From the CNN article;

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/08/02/syria.video/

“Razan Zaitouneh, a Syrian activist, said activists doubt the incident could have happened at the Hama location because the river is dry at this time of year.”

I believe there are multiple irreconcilable revolutions going on in Syria today; but two of them garner most of the Syrian people’s support. First, a secular revolution which I think is supported by most people on this blog, including me. This revolution wants a secular multi party system not dominated by any particular party; free election; free speech; equal rights for ALL and end of corruption. This revolution does not believe in violent means, but rather change through dialog and engagement with a set time table for concrete steps toward reform. I think it is fair to say that most people in Syria back this revolution; particularly in cosmopolitan cities like Damascus and Aleppo, which explains why those cities have been reluctant to embrace the riots that are destroying the country.

Second, the Islamist revolution which is capitalizing on the unrest and people’s frustration to seize power by force, and impose its will on all Syrians through an alternative dictatorship system called Islamism inspired by Shariaa. I believe this revolution does have strong support in conservative cities like Hama, Homs, Daraa and Deir Alzor. Anyone who knows anything about Hama, and I happen to have roots in that city, knows that it is a hotbed for MB’s; and anyone who knows anything about MB’s should know they will settle for nothing less than an Islamic state guided by Shariaa law, clean of all infidels. I don’t believe Bashar’s departure will calm this revolution down, as some have suggested. On the contrary, I believe it will only embolden the MB and give them hope and momentum to go full speed after the jack pot. Compromise is not part of their belief system, as they are inspired and guided by an uncompromising faith.

The goal for both revolutions is change, but that’s where the similarities end. Secularists need to be very cautious and remember that the kind of change Islamists are seeking will leave them “hanging”, literally. Islamists despise secularists and have no tolerance for their ideology. Lessons should be drawn from the Iranian revolution where Iranian secularists, who fought hard along with the Islamists against the Shah, found themselves facing execution squads after the revolution was won. Similar scenarios are emerging today in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya where Islamists are flexing their muscles and revealing their true agenda.

Not all roads lead to Damascus; some are heading straight toward Mecca…

I am neither Sunni nor Alawi; I am Syrian. Souria Akbar!

Majed @2 Nice, gave you a thumbs up whatever it’s worth (not much).

While some elements in the MB might dream of an Islamic state, they are neither numerous enough in Syria, nor influential enough, to have anywhere near the weight needed to do so. Syrians are far, far from receptive to such an idea.

The young people risking their lives every day and night to overthrow the restrictions of Baathist rule, are not doing so just so those restrictions can be replaced with equally repressive ones from the MB. The MB are not a strong force in Syria, and never were even at the height of their influence in the country.

“2. Majed97 said:”

Do you support trying Bashar, Maher and the rest of the Asad mafia for those they have killed?

Bashar, we are with you. We will not tolerate extremists. Secular Syria is the Syria el Sha3b beddu!!

Hamwiyeh, are know all over Syria to be harsh islamists, just like jisr al shughur and kanaker…

Bashar clean Hama and we are with you. foreber

We want to live peacefully. the west wants to destroy it.

bel rouh, bel damm, nafdiki ya souriyya.

this amazing ability to deny the obvious is called ” a goat even if it flies position”. it is a sign of moral confusion and loss of direction. you can not earn respect by copying the actions of your “disrespectful” opponent. violence is the mother of all evil in this conflict and the main culprit is the regime but I am not going to let the opposition off the hook here,most opposition figures have denied the use of violence by some of their supporters and some have openly advocated arming their followers for “self-defense”. the whole business of this uprising from the actions of a brutal and incompetent regime to the disgusting crimes committed by some “freedom fighters” is nauseating. if this is your Islam and your Arabism, I am innocent of both,there will be hell in the afterlife,why do you want to create one of your own on earth?

Aboud

Najati Tayara was injured when the regime security thugs stormed a prison in Homs per Aljazeera

Lies and Media Manipulations regarding the Protest Movement in Syria

by Pierre Piccinin

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=25865

Tara, yes, Najati Tayara and some other activists were beaten up by the scum in prison with tasers. They were protesting, even inside prison.

And junior thinks he can beat such a spirited people. To the rest of the world, beating up on imprisoned activists just makes him look even more pathetic than he already is.

@8 Fiddling with artillery battalions while Sinai burns? I cannot think of a more irrelevant topic regarding Hama than this old recycled piece of garbage, which has been proven false by the subsequent Friday demonstrations.

Number of Hamwis telling junior to go screw himself; hundreds of thousands. Number of Hamwis welcoming the Besho Brigades; zero.

Robert Ford talk,in the congress, clearly he anticipates that the regime will be gone ,and he is discussing the post regime era.

UN holds 2nd session for Syria

Tuesday, August 2, 2011
https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=11107#comment-264926

Turkey, EU ramp up Damascus pressure
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkey-eu-ramp-up-damascus-pressure-2011-08-02
UK’s foreign secretary and his Turkish counterpart agree to raise the pressure on Syria as violence continues to sweep through the country.
….

A Turkish Foreign Ministry official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the phone talks between the British and Turkish foreign ministries. “The British foreign secretary called Davutoğlu to discuss international matters, including Syria,” the official told the Daily News on Tuesday. Regarding possible sanctions to be imposed against Syria, the official said: “The decisions of the European Union are only binding for them, not for Turkey. There is nothing like sanctions on Turkey’s agenda for now.”

The European Union expanded its sanctions against Syria on Monday, imposing asset freezes and travel bans against five more military and government officials, according to an Associated Press report Tuesday. The decision brings the number of individuals targeted by the EU to 35, including Assad.

Turkey will maintain its ambassador in Damascus even as it steps up its pressure on the Syrian administration so that it can continue to work to urge reforms, a Turkish diplomat told the Daily News on Tuesday.

Italy has announced the recall of its ambassador in Damascus for consultation due to the “horrible repression” in Syria and called on other EU members to do the same. Yet Ankara plans to keep its ambassador in Damascus, the diplomat said. Ambassador Ömer Önhon was recently called back to Damascus from his holiday due to the urgent situation.

“At the moment there are more things to do than there were previously,” the official said, drawing attention to the efforts of international actors, which “should put pressure on Syria.”

Davutoğlu again condemned the recent acts of violence in Syria with a statement late Monday, saying Turkey would not remain silent in light of the fact that scores of people were being killed every day, while also calling on Damascus to cooperate with neighboring countries.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Norwegian counterpart, Jonas Gahr Store, Davutoğlu reiterated that “both the timing and the method of the Syrian government forces’ operation in the city of Hama were completely wrong.”

“While we were expecting the Syrian government to make reforms, we learned about the operation. It is very wrong to conduct such an operation on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan. Such events give wrongful messages to both the Syrian people and the international community,” he said.

“We hoped Syria would resolve its problems on its own by carrying out a series of reforms. It is the best option to encourage the Syrian government to make more reforms,” Davutoğlu said, adding that the second option was to resolve problems through regional dynamism by cooperating with neighboring countries.

“But if problems are left unsolved and every day scores of people are killed, no one can remain silent,” Davutoğlu said.

Echoing his remarks, Turkish President Abdullah Gül also said that “it is not possible for us to remain indifferent to this violence,” the Anatolia news agency reported Monday.

Syrian government forces recently stormed the city of Hama, killing at least 100 people.

* Sevil Küçükkoşum contributed to this report from Ankara.

this video just about sums up our revolution:

a truly heartbreaking video. wife says final farewell to her husband, killed by security forces in Hama

Aoun defends Syrian regime’s crackdown
August 2, 2011
Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday defended Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, saying that security forces have the right to suppress “chaos on the streets.”

“It is clear that the intentions of the [Syria] opposition are not good,” he added following his bloc’s weekly meeting.

To read more: http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=296838#ixzz1Tv4cTFm9
Only 25% of a given NOW Lebanon article can be republished. For information on republishing rights from NOW Lebanon: http://www.nowlebanon.com/Sub.aspx?ID=125478

13. aboali

this is a sad sad video… if its real. otherwise id say its an award winning movie. this man is still in one piece. the army officers that were murdered in cold blood were skinned, mutilated, beaten up, hung after their heroic lives were taken and thrown into mass graves… not to mention thrown into rivers. thats what i call heartbreaking. what can you say about that?

#5 I say screw you, 150 people were massacred by the sons of bitches which, if your video is true, and I doubt it, now reside at the bottom of the Assi being turned into fish shit, which is a step up for them.

If mukhabarat and shibiha were killed, then it was for revenge, and they damn well deserved it. Revenge for Hamza, and Raghad, and Layal and the 70 other kids who were killed by the Assadi forces. Not to mention the 1600 protesters gunned down in cold blood on the streets of Syria by the mukhabarat scum. Getting rid of the mukhabarat, the Shabiha and their informants is the first step in freeing Syria from oppression and tyranny, so I say slaughter all those sons of bitches.

Mamnhebaks

I developed severe psychological aversion to Syrian soap opera. I immediately change the channel. Can’t stand it anymore.

abuali.

im assuming you only see red(as evil does) when you angry…not numbers.
im also going to assume your last comment was addressed to #15, myself.
the truth hurts hey? oh and the “peaceful protesters” that were killed in cold blood were so peaceful they just couldnt resist peacefully gunning down the army with their peaceful guns, very peacefully raping women and killing them once their done doing their (peaceful) filthy work huh?
what the hell are you on about revenge? revenge by murdering? or i will use your disgraceful wording -slaughtering. this is a pathetic excuse for you murderous friends evil deeds. no one deserves to die. not even filthy scum metlak

by the way, your first paragraph made absolutely no sense to me… as evil never really does make any sense.

Allah Souria Bashar ou bas!

tara

fantastic. im so happy for you. does tara have anything constructive to say? has your sectarian coffee kicked into your sectarian brain yet? thank you for your comment that meant absolutely nothing to me.

Allah ykhalsak min hal hameer ya Bashar
Allah Souria Bashar ou bas

Tara,

About the reason that Iran is standing with Syria and president Assad, you are right, The Iranians are loyal people and don’t forget the help that president Hafiz Assad and Syria gave to Iran during the Iraq/ Iran war that was started by Saddam Hussein with encouragement of the West and the Gulf states that wanted to stop the Islamic revolution of Iran, President Assad did not do that because Iran is Shia, he did that because Iran under the Shah was pro west and Israel while Iran after the Islamic revolution became pro Palestinians and Arab rights Syria stood against Iraq who started the war, He was asked to how come he is standing against an Arab country and on the side of the Persians, he answered , Iraq attacked Iran and occupied it’s land and if we support Iraq then how can we complain about Israel attacking us and taking our land, Syria always looked at the relations that it had in the contest of the Arab/ Israeli conflict.

Who appointed these fools to represent the Syrians , I think we all here represent the Syrians of all parts more than any of them can, when and if they get elected fair and square, then they can claim that they represent the people who vote for them, until then they are just opportunists like many of the members of the Baath party that think only they know what is best for Syria

I disagree that Assad supported Iran on the basis of being Shia. You have to understand that neither Shia, nor Sunni accept Alawi as a religion.
Assad supported Iran simply because he was able to read the minds of the enemies and Saddam Hussien was one of them.

Now the opposition is mentioning the word Shia a lot which reflects their sectarian belief. What is wrong with Shia????Do you consider loving Al Albiet a crime against Islam???These are the relatives of the prophet (PUH) and I find it amusing that shia being attacked based on there love to Al Albeit. I find it odd and against Islam itself if some one out there show hate to the relatives of the prophet Muhammad (PUH). Why you Sunni call shia RAFEDA?????Rafeda of what, the only crime they commited is their devotion for the best and best of Islam, the relatives and off springs of the prophet, the grandons from the Fatima which is the daughter of Saidna Muhamad (PUH).

BESHO’S FIFTEENTH HYPOCRITICAL COMMENT OF THE WEEK:

“…in a speech on Monday commemorating the 66th anniversary of the nation’s army, Assad referred to the protesters as ‘warmongers and blood merchants,’ and their actions on Sunday as a ‘vicious attack,’ despite the obvious fact that his army was the perpetrator of the assault. Assad went on to praise his troops for ‘foiling the enemies of Syria’…”

What a guy!

في بعد الأوقات، شجرة الحرية يجب أن تسقى من دماء الوطنيون والطاغية

SS,

I do not know if you misunderstood or misread what i wrote. or i am wrong that you are addressing me in your note, but as i said Syria stood by Iran because of it’s stand with Arab rights.

ss

dont get sucked in. this is exactly what the hameer want. the attack a certain sect and wait for people to defend making this sectarian. this site is for political views, not personal or religeous attacks. dont let them push your buttons
it will only make a big mess. you put up a good argument and made good points and i agree with you fully. but be careful not to get sucked in to their satanic world where its not normal to be JUST SYRIAN.

Allah yehmik ya Assadna

The international community appears to be against the regime; even Russia stated that it would not object any law passed by the UN, so that gives the UN the total freedom to pass anything they want. This is the big challenge that Assad took it upon himself…..It can’t get better for the opposition dreamers. My question; what the international community is going to do?
Assad made it clear that he will not accept thugs to take over the country; he will chase you, turn your Fridays to hell, and bring the criminals to justice. I fully support the brave and honest army. I thing the strategy is working very well. There should be no space for Radical Islamists and terrorists. The army must continue what is doing regardless of what the international community wants to do. This is an internal problem and it should be solved internally. I cannot wait for this Friday. Terrorists; have you named your Friday yet!

26 Ali

“this is exactly what the hameer want”

You made my day brother. Ai walah Hameer.

This is Syria, Syria, Syria…..I though that the world was jealous of us. Our country is great and I could never imagined it to be infested with those Evil Hameer

22. SS said:

“Assad supported Iran simply because he was able to read the minds of the enemies and Saddam Hussien was one of them.”

President Assad’s support of Iran was based on his pragmatism of why fight a country like Iran when they are not the real enemy. The Saudi and Gulf states tinpot Sheikhs spent many Billions of dollars on a useless war because their western masters told them to do so and Saddam was an idiot. Those Sheikhs have not forgiven Syria for not supporting that useless war.

That money could have been used to buy back Palestine from the Israelis.

