“Does the Truce Between ISIS and Suqour al-Sham Mean an End to Syria’s Inter-Rebel War?” By Daniel Abdallah

Posted by Joshua on Friday, February 7th, 2014

Does the Truce Between ISIS and Suqour al-Sham Mean an End to Syria’s Inter-Rebel War?
By Daniel Abdallah – twitter: @Daniel_Abdullah
for Syria Comemnt, February 7, 2014

Has the newly brokered truce between rebel militias in Syria ended the fighting that began in earnest on 3 January 2014? The reasons that Syria’s militias attacked the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria were many. ISIS had arrested members of many militias; it had torture many of those and killed quite a few. The immediate result of the initial onslaught against ISIS was the expulsion of ISIS from most of Idlib province as well as from the city of Aleppo and its rural areas. ISIS positions in ar-Raqqa were also seriously weakened. To the untrained eye, ISIS appeared to be on the verge of total collapse in Syria. Some militias demanded that it leave the country altogether[1].  ISIS promised retaliation.[2]

Although the Islamic Front (IF) – the largest armed rebel coalition in Syria – had numerous grievances with ISIS, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) led the attack on ISIS.  To be more correct, the remnants of the FSA led the attack. The FSA proper had ceased to exist when two of its largest constituents joined the IF in November and its putative leadership, the Supreme Military Command, was driven from Syria only weeks later. Those FSA militias that did not find a new home in the Islamic Front formed the Syrian Revolutionaries Front[3] (SRF) and a few other groups, which spearheaded the attack on ISIS. The fight appears to have been well planned, as both Saudi Arabia and Qatar sent money and weapons ahead of the January 3 conflagration. Some claim it was earmarked for the battle against ISIS. The US limited itself to financial support – amounting to $2 million a month.[4]

The Islamic Front, Jabhat an-Nusra, and ISIS disagree on details about the future state in Syria, but all agree basic principles: that ia theocratic state in should take the place of the Assad regime; and Sharia law should be its guiding if not sole source of legislation. The ideological kinship that binds together the Islamist militias along with their professed horror at fitna, or civil discord among Muslims, caused the Islamic Front to hessitate in its response to the fight against ISIS. A local contact informed me that in Tal Abiadh (a town on the border with Turkey), soldiers of Ahrar ash-Sham, a constituent of the IF, handed their weapons over to Turkish authorities and fled into Turkey rather than fight ISIS. The same was taking place in ar-Raqqa; Ahrar soldiers declared their neutrality refusing to fight ISIS. They professed their desire to leave for the East in what amounted to surrender.  ISIS soldiers initially agreed to give them safe passage, but ended up executing them to the man.[5]

The IF’s reticence and not only ISIS’ military superiority helped ISIS win the struggle in Raqqa.  ISIS was able to reconquer all of Raqqa, Jarablus, al-Bab and Manbij (i.e. most of Eastern rural Aleppo). It also solidified its positions in Deir az-Zour by establishing new alliances with local tribes.[6] Whereas before the ISIS had to share power in all of these locales, it now emerged as sole ‘governor’ ruling by Sharia law and on its own.

Many Jihadi theorists were deeply troubled by this fitna, and they tried their best to bring an end to it. Most famous of such initiatives was one by Saudi theologian, rebel fighter in Syria and Phd Abdullah al-Muhaysini that came to be known as al-Umma Initiative.[7] It called for the cessation of violence and the establishment of a common, neutral Islamic court to arbitrate all disputes according to Sharia law. It was unconditionally embraced by Jabhat an-Nusra, the SRF, the IF, the Mujahideen Army and many Jihadi ideologues.[8] The ISIS, however, predicated its acceptance on two conditions: that all parties involved publicly declare their position regarding democracy and secularism (refused en bloc by the ISIS, the IF and Jabhat an-Nusra) – intended for the SRF and the other remnants of the FSA who accept them half-heartedly – and, second, that all parties clarify their positions regarding current Arab regimes and Turkey – creating a hurdle for factions who are supported by these very countries.[9] The various IF constituents’ position vis-à-vis the ISIS remained a mixture of verbal denouncements and an acceptance of Muhaysini’s initiative, all the while trying to avoid the fight where possible. Hassan Abboud – leader of Ahrar ash-Sham – publicly stated that they were going to ‘avoid any battle [with the ISIS] that can be avoided’.[10] As previously mentioned Suqour ash-Sham’s Abu Issa ash-Shaikh had a much stronger stance against the ISIS – promising to cleanse them from the Levant. A milder version, at least verbally, was put forward by Zahran Alloush – leader of the Islam Army (also an IF constituent and largely based in the South away from the centre of the infighting) – saying the fight with the ISIS was no fitna and that there was no more room for middle-of-the-road positions.[11] Abdul Azeez Salama – head of Liwa at-Tawheed (IF) – reiterated the ‘majority’ position by saying ‘I would be honoured to be judged by Allah’s Sharia’.[12] The nature of the overall conflict in Syria, it is worth mentioning, is resistant to the implementation of centralised strategies. More often, decisions are taken based on local conditions even if they go against orders the particular group had received from its leaders. While the characterisation offered here of the IF publicly distancing itself from the fight with ISIS is perfectly true, it is also true that a number of their sub-factions entered the fray against ISIS with full force.

Until the truce under discussion took place, all calls for arbitration had appeared dead for all intents and purposes. Significantly, ISIS went back on their two conditions when the truce was brokered. No public denunciation of democracy, secularism or regional states by Suqour ash-Sham (or the faction within it that accepted the deal) have taken place so far, while the truce is in full effect. The ISIS, then, have accepted, in principal, the establishment of an Islamic court with 50% of its judges coming from their side and 50% from the side of their opponents. Importantly, the court the ISIS agreed to has no retroactive effect. It only applies to potential disputes that might arise in the future, and SS had no qualms about agreeing to this. The ISIS have also accepted to dealing with a group that was once part of the Western-aligned FSA, not an insignificant step for it. One can read this as the ISIS’ content with the status quo – now that they have become the sole power in a large swathe of territory – and as their readiness to dilute their refusals of arbitration for this purpose, with the not insignificant caveat of nullified retroactivity.

