"Three Scenarios for Syria's Future," by Joshua Landis w. Lara Setrakian

“Three Scenarios for Syria’s Future,” by Joshua Landis w. Lara Setrakian

Tuesday, December 11th, 2012

“Three Scenarios for Syria’s Future,” by Joshua Landis w. Lara Setrakian of Syria Deeply

Why Assad may last longer than this summer
The Sunni Arab Majority and Syrian Nationalism
The future of the Alawites
How the “Turkish”, “Iraqi”, and “Lebanon” models play out for Syria

[News Round Up Follows]

Top news: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters on Tuesday that the Syrian government no longer appears to be preparing chemical weapons for use against the rebels. “At this point the intelligence has really kind of leveled off,” he said.

Meanwhile, the United States officially designated the Nusra Front, one of the leading Islamist rebel militias, a foreign terrorist organization. Nuland said, Al-Nusra “has sought to portray itself as part of the legitimate Syrian opposition while it is, in fact, an attempt by AQI to hijack the struggles of the Syrian people for its own malign purposes,” she said. Illness forces Clinton to briefly delay trip to meeting on Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based opposition group, said fighters from the al-Nusra Front were among rebel forces who it says have seized control of a government military base in the Sheikh Sleiman area of western Reef Aleppo.

Syrian Minister of Information Omran al-Zoubi told Lebanese al-Manar TV on Monday that Damascus understood why Washington wanted to blacklist the al-Nusra Front.

“When the U.S. places Jabhat al-Nusra on the international terrorist organizations list, that is because it realizes the nature of these groups which are fighting the Syrian armed forces,” he said.

But the Syrian National Council, a largely expatriate opposition group, on Sunday voiced its “full rejection of any accusation of extremism and terrorism to any of the forces that are fighting the Syrian regime.”

Any accusations made against factions within the Free Syrian Army, which brings together disparate groups, were intended to cause division within its ranks and between its forces and the Syrian people, it said.

“Terrorism is a characteristic that can only be attributed to the Syrian regime,” it said.

The Treasury also sanctioned two armed militia groups that operate under the control of the Syrian government, Jaysh al-Sha’bi and Shabiha, it said.

Since the conflict in Syria began nearly two years ago, the UNHCR has registered or is in the process of registering more than 500,000 refugees in neighboring countries.

Egypt: Masked gunmen fired on protesters camped in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, injuring nine ahead of planned demonstrations on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, but supporters as well as detractors of President Mohamed Morsy are expected to demonstrate today.

Be Careful What You Wish For In Syria
by Theodore Kattouf Dec 7, 2012 – Daily Beast

Just prior to ending my tour in Syria as U.S. Ambassador in August 2003, I sent off an analysis of what de-stabilizing the Assad regime could mean for U.S. regional interests. It was chosen as my valedictory because some Administration officials with a neocon bent were leaking stories that Syria “should be next” after our invasion of Iraq. Entitled, “Be Careful What You Wish For,” this analysis predicted that substantially weakening the Assad regime would likely ignite a civil war. That war in turn could result in a failed state or an Islamist dictatorship led by the types that had already begun attacking coalition forces in Iraq.
Mideast Syria The Long War

In this Thursday, June 7, 2012 file photo, Free Syrian Army members raise their weapons during a training session on the outskirts of Idlib, Syria. A dark realization is spreading across north Syria that despite 20 months of violence and recent rebel gains, an end to the war to topple President Bashar Assad is nowhere in sight. (Khalil Hamra / AP Photo)

Major events in the Mideast region rarely go according to script, but the Syrian people are indeed suffering a merciless and increasingly sectarian civil war that has shattered the country’s physical infrastructure and rent its social fabric. Over 40,000 are dead. The human suffering is immeasurable. Let’s hope that the remainder of my long-ago analysis proves wrong. In any case, Bashar Al-Assad may soon be little more than the warlord of the best equipped militia in Syria whose forces control only parts of Damascus and some contiguous territory between it, Homs, and the Alawite/Christian heartland in the coastal mountains to the west. The armed opposition as currently constituted will find it difficult, if not impossible, to coalesce around a platform for the country’s future. As territory is secured and victory seems at hand, these groups will start to fight one another for power in earnest. In contrast with Egypt and Tunisia where the armed forces quickly abandoned the dictator, the Alawite core of the Syrian armed forces and regime’s institutions of repression identify with the President’s family. A formerly downtrodden and despised minority, most Alawites understandably fear that unmerciful revenge will exacted against them and their families. The Christians and Druze communities, while not culpable, know what al-Qaida did to minorities in Iraq and elsewhere.

The best hope to avoid Syria becoming a failed or radical Islamist state is for the U.S. and Russia to cooperate. Together, and in concert with NATO, regional states, and U.N. bodies, they can help shape a more hopeful future for people whose forbears established some of the earliest human civilizations. The Obama Administration has already worked effectively behind the scenes to help birth a new, more representative coalition of the Syrian opposition in Doha, Qatar, last month. That some of the most radical and violent Jihadi groups denounced its formation is a good sign. This new umbrella group should be an improvement over the ineffective, Muslim Brotherhood-dominated Syrian National Council that was absorbed into it.

Meanwhile, the Soviet Union and then Russia have long been the major arms supplier and trainer of the Syrian armed forces. The Russians know some of the key Alawite flag rank officers in the military quite well. With the feared Syrian G-2 (military intelligence bureau) preoccupied, they presumably have the ability to contact some senior officers on whether sticking with the Assad regime serves the best interests of the country and their community. It should be noted that, while calling for Assad’s ouster, the Obama Administration repeatedly has made clear that is does not seek to disband the Syrian armed forces, as was done in Iraq.

The main obstacle to any U.S.-Russian cooperation has been Vladimir Putin’s deep-seated suspicions of U.S. policy in the region. Stung by Qaddafi’s demise and what he views as NATO’s exceeding its U.N. Security Council mandate to protect the civilian population there, Putin is determined to safeguard Russia’s interests and great power status. He fears another precedent of foreign intervention in the “internal” affairs of sovereign states (think Chechnaya) and believes that the U.S., in cahoots with Saudi Arabia, is intent on establishing radical Islamic regimes on Russia’s borders (delusional). Until now, some U.S. officials have concluded that Putin is willing to let Syria go down in flames rather than permit a U.S.-led international community to broker a transition away from the Assads’ 42-year rule.

With the Assad regime reeling from its loss of territory and military bases, it’s time to test Russian intent once more. Is Putin beginning to believe that his country is playing a losing hand in Syria, while alienating much of the Islamic world? Russian officials are publicly striking a new, more conciliatory tone. It may be too much to hope that they will allow immediately a UNSC resolution under Chapter VII that calls upon Assad to hand over power to a transitional government or face the consequences. It is not too much to ask that, in cooperation with the U.S., the Russians try to persuade Syria’s military professionals to break with Assad in return for strong guarantees that they will have an honorable role to play and that their families will be protected in the wake of the regime’s fall. I never believed that the Assad regime could be quickly or easily brought down. But I certainly do believe that Bashar, if facing defeat, prefers guaranteed safe-passage into exile rather than an ignoble death.

The U.S. and Turkey, meanwhile, are best positioned to prevail upon the moderates, whether secular or religious, within the opposition to forego revenge and seek a new accommodation with elements of the armed forces. Both sides must accept that the worst of the war criminals will be brought to justice. Yet, it is unrealistic, just as it was in Iraq, to bring to account everyone with the blood of innocents on his or her hands.

The stakes are enormous. Similarly divisive identity politics prevail across an arc stretching from Lebanon, through Syria and Iraq, down to Bahrain and the oil-rich eastern province of Saudi Arabia. If Syria experiences prolonged de facto partition among warring Alawites, Sunnis, and Kurds, what happens in Syria will not stay in Syria. Already Shiite powers, Hizballah and Iran, are aiding the regime, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are providing funds and materiel to the largely Sunni revolutionaries. Some Iraqi Sunnis and Kurds are making common cause with their Syrian compatriots.

Yes, it will be satisfying to see Assad’s regime fall and to cut the Iran-Hizballah supply line through Syria. However, if that is all that isaccomplished, it will be a Pyrrhic victory.

Watching Syria’s descent
By Jackson Diehl, Published: December 9

The scariest thing about Syria, from the West’s point of view, may be the gap between the hair-raising scenarios senior officials are discussing about what may happen next and their limp strategies for preventing it.

Inside the Obama administration, Syria is now likened by some to a second Somalia — only at the heart of the Middle East, and with the world’s third-largest stockpile of chemical weapons. One official recently described a near-term future in which the current, two-sided civil war breaks down into a free-for-all in which Sunni forces fight Kurds and each other as well as the Alawi remnants of Bashar al-Assad’s army; where the al-Qaeda branch known as Jabhat al-Nusra gains control over substantial parts of the country; and where the danger of chemical weapons use comes not just from the regime but from any other force that overruns a chemical weapons depot.