25. Norman. I was addressing the person who you were addressing. What you wrote was clear. I am addressing Mrs. T; the head of the MB on SC

I do not know much about Razan Taytouneh but her focus on al’asi river being dry as a “proof” that the famous video was fake confirms that her credibility is not much bigger than a zaytouneh. Why is it too hard for some to admit the truth?
Even a sixth grader by now knows that the killers in Syria do not belong to one side or one sect. Admitting the obvious does not by any mean clear the regime thugs from the crimes they committed but it can help skeptics who are increasingly worried about being stuck between two opposing violent parties who do not have a vision for the future.
Hama today is a wounded lawless city and the longer this lasts the more innocent lives will be lost.

I’ve just heard reports that the Syrian army have arrested the driver of the pickup truck that transported the bodies which were murdered and thrown into Assi River. One arrest will lead to another. God protect the Syrian army.

Aboali #16,

Your comment, especially this part, “so I say slaughter all those sons of bitches” was one of the most disgraceful comments I’ve read since the beginning of this terrorist revolution.

#31

how is one woman’s claim that the river being dry this time of year proof of anything? how can someone “fake” being thrown off a bridge? do you think anything would change if it were another bridge?or if was someone else other than the army? or if the water was a different color?
Bashar will get these thugs. and when he does, we will see justice being served

ghar 3 mamnekhtar ALLAH SOURIA OU BASHAR

As I thought, the terrorists are escalating their acts of insurgencies during the month of Ramadan.
A terrorist by the name of Maher Attia, who was trying to blow up a police station in Deir Alzour, during a malicious act of insurgency, ended up blowing his arm off from the elbow down as the bomb detonated when he was setting it.

Hopefully every act of insurgency the evil terrorists attempt will have the same ending as that of the terrorist Maher Attia.

Memo To: ABOALI

RE: “…so I say slaughter all those sons of bitches…”

Tough words, Ali, but you are right. Now that there is a Free Syrian Army, soldiers have a choice. They can choose to draw a line in the sand for a free Syria, or stay the course with the Assad Mafia.

But if they stay with Besho, they must understand there will be consequences. They must understand the protestors are getting guns and will use them.

Like the song says, “This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no fooling around…”

The video is very clearly authentic as we can see from this detailed video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0k-3nRsWgs
The video shows compelling evidence that the bridge is indeed in Hama, and that the executers can in no way belong to government forces, and are in fact part of “revolution”.

Apart from the having children carry weapons and participate in carrying the bodies, please note that all actions are accompanied by the signature chant Allahu Akbar.

I have one question for these people. Is “Allahu Akbar” good to cover whatever shit you choose to do, and whatever crimes you chose to carry out? These people have nothing in their young and ignorant heads except hate and a twisted version of religion, allowing them to lie, steal, rape, kill, and mutilate bodies in the name of Allah.

Allahu Akbar .. no matter what atrocities are being committed, it’s always Allahu Akbar. This technology is clearly Salafi/MB in its finest manifestation. This is the future of Syria if these people win out .. which they won’t, of course.

re: CNN video

Here is a comment posted on the CNN site:

specter619 Protests work, only sometimes, in democracies and well developed countries. violence in this case is warranted and necessary. I hope they kill more of these govt scumbags till the streets run with thier blood and thier president runs back to iran and his puppet masters.

My take? I wish the protests could have stayed peaceful, but I cannot in all honesty expect people being terrorized -and lets be clear as to what this means: cold- blooded murder of men, women and children, rape, wanton destruction and pillage of property and arrests and torture by Besho the Butcher’s thugs to remain peace-loving. There are a lot of pacifists among you here, but you tell me what you’d do to someone coming into your home or your town with the intent of doing all of the above to you (and worst of all knowing that these are the people the government pays to supposedly guard your security)? If you had a gun you’re not going to use it? Oh no, you’ll just pick up the phone and complain to the government. Yeah, right.

Those who kill should not complain too much if they get killed, and once dead, it doesn’t matter what happens really. They should have left the bodies at the top of a hill or mountain for the vultures, in the tradition of the Zoroastrians, instead of contaminating the river, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the vultures didn’t touch them, for they had too much poison in them.

As for spitting and insults, well, shall we say they were deserved while alive, but having received their just punishment, maybe they should have been omitted.

The legitimate uprising is expanding , the brave Syrian took to the streets in Muhajreen, after Taraweeh prayers. A bit over a century old residential area. Many old Damascene families who lived in the old part of the city moved to. It is at the bottom of Mount Qasioun.

It is a 3 minute walk from were junior lived with his parents, he still resides there with the innocents, Asma and children. I consider them hostages in the same way all Syrian were held hostage for the past 40 years

Cars license plates in Syria will now carry the name “Syria” without specifying which province the car came from. This is done after criminals targeted cars that belong to certain muhafazaat that did not rise up in support of anti regime activities,like Aleppo.

#31 Abughassan
Hama today is a wounded lawless city and the longer this lasts the more innocent lives will be lost.

So what are you implying here? That Besho the Butcher’s thugs and executioners strike the city with even more force and more savagery?

There was no violence in Hama for nearly a month until the one-sided brutality was resumed by B-t-B’s forces. It was about revenge against Hama, it was about showing who was boss and master, nothing else.

Hama, and all of Syria will not accept to be slaves in B-t-B’s prison farm anymore. The whole world better get that into their skulls.

I opposed the army’s incursion from the beginning,read my older posts. Hama is not an independent state,it is an important part of Syria. A face-saving solution is still possible.
I share your distrust of the regime.

بأمثالك أيها النبيل الشجاع نرفع رؤوسنا .. مداخلة علي السند عن سوريا

Assadists are replicating what the Israelis did in Gaza 2008/2009.
Laying siege on several cities, surrounding the inhabitants with tanks, destroying hospitals and mosques, killing 1600 people, thousands missing.

Is it fair to compare Zionists with Assadist? Hama and other cities with Gaza? How much further can he unleash his killing machine on his own people?

Mr. Landis your input. Commentators it is not about what side you support, this bloodbath must end. No one can stop it, but us. They have nothing to lose and nowhere to go. It is a lose lose situation for them. Excuses in times like this is fruitless.

Dr. Landis,

Comment # 16 by ABOALI says the following:

” … the sons of bitches which … now reside at the bottom of the Assi being turned into fish shit, which is a step up for them.”

I think this is bordering on criminal insanity and has no place on SC.

ABOALI and his gang have raised their expectations so high that they cannot bear to see the facts on the ground. However, reverting to such hateful comments is crossing the line.

I recommend that you remove that comment and issue a warning to him for his content.

Comment # 16 by ABOALI says the following:

” … the sons of bitches…now reside at the bottom of the Assi being turned into fish shit, which is a step up for them.”

I think Aboali’s comment is a fair and honest appraisal of the facts on the ground as he sees it. More to the point, the men who do the dirty work of the Assad Mafia must understand that there are consequences.

Did you expect that the protestors wouldn’t hit back? This is not a formal debate. This is not a dialogue. This is a revolution. Either get on board or get out of the way!

43. Averroes

i second that. that post was one of the most disgraceful and offensive i have ever come across and reading it made me sick. i really didn’t expect such revolting language used on a political based discussion forum. i have taken personal offense to this horrendous comment and would also like to see it removed. this person has proven to be just as much a criminal as the armed gangs committing these disgusting crimes

Mr. Landis.
why are you allowing such language and attack in these comments. time and time again i have read offensive comments by certain bloggers and there is nothing done about it. please have this comment removed and give that criminal a warning
Allah yehmi jash elsouri wyerham al shohada2

اجمل الأمهات التي انتظرت ابنها و عاد مستشهدا
فبكت دمعتين وورده و لم تنطوي في ثياب الحداد
(رحم الله من مات مظلوما)

I hope some of you enjoyed their interaction with Israelis and pro-Israel blabbers on this blog..leave those intruders alone and do not dignify them with an answer.
As for offensive posts,it is up to the editor to remove them,hate will harm the hater more than anybody else,those blogging thugs are actually serving the regime by supporting its claims about the nature of some freedom-fighters- in disguise terrorists who are having a field day in some parts of Syria ..

#41 Abughassan
“I share your distrust of the regime”

OK, I believe you, but pray tell us what this face-saving solution is and if you really believe it (whatever form it might take) would ever be accepted/enacted in good faith by the prison farm authorities.

If bashar-the butcher and assistant murderers really wanted to enact reforms they could have done so with a stroke of the pen and a few phone calls. But so far they have talked a lot and done bugger all in that department, choosing instead to kill, maim, rape, arrest and torture.

Each of these drawings speaks volumes of truths.

http://www.ali-ferzat.com/ar/comic/key_word/%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%B1%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85/651.html

http://www.ali-ferzat.com/ar/comic/key_word/%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%B1%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85/579.html

http://www.ali-
ferzat.com/ar/comic/key_word/%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%B1%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85/712.html

http://www.ali-ferzat.com/ar/comic/id/480.html

http://www.ali-ferzat.com/ar/comic/key_word/%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%B1%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85/666.html

Reluctantly, I watched the horrendous video, men thrown to a river. These men, may God bless their souls, are all wearing RED T-SHIRTS. If my memory serves me, I recall the protestors in Hama or Deir El-Zour, decided to wear tops that represent the three different colours of the Syrian flag, RED, WHITE and BLACK.

Now I tried to go to the link, posted by Alex, I was not able to see it. It was removed.

As far as I can see from the CNN clip, the three tossed bodies were wearing red T-Shirts.

Can someone re-post the original link?

I watched Aboud link as well.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/08/02/syria.video/

@ ABU GHASSAN 39
I have heard of Cars with Hama license plates being targeted in Aleppo by the menhebak bunch. so its a two way street.
@ 38 NZ
muhajreen? uprising? ur kidding me!!! how did you learn of that i would be really grateful if you provided me with the source. 🙂

my first demonstration: ( i have seen 2 before but i never participated in one)
i decided yesterday to pray taraweeh with 2 accomplices in Midan. upon reaching midan we couldn’t find a man in sight. it was empty…..
we parked the car and headed to the da2a2 mosque.( it was FULL, had a hard time finding a place to sit) the Esha prayers were just being concluded so we prayed Esha Alone. before taraweeh started the sheikh said: “political demonstrations in mosques are haram!!!”. so we set to praying the taraweeh, i didnt even finish the 8th prayer yet when someone shouted out LA ILLAHA ILA LAH!!!! ( they respected by the sheikhs wishes and refrained from political chants in the mosque) suddenly the whole mosque went in unison : LA ILLAHA ILA LAH. i quickly left the mosque and awaited the demonstration in the street out side. the crowds kept coming, the chants were the very same chants i heard on AL Jazeera. soon they gathered in the main midan street, when suddenly an explosion like sound sent us hurdling for cover. the demonstrators regathered and shouted out MAFI SHI, MAFI SHI!. i and my accomplices decided we had enough for 1 day and headed home, just as i was leaving midan i saw around 2 hundred *ARMOURED* shabeeha scum, planning their entrance into midan( maybe one day we’ll plan their entrance into hell). it was my best experience this year. oh and for the menhebak group : no i didn’t see any vandals and there weren’t any sectarian chants, but chants stressing national unity. no one harmed any one, but the shabeeha scum did. so tell me again besho lovers: after my small narrative, do you think its good to support such a president when he allows such brutality under his command?
Bashar al Assad: assad horan w arnab il jolan

On Aljazeera, 4:30 hours ago.

I would pay a lot to be the fly on the wall in the palace overlooking Damascus, during the live coverage on AJ from the court in Cairo. I’m sure they’re watching.

=============

“blabbers” call your friends. I don’t earn my dignity from conversing on blogs. Any one who chooses to ignore and boycott me, Ah’len.
.

الكيان الصهيوني وحظ مندسيه

شارك عشرات الآلاف من الاسرائيليين في تظاهرات كبيرة مساء السبت الماضي للاحتجاج على ارتفاع تكاليف الحياة ومطالبين رئيس الوزراء الاسرائيلي نتنياهو باجراء اصلاحات اقتصادية جذرية، الشرطة الاسرائيلية قدرت عدد المتظاهرين بأكثر من مثة ألف توزعوا على عشر مدن مختلفة، اطلقوا خلالها شعارات مثل: “الناس قبل الربح”، و”نقتل انفسنا لنعيش” و”نعمل في 3 وظائف ولا نستطيع تأمين شروط العيش” و”هذا هو الربيع الاسرائيلي”.

في تلك الامسية لم تطلق رصاصة واحدة على المحتجين، ولم تمنع وسائل الاعلام من تغطيتها، لم يكن هناك اي صدامات مع جيش الدفاع الاسرائيلي او حتى الشرطة، ونتنياهو سارع الى تخفيض سعر المحروقات وفرض سقفا على سعرها ووعد بخفض الضرائب الغير مباشرة، وقال صراحة لا توجد حلول سريعة للمشاكل المعقدة التي دفعت بالناس الى التظاهر، ولكن قادة المظاهرات اعلنوها صراحة ان هذه الاجراءات غير كافية وغير ملائمة، ومرة أخرى لم ترسل الدبابات الى المدن التي انتشرت بها تلك الاحتجاجات.

بالمقارنة مع الوضع السوري القائم من جهة النظام اللاشرعي الغير ديمقراطي نرى مشهد سوداويا ملطخا بالدماء، فرصاص قوات الامن السوري والجيش ودباباته على مدار خمسة اشهر وهي تقنص ارواح السوريين وتخلف المآسي، والاعلام السوري ورديفته قناة الدنيا لا يتوقفان عن بث الشائعات وبث الاكاذيب والتسبيح والتحميد بحق المجرم القاتل بشار الاسد وصبيانه، وحتى عندما خفض بشار الاسد سعر ليتر المازوت 5 ليرات وزاد رواتب الموظفين الحكوميين ولم يعجب هذا السوريين الاحرار لانهم يريدون اكثر من فتات يرمى اليهم، رد على اعتراضهم بالذخيرة الحية واستشهد من استشهد وجرح من جرح.