For the IF, the truce can have one of two possible effects. It can either help formalise their so far hesitant approach to the ISIS and offer them a way out of internecine struggle with a face-saving mechanism, such as a Sharia court that may turn out to be largely toothless. Or, less likely, the truce may presage a split within the Islamic Front, a group that never functioned as a single unit, but as an alliance of convenience. If the Islamic Front splits up, Suqour ash-Sham would go its own way. The reason this is unlikely is that larger groups are better channels for funding. Small units cannot survive well on their own or bring in big money and thus will not want to break from the larger coalition for purely ideological reasons. Should leaders of the IF denounce the truce, it could mean that the Front will come apart, but this seems to be a small possibility.

Assad may have had mixed feelings toward the fighting between ISIS and the other rebel militias. Had the enemies of ISIS turned out to be victorious, they would have proven their effectiveness as fighters of “terrorism,” thereby stealing Assad’s fire – or at least the fire he is trying to market to Western powers and the Syrian people. ISIS’ counterattack and success in reconquering Syrian territory is doubtlessly satisfying to Assad for it ensures inter-rebel conflict and chaos in the days to come. It also ensures that western powers will continue to fret about Syria becoming a training ground for future Western Jihadists. Those opposition leaders who claim that mainstream Syrian groups can easily defeat al-Qaida and eject jihadists from Syria once Assad is defeated will have a harder time making this argument. If the ISIS-SS truce becomes a starting point for further deals with other groups in the IF, and so universalizes the uneasy truce begun with the SS, Assad will be reassured. He will claim the rebel groups have re-allied themselves with the ISIS and that it cannot be a regime creation as so many opposition members insist. ‘Assad must be waiting for the call from the CIA’, as one of my friends put it.

Although conspiracy theories claiming to expose ISIS as an Assad back flag operation, designed to mar the purity of the revolution and destroy it from within, are ubiquitous, there is evidence to suggest that Assad looks on ISIS as a strategic ally. The Syrian Army has not bombed their well-known headquarters and has spared their men.

To conclude, it is important to stress that all stated potential ramifications of this truce remain speculative. All the evidence we so far have for analysis is the text of the agreement as released by ISIS-sympathetic sources, the video showing a convoy moving through the desert and Rashed Tuggo (SS’ Head of General Staff) claiming that he was authorised to speak on behalf of SS’ Shura Council. More time and evidence is needed to determine whether the truce will be of any significance to the Syrian Civil War.

 

[1] http://all4syria.info/Archive/122779

[2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwPTVj5lyzQ

[3] http://www.alarabiya.net/ar/arab-and-world/syria/2013/12/10/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1-%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%83%D9%84-%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81-%D8%B9%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A9-%D8%AB%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7-.html

[4] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10588308/US-secretly-backs-rebels-to-fight-al-Qaeda-in-Syria.html

[5] https://twitter.com/HassanAbboud_Ah/statuses/422770031412654080

[6] See: http://t.co/6N635C1r6x, for example.

[7] https://twitter.com/mobadratalomah and http://mobadrah.mhesne.com/. For analysis see: http://carnegieendowment.org/syriaincrisis/?fa=54320

[8] https://twitter.com/mobadratalomah

[9] https://twitter.com/Daniel_Abdullah/statuses/427854070842281985

[10] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYa7MnqeqsI&feature=youtu.be. For a summary in English and commentary see http://danielabdullah.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/on-hassan-abbouds-latest-speech/

[11] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upaj2Krtg6g

[12] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wspbiB8sY50&sns=tw

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Categories: Ahrar al-Sham, Free Syrian Army, ISIS, Islamism, Jabhat al-Nusra, Liwaa al-Tawhid
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Comments (67)


Mick said:

Although conspiracy theories claiming to expose ISIS as an Assad back flag operation, designed to mar the purity of the revolution and destroy it from within, are ubiquitous, there is evidence to suggest that Assad looks on ISIS as a strategic ally. The Syrian Army has not bombed their well-known headquarters and has spared their men.

Funny…How ’bout this?

Although conspiracy theories claiming to expose Al Qaeda as a CIA black flag operation, designed to provide an excuse for military operations in oil/mineral resource areas are ubiquitous, there is evidence to suggest that the West, and the U.S. in specific looks at Al Qaeda as a strategic ally. The U.S. government has not directed any of its massive resources against either ISIS or the Nusrah Front despite their obvious relations to Al Qaedah and continued use of terrorist bombings to achieve their goals.

February 7th, 2014, 9:44 pm

 
 

Alan said:

The international community has received yet again a perfect example of the hypocritical practices employed by the White House in its policies, today they say to you that they are desperately searching for a solution to the Syrian armed conflict and tomorrow – devise a new military plan against Syria.

As it was reported by the Jordanian news agency JBC, the United States and Israel have drafted a joint plan of occupation of the southern Syria to establish a “security belt” for Israel.

The implementation of this plan won’t be possible without the engagement of the so-called “moderate opposition”, that has been fueled by Washington’s financial injections for a while now. According to the master plan of the White House and Tel Aviv’s «masterminds» the armed forces of this “moderate opposition” are to occupy the two southern provinces of Syria. To ensure the combat readiness of the militants in question the U.S. will provide them with additional military equipment, anti-tank missiles included.

The militants will also be provided with all the latest intel obtained by the U.S. and Israeli secret services.

On Tuesday, a U.S. plane, carrying tons of military ammunition destined for the armed Syrian opposition successfully landed in the Jordanian airport Mafraq, 80 kilometers away from Amman.

Washington has been actively applying in its political rhetoric this freshly reinvented term – “moderate opposition” to indicate members of the Syrian armed opposition. This term has been already been in use before, only the last time American officials resorted to it, they applied it to the Taliban fighters to grant them a coating of “legitimacy” in the eyes of the international community. They needed an excuse for Taliban’s participation in the hostile actions against the Soviet troops in Afghanistan. The consequences of this “coating” are well-known and can hardly be justified, especially today when the White House unsuccessfully tries to solve the problem of the future of Afghanistan.