A senior French official in Washington last week had his own vision: After losing a battle for Damascus, Assad and his forces stage a two-phase retreat, first to the central city of Homs and its hinterland along the Lebanese border, then, as a last resort, to the Alawi heartland along Syria’s northern coast. This probably won’t happen within weeks, he added — but it’s likely a matter of months.

So how to stop this? The United States and France, along with a few Arab and European allies, are convening yet another diplomatic conference this week in Marrakesh, Morocco. They are hoping to bolster the opposition political coalition they strung together last month, known as the Syrian National Coalition. The Obama administration will probably recognize it as Syria’s legitimate government. More paper will be flung at Jabhat al-Nusra, which will be added to the State Department’s list of terrorist organizations….

A slightly more likely scenario is that the West will get lucky and Assad’s regime will soon collapse in Damascus. In the resulting vacuum, the coalition will gain recognition from the outside world, and most of the rebel forces and Syria will follow the shaky path of Libya, with a weak government coexisting with a panoply of militias — some of them allied to al-Qaeda. The difference is that any spillover of terrorists and weapons will affect not Mali, but Israel, Turkey, Iraq and Jordan.

The main reason this is unlikely to happen is that for Assad and much of the Alawite elite — and for their chief sponsor, Iran — the West’s nightmare scenarios don’t look so unattractive. Better to hold out in an enclave, the minority ruling sect will conclude, than risk annihilation at the hands of vengeful Sunnis. Better to be a spoiler in an anarchic Syria, figures Shiite Iran, than to see a strategic ally flip over to the opposing Sunni bloc……

ABC News: Syria’s Assad Will Use Chemical Weapons, Says Former General, Now Defector

2012-12-10A former top general in Syria’s chemical weapons program says he doesn’t doubt for a moment that President Bashar al-Assad will deploy his chemical weapons arsenal as he tries to hold onto power and crush the uprising that started almost two years …”The regime started to fall and deteriorate. It’s coming to its end,” said retired Major General Adnan Sillou in an interview in a hotel near Antakya, on Turkey’s southern border with Syria. “It’s highly possible that he’ll start using [chemical weapons] to kill his own people because this regime is a killer.” ….

Rep. Lee: DR. ASSAD AND THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT HAVE BROUGHT THIS CRISIS ON THEMSELVES
2012-12-10 17:06:25.1 GMT

DR. ASSAD AND THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT HAVE BROUGHT THIS CRISIS ON THEMSELVES The United States cannot stand by while weapons of mass destruction may be used, says Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Washington, Dec 10 – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, …

New head of Syrian opposition briefs European foreign ministers
By CNN Staff
December 10, 2012

The Observatory said a rebel group seized control of a government military base in northwest Syria.

The seizure occurred in Aleppo province, where rebel fighters from the jihadi al-Nusra Front, Muhikiri al-Sham and the al-Battar battalions took over three brigades and the command center of the 111th regiment in the Sheikh Sleiman area of western Reef Aleppo, the observatory said.

Two rebels and one soldier died; five other soldiers were captured, it said, adding that 140 soldiers and their officers fled.

The rebel forces represent a variety of interests. In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Monday that U.S. officials were concerned “that al-Nusra is little more than a front for al Qaeda in Iraq who has moved some of its operations into Syria.”

The State Department is planning to designate al-Nusra Front, a radical Islamist group, as a foreign terrorist organization, two U.S. officials told CNN last week.

The announcement is likely to come this week, the officials said.

The hope is to finalize the designation before the Friends of Syria meeting, which is slated to be held Wednesday in Morocco.

The goal of the designation is to isolate extremists groups in Syria while giving a boost to the new political opposition group unveiled last month in Doha, Qatar, they said.

Al-Nusra and several other groups announced their opposition to a new anti-government coalition last month. U.S. officials estimate al-Nusra members represent some 9% of rebel forces in Syria.

Comments (102)

Visitor said:

The only malignant party in the progress of the Syrian Revolution has been the US administration and its duplicitous policy which was made evident by Ms. Clinton at the very outset of the revolution. She malignantly described a known criminal as a reformer giving him the green light to begin the slaughter that we are currently witnessing. And since then she and her colleagues have been granting the jackal time in and time out to continue the massacres.

The Syrian people are fully aware of the American betrayal. They will use whatever means available to them to achieve their legitimate purpose to overthrow the criminal thug and are in no need whatsoever for American help (betrayals). In addition, no Syrian will betray any party, group or individual that stood by their side during their time of need. But they will always remember the American betrayal of Hillary Clinton.

The labelling of the US of certain groups in Syria who are fighting the criminal on the side of the Revolution is a non-event that is already rejected by the Syrian people who have already declared their next Friday as: No to American Interference. The Syrians understand full well that America is NOT their friend as it falsely claims.

The US, after failing to win the Syrian Revolution by its own duplicity and stupidity, is now seeking to destroy the Revolution by a meaningless declaration hoping that stooges of Americanism will flock to its bossom and betray those who stood by their side. This has already failed. Only the criminal, jackal, terrorist regime welcomed this labelling. Those who do not reject it and tell America to buzz off will have made their stand clear by siding with the criminal regime.

December 11th, 2012, 10:43 am

Observer said:

There is nothing new. There has been 2.6 million buildings damaged of which 600 000 are completely destroyed. The destruction was meted out by the regime as it has exclusive use of heavy weapons.

It is the same tactic used in Grozhny but on a massive scale. The Alawite community is now fighting a rear guard action and is in the mode of preserving some ability to negotiate a better future for it in the new Syria.

If you go to Cham Press and check the economy section you find two news items one is that SADKOP cannot give people more than 250 L of fuel per family and that the bread crisis is due to the stoppage of bread oven in the suburbs of Damascus.

Ecuador denied they are discussing the asylum of Assad and therefore I am certain that there are discussions about some family members fleeing there. The question is what will happen if the rest of the inner group gets a whif of the departure of let us say Asma and her children?

Lawlessness is now on the rise and this is because as Joshua pointed out before the revolution is from rural, pious, and poor sections of Syria and the in face of the collapse of the economy and the disappearence of the state it is the nature of things to go a la Somalia.

I do believe that there is still a way out if the regime observes a one week truce and truly stops fighting then that may actually divide the opposition into those fanatical enough to continue and isolate them thus from their popular base and the bulk of the opposition that would adhere and welcom a truce.

The worst is yet to come and yes the entire blame is on the regime and its current and past policies of demonizing the demands of people and the need for true and lasting reforms.

This is not a regime it is a mafia and therefore one has to analyze it in the same vein.

Russia is marginalized in this and will lose its position in the region.

Justice for Hamza

December 11th, 2012, 10:48 am

Aldendeshe said:

They have no chance at removing Syria’s President Bashar Assad. He is popular with the majority of Syrians. رأيس الجمهورية السورية بشار الأسد The foreign terrorist plot is well known by the masses. The foreign-Israeli backed terrorists have no support on the ground. Islam is filth, it is not a tool to rule One World Government, it is a sure tool to destroy humanity. Mossad and Alciada operatives are exposed. WMD will be used by Islamic terrorists on Turkey, Lebanon or Qatar, crippling the target states and depleting its two legged population of semi-humans to few sick persons. What else can I say….OH YESSSSSSSSSS, almost forgot that:

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSERS.

December 11th, 2012, 11:26 am

zoo said:

The condemnation of Al Nusra is a turning point in the Syriam crisis, as it shows the International community limited choices:

a) Topple Bashar al Assad with the help of Al Qaeda
b) Moves toward negotiation between the coalition, now viewed as a viable opposition group, and the Syrian government.

I guess the FOS meeting will indicate the direction the opponents of Bashar al Assad will take. The USA and Russia, in my view, have already decided.

December 11th, 2012, 11:43 am

Majed97 said:

ZOO,
I agree with your assessment above. In fact, I go further and say a political settlement is in the making, evidenced by the postponement of the formation of transitional government by the opposition two days ago, and Hilary’s cancelation of her trip to Morocco today.

December 11th, 2012, 11:53 am

Amjad of Arabia said:

No one presume to speak on Syria until you’ve seen Professor Landis’ superb interview with Syria Deeply’s Lara Setrakian. It is a treat to see an interview when the host asks intelligent questions, and the expert give informative, well thought out answers. You may disagree with Professor Landis, but they are issues that must be discussed.

I personally agreed with every single point Professor Landis made, including the one that the regime is still far from collapsing. Not even close to collapse, if anyone has seen the stranglehold the regime has on Hama and Homs. Although if Damascus goes the way of Aleppo, the country will cease functioning on every level; no civil service, no schools, no communications, no electricity, no transportation between the cities, no financial institutions, and you might as well use all your liras to light bonfires.

Barring any unforeseen changes, we are in for a long, bloody slog still. The regime will collapse, only not before summer as too many people have optimistically predicted.

