Now the US has unleashed all its dogs on Syria and all in synchrony.

Call us whatever you want, Shabihha, Shia kuffar, Alawiyeh, Mindasseen, aish ma biddak ya akhi. Bass we are the people, the Syrian People and we are still the majority.

We are the people, the Syrian People.

The Syrian People want freedom, yes, but not in this way. We want freedom without our country to be another base for the US, like Saudi Arabia (the US’ whore) and others.

I go for the Syrian army to protect our towns and to bring order again. They want to talk lets talk, but don’t rush on the streets and call for the fall of the regime, if the regime falls we will kill each other like dogs.

Syria was our home, a peaceful one at least and Israel was angry about that, we were doing good my friends! I agree, few people had the money, they stole it, they took it from our mouth OK, but hey we were living and mahlana!!! You think America will let us prosper???? do you really think that? Israel being at our door???

Wake up people. Saudi Arabia is at it from the beginning. Arabs against arabs is what they want. hahahahahaaha Saudi Arabia?? hahahahahaha now SA is the nice country that wants Syrians to be free?? hahahahahaaha

We will fight and it will get ugly friends.

signed: SHABIHAHAHA

I would like to know who the US has in mind as a substitute to the existing regime before I can support or oppose this move. If Obama thinks that syrians are ready to trust the expats or the MB to form a government,he is sourly mistaken. I agree that Bashar needs to step down but I need to know what and who is next.

“…and I came upon a document which indicated that Hafiz Al-Assad annually received about 250 thousand dollars from the US.”

Well, well, well. If true, this can explain a lot of things.

“The resistance of people in Arab countries is very interesting. In none of the revolutions worldwide had we witnessed people resisting continuously for months. Protesters are killed every day, but they continue their uprising. We cover the resistance of people in Yemen and Libya, but we say nothing about Syria. However, the future of all three will be the same, since the time for reform has passed in Syria. Therefore we should be skeptical about the continuation of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime.”

1. ABUGHASSAN

The US has nothing good in store for us. All the US cares about is her interests.

Post #1 Abughassan:

“I would like to know who the US has in mind as a substitute to the existing regime before I can support or oppose this move.”

In this case do we have the rare situation in which the regime is so bad that not having an immediate substitute isnt a major consideration?

Im sure the Syrian people will quickly fill the post Assad space.

Posted this earlier but it didnt appear.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/the-syrian-people-s-new-weapon-against-assad-boycotts-1.377913

The Syrian people’s new weapon against Assad: boycotts

Syrian protesters are calling on citizens to boycott products made or imported by friends of the regime, and are hoping foreign governments freeze investment in the country.

By Zvi Bar’el

“This product is not for eating, it’s for killing,” warns a picture showing a young Syrian holding a container of Nutella hazelnut and chocolate spread while his face is smeared red as if with blood. “I am boycotting it – and what about you?” the writing at the bottom of the advertisement asks.

An explanation is added: “Nutella chocolate – one percent chocolate and 99 percent humiliation.”

Why has the Facebook page of the Syrian protest movement decided to harass Nutella of all products? Because its importer, Habib Betinjaneh and his sons Tony and Iyad, announced support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Betinjaneh is also one of the biggest distributors of basic foodstuffs such as rice and sugar, a member of the board of directors of the one of the largest insurance companies in Syria, and a close friend of the Assad family.

Betinjaneh’s eponymous company is not the only firm to be on the boycott list of the Syrian protest movement. Dozens of companies and businesses were named last week by the movement, which called on the citizens to refrain from doing business with them.

This included the car company controlled by Assad’s cousin Rami Makhlouf, as well as companies owned by Firas Tlass, the son of former defense minister Mustafa Tlass, and the businesses of Habib Al-Houli, who was previously head of Intelligence in the Syrian air force and now serves as a special adviser to Assad. Also included on the list are dozens of companies owned by Majd Suleiman, including the Lebanese newspaper Al Balad – a fierce defender of the Syrian regime.

The organizers of the boycott say sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe have not had an effect on the regime and unless the citizens of Syria themselves begin a comprehensive consumer boycott against those with ties to Assad, the regime will be able to continue to pay for the acts of murder and to feel sure that it is able to survive.

The aspirations of the boycott organizers are much more far-reaching. They would like to see the freezing of foreign investments, and the cancellation of commercial agreements and future projects, especially on the part of Arab investors. Saudi Arabia, for example, pays for 22 agricultural and industrial projects in Syria and a few months ago, it loaned Damascus some $100 million; it also provides employment for thousands of Syrian workers.

Only two years ago, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia decided to renew ties with Bashar Assad after Riyadh cut them off four years earlier in the wake of the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. When the Saudi monarch visited Syria in 2009, he brought with him a huge commercial delegation which signed business deals with the Syrian regime.

But at the end of last week, Saudi Arabia joined in the important declaration by the council for cooperation of the six Gulf states which expressed scathing criticism of the Syrian regime. On Sunday, Riyadh recalled its ambassador from Damascus.

However, it is not merely Saudi Arabia that is a partner in the Syrian economy. In 2008, the Qatari real restate company, Qatari Diar, invested some $250 million in the construction of hundreds of housing units in the coastal city of Latakia, one of the focal points of the uprising.

Doha also sends millions of dollars to the Assad regime. One large project, a $6 billion electricity project by the Qatari electric corporation, was frozen by Syria after Damascus refused to give them a permit in retaliation for unfavorable coverage on the Qatari-based Al Jazeera television network.

Kuwait is also a massive investor in Syria, and Kuwaiti companies hold some 11 percent of the Syrian insurance market.

Turkey is also now threatening to apply sanctions of its own. The honeymoon of the past three years between the two countries which led to a huge increase in bilateral trade, from more than $2 billion to a peak of $5 billion, disintegrated following the civilian uprising and what Turkey’s deputy prime minister described as “acts of terror.”

In the past few days, Turkey sent Syria a “final warning” but the nature of this ultimatum is not clear: Does Turkey intend to freeze its investments in Syria, to withdraw Turkish companies from that country, or to lower its diplomatic representation in Damascus? For the Syrian regime, it is possible that even Turkish sanctions will not make a difference, but for the 21 million Syrian citizens who live off the foreign investments, such sanctions could heat up protests.

The scope of consumption in Syria (minus basic food commodities ) has dropped to almost half as unemployment has shot up from some 10 percent (the official figure ) to almost 20 percent. Syria has begun printing large amounts of money while Syrian capital of an estimated $20 billion is being smuggled abroad.

Citizens who took loans with government encouragement to buy new cars (the branch in which Makhlouf and his associates have control ) are no longer paying them and the Syrian banks (many of which have Lebanese partners ) are worried about collapse.

The boycott campaign by the protest movements in Syria might therefore turn into an effective tool against the regime, especially when the large merchants in the cities of Aleppo, Homs and Damascus – where the Sunni elites live who were granted far-reaching benefits in an attempt to win political legitimacy – begin to comprehend the nature of the “deal” they made with the regime.

But these economic considerations are coming up against a regime that has no intention of letting go, a regime that continues to speak of “national unity” and “foreign agents who are trying to cause the nation’s collapse.” The state will not hesistate to punish all those who violate the law. While the West is betting time will bring change, Syrians are being mowed down by the dozen.

@dr.Landis, the comment section is facing a bug, not all my comments are posting.
@khalid tlass
turning this revolution violent will play well into besho’s hands, we only condone self defense( saving a fellow protesters from capture, setting up barricades). taking up arms will give besho a pre-text and we will lose our legitimacy in front of the world.
@all
yesterday was a milestone in this uprising, why?
the rawda square, heart of the upper class and affluent area of Damascus had a huge security presence. the rawda square hosts the American,Turkish,Lebanese,Chinese and Iraqi embassies. the Rawda mosque is also situated there. the regime is scared of the demonstrations knocking on its front doors.
i have grown accustomed to seeing huge lime-green buses and red stripped white buses patrolling the streets of Damascus, the passengers of these buses are none other than the notorious shabeeha(big,burly men that still use their fingers and toes to count).they gather around mosques and make sure no dissent is present, after they carry out their mission they all head off to dumar. they also took up the custom of chanting allegiance to bashar when they’re done. nonetheless im glad i don’t sympathize with these trolls and i share nothing in common( even a political view) with these idiots.
—————————————————————–
Syria tv facts:
Besho is so awesome, he created fire by rubbing together 2 ice cubes.

“I would like to know who the US has in mind as a substitute to the existing regime before I can support or oppose this move.”

We have talked about this before. What the opposition wants is a transitional period, during which elections can be held.

Syria has no shortage of people who can manage a transitional period, people in the current government even. The qualifications for managing a transitional period are not the same as those needed to be president.

Syrians in the Golan, speaking for the revolution

Rather clever (and humorous) title of the post … lol.

The world is closing in on Bashar in more than one way.

http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/2305/one-night-in-hamra
even in sister Lebanon…….

Thanks Aboudi 🙂 for the vid #5. The beginning of my military service (the regular 3 years) I spent in the post on Mt. Hermon. On my way back from vacations, I used to stop in Mas’ade and have Labane cheese with the special thin pita breads that the Druz make. Delicious! Wonderful people. I like them a lot.
.

9. Dear some guy in damascus, thank you for the link to Jadaliyeh.

So-called “secular nationalistic” parties in lebanon, namely SSNP and Baath are no more than Gangs lead by ideological, Micheavilean Godfathers and ruled by thugs.

“the passengers of these buses are none other than the notorious shabeeha(big,burly men that still use their fingers and toes to count)”

ROFL!!!!! You put it so well. Would it be OK if I used that phrase? 🙂

@ revlon
i know a guy in the ssnp, he is hugely embarrassed by his party’s support to the regime, he notes that many members do not support the regime and want a change of policy. they fear reprisals if they asked for a shift….just like how the regime corrupted men of religion, it also corrupts men of thought.
ps: no, im not a member of the ssnp.
@aboud, ENJOY!