Only in the year 2013 alone, due to the hard work of the CIA, with a “helping hand” provided by Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Syrian rebels acquired 600 tons of weapons, which is more than sufficient for a regional war, say nothing about a local conflict. As it became known from the reports of Georges Malbrunot, the weapons shipments to Syrian are carried out with the constant support of U.S. drones controlled from the CIA command in Jordan.
– Vladimir Odintsov –
**************
The events in the Middle East and particularly in Syria are forcing the international community to turn their heads in the direction of the U.S.
… To summarize all that is heard from Washington , it is clear that the U.S. sees no way out of the extremely complicated Syrian at the negotiating table . The one and only goal that the U.S. authorities are trying to achieve is to overthrow the legitimate regime of Bashar al-Assad and replace it with an obedient “puppet government”, and as for the Syrian people – they couldn’t care less about them. They want to leave behind a devastated country, a land plunged into chaos, as they have already done in Afghanistan, Iraq , Libya.
http://journal-neo.org/2014/02/08/rus-ssha-siriya-novy-e-ugrozy-vashingtona/
****
http://youtu.be/mS-QZ_l2IN4
SPETSNAZ top ?1 !!!? open your eyes

February 8th, 2014, 12:58 pm

 

Juergen said:

Sochi is to Putin what Berlin in 1936 was to Hitler, says Garry Kasparov

“”Anyone who thinks that is an exaggeration is forgetting a very important factor. Hitler in 1936 was seen as a thoroughly respectable and legitimate politician,” Kasparov said in an interview.

“Moscow (1980) and Beijing (2008) were games that authoritarian systems established to generate propaganda for their country and for themselves, the ruling party,” he added. “Sochi, as Berlin, stands under a different sign: these are games which revolve entirely around a single man. In Berlin, it was Hitler. In Sochi, it was Putin. It’s about a personality cult.

“For him it’s about getting himself celebrated, making a legacy for himself,” Kasparov said. “It’s a one man circus.”

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/07/sochi-vladimir-putin-hitler-berlin-garry-kasparov

February 8th, 2014, 1:21 pm

 

Alan said:

4. JUERGEN
Garik is for the Jewish world domination! it is not Kasparov but Garik Weinstein! he was a chessmaster in the Soviet era and now he is just an exhaust pipe for western consumer.

February 8th, 2014, 1:36 pm

 

SimoHurtta said:

4. Juergen said:

Sochi is to Putin what Berlin in 1936 was to Hitler, says Garry Kasparov

“”Anyone who thinks that is an exaggeration is forgetting a very important factor. Hitler in 1936 was seen as a thoroughly respectable and legitimate politician,” Kasparov said in an interview.

….
“Sochi, as Berlin, stands under a different sign: these are games which revolve entirely around a single man. In Berlin, it was Hitler. In Sochi, it was Putin. It’s about a personality cult.

This is absurd propaganda. This constant claiming that in Russia everything is done because of Putin and by Putin is simply idiotic. Kasparov (= Weinstein) is a active Russian (=US and Israeli) politician, has been demonstrating against Putin and wanted to be a president candidate in the elections. He has basically no significant support in Russia.

Jürgen did Hitler tolerate such political rivals as mr. Kasparov? No his Germany did not. “Putin’s” Russia does.

February 8th, 2014, 6:16 pm

 

Tara said:

Observer,

I heard that Jamous jaafari’s post as the UN ambassador was terminated by Batta.

I noticed he deviated from the script in Geneva and I commented on that then.

Wishing all Sunnis slaves same fate. Time to get of Drum.

February 8th, 2014, 7:45 pm

 

Syrialover said:

A shaft of sunlight in the gloom.

Raed Fares, the man behind the brilliant protest posters of Kafranbel, is recovering after being shot in an assassination attempt by ISIS 10 days ago.

Here is a picture of him standing wounded but smiling in the Kafranbel square last Friday, protesting against violence and oppression.

https://twitter.com/AmalHanano/status/431801362418913280/photo/1

It is believed Fares was shot at close range outside his home by jihadists, following a campaign where they destroyed the Kafranbel media centre then made threats to Fares who is its founder, and his colleagues.

Fares and other peaceful Syrian activists are in grave danger from ISIS, who want to stamp out Syrian advocates of freedom and human rights. Their targets have included some of Syria’s most prominent and courageous anti-regime campaigners.

This includes prominent civil rights lawyer Rizan Zoutenah who was recently abducted in Damasscus by Islamists along with her husband Wael Hamadeh, Samira Khalil the wife of a prominent activist, Yassin al-Haj Saleh and Nazem Hamadeh who was running relief activities in the Damascus suburbs.

ISIS is now an equal danger to Assad’s peaceful opponents as the regime itself is.

Yassin al-haj Saleh finally fled Damascus late last year after years of fearlessly standing his ground criticizing the regime.

He headed back to his home town of Raqqa expecting to find sanctuary, only to discover he was being hunted by ISIS who had kidnapped his brothers.

This brave former political prisoner and longtime activist is now in exile outside Syria after ISIS forced him to flee his country to survive.

February 8th, 2014, 7:59 pm

 

Syrialover said:

SIMOHURRTA,

What should happen to those naughty young women from Pussy Riot when they return home to Putin-land after criticizing Russia’s human rights record to American audiences?

Straight back to prison for sure.

But this time should it be Gulag or the death penalty?

February 8th, 2014, 8:07 pm

 

Syrialover said:

TARA #7

How interesting if turns out to be true about shameless slick Bashar Jaafari being sacked as Syrian regime representative to the UN.

Would that mean (i) he and his sleazy little smartass daughter Sherry, “adviser” to Bashar Assad, will have to quit their plush NY home and (ii) his visa to remain in the US would be terminated?

Fun to watch that space.

February 8th, 2014, 8:42 pm

 

Tara said:

SL,

I also heard that Sheusheu got married and that his whole family is now in Iran.

February 8th, 2014, 8:56 pm

 

Juergen said:

Simo

I think you are not well informed. Nothing happens in Russia of that size without Putin.
He personally decided that his winter retreat area of Krasnaja Polania would become the host of this years wintergames. Out of two subtropical destinations Russia has to offer, he choosed Sochi. Russia has hundreds of already developed winter destinations, but Putin urged the national olympic comitee to threw thei hat into the arena.

51 billion dollar, thats the amount paid for the games. Thats more than all the wintergames had cost in the last 30 years. We all know and the Russians even admit that kickbacks of 30 percent were normal and that many dear friends of Putin in the administration enriched themselves tremendously.

You may call it a nationalistic endeavour, but all of those handful oligarchs who “sponsored” half of the games did that in the spirit of knowing if they would resist, they could end up in prison like Chodokowski.