الاسرائيليون مجرمون نعم، هم يقتلون اخوتنا الفلسطينيين ويشردونهم ويصادرون اراضيهم ويحاصرونهم، هم يحتلون فلسطين، هم يحتلون الجولان السوري ومزارع شبعا اللبنانية، وهم الآن يحاولون سرقة النفط والغاز اللبناني من قاع البحر المتوسط، ولكن ما نراه من معاملة لمواطنيهم اليهود يجعلنا نتسأل: لماذا العرب بشكل عام والسوريون بشكل خاص يعاملون كالجراثيم او الجرذان؟ هل اليهود فعلا كما يقول توراتهم هم البشر ونحن خلقنا على هيئة البشر لخدمتهم كونهم شعب الله المختار؟ هل الاسرائيلي عنده رحمة وشفقة على اخيه الاسرائيلي اكثر من السوري على اخيه السوري؟ هل يا ترى تمتعهم بحرية ونظام ديمقراطي السبب الحقيقي في انتصارهم علينا على مدى ستين عاما واكثر؟

لن ينتصر المسلمون او العرب او السوريون او اية شعب واقع تحت نظام شمولي بوليسي على اي عدو اذا ما بقوا على وحشيتهم تجاه اخوتهم، لن يتقدموا في الركب البشري ما دام روح اخوتهم ليست غالية عليهم، وما دامت لغة الدم ولغة الحقد ولغة الاجرام هي التي تسيطر عليهم وعلى علاقتهم بالاخر ان كان شقيقا او جارا، والدليل كما سبق واوردته مئة الف اسرائيلي يخرجون بمظاهرة فلا يجرح انسان، ومنذ اكثر من خمسة اشهر يسقط يوميا بمعدل 13 شهيد في سورية من المتظاهرين السلميين.

لا نستطيع ان نقول الا اننا نحسدكم ايها الاسرائليون، فانتم مؤيدين ومعارضين وحتى مندسين محظوظين جدا.

Norman, @ 20

I like your answer. Iraq-Iran war was not a just war in my opinion. And I love loyalty…unfortunately, misplaced in this case. Ideally, Iran should have placed serious internal pressure on Besho from day one to do meaning reforms if she had a good vision and wanted him to stay in power. Blind loyalty does not work sometimes. Funny how regimes loyal to each others and how people also loyal to each others. My 2 close Iranian friends never failed to express solidarity with the Syrian people’ aspiration for freedom and dignity.

The Hama Local Coordination Committee released a statement regarding the video

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=191572890905695&set=a.168684683194516.41981.162428843820100&type=1&theater&ref=nf

1) The Assi river has been dry for a month and a half now because the dams at Rastan have not been opened to allow water to flow.

2) There is no such bridge in Hama. I dare one menhebak scum on this forum to prove otherwise.

3) There is no background noise whatsoever in the video Not even a splash. Nothing. The whole thing was dubbed, and is a fake just like the Butti video.

They go on to say that after four months, the regime can come up with no valid accusations against Hama, so they have resorted to making some up.

Aboali, I absolutely agree with every word of your sentiments. The atrocities of the shabiha scum have long since crossed the line. If some people have the ability to fight back, let them do so as a warning to the next little shit who thinks he and his friends can terrorize Syrians.

Elsha3b el Souri mabyenhan. Except for junior, who is getting insulted every single night LOL!

By the way, I’m so happy the term Besho has caught on. If it wasn’t for the (very sensible) rules of the forum, there were other more insulting terms we could have used for that psuedo-president, that make-believe-general, that demented dictator. I hope Asma likes Holland, she is going to be spending alot of time there.

Yesterday, not one demonstrator was killed during any of the massive demonstrations all over the country. I think the Security Council should meet every single day on Syria. Or what, did the Salafis take a break on Tuesday?

France 24 Debate

Alot of good points from the participants. Joshua and Patrick Seale are pragmatic and see the dangers and the probable reality that Assad will not step down.

I’m not sure about the argument over the mismanagement of the gvt vs the deliberate aim of it to crush the uprising. Maybe it IS mismanagement even if the gvt decided it was the only way.

I’m thinking that the only solution might be a group of people from a few nations to arbitrate between the opposition and the regime. A middle ground must be found, stop the repression, free the arrested (except for real crimes), reveal the disappeared, open the medias to debates and allow free expression. This group could mediate the reforms and upcoming elections.

But would all the parties agree ?

In his very good analysis posted a few days ago, Patrick Seale concluded ‘A sectarian civil war on the Iraq or Lebanese model is every Syrian’s nightmare. There must surely be another way out of the crisis’. I agree with Seale’s opinion that Syria is tragically poised on the precipice of violent chaos, in which all Syrians will lose.

There is a way out of this crisis. But time has almost run out – indeed it may already be too late. Syria is now deeply divided, and the regime has much blood on its hands. There is now some deep emotion shown by the Syrian street in the protests we see, now every day. There is a deep distrust of the Assad regime, and the president has personally lost much support because of his faltering leadership. Belated promises of reform have been seen as ad hoc and insincere, because each pronouncement has been followed by by the killing of unarmed (and a few armed) civilians. The protest movements seem in no mood to negotiate. The regime too seems in no mood to negotiate meaningfully – intimidation seems the preferred tactic.

There is talk emanating from New York that 3 UN Security Council members – Brazil, South Africa, and India, may send a delegation to Damascus to engage Assad. I suggested such an intervention last month, but suggested Turkey instead of India. This development should be welcomed, and formally endorsed by the UNSC. Only by engaging reputable outside mediators can Assad win back the confidence of the anti-regime factions. Brazil, South Africa and India collectively have relatively recent experience of transformations to democracy and the building of relevant institutions, and have much to offer Syria. A carefully planned and monitored negotiation would be in the interest of all Syrians.

The first objective of the ‘Troika’ must be to convince Assad (and his ruling elite) to change course in order to bring about a negotiated transition to democracy, and a transformation of the security state to one where human rights are respected. They need to convince Assad that the current course is heading to a lose/lose outcome, and that there is still a slim hope that a win/win outcome is possible. (A win for the regime at this stage would be to be able to leave office peacefully.)

The tools to achieve this would be the setting up of a broadly representative Constitutional Commission to rewrite Syria’s constitution. Technical support in this process could be provided by the ‘Troika’ through the UN (Development Programme?). An Electoral Commission might also be established, with similar support through the ‘Troika’ and the UN.

The second objective of the ‘Troika’ must be to draw some major concessions from Assad in order to win back enough confidence to draw the protest factions to the negotiating table. This will require some big gestures. State sponsored violence must stop. Arbitrary arrests and imprisonment must stop. A general amnesty must be granted, with the release of all political prisoners. Such a change of direction will not be easy for the regime to make, but would be necessary to kick-start a peaceful process of transition.

The third objective of the ‘Troika’ should be to encourage Assad to develop a clear ‘roadmap’ to democracy, with target dates for key developments, concluding in national elections. Again the ‘Troika’ and the UN would offer technical support. Such a ‘roadmap’ would need to be presented to the Syrian people very soon.

In order to encourage the Assad regime to negotiate rather than intimidate, some process offering an amnesty for the regime, perhaps through a Truth and Reconciliation Commission along post-Apartheid South Africa lines, might be necessary. This would provide a sense of justice to those who have lost family members, and subdue the many animosities which have been exacerbated in recent months. Assad will be looking across the Mediterranean at Mubarak’s trial. In order to draw Assad to a peaceful negotiation some assurances about his future may be necessary. Assad should also announce that he would not put himself forward in any future election.

Assad and in particular his regime, will not agree easily to make these concessions. History shows that the more outsiders (particularly the West) pressure Syria, the more dogmatic and resistant to change the regime becomes. This is not surprising. You only need to look at France’s colonial intervention in Syria after 400 years of Ottoman rule. The French legacy was to divide Syria to create Lebanon for their Christian friends, to give Turkey a nothern province of Syria, and to bomb Damascus in 1925 to put down an uprising calling for freedom and independance. The US role in the region in recent years makes Syria immune to any pressure from that quarter. The disastrous invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003s saw 1.2 million refugees flood into Syria.
Western-sponsored resolutions in the UNSecurity Council are simply counterproductive. It would be more constructive for the UNSC to support an intervention by the ‘Troika’ in seeking a peaceful outcome.

It may be too late. The divisions, and the amount of blood, have resulted in hardened positions on both sides. Should Assad take all these steps, there is no guarantee that a very divided and disparate opposition would cooperate. But it is surely worth a try. The alternative, as Patrick Seale says, is a slow agonising slide into increased division and violence, and a long period of uncertainty as the power vacuum is filled.

Sergei Strokan, a political editor and columnist for the online newspaper Kommersant, spoke : …..

I’ve spoken to Russian journalists who came just two days back from Hama, and they say that really there are certain districts where there is not any police, no security forces, no law enforcement agencies, and there’s a lot of looting and other crimes committed by the people … who are controlled by no one.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-aug-1-2011-2041

Disclaimers:
Discussing anonymous fabricated Youtube videos is like building on quicksand.

Words may kill people , Videos can massacre them .

Kandahar

So what you are in Turkey? You should find a Wi Fi spot and keep posting. I hope the meeting is productive. We miss your stories.

Aliccie “But would all the parties agree ? ”

The opposition would in a heartbeat. But the entry of free media to Syria might as well herald the coming of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as far as junior is concerned.

@#55 Aboud

Oh, so Besho’s your creation, is it? Well I hope you don’t mind my stealing it for the modified title “Besho-the-Butcher” which I thought necessary after all the bloodshed he’s become responsible for. But lets not be too harsh on the guy, hence my following it with “& executioners” to include the immediate circle around him and the hundreds of thousands of shabbiha criminals employed to carry out his dirty orders. All of them, from top to bottom, will have their day in court, just like those other murderers and thieves, Mubarak, sons and Co.

Inhabitant of damascus

You say in detail what I imagined. Patrick Seale mentioned some other countries, (including russia) to do this mediation.

Those three countries might be fine. But I’m just wondering if they would be able to understand the local, historical, religious, environment ?

As you say, it might be too late, and vengeance is strong and tempers are hot in muslim countries. May the Syrians choose the best path, if they have a choice..

@61 Atheist Syrian Salafist Against Dictatorships (ASSAD) (hehehe awesome name by the way)

Junior can send all the tanks he wants, he’ll have to occupy every town square in every village and hamlet. His resources are finite and rapidly decreasing, while the opposition draws its strength from the street and people’s dedication, which are infinite.

@aboud #60

‘The opposition would in a heartbeat’

Well, if you say so ! 🙂

BTW, what’s the name of your new party ?

Inhabitant of Damascus
You made a very good comment,but it may be too late,as you said there is a lot of blood have been spilled,dictator mentality is the main obstacle, he inherited Syria from his father, and he wants to keep it,but he failed to realize that country like Syria is not a private farm, and can not be inherited, the people are stronger than any dictator.
watching Mubarak behind bars is great lesson for those who are smart to ponder.

This is one of the most disgusting terrorist acts I have seen from the evil in this so called revolution to date. While they are dismembering their victims body in the streets, there are people in the background whistling, cheering and chanting “owlo la shabiha, Alderrieh dabiha”….Tell the Shabiha, the people from Deir Alzour are slayers. If this is what the revolutionists on this blog are endorsing, then you are all as sick and criminal as the evil terrorist in the clip. Warning, this clip is extremely graphic, and is a clear example of what this revolution stands for.

@ ALI 66
Ali, yesterday i was in a demonstration in midan. it was purely peaceful, but the shabeeha scum were not, the government is unwilling to protect our rights of freedom of expression and opinion. the security forces should insure our safety, not be the main cause of fear. it is very natural to have a hatred to the shabeeha.

67. some guy in damascus

are you trying to justify this barbaric crime? is this your idea of rights of freedom of expression and opinion? how is it OK for your despicable thugs to commit such a horrific act against humanity?

Allah yehmi jaysh al souri

Ali,

This video is worse than the one I saw yesterday as it was taken in the act of dismembering their victim’s body. These terrorists need to be hunted down now, before any more people fall victim to these terrorist revolutionists.

Some guy in Damascus #67,

You comment is a soft version of Aboali’s sick comment at #16. Are you endorsing this sort of behaviour?

This so called revolution is the most vile terrorist movement I have ever witnessed, and, for anyone to even attempt to justify the disgraceful acts during this terror campaign is nothing but criminal and revolting.

Supporting the revolution in Syria is supporting terrorism.

@ ali 68
i justify self defence. if the shabeeha are going to oppress me then they won’t do it easily.
ali and SYAU, you dont think the security forces of Assad ever harmed an innocent protestor? i personally witnessed the crackdown yesterday. you dont expect us to shut up and head back home, no we will not be silenced. give us our right to peaceful protesting and no one has to be harmed. Ali imagine you went somewhere where its illegal to scream BIL RO7 BIL DAM NAFDIK YA BASHAR, and you would get beaten up for saying it, how would you react?

Alexey Pilko: “Behind events in Syria there are external circles”

Срд, 8/3/2011 – 00:15 | Borotbist
Moscow, on August, 2nd – the DIGNITY

The Russian researcher, the expert in history of the international relations, the candidate of historical sciences Alexey Pilko has given in Moscow of interview to the correspondent of the Syrian news agency of the DIGNITY in whom he has told that behind events in Syria there are armed terrorist groupings supported by external circles.

Alexey Pilko has specified in the big difference existing between peace demonstrations on which lawful demands of the people, and actions of the armed persons who are opening fire on the population and law enforcement officers have been made.

He has noticed that in Syria destructive forces which are not interested in reforms operate. They try to destabilize a situation in the country, to break its stability for the purpose of power capture by any methods.

The Russian expert considers that the Syrian opposition is non-uniform: circles supported from the outside which are dissatisfied with the patriotic policy spent by the country leaders enter into it.

Пилько has condemned a position occupied with the government of France concerning Syria, and has noticed that it is caused by ambitions of president Nicolas Sarkozy which tries to restore trust of electorate on the threshold of presidential election in the country.

The Russian expert has expressed confidence that the position of Russia concerning Syria remains invariable, having specified in the close bonds, the connecting two friendly countries and disinterest of the Russian Federation in situation forcing in the Near East.
http://www.sana.sy/rus/326/2011/08/02/361951.htm

The Syrian people have every right to defend themselves. They have ben killed by Iranian operatives for 5 months now, don’t be surprised if they lynch an Iranian dingo if they catch hold of him.