December 11th, 2012, 12:14 pm

majedkhaldoun said:

Mr. Landis
Justice has to prevail,Innocent Alawis should not fear anything,but those who killed,tortured,raped Syrian they don’t deserve to stay alive.
Are we to forgive criminals?
Assad thugs has killed over 120,000 Syrian, so what if the Assads thugs lose 100,000? and the money they stole has to return to Syrians.
I always said the only way for the syrian revolution to succeed is for the revolution to expand to include Jordan and Iraq.or for the Alawis to overthrow Assad, The Alawis must be suffering they too have shortage of food and gas,and possibly will be inflicted by diseases just like the rest of Syria, there will be a point where they will overthrow Assad, and this is the best case scinario.

December 11th, 2012, 12:19 pm

Justice has to prevail
__________________________________________________________________

I totally agree with that. All the foreign terrorists and backers as well as those helping them in Syria needs to be brought to justice. The backing countries needs to be held liable for all the damages incurred in Syria for the past 2 years. Terrorists dangle from a fish hook, responsible governments must be brought with the cash by a fish hook.

December 11th, 2012, 12:29 pm

Akbar Palace said:

Green Lights shinning Everywhere

She malignantly described a known criminal as a reformer giving him the green light to begin the slaughter that we are currently witnessing.

Vistor,

I agree with you, Hilary Clinton is a light-weight, and I don’t even understand how see qualifies as a Secretary of State.

But she is from a long-line of liberal, pandering Secretarys of State from Warren Christopher, Madeline Albright, James Baker, etc. The next “genius” will be either Susan Rice or John Kerry.

Frankly, the only recent administration that was willing to get tough with Syria was Condi Rice under GWB’s leadership. And in retrospect, the “Clean Break” strategy didn’t seem so bad. Despite the screaming from the Assad-lovers.

And let’s face it, three years ago, Professor Josh and his followers were quite happy with the little dictator…

December 11th, 2012, 12:49 pm

“And let’s face it, three years ago, Professor Josh and his followers were quite happy with the little dictator…”

And two years ago I was quite happy with Batta as well. Sorry for not condemning a man before he’s murdered his first ten thousand.

December 11th, 2012, 12:59 pm

Akbar Palace @9,

I agree with you 100%. No one thought we would miss GWB.

Susan will have to clean up after hilly billy (piggy is what they call her here). But Hilly will miss the delicious cous cous now being prepared. Her stomach flu came just in time.

I feel sympathy towards Susie for the mess she is inheriting.

I hope hilly keeps her promise to the Americans when she runs for President in 2016 by telling them once again she is the best qualified to answer a 3:00 AM phone call from a foreign dictator!!

December 11th, 2012, 1:07 pm

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

The conflict in Syria will end when Israeli Mossad terrorists, embedded into the Qatari Moslem Brotherhood Terrorists, who trucked Aleppo manufacturing facilities, equipments, factories, commercial inventories, animal stock and wheat from silos and sold it to low life Turkish businessmen, with knowledge and protection from Turkey Islamic regime, are totally exterminated by the Syrian Sunnites armed popular units fed up with terrorists.

Assad playing a good strategy of letting the people disgusted and hurt badly with the Moslem Terrorists mayhem and criminality. Soon, after the disgust reach intolerable level, the President will send in the help needed to protect the citizenries from this diabolic Judeo-Islamist Terrorists provocateur and will arm the Sunni population into powerful Government partners militia to kill the Islamic-Mossad terrorists and expel them out of Syria.

This way the President saves his main defense units, mostly Alawite force to protect the State of Syria and arm the Sunnite do the fighting with help from Sunni units of the armed forces numbering (300,000) now an idle forces, backing them up to defeat the foreign terrorists and exterminate them. It will no longer be as Bedouin Media Trash promotes it to be an Alawites against Sunni, but majority Syrian Sunnis against foreign and domestic terrorists.

REPORTS: Mossad-Neocons Dual citizen Israeli-Americans helping these Moslem Terrorists set shop in USA to undermine the future of America. They will be used in the same way the Mossad-Qatari Terrorists using Moslem Brotherhood as cover to Al Nusra Front and three other fronts embedded into the Brotherhood to act under cover as legit opposition in Syria. They can be used for cover in USA Jewish controlled media, identically in the same way Bedouin Medias used them. America needs to be awakend to this plot:

America, get awakend to the sinister Judeo-Islamist plot:

Millions leaving Islam, incredible people: (New, must see)

December 11th, 2012, 1:24 pm

Marigoldran said:

The war continues.

December 11th, 2012, 1:26 pm

AKbar Palace said:

Visitor,

I don’t post here that often, but I’m glad you understand my POV.

Judging from the thumb icons, I’m encouraged.;)

It is not my intention to say “I told you so”, my purpose is to show you and the participants here why democracy and freedom is so important. If a country wants to go to war fine. If a country wants peace, that’s even better. But when an unelected despot forces unending war, poverty, conflict, random abductions, no rule-of-law and murder on an innocent people, it’s never worth it.

My hope is that arab people are given the chance to elect their own leaders so they can determine the direction of their country. I think the ME could be the next “China”.

Be well.

December 11th, 2012, 1:55 pm

Mossad thugs here are in panic after Al Nusra Terrorist designation. They coud be charged now under U.S.terrorism laws, they can stick all the thumb up or down up the butt.

December 11th, 2012, 2:16 pm

ghufran said:

you want to arrest my thugs? I want to arrest yours !!
أصدرت دمشق مذكرات توقيف بحق كل من رئيس تيار “المستقبل” سعد الحريري وعضو كتلة “المستقبل” النائب عقاب صقر والمنسق الإعلامي للمجلس العسكري لميليشيا الجيش السوري الحر لؤي المقداد.
تلقى مكتب الانتربول في قوى الأمن الداخلي عبر الانترنت، من السلطات القضائية السورية مذكرات توقيف بحق رئيس الحكومة السابق سعد الحريري والنائب عقاب صقر والناطق باسم “الجيش السوري الحر” لؤي المقداد، بجرم تسليح هذا الجيش.
وسيحيل مكتب الانتربول المذكرات الى النيابة العامة التمييزية.
ويأتي هذا التطور بعد يوم من طلب النيابة العامة العسكرية من قاضي التحقيق رياض أبو غيدا في ملف الوزير السابق ميشال سماحة الموقوف في قضية نقل متفجرات من سوريا الى لبنان، الاستماع الى مستشارة الرئيس السوري بثينة شعبان كشاهدة، بالاضافة الى استجواب المدعى عليه اللواء السوري علي مملوك واحد مساعديه

December 11th, 2012, 2:23 pm

“We’ll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American Public believes is false.” William Casey, CIA Director 1981

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZU0c8DAIU4

“The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists.” J. Edgar Hoover, FBI Director 1935-1972

“I have one yardstick by which I test every major problem – and that yardstick is: Is it good for America?” President Dwight . D. Eisenhower

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY

“There exists in this country a plot to enslave every man, woman, and child. Before I leave this high and noble office I intend to expose this plot” U.S. President “Martyr” John F. Kennedy

December 11th, 2012, 2:47 pm

reader said:

hideous, ugly interview!

Did Germany solve its national problem by killing 6 milllion Jews Mr. Landis?

Are you giving the extremists a reason to kill the non-sunnis in Syria?

You are a REAL FRIEND OF SYRIA and Syriens!

Jasmine said:

Is this a U turn in the American policy towards Syria or is it a slap to the face of Erdogan,saud and Hamad?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/11/us-blacklists-syria-al-nusra-front-terrorist#start-of-comments.

Syria is going to need few decades to recover and this is only if things didn’t get any worse.

That was the idea,keep the Syrian busy recovering,meanwhile Bibi and Erdo will eat more Syrian grounds while pretending that they are helping the humanity to gain freedom and democracy.

December 11th, 2012, 2:54 pm

Syrialover said:

The Secular Idiot’s Guide to Syria’s Jihadist Groups

The proliferation of radical Islamist groups fighting in Syria is beginning to resemble the Jihadi Olympics in the words of one observer. (Me). They span the entire political spectrum, from extreme militant Salafist to Nihilist Al-Qaeda franchise.

But to the untrained eye it’s difficult to tell them apart or know what each stands for. So we prepared this brief but handy guide to help you differentiate between The Lions of Damascus Brigades and The Damascus Lions Brigade. As a general rule, the more hard consonants there are in a group’s name, the more hardcore they are. Groups with 3 vowels or more are often dismissed as ‘liberals’.

http://karlremarks.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/the-secular-idiots-guide-to-syrias.html?m=1

FSA uses a captured tank to shell the Political Security branch building in Deir Ezzor

December 11th, 2012, 3:00 pm

There are no US strategic interests in Syria and the US has decided that it will be further harmed if it tries to control the chaos then to actually just try to manage it.

The second point is that this is an opportunity to bloody Iran and exhaust it and to put Russia’s nose in the dirt.

No one cares about the victims. There is no difference between using chemical weapons and bombing bread lines with cluster munitions and now with phosphorus bombs.

The meetings are not goint to change anything on the ground.

December 11th, 2012, 3:14 pm

Radio reporting at its brilliant and best inside Damascus.