Putin accepts political rivals? Really, how come all of them are in Europe now? Half of Londons russian emigrants have stated political reasons for their asylum.

The last independent tv station was closed two weeks before the games started. Thousands of Russians have lost their property in Sochi and the surroundings,the Putin adminstration changed laws in order to minimize legal affairs in that matter. Demonstrations against the Sochi games were brutally beaten down.

And one reminder, Sochi is the place of a forgotten genocide against the Circassians. In 1864 Zar Alexander held the last battle there, which ended an 100 year colonial war. In the outcome every Circassian was killed in Sochi.

One Circassian was cited stating: “For us Circassians its like the Nazis held up a parade on Auschwitz”

But no worries, such voices arent heard in Putins Russia, its yet an other kullu bi khair state…

Btw, Putin will remind the world once more this year of his new playground: Sochi will held the first Formula One race. Berni Ecclestone who loves to be a Nazi in the bedroom is a good buddy of Putin, what an coincidence…

February 9th, 2014, 1:16 am

 

Juergen said:

Simo

Ah I forget that totally, if Russia is such a democratic, pluralistic state, why then no other leader of a democratic state pays a visit to see Putin and his games? All of them have declined, among them Obama, who send instead two former athletes who are homosexual clearer the message could not be. No Merkel,no Gauck, no Hollande-no Cameron. I guess Putin better call Bashar to join him in his lounge, don’t you think?

February 9th, 2014, 1:51 am

 

Alan said:

Jordan must cut US Cancer out of its Foreign Policy: Israel, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria
http://www.moderntokyotimes.com/2014/02/09/jordan-must-cut-us-cancer-out-of-its-foreign-policy-israel-lebanon-palestine-and-syria/
Jordan needs to reevaluate its foreign policy with America because issues related to Israel, Palestine, Syria and the Muslim Brotherhood are all problematic. The current elites in the Obama administration are intent on imposing their “colonial mindsets” by dictating to others. Therefore, Jordan should break free from the patronizing and dangerous policies of Washington in order to focus on internal security issues.
Issues related to Israel, Palestine and regional dynamics are extremely complex but for Jordan and Lebanon it is clear that both these nations are deemed expendable by America. In Lebanon the delicate Christian-Muslim balance was altered by mainly Muslim Palestinian immigration. Similarly, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel didn’t worry about dragging their conflict to the people of Lebanon several decades ago. This reality was a nail in the coffin for Lebanon during the civil war period and once more international intrigues against Syria is lighting fires in the land of the Cedars….

February 9th, 2014, 3:34 am

 

Alan said:

13-
TAKE IT PO NIMETSKY!
German media reports about Sochi – it’s a disaster- Gerhard Schröder
http://inotv.rt.com/2014-02-09/SHreder-Reportazhi-nemeckih-SMI-o

February 9th, 2014, 4:24 am

 

apple_mini said:

Has anyone had a good laugh about the latest farce performed by US diplomats about their “rigged” regime change in Ukraine?

Not only people “found out” US already decided the next government for Ukraine, but also they dropped F bomb on their EU counterparts.

Now, I wonder what those US assigned Syrian opposition members can explain to us that they are representing Syrians and will be working for Syrians.

Officially, Moaz Khattib resigned voluntarily. But if we use a little intelligence, we could conclude that it was US’ dirty hands pushed him out because Moaz was ready to work with the regime for the sake of Syria.

February 9th, 2014, 5:47 am

 

Syrialover said:

JUERGEN #12

Fast forward only a few years when Putin has gone. The $50+ billion Sochi site will be a decaying ruin and environmental disaster zone.

On another topic, what inspiring news about Raed Fares (#8).

February 9th, 2014, 6:17 am

 

Syrialover said:

LITLE APPLE’S head is spinning so hard with conspiracy theories it will fall off.

So the US got rid of Moaz Khattab did it?

I remember the bit where Moaz called on the regime to come to the negotiation table and exposed its lack of interest in cooperating. A direct shortcut to where we finally are now.

I think the subject of America is deeply confusing to LITTLE APPLE.

Better LA sticks to explaining and exposing Iran. That would tell us a true story about people who claim to be representing Syrians but who represent only their own brutal self interest under the direction of outsiders.

February 9th, 2014, 6:43 am

 
 

Sami said:

“But if we use a little intelligence, we could conclude that it was US’ dirty hands pushed him out because Moaz was ready to work with the regime for the sake of Syria.”

Who is “we”?

And this stupid assumption falls flat on its face for it does not even consider the regime side that would’ve never been ready to work with Moaz to start with!

February 9th, 2014, 9:10 am

 

Tara said:

Sami,

Hehe. One can’t use “intelligence” if one has none.

February 9th, 2014, 9:24 am

 

apple_mini said:

Well, you can tell when one particular comment touches the raw nerve of those proud and glory “Syrian expats”

They will just come in packs to bark and yell.

I have to admit after three years of Syria conflict, the “Syrian expats” are still showing themselves as hopeless and useless.

I hope we can talk about more about Tartous. It seems the only hope for a future progressive Syria is still flicking there.

February 9th, 2014, 11:08 am

 

Tara said:

Apple,

Sure it is touching a nerve.

The nerve of amusement. Keep it coming girl.

February 9th, 2014, 11:31 am

 

ghufran said:

Tu’meh admits that the NC agreed to go to Geneva because the rebels could not win militarily (the same can be said about the regime):
???? ‘????? ??????’: ??? ???? ????? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? (??? ????) ??? ???? ?? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ?????: ‘?? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ???????’. ?????? ???? ???? ????????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ????????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ‘ ???? ??? ??????’.
Tu’meh blamed the “international community” for rebels failure to win on the battle field and he added that the NC earned more than expected from Geneva 2

February 9th, 2014, 11:32 am

 

sami said:

It is not the Syrian expats who are delusional and writing in the plural as if they somehow speak for others…

Come on rotten apple (or should it be apples?) Who is “we”?

February 9th, 2014, 12:07 pm

 

Hopeful said:

In the recent weeks, I have been seeing more and more explicit frustration and anger expressed by regime’s supporters publicly about corruption and incompetence among the regime’s ranks. Maybe finally people are waking up and an “operation Valkyrie” could take place and put an end to the agony of all Syrians – opposition and supporters alike?