Again, those who support the regime are not Syrian, they are Iranian.

Supporting Bashar is like supporting Ayatullah Khamenai.

Typical Baathist scum. They cheer tank invasions of population centers, but go crying to junior if someone fights back.

Since the international community have washed their hands of Syria and are unwilling to rein in that murderous little shit, Syrians have every right to defend themselves, and make sure the cost to the shabiha scum is very high indeed.

@64 Aliccie

“BTW, what’s the name of your new party ?”

Ouch, too much pressure! Maybe we should take our time on this whole democracy thingy….

justify self defense? you and anyone else justifying this sort of behavior are just as criminal as those committing these inhumane crimes. you are truly sick.
i have nothing further to say to you

Ali, Syau

c’mon now, this horrible act is not what the main protesters are doing. This, like all the acts of vengeance, and from the regime’s side, horrible acts of torture and killing, must be denounced by everyone. You are just stirring up unnecessary hatred that is spiralling.

I google translated the comments, which, although pretty incomprehensible were mainly talking about god, typical sexual insults, which to my mind, means that the regime hasn’t managed to create a real secular society at all. It has only managed to repress the deep hatred and vengeance, with brutal methods, instead of creating an open, free society, that might have given these islamist crazies an education and a job, and diffused their hatred.

Anyway, I don’t know, I see extreme and moderate positions on this blog, I suppose it’s a reflection of the society at large, but maybe it isn’t. I consider backward religions to be the cause of backward mentalities and behaviour, and any gvt should be neutral and in a real secular society, the gvt does not show his personal beliefs. The Assads apparently didn’t do this, they used their particular religious sect to dominate. The Baath party ideals seemed to be just that – ideal, at least for that corner of the world, but what happened wasn’t exactly ideal. I guess Bashar did what he thought to be best, I can understand that, but look at his terrible leadership, his fumbling, his ignorance of what might happen after the other arab state’s uprisings. ‘no, nothing will happen here’.

This is not an enlightened leader, he is not a politician, and is obviously mired in all his father’s buddies that run everything.

Well, I don’t see much hope, except for some mediation to occur, if he will be modest enough to accept it.

The street, as Aboud has said, will not stop, why should they ? They might claim it’s a fake video( it probably isn’t, but WTF anyway), but they have tasted a bite of freedom even if smothered in blood, I just hope that the most reasonable, the most talented and charismatic among them will soon be visible and be heard.

@aboud
“Ouch, too much pressure! Maybe we should take our time on this whole democracy thingy…. ”

which means ? democracy is not the solution for you ? Do feel free to express you inner thoughts..

Some guy in Damascus #70,

I can’t believe what I’m reading.

“i justify self defence. if the shabeeha are going to oppress me then they won’t do it easily.”

Self defence? How was the victim of the terrorist ‘peaceful protesters’ able to defend himself against the machete wielding criminal cutting him into pieces?

You will not be silenced you say.
But the terrorists you endorse silence their victims for eternity without a second thought, and further practise their right not to be silenced by dismembering their corpses.

Give you your right to peaceful protesting you say.
What peaceful protesting, the kind that involves murders and mutilations, dumping bodies into rivers, slaughtering the countries security personnel and burying them in mass graves, what about holding a province as your own emirate or taking up illegal weaponry and shooting at the army? Which option is the most peaceful do you think?

Justifying this act by claiming it ‘self defence’ is disgusting. Self defence does not tell you to mutilate a body after you have slain it.

The Syrian revolution, where murders and mutilations are a norm, and where affiliates of the revolution justify barbaric acts as self defence.

God protect the army and Syrian people against the terrorist acts of this revolution.

Aliccie #75,

No, this horrible act, and others alike is what the leaders of this terrorist movement are doing, and what the protesters are condoning, which makes them just as criminal.

“Voice Recordings Prove External Involvement in Syria’s Events, Refute Claims on Army’s Entry in Hama”

http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/08/03/361999.htm

DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Syrian TV on Tuesday presented voice recordings of persons involved in conspiring and instigating against Syria from the U.S website Paltalk, which has become since the beginning of the crisis in Syria an operation room to lead the events.

The recordings are about discussions between internal and external sides about their plans of igniting sedition in the country and marketing fabricated videos via misleading media channels.

Two persons were heard in a conversation talking about the inability of the army to enter Hama and how the gunmen, who have closed the city with roadblocks, kidnapped law enforcement members, calling them “dogs”.

One of the recordings presented the voice of a person saying that the visit of the U.S. ambassador Robert Ford to Hama was very precious, adding that the visit gave a green light for the protestors.

Rafiq Lutf, a Syrian Journalist and Blogger, said the weapons used by the expiatory terrorist gangs in Hama are not available in Syria as they have pump-action rifles and unfamiliar weapons, some are loaded with bullets and others with grenades.

Lutf indicated to the terrorist acts practiced by these expiatory members in terms of killing and mutilating bodies and throwing them in the Orontes River, which are part of their plot to terrorize people.

Lutf added that some of the Paltalk rooms’ participants said they were asked to replace the military uniforms of the bodies thrown into the Orontes River with civil clothes to claim that these bodies belong to what they call ‘Shabiha’, referring to pro-regime groups,” Lutf added.

For his part, the political analyst Abdullah Mneini described the videos broadcasted by the Syrian TV of the armed groups’ practices in Hama as strange from the Syrian society and a new episode of the foreign conspiracy against Syria.

He said that the scenes taking place in Hama over the past few days indicate that the gangs are well-organized with a work strategy and tactic. He referred to the burning of tires in several areas and the attack of state establishments by the gangs’ members to camouflage and claim that the city is being shelled by the army, which has not entered the city at all.

@ ali,
please calm down.
i endorse justice, and i must repeat till now i have not personally seen a harmful demonstration.
i was in a peaceful demonstration, and the shabeeha attacked us. i ran away but had my life been in immediate danger yes i would retaliate. i only speak for those who the state has failed.
but ali( and now SYAU) you owe me an explanation
1) how do you think the regime would respond if a truly peaceful demonstration went out at say….imaweyeen square?
2) lets say you guys were demonstrating in support of bashar, when suddenly a bunch of mongrels attacked you, how would you respond?

Aliccie @ 76

“which means ? democracy is not the solution for you ? Do feel free to express you inner thoughts.. ”

Personally, I’d have been happy with a benevolent dictator, or the Chinese system where a strong one party rule delivered higher standards of living to the country. The Syrian people, however, want more.

Junior is the worst of both worlds. A repressive little tin-pot Hafez wannabe who has failed, in eleven years, to keep Syria competitive with its neighbors. It is a sad state of affairs when the regime is looking to war torn Iraq to bail it out financially.

When junior is removed, I’m not going into politics. I have no desire to hold public office. I could care less what the sect of the new president is.

What I want, is a system that answers these basic questions; “How do we choose our leader? And how do we remove him when we feel he is unfit to lead us?”

From those two questions, everything else will flow.

When I first started posting to this blog, my aims were modest; to counter the obvious BS coming from the regime’s sycophants, and serve as a balance against what I saw as the website’s regime-leanings.

I honestly had no idea it would be so easy to piss off so many menhebaks, to the point that many of them grew increasingly frustrated and left to their obscure menhebak oases.

I believe my initial impressions of professor Landis were wrong. He is the only academic I know who has the confidence to display some humbleness. I do not agree with everything he says nor his approach to some stories, but he provides a space for which people to retort and make their objections known.

We have all seen the ineptitude with which the menhebaks have used that privilege. Their mindset is representative of a Syria that has ceased to exist. Go into any street in Homs and yell “yel3an rohak ya Hafez”, and no one will find it out of the ordinary. My sympathies with Aleppans, who apparently still can’t even whisper Besho’s name in restaurants.

Whine @77 Believe it. And remember your bungling president bought the country to this point. I could care less if one hundred shabiha scum had their heads bashed in and their rifles stuck up their asses. People have every right to defend themselves.

Since the international community have failed to rein in that pathetic little slug, it will be the Syrian people who defend themselves with whatever means they have. Self preservation is completely legitimate. Were the French resistance against the Nazis in WW2 “terrorists”? Was the Warsaw Ghetto uprising terrorism?

Syrians have shown that, despite the wishes of the world, they will never give up, and will not disappear into the background like the Bahrainis and Iranians did.

New sanctions worry Turkish businessmen

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=new-sanctions-worry-turkish-businessmen-2011-08-02
Growing turmoil and violence in Syria have the European Union rolling up its sleeves to play a more active role in solving the problem by imposing asset freezes and travel bans. But economic sanctions by countries including Turkey might leave its business interests in the Arab republic in a tight spot

The prospect of more economic sanctions against increasingly strife-torn Syria have Turkish businessmen worried, leading business figures told the Hürriyet Daily News on Tuesday.

Growing turmoil and violence in Syria have the European Union rolling up its sleeves to play a more active role in solving the problem by imposing asset freezes and travel bans. But economic sanctions by countries including Turkey might leave its business interests in a tight spot.

“Sanctions imposed previously on other countries have not brought many sustainable solutions to problems,” Rona Yırcalı, the board chairman of the Foreign Economic Relations Board, or DEİK, told the Daily News in a phone interview Tuesday, though he noted that there was not yet much information available about the content of possible sanctions.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague is among the top European figures calling for tougher sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government. “The sanctions have to come from both Western nations, Arab countries and regional powers like Turkey,” Hague said in an interview Monday, according to the Associated Press. “The sanctions decision could not be made and applied by only Turkey. If the UN decides to apply sanctions, it is a different thing,” Tolga Uçak, the head of the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s information department told the Daily News on Tuesday. “It is not that easy to unite Arab nations to impose international sanctions against Syria,”

Rızanur Meral, the chairman of Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey, or TUSKON, told the Daily News. “Arab countries would know that a similar sanction might be imposed on their countries in the future.” According to Meral, the imposition of international sanctions against Syria does not seem possible at this time.

It would be “impossible for Turkey to step back from humanitarian help and sending food and medicine” to Syria, Meral said, adding that other trade items might be discussed according to the context of the sanctions. “It would be hard to control the borders for illegal trade,” he added, noting that Turkey shares its longest border with Syria.

Syrian money rushing to Turkey’s safe harbor

Many Syrians are in a rush to bring their investments into Turkey as the country serves as the closest safe harbor for Syrians worried about the instability in their country, Özkan Tütüncü, the secretary-general of the Chamber of Jewelers in the southern Turkish province of Hatay, told the Daily News. “There is a trend in opening bank accounts at Turkish banks,” he said, noting that the transactions are done with the help of Syrian relatives who are Turkish citizens and living in Hatay. “It is known in the city that Syrians have started to open high-volume deposit accounts in last few months due to the Syrian turmoil,” Tütüncü said. He added that the trend seems to be continuing as the investment climate in the neighboring country has almost disappeared. Turkey’s official figures confirm Tütüncü’s claims. The total volume of the deposit accounts at banks in Hatay reached $5.84 million by the end of March this year, jumping from $4.38 million in March 2010 according to the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency, or BBDK. In last 12 months, the total amount in deposit accounts at Turkish banks in Hatay has reached nearly $1.46 billion, according to the agency. Foreign exchange deposits rose by 48 percent, to $1.93 million, by the end of March 2011 from $1.30 million in the same month of last year.

Syau #78

You say this but it’s your opinion or your simple propaganda aim. Please provide the proof of what you say = “this horrible act and others like is what the LEADERS of this terrorist movement are doing etc… ”

Please, who are the leaders, and what are the number of their followers, and tell me how many of the protesters who don’t follow anyone in particular.

The overwhelming proof is in the numerous other videos of peaceful protests. And the gvts brutal repression and the NUMBERS provided by organisations of the thousands dead, disappeared, arrested. Are these thousands all mutilating crazies ? Are these people all crazy islamists or even people who have a personal revenge ?

Please answer this question because otherwise, it’s difficult for foreigners to judge the sincerity of the pro-regime defenders, who, do, I admit, have some valid arguments.

Please correct me if I’m wrong but there have been about three or four videos of ‘opposition’ violence and nasty mutilations.

As for those who say they now think that armed resistance is legitimate, I would agree with you that they should’nt condone these acts, they should not in any case condone these acts.

Another video from the Free Officers Movement. Remember the menhebak gnashing of teeth that accompanied the last one? Seems to be alot more officers now.

It took hundreds of tanks to get the army into the center of Hama, and three days of murderous shelling. They can’t stay there forever, and they will have to come back after every Friday.

Funeral in Duma, in Damascus

The body of a girl from Tartous who was kidnapped by the terrorist scum, was found by the Syrian army in Homs. Her body was, as what seems to be the terrorists calling card lately, found in a container cut up into pieces. Her name was Hana Mohammad.

The Syrian revolution: A terrorist movement where murders, mutilations and dismembering corpses is justified by the ‘revolutionists’ as self defence.

@85 Your last few posts have all been “I’ve heard this and I’ve seen that”, without a shred of proof. I can smell your desperation all the way in Homs.

The New Hama Rules
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: August 2, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/opinion/the-new-hama-rules.html?_r=1

……
It worked for a long time in Syria, Iraq, Tunisia, etc., until it didn’t. Today, Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, Hafez’s son, is now repeating his father’s mass murdering tactics to quash the new Syrian uprising, again centered in Hama. But, this time, the Syrian people are answering with their own Hama Rules, which are quite remarkable. They say: “We know that every time we walk out the door to protest, you will gun us down, without mercy. But we are not afraid anymore, and we will not be powerless anymore. Now, you leaders will be afraid of us. Those are our Hama Rules.”

This is the struggle today across the Arab world — the new Hama Rules versus the old Hama Rules — “I will make you afraid” versus “We are not afraid anymore.”

Good for the people. It is hard to exaggerate how much these Arab regimes wasted the lives of an entire Arab generation, with their foolish wars with Israel and each other and their fraudulent ideologies that masked their naked power grabs and predatory behavior. Nothing good was possible with these leaders. The big question today, though, is this: Is progress possible without them?

That is, once these regimes are shucked off, can the different Arab communities come together as citizens and write social contracts for how to live together without iron-fisted dictators — can they write a positive set of Hama Rules based not on anyone fearing anyone else, but rather on mutual respect, protection of minority and women’s rights and consensual government?
….