Offers insight into both sides.

http://audioboo.fm/boos/1106921-bbc-jeremy-bowen-reports-from-douma-in-damascus-suburbs-on-bbc-radio-4

December 11th, 2012, 3:26 pm

Akbar Palace @14,

I think you should post here more often in order to keep the “diaboloic-Judeo-Islamist-Mossad-Qatari-terrorist” network active. Who knows? You may still get some more thumbs before you get “arrested” by hilly billy!!

December 11th, 2012, 3:28 pm

US UN Ambassador Susan Rice tweets her message:

– New US sanctions send a clear msg both to pro-Assad militias & to terrorists who falsely cloak themselves as Syria’s legitimate opposition.

– Extremist ideology has no place in a free Syria. The future belongs to those who seek a democratic & inclusive society.

http://twitter.com/AmbassadorRice

Yes Syrian MB, that false cloak means YOU TOO.

December 11th, 2012, 3:34 pm

This is a translation of a post by someone from Hama. Details about today’s massacre in Syria, in which over 200 people were killed in a small village.

“Aqrab is a hamlet 40km west of Hama city. It has a population of 13,000, 3,000 of them are Alawites who live side by side despite the events. The Alawites in the village oppose the regime’s crimes.

In the early hours of the morning, the regime’s forces bombed and shelled Aqrab. Towards the end of shelling, the shelling focused on a neighbourhood where Alawites live. Several houses fell on their owners. The Alawites tried to flee the village to avoid the violence. The regime’s Shabbiha prevented them from leaving and shot at them after confrontation between the villagers and the Shabbiha.

The result was at least 200 people killed, including children and women. After that ended, the Free Syrian Army nearby took the injured and pull the dead from the rubbles and hosted some of the Alawite families in their villages. There is a fear that villages in Houla will face a massacre because they rescued people from Aqrab village.”

https://www.facebook.com/hassansquared/posts/10152322126780537

December 11th, 2012, 3:48 pm

Hamoudeh al-Halabi said:

I don’t know what people see in that “Idiot’s guide”, it barely has any content which is riddled with mistakes, assumptions and generalizations at that. Not to mention the somewhat nasty undertone beneath all the jokes.

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

December 11th, 2012, 3:51 pm

Syrian said:

An alawie woman who was a witness to what happened today in aqraba
http://youtu.be/SKYylLUmDvI

December 11th, 2012, 3:56 pm

Thanks. I’ve never met a “diaboloic-Judeo-Islamist-Mossad-Qatari-terrorist”, but I bet this person is quite dangerous whoever he is.

Oops, I found him…

http://www.israel-music.com/jacky_mekaiten/greatest_hits/#play

http://www.israel-music.com/jacky_mekaiten/maryouma/

December 11th, 2012, 3:58 pm

Citizen said:

Alnusra movement is CAI made. It shall be used by USA as a Trojan to continue playing in Syria later! Elders of Zion are creating antibodies and show fake support for both sides!

December 11th, 2012, 4:06 pm

“I don’t know what people see in that “Idiot’s guide”, “

Hamoudeh, this ‘guide’ is not for you!!

It is a ‘guide’ made by idiots to ‘guide’ idiots in order to become more idiotic!!!

Come on Hamoudeh! The title is clear!!!

They say foolishness is a collection of arts. Sorry man, I meant to say, الجنون فنون

Allah be with Aleppo انشالله

December 11th, 2012, 4:07 pm

اي رب سيكون مع حلب اذا كان الحلبيون ليسوا مع ربهم ! الآن درجت موضة الأرباب التي تستجلب حسب الطلب ! أصبح الرب جزء من الشر و الشر المتبادل و لا ننسى ان نستدعي الرب لتغطية كل فشلنا ! لن يصلح الرب حالنا و سيأتينا بمزيد من منعكس شرور أعمالنا ! سحقا لذهنيتنا التي لا تريد ان تتعلم !

December 11th, 2012, 4:23 pm

Secret Meeting in London: Plotting to Wage War on Syria without UN Authorization
Britain’s “Duplicity, treachery and infidelity.”
http://www.globalresearch.ca/secret-meetings-in-london-plotting-to-wage-war-on-syria-without-un-authorization/5315176?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=secret-meetings-in-london-plotting-to-wage-war-on-syria-without-un-authorization

December 11th, 2012, 4:27 pm

Dolly Buster said:

29. Citizen said:
Alnusra movement is CAI made.

No, Jabhat an-Nusra is basically a Khariji group (Khawarij sect).

The Khawarij are very violent towards the U.S. and they are the same people behind 9/11.

Therefore, their interests differ from U.S. interests. But in some specific situations (Libya, Syria), the interests meet. In the following way: Jabhat an-Nusra wants to topple Qaddafi/Assad and establish Shari’ah; and USA wants to topple Qaddafi/Assad and establish democracy.

So the obvious common interest, is the first part of the plan.

December 11th, 2012, 4:36 pm

Tara said:

Syrian@ 27

The video is very upsetting. Why did shabeehas kill the Female Alawi teens? I do not understand?

December 11th, 2012, 4:59 pm

Judith Miller: Obama Administration Unable to Effect Change in Egypt or Syria
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/miller-egypt-unrest-morsi/2012/12/11/id/467328

December 11th, 2012, 5:10 pm

اعتبر الباحث أشرف البيومي أن إدارج واشنطن لاسم جبهةِ النصرة على لائحةِ الإرهاب ليس إلا نكتةً سخيفة و إجراءً متأخرًا لافتًا إلى أن شخصياتٍ كثيرة في المعارضة السورية في الخارج همها الوحيد هو الوصول إلى السلطة .
The researcher Ashraf Bayoumi inclusion Washington to name Front victory on the terrorism list is nothing but a silly joke and a late, pointing out that many figures in the Syrian opposition abroad only concern is access to power.

December 11th, 2012, 5:19 pm

No, Jabhat an-Nusra is basically a Khariji group (Khawarij sect).
The Khawarij are very violent towards the U.S. and they are the same people behind 9/11.
_________________________________________________________________

Jews behind Al Nusra front. Here this moron subhuman just confirmed it, this newbee paid help here is not aware that Jews did 9/11 and are setting up Al Nusra fronts all over the Middle East.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_4nmAqVqco

Syria: Germany to approve missiles for murderers on 12/12/12
http://www.syrianews.cc/syria-germany-to-approve-missiles-for-murderers-on-121212/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

December 11th, 2012, 5:24 pm

Footage has emerged of rebel fighters using child soldiers in the conflict in Ras al-Ein (Seri Kaniyeh)
http://youtu.be/dMbZC5f9VNM?t=15s

Video after attack against Kurds in Sheikh Maqsoud (Aleppo) today. 4children killed
http://youtu.be/65f5YQu3I8g?t=1m58s

December 11th, 2012, 5:44 pm

Syrien: 4-jähriges Kind von den “Rebellen” öffentlich hingerichtet
Die syrischen Terroristen, die sich “Freie syrische Armee ” und Opposition nennen, haben in Damaskus einen vierjährigen Knaben in seinem Kinderschlafanzug erhängt, nachdem sie vor seinen Augen die ganze Familie ermordet hatten………
http://www.zukunftskinder.org/?p=24604
http://www.schweizmagazin.ch/news/ausland/10757-Syrien–jhriges-Kind-von-den-Rebellen-ffentlich-hingerichtet.html

December 11th, 2012, 6:00 pm

Tara:
It is not really clear what drove the shabiha to do that yet, I just wanted to put it fast before the spin masters here start blaming the sunnies of Alhola of doing it.

December 11th, 2012, 6:09 pm

Syriacs do not want to stay in Turkish camps where there are human trafficing going on

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syriacs-want-separate-refugee-camp-in-turkey.aspx?pageID=238&nID=36652&NewsCatID=339

The Syriac community is asking for a separate camp to be established for them as they do not want to settle in already founded camps along the border. “Within the current camps there are various people from different segments of society so every kind of problem can arise there. Also, there are many gangs involved in human trafficking in these camps. The Syriacs who cannot comply with the camps leave there and try to migrate to a third country. So some undesired things might occur. Above all they do not want to return their homeland after all this, we are trying to prevent it,” Malki said.

December 11th, 2012, 6:45 pm

Syrian 41

Is it not obvious why they did it?

Spin, spin, spin, spin…………………….

How else will Zoo and Ghufran get paid?

December 11th, 2012, 6:47 pm

Turkey wants to becomes the champion of the political struggle of the Palestinian, leaving behind the apathetic Arab leaders.
Will they wake up?

President Gül calls on US to recognize Palestine

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/president-gul-calls-on-us-to-recognize-palestine.aspx?pageID=238&nID=36656&NewsCatID=338

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News
It is time for the US to acknowledge the tide of history and finally recognize Palestine’s statehood following a UN vote, President Gül says

December 11th, 2012, 6:48 pm

Syrian 41,

Because she was an eyewitness, she had to be eliminated.

Jackal-101

December 11th, 2012, 6:53 pm

Another “revenge victory” of the FSA on the Alawites?
The usual suspects: the Alawites…

125 victims in Syria Alawite village bombings: NGO

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/world/325729/125-victims-in-syria-alawite-village-bombings-ngo
Published: 12/12/2012 at 02:46 AM

Scores of civilians from President Bashar al-Assad’s minority sect were reported killed Tuesday as Washington blacklisted an Al-Qaeda-linked rebel group it accuses of hijacking the uprising in Syria.