Here is a sample page where you can sense the frustration and resentment directed at the regime:

https://www.facebook.com/AleppoNews.sy1

February 9th, 2014, 12:15 pm

 

Alan said:

/Tu’meh blamed the “international community” for rebels failure to win on the battle field/

Coalition of Zionists + Anglo-Saxon countries with some puppets call today “international community”. Farce!

No wrong for Tu’meh allies “international community” to drink the ocean.

The Jewish state must stop knock on the Putin’s ground, otherwise inevitably can lead to it perdition.

February 9th, 2014, 12:22 pm

 

ghufran said:

About 700 civilians were evacuated from Homs. Opposition sources estimate the number of civilians in old Homs to be about 2,000, government says they are not more than 1,000.
Areas under siege by rebels (Nubul and Zahraa) have not seen a similar treatment as far as I know, please be kind enough to update me on the subject.
It does not look like Abdulazeem from CC has managed to strike a deal with Jarba about joining the opposition team, this can torpedo Geneva 3 because for a deal to be effective most or all factions should be present.
I welcome the rescue of civilians in Homs and Yarmouk (partial success)but I am hoping for a cease fire at least in some areas, people have suffered enough.

February 9th, 2014, 12:33 pm

 

Hopeful said:

#28 Ghufran

I echo your sentiment.

February 9th, 2014, 12:50 pm

 

sami said:

Here is a crazy idea how about instead of dropping barrels filled with TNT onto civilians from helicopters the regime instead drop aid?

Ome would think such plan would easily be implememted if it were not the regime plan to make civilans suffer en mass.

February 9th, 2014, 12:54 pm

 

Alan said:

12 Juergen
Let the floor for Steven Lindeman to respond to policies included in your comment!

http://www.globalresearch.ca/cold-war-geopolitics-in-sochi-western-media-bashes-vladimir-putin/5368024

http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-sochi-olympic-games-and-the-threat-of-a-terrorist-attack-who-is-behind-the-caucasus-terrorists/5367601

Russian Skieres Show Real Olympic Spirit

The German skiers in Sochi received brand new skies but still needed to grind them. A day before the races started the grinding machine they had brought with them broke down. Without appropriate grinding chances for any success in the competitions were low.

The Austrian and the Swiss team were asked for help but declined. The Russians, without a fuzz, showed Olympic spirit and did help. They offered their grinding machine. During one night over 40 pairs of skies were prepared for the German team.

Some of the German skiers, as well as some of their Russian competitors, are in serious competitive range of medals. The Russian, due to their graciousness, may have given away some Bronze, Silver or even Gold medal.

They, unlike the Russia bashing “western” media, showed real Olympic spirit. May the best win.
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/sport/olympische-winterspiele/skisport/olympischer-geist-russen-helfen-den-deutschen-12790748.html

February 9th, 2014, 2:07 pm

 

Syrialover said:

TARA,

Go figure this.

Bashar Jaafari is supposedly a highly educated international guy, a very experience displomat who has been oiling and smooching his way around top western postings and the UN for a long time. As regime representative at the UN his onstage role is to present a “civilized, confident and ultra-reasonable” face of the Assad regime.

Then in Geneva the mask fell off! The crude sectarian thug and uncool hysteric was exposed. Showing himself to be way out of his depth at negotiations on an international stage (in contrast to the opposition).

From mainstream news report:

“Ibrahim Jaafari, a senior negotiator in the Assad government team, attacked Islamist ideology at Monday’s meeting, the sources said. Brahimi tried to stop him by saying that the United Nations was not the place for such words.

“Jaafari replied that Brahimi was just a mediator and could not speak in the name of the world body. At one point he told Brahimi: “You can become a Wahhabist if you want,” referring to a strict school of Sunni Islam.

“With typical tact, Brahami brushed off suggestions of a quarrel”

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/29/us-syria-crisis-brahimi-idUSBREA0S21Z20140129

And even MORE REVEALING, there was this in another report:

“The regime delegation’s antics continued when negotiations began in Geneva. The head of the regime delegation, Bashar Jaafari, spent 30 of his 45 allotted minutes in one negotiating session on an anti-American screed deriding U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford (who wasn’t even there), one inside diplomatic source said.

“Participants were taken aback in another session when Jaafari admitted that the regime is indeed holding children on the grounds that they are “spies” for the terrorists, the diplomatic source said. Jaafari also admitted that the regime is indeed holding women on the grounds that they are presumed to be suicide bombers.

“Throughout the sessions, Jaafari repeatedly made derisive references to Wahabiism, the branch of Islam followed by the leadership of Saudi Arabia, among others. At one point Brahimi told Jaafari he would not tolerate any insult to any faith in the negotiations and that Jaafari’s comments bordered on blasphemy. Jaafari wouldn’t quit, so that negotiation session abruptly ended.

“Jaafari was insulting Brahimi in the closed-door negotiations,” another diplomatic source said. “It was utter lunacy.”

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/31/un-s-brahimi-round-one-of-syria-peace-talks-failed.html

February 9th, 2014, 2:09 pm

 

Observer said:

You know Tara and all the others on this blog that I start always by reading the regime side: Manar Sana Cham Mayaddeen and Alalam and RT of course.

It gives me a glimpse of what is happening. Of the mind set.

Well the ever so boastful Iranian Resistance propaganda is announcing with great fanfare that the Iranian Navy is patrolling off the coast of the US in response to the presence of the US navy in the Persian Gulf.

Well here is is the real situation according to Juan Cole:

http://www.juancole.com/2014/02/derangement-destroyer-atlantic.html

It turns out that the military budget of Iran is a mere 5 billion but of course there is the huge mafia called the Khamenei IRGC complex of graft and corruption that is hidden.

They have 3 destroyers in total.

Now J’amuse Jaffaari I call him that because he used the word J’accuse as if he and his regime are in any way shape or form able to accuse anyone having shown their complete barbarity.

As for his attack on Wahabism, it clearly shows that he is sectarian purely in every fiber of his being.

I do hope that his transfer is complete and that his family follows him through if it is true. But wait, I heard that the Iranian son in law is also a US citizen. How glorious to attack the US while praying for the daughter to stay here in the US.