SGID, attendance at SSNP meetings has been at an all time low here in Homs. Some members have had their memberships suspended for not supporting the regime enthusiastically enough.

amal hannano’s latest post nearly bought me to tears, it doesn’t report any news but it is truly emotional and captures the optimism,bravery and tenacity of the protesters. never before has a work bought me to such an emotional level.
http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/2342/the-namesake
disclaimer: this post is only meant for people who know that Syria is more than 1 person or 1 family, and that beyond that pathetic facade lies a much deeper meaning than what was displayed for the last 41 years. this work is meant for Syrians that know the difference between the mafia that has suppressed, oppressed, victimized and hurt us for the last 41 years and the beautiful land that has been home, pride, comfort and sanctuary for more than 7000+ years.

Confessions of one of the terrorist ganng members named Hassan Alkatan who was involved in the slaughter of security personnel and dumping their bodies in the Assi river, Hama.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=467Zgzyd_BA

He describes the imposed blockades in Hama and the events leading to the murders of security personnel. He also confesses to being one of the gang members involved in dumping bodies in the Assi river.

He also talks describes amounts of money and weapons distributed for the terror campaign in Hama.

@ aboud, serves them right! hezbollah,iran and the ssnp have shown us that they are friends of the mafia and not friends of the syrian people.

amaml hanano’s latest post nearly bought me to tears, it captures the courage,tenacity and optimism of the youths asking for their voices to be heard. never has such a work bought me to such an emotional level.
http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/2342/the-namesake
disclaimer: this work is meant for Syrians that know the difference between the pathetic facade that has suppressed,oppressed,hurt and victimized us for the last 41 years and beautiful land that has been home,pride,love and sanctuary for us for more than 7000+ years.
only read if you know the difference between bashar and Syria.
it contains no news, just thought and emotions.

Yes true US should not lead any regime change, Syrians them selves will decide on that. Both regime and opposition do not want any military intervention or lobbying to lead a change from other countries, but diplomatic and economic pressure against war criminals are only the right thing to do. Som more facts about Syrian politics specially foreign and some questions Ö Are Lebanese in Beirut also Salafists and bandarists? Supporters of Syrian ppl who held a vigil in Beirut were attacked with knives by Bashar supporters who chanted the veru civilised slogan “with blood with lives we saccrifice our selves for Bashar ” (bel roh bel dam), Syrian army crossed Lebanses border as if it was the ranch of Bashar, is this the democtacy that Europe will learn from Syria as foreign minister Mualem said? Threats of war against Turkey and letting armed kurds kill turkish soldiers through the Syrian borders, message from Syrian regime to Turkey nevermind life value, and for all afraid of Arour and salafisis, read this pls first about the “protecting” Syrian regime : http://bit.ly/r4z2hJ

Turkish Ambassador visits Hama
(Dp-news)
http://www.dp-news.com/en/detail.aspx?articleid=92731
HAMA- Turkish Foreign Minister announced on Wednesday that the Turkish Ambassador to Syria visited Hama city on Wednesday “Turkish Ambassador to Syria visits Hama on Wednesday as a result for talks that have been held in Damascus yesterday.”

On Tuesday, Turkish FM visited Damascus and met President al-Assad. Talks focused upon Syrian Authorities crackdown on protests.

“Developments in the coming days will be critical, for both Syria and Turkey,” Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference in Ankara after returning from Syria. “Turkey’s main and first aim is for the bloodshed to be stopped, and (for) an end to civilian deaths.” He added.
On Wednesday too, Turkish FM Davutoglu hold a second press conference at he assured “Our Ambassador was in Hama and he witnessed Army Tanks leaving Hama city”

Davutoglu added “We arranged a Turkish press delegation to visit Hama and check the situation on the ground there, also we asked Diplomats to join us at this visit… I have called German Ambassador to Syria at this issue too.”

On Wednesday too, Syria state-run TV broadcast interviews with residents of Hama, whom were returning back home. Hama residents stated that “Armed Terrorist Groups were terrorizing, attack and kill civilians,” one resident testified “Armed groups were claiming Syrian army who was applying this not them and told people to say so.”

Turkish leaders have repeatedly urged Assad to halt the violence and make urgent reforms after popular protests against his regime erupted five months ago.

To all,
I love it when people “confess” when they are in Syrian regime custody. So believable!!!!!!!

Syria pledges to go on with national dialogue, reforms: FM
2011-08-10 20:19:58
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-08/10/c_131041470.htm
DAMASCUS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) — Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al- Moallem said Wednesday his country was determined to go on with the national dialogue and accomplish the package of reforms announced by the president, stressing Syria would emerge from the crisis “stronger and more powerful.”

Moallem made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of diplomats from Brazil, India and South Africa.

According to Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Moallem briefed the delegation on the slaughtering and vandalism by “armed groups” some Syrian cities had witnessed, adding that the army units had restored security and stability to those cities.

The delegation members voiced solidarity with the Syrian leadership, stressing that their countries would keep supporting Syria to restore security and stability and against any intervention in its internal affairs, SANA said.

They said they were confident that reforms currently underway in Syria could “create a new status quo in Syria that would meet the aspirations of its people,” urging the international community to give Syria more time so that those reforms might yield fruits.

The delegation’s visit came a day after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited the Syrian capital of Damascus, during which he urged Syria to end military campaign and stressed, according to SANA, that Syria under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad would become a model in the Arab world after the completion of reforms.

Syria has come under international condemnation for its alleged crackdown on opposition protestors and military operations in some cities. The authorities brushed off the pressures as “interference in the country’s affairs” and blamed the violent acts on armed thugs and ultraconservative Muslims who want to establish Islamic emirates nationwide.

The Syrian government pledged that there would be no letup in its crackdown on those gunmen to restore stability and security to the country.

Syrian troops gain control over Deir ez-Zor
Aug 10, 2011 16:32 Moscow Time
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/08/10/54464235.html
The Syrian governmental troops have gained control over the city of Deir ez-Zor in the north east of the country, the UK’s Independent newspaper reports Wednesday citing local right activists.

The siege of the city lasted for four days. According to the Syrian governmental officials, they are conducting an operation against the terrorist groups which are bringing on violence in the country. The local residents say that the authorities are suppressing peaceful protest campaigns.

Sheila, “confessions” is the feeblest, weakest form of propaganda, it goes all the way back to Stalin’s days, when his rivals were made to confess that they were plotting to kill “The Great Leader”.

My toe has more credibility when it talks about Chinese pottery in the 2nd century BC.

Syria and Turkey: The farewell meeting
10/08/2011
By Tariq Alhomayed
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=2&id=26193
It was as important as the famous meeting between [then Iraqi Foreign Minister] Tariq Aziz and [then US Secretary of State] James Baker in Geneva prior to the war to liberate Kuwait. It was also no less important than the meeting between former Turkish Foreign Minister Bulent Ecevit and [then Iraqi Vice-President] Taha Yassin Ramadan prior to the war to occupy Iraq. I am, of course, talking about the meeting between [Turkish Foreign Minister] Ahmet Davutoglu and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.

more….

Middle Eastern vultures circle over a wounded Syria
August 10, 2011 12:33 AM
By Rami G. Khouri
The Daily Star

The sudden heightened rhetoric on the events in Syria by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League is unlikely to change how the situation in the country unfolds. However, it marks an important shift in the place and wider role of Syria and other states in the wider Middle East.

The most significant of trends is probably the more aggressive or assertive role of regional actors, as international players find that they have very limited means of influencing Syrian government actions. This is linked to the slow transformation of Syria from a leading actor that often defined key political realities around the Middle East, into a more passive player whose domestic troubles have suddenly clipped its regional wings.

The third big change is Syria’s sudden vulnerability at home, causing other regional powers to start working more diligently to either protect their interests or to make sure they are well positioned to take advantage of any forthcoming changes in Syria.

All of this has happened in just over four months. However, it is in fact the delayed and inevitable consequence of four decades of autocratic rule where the extended Assad family, security services and business interests badly gutted and corrupted Syria’s governance institutions. This helped expose the hollowness and weaknesses of the ruling edifice once a domestic challenge erupted. Syria’s ruling establishment remains strong and broadly unified for now, but its end is certain if it uses no other means than military force to respond to the populist national uprising that challenges it.

Three major regional players – Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran – are now actively working in different ways to secure their strategic interests by trying to influence events in Syria. Israel presumably also is keeping an eye on things there, but its capacity to intervene is much smaller for now. This extraordinary spectacle of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran focusing on Syria is not yet a bevy of vultures hovering over the wounded Syrian body – but it is the first step toward that. All the countries see trends signaling change, and for different reasons they want to influence these to suit their preferences.

Iran wants to keep the Syrian system in place, because its close relationship with Syria (as well as Iran’s links to Hezbollah in Lebanon) represents the one and only foreign policy achievement of the Iranian Islamic revolution. This is presumably why Saudi Arabia and the GCC, who fear more Iranian influence in the Arab world, have spoken out against Syrian government policy and asked President Bashar Assad to pursue political reforms – however lacking in credibility or sincerity is such a message from Gulf monarchies.

Saudi Arabia has been leading the Arab official tide to hold back the wave of populist democratization propelling the street revolts across the Middle East. It must calculate that it has more to lose from continued Iranian influence in the Arab world than it has to lose from Arab democratic reforms; so it works diplomatically (and presumably behind the scenes by assisting some Islamist anti-Assad forces) to weaken both Syria and Iran’s regional conduit via Damascus.

Last summer, Saudi Arabia was working closely with Syria on several issues, including stabilizing conditions inside Lebanon. Today, Saudi Arabia seems to have decided to pressure the Damascus regime, if not also to actively change it. Arab politics, like politics everywhere, can be a fickle and tempestuous beast.