Bomb attacks in the village of Aqrab in the central province of Hama killed or wounded at least 125 civilians, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which could not immediately give a breakdown of the casualties.

“We cannot know whether the rebels were behind this attack, but if they were, this would be the largest-scale revenge attack against Alawites,” members of a Shiite sect in Sunni-majority

December 11th, 2012, 6:56 pm

The head of the Libyan CNT and former leader of the Libyan rebels Moustapha Abdeljalil, charged in a murder case

Libya: the former head of the CNT charged in the murder case of a rebel leader.

AFP | 12/12/2012 | 1:45

The former political leader of the Libyan rebels, was charged Tuesday with “abuse of power” and undermining national unity, in the case of the assassination of Chief of Staff rebel Abdel Fattah Younes in July 2011, it was learned from the military prosecutor.

Moustapha Abdeljalil, former head of the National Transitional Council (CNT), a former political arm of the rebellion, “was accused of abuse of power and fractionation of national unity,” Majdi al-Baraassi member of the Department who participated Tuesday in the interrogation of Mr. Abdeljalil, told the AFP .

http://www.lorientlejour.com/category/Derni%C3%A8res+Infos/article/791902/Libye%3A_lex-chef_du_CNT_inculpe_dans_laffaire_dassassinat_dun_chef_rebelle_%28parquet%29.html

December 11th, 2012, 7:07 pm

#26 HAMOUDEh AL-HALABI

CC VISITOR

That piece was mocking the media which has been sensationalising the jihadist elements.

You have first-hand sources but the wider public out there gets fed a lot of confusing and contradictory junk.

The guy who did it is very, very anti-Assad and pro-revolution.

December 11th, 2012, 7:11 pm

The version in #25 of the Aqrab massacre sounds likely to me.

December 11th, 2012, 7:16 pm

The usual media manipulation of the information….

The media have amputated the sentence that Obama used when he announced the ‘recognition’ of the coalition

As announced by the media: “Obama said that he recognized the coalition as THE legitimate representative of the Syrian people”

What he said is different.
Obama said that he considers them as the legitimate representative of the Syrian opposition”

NOT of the Syrian people. That’s not what Moaz, Qatar, France and the UK were eagerly waiting for.

In the interview with Barbara Walters, Obama said:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/11/us-syria-usa-obama-idUSBRE8BA1GU20121211

“We’ve made a decision that the Syrian Opposition Coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective and representative enough of the Syrian population, that we consider them the legitimate representative of the Syrian people in opposition to the Assad regime,” Obama said in an interview with Barbara Walters of ABC News.

December 11th, 2012, 7:23 pm

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/12/assadosphere/

Meet the Assadosphere, the Online Defenders of Syria’s Butcher
BY SPENCER ACKERMAN12.11.125:42 PM

You might think it’s hard to defend Bashar Assad, the Syrian dictator responsible for the murder of 40,000 human beings. You must be new to the internet.

Assad has maintained a robust propaganda presence for years: Remember the infamous Vogue profile of his wife Asma, which praised the “wildly democratic” Assad family right as it began its wave of bloodshed. Assad’s online buddies are the next wave of that propaganda: They’ve taken a defense of his regime viral, to the point where they don’t need to take their marching orders from Damascus. They’re contesting the web and social-media space that would otherwise be filled with recitations of Assad’s war crimes — and flooding the zone.

Visitor:
Tara was asking about the teenagers who was killed by the Shabihs including the witness 2 nieces, from the video it seems that the Shabihs who later killed them selves were paranoid about the women getting caught by the Hola residences, so they killed them
The story is really hard to understand especially the woman is understandably talking in a terrified voice.

December 11th, 2012, 7:36 pm

CNN Breaking News ‏@cnnbrk

President Obama recognized #Syria’s opposition as the legitimate representative of the country’s people, he told ABC. http://on.cnn.com/Ugpeoz

Wow dude. Not bad for a buncha terr’ists eh

December 11th, 2012, 7:42 pm

I used to listen to many hours of Bashar al-Assad interviews. He always used to say: “It doesn’t matter if you call someone terrorist. That is just a label or slogan. What matters is: do they have support on the ground. If they have support, you have to deal with them.”

The reason Assad spoke out against the label Terrorist, is that the West accused him of supporting terror outfits Hamas and Hezbollah.
So he basically said that the label “terrorists” was fake and arbitrary.

December 11th, 2012, 7:53 pm

Johannes de Silentio said:

The USA (my country) just decided to recognize one of the organizations opposing the regime. I’m sure many on this blog are not happy with President Obama’s action. Too bad about that. You’ll just have to suck it up and deal.

As for the rest of you, do I hear a thank you?

December 11th, 2012, 8:10 pm

Johannes,

It is only a lip service. Sorry but I can’t say thank you.

December 11th, 2012, 8:17 pm

The US plan to solve Syria’s crisis excludes Bashar Al Assad from a transitional government.

http://rt.com/politics/us-russia-syria-conflict-assad-783/

A US-created plan to resolve the Syrian conflict contains some conditions that Moscow says will be unacceptable to Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Washington is calling on Moscow to persuade President Assad, who is in the midst of a fierce struggle to maintain his grip on power in the face of a protracted militant challenge, to step down voluntarily, Kommersant daily newspaper reported on Tuesday.

According to the American plan both the opposition and supporters of the President should agree to a ceasefire and form a transitional government. It was presented to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at their meetings in Phnom Penh and Dublin.

The transitional government would be representative of all faiths and groups, which would help prevent clashes along religious lines.

The US plan proclaims to “minimize the risk of pro-government forces using chemical weapons and the possibility of such weapons falling into the hands of uncontrolled forces,” Kommersant reported, quoting the document.

Earlier, President Assad excluded the possibility of his government resorting to the use of chemical weapons, calling such a move “suicidal.”

Meanwhile, not only Moscow, but also the Syrian government is practically guaranteed to give a tepid response to the reported US plan, which the American side says will be “feasible if Bashar al-Assad is not present in the transitional government,” according to Kommersant.

Although Russia supports the idea of forming a transitional government in Syria, it has no intention of trying to persuade Assad to resign his post.

Russia is certain that President Assad will never agree to step down voluntarily, and the Syrian leader reiterated this point on several occasions, Kommersant said.

Moreover, Moscow believes it would be more appropriate for countries posing a threat to Assad – for example the United States – should try to persuade him to resign, it said.

“All decisions to reform the political system of Syria should be made by Syrians themselves without any foreign intervention and attempts to impose ready-made recipes on them,” Kommersant quoted Russian Foreign Ministry officials as saying.

December 11th, 2012, 8:18 pm

I thought Zoo was upbeat this morning about the US and Russia being in agreement on Syria, and that they are both eager to save his idol’s neck.

What is the problem Ewe? Your RT story says otherwise.

But nothing to worry about, here’s where the coalition is at now from knowledgeable sources. It is in no better shape either,

https://now.mmedia.me/lb/ar/nowspecialar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86_%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86_%D8%B9%D9%84_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%A6%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A

December 11th, 2012, 8:33 pm

As rebels make inroads, their ‘Friends of Syria’ are nervous

Tony Karon
Dec 12, 2012

As western and Arab governments prepare to meet in Marrakech today under the “Friends of Syria” rubric, the US is scrambling to adapt its Syria policy to an increasingly complex reality that is changing rapidly, largely beyond western influence.

Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/as-rebels-make-inroads-their-friends-of-syria-are-nervous#ixzz2EnY6j0QI
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook

December 11th, 2012, 8:49 pm

Visitor

The US and Russia have agreed that the only solution is the dialog between the now legitimized opposition and the Syrian government, the sticking point being the role of Bashar Al Assad.

In my view, if the coalition wins Russia’s trust by showing they are honest in seeking negotiations rather than confrontations and that they offer to disavow the armed rebels’s call for a violent take over, then Bashar al Assad may offer to step aside to allow the negotiations to proceed.
Few months ago he said that if he felt that if the ones coming after him will guarantee the preservation of secularism of the country, keep its arab identity and protect all Syrians, he would step aside.

Yet, while the coalition is not showing the same bellicosity as the SNC, it is far from trustworthy. It is still dominated by the Moslem Brotherhood, still divided and incapable to have any control over the armed rebels.
The role of the USA and the FOS is to bring this coalition to clean itself from the Islamist viruses, to include more of the Syrians and to influence the armed rebels. They’ll do that with sticks and carrots ( promises and threats).
There is a long way to go until we can see if they’ll succeed in making the coalition a valid partner in a transitional government.

While I hope this happens, I have serious doubts that the coalition will survive because the haters of Syria ( KSA, Qatar, France etc.. ) do not want a political solution, they want a violent, forced and humiliating regime change

December 11th, 2012, 9:15 pm

This is from Juan Cole today
http://www.juancole.com/2012/12/south-damascus-a-battlefield-as-bodies-pile-up-and-bread-crisis-in-capital-worsens.html

The situation on the ground shows that there is bread and fuel shortages in Damascus.