I think the former foreign minister of Jordan, Marwan Muasher, has the right attitude. “One cannot expect this to be a linear process or to be done overnight,” he said to me. “There were no real political parties, no civil society institutions ready to take over in any of these countries. I do not like to call this the ‘Arab Spring.’ I prefer to call it the ‘Arab Awakening,’ and it is going to play out over the next 10 to 15 years before it settles down. We are going to see all four seasons multiple times. These people are experiencing democracy for the first time. They are going to make mistakes on the political and economic fronts. But I remain optimistic in the long run, because people have stopped feeling powerless.”

@85 As if someone is going to kidnap a girl from Tartous, when there are numerous security targets just sitting and waiting here in Homs. Oh, and they cut up her body and conveniently place it in a container for the army to find.

The pathetic menhebaks have not grown out of the Al-Dunya-Sycophant stage in their media evolution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CCmATZ8yilE
In our HOMS .. The regime fallen  A Must
نحن في حمص النظام قد سقط عندنا

Thnx Aboud for your thoughts. I guess you evolved and when you say this :

“What I want, is a system that answers these basic questions; “How do we choose our leader? And how do we remove him when we feel he is unfit to lead us?”

you must admit that the only system that provides this (for the moment), is democracy with regular elections and strict rules, even if the systems in various countries are different.

Otherwise the only way to do that is by bloody revolutions, that is happening today in Syria and elsewhere.

I do agree with the idea of self defense, I just wish that it wasn’t necessary, that other ways can be found.

Aliccie #83

The leaders would be those who are carrying out the acts or ordering the murders, mutilations, decapitations, massacres of security personnel, rapes, dismembering of corpses etc.

“Three or four videos of opposition violence and nasty mutilations”

Wrong. There have been many, many videos proving the violence of the revolution. Many of the videos have been posted here on SC. Foreigners need to look for the truth rather than believing the vicious propaganda war against Syria.

SYAU,

It is quite simple. If the regime forces are really not harming peaceful demonstrations, why is the regime afraid to let in the free press to witness it? That is why the credibility of the regime is zero. It is because the regime is limiting the flow of information. Why would they do that unless they were lying?

Atasi, HAHAHAHAHHA! “You spilled my tea!” HAHAHAHAHAH 🙂 🙂 🙂

Aliccie @ 90 “you must admit that the only system that provides this (for the moment), is democracy with regular elections and strict rules, even if the systems in various countries are different. ”

I’m with whatever system can guarantee me cheap, reliable Internet lines. The Baathist system has let me down big time. We got our ADSL Internet cut for a week yet again, and we still haven’t gotten any refunds for June. DOWN WITH THE REGIME! 🙂

@91 “There have been many, many videos proving the violence of the revolution. ”

Uh hu. Then why have you menhebaks done nothing but post the same dubious “bridge” video over and over again?

Say, why don’t you go ask the scum who murdered Hamza Khatib his opinion? Oh wait, you can’t anymore. Good riddance.

statement from the free officers movement in Syria

The Last Stand of Bashar al-Assad?
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/08/01/the_last_stand_of_bashar_al_assad?page=0,3
DOHA, Qatar — As Bashar al-Assad’s shock troops storm cities and towns across Syria, leaving a death toll in the triple digits that has only stoked the fires of rebellion even hotter, Barack Obama’s administration is stepping up measures aimed at fatally weakening the Syrian dictator’s regime.

Critics of the U.S. president’s policy, particularly on the right, have long charged his administration with being soft on Assad. But the United States is now unequivocally committed to his ouster, having lost whatever little faith it had in the Syrian leader’s willingness to reform. “He is illegitimate,” a senior administration official says flatly. “We’ve definitely been very clear that we don’t see Assad in Syria’s future.”
…..

Shaikh also advocates putting together an informal “contact group” of concerned countries — as with Libya — with a core group perhaps consisting of the United States, France, Qatar, and Turkey. But the all-important Turks, who share a border with Syria and have hosted thousands of refugees and several opposition meetings, are still hedging their bets. Sunday’s statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry called on the Syrian government to “end the operations and resort to political methods, dialogue and peaceful initiatives in order to reach a solution” — options that the protest movement explicitly abandoned several weeks ago.
……
But few analysts think words will do much to damage the deeply entrenched Syrian regime, and some, like the Century Foundation’s Michael Hanna, worry that Assad could limp on far longer than anyone expects. Nor would multilateral sanctions, even if they do somehow pass the Security Council, have an immediate effect. “It’s unlikely that, short of massive defections within the security services at an elite level, outside pressure is going to change the calculus of the inner circle of the regime,” says Hanna. Instead of being toppled, he cautions, Assad could become another international pariah, like Saddam Hussein or the Burmese junta.

Washington has made its decision, though nobody can say when Assad will go. “He’s on his way out,” says the senior administration official, stressing: “This is about the Syrian people, not about us. They’re the ones that say that they want someone else, and they should be able to choose the government that they want.”

And Assad? “He’s in the past.”

Atassi #89,

Thanks for the lovely clip. This is what I call a real Ramadan entertainment.
.

The cyber shabbi7a is working hard. So many green thumbs for mnhebaks.
.

Amir, The Onion put it best when they called such things “Register My Impotent Rage!” buttons. Hehehehe.

I like the buttons. Before I could never be sure how many people read my comments. Now I know exactly how many people I’ve successfully pissed off, or at least the degree I’ve managed to piss off the same person.

I’d be quite sad if I got no votes either way 🙁

@aboud #93

Well, why not think in those terms, down to earth everyday stuff ? Our priorities are effectively such. (iranians do too)
I’ve read that Macedonia has the best internet system, followed by S Corea… (this was a year or so ago, so maybe different today ?!)

@ Some guy in Damascus

Just curious, but as you have on the ground experience, what if you had demonstrated with a poster saying ‘I’m an atheist/gay, what are my rights ?’ What would have been the atmosphere ?

And where are the women ? I don’t see any. Do they never go out, is it too dangerous ?

For the Idiot who keeps denying that the scums of Hama did not commit the bridge’s savage crime.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=239199349443755&oid=185571084829995&comments&set=o.185571084829995&type=1

84. Dear Aboud, thank you for the link to the Free Syrian Officers Movement.
This is another promising development.

The deployment of scattered, independently commanded military units across Syria might be tactically and strategically preferable in these early stages.

It would be akin to forming a liberation movement that is run by professional army units instead of Paramilitias.

It would serve to scatter Asad units away from civil areas, drain their resources, and foment more defections.

It is necessary that civil opposition in exile lobby for providing international logistical help and training.
Turkey, Jordan, and Iraq can be persuaded by US and EU to host training camps near the Syrian boarder. All of these countries have a stake in having a friendly neighbour in emerging Free Syria.

As Makhloof put it to the NYC in early March, they regime has lots of men and resources and they are going to fight to the last man.

The revolting army members, like the civilian activists need to start organising to bare their share of responsibility by acting on the ground in defence of their civilian comrades, as they pledged to do in their defection announcements.

Aliccie @99 Because I was joking about the Internet thing. It’s really tragic. Syria’s problems were many before the revolution, but the regime’s ineptness have multiplied them and made them more severe these past five months.

Junior is not my president, that rabble in the People’s Assembly do not represent me. I will not have murderers and thugs in minister posts.

If I was a menhebak, even I’d be very frustrated with junior’s performance. In five months he has not managed to subdue this supposed “armed salafi uprising”, he makes no efforts to track down and bring to justice the alleged saboteurs behind the attacks on the military academy, pipeline and train. He has made Syria diplomatically isolated and let its standing and power wither away.

Seriously, there is *nothing* that even his most ardent supporters can point to as a victory or success.

But of course, these are the same kind of people who “We would love Rami Makhlouf even if he was Asian!” (FYI, Makhlouf had his Cypric nationality taken away from him).

“what if you had demonstrated with a poster saying ‘I’m an atheist/gay, what are my rights ?’ ”

You’d get beaten up on both accounts, no matter where you were in Syria. In eleven years, has junior made the atmosphere in Syria more accommodating to homosexuals?

Personally, I have nothing against gay guys. I just wouldn’t want my sister to marry one…hehehehe, joke. I don’t have a sister 🙂

Revlon;

“As Makhloof put it to the NYC in early March, they regime has lots of men and resources and they are going to fight to the last man.”

They can’t rely on the shabiha like they once did. I know exactly what the story is behind the pipeline blast. It wasn’t the opposition, and it wasn’t the government…not regular government forces, that is. Why do you think they aren’t combing the area to find the perpetrators? Because they don’t want to piss off the families of the shabihas more than they already are.

A friend by phone:
Hama at this hour is without electricity telephones, or water.
The Orantis river in hama is more like a swamp. It barely has running water; nothing like shown in the CNN video purported to be from Hama!

Aliccie

Here you go, yesterday in Mouadamiya

@Nk #104

ahmem, sorry, not really my cup of tea. I do accept that libyan women demonstrate separately from the men, with much grinding of teeth, but in Syria, no. Interpret that as you will.

I am hearing News that Rami Makhlouf is in Spain “ Marbia”…. much chat why he traveled out of syria and how he traveled to Spain..!! Not sure if the news is true…

Aliccie

I don’t have to interpret anything, you don’t “ACCEPT” and I assure you those demonstrating could not care less. Like it or not this is the Syrian society, how they demonstrate is up to them not us 🙂

From a Syrian revolution Facebook page

سيقوم الامن والشبيحة بتصوير مسرحية قذرة جداً في حماة .. حيث شاهد الأهالي في حي الكرامه منذ ساعات قليلة باصاً مليئاً بالأمن عند دوار الجمارك وقد نزلوا منه وقاموا بتغيير لباسهم للباس مدني وتسلحوا ودخلوا المدينة .. يوجد ايضاً سيارة عليها مكبرات صوت تجوب حي غرب المشتل وحي جنوب الملعب، ويقولون: “اوقفوا اطلاق النار يا مسلحين وسلموا انفسكم ولديكم مهلة لصلاة العشاء” .. من الواضح ان عناصر الاأمن التي شوهدت عند دوار الجمارك انتشرت في حي غرب المشتل وحي جنوب الملعب وهي التي ستقوم بتمثيل دور المسلحين الذين ينادي عليهم الأمن بمكبرات الصوت

@NK,

If that’s the only example of women you can muster, you disappoint me, I thought you were defending an opposition that didn’t want sectarianism. Why you defend these tented women, I can’t imagine. If that’s ‘syrian society’, too bad. Of course they can demonstrate for what they want, but obviously it’s not for democracy or anything resembling freedom, as the word is understood.

Martyr Ibrahim Baleh’s Dad, kneels and kisses his son’s foot!

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

‫تقبيل والد الشهيد ابراهيم بله لقدميه 2-8-2011

Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Mike Mullen said, “There’s no indication whatsoever that the Americans, that we would get involved directly with respect to this.” “the U.S. won’t use force against Syria but it will work in other ways to push for reform.”

few other ways:

proxies, black ops, psy ops, spec ops, mercenaries.

“trust me”, the zionized west hissed.

ALICCIE,

For 40 years the only place Syrians could gather freely was the mosque. The only place where they could vent their frustrations and seek hope was the mosque. I understand what you want and certainly support your goals, but how realistic is it to expect Syria to become Norway in one step?

The first step is accountable government, that is government that works for the people and if not is replaced peacefully by elections. For that first step you need freedom of speech and multi party elections. Asking for the moon in the first step is almost similar to supporting the regime, since it is a unrealistic demand.

@aboud

“what if you had demonstrated with a poster saying ‘I’m an atheist/gay, what are my rights ?’ ”

You’d get beaten up on both accounts, no matter where you were in Syria

thanx no doubt I’ll have to take your word for it unless anyone comes up with a disclaimer. Sad

I swear; Asad shall perish.
By Kuwiti poet Ahmad AlKindari

قصيدة أقسمت أن يفنى الأسد – الشاعر أحمد الكندري 2011

http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DGIcaz6aIBTU%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded

Savagery at its ugliest form, the peaceful demonstrators of Dair Al Zour:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=239686062728417&oid=185571084829995&comments&set=o.185571084829995&type=1

Butchery in the city of Hama:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=239204012776622&oid=185571084829995&comments&set=o.185571084829995&type=1

Public lynching in Hama, so casual those Hamwis are watching this:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=239204012776622&oid=185571084829995&comments&set=o.185571084829995&type=1

Jisr Al Shogour, another lovely town with Holy Warriors mutilating bodies:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=235162786514078&oid=185571084829995&comments&set=o.185571084829995&type=1

Hamwi families flee their city to Homs.

The city is without basic utilities.
A friend told that food delivery to the city has been halted by besieging regime forces.

Ugarit News | أوغاريت الإخبارية
أوغاريت || حمص :: عاجل :: عملية نزوح كبيرة و غير مسبوقة منذ الصباح الباكر لعائلات من مدينة حماه نحو مدينة حمص و الأعداد في تزايد
6 minutes ago

@ Aig

I DO understand, and I think I’ve expressed that in several posts. The atheist/gay post was to push buttons, and I got a reply. The women post though left me disappointed but obviously it doesn’t reflect the whole society.

I’m a simple foreigner but I’ve been following these uprisings from the Iranian in 2009, I am learning with each country, and try to understand the awfully different environments. But I see the light in so many eyes that I am maybe naive, but hope that these (few ?, don’t know) educated youths can in fact overtake these tyrants, but maybe need alot of help to deal with the vacuum. It’s a totally new thing, everybody, including every single country in the world (and the most powerful) don’t have a miraculous solution nor even know what their interests are.

These ‘facebook’ youths have the ideal answer but of course the reality on the ground is very complicated and I guess the ‘western world’, just as with the Iraq war, don’t have the know-how, because everyone sees heaven through it’s own eyes.

good wishes to you Aig

Aleppo demonstrations have picked up as Ramadan started.
Announcement by the Union of Aleppo Co-ordinators, Ramadan, 2nd.
Demonstrations were registered in 6 neighbourhoods of the city and four in its countryside.