Lost a town in Hama and more in Quneitra

Have you all noticed that there are no longer any offensive operations, just barrel bombs?

I wonder what Athma is getting for Valentine’s day next week?

February 9th, 2014, 8:23 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Let us hope that Yarmouk tragedy will come to an end
????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????????? ?? ????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ????? ???? 24 ????? ??? ?????? “???? ??????” ???? ???????? ??? “????? ??? ?????” ?????? ???? ??? ????.
What happens in the next few days in Yarmouk will be crucial

February 9th, 2014, 9:08 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Rebels invaded a little village near Hama, ma’an ????, and slaughtered 21 civilians in cold blood. Do not wait for the UN, the NC, regime media, and some of the boneheads on this forum to talk about it.
10 of victims were women, the names and many pictures are all over the net.
?? ???? ? ???????? ?????
The regime throws barrel bombs on cities and the rebels kill people right and left but the West still wants a ” political solution” . What is needed is a cease fire and an end to this evil war even if Syrians elect a monkey as their president.

February 9th, 2014, 9:44 pm

 

Hopeful said:

#35 Ghufran

This Is a senseless crime, and so is dropping barrel bombs on people. What is needed is for adult nations to interfere as the Syrians have proven that they cannot solve their problems on their own. The combination of brutal corrupt regime, sectarian resentments, lack of proper education, poverty, a culture of empty pride and stubbornness, etc., has made this nation weak and divided. We need help.

February 9th, 2014, 11:10 pm

 

ghufran said:

Hopeful,
Ameen.
I was hoping for some type of a UN force since I saw what happened in Homs, a lot of Syrians clearly are unable to behave like decent human beings and they need others to stop them.
I have no words to describe somebody who bombs a place knowing that innocent women and children are likely to die, a worse crime is going into houses and slaughter civilians like sheep, I am glad I do not need my Syrian passport to travel, many Syrians and non Syrian Muslims are behaving like animals, foreign fighters in particular are so brutal and heartless it is sickening. Pity the nation that was once Syria !!

February 9th, 2014, 11:56 pm

 
 

Juergen said:

ISIS sell oil to regime forces

Rebels in Syria Claim Control of Resources

“While the oil and gas fields are in serious decline, control of them has bolstered the fortunes of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, and the Nusra Front, both of which are offshoots of Al Qaeda. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is even selling fuel to the Assad government, lending weight to allegations by opposition leaders that it is secretly working with Damascus to weaken the other rebel groups and discourage international support for their cause.

Although there is no clear evidence of direct tactical coordination between the group and Mr. Assad, American officials say that his government has facilitated the group’s rise not only by purchasing its oil but by exempting some of its headquarters from the airstrikes that have tormented other rebel groups.”

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/world/middleeast/rebels-in-syria-claim-control-of-resources.html?smid=pl-share&_r=2&referrer=

February 10th, 2014, 12:40 am

 

apple_mini said:

In any war, an attack aiming combatants but ignoring civilian casualty is considered to be cold-hearted. Americans call it collateral damage.

When an attack aiming civilians exclusively, it is called massacre.

In the case of Ma’an town massacre in Hama. Sunni rebels slaughtered powerless women and children simply because they were Alawites. The massacre is enough to be labeled as genocide committed by barbarians.

As expected, western MSM just skip the inconvenient news altogether.

February 10th, 2014, 1:32 am

 

Syrialover said:

HOPEFUL

Even the most die hard and desperate supporters of the Assad regime do not expect it to ever rebuild Syria or restore it in any way.

Bashar has no interest or plan for that. Instead, the regime continues with the furious, malicious and pointless destruction of the country, in many cases not even bothering to justify it for security issues.

Here are images worth studying. They are satellite pictures showing vast urban areas razed by Assad’s forces with the population given last-minute notice to leave.

http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/01/30/syria-thousands-houses-unlawfully-razed

Move the slider across the photos to get the full impact of before and after.

Done for no reason except as a show of strength – Assad’s extreme and supersized version of the terror tactic used by Israel in Palestinian settlements.

The story has an interesting comment by Human Rights Watch.

HRW states the obvious but rarely said:

“The Syrian Government should immediately end demolitions that violate international law, compensate victims and provide alternative housing.”

Illegal act.
Compensation to victims.
Replacement of what is destroyed.

Ring that bell. Ring it loudly and repeatedly with every instance of damage the regime inflicts on Syria.

Spread the concept and plant the expectation in the minds of all Syrians who have either inflicted or suffered terrible loss and damage by the military forces supposed to serve and protect them.

February 10th, 2014, 7:03 am

 

Alan said:

The Jewish state must stop knock on the Putin’s ground, otherwise inevitably can lead to it perdition.
Zionist Run Media Aggressively Push Absurdly Ridiculous Anti-Russian Propaganda
http://www.blacklistednews.com/Zionist_Run_Media_Aggressively_Push_Absurdly_Ridiculous_Anti-Russian_Propaganda/32718/0/5/5/Y/M.html

February 10th, 2014, 7:47 am

 

Observer said:

Hardly a massacre is talking slaughter and massacre and genocide. Oh my it seems that someone’s vocabulary has given us a glimpse about some consciousness. It seems this consciousness is now awakened after three years of daily massacres and destruction.

Well what goes around comes around. There are no longer enough troops to guard the supporters. It is slow relentless ongoing fighting.

Let the talks begin and the regime delegation started the talks asking for a condemnation of the massacre. How about the barrel bombs my friend? How about the celebrations and the looting when it happens to “other” Syrians?

What goes around comes around.

February 10th, 2014, 7:55 am

 

Hopeful said:

#40 Apple_mini

“In any war, an attack aiming combatants but ignoring civilian casualty is considered to be cold-hearted. Americans call it collateral damage.”

Don’t you even date to compare. The US (and Israel I may add) have called off hundreds of precision-guided missile strikes when/if they suspect that civilians are nearby and might get hurt. If not for the good of their hearts, but because they know that, as a civilized democratic country with laws and free press, the media and their own public opinion will never let them get away with it.

Do not even dare to compare that to the brutality and discriminate murder of a regime dropping barrels arbitrarily on a district knowing very well that they will destroy buildings with children and women inside. They do so to punish the civilians who are providing support and comfort to the rebels. You know that very well. Unfortunately you, and people like you who are blindly supporting the regime, are turning a blind eye to these crimes. Walid Al Mualem sarcastically said “do you want us to send them SMS’s?” Shame on him, and shame on you. These are children my friend.