Turkey’s involvement in Syria is the most intriguing. Turkey has several direct economic, security, humanitarian and diplomatic interests in its bilateral ties with Syria, and has proved willing in the past to throw its weight around in the region, including militarily, to secure its national interests. Turkey’s economic and political development in the past several decades has been one of the few regional success stories, and now Ankara is being tested on its diplomatic prowess. It says it has not ruled out joining the Western, and now increasingly Arab, trend toward imposing greater sanctions on Syria to push it to use political rather than military tools to respond to its domestic challenges. The trouble with everyone’s approach is that Syria, like Iran, has proved to be stubbornly resistant to external diplomatic or economic pressures ever since the U.S. unilaterally initiated sanctions almost a decade ago.

For now, the most interesting and historically important aspect of the situation in Syria is less the behavior of the top-heavy, security-based Assad regime – an endangered global species – and more the continued awakening of regional powers intervening in Syrian affairs more openly, as major global powers watch the people and regimes of the Middle East (still two different phenomena in most countries) retake control of their destinies.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Columnist/2011/Aug-10/Middle-Eastern-vultures-circle-over-a-wounded-Syria.ashx#ixzz1UdH2kdZ9
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

Shelia #20,

As was expected from you.

Samara,
Yes, as is expected from anyone who is reasonable, realistic and not enjoying putting her head in the sand to avoid seeing the truth that is staring you in the face. Anyone who personally knows poeple who spent time in the Syrian regime custody and were treated to the well known “hospitality” of the Syrian regime torturers and were lucky (or unlucky) enough to make it out alive. Who have to live with the recurrent nightmares and post traumatic stress disorder.
As I have mentioned earlier, I had two cousins that were detained in the early 80s for the mere fact that they had enrolled in a Karate class that was offered in a mosque. One was 14 and the other was 18 at the time. They were released almost 20 years later.

Homs, Khaldia, August 9th (yesterday night). A very festive atmosphere. These are demonstrators who know that time is very much on their side.

“Ibn el bandok, ma 3ad ezoq!”

LOL!

@Some Guy in Damascus and Aboud,

Uptil now, have you been able to capture any Shabbih ?

Also, you say that escalating violence will play into besho’s hands.

But, how will we counter the regime’s tactics of killing as many people as they can /

Lets say if 1000 more people are killed in Ramadan, don’t you think the momentum of the revolution will be affected ? Don’t you think ordinary people will lose the morale ? How long can people continue the protest ? If there is no efficent self-defense technique evolved by the protestors, then I’m afraid the momentum will fizzle out by the next week. Already, Turkey is double-crossing the people. Turkey cannot be trusted. I think Davotoglu is drinking the Kool-Aid about the “armed gangs”, much like our delusional friend Dr. AbuGhassan here. KSA and GCC are hypocrites and too much afraid of Iran. Egypt and Iraq are too busy and divided. We must tackle this ourselves.

Besieged Hama under full control of Syrian regime
AP By ALBERT AJI
http://news.yahoo.com/besieged-hama-under-full-control-syrian-regime-133700318.html
HAMA, Syria (AP) — The streets of Hama were deserted on Wednesday and the city in central Syria that has come to symbolize defiance against the regime appeared to be under full government control after last week’s brutal crackdown on protesters.

To the east, troops seized control of another flashpoint city, Deir el-Zour, after four days of intense shelling and gunfire.

The government took journalists on a tour to see a rare glimpse of Hama, a city of 800,000 which has seen some of the largest anti-government protests of the 5-month-old uprising.

About 50 armored personnel carriers were placed on flatbed trucks heading out of the city after a weeklong military assault that the government said was aimed at rooting out “terrorists.” The government blames the unrest in Syria on foreign extremists, a claim dismissed by most observers.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said his ambassador reported that tanks and security forces had begun to withdraw from Hama.

“Let’s hope that this development results positively and that within 10 or 15 days the process is completed so that steps toward reforms are taken in Syria,” Erdogan said.

more…….

Do they not understand that images like this will only hasten their demise?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqpOLy6qBfo
.

An even funnier demo in Homs, Khaldia on August 8th. Anti-regime chants sung to the rhyme of a children’s song 🙂

It is the loss of order that all of you should be worried about,and this has nothing to do with how bad this regime is or how good the new regime will be. This is not Egypt,and the new government,assuming there will be one,needs the blessing of the army whether you like it or not. I am all for a new regime but not the shabeeha style. Internal dialogue of interested parties with army leaders and even some existing regime figures may take shape when a consensus is reached that Bashar must go. As far as I know,this consensus has not been reached yet. Remember,SC ,sat tv stations,the expats, ,turkey,KSA and the US will not be as crucial as Syrians inside Syria including the army.
Another factor is winning the approval of key figures in the minority population to assure them that they will be protected and their political rights will not be ignored.

To #19. some guy in damascus,
Thank you so much for the link to Amal Hanano’s latest post. I have read all her posts before and absolutely love her style. I have a feeling that I probably know who she really is. I would love to meet her one day. She is a great writer.

On a different note, I always worry about you and Aboud. Please be careful and stay safe.

#32

A loss of order is worrying. However the regime would be entirely to blame. It is putting itself before the greater interest of Syria.

The point of no return has been passed.

The regime can save the country or it can break it. The opposition have a legitimate stance.

Btw some good news for the regime. The west is running out of sanctions. (‘Washington urges more sanctions’)

ok this is getting ridiculous now. why is the army targeting mosques in every single town and city it assaults? this is something not even the Israeli army would do. Shows you what kind of people work for Assad:

tanks destroy mosque minaret of Othman Bin Afan Mosque in Dier el Zor

Soneone mentioned the Homsi Atassi clan as being potential “successors” to the Ba’athists, I say, what do you think about Atassi Ba’athists and assorted collaborators’fools like Louai and Nureddin Atassi ?

Declaration by members of the alawi community,
has been posted on facebook
Monday, August 8, 2011

http://www.facebook.com/declaration.syr

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Monday, August 8, 2011 at 9:20pm

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7- Solayma Ishak Syria for all Syrian
8- Mounzer Khaddam ??? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ?? ?? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ???????? ????? ????
9-Abeir Ali

These Rawaafid hate every thing about Mosques and Islam. They are not Muslims, which is why they are being cheered on by the “international community”.

Good point. I wonder what is the reason for these people’s pathological hatred for Islam.

This revolution is taking time and is more bloody than we wanted. We all wanted a quick and peaceful revolution.

However one good thing that has come out of this length process is that the regimes criminality, filth, brutality, torture, untrustworthiness, evil reality etc has been exposed for everyone in the world to see.

After this how can the regime hold its head high ever again?

The regime has no future. What it is doing now is futile.

Thanks Revlon, I heard it on Al-Jazeera yesterday.

#39 Khalid.

I mentioned reading a someone write that elsewhere. The commenter seemed to be saying ‘when this over all I can see is the Attasi clan dominating’ not sounding enthusiastic about it. I might be wrong.

Anyway I wanted to know who the Attasi clan were so I went to wiki. I found they are ‘Sayyid’ and have had a history of having rulers or people in prominet positions.

Yes I did read that bit about some Attasi personalities being involved in the Baath party when the party came to power.

What do Syrians think about that? Im not Syrian. Im against the Baath party too.

# 29 Sheila

“One was 14 and the other was 18 at the time. They were released almost 20 years later.”

Everyday I read, and read, see, my jaw drops, then rises, this time, all I can say is OMG.

more footage showing the extent of the shelling on Osman Bin Afan mosque in Dier el Zor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz1LYgv2H1Q

The Turkish Ambassador was duped into believing that the regime did pull their tanks from Hama city. Unlike Mr Ford’s, his visit was probably arranged and shown and told what Jr wanted him to.

Residents are furious at his naiivity and especially at Turky’s intention of giving Jr two more weeks for reversing his brutal discourse.

????:???? ?????? 10 ????? ?????? 6 ?????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d22ocuLOoY&feature=player_embedded

Hamwis, many of whom still carry traumatic effects of Hama I massacre of Asad Sr., are enduring war time trauma of his heir.
Some relatives that I soke to in the city have not been able to sleep for the whole last week.

I just noticed the poll on the top left hand corner of the page. Not sure if the regime will fall in Ramadan.

Hopefully Assad will be celebrating Eid in Tehran. InshaAllah.

Scenario one: the regime crushes the revolt, the clan remains in power presiding over a pariah state that has Iran as the only ally in the region. Smuggling and injection of cash can prop it up for a while. Reforms will remain on paper and then the regime may go back to the world and claim legitimacy. Then interests will dictate response. More than likely the regime will have to abandon Iran’s support. It will emerge weaker than ever, more brutal than ever, and more corrupt than ever.

Scenario two, still the preferred choice; exile of the heads of the 17 security branches. True lifting of the state of emergency, release of all prisoners, return of exiles and opposition, and the formation of a national salvation front with the help of Turkey to stear it to lasting reforms. The head of state will remain symbolic with stripped powers.

Scenario three: continued repression with continued protests as is happening now. This will lead to a concerted effort to destroy the regime and replace it with whatever form of coalition forces. This will ensure that Syria will return fully to the Turkey KSA Egypt axis that is taking shape in front of our eyes. This is based on significantly more sanctions, air and maritime blockade, and sealing of borders ( difficult to do fully ).

The regime is cornered like Ghadafi and in contrast to Libya will crumble from within as dissenters will find an opportunity to dispatch junior and his family to the Caspian sea resorts. Ms. Vogue can then interview in a chador.

The regime has two weeks to avoid scenario three. I do not see it seeing the light. There is an urgent need for a visual field examination of the very top leadership, an MRI of the brain of the brother, and a hair cut for the brother in law.

It was published that the meeting yesterday took 6 hours. 3 hours between the delegations, and 3 more hours, the Turkish FM with Assad in private. What did they talk about for 3 hours? Doesn’t this sound strange to you ? 3 hours?