This one is from AlMeedan Aleppo, yesterday

حلب مظاهرة حاشدة في حي الميدان Aleppo

بيان مظاهرات محافظة حلب/2 رمضان
بيان اتحاد تنسيقيات الثورة السورية في حلب بشأن تحركات مدينة حلب وريفها / 2 رمضان بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم تزداد جمالا وتيها كل يوم عن يومها الذي سبق، وتضيء شوارعها شموع الحرية والكرامة، وتصدح فيها الحناجر لتعانق السماء، ها هي حلب تأبى إلا أن تقول كلمتها …في وجه الطاغية الذي كان قد راهن عليها من قبل… فقد خرجت اليوم مظاهرات في 10 نقاط في كلِّ من مدينة حلب وريفها، حيث خرجت مظاهرات في 6 أحياء مختلفة في المدينة، بينما خرجت 4 مناطق في الريف. – مدينة حلب: تركزت التحركات في مدينة حلب على النحو التالي: 1. خرجت مظاهرة من حي الميسر، حيث فاق عدد المتظاهرين الألفين متظاهر، وقد هاجم الأمن والشبيحة المظاهرة السلمية وتم إطلاق الرصاص عليهم، ووردت أنباء عن اثنين من المصابين تم نقلهم من مشفى الشعار من قبل الأمن إلى جهة مجهولة. 2. خرجت مظاهرة من جامع الثوبان الموجود في حي الميدان وذلك نصرة لحماة. 3. خرجت مظاهرة في حي بستان القصر من أمام جامع حذيفة بن اليمان في مركز المدينة بجانب جمعية المعلمين تنادي بإسقاط النظام والنصرة لحماة ودرعا ودير الزور. 4. خرجت مظاهرة من حي الجابرية تنادي بإسقاط النظام وهتفت “السوري يرفع إيدو بشار ما منريدو”. 5. خرجت مظاهرة شبابية في حي الحمدانية وهم يهتفون “يلعن روحك أبو حافظ”. 6. خرجت مظاهرات حاشدة جداً من حي ميسلون نصرة لحماة، وقد كان هتافها “اللي ما بيشارك ما فيه ناموس”. – ريف حلب: تركزت التحركات في ريف حلب على النحو التالي: 1. خرجت مظاهرات في منطقة تل رفعت نصرة لحماة، وقد وصلت إليها تعزيزات أمنية حوالي 15 سيارة. 2. انطلقت مظاهرة من مدينة الباب بعد التراويح وقد كانت الأعداد كبيرة. 3. في عندان انطلقت من المدينة مظاهرات نصرةً لحماة،كما طالبت بإسقاط النظام. 4. أما المظاهرات في بلدة مارع فقد كانت حاشدة وبقيت الأعداد في تزايد. – ملاحظة: يمكن مشاهدة المظاهرات من خلال زيارة صفحة الاتحاد على الرابط التالي: http://www.facebook.com/Union.​of.Aleppo.Coordinators عاشت سوريا حرة أبية والمجد والخلود للشهداء والثوار الأحرار اتحاد تنسيقيات الثورة السورية في حلب الثلاثاء 2 – رمضان – 1432هـ الموافق 2 – آب – 2011م See More
By: اتحاد تنسيقيات الثورة السورية في حلب | Union of Aleppo Co-ordinators
about an hour ago

A lot happened since I last posted on this forum. I am trying to get caught up with the latest news, but here are some observations:

– The government is engaged in a disinformation war (remember al-Baydah village video that the government claimed was in Iraq?). We’ve been witnessing that for a long time, including on this forum. The videos used by the Syrian government to show atrocities could be fake. If they want us to believe their stories, they should allow the media to report freely. A free camera makes it harder for both the government and opposition to lie. Free media has been the worst enemy of this fascist governments since it assumed power in 1963.

– The shelling and killing is only strengthening the resolve of the opposition factions and increasing their ranks. The shelling and killing is only making the price that this criminal Baathist gang will pay a lot higher.

– It was an amazing sight to see Mubarak and his sons behind bars being tried for their crimes. I can’t wait to see Bashar and his accomplices facing a similar predicament. In the near future, history will be rewritten and we’ll get to see the enormity of the crimes committed by the Baath party and Assad clan against the Syrian people.

For those who insist that the savagery committed by the Hamwis throwing bodies over the bridge is fake:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=239199349443755&oid=185571084829995&comments&set=o.185571084829995&type=1

ALICCIE,

Democracy is messy even in countries that have practiced it for centuries. The people in the streets in Syria are not Jeffersonian scholars. They just want a government for which they are not transparent. They want freedom and dignity and a chance of a better future. They want a government accountable to the people. That is what unites them. There are a lot of things that divide them like gay rights, woman rights, religion in politics etc. But the latter issues can never be addressed until the first step happens and they are freed from the clutches of the tyrannical regime. It will take many years, if at all, for Syria to become Norway. Why should it if Syrians do not want to be like Norway? Demanding that as a goal of the protests is unfair.

http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=23376&cid=43&fromval=1&frid=43&seccatid=14&s1=0

US promised Lebanese allies that the Syrian regime will collapse
“Situation could turn to long, evil American series”

By Hussein Assi | Al-Manar | August 3, 2011

(excerpts)
“Former Deputy Head of the Phalange party in Lebanon, Lawyer Rashad Salameh, said some armed and financed factions were behind the recent developments in Syria, and noted that the Syrian state has positively dealt with the legal reform demands, “but it turned out that what was happening on ground was actually an organized military operation.”

In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar Website, Salameh said that a true conspiracy was targeting Syria, and that it may undermine the threats launched by some Western leaders to “isolate” the Syrian regime. He recalled that isolation was not new for Syria, and that Syrians were able to overcome this threat throughout all previous stages.

While expressing confidence in the awareness and sincerity of the Syrian people, he revealed that the Americans have offered to their thugs and allies in Lebanon a “promise” that the Syrian regime would collapse. He said that US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman has assured his allies, during his latest visit to Beirut, that the Assad regime in Syria would be toppled. He put the latest statement made by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri in this context, and expressed belief that Hariri got a cue of the American aims before issuing his statement in which he condemned the Syrian regime.”

A defiant nightly musical protest, Al Bayadah, Homs, Last night.
Get out, with your dogs!
2 8 Homs أوغاريت حمص مسائية حي البياضة يرحل هو وكلابه مسائية رائعة

Mubarak in court on a medical bed !!
This is a historical day for the Arab world regardless of where you stand on the subject.
Our leaders are a major part of our problems. The days when regime thugs from top to buttom can evade punishment may be coming to an end,it is hard to deny the fact that this is good for Arab societies. Street justice is not acceptable but you need a ruling body that keeps order and stop chaos. Tell me how that can be done in Syria without a regime change? The regime will not send its men to prison and will not allow trials of figures that kept the regime alive for 40 years. Justice and revenge are not the same thing. What thugs on both sides want is revenge and street “justice” ,what civilized people want is the rule of law. Bashar needs to step down or be removed,but who will be in charge?
Those clowns in exile or the islamists?
You guys need to look beyond the mamenhibbak slogan and give Syrians a road map.
One idiot,excuse my language,is advocating establishing a rebel army,another wants an armed rebellion and street executions,both are directly or indirectly are pushing for a civil war. Is there anybody in Syria who can control the streets until we have elections other than the army? You have a brain in your head,use it..
A coup from within is the only way out,or it is a long bloody conflict,the sooner the army takes over,the better. Bashar is silent because they asked him to stop talking,and he has nothing to add or give except promises that he can not keep.
Something is brewing in Damascus,and it is not coffee…

I don’t know if this was posted on SC, but it seems that 20 well known scholars from Damascus have lost their patience and are sending a very strong message to the government.

الشيخ سارية الرفاعي يحذر القيادة السورية و بلهجة قاسية يقول : ( سورية بأسرها ستقوم ..)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGwRjt2J7V4
…

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=229684783734708&set=a.209562632413590.45314.195443187158868&type=1&theater

Other scholars have been banned for strongly criticizing the government and defending the right of people to demonstrate peacefully.

Activist Suhair AlAtasi statements to Italian news Agency
August 3rd.

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/Arabic/Politics/?id=3.1.2313997006

سهير الأتاسي: النظام السوري يتّبع سياسة الأرض المحروقة
روما (3 آب/أغسطس) وكالة (آكي) الإيطالية للأنباء
رأت ناشطة سياسية سورية بارزة أن ما تعيشه سورية اليوم هو “ثورة” و”ليس انتفاضة”، وأعربت عن قناعتها بأن “النظام السوري يتّبع سياسة الأرض المحروقة للحفاظ على مناصبه ومكاسبه”، رافضة بشدة ما يعتقده الغرب من أن “الفوضى هي البديل الوحيد للنظام” الحاكم في سورية

وقالت الناشطة السياسية السورية المعارضة سهير الأتاسي، عضو منتدى جمال الأتاسي للحوار الوطني الديمقراطي، في تصريح لوكالة (آكي) الإيطالية للأنباء “بدايةً، سورية تعيش ثورة.. يعترض ثوارنا الأحرار على تسميتها انتفاضة.. ويعتبرون أن تلك التسمية تحجّم طموحات الشعب السوري.. وأن ثورتنا غير قابلة للتأرجح بين اشتعال وهدوء، فهي لن تخمد قبل الوصول إلى أهدافها.. هي ليست فورة غضب يتمّ امتصاصها بإجراءات شكلية وسطحية، بل هي ثورة تطمح إلى تغيير جذري ابتداءً من إسقاط النظام اللاشرعي بكافة أركانه وصولاً إلى بناء دولة مدنية ديمقراطية حرة” حسب تعبيرها

وتابعت “التظاهرات اليومية هي شكل أساسي من أشكال ثورتنا السورية، ترافقت وتترافق مع دعوات إلى المقاطعة الاقتصادية لتجار وصناعيي سورية الداعمين لنظام الأسد وجرائمه.. هذه المقاطعة يعمل عليها فريق عمل احترافي يقوم بأبحاث دقيقة وموضوعية، والتجاوب معها تصاعدي يتوافق مع تصاعد الحملات العسكرية الشرسة التي يقوم بها النظام السوري في المدن الآمنة وتجاه المدنيين العزّل”. وقالت “كذلك يعمل اتحاد تنسيقيات الثورة السورية (الذي يمثل الحراك المدني على الأرض سياسياً وإعلامياً وتنسيق وتوحيد العمل ميدانياً)، يعمل على الدعوة إلى أيام إضراب عام تتوسّع رقعتها وتمتدّ أيامها نظراً لعملية الاجتياح الأخيرة التي قامت بها القوات النظامية وفرق الموت مصحوبة بميليشات الشبيحة وحرب الإبادة التي أعلنها النظام السوري على السوريين أنفسهم”، وأضافت الناشطة منوهة “كما سبق لاتحاد تنسيقيات الثورة السورية أن بدأ ببضع خطوات لاستهلال العصيان المدني (الامتناع عن دفع فواتير الماء والكهرباء والهاتف والموبايل)، وسيعمل الآن على خطوات تصعيد مدروسة بهذا الخصوص” وفق قولها.

وحول موقف الغرب عموماً مما يجري في سورية، قالت الأتاسي “أنا متأكدة أنه لم يعد ينطلي على أحد تلك المبررات التي يسوقها المجتمع الدولي في عدم اتخاذ خطوات حاسمة باتجاه رفع غطاء الشرعية عن نظام بشار الأسد.. أبرزها ما يقولونه عن عدم وجود بديل”، واضافت “عن أي بديل يتحدثون لنظام بات أشرس من أي احتلال؟ نظام يتّبع الآن سياسة الأرض المحروقة فقط للحفاظ على مناصبه ومكاسبه!! كما لا يمكنني أن أصدّق أن المجتمع الدولي من السذاجة بمكان أن يقتنع بمزاعم النظام بأن الفوضى هي البديل الوحيد له وروايات أخرى لطالما استخدمها لبقائه في الحكم.. نحن قلناها مراراً ومنذ سنوات أن استمرار هذا النظام هو الذي سيودي بنا إلى الفوضى.. صمّ المجتمع الدولي آذانه حينها” حسب رأيها

وأضافت الناشطة “بات على المجتمع الدولي أن يعلم الآن أن الشرعية الوحيدة هي شرعية السوريين أنفسهم.. شرعية الثورة السورية التي تعمّد درب الحرية بدماء الأحرار.. تعمّد درب الدولة المدنية الحرة بدماء الأحرار والحرائر.. فهل سيقوم المجتمع الدولي بإجراء مراجعة حقيقة لسياساته في دعم أنظمة الاستبداد ظنّاً منه أنها ترعى الاستقرار ولو على حساب الحرية والكرامة الإنسانية؟ تلك السياسة التي أوصلت البلاد إلى حالة من انعدام الحرية والاستقرار معاً! وهل سيرضخ لابتزاز النظام السوري الذي اجتهد بكل الوسائل الممكنة لمقايضة كراسيه بوقف عمليات الإرهاب الذي عمل هو على تصديرها؟! أم أنه سيستمرّ في سياساته ليكشف لنا العميل الحقيقي الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه مهما فقدنا في سورية من شهداء في معركة شرعية غير متكافئة.. هي معركة الحرية.. نحن بحناجرنا وهم بدباباتهم؟! السوريون الأحرار يقولون للمجتمع الدولي أنهم سينتصرون، وأن مصدر الشرعية الحقيقة لا يمكن أن يتجاوزهم من جديد.. ويتوقعون من المجتمع الدولي أن يقفوا في صفّ الشرعية الحقيقية لأنها الأبقى” حسب قناعتها.