To me, this is a cold-blooded massacre. Not different from militants entering homes and slaughtering civilians, except it is perpetrated by a regime leading a state.

This regime is as evil as those lawless foreign jihadis who are exploiting the chaos in Syria to advance their twisted agenda. The are both the two faces of evil and inhumanity. Syria needs to get rid of both. Not one or the other, but BOTH.

February 10th, 2014, 9:43 am

 

Tara said:

Matt,

The link between Iran and al Qaeda is exposed by none other than the Americans. I guess you can now laugh no more. It isn’t a conspiracy theory. It is a fact.

http://www.alarabiya.net/mob/ar/articles/68030

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

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

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

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

February 10th, 2014, 11:16 am

 

Syrialover said:

TARA and OBSERVER,

Has Bashar Jaafari reappeared with the regime team for the next round in Geneva? Or has he run away like a frantic yelping dog to his safe house with his Mullah sponsors in Teheran.

What primitive sectarian hatreds and bizarre beliefs the world now sees are driving the regime’s representative to the UN (see #34). The suave “diplomat” living the high life at the expense of Syrians all these years with his 3 PhDs and all the rest.

Jaafari behaved irrationally and without dignity in Geneva, shaming the Assad regime in a whole new way. Their top international diplomat, disrupting the negotiations to spit hysteria about Wahhabists, inferring all non-Shia Syrians fall into that category and the UN negotiator of being one too.

And ignoring the matters on the agenda to rant furiously against America and American diplomat Robert Ford (who was not there).

This is a man who with his creepy daughter and other members of his family have been lapping up like greedy dogs the best that life in America has to offer. Demanding to be taken seriously and respected by Americans as he struts arrogantly around the diplomatic circuit.

Assad’s premier diplomat. Backside bared to reveal a panicky little man, vile sectarian and hypocritical parasite.

His title on the UN web site is hilarious:

‘H.E. Bashar Ja’afari, Ph.D.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations’

February 10th, 2014, 2:34 pm

 

Syrialover said:

Sorry, I can’t stop laughing at the titles. ‘His Excellency Bashar Jaafari’ who is ‘Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary’.

Like something out of a comedy satire.

A weak man who fell to pieces and ranted panicky nonsense when facing fellow Syrians in front of the world and asked to deal with the realities of what is happening in Syria.

His masters in Tehran would not have been impressed.

February 10th, 2014, 2:51 pm

 

Syrialover said:

LITTLE APPLE is inside the bubble, battling to rationalize and find a reality to cope with.

I sense the struggle.

In the post-Assad world those with LITTE APPLE’S distorted beliefs and perceptions will be left feeling devastatingly lost, anxious, angry and confused.

They too will be victims of post-traumatic shock, needing a lot of help to adjust and get on with life.

February 10th, 2014, 4:15 pm

 

Alan said:

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

http://sana.sy/ara/4/2014/02/08/526734.htm
********************************
Jack Lew Confirmed as U.S. Treasury Secretary
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/165714#.UvlODGJ_uQY
45 – Your favorite !
BLA BLA BLA

February 10th, 2014, 5:11 pm

 

Syrialover said:

Whoops, they’ve sent crude sectarian and tantrum thrower Bashar Jaafari back to Geneva again to lead the regime negotiation team.

Indicating either:

(i) how non-seriously the Assad regime is taking the talks

(ii) how shallow their pool of trustable alternatives is

or

(iii) how desperate they not to lose face by admitting they lost face with Jaafari’s disgraceful unprofessional performance at the last round (see #34).

Most likely to be all 3.

The Opposition are cleverly and diplomatically quiet about him. They have decided to enjoy watching him hang himself and fail further.

February 10th, 2014, 6:09 pm

 

ghufran said:

A piece of good news from Homs:
????? ????? ??????? ????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ????.
????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ??? 300 ????? ?? ??????? ???????? ??? ????? 18 ????? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????.
cease fire is extended for 3 more days and another 300 civilians were evacuated.
There is a palpable unease among some government supporters who are unhappy that the “families of rebels” were allowed out while hundred of civilians who support the regime are still under siege in areas like Nubul and alzahraa

February 10th, 2014, 7:30 pm

 

Alan said:

Desperation on the cusp of madness, folks; desperation on the cusp of madness!

The US government cannot make anything negative stick, so they are pulling allegations from thin air.

US Inexplicably Accuses Iran of Backing al-Qaeda in Syria
http://news.antiwar.com/2014/02/09/us-inexplicably-accuses-iran-of-backing-al-qaeda-in-syria/
The allegation seems to center around a single “facilitator” who purportedly lives along the Iran-Afghan border and has provided passports to al-Qaeda recruits, with the assumption that they’re being used to flock to Syria, and with the added assumption that Iran is letting them do so.

That the Assad government is literally Iran’s closest ally on the planet and that al-Qaeda is openly hostile to Iran’s Shi’ite government are both unchanged, and of course that means Iran backing al-Qaeda against Syria is literally the last thing they’d do. The Treasury Department didn’t reconcile that fact with anything, but rather just stated the allegation, like so many others, as a matter of course………………………..

February 11th, 2014, 1:48 am

 

Alan said:

Has ANYONE in this US administration contemplated the reality that if they go to war against Syria, it will most probably mean war with Russia

While the United States is busy diving in the mud China increase to buy more gold.
China Gold Buying Surges 41% To 1,176 Tonnes In 2013

February 11th, 2014, 1:59 am

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

ALAN,

Rusia is simply nothing in terms of international legitimacy. Sooner or later the world will be forced to face and confront Rusia, had the corrupt system not made the job by itself before.

February 11th, 2014, 4:04 am

 

Alan said:

SANDRO
Corruption nestled in the Western system of capitalist decadent and rotting where all forbidden becomes permissible to achieve control and profit and interests! Now clearly we see around us repercussions of chronic disease of capitalism! Do not bury your head in the sand! The crisis in own house of Western societies. American mentality, inherited from the last century and based on the basis of outdated become catastrophic and suicide sometimes in this rapidly changing world, and can be push towards the end of the American empire generally! US will pay all its bills! Will!
The wars will become a curse and disaster on its actors!
http://rinf.com/alt-news/latest-news/war-process-peace-process-us-military-aid-israel/

February 11th, 2014, 7:27 am

 

Sami said:

Here is another crazy idea, how about Assadists stop barrel bombing Aleppo into smithereens and instead use those very same helicopters to lift the siege on Zahra and Nabul?