I think they discussed the day after the Assads. Just like the Yemeni president, what mostly concerns them is their personal survival, and naturally, immunity from future persecution. Such kind of discussion and bargain can take 3 hours. Nothing else can.
.

44 Dear Aboud, thanks for the note.
Would you have more information on the writers and signatories to this declaration?

I do think that the cracks are widening in the 3alawi community solidarity.

The sidelining of the Defence Minister, this announcement, and the launching of the Democratic National Initiative by ex-officials of the regime posted by Joshua underscore an evolving discontent at a relatively high order in the 3alawi community.

I believe the potential impact of such developments on the course of events on the ground, shall be negligible.
Parties to the crackdown, including the top army echelon, the security forces high command, and shabbeeha are locked in a battle for survival; their motto is kill or you will be killed.

However, such announcements from the 3alawi community are very important for maintaining and strengthening the nationalistic identity of the revolution and safeguarding against potential sectarian tension in post-Asad Syria.

The short article by Iranian Professor Ali Bigdeli in Joshua’s morning report above is very telling. Comments and political statements from Iranians need to be read carefully. The Teheran government has decided it is in their interest for the Assad regime to survive. Substantial foreign funds have already been transferred to shore up the central bank. Iranian influence is noticed in the military and Ministry of Information; some Iranians have begun posting on this site. The more Iran becomes involved, the more the Saudis will become involved. That will make Syria the “battleground” for 2 foreign powers, an outcome no Syrian should desire. Will those who prefer Syria for Syrians prefer a negotiated settlement? They probably would if they can trust the process. Consider the following analysis:

1. What are the regime’s interests? What do they want? 4 years ago an individual in the regime stated to me the policy of the Assad regime both foreign and domestic will always be the preservation of the Assad presidency. Everything can be interpreted in those terms. There is no indication the ruling family thinks otherwise today. The current policy of the regime is restore the status quo using force, torture and imprisonment as frequent as necessary.
Comment: Unless the family had to negotiate terms of abdication they will not entertain a relinquishment of any form of power. Therefore it will take others to force the Assads to negotiate or abdicate. Negotiations with persons in non governmental leadership rolls such as generals, capitalists, bankers, etc. may be the only route at this time.

2. Who are the decision makers in the Assad regime and what is Bashar’s roll? For the past 10 years a family council has been making most of the decisions – little of importance passes without the family’s approval. Basher is an important member of the council but grandfather is the moderator. Other family members include two hawks, Bashar’s brother, who commands the elite 4th division, and the brother in law, who commands the secret police.
Comment: Bashar is not a figurehead. He probably is the most influential council member and often in the past other council members have deferred to him. But for the present crisis Bashar is deferring to others in the family council and he may now be unable to change the course.

2. What do the demonstrators want? In diplomatic terms, what are the demonstrators’ interests?
(a) end the secret police and close all torture chambers.
(b) prosecution of those who engaged in torture and murder.
(c) Release of all held in custody
(d) freedom of speech, press and assembly
(e) Dignity and respect
(f) Equal and fair participation in the selection of government officials through free and open elections.
(g) for some, the end of the Assad regime.
Comment: The secret police and its activities, control of speech and press, and control of elections are pillars of the Assad regime. One should anticipate the Assads will not give up any of its pillars. It would appear at this time that there is nothing that can be the subject of negotiation.

3. The possibility of successful negotiations appear dim at present. It is in these situations that skilled international diplomats are most successful. What is needed is an inquirer with a diplomatic passport, an individual who will contact persons of interest. Instead of face to face negotiations between the parties, the inquirer travels first to one, then to the other searching for common ground. The inquirer must be trusted by everyone he contacts. This roll is is too dangerous for a Syrian to assume. My suggestion is a skilled professional international diplomat. Consider Norway’s diplomatic corps. Norway is a little country so one can never say the parties were forced into agreeing by a powerful nation. Their diplomats are very, very skilled. It was Norwegian diplomats that put Arafat and Begin together, a feat the world considered impossible.

4. Is there time? Maybe not. Events may overtake the effort of the inquirer, but it is better to try than not to try.

Comments and suggestions are encouraged.

50- ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????
51- ????? ?? ??????

51. Dear Amir, that is a good point!
However, one may argue that a conflict than could be settled with someone flexible in minutes, may take hours and still be left unresolved with an obstinate!

When asked about her husband in an interview with an American magasine last February, Asma described him as argumentative!
I recall that someone, and may be it was you, commented then, that scuh meant that he was stubborn and the battle was going to be long drawn!

Islamist militant group resurgent in Egypt
By Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/08/09/egypt.islamists/
El Arish, Egypt (CNN) — The town of el Arish in Egypt sits on the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean, its fine beaches lined by palm-trees. Developers have built luxury resorts close to this town of about 100,000 people.

But in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, el Arish is becoming known for something far different from tourism. A well-armed jihadist group is making its presence felt on the dusty streets here, intimidating opponents and demanding Egypt becomes an Islamist state.

On a scorching hot day late in July, several dozen people were demonstrating outside the al Nasr mosque in el Arish after Friday prayers. They were Salafists – conservative Islamists who want Egypt governed according to Islamic law. But not conservative enough for members of the Takfir-wal Higra – a group sympathetic to al Qaeda’s goal of establishing an Islamic Caliphate.

Mohamed Mahmoud, who was among the protestors, recalls what happened that day. “The Takfiris stormed in by the hundreds mounted on pickup trucks and motorcycles waving black flags, a symbol of Jihad,” he told CNN from a safe house not far from el Arish.

“The militants were heavily armed with machine guns, hand grenades and rocked-propelled grenades,” he said.

“They attacked two police stations and scared the residents under the name of Jihad. We only call for Jihad if someone attacks our Islamic country or people,” added Mahmoud.
more….

Syria’s unconstitutional constitution

Excellent critical analysis of the necessary overhaul of the Syrian constitution — detailing the essential dismantling of laws and edicts that contradict its rights guarantees. “Bill of Rights” – ” at Syria Today.

By Alma Hassoun & Nadia Muhanna

What does the constitution say about citizenship and how might this change?

With the escalation of the unrest in Syria and the accompanying surge in political dialogue, there has been a resurgence of discussion about the concept of citizenship.

In his book Guide to Citizenship, Hassan Abbas, a Syrian researcher, wrote that it is not enough to define citizenship as acquiring a nationality and enjoying the civil and political rights it offers. The definition includes active participation in public life.

“Freedom is the legal status quo of the citizen meaning that a citizen is free to choose between becoming an active citizen who participates in public life or…being a passive one,” Abbas wrote.

“Citizenship means the right of citizens to participate in all aspects of life,” Adel, a young theater critic who asked to remain anonymous, told Syria Today. He explained that the concept combines rights and duties, but that in Syria, duties trump rights.

Until recently, broader duties and rights as citizens went ignored, he argued, because people were more concerned with their everyday struggles.

“Through chatting with friends or with the grocer, I have a perception that the majority of people here have a similar direction in life: to secure a living for their families,” he said. “What has been happening [since the unrest started] put this view to the test. Things are bigger than that.”

The outline

Lawyers interviewed by Syria Today argued that deficiencies in ensuring citizens’ rights in Syria come from flaws in the constitution, where the state defines its idea of citizenship and organises the relationship between the government and citizens. Others said that the constitution guarantees adequate rights to citizens; however, the problem lies in many laws which are, in fact, unconstitutional.

In his speech last month, President Bashar al-Assad said that the new media, parties and electoral laws will allow “citizens to participate in making decisions, monitor and denounce” activities of the state. Making this change, Assad said, might require revising the constitution or issuing a new one.

President Assad said that no changes will take place before September and if any do occur they will be based on what the national dialogue meetings, held in July, recommended. It called for the establishment of a committee to “offer suggestions” that would create a “contemporary and new” constitution that “ensures political collectivity, social justice, the sovereignty of the law and basic human rights”.

Contradictory rulings

To implement citizens’ rights, as outlined in the Syrian constitution, articles from the very same constitution must be changed and effectively applied.

People’s political and civil rights can be found in the first chapter of the constitution titled “Basic Principles”. It grants all citizens personal freedom, equality before the law, participation in the political, economic, social and cultural life of society, the freedom of faith, the right (and duty) to work, free obligatory education, the right of free and open expression, freedom of the press and the right to demonstrate peacefully.

However, articles like number 8 – which grants the ruling Ba’ath party a monopoly on political power in the country – contradict and effectively negate the right of citizens to participate in political life.

Nazih Maalouf, a lawyer and former judge and the manager of Syria Court, a legal website that covers human rights and other legal issues in Syria, said the constitution includes many contradictory articles. For example, it states that all Syrians have equal rights and opportunities, but another article says that the country’s president must be Muslim and that legislation must be based on Islamic jurisprudence.

“Syrian women cannot pass down citizenship to their children, and they do not have the right of equal inheritance, or even [the right] to take independent decisions in many cases; like marriage, or travel,” Diala, a 27-year-old working in a private bank who asked to remain anonymous, said.

Anwar al-Bouni, a lawyer and head of the Syrian Center for Legal Studies, said that problems like these come from laws that contradict the constitution.

“In the Syrian constitution, there is no discrimination between men and women, but discrimination exists in some laws like the nationality one [which prevents Syrian mothers from passing their nationality to their offspring],” Bouni said.

Recently, a committee was set up to study the draft bill about amending Article 3 of the Nationality Law, which includes granting nationality to the children of Syrian women married to non-Syrians.

Another measure that contradicts the notion of universal equality came in with the constitution of 1961, which was drafted following a military coup that ended three years of union between Egypt and Syria, when the Syrian republic was first defined as Arab. This remained unchanged.

“Limiting citizenship to Syrian Arabs is unacceptable,” Maalouf declared. “A citizen must be any person who lives in this land and has specific rights and duties. Equality and people’s general liberties must be established by the constitution regardless of their religion or ethnicity.”

