embedded
a minute ago

AlFati7a upon his soul,
May God bless his family with solace and empower them with patience.

Revlon

Any proof of the authenticy of this video, it could be anywhere, anyday? The title seems to imply there will be more..

In 2005,,and after Hariri assasination, ,Bashar encountered huge demonstrations in Lebanon,followed by severe pressure on Bashar by the west and then came ultimatum,security council issued an order that he must withdraw from Lebanon, He acquiesced.
Today,huge demonsrations in Syria, foreign countries are putting pressure on him, we have not seen an order from security council yet,if we see one ,would he quit?
As I said before ,Bashar is not a leader,nor he is strong.I like to think of him as a reform supporter,but behind him ,there are several criminals,pushing him to support oppression.
Today we see many demonstrations all over Syria,except Allepo,so far,there are reports of four death,in Muaddamyeh area,and Homs,but the demonstrations are larger than last week,killing however is less.

Aljazeera had contacted one of its presumed agents in Syria to get some news. Well it did not go the way Aljazeera wanted. Syrians do not use these words to debate but I guess Aljazeera deserves it at the end. Well done.

SS #58
I listened to the interview with Ammar Al Qurbi, I am sorry to say that your video is not correct, you are saying a lie.,you definitely played with the video,and alterd it

majedkhaldoon,

Huge demonstrations? Delusion.
If you are getting your numbers from Al Jazeera, well they multiply the actual numbers by 50, to make it simplier for you, when the demonstrators are 200, they say it is 10,000.

Demonstrations ALL over Syria? Again, another delusion.

Your Great Friday turned out to be a Great flop.

Have a great day.

S.S

Thanks, that’s really funny. I agree that al Jazira needs to loose their attitude of “we are the best in promoting revolutions”, except in Bahrein, Saudi Arabia and Qatar!

Comment 57#

We were leaving Lebanon back then and if you recall Syria already was withdrawing. We were doing regardless of Harriri death

In regard to pressure from the UN back then; well as I said, it was in our own interest to get out and we were doing that. UN perhaps accelerated that withdrawal.

You call it huge demonstrations all over Syria. I call it hundreds in some places perhaps thousands in other areas. This is good if it remains peaceful. The president supports peaceful demonstration and signed a law where every Syrian can obtain the right for peaceful organized demonstrations as a way of communication between people and government. What we are seeing now is gatherings where conspirators may find it a good time and place to attack and cause chaos. This is not acceptable.

UN and the rest of the world will condemn and only condemn to put some pressure on us. There is no reason for the UN to intervene now the wold knows that the government has taken the required steps that all the world has been asking for. I do not find any reason for intervention. The army as we can see is out there to protect the people as we all know that their are outsiders trying to take advantage of mass gatherings and try to kill people.

This Friday is the same as previous Fridays I see nothing good or huge about it. There has been no violence, thanks for the army and security.

For those asking for more creativity in banners!
Here is some light humour from Dar3a
7orani asli from 7oms
7orani asli from Latakia

SYAU

Demonstrations in Damascus

French newspaper “Le Monde: according to witnesses:

-A demonstrations in Damascus of 2000 in Midan, Damascus.
Slogans were “Freedom Freedom” “We will sacrifice for our martyrs”. I was dispersed with strength.

-in Qamishli 5000-6000 carrying syrian flags. Slogans: Arabs, Syriac and Kurds against corruption”.
Others slogans in kurdish:”Freedom, Brotherhood”,

-In Douma some wounded, no reported numbers of demonstrators
-Scarce demonstrations in other cities like Deraa

They do not report any call for the removal of Bashar al Assad.

Aljazeera reports:

Security forces have fired tear gas to disperse protesters in Damascus calling for the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Damascus for rallies on what activists have dubbed “Great Friday”, in what they say could become the biggest protests against the government to date.

Indeed, Al Jazeera’s Rula Amin reported from Damascus that the level of tension in the city on Friday marked a new high.

“It wasn’t a big protest, and it was dispersed very quickly , but the security presence was very heavy,” she said.

I guess the opposition will argue that people are afraid to go out as with the new law demonstrations without previous permission are illegal.

More martyrs are falling.
The “all new anti-demonstration laws” have proven their effectivity as a replacement for out-dated Emergency laws.

الثورة السورية :: ا ف ب : 10 قتلى برصاص الأمن السوري في مظاهرات اليوم

AlFati7a upon their souls,
May God bless their parents with solace and empower them with patience

@ 58

Thuggery, foul mouth, and mafioso style political discourse have been characteristics of right wing and reactionary servants throughout our modern history. It is the same language of those who murdered communists and labor leaders in Italy after WW2, it is the same of those who early in the 20th century were hired to suppress labor movement in the US, and it is now the mark of the supporters of the right-wing reactionary group ruling Syria. I hope progressives worldwide recognize how the Baath party has been transformed from a progressive party into a reactionary group that relies on profanities to score political victories and to maintain their dominance of a beautiful country.