There is a bread black market these days.

Several check points fell.

As for the Akrab events, I went to RT and Cham Press and Addounia and Alalam and AL Manar and there is not a single peep about it.

There is news of Syrian accusing Hariri and Sakr and Mikdad of terror support and they have issued arrest warrants as the Lebanese have issued arrest warrants for Chabaan and some other security guy.

Obama recognizes the Syrian Opposition. If there are no influence on the groups on the ground this is just symbolic and in my opinion the opposition on the ground is forcing the exile opposition to unite and to have EU and US recognize it.

Talk is cheap and action speak louder than words.

Cheers

December 11th, 2012, 9:22 pm

ZOO

I thought that you predicted many times the victory of the regime and the demise of the FSA.

Today more check points fell to the FSA and there is a black market for bread in Damascus proper.

I do think that the massacre of Akrab as neither Manar nor Alalam nor Addounia nor Cham Press have reported it tells a story of a desperate regime that is trying anything to rally more Alawites to its cause.

Truth and Reconciliation now before it is too late

December 11th, 2012, 9:26 pm

Ghufran said:

From The Telegraph:
( these testimonies are more important than Obama’s speeches)
Ahmed, a Sunni coach driver from the northern city of Raqqa, said: “We are scared of both sides. If this were a true popular revolution I would support it. I did support it.
“But then I saw that the Muslim Brotherhood leads the FSA, and no one wants that. I don’t want to live in an Islamic state.
“The FSA are also thieves. They stopped my friend’s coach on the road outside Raqqa. They ordered the passengers off the bus and then drove it away.”
Mohammed, 19, tells a similar story of disillusion with the rebels. Several months ago he joined the FSA in his hometown of Aleppo.
“I used to be part of the FSA but I left when I saw how they behaved in Salah Eddin district,” he said. “It was dominated by foreign fighters and they wanted an Islamic state”.
An Assyrian Christian from Aleppo using the cover name George told The Sunday Telegraph that he felt “less free under the rebels’ control than under Bashar al-Assad”
“As a Christian sometimes I drink some alcohol. This is one of the privileges that I will lose if Assad goes. Recently I was delivering some alcohol to a store in a van but the rebels stopped me at a checkpoint and confiscated it.
“At another checkpoint rebels came onto a bus full of people and demanded the Christians give them their crosses. Then they told us that Christianity is not a religion.”

December 11th, 2012, 9:31 pm

Observer

I always called for negotiations and dialog. I have always been against military violence to force a “regime change”. I predicted the demise of the SNC and I stick to my opinion that the FSA will collapse, just like the SNC did because it is far too Islamist and represent only a small faction of the Syrians.
No country, except Qatar, KSA and Turkey can tolerate that.

The FSA’s recent military successes are all thanks to Al Nusra. Without these terrorists, they are weak and vulnerable. This is why I think the FSA end is nearing.

December 11th, 2012, 9:39 pm

““As a Christian sometimes I drink some alcohol. This is one of the privileges that I will lose if Assad goes. Recently I was delivering some alcohol to a store in a van but the rebels stopped me at a checkpoint and confiscated it.
“At another checkpoint rebels came onto a bus full of people and demanded the Christians give them their crosses. Then they told us that Christianity is not a religion.”

And Tara had her vacation last summer in the moon….Mere propaganda and fabricated lies. As Christian he drinks some alcohol… As if non Christians don’t.

December 11th, 2012, 9:42 pm

By the way, the US designation of Jabhat al Nusra being a terrorist organization is also a lip service. As if al Nusra fighters have a tattoo on their arms with the brand al Nusra written on it. Those fighters can fight anywhere and under any name.

December 11th, 2012, 9:47 pm

66. Tara

That’s exactly the reason why the FSA will never get any military help from the US or the EU.
They will have to rely on the Libyan stock of weapons they’ll buy with Qatar and KSA money.

Get ready for a media campaign of ‘demonization’ of the FSA as from now on they will labelled as terrorists.
They have shown they are far too religiously radical and are therefore unwelcomed in any negotiations of the future of Syria

December 11th, 2012, 9:54 pm

ann said:

50. zoo said:

“”” The usual media manipulation of the information….

What he said is different.
Obama said that he considers them as the legitimate representative of the Syrian opposition” “””

Western media never lets the truth get in the way of a good anti-Syria fabricated story 8)

December 11th, 2012, 9:59 pm

MarigoldRan said:

Zoo is against violence only when it’s committed against the regime.

He says nothing about violence committed BY the regime. Apparently if the regime bombs cities, that’s perfectly ok for him. He only gets angry when the rebels retaliate with a car bomb.

What can I say? He’s just that sort of person.

December 11th, 2012, 10:01 pm

Zoo @67

Or the designation of al Nusra being a terrorist organization was for the sole purpose of the US to distance itself from those who practice suicide bombing and to appear “clean” while at the same time approves providing advance weapons to the “legit” opposition. This perhaps why Obama recognized the Coalition shortly after the State Department enlisted al Nisrs in its terror list.

@ Regime Supporters

How does it feel to be on the LOSING side?

December 11th, 2012, 10:06 pm

Zoo @60,

I am not convinced. I think everyone now is paying more attention to your weather-vane-like comments, and no one is convinced either. There is a general feeling like as if we’re living in the tropics not knowing whether it will rain or it will be sunshine.

December 11th, 2012, 10:08 pm

هادي البحره

على كتلة المجلس الوطني داخل الائتلاف و الممثلة بغالبيتها لتنظيم الأخوان المسلمين و للقوى الأخرى التي نشأت من رحمه و التي باتت تسيطر على الغالبية فيه, أن تعي أنها و بتصرفها بهذا الشكل و من أدائها حتى الأن أعطت الائتلاف صبغة واحدة لا تمثل كل الشعب السوري بكافة اطيافه الفكرية و الاجتماعية و السياسية, و اوحت لنا بأنها تضع مصلحتها الحزبية فوق مصلحتنا الوطنية و تسعى للسيطرة على سوريا المستقبل دون هوادة في تجربتين متتاليتين \” المجلس الوطني و الائتلاف \” هذه المواقف و الأفعال أدت لتأخير النصر و التسبب بسقوط أعداد كبيرة من الشهداء و ان استمرت تصرفاتهم هذه ستؤدي الى استمرار الوضع الحالي لفترة اطول, و لن تؤدي بعد النصر لنيلنا سوريا الديمقراطية التي نطمح اليها. و نكون ناضلنا لاسقاط استبداد و استفراد البعث و آل الأسد, لنصبح تحت هيمنة الأخوان و استفرادهم برسم مستقبل ابنائنا. و هذا لن يحدث على حياتنا و لن نصمت عن هذه التجاوزات. نحن نريد الأخوان شركاء في الحياة السياسية في سوريا أخوة يبذلون الغالي و الرخيص من اجل كرامة و حرية المواطن و بناء الوطن لا خيار لكم الا باعادة توزيع المقاعد و الاقتناع بأنه ليس من المنطق و العدل ان تتجاوز نسبتكم فيه حجمكم في الواقع و الذي لا يزيدبأي حال عن الأحوال عن نسبة 20%- 25%. على الائتلاف ان يستعيد توازنه و حالاً

December 11th, 2012, 10:20 pm

I used to listen to YouTube classes of Abu Baseer al-Tartousi, and he would inform the audience about the evils of Alawites.
Later on he was proven correct, because Alawites launched atrocities in 2011. I was surprised to learn that professor Abu Baseer al-Tartousi has actually gone to Syria to fight in this civil war.

December 11th, 2012, 10:31 pm

Who giva a sh**t, they have no chance. They will never be recognized by Syrians in Syria or out of it. Obama recognized them as America’s Puppets, just as it did Shalabi and Pol Pot. Now they have kiss of death.

December 11th, 2012, 10:36 pm

Well, at this point they have more legitimacy than the regime.

December 11th, 2012, 10:38 pm

No we know Jews very well, we seen what they did in Iraq for ten years, so they will just change their brand name next week. They will call it Jabhat Omar. But you see, anyone can play this trick, come up with dozen fake JABHA and hand them baloons and VX and kick them to Lebanon, Ghaza, Libya, Ankara with the promise of getting more famous than Bin Ladin. So un-creative, a typical of retards Jews and Moslems who are conditioned mentally and culturally to pee in specific way and on specific hour by their GOD who is creativity and intellect challanged.

December 11th, 2012, 10:46 pm

I usually do not respond to Johannes. But this time I will answer his question. I just can’t help it.

“As for the rest of you, do I hear a thank you?”

Here I am JDS.

Thank you USA for admitting that the FSA with the invaluable help of Jabhat Al-Nusra, upon whose chests you pinned medals of honor today, is a force to be reckoned with without any need for any of your favors.