A new constitution, if amended or overhauled, should more clearly delineate citizens’ rights in order to prevent such contradictions in the future, he said.

“Individual liberties must be addressed by the constitution and should not be governed by laws because laws are subject to change, according to who is in power and are easy to play around with,” Maalouf explained. “The constitution is obligatory and is not easily changed.”

Challenges to change

“Changing the constitution alone is not enough. There should be a new constitution,” the veteran lawyer Bouni said.

According to Bouni, the power of the country’s constitutional court is restricted. It is supposed to be able to strike down unconstitutional laws. But the president, according to the constitution, assigns the members of the constitutional court to four-year posts, limiting the court’s independence. Another article in the constitution states that only the Syrian president or a quarter of the parliament can challenge unconstitutional laws.

As a result, the system is crippled, Bouni added.

“Obviously, they [members of parliament] are not going to issue unconstitutional laws and then refer them to court. Consequently, there are hundreds of unconstitutional laws in Syria and no one can challenge them,” he explained. “Since the establishment of the constitutional court not a single Syrian law has been challenged as unconstitutional.”

Syria Today used only first names for interviewees who wished to remain anonymous.

__________________________

Stuck in the Past

The current constitution has many articles in common with the series of constitutions drafted since the French left Syria in 1946. In a report published on the Damascus Center of Theoretical Studies and Human Rights, Syrian researcher Jan Habbash wrote that it was the 1958 and 1964 constitutions, for example, that introduced the one party political system in Syria. The constitution of 1950, on the other hand, first restricted presidency to Muslim Syrians after the French mandate.

Written in 1973, the Syrian constitution is out of date with how Syria has changed in the last four decades, according to Nazih Maalouf, a lawyer and former judge. Syria’s 10th Five-Year Plan called for an open, social-market economy while the constitution clearly states that the country’s economic policy should be socialist. References to “socialism” and the “socialist Ba’ath party” occur 25 times in the first few pages of the constitution.

Maalouf said in reality the concept of citizenship rests on the political system of the state. The general concept of citizenship, he said, is stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but in reality this concept relies on the political systems of socialism or capitalism.

Ahmed Haj Suleiman, from the parliamentary Constitutional and Legislative Committee said in an interview with state television that the constitution should be read and discussed as a whole, because all articles are related to each other.

Legal experts like veteran lawyer Anwar al-Bouni and Maalouf say that country’s political and legal authorities should be involved in writing a new constitution.

They also call for the separation of power between the legislature, executive and judicial authorities, to protect the rights of Syrians citizens.

“I haven’t read the constitution, thus I do not know what should be changed. However, everyone is talking about it now, and specifically Article 8,” Mujd al-Hamwi, a 22-year-old fine arts student in Damascus said. “What I know is that when people call for political pluralism and setting a certain presidential term, it is not because of a certain person or a certain party but because they want to participate,” he said.

Amir
Besho likes to talk. And he talks and lectures too much. He also likes to listen to his own talking thinking that he is making profound statements as he did in his high-school governance 101 lecture to the new cabinet. I would say that 2 of the 3 hours were a lecture in the history of imperialism, conspiracy, and good governance given to the Turkish FM, who seems to be be a very capable diplomat and a gentleman.

The article by Iranian Professor Ali Bigdeli in Joshua’s morning report needs careful consideration. Teheran has decided it is in Iran’s interest that the Assad regime survive. Substantial foreign currency funds have been made available to shore up the central bank. Iranian influence is detected in the military and Ministry of Information. In the past 3 weeks several Iranians in Syria’s Ministry of Information have entered comments on this site. The more Iran supports the Assad regime the more the Saudis will finance an alternative. Will those who desire Syria for Syrians prefer the alternative of a negotiated settlement? While the prospects seem dim, the door is open to skillful negotiations.

Turkish PM Erdo?an expects Syrian reforms within 15 days
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-253378-turkish-pm-erdogan-expects-syrian-reforms-within-15-days.html
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said on Wednesday that he hoped Syria would take steps towards reform within 10-15 days and that Ankara had given a clear message to Damascus to halt bloodshed from its brutal repression of pro-democracy protests.

Erdo?an, whose foreign minister, Ahmet Davuto?lu, visited Syria on Tuesday for talks with President Bashar al-Assad, said Turkish Ambassador to Damascus Ömer Önhon had visited the besieged city of Hama and reported back that tanks were leaving the city. “In Syria, the state is pointing guns at its own people,” Erdo?an said. “Turkey’s message to Assad is very clear: Stop all kinds of violence and bloodshed,” he said at a meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Ankara. He also reiterated the call for Damascus to meet the democracy demands of the Syrian people.

“We hope that within 10-15 days this will be realized and steps will be taken toward a reform process in Syria,” Erdo?an said.

The prime minister said that news of tanks leaving Hama, the scene of a fierce military crackdown this month in which human rights groups say up to 300 people were killed, showed that Turkey’s efforts are generating positive outcomes.
…..

“[Assad] also shared his convictions with us and we have concretely discussed some important steps that need to be taken. We will all together see what will happen in coming days. I don’t want to lead to an expectation and I don’t believe that it is right to create an expectation in this or that way. … [As] we are passing through a critical period … from now on, days are important, weeks are important; with the steps to be taken, the shape that the process will take will become clear,” Davuto?lu added.

On Wednesday, speaking only minutes after Erdo?an, Davuto?lu reiterated that Ambassador Önhon had confirmed that tanks and heavy artillery have been withdrawn from Hama.

Some members of the press were also allowed to visit Hama for the first time since the military offensive began, Davuto?lu said, noting that this was one of the pieces of advice he conveyed to al-Assad on Tuesday. Journalists of both Turkish and foreign media will travel to Hama in the coming days to provide coverage of the events taking place. Davuto?lu emphasized that media access to other Syrian cities is also important. He appeared satisfied with the measures Syria is now taking, noting that the Syrian government took a major step less than 24 hours after their talks in Damascus.
Turkey’s messages conveyed to Syria

Speaking to reporters upon his return from Damascus on Tuesday, Davuto?lu underlined that the messages he conveyed to al-Assad were those of Turkey and not any third party, dismissing charges at home that he had visited Syria on behalf of the US.

“I want to emphasize, as a matter of principle, that I only convey considerations by our president, the prime minister and the government,” Davuto?lu said when reminded of a phone conversation he had had with the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, prior to his visit.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner lauded Davuto?lu’s visit and reiterated that Clinton had spoken with the Turkish foreign minister on Sunday. “They did talk about the situation in Syria, you know, and we believe it’s another opportunity to send yet another strong message to Assad that this crackdown on peaceful protesters cannot stand,” Toner said on Monday.

Toner gave reporters an insight into the nature of the phone conversation, where he highlighted that the US had requested Turkey to “press Syria” for certain moves during Davuto?lu’s visit. Toner’s explanation included Clinton’s clarification of the US position that “Syria must immediately return its military to [the] barracks and release all prisoners of concern.” She had requested her Turkish counterpart “reinforce these messages with the Syrian government.”

Militants urge British rioters to topple system
http://news.yahoo.com/militants-urge-british-rioters-topple-system-150451217.html
CAIRO (AP) — Militant online forums are abuzz with calls to Muslims in Britain to launch Internet campaigns in support of the British rioters and to urge them to topple the government.

Dozens of contributors on Wednesday suggested Muslims in Britain should flood social media websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, with slogans and writings inciting the British youth to continue rioting.

One contributor says the rioters should adopt slogans similar to those used by Arab protesters during the uprisings in the Middle East this year.

“The people want the killer of Mark Duggan punished” is suggested — a reference to the British man whose death sparked the riots.

Another contributor says an Internet media attack is very important and that “chaos is useful to militants in London.”

Turkish PM Erdogan expects Syrian reforms within 15 days
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-253378-turkish-pm-erdogan-expects-syrian-reforms-within-15-days.html
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that he hoped Syria would take steps towards reform within 10-15 days and that Ankara had given a clear message to Damascus to halt bloodshed from its brutal repression of pro-democracy protests.

Erdogan, whose foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, visited Syria on Tuesday for talks with President Bashar al-Assad, said Turkish Ambassador to Damascus Ömer Önhon had visited the besieged city of Hama and reported back that tanks were leaving the city. “In Syria, the state is pointing guns at its own people,” Erdogan said. “Turkey’s message to Assad is very clear: Stop all kinds of violence and bloodshed,” he said at a meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Ankara. He also reiterated the call for Damascus to meet the democracy demands of the Syrian people.

“We hope that within 10-15 days this will be realized and steps will be taken toward a reform process in Syria,” Erdogan said.

The prime minister said that news of tanks leaving Hama, the scene of a fierce military crackdown this month in which human rights groups say up to 300 people were killed, showed that Turkey’s efforts are generating positive outcomes.
…..

“[Assad] also shared his convictions with us and we have concretely discussed some important steps that need to be taken. We will all together see what will happen in coming days. I don’t want to lead to an expectation and I don’t believe that it is right to create an expectation in this or that way. … [As] we are passing through a critical period … from now on, days are important, weeks are important; with the steps to be taken, the shape that the process will take will become clear,” Davutoglu added.

On Wednesday, speaking only minutes after Erdogan, Davutoglu reiterated that Ambassador Önhon had confirmed that tanks and heavy artillery have been withdrawn from Hama.

Some members of the press were also allowed to visit Hama for the first time since the military offensive began, Davutoglu said, noting that this was one of the pieces of advice he conveyed to al-Assad on Tuesday. Journalists of both Turkish and foreign media will travel to Hama in the coming days to provide coverage of the events taking place. Davutoglu emphasized that media access to other Syrian cities is also important. He appeared satisfied with the measures Syria is now taking, noting that the Syrian government took a major step less than 24 hours after their talks in Damascus.
Turkey’s messages conveyed to Syria

Speaking to reporters upon his return from Damascus on Tuesday, Davutoglu underlined that the messages he conveyed to al-Assad were those of Turkey and not any third party, dismissing charges at home that he had visited Syria on behalf of the US.