وفيما يتعلق بتأثير العقوبات الأوروبية على النظام السوري، قالت الأتاسي، التي شارك والدها المفكر القومي المعروف جمال الدين الأتاسي بتأسيس حزب البعث “للأسف حتى الآن لم نشهد إلا التأرجح في المواقف الغربية.. اليوم مطلوب منهم اتخاذ مواقف سياسية وأخلاقية حاسمة بدايتها التصريح بعدم شرعية النظام السوري بشكل واضح لا لبْس فيه، مروراً بطرد السفراء السوريين وقطع العلاقات الدبلوماسية مع النظام اللاشرعي الذي يقتل المواطنين العزّل المطالبين بالحرية، وفرض العقوبات على قطاعَي النفط والغاز السوريَين والعمل على سحب استثمارات شركتَي (شل وتوتال) المستثمرتين في سورية”، وأردفت “إن دعوة اتحاد تنسيقيات الثورة السورية أتت واضحة بهذا الخصوص وهو دعوة كافة الدول وهيئات المجتمع الدولي وأقطاب المعارضة السياسية إلى العمل على فرض العزلة الكاملة على النظام وسحبِ أي تمثيل أو تواصل أو حتى تفاوض معه إلا في المرحلة التي يكون فيها مستعداً لوضع نفسه في تصرّف الشعب السوري الحرّ متخلياً عن السلطة لأي هيئة يرتضيها الشعب السوري في ذلك الوقت وتكون مَهمّتُها الانتقال بسورية إلى وضع مستقر تستطيع فيه العمل على تأسيس دولة مدنية حرة وديمقراطية” حسب قولها

وحول الحوار الذي لم يُكتب له أن يبدأ بين السلطة والمعارضة قالت “لقد سقط الحوار مع النظام.. أسقطه الشارع السوري والثوار الأحرار.. حيث قالوها مراراً وتكراراً أن لا حوار مع القتلة، ولا أتمنى لأي تيار سياسي معارض أن يسقط مع سقوط النظام الجمهوراثي اللاشرعي” على حد تعبيرها

This comment is solely about the presence or non-presence of tanks in Hama city.

As quoted above by SYAU # 79, SANA has re-iterated today 3 Aug that the Syrian military has not yet entered Hama City at all: http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/08/03/361999.htm

SANA reported an official military source saying the same thing on Monday 1 Aug: http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/08/01/361523.htm

Also at SANA dated today: “Police captain Nabih Zribih said… that armed terrorist groups are everywhere since more than a month in Hama province. They set up checkpoints on main roads and check cars thoroughly. For his part, Sergeant Major Basem Ismael said, “We were commissioned to remove all checkpoints from the city and we were attacked by armed terrorist groups but the tanks came and saved us”. http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/08/03/361837.htm I assume those tanks he’s talking about are located at the outskirts of Hama City.

Believing in the integrity of SANA and official military sources as I do, it follows that the opening scenes in this Al-Jazeera video from Hama city on 31 July are fakes and frauds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNgfFnkyuXg

SANA says the smoke seen rising in recent videos from Hama city — including the above from Al-Jazeera and others — is soley from arson by the dissidents. I take it the army is waiting, so that the non-dissidents in Hama have plenty of time to take themselves and their valuables out of the way. Some of the dissidents will get cold feet and slink away too, as they comprehend what’s in store. The army has brought tanks into urban areas in Syria several times over the past few months. Those operations have been very successful in restoring proper order with relatively little bloodshed.

Meanwhile at Al-Jazeera’s website today: “Residents said on Wednesday that Syrian tanks had occupied the main Orontes Square in central Hama…. Syrian troops have tightened their siege on Hama since Sunday, sending residents fleeing for their lives.” That 2nd sentence is not attributed to any source and presumably Al-Jazeera is basing it off of SANA. There is a contradiction in language between occupying the central square and tightening a seige. Also at Al-Jazeera: “Syrian tanks occupy Orontos Square in central Hama after heavy shelling of the city, residents told Reuters news agency.” Trusting the integrity of SANA as I do, I cannot believe that residents in Hama have seen tanks occupying the main square — though they will sooner or later, I expect. Everybody on this board knows that the quality of Al-Jazeera’s and Reuters’ sources is execrable.

Aliccie #109,

“…If that’s the only example of women you can muster, you disappoint me, I thought you were defending an opposition that didn’t want sectarianism. Why you defend these tented women, I can’t imagine. If that’s ’syrian society’, too bad. Of course they can demonstrate for what they want, but obviously it’s not for democracy or anything resembling freedom, as the word is understood”.

So much prejudice and “judgmental-ness” in one comment. But then I understand you’re not an Arab, so I forgive you.
Don’t you think that “tented” women can wish for democracy? They have to look like you (white, minimal clothing) so you’ll be convinced that they are able to wish to live in freedom and democracy? There’s democracy in Indonesia, while many women there are “tented”. How can you explain this?
.

Homs Bal Alsbaa, Extremist Butcher shop with human remains:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=239204012776622&oid=185571084829995&comments&set=o.185571084829995&type=1

Dair AlZour, public mutilation on Holy Ramadan while chanting “God is Great”:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=239686062728417&oid=185571084829995&comments&set=o.185571084829995&type=1

Hama few weeks back before the army went in, public lynching with Hamwis watching so casually:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=235436786486678&oid=185571084829995&comments&set=o.185571084829995&type=1

@ Aig #119.
ALICCIE,

“Democracy is messy even in countries that have practiced it for centuries. The people in the streets in Syria are not Jeffersonian scholars. They just want a government for which they are not transparent. They want freedom and dignity and a chance of a better future. They want a government accountable to the people. That is what unites them. There are a lot of things that divide them like gay rights, woman rights, religion in politics etc. But the latter issues can never be addressed until the first step happens and they are freed from the clutches of the tyrannical regime.

Well, ok, but when you talk of the ‘people’, they are 50% female. If you think that they should take a backstage position during this loooong democratic transition, I beg to disagree. But that must be a male’s opinion, right ?

“It will take many years, if at all, for Syria to become Norway. Why should it if Syrians do not want to be like Norway? Demanding that as a goal of the protests is unfair.

Whoa, I never talked about Norway. If you like, lets talk about Norway. As I see it, this has been acclaimed as the most tolerant of societies. This Labour gvt dealt with this massacre in an extraordinary way, and nobody mutilated or attacked anybody, they were totally peaceful and did their funerals in high dignity, etc.

Yet the cause of this terrible massacre was basically a mistake in their immigration policy. 50% of Norwegians don’t support the gvts policy of so many muslim immigrants. This is not just a Norwegian problem, it’s a time bomb all over Europe

Choosing Norway as an example is a double edged sward. How can one crazy guy commit such a crime in such a tolerant society ? The reason is (partially) what is happening in Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Soudan, Pakistan, Afghanistan.. (etc) total mayhem caused by muslim extremists. If Syria opposition tolerates such things, in their quest for ‘liberation’, there is a serious question, for all quarters of the world. Be aware.

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Samir Qanatri from the SNP was shot dead in his pharmacy in al-ma’arrah by armed thugs.airheads will rush to blame the regime for his murder,I know better.
Islamists again are giving us a clear view of how Syria will be if,god-forbid,they ascend to power. What those thugs do not understand is that Syrians hate the regime,but they hate those pseudoislamists even more.
Are you going to recite alfatiha on his soul ,my Islamist friends?

122. Dear Abughassan, You said:

“One idiot,excuse my language,is advocating establishing a rebel army,another wants an armed rebellion and street executions,both are directly or indirectly are pushing for a civil war. Is there anybody in Syria who can control the streets until we have elections other than the army? You have a brain in your head,use it..”

I say:
Let me introduce a part of myself to you:
I am a decent human beeing.
I am a professional
I have a successful carreer.

Your urge to address me with insult is excused.
Your intolerence to others opinions makes you just another shbbeeh, albeit in neutral clothes!

You are calling for an army coup, suggesting that it is not going to be bloody!

I argue that such eventuality while highly desirable, is highly improbable. I mentioned the caveats in an erlier rebutal to one of your posts. I repeat part of it here again.
All commanders of the army are wanted for justice by the Syrian revolution and the international courts of justice. Therefore, none has any vested interest in turning against their own regime!

This revolution is about retrieving peoples dignity and freedoms, including that of speech.
I urge you to address people with dignity and respect them for who they are, never mind whether you agree with them or not!

Peace!

Revlon the Ikwanji
You are the inventor of :no hijab=topless ,theory.you can apply it to soher Attassi

“Something is brewing in Damascus,and it is not coffee… ”

We have been hearing these pathetic statements of yours for over a month now. Give junior time blah blah. A great speech is in the making yada yada. Your supposed inside information and insights have turned out to be so much vapor.

And how many people have to die before junior finally gets a clue? His time ran out long ago, he has no one but himself to blame for the mess he finds himself in.

@125 Unlike you, the rest of the world watches stations other than Al-DUHnya. They can see on their screens the Besho Brigade tanks in Hama.

Such a fragile ego, that guy. Has to send in tanks when people express their disdain for him. Wonder what he does when his kids talk back to him.

No Klue, let me introduce you to Aboud’s equation of Menhebakness. The intelligence of a person is in inverse proportion to his fanatical feelings for junior.

You can see it in the regime’s trumpets on TV. The more fanatical they are, the more hysterical and incomprehensible they sound.

128. Dear Abughassan:
You said:
“Samir Qanatri from the SNP was shot dead in his pharmacy in al-ma’arrah by armed thugs.airheads will rush to blame the regime for his murder,I know better.
Islamists again are giving us a clear view of how Syria will be if,god-forbid,they ascend to power. What those thugs do not understand is that Syrians hate the regime,but they hate those pseudoislamists even more.
Are you going to recite alfatiha on his soul ,my Islamist friends?”

I agree with you here.
Rushing to put the blame of a murder on anyone is wrong, unless caught doing it.
Alas, that was exactly what you did!

Would you care to share with us any hard evidence in support of your claim, aside from hunches and inside informations?

You need to live by what you preach in order to have credibility buddy!
Peace.

@Aliccie

in the demonstration i participated in there were few women but i cant say they were a size able number at all, they would be at around 5% of the demonstrators. this is because of 2 factors
1) the danger posed by the vicious shabeeha, this one plays a huuuuuuuuge role.
2)in syrian society, women have to endure the honor stigma, where a women is not expected to openly mix and participate in male dominated activities( even the pro-regime demonstration, women would never exceed 30%) this plays a limited role
as for the gay/atheist question:
syrian society doesn’t tolerate an openly gay man or woman. it is a social taboo/stigma. if a gay demonstration went about,i would expect both shabeeha and some VERY conservative syrians ( christians and muslims) to breake it up.
you could say the same thing about to Atheists.

Also, it’s not called the SNP, it’s the SSNP. Aren’t you supposed to be a member or something?

Oh look, Syria doesn’t have an ambassador in Cairo anymore. He packed up and left with his family, after days of massive anti regime demonstrations near the embassy.

And don’t tell me he is on vacation. No one goes on vacation during Ramadan.

http://gate.ahram.org.eg/News/101270.aspx

Aliccie

Have you talked to any of these women ? is your knowledge of what they think and want based on first hand experience or are you just labeling them based on their choice of attire ? I think all of us here know the answer to that question 😉

You label these women “sectarian” just because they are veiled, take a look in the mirror to see who’s being sectarian. If you’re interested in knowing why these women are demonstrating go ahead and interview one of them, this would be the reasonable/responsible thing to do. Instead you demonize them and refer to them as if they’re of a lesser status, not worthy of your support/sympathy. Well you’re free to throw accusations however you want, let me know when you get any kind of proof.

As for your question (why do I defend them), well when I look I see women demonstrating, I don’t pay much attention to whether they are veiled or not, their choice of attire simply does not mean much to me. I linked that video because it was the most recent video showing Syrian women demonstrating, there are many many more and a lot of them were posted right here on SC before, feel free to browse for yourself.

I do not watch,dunya and I quit on Bashar a long time ago. My information is not obtained from thugs on either side,unlike some of you.
Speeches will not save Syria but street justice and violence will surely destroy it.
My bet is on the army ,with all of its shortcomings,and on decent people in the middle who will not stay silent for long. My angry syrian friends on this blog,Choose somebody your size to play with. I will not waste time with psychos from either side,sorry.

130.Dear Syria no kandahar,
You like to associate me with MB.
I am not! I said that earlier!
I do not even have friends who are members of the MB party.
I know many people who are baathists, communists, and non-partisans.

Notwithstanding, I should thank you for wishing to associate me with MB, instead of with the Baath party.

As far as I know, MB’s
– Never staged a coup against a democracy.
– Never headed a corrupt dictatorship for 40 years.
– Never bombed or shelled a stronghold of their opponents killing more than 20,000 people.
– Never jailed, tortured and massacred thousands of prisoners.
– Never displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and disrupted the livelihood of generations of Syrians.

That has been part of the legacy of the secular, Baath party of your’s.
Your support of the latter speakes volumes.

Peace!

US Embassy staff being pulled out of Syria? Is this true? Can anyone confirm?

Where is the hard evidence in many of the crimes committed in Syria today,revlon?
You guys assume that everybody who gets killed was murdered by shabeeha and the army including high ranking officers who are loyal to the regime. I do not know who killed mr qantari but most of us,knowing where he stands,realize that he was killed because of his political views not the color of his eyes.
For the records,the SNP or the SSNP, does not have wide support in idleb or any conservative community in Syria,I was never a member,and I as of now do not belong to any party in Syria or the US.

Aliccie

I am surprised with your views. Does freedom of choice mean anything to you? How can a women be judged based on what she wears. So if a
women wears a hijab, She does not deserve democracy and if the hijab is changed to a short and T shirt, then she is all worthy of freedom? Can you explain your position further? Have you ever talked to a veiled woman?

143. Abughassan
You asked:
“Where is the hard evidence in many of the crimes committed in Syria today,revlon?”

Good question!
What consitutes evidence in courts of law?
Witness accounts, video evidence, and autopsy.
– Witnesses that have been interviewed by independent human rights organisations are on the web for you to check.
– Videoclips aplenty show unarmed civilians facing tanks and snipers in khaki on roof tops.
– Autopsy evidence: This is where hard evidence lies.
Unfortunately, due to regime intransigence in allowing teams of investigation, this is still pending the authorisation of the international courts of justice.
The ballistics and finger print evidence, among other things would indicate the types of bullets, guns, and distances from which they were fired.
Such evidence remains even in burried bodies and will be available for investigation.
Bullets can later be traced to specific guns and gunners!

Back to your rported killing of Mr Qanatri!
Do you have independently verified witness accounts or YouTube video of the event?
Please do share evidence with us once available.
Thank you for your question.
Peace!

Sorry Abughassan, must have been someone else on this forum who was a member of the SSNP.