December 11th, 2012, 10:51 pm

A tale of two cities-BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20659573
I actually think support for the regime has increased after the invasion of Aleppo, you know how bad the situation in Syria is when you can still find a sizable chunk of Syrians who believe that the regime is ” the good side”‘, that usually means the less evil, however, the regime today exists mostly on paper with only few exceptions, what is left is Assad (and his family), the army, and part of security apparatus, the state as a whole is failing, half of the hospitals are either destroyed or inoperable , half of syria, at least, has gone back to the 1960s in terms of daily human accommodations and infrastructure, whoever will be blessed as the new regime will have to reside over a fourth world country with fractured communities and helpless masses, this will be a ripe environment for crime and warlords.
Do not insult our intelligence and lie by saying it was worth it to Afghanize Syria to topple a regime ( that has not been toppled yet)
طز فيكن و بهالثوره تبعكن
رحم الله كل الضحايا الابرياء

December 11th, 2012, 11:07 pm

President Obama congratulations to the good people of Syria:

http://edge.liveleak.com/80281E/s/s/19/media19/2012/Dec/11/LiveLeak-dot-com-bfbfac07ecab-205193_344967958934559_213925788_n.jpg?d5e8cc8eccfb6039332f41f6249e92b06c91b4db65f5e99818bad2934f4cddde08b1&ec_rate=300

December 11th, 2012, 11:08 pm

annie said:

http://www.syrianrevolutiondigest.com/2012/12/up-in-air.html?spref=fb
Syria’s own Ammar Abdulhamid

and Amal Hanano http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/12/11/the_land_of_topless_minarets_and_headless_little_girls

“But the death of a city is different. It is slow — each neighborhood’s death is documented bomb by bomb, shell by shell, stone by fallen stone. Witnessing the deaths of your cities is unbearable. Unlike the news of dead people — which arrives too late, always after the fact — the death of a city seems as if it can be halted, that the city can be saved from the clutches of destruction. But it is an illusion: The once-vibrant cities cannot be saved, so you watch, helpless, as they become ruins. “

December 12th, 2012, 12:01 am

Hopeful said:

#81 Annie

Thank you for sharing. Amal’s article is beautifully written. It put me to tears.

“Misplaced pride has proved us unworthy of this history that we could not protect.” – Amal Hanano

How true!

December 12th, 2012, 12:31 am

71. MarigoldRansaid:
@ Regime Supporters
How does it feel to be on the LOSING side?

________________________________________________________________

Losing Side?!!!! President Bashar Assad still ruling in Damascus, unfortunately. We are trying to convince him to lose all the filth and head to the coast to rule with “Sunni Elite” and Christians in New Monaco of Syria, The Republic of Syria. Leave the losers kill themselves over bread, shanklish and turfs, Jews will make sure there are plenty of Al Nusra fronts in Bedouin desert Syria to keep it like Somalia, divided, retarded, under purely Islamic filth and destitute, riddled with gangs and criminality. Will go enjoy our eternal life something that looks like this, the whole world will recognize Nationalist Syria, we need few countries anyway, Russia, China and some other South American State, three at most, the worlds will need us we need not the world :

But will always help the shia resistance stay strong in Lebanon and Persia. Tel Kalakh will be the gateway for that help, specially plenty of Birthday Balloons, filled and ready.

December 12th, 2012, 12:41 am

No thank you’s eh? Well then, there’s this:

The USS Eisenhower, an American aircraft carrier that holds eight fighter bomber squadrons and 8,000 men, arrived at the Syrian coast, indicating US preparation for a potential ground intervention.

While the Obama administration has not announced any sort of American-led military intervention in the war-torn country, the US is now ready to launch such action “within days” if necessary, the Times reports.

The arrival of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, one of the 11 US Navy aircraft carriers that has the capacity to hold thousands of men, is now stationed at the coast of Syria. The aircraft carrier joined the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, which holds about 2,500 Marines.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cJa76dHKia0/TrHOLwFo6zI/AAAAAAAAAp8/uAeShScbz2I/s1600/Aircraft_Carrier_Uss_Dwight_D_Eisenhower_Cvn_69_.jpg

December 12th, 2012, 12:52 am

March 15, will be the new Independence day for the new Syrian Republic, will sing loud: Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday great Syria, happy birthday for you all Nationalist Syrians, we won, we live in mansions under the sun, they live with rats in desert sand. Will salute our Blue and Purple flag with the olive branch and crest of Syria’s eagle.
Who should we send thank you notes to?

NO MORE STINCKY MOSLEM SHANKLISH.

December 12th, 2012, 12:58 am

@Ghurfan

The regime brought this upon the country. THEY have the primary responsibility.

As I’ve said before, at this point the FSA is no longer fighting for the present. They are fighting for the FUTURE and for their CHILDREN. The regime must be destroyed and its leading supporters punished so that NO ONE will be stupid enough to do this again in the future. Anything short of that will be a shame.

No one punished the regime for Hamas, which is why they thought they could repeat it again. But they will be punished for this.

@Aldendeshe

Assad is still in Damascus. That means he has not LOST. But do you deny the fact that the regime is LOSING?

And then there are these to contend with later for being silly Jew wimp:

The real super powerful ones:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T8vlrPTkYA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOGZd27dtpE

The great nobilities:

December 12th, 2012, 1:15 am

And of course, even if Obama shown some wisdom and held that possible ground invasion, risking 400 years of hard American work to satisfy the satanic cult of 300, all for desert patch called Syria, it will end like this here anyway:

You see nations are not going to accept Federal Reserve Private Bank Crane paper cutouts forever.

December 12th, 2012, 1:32 am

I see the Syrian Nazi party is singing the birthday song, has yet another personality been born?

Citizen: Elders of Zion AND German articles? Oy Vey!

Visitor: Either that or what Syrialover said, but neither really made sense to me. And Amin, ya Rabb!

Syrialover: That would explain it, although I don’t really see it. It’s too ridiculous to take seriously, yet not ridiculous enough to be sarcastic. I’d like to believe it’s well meant.

Assad’s Shabbiha Massacre Alawite Women and Children in Aqrab, Hama
http://freehalab.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/assads-shabbiha-massacre-alawite-women-and-children-in-aqrab-hama/

New project: http://shabbihaleaks.wordpress.com/

From: http://freehalab.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/three-weeks-of-shabbiha-leaks/

I’m not sure if anyone is already doing it, otherwise the plan was for each video to be posted separately, add available details to it and categorize by topic. Very simple, could be very useful, but a lot of work going through videos and posting them.

Anyone interested?

December 12th, 2012, 1:41 am

Altair said:

I’m quite certain that had the US done nothing, said nothing, taken no position on anything concerning the Syria crisis, it would have been better than what it is doing now.

Anyone who looks to the US for support should understand 2 things:

1. The people of Syria and most Arabs (with the possible exception of the self-loathing Gulf Arabs) are highly suspicious of any US policy. For the US to endorse you is often the kiss of death, or at least a reason to question your credibility. Why? Because:

2. US policy is inextricably linked to Israel, and usually right-wing Zionist Israel. Almost nothing the US does in the region is principally in its own interest without it being in Israel’s interest first and foremost (or more accurately the perceived interest of the Israeli establishment).

For example, the whole Iraq war was a disaster for the US, and contributed significantly to the economic problems of the US today. But it was a boon for the neocon and Israeli establishments. They are certainly jumping with joy that Sunnis are fighting with Shia, and would certainly love to see the same with the Alawis, Druze, Christians or anyone else.

The underlying theme of Israeli policy has consistently been to harm its neighbors: to subjugate them, divide them, expel them, destroy their means of living, destroy their homes, kill them. That is what Zionism is all about from the time of Ben-Gurion. The Zionists never thought the Arabs would accept their project, so they launched this unending war.

It is unfortunate that the US was drawn into the Middle East in this way, but that’s the way it is. Until the US can de-Zionize (and democratize) its policy, it will never be a positive force in the region.

December 12th, 2012, 2:14 am

THE REASON WHY YOU DID NOT WIN, IS BECAUSE YOU MADE ALL SYRIANS LOSERS. THERE ARE NO WINNERS, AND IT WILL BE THAT WAY FOR 2-3 GENERATIONS, THE WINNERS ARE THE JEWS.

SNP GOAL IS TO BE A WINNER, BY RELOCATING TO SYRIAN RIVIERA, WE WILL HELP ASSAD IN THIS PLAN IN MANY WAYS, BUT ONLY IF IT IS A SYRIAN REPUBLIC, NOT ALAWITES, ARAB OR MOSLEM SHANTY PEASANT STATE.

December 12th, 2012, 2:17 am

Yeah, you sound like a whack-job Japanese soldier from WWII who called all retreats “retrograde maneuvers.” In case you were wondering, Hitler’s Germany and the Japanese lost in WWII. How does it feel to be on the losing side even back then? Kind of sucks to have history against you, doesn’t it?

Once again, you failed to answer the question. I did not ask you whether anyone was winning. I asked you: “Do you deny that the regime is LOSING?”