“I want to emphasize, as a matter of principle, that I only convey considerations by our president, the prime minister and the government,” Davutoglu said when reminded of a phone conversation he had had with the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, prior to his visit.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner lauded Davutoglu’s visit and reiterated that Clinton had spoken with the Turkish foreign minister on Sunday. “They did talk about the situation in Syria, you know, and we believe it’s another opportunity to send yet another strong message to Assad that this crackdown on peaceful protesters cannot stand,” Toner said on Monday.

Toner gave reporters an insight into the nature of the phone conversation, where he highlighted that the US had requested Turkey to “press Syria” for certain moves during Davutoglu’s visit. Toner’s explanation included Clinton’s clarification of the US position that “Syria must immediately return its military to [the] barracks and release all prisoners of concern.” She had requested her Turkish counterpart “reinforce these messages with the Syrian government.”

Sanctions against the Syrian Commercial Bank.
The reason?
Dealing with North Korea!?!?

???????? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??????

????? ???????? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ????????.
?????? ??? ???????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ??????? ????????? ???????? ?????????? ?? ??????? ???.

The Us just declared that Syria will be better without president Assad, the covert regime change has just become overt, Syrians should hold on to seat belts,

How smart of Amir

You rarely see such genius nowadays. He was able to tell what the conversation was about just from the length of it. If only more people were like you Amir.

Dear Revlon #51,

Yes. It was me. Argumentative, stubborn, inflexible, may be even a bit immature (the childish giggles ?).

Solitarius,

You forgot I’m an Israeli. Like all of us Israelis, I’m a Mossad agent, and have my unique ways of knowing things, you will never find out!! Brrrrrr.
.

Erdogan hails success of Ankara message to Syria
Ankara – Syria’s withdrawal of tanks from the central city of Hama showed that Turkey’s diplomatic efforts were effective, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday.
The prime minister was speaking to members of his Justice and Development Party in their headquarters a day after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu spent more than six hours talking to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.
Turkey sought to persuade the Syrians to withdraw their armed forces from the streets, where they have been confronting pro-democracy protesters, and to put an end to the bloodshed, which has claimed an estimated 1,600 lives since the uprising began in mid-March.
After two months of anti-government demonstrations in Hama, Syrian troops, tanks and armoured personnel carriers rolled into the city last week.
Pro-democracy activists say at least 250 people were killed as the military tried to impose its authority on the city.
Death tolls cannot be independently verified as the Syrian government does not allow free access to journalists and human rights groups.
Erdogan said Turkey’s ambassador to Syria, Omer Onhon, had visited Hama on Wednesday and reported that heavy armour was leaving the city.
‘This is a sign that our initiative is producing results,’ said Erdogan, according to the newspaper Today’s Zaman.
Separately, Davutoglu told reporters that ambassador Onhon had witnessed that tanks and armoured vehicles were leaving Hama.
‘The important thing is that Damascus took the first step less than 24 hours after I visited the country,’ Davutoglu said, according to the semi-official Anatolian Agency.
He added there could be a similar withdrawal from the eastern city of Deir al-Zour in the near future.
The military entered Deir al-Zour, the hub of Syria’s oil industry, a few days ago after weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations.
Analysts who have watched the uprising note that the focus of activity tends to change, with the security forces concentrating on detaining dissidents in one or two cities at a time, and then moving on to other towns.
Later, protests re-emerge in the towns first occupied by the military. For instance, the military first went into Deir al-Zour in May.
———————————

?????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ????????? ????? ??????

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??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ???????. ??? ?? ???? ?? ????????? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?? ???????? ??????????. ??? ???? ?? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ??????????? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ???????.
??? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ????? ???? ???????. ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ???????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ????????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ????? ????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ????????? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ???????.

I am a US citizen and I owe a lot to this country. The US can be a force for good in Syria but not when israel’s interests dictate US foreign policy in the middle east. Another concern is the obvious downturn this country is taking especially economically. The policies of the neoconservatives and previous president dealt a serious blow to US prestige and credibility. The US is still a major player in the Mideast but its influence and its ability to shape events are overestimated.

??? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ? ??????

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????? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? 123 ????? ????? ?????? ??????? ????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ???????.
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????? ?????? ???????? ?????? “????? ????” ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????? ?????? “???? ?? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ?????????? ??????? ????????” ?? ?????? ?? ??????/????? ?????? ??????.
?? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ????? ???? ???????? ??? ??? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????.
??? ?? ????? ???? ?? ???? “??? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ????????? ??????? ???????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ???????.
???? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??? ???????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??? ????????? ?? ????????? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ???? “?? ????? ??????????? ???????? ??????? ??????”.
????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ?????? ????????. ?? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ???????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ???????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ???????? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ????? 17 ????/ ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ???????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????? ??????.
????? ???? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? “?? ????? ?????”? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ?? ????? ????????? ???? ??? ????????? ??????? ?? ???????? ????????? ????????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?????????? ????????? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???????.
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???? ????? “?????????? ?????” ?????????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? 123 ????? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ???????.
????? ???? ??????? ?????????? “?? ?? ??”? ?? ??????? ?? ??????? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ?? 67 ????? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ???????? ???????.
????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????? ?????? 30 ????? ????? ??????.
?????? ??????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ????????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ??? 122.88 ????? ????? ??????.
????? ??? ?????? ? ???? ???????? ??? ?? ???????????? ????????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ?????.
?????? ??????? “?? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ???????? ???????? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ????? ????? ??????? ?????????”.
????? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ??????? ????? “??? ?????? ??????? ??60 ????? ????? ???? ??????? ???? 84 ?????? ?? ??? “??-15” ?????? 70 ????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?? ?????????: 70 “??????” ?”72 ???? ???” ?36 “???? ?????”.
?? ??????? ???? ????? “??? ????? ??????” ??? ?????? ???????? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????????? ????????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ???? “?? ??? ?? ?? ?? “?? ????? ?????? ???????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ???????? ?????????? ??? ?? ????????? ?????????? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ??????.
???? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ???? “?????” ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ????????.
???? ?????? ?????????? ??? ?????? ??????????? ?? “?????? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ????????? ????? ?? ????? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ?????.
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??? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ?? ????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ???????. ?????: ?? ?????? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ??????.
???? ????????? ?????????- ??????????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? : ?? ????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ???????”.
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??? ???? ?????? ??? “??? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ??????, ??????? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ???? 400 ??? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????????”, ???????? ??? ?? ????? ????? ????? ??? ?? ?? ???????? ???????? ????.
????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???? “?????? ????” ?? ????????? “????? ??????” ?????? ????? “???????” ????????? ?? ????? ???? “???? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ???????? ?? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????, ????????? ??? ??? ??????, ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????”.
????? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ????? “??????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????”, ??? “??? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ?700 ??? ????”, ??? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ?”????? ??????” ????? ??????? “???????” ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????.

Come on, we all know what those three hours were spend on. Besho was showing off his leet skillz on Call of Duty.

???? ???? 6 ????? ????? ?? ?????… ?????? ???? ??? ???

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??? ???? ??? ????????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ???????? ???????????? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ??? ?? ?? «????????» ????? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ??????.
???? ??? ?????? ???? ???????? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????.
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????? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ???????? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ????????? ??????? ?? ????????? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ????????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ???????.
????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ???? ?? ????????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ??????.
?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???????.
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????? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ??????

??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ?? ???????? ??????? ???????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ???????.
????? ???? “????? ??” ????????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ?????????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ???? ?????.

?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ????????? ?????????? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?????????.

????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ?? ??????? ????? ??????? ??? 48 ????? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ?????.

??? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ???????? ??? ????? ??????????.

?? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ????????? ???????? ?????? ????????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???????? .

Jr-Turkish FM meeting failed.
Jr to the Turkish FM:
– If you expecame to strike a deal then we have nothing to offer
– If you came to threaten us with war then I tell you we are ready for a regional war.

http://all4syria.info/web/archives/21911

????? ??????: ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ???

????? ???? – ???? ????? ?????? – ???

???? ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ???????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ??? ????.

?????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ???????? ??????? ???? ???????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? .

?????? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ???????:

1 – ????? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ?? ????.

2 – ????? ??? ???? ????????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???????.

3 – ???? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?????.

4- ????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ????.

5 – ???? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ???????.

6 – ????? ??? ??????? ????????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ??????.

??? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??? ??????????.

??? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ??????: ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ??? ?? ???? ???????.

Amir

I’m aware that you are Israeli. Also you might or might not be a Mossad agent, it’s irrelevant.

Anyway.. I don’t know about other cities. but here in Homs there is no indication that the government is going to fall apart to the extent that Assad now has to worry about Asylum. There are tons of things to talk about. 3 hours is barely enough to cover Syria let alone talking about other countries having termoil next door. The problem in Homs is the presence of armed people who are keeping things tense, and the frequent sounds of gunfire which is probably mostly the work of the government.. but who really knows what’s happening. Eventually we learn in what area the gunfire was from but nobody knows the details. People are voluntarily moving to safer areas for the summer but will have to return to the city once schools and winter arrive. It’s not that it’s “dangerous” per se.. it’s just annoying with sporadic danger. For example, there was an incident when armed people entered a public bus (armed with knives and guns) and asked for security personnel. The story goes that people were jumping out of the windows of the bus but it’s hard to believe. The story is true however (the part about the armed gangsters). They just disappeared afterwards when they didn’t find what they wanted.

There is also the sad story of a guy who lived in Bab el Sbaa and was murdered by the democracy seekers. They shot him, and when they found out that he didn’t die, kidnapped him from the hospital and stabbed him to death. They later found out that they killed the brother of their target. So apparently recently they killed the correct brother. He was a Christian and according to their story he was a collaborator. It makes no sense either way to kill a person whether he was a civilian collaborator or not. What does it even mean? they said he allowed the police to use his balcony or rooftop. Can someone really say no to the police if they wanted to use his house for such purposes in Syria? so it’s a criminal act either way. It’s a true story and my aunt went to his funeral. His last name is Turk. Actually a distant relative of ours is now apparently on their death list.. ????? ???
Why? who knows. they can have whatever silly reason they want. He operates a jewelry store.. so maybe he wasn’t closing his store in the market like they want.