One would think an “army” with helicopters would know how to bust a siege real easily, unless of course they want those areas to suffer for propaganda purposes!

February 11th, 2014, 8:11 am

 

Sami said:

Alan,

Something to keep in mind when you scrape the bottom of the barrel for “news”, those “news” sources are laden with bigotry and inaccuracies that even if a small part of their “reporting” is factual the rest of the vomit they spew will taint any factuality with the stench of regurgitation.

February 11th, 2014, 8:17 am

 
 

Alan said:

The Criminal Record of the Head of the Syrian National Coalition
http://journal-neo.org/2014/02/09/ahmad-al-jarba-the-public-enemy-and-his-friends/
Seth Ferris, investigative journalist and political scientist, expert on Middle Eastern affairs
In an attempt to “settle” the Syrian crisis Washington and Riyadh has put forward a negotiator – the President of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces Ahmad Jarba. But it seems that today there’s a few people who do remember the story of Ahmad’s rise to “prominence”. A former felon, he was detained for drugs smuggling in Saudi Arabia and later transferred to Syria under convoy. In Syria Ahmad Jabra started running disorderly houses, and later on he was hired for the assassination of the runaway Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs, but instead of killing his target he charged ex-Minister for “alarming him”.

The impending rise of Ahmad-al-Jarba to national leadership is disturbing but not unexpected. It is part of a distinct pattern. The same Western powers which are still engaged in a “war on terror” are perfectly happy to use terrorists for their own ends, and promote them to power as respected statesmen, when it suits them. Then their crimes are soon forgotten. Their victims, however, who rightly expected Western help against the terrorists, are then abandoned and told to move with the tide which rapidly washes them away…………

The question remains, if Ahmad Jarba is the best Washington and Riyadh were able to put forward, can you imagine the rest of the the so-called “National Coalition”? Do felons make good peace negotiators?

February 11th, 2014, 2:49 pm

 
 

ghufran said:

It looks like Geneva 3 will be even less productive than Geneva 2, I can only hope that the two sides can agree on prisoners exchange and an easing of the blockade of some Syrian towns.
Louai Safi insisted that all of those who died in Ma’aan were shabeehas and were killed in battle.
For that, Mr. Safi deserves my Tozz for today.

February 11th, 2014, 5:15 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

The defeatist attitude on Iran Military Forum has reached new depths leaving me with no choice but to share.

On the following one page (see bottom) almost every post is of doom and gloom.

One example from a prominent updater of military happenings:

‘It gets worse SAA is defending its last positions on Qunteira Golan heights. Nawa is also lost, The whole Deraa province is now in danger. The rats are well armed led by army professionals from USA. French legion is also on the ground taking down our officers. Also Jordanian special forces are leading the main attacks on SAA positions.Its not looking good brothers.’

http://www.iranmilitaryforum.net/military-conflicts/updates-on-military-action-in-syria/msg232734/?topicseen#msg232734

February 11th, 2014, 6:05 pm

 
 

Syrialover said:

New from the Syrian Opposition:

MEMO | ISIS & the Assad Regime: From Marriage of Convenience to Partnership

http://syriageneva2.org/?p=242&lang=en

(This is well researched with a good index of sources).

February 11th, 2014, 6:21 pm

 

Syrialover said:

ALAN #58

To prove SAMI’s point about using rubbish media sources you instantly posted that over-sensationalist (and non-news) item about the west going to be destroyed by the fact there it is going to have too many old people.

If you’d looked at the information you would have seen that advances in health – people staying active and living longer – are the reason for the changing demographics in developed countries. There is also a strong trend for people to stay in the workforce longer, with many governments now edging towards making the official retirement age past 70.

IN CONTRAST

We have had the shocking situation in modern Russia of a falling life expectancy (particularly for men). This plus a plummeting birth rate has led to a fast shrinking Russian population.

The average Russian man dies many years earlier than men in other countries (including 14 years younger than Chinese!).

One of the main reasons given is epidemic alcoholism. But the root cause is Russia’s dysfunctional, alienated and developmentally stalled society.

Excerpts from the latest study released only a couple of weeks ago (note it’s from Russia’s main news agency):

MOSCOW, January 31 (RIA Novosti) – A new report detailing the devastating toll of vodka on male life expectancy in Russia has been published…

The study published Friday in British medical journal The Lancet has found that 25 percent of Russian men die before the age of 55, compared with only 7 percent of men in the United Kingdom.

The study, which is the work of a team of Russian and British researchers, reveals that Russian male smokers who drink three or more half-liter bottles of vodka weekly double the risk of dying …

Heavy drinkers mainly die from alcohol poisoning, accidents, violence, suicide, cancer, tuberculosis, pneumonia, pancreatitis, liver disease and heart diseases, the study said.

Russia’s government has launched a crusade against alcohol abuse, describing it as a “national disaster” and aiming to halve consumption by 2020 and root out illegal production and sales.

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140131/187079194.html

So ALAN, you shouldn’t be worrying about western populations while your beloved Putinland is such a serious cause for concern.

February 11th, 2014, 7:30 pm

 

Syrialover said:

The point of my comment in #65 is that Russia has NOTHING to offer the rest of the world while it has nothing to offer its own fast dying population.

The place is a mess and a nightmare to live in – the incredibly high death rate statistics tell us a very high percentage of Russians see little point in living.

So please Putin, if you want to keep having a country, stay out of international affairs and instead busy yourself clearing up the vodka bottles, tackling crime and corruption, allowing political and media freedoms and rescuing Russia’s broken down economy.

February 11th, 2014, 7:52 pm

 

Observer said:

Just finished watching Frontline

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/syrias-second-front/

absolutely essential to view it.

The country is completely finished. Also the English edition of Le Monde Diplomatique had an excellent article in the February edition titled the Arab Spring is not over yet. An absolute must read for those that can access it. I hope Dr. Landis can post it I did send him the link.

February 11th, 2014, 10:33 pm

 

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