What makes you think your friend’s killing was politically motivated? Did the attackers make slogans or indicate such?

At least we agree that street justice is not the answer and that this regime needs to be changed since reform is undoable if the same incompetent and brutal figures stay in power. My problems with SOME of you are:
1. You refuse to admit that there are armed thugs in Syria that are not affiliated with the regime.
2. You ignore crimes committed by anti regime forces
3. You have no clue of how the country will be kept secure and united when this regime is toppled.
I find you to be more sensible than many anti regime bloggers here despite our differences. I think Syria will be better off with a transitional period that provides Syrians with the time needed to collect their lives and thoughts away from violence and bloodshed. Only the army ,not Bashar or the street thugs,can do the job.
Your reference to the army being headed by criminals take us nowhere and leaves us with nothing ,you have to choose the lesser of two evils when the stakes are so high.
I may not get my wish for a peaceful transition but I can not afford to quit on Syria. The army is loyal but not to the end,those officers have families and they love their country too.
It is funny that nobody in my family,Sunni or alawi,is in the army but I still have to find an alternative,there is none,tell me otherwise if you can,I prefer your polite attitude over aboud’s abrasive style.
Peace to you too 🙂

Samir Qanatri from the SNP was shot dead in his pharmacy in al-ma’arrah by …… islamists = Muslim Brothers

How many innocent peaceful people were killed by these terrorists between 1975 and 1982 ?

Disclaimers:
Die Geschichte wiederholt sich, zuerst als Tragödie, dann als Farce.

Amb ford testified at the Senate’s but he did not do a good job,he looked angry but not factual and went too far when he suggested that the US is working with the opposition on isolating and fighting the influence of Iran and hizbullah,this was a mistake and will support claims that the west is trying to use this revolution to advance its campaign against Iran. Ford looked bad when he denied that there are no weapons in Hama but then he admitted that armed men in idleb killed scores of security officers after those men got “emotional”. This reminds me of Gawwar when he said defending his brother who killed few people in a rage:
اذا الواحد طلع خلقه بشو بده يفش غله بالحيط؟
المسكين ما لو لا ضهر و لا سند. قتل تلات تنفس دكوه بالحبس
🙂

UNSC is now reading its resolution on Syria,it denounces the use of violence by the regime but it stops short of imposing any sanctions or real measures against the regime.
The resolution also denounced violence by anti regime forces.

I am now reading a draft for the new Syrian constitution, my initial thoughts:
1. There is no mentioning of albaath
2. The president is elected by the parliament not the people
3. Islam is not clearly stated as the official religion of the state and it does not make being a Muslim as a condition for being president.
4. Syria is called an Arab state,no mention of a multi ethnic state
Give me your thoughts and correct me if I misrepresented the document,as I said I am not done yet.

Forgot to say that the document is one of many,no official draft has been presented to the government yet.

A Russian journalist named Marianna Belenkaya recently made a short trip to Syria and spoke to various ordinary people. She reports with date 3 August 2011:

“This text is my impressions from the trip, and from meeting the people that the circumstances brought to me. Perhaps, had there been different people, my impressions would have been different.”

This Russian journalist arrived at Hama last week “before the army’s entry to the city”, and the army did not enter the city while she was there. She was there for around a couple of days, and spoke with some residents. For example:

There are those in Hama who support Assad in spite of the threat of losing their jobs or even lives. “I am for reforms, but along with President Assad,” says a young Christian lady with tears in her eyes. And there is so much despair and anguish in her eyes that I just feel like taking her away from Hama. She cannot leave the city by herself, as the public transport does not operate there anymore; what is more, she has to care for her parents, and she still has a job. Many Christians and Alawis have left the city. Entire districts have been deserted…. It is easy to get to Hama city by public transport, whereas traveling inside it is difficult….

More at http://rt.com/news/syria-hama-struggle-interview/

PS: This Russian journalist indicates that her contacts in Hama told her on the phone two days after she had left that the Syrian army had entered Hama. I must still doubt this for the reason I gave back at #128. If anyone can point to any reliable source of facts about this question one way or an other, please do.

Urgent: Lebanon dissociates from Security Council presidential statement condemning Syria
3 August 2011
15:31
Xinhua News Agency
XNEWS
English
Copyright 2011. Xinhua News Agency. All rights reserved.

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) — Lebanon said here on Wednesday that it disassociated itself from the presidential statement just adopted by the Security Council on condemning the use of force against civilians in Syria.

01

UN Council ‘condemns’ Syria crackdown
3 August 2011
Agence France Presse
AFPR
English
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2011 All reproduction and presentation rights reserved.

The UN Security Council on Wednesday condemned the Syrian government’s deadly crackdown on protests and called for those responsible to be held “accountable.”

A council presidential statement agreed after weeks of often-acrimonious negotiations said the 15-nation body “condemns the widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities.”
=========================
Bashar To :!!! ~~~~~~~
Mamenheback

UPDATE 2-White House toughens stance on Syria’s Assad
3 August 2011
13:05
Reuters News
LBA
English
(c) 2011 Reuters Limited

* Syria would be a better place without Assad – spokesman

* Washington weighing further steps against Assad regime

(Adds quotes, background on sanctions)

WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) – The White House hardened its stance against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday, saying the United States viewed him as the cause of instability in the country.

“We do not want to see him remain in Syria for stability’s sake and, rather, we view him as the cause of instability in Syria,” Carney told a news briefing, toughening the U.S. position on the Syrian leader who has launched military assaults against unarmed protesters.

While repeating the Obama administration’s call for Assad to stop the violence, release thousands of detainees and make way for a democratic transition, Carney said the White House was also looking for more ways to squeeze Damascus.

“We will certainly continue to look at ways to take further steps to put pressure on the regime to end its violence. And we think, frankly, that it’s safe to say that Syria would be a better place without President Assad,” he said.

The United States has already imposed sanctions on Assad and members of his government, and is thought to be weighing new sanctions including ones on the Syrian oil and gas industry.
U.S. senators called on the White House on Tuesday to tighten its grip on Syria’s energy sector to help put muscle behind its demand that Assad halt his lethal crackdown.

At the United Nations, a draft Security Council statement that could be adopted on Wednesday would condemn human rights violations and use of force against civilians by Syrian authorities, council diplomats said. [ID:nN1E77211P]

The Syrian government blames armed terrorist groups for most killings in the 5-month-old revolt, saying more than 500 soldiers and security personnel have died.

Opposition and human rights groups say more than 1,600 civilians have been killed. [ID:nL6E7J31SC]

(Reporting by Laura MacInnis, Alister Bull and Andrew Quinn; Editing by Xavier Briand)

@Abughassan #151 –

1. Multi-party Parliamentary system, i.e. Westminsiter system is most suitable for Syria due to its demographic character.

2. If you guys have no problem declaring Syria as “Arab State” when 13% of Syrians are not Arabs,

what problem is there in declaring Islam as the State religion when 20% of Syrians are not Muslims ?

3. There should be a system of devolution of power to local self-government, i.e Municipal Councils and Village Councils. These local Councils should be elected by the people and they should have considerable funds and executive power to dispose of their local civic duties.

Nour?!

Abughassan

Will you please share the link to the new constitution draft. I’ll probably have more to say once I read the whole thing, but from what you wrote it just looks like a childish attempt to trick the people into believing actual reform is underway when in reality nothing will be changed.

Any constitution where the president is elected by majles el tarateer and not the people is not accepted, not by me or anyone I know anyways. Also any constitution that doesn’t limit the number of terms a president can serve won’t be accepted, no more presidents for life.

On a side note, take a look at what Syria-news chose to publish about the murder of Qanatri

قيادي في السوري القومي : تكفيريون اغتالوا قناطري ويسعون لإنشاء إمارة إسلامية في معرة النعمان

http://www.syria-news.com/readnews.php?sy_seq=135792

again with the Salafi/Takfiri emirate, do they really believe anyone is still buying their silly stories ?
all I can say is Allah yerhamo, and I hope they catch the real killers instead of wasting their time searching for Amir el Maraa the Zionist Salafi!.

“Statement by the President of the Security Council (August 3, 2011)

“The Security Council expresses its grave concern at the deteriorating situation in Syria, and expresses profound regret at the death of many hundreds of people.

“The Security Council condemns the widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities.

“The Security Council calls for an immediate end to all violence and urges all sides to act with utmost restraint, and to refrain from reprisals, including attacks against state institutions.

“The Security Council calls on the Syrian authorities to fully respect human rights and to comply with their obligations under applicable international law. Those responsible for the violence should be held accountable.

“The Security Council notes the announced commitments by the Syrian authorities to reform, and regrets the lack of progress in implementation, and calls upon the Syrian Government to implement its commitments.

“The Security Council reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Syria. It stresses that the only solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process, with the aim of effectively addressing the legitimate aspirations and concerns of the population which will allow the full exercise of fundamental freedoms for its entire population, including that of expression and peaceful assembly.

“The Security Council calls on the Syrian authorities to alleviate the humanitarian situation in crisis areas by ceasing the use of force against affected towns, to allow expeditious and unhindered access for international humanitarian agencies and workers, and cooperate fully with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“The Security Council requests the secretary general to update the Security Council on the situation in Syria within seven days.”

Abdullah Kiroz ( SSNP ) said :
”
the assassination of Guenatra is part of the conspiracy ….
of the extremist terrorist groups that intend to establish an Islamic emirate in Ma’arrat Numan and this is incompatible with the existence of the party.

It is noteworthy that Ayman al-Zawahiri of al Qaeda leader in a video posted on the Internet
urged the Syrian demonstrators against the regime ..
is sincere in showing solidarity with them, and directed tribute to the cities of Dara and Ma’arrat Numan, Homs, Hama .. ”
“””””””

How many innocent peaceful people were killed by these terrorists between 1975 and 1982 ?

Disclaimers:
Die Geschichte wiederholt sich, zuerst als Tragödie, dann als Farce.

@Amir in tel aviv #129#

NK # 139

Tara # 144

Sorry Amir, maybe there are exceptions, but all the tented women interviewed that I’ve seen, (in several countries) read their blogs, are definitely not in favour of democracy, they want a Sharia islamist state.

How can they want freedom, when they dress in such a way ? I don’t care if anyone calls me ‘prejudiced’ or whatever, even islamaphobic, I will never accept excuses. These women obviously are from various backgrounds, they might not have had any choice at all, being married young by their families. They might have chosen their ‘role’, but maybe not

In some countries they dress like this to avoid harassment from men. Because the society is so styled that men cannot have any access to women in a normal way. So they harass any women who isn’t veiled.

What I know (in France from the blogs of the woman herself, and medias), how these families live, their kids are abused, they have to learn the Coran by heart. This happens even in France, with several wives living with social benefits given to single women.

Their kids, (numerous of course), don’t have a normal life and are abused by the father, the wives are beaten by the father.. Some of the young ‘wives’ are sold to rich koweiti or other gulf state men. This is all known about in recent cases in French courts. So god knows what happens in countries that don’t have the French legal system. Not many rights for these women under sharia law.

However, if some idiotic, dysfunctional girl (often the case) decides to convert and ‘marry’ one of these corrupt men, that is their right. Also, of course if Arab or other women decide, that’s their right. But don’t expect me to applaud them.

I am not disappointed with the UN security council under the current circumstances.  I think it is  a good first step.  It condemned the violation of human rights and the use of force against civilians.  It called for review in 7 days.  I hope more demonstrations will erupt all over Syria.  The only thing the regime knows and capable of doing is killing.  The regime is incapable of learning any lesson.

Few more days like July 31, 2011 then the security council will come together to establish an international tribunal for Assad and company at the Hauge.

And to continue my previous post about niqabs and choice of women, please tell when a muslim country will allow a mini-skirt in public, or what is now the fashion with young girls, shorts… I detest hypocrisy.

“161. hsyrian said:

How many innocent peaceful people were killed by these terrorists between 1975 and 1982 ?”

How many innocent peaceful people in the tens of thousands were killed, jailed, disappeared, tortured by your criminal regime? How many male prisoners were raped with rubber hoses in the dungeons of your regime, taught to them by East German intelligence, so it can maintain its grip on power. Why do you menhebek lunatics expect those whose relatives were killed to be pacifists when your regime has unleashed its arsenal on the people.

Be careful what you wish for menhebek lunatics as your fake propaganda will come true and you can hear it from the horse’s mouth, the criminal Rifaat Eid:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2008/0924/p06s03-wome.html/%28page%29/2

Although the feuding factions in Tripoli formally reconciled two weeks ago, Rifaat Eid, son of the leading Alawite politician in Lebanon, says that, as a member of a pro-Syrian minority in Lebanon, he fears the potential of the Salafis.

“The Salafis are like kittens when they are weak, but when they are strong they become like tigers,” he says.

Be afraid menhebek lunatics and shabeeha khanazeer.

Libyan Supreme Tribal Council rejects NATO-imposed TNC, serves notice on NATO to quit Libya and never return!

“Al Qaeda will eat Mahmoud Jibril and the entire rebel leadership for Iftar during one of the Ramadan feasts during August. They are just waiting for the right opportunity to make a dramatic move and take control.”

According to one representative of the Libyan Supreme Tribal Council, “The tribes of Libya have until today not fully joined in repelling the NATO aggressors. As we do, we serve notice to NATO that we shall not desist until they have left our country and we will ensure that they never return.”

http://www.eurasiareview.com/end-game-for-benghazi-rebels-as-libyan-tribes-prepare-to-weigh-in-oped-02082011/

Disclaimers:
Die Geschichte wiederholt sich, zuerst als Tragödie, dann als Farce.

@ Khalid Tlass

who said to Abughassan..

2. If you guys have no problem declaring Syria as “Arab State” when 13% of Syrians are not Arabs,

what problem is there in declaring Islam as the State religion when 20% of Syrians are not Muslims ?

Obviously every problem because what do you base your statistics on ? There is no freedom of medias, no opinion polls.

This sort of stuff reads like nothing but propaganda. I bet there are tons of atheists in Syria who can’t even put a cross on a bit of paper, there is not even an area for him/her to cross.

166. hsyrian said

look at the one comment, ‘why post such rubbish’ ?