Long story short, I honestly don’t know of a single true peaceful demonstration in Homs. Perhaps i’m illinformed, but it’s also something to consider that all stories I have are of violent rioters or at least eventually turn into violence. I have similar stories from Deir Ezzor from a Deiri guy.

With this kind of atmosphere no resolution can be expected that will be to the benefit of the opposition. They cannot get enough critical mass. Slowly they are losing the interest of the general population. All stores are pretty much closed in Homs.. People are running out of money. I’m sure they will be fed up with this whole thing by the end of Ramadan.

At the same time, Bashar better get serious and implement some reforms. Enough BS.

testing

Obama Administration to Call for england’s cameron to Step Down:

i am appalled by the english regime’s use of violence and brutality against its own people.
the reports out of london and liverpool are horrifying and demonstrate the true character of the cameron regime.
once again, pm cameron has shown that he is completely incapable and unwilling to respond to the legitimate grievances of the english people. his use of torture, corruption and terror puts him on the wrong side of history and his people.
through his own actions and inactions, david cameron is ensuring that he and his regime will be left in the past, and that the courageous english people who have demonstrated in the streets will determine its future.
england will be a better place when a democratic transition goes forward.
sanctions will be considered as well as a nato response to prevent further slaughter of innocents.

testing posts but nothing else.

well .. are your tests working?

We have just learned of the Turkish demands.
We still do not know the other part of the ultimatum!

Mubarak was there, by serendipity to rescue his father’s ass from the Turkish wrath had he failed to meet their ultimatum!

There is no one in sight yet that have the potential to broker Jr’s submission.

It is interesting, that the offer that concerned Jr’s future gave guarantees of safe residence in Turkey for “him and his family”

Finding out what was meant by “family” may shed more light on the intricacies of the negotiations.

“Long story short, I honestly don’t know of a single true peaceful demonstration in Homs. Perhaps i’m illinformed”

Check the links I posted on the marvelous demonstrations in Khaldia.

“. I don’t know about other cities. but here in Homs there is no indication that the government is going to fall apart to the extent that Assad now has to worry about Asylum.”

Do you mean have we reached the stage where we can declare an Islamic Emirate (heheheh). Nope, but have you been by the old Karnak? Count the number of armored vehicles parked there. There is a heavy security presence in Homs that has done nothing to subdue the demonstrations.

You hear that gun fire from Baba Amr? Some soldiers with their APCs defected.

“He operates a jewelry store.. so maybe he wasn’t closing his store in the market like they want. ”

I personally know a super market owner near Damascus road who never closes. As far as I can tell, in five months no one has tried to murder him.

Can someone please comment on Mohammad Suleiman, the former minister of information and 41 former minister, if their manifesto carries any weight or pressure on junior and his brother and in law.

Their diagnosis of the problem and the solutions they offered is completely in line with the protesters and the opposition inside and outside.

No one seem to give it any importance, why?

I was truly hopeful after reading it. Is it wishful thinking.

ABOUD do you have any evidence about the defect of the units in Baba Amr? Because the fire has stopped now. I don’t really buy that story. It sounds more like the government is shooting here and there to keep people from going out or they are pursuing some people. I think if it was a defection it wouldn’t last that long.. the fire was for most of the day sporadically.

?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????? ??? ?????

????? ????? ??????? ????????? ?? 10 ?????/?? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ?????.

????? ????? “??????” ?? ??????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????????. [WMD! not again! is Clinton going to do a presentation in the UN any time soon?]

??? ?????? ?????? ???? “???????” ??? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ?? ????????? ???????? ?????? ?? ????????? ?? ???????? ???? ??????? ?? ?????.

In Baba Amr another fresh massacre is taking place. So far 18 civilians slaughtered by Assad killing spree.

Vested interests make Syria oil unlikely EU target

(Reuters) – Despite worsening bloodshed in Syria, there appears little prospect that Western countries will put teeth in their sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad any time soon by targeting his vital oil industry.

While states like Turkey and Saudi Arabia have recently increased political pressure on Syria, dissidents and analysts say divisions among European states and a reluctance to sacrifice commercial interests have emboldened Assad in a crackdown that activists say has killed more than 1,600 people.

Syria produces about 400,000 barrels of oil a day, exporting most of about 150,000 barrels per day to European countries including the Netherlands, Italy, France and Spain.

While small on a global scale, analysts and activists say the exports bring in millions of dollars a day to Assad’s government, accounting for perhaps 30 percent of its income.

Despite daily increases in the protester death toll and the use of tanks against anti-government demonstrators, the European Union has continued to take an incremental approach to sanctions.

In four rounds since March, it has subjected 35 individuals including Assad to asset freezes and visa bans and targeted military-linked firms linked to the suppression of dissent.

But it has not touched the oil sector, where big European corporations Anglo-Dutch Royal Dutch Shell and France’s Total are significant investors.

Last week, after the EU expressed shock at the “massacre” of civilians in the town of Hama, EU ambassadors agreed to expand the sanctions list in coming weeks and said consideration should be given to expanding the “scope” of restrictions.

However, EU officials say that any more robust steps against Syrian economic interests that might include the oil sector are unlikely even to be discussed before the end of the EU’s August summer break.

At last week’s ambassadors’ meeting Germany called on EU states to “explore options on economic sanctions” while adding that it was “not sure” itself if this was the best approach.

Britain said the bloc should “start the process of considering” economic sanctions and France raised the possibility of sanctions against the Commercial Bank of Syria.

The meeting concluded by inviting the EU executive to draw up an “options paper,” with the suggestion that this would “be good to have” before an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Poland on September 2-3, an EU official said.

VESTED INTERESTS

Such a lack of urgency not only betrays vested EU interests, but has played directly into Assad’s hands, analysts say.

“Sanctions on the energy sector would be an obvious next step,” said Clara O’Donnell of the Centre for European Reform.

“But if there were a real interest to do that it would probably have gone further already — the level of violence the Syrian authorities have been inflicting has been quite prolonged now and it’s striking to see how slow the exploration of widening sanctions has been,” she said.

“Clearly the desire of European policy makers not to damage the economic interests of some firm may be a playing a role.”

Rime Allaf, a Syrian Middle East expert at Chatham House, said the EU approach had likely worsened the bloodshed.

“Making a noise about sanctions and not actually acting has given the regime a lot more self-confidence that it can literally get away with murder,” she said.

Among arguments advanced by EU states reluctant to pursue economic sanctions is that they could increase the suffering of civilians, even though dissidents say more and more Syrians would stomach short-term pain for long-term gain.

EU states have also been unable to agree to declare that Assad has lost legitimacy and should step down, or to follow Italy’s lead in pulling out its ambassador to Damascus.

“The main concern for us is to stop the killing,” said a diplomat from one EU state. “But there are some strong arguments that economic sanctions will not really help. And there are some strong counter-arguments saying the opposite.

“So there is no unanimity for the time being.”

A Swedish official said differing views on extending sanctions to the oil industry and financial institutions meant for now “the likelihood of a strong response appears small.”

And while the United States might have wanted to go further, “they don’t want to push the question if there aren’t EU countries that also support it,” he said.

Ausama Monajed, a spokesman for the Syrian opposition in Europe, called for sanctions to be extended to the Syrian oil sales and marketing companies Sytrol and MAHRUKAT, as well as to the Syrian Real Estate Bank and the Syrian Commercial Bank.

“By sanctioning the oil companies you would dry up the major sources of funding being used to buy bullets to kill people,” he said, while warning of a campaign of increasing public pressure on EU governments and companies.

“If they want their logos associated with the images of 11, 12 and 13-year-old kids being shot in the head, then let it be.”

Even so, it remains unclear how effective such a campaign might be, given limited European public interest in what is seen by many as just the latest Middle East unrest, and preoccupation with internal problems such as the euro zone debt crisis.

“It’s unlucky for Syria that it’s just the latest in country to go through this,” said O’Donnell. “And the Libya episode has definitely made governments more cautious in their responses.”

The lack of quick results from the Western intervention in Libya and of any guarantee that any Syrian transition would be smooth, or even friendly to Western interests, has killed even theoretical talk of a military option in Syria.

Again this has played into Assad’s hands.

“It is very possible that Assad will remain in control,” O’Donnell said. “The fact that he knows military action is completely off the cards means the Americans and Europeans have lost their bluff cards and can’t even keep up the pressure by implying they might intervene,” she said.

“Also Assad knows that particularly when it comes to the Europeans, they don’t even have the military means to take forceful action because they are over-stretched elsewhere.”

Solitarius, the firing stopped briefly during iftar, but has come back. And on the contrary, the firing has been taking so long *because* there was a defection. All the firing has been concentrated in the same area, and it’s been very very indiscriminate. Alot of civilians have been taken to the hospitals nearby.

Why would the security forces care about people from Baba Amr going out? It would only make sense if it was part of a campaign simultaneously targeting Khaldia, Bab Asba3, Al-Bayada, Al-Qusur, Al-Hamra, Al-Insha’at (ok it’s pretty near to Baba Amr), Karm al Shami…etc etc.

The security forces have never been able to take on all the neighborhoods of Homs all at once, they just don’t have the manpower (thank you Aleppo for keeping them up there hehehhe)

[Changed again; the sanctions against the Syrian Commercial Bank are not only because of ‘Korea’ or the ‘WMD’ but according to the lovely Tabler, are for ‘Oil’]

U.S. sanctions Syrian bank linked to oil exports

The Obama administration slapped fresh sanctions on Syria’s biggest bank on Wednesday, a move that could harm the country’s ability to export oil, analysts and officials said.