December 12th, 2012, 2:55 am

الولايات المتحدة تعول على “انتصار بواسطة السلاح” للمعارضة السورية (لافروف)
اعرب وزير الخارجية الروسي سيرغي لافروف الاربعاء عن استغرابه لاعتراف الرئيس الاميركي باراك اوباما بالائتلاف السوري المعارض، واعتبر ان واشنطن تعول على “انتصار بواسطة السلاح” للمعارضة السورية.
وقال لافروف في تصريحات نقلتها وكالات الانباء الروسية “لقد استغربت الى حد ما” اعلان الاعتراف، مضيفا ان “الولايات المتحدة قررت ان تراهن على انتصار بواسطة السلاح للائتلاف (السوري) المعارض”.

December 12th, 2012, 3:03 am

EU War Council Meets to Plan Syria and Mali Invasions – December 10, 2012

http://www.infowars.com/eu-war-council-meets-to-plan-syria-and-mali-invasions/

European Union apparatchiks convened in Brussels on Monday to plot moves against the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad and to plan for a “humanitarian” intervention in Mali.

27 EU foreign ministers will meet with Mouaz al-Khatib today. Described as a “moderate,” al-Khatib is a Sunni Muslim and heads up the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, a coalition group founded in Doha, Qatar, that refuses to negotiate with the al-Assad regime and supports the CIA’s Free Syrian Army.The FSA is currently under investigation for executing prisoners of war and other atrocities.

Initially rejected by the al-Qaeda linked terrorist group the al-Nusra Front as a “conspiratorial project,” the National Coalition is now recognized by the fossilized Wahhabi regimes in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman, as “the legitimate representative” of the Syrian people.

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

The Gulf Cooperation Council, France, Britain and Turkey, however, have all formally recognized the coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

Further plotting against the government of Syria is underway in Morocco. On Wednesday, the so-called “Friends of Syria” will to plan the “political transition” from al-Assad to a more amenable government hand-picked up the Wahhabi states in the Gulf and their partners in the EU and the United States. The meeting in Morocco will devise ways to support the National Coalition, which “brings together a very broad range of opposition factions and individuals” and is a “very credible interlocutor,” according to the AFP.

The centerpiece of the effort to unseat al-Assad is the accusation he will use chemical weapons against his “own people,” in other words, the mercenaries hosted by Turkey and supported by the CIA and financed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said during a press conference in Brussels that chemical weapons will be discussed at the meeting. “In a situation of chaos, it is exceedingly dangerous if these things start floating around in the region,” said Bildt, explaining the pretext that will be used when NATO and the U.S. attack Syria.

Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, said Syria will never use chemical weapons against its own people. He said there has been a “massive politicization of intelligence” in the United States and “we’re preparing the ground to intervene in Syria.”

[…]

December 12th, 2012, 3:18 am

America’s recognition of the National Coalition as Syria’s legitimate authority violates the Geneva Conventions, it is an ‘unexpected turn’ – Lavrov – Dec 12, 2012

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_12_12/America-s-recognition-of-the-National-Coalition-as-Syria-s-legitimate-authority-violates-the-Geneva-Conventions-it-is-an-unexpected-turn-Lavrov/

The Voice of Russia’s Olga Denisova cites the country’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying that Washington’s move to recognize Syria’s opposition National Coalition as the sole legitimate power proved the US had made a stake on its armed victory.

“America’s recognition of the National Coalition as Syria’s legitimate authority violates the Geneva Conventions, it is an ‘unexpected turn’,” he said at a meeting with his Slovak counterpart, Miroslav Lajcák.

December 12th, 2012, 3:31 am

Kiev demands freedom for kidnapped journalist – Dec 11, 2012

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_12_11/Kiev-demands-freedom-for-kidnapped-journalist/

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Dikusarov said Kiev expected more tangible results from regime’s action to secure a safe release of the Ukrainian.

“Ukraine demands an immediate release of Ankhar Kochneva and will take action to get the issue of violence against a civilian into international discussion,” Mr. Dikusarov said.

Ukraine hopes this act of rebel violence will be harshly condemned and punished by the international community, he added.

Ankhar Kochneva worked as an interpreter for a Russian TV crew when she was kidnapped by Syrian militants. The same day, Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovich gave instructions to the country’s foreign office to do everything possible to free the journalist.

Syrian militants are threatening to execute journalist Ankhar Kochneva. They are demanding 50 million U.S. dollars for her life. The ultimatum that was signed by the field commanders of the paramilitary wing of the opposition Free Syrian Army expires on December 13th.

December 12th, 2012, 3:46 am

Open declaration of war? US recognizes Syrian opposition body – 12 December, 2012

http://rt.com/usa/news/us-recognizes-syrian-opposition-860/

US President Barack Obama has recognized the main Syrian opposition group as a “legitimate representative” of the Syrian people. This brings the US in line with its allies, including Britain, France and several Arab states.

“We’ve made a decision that the Syrian Opposition Coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective and representative enough of the Syrian population that we consider them the legitimate representative of the Syrian people in opposition to the Assad regime,” Obama said in an interview with ABC.

“Obviously, with that recognition comes responsibilities,” Obama said in the interview on Tuesday. “To make sure that they organize themselves effectively, that they are representative of all the parties, that they commit themselves to a political transition that respects women’s rights and minority rights.” government.

Russia is “surprised” by the US move, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented on Wednesday. He said that Washington is apparently betting on a military victory for the Syrian rebels, which goes against the Geneva agreement – the international roadmap for a peaceful solution to the crisis.

The recognition of the coalition by the US is likely to indemnify the hostilities in Syria, believes Conn Hallinan, a contributing editor at Foreign Policy in Focus.

“It opens the door for a much more direct intervention into the civil war in Syria. It will mean that the heavy weapons will come in. Potentially you could end up with a no-fly zone. Really, it’s pretty much an open declaration of war against the Assad regime,” he told RT.

Critics contend the coalition and the Free Syrian Army (FSA), which supports the opposition body, are closely connected with Islamists. The FSA’s newly elected joint command is estimated to be composed mostly of Muslim Brotherhood-linked commanders and excludes the most senior officers who defected from Assad’s more secular military.

“People here in Washington don’t seem to understand… If you do like the government in Cairo, then you will love the government that comes to power in Damascus. You will see a Sunni Muslim Islamist government, a Muslim Brotherhood-style government, that is absolutely intolerant, fundamentally hostile to the West,” retired US Army Colonel and military author Douglas Macgregor told RT.

December 12th, 2012, 4:28 am

Russia slams US for recognizing Syrian opposition – 1 hour ago

http://missoulian.com/news/world/europe/russia-slams-us-for-recognizing-syrian-opposition/article_e5729924-b27d-5946-9058-4b7175fa85e5.html

Russia has criticized Washington’s decision to recognize Syria’s main opposition group as the country’s legitimate representative saying the move is a violation of earlier accords.

President Barack Obama said Tuesday the newly-formed Syrian Opposition Council “is now inclusive enough” to be granted the elevated status and deemed his move “a big step” in the international diplomatic efforts to end Syrian President Bashar Assad’s embattled regime. Recognition of the council as the sole representative of Syria’s diverse population brings the U.S. in line with Britain, France and several of America’s Arab allies.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday the recognition contradicted earlier international agreements that foresee the “commencement of an all-Syria dialogue” that would include all sides.

December 12th, 2012, 4:41 am

Predicting the demise of the SNC is one thing and predicting the demise of the FSA is quite another. My dog would have predicted the demise of the stooge SNC. You could tell that they were actually exiles that have been pontificating about Syria in their weekly cafe meetings for years. Good riddance.

As for the FSA we have to this day ongoing defections and more importantly significant numbers of desertions and no one performing their military duty.

Who would have thought that the suburbs of Damascus would become no go zones for the secret services and for the Republican Guards? Who would have thought that the regime is requiring Iranian advisors as Haitham Mana’a said today in his critique of the FOS meeting?

How come neither Mayadeen nor Manar nor Alalam nor Sana nor Champ Press are saying anything about the Akrab massacres?

How come Mana’a is talking about the demise of the Geneva accords? Did he not understand that the sine qua non of the meeting was the withdrawal of the army from the streets and the immediate cessation of hostilities?

The accord was stillborn with that kind of regime. He is marginalized fully and as Russia’s man in the opposition he has lost. Point a la ligne.

Putin’s nose will be rubbed in the dirt. Iran is planning for a rump state on the coast and by the way Makdisi is on vacation?

I do not know how it is possible for regime supporters to continue to stick with the delusion of the staying power of the regime.

December 12th, 2012, 8:03 am

95. ann

I think USA need to clarify Obama’s ambiguous declaration in the choice of words.

In my view, with the words that Obama used ( ‘Syrian people in opposition to the Syrian Regime”) I think that USA is not recognizing the coalition as an alternative to the Syrian government which goes against the UN chart, but rather as the legitimate opposition movement. ( Obama did not even use the ‘sole’ word)

Let’s see if such clarification on the terms will come or if the USA would confirm the recognition as an alternative to the Syrian government, like France and the UK did.

December 12th, 2012, 9:37 am

…

December 12th, 2012, 9:53 am