Everyday it emerges that profanity is the first choice of political language of regime supporters nowadays. This alone should be embarrassing enough. And thanks to Mr. Geometric shapes Abboud, who shortly announced to Aljazeera that 90% of Syrians is as profane as the caller.

I can imagine brats laughing and clapping hands saluting the little mafioso and thinking that he has scored a victory against Aljazeera. I have seen that behavior from members of dumb fraternities around the US. Way to go, supporters.

Syria protests: Is there a peaceful path to democracy?
By Helena Cobban / April 22, 2011

Can Syria make a transition to democracy without facing the deadly battles now seen in Libya, or the repression in Bahrain? Yes, if enough leaders within Syria show vision and restraint, and if they are open to some outside mediation from South Africa, Turkey, and the US.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2011/0422/Syria-protests-Is-there-a-peaceful-path-to-democracy

Price to save the system.

It seems that the price asked by the US and the anti-Iran Arab countries to save the system in Syria and prevent a bloodbath is for Bashar al Assad to renounce to the support of the resistance, to downgrade the relation with Iran and submit to a US peace plan with Israel and optionally promise to make democratic changes.
I believe that if cornered, the regime will just do that.

This way the protesters will get what they want but as a client of the Western countries. Everybody will be happy but goodbye Arab nationalism! Welcome the US!
Later we’ll probably see a gradual switch of roles between Syria and Egypt. Egypt would take over the resistance support role and open up to Iran, Syria will move in the US camp.

Daily Star

“….Despite differences with Bashar, most if not all of the regional powers support his stability. And this probably will make the difference.

If so, it would constitute a bitter irony and the ultimate paradox: Syria’s foreign policy, while appreciated by the public, is not enough to assuage the protestors. At the same time, foreign powers, who resent Syrian foreign policy, may end up saving the Syrian regime in the name of realpolitik, in this case the “devil we know” or the dubious theory of a “lesser evil.”

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Apr/22/Even-help-from-abroad-may-not-be-enough-to-save-Syrias-regime.ashx#ixzz1KGcq4Wux
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

حركة سوريا شباب من أجل الحرية Youth Syria For Freedom
الثورة السورية || على الجميع التوجه الان الى كبرى الميادين في جميع المحافظات …… انباء عن سقوط اكثر من 50 شهيد اليوم برصاص قوى الامن المرتزقة … يا شباب سوريّا اليوم النظام ارتكب مجزرة على مستوى الجمهورية!! … الفزعة لحمص ودرعا والمعضمية ودوما والحجر الاسود

4 minutes ago

AlFati7a upon thrir souls,
May God bless their families with solace and empower them with patience

[…] Syria Comment » Archives » The Government Draws a Line in the Sand […]

Joshua???? LOL why do you and others resort to sectarian divide when trying to establish who supports the government and who doesn’t?? I would like to make a few comments and wish for you to publish them please. As a syrian, born outside Syria i strongly support Bashar AL Assad and the stability in syria for many reasons. one i have not seen you or anyone else for that matter discuss the most likely outcome of syria if he were to go?? why are we all in denial, yes Bashar Al Assad is muslim Alawite but a syrian most importantly, like a druze is, or a christian is, or sunni is. in the west people don’t ask the leader if he is an anglican or catholic…religion in the middle east is always brought up by the west to divide arab nations to try and eliminate the pan arab movement or idealogy. Syria is a target today for its stance re rsistance and iran. One can’t deny it….homos has close ties to families in tripoli lebanon who support sSaad Hariri and money is being used to creat chaos. Money for a poor man in the middle east can make him turn against his mother and father let alone his Country. I am sick and tired of hearing the word FREEDOM cause its an illusion thrown out there but in fact hidden meaning is behind it. Freedom to these so called protestors means riots bloodshed taking videos of these events and selling them to their agents. Saudi Arabia is key their fear of iran has convinced them to attack Syria in every way possible. But people don’t realise how many supporters Bashar has inside and outside syria. by god i know of thousands who live outside who are prepared to leave the money behind and if need be go and support the Bashar in his fight against Saudi funded groups wanting to destroy our beloved Syrian unity. WAKE UP PEOPLE THIS IS A FIGHT OF GOOD VS EVIL….and we all should note either u support Saudi arabia or syria full stop.