The new penalty on the Commercial Bank of Syria, a state-owned institution, was the latest step in the administration’s efforts to tighten the noose around President Bashar al-Assad. The U.S. government, with little economic leverage of its own in Syria, has been trying to build a stronger international front to pressure Assad over his crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.

At least 2,000 peaceful protesters have been slain by Syrian forces since the uprising began earlier this year, according to U.S. officials.

White House spokesman Jay Carney reiterated Wednesday that Syria “would be better off without President Assad.” But he stopped short of an outright call on Assad to step down.

The George W. Bush administration had already banned U.S. companies from doing business with the Commercial Bank of Syria. But Andrew Tabler, a Syria expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said that those 2004 sanctions were weaker because they were an attempt to target money laundering. Therefore, they did not stop some European countries from doing business with the bank.

In contrast, the latest U.S. designation accuses the bank of providing financial services to Syrian and North Korean institutions allegedly involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

“This will encourage the Europeans to target the Commercial Bank of Syria completely,” said Tabler, author of an upcoming book on U.S.-Syria relations, “In the Lion’s Den.”

Such a move would be significant because the bank handles Syria’s oil revenues, a major revenue source for Assad’s government. European countries are the biggest customers for Syria’s oil.

The latest sanctions also target Syriatel, the country’s largest mobile phone operator.

Syriatel is owned by Rami Makhluf, an influential Syrian businessman who was hit with U.S. sanctions earlier this month because of his support of the Assad government.

The U.S. government has been trying to increase pressure through sanctions on influential business allies of the Assad government, in hopes they will lessen their support.

David S. Cohen, the Treasury undersecretary for financial intelligence, said in a statement that the measures showed “we are taking aim at the financial infrastructure that is helping provide support to Asad and his regime’s illicit activities.”

@82 NZ asks if someone can please comment on Mohammad Suleiman and his group of signatories, ex-Ba’ath, ex-ministers. I second that call, noting that some commentary on twitter stresses the their plan’s retention of the current government in its transition scheme . . . but otherwise the suggestions, as you point out, are the same as the straight opposition (Hussein, Declaration fellows) and the streets, and Abughassan for that matter, pretty basic bottom line regarding the failing ‘security solution.’

But, of course, the story is blacked out completely from official and semi-official mass media in Syria. What can you do when such an event is cloaked from view? Is this news on DP-news, or SANA, let alone BBC? No, no and no.

I think it is a job for a Landis or a politico-watcher (or Syria Superperson) to give this development some serious attention and further reportage, someone who has the information on these gentlemen and their earlier roles in government and leading party. It seems these guys may need a marketing hand, too.

In my most cynical moments I think that news like this little-remarked story in the National (UAE organ) is even kept from the President’s eyes, lest he go off-script. It is as if the clan built a machine, and now the Machine controls even the President, what he sees, what he hears, what he thinks. Somehow it seems to me that Shaban and the other regimists were at his first three hours to keep him on script.

Besides this mystery, is there even a suggestion on the wind that the Ba’ath party is functioning — is it meeting, thinking, shaping, reacting or just following the crisis rulebook of the Machine?

PS — Spamcatcher 2 WSS 0 so far today . . .

Assad mafia, newest target are the minarets of Syria. They are the hallmark of the opposition. What can we expect next from this Syrian Mafia?

I agree with you W.S.S. “I think it is a job for a Landis or a politico-watcher”.

Professor Landis any suggestions?

WILLIAM and N.Z.
Several factors:

1. The Regime is being literally a rabid skunk convinced that its murderous rampage is working.

2. Other states continue to extend one probationary period after another and regime uses every extension hoping to get things back to the Pre-Jan 2011 period. Both are delusional with regime sycophants being the most delusional of the bunch.

The regime is not interested in solutions that will result in accountability, which only means most members of the extended Assad Clan above 18 will be indicted for crimes against humanity, not to mention other crimes punishable by the existing criminal code of Syria.

That S.O.B Dawudoglu is drinking the kool-aid about “armed gangs”.

Erdogan just have Junior 2 weeks to kill more people. Great.

Aboud, are sure the soldiers in Baba Amr defected ? Are they safe ? How many people have been killed in Baba Amr ?

To NZ and WSS,
I completely agree with both of you about the importance of this declaration. It is in effect, historic. Over the 40 some Assad years, we have seen a few declarations, but never before by people of these ex- high ranks in the regime itself.
I want you to watch and mark my word, as we see these signatories to the declaration, be killed, arrested or withdraw their signature in public after being “convinced” by the regime. I forgot one more option: suicide by two bullets in the head(possible only in Syria).

ABOUD

the defection story doesn’t make sense. never did. If as you say the government doesn’t have enough forces to tackle all neighborhoods at the same time, that means they are only using loyal units, and those won’t defect. To this day there is no evidence of any significant defection. Promoting this idea without merit is only an attempt to legitimize foreign intervention and targeting the Syrian army/security because they are “defecting” from within.

“the defection story doesn’t make sense.”

Whatever you say Solitarius. All those guys flashing their military IDs? I guess there is a salafi printing factory that prints them by the dozens.

“If as you say the government doesn’t have enough forces to tackle all neighborhoods at the same time, that means they are only using loyal units”

They can only depend on loyal units to go into the neighborhoods and places like Hama. They put just anyone on the checkpoints. It’s not like the entire army is confined just to its bases 24/7

More Baathists and regime loyalists need to speak out against violence and in support of freedom and democracy. A political break thru is not possible without an admission by both sides,especially the regime,that there is no military solution to this crisis.
The army needs to pull out of cities and security forces need to act only when civil peace is threatened. Arresting peaceful opposition figures is a sure way to aggravate the situation and push Syria deeper into a tunnel of bloodshed and violence.
Bashar’s departure is needed but not enough. A broader agreement is needed about the road ahead. Even in Egypt,which does not have an army loyal to the regime,Mubarak did not give his post to the streets,he gave it to a military council.

Assad withdraws tanks as Ankara still cautious
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=assad-withdraws-tanks-as-ankara-still-cautious-2011-08-10
Turkey cautiously welcomes the pull-out of Syrian tanks from Hama
after its top diplomat’s visit to Damascus but calls for more steps soon
The tensions in Hama grow after a huge protest against Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad after Friday prayers last week. Reuters photo

Turkey on Wednesday welcomed the pull-out of Syrian tanks from Hama as a direct outcome of its pressure on Damascus, but remained cautious and urged more steps within “10 to 15 days” to ease the turmoil.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said Turkey’s ambassador to Syria confirmed that tanks and security forces were leaving the revolt hub of Hama after the envoy visited the city Wednesday following seven-hour talks between Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus the previous day.

“This is very, very important as it shows that our initiative has produced a positive result. We hope that things are fully completed within a period of 10 to 15 days and steps are taken regarding the reform process in Syria,” Erdo?an said.

“We will continue to closely monitor the developments in Syria and watch for the issues that we discussed” with al-Assad, he said, adding that Ankara’s pressure was motivated by its commitment to promoting democracy in the region. The immediate measures Ankara expects from al-Assad’s government include the announcement of a timetable for elections and the release of all political prisoners, a senior Turkish official said.

Erdo?an said the use of force against civilians must stop “as soon as possible” and stressed that al-Assad’s pledges for reform “would convince neither the Syrian people nor the international community as long as people are being killed every day.” Ambassador Ömer Önhon toured Hama, the scene of the bloodiest security crackdown since anti-regime protests erupted in Syria in mid-March, talked to residents and prayed with them at a mosque, Davuto?lu told reporters.The ambassador reported the city was free from tanks and heavy weaponry but “lacked activity and vivacity.”

“The second important step we expect [from Damascus] is media access” to Syria, Davuto?lu said, adding that Ankara would organize within a few days a press tour to Hama and Deir Ezzor, another flashpoint in the uprising. Following his talks with Davuto?lu, a defiant al-Assad pledged to pursue a relentless battle against “terrorist groups” whom the regime has blamed for the violence.

Davuto?lu said Wednesday that he had spoken over the phone with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as well as his counterparts from Brazil, Germany and Jordan after he returned from Damascus. “If Syria begins to take steps in line with the demands of its people and ends the bloodshed, and if the international community unites to speak in one voice on the issue, the process may advance in a way that would ease everybody’s concerns,” he said.

Assad has nine lives
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
MURAT YETK?N – [email protected]
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=assad-has-nine-lives-2011-08-10

Israelis used to make a political joke in the first few years of Bashar al-Assad: Syrian generals trembled as the father Assad entered the room; the son trembled as generals entered the room.

Not anymore. Nowadays Israelis join Iranians, perhaps uniquely on the indispensability (for the time being) of the son Assad as the president of Syria, despite mounting pressure from all over the world regarding the violent methods Assad’s generals use against their own people who demand more democracy.
……
Yet, like many others, Turkey doesn’t want Assad to go now despite diplomatic indications that the United States is set to call him to empty his chair. This is also despite reports sent to Ankara that said that at the very moment when Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu announced Syrian tanks had withdrawn from Hama and Turkish Ambassador to Damascus Ömer Önhon joined noon prayers there, other Syrian tanks and troops were carrying out similar operations in towns in the west of the country near the Turkish border.

The reason why Assad is ignoring almost all calls and warnings and ultimatums is the same with his indispensability in the eyes of so many countries, especially the neighboring ones. Because, no one knows who is going to replace Assad and no one is sure whether the situation will be any better under his successor.

That is the reason why Prime Minister Tayyip Erdo?an reacted in anger to the Turkish main opposition leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu when the latter asked, “What are you going to do when your patience is exhausted? Are you going to go for a military intervention?” Everybody concerned knows there are no conditions for military intervention in Syria; like Libya or Iraq. And Assad knows that one of his main powers keeping him in his chair is his weakness.

more….