UN Security Council Meets; SNC Divisions; Sectarian Attacks and Kidnapping in Homs
Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
Inside Syria: Escalating violence pushes country toward full-blown war (2:13)
Produced by Brett Gering, Reuters TV
Joshua Landis on Reuters TV
Landis Talks About Syria’s Assad Regime
Listen to the Story on All Things Considered, [4 min 44 sec]-
Audie Cornish talks with Joshua Landis, January 30, 2012
U.N. Security Council Meets: Syria’s Assad May Be Under Pressure, but He’s Not on His Way Out Yet
By Tony Karon | January 31, 2012 | Time
The Front Row, The New Yorker, Online Only
January 31, 2012, Images from Syria
Posted by Richard Brody
Ossama Mohammed
There’s an open letter by Syrian artists published today in Le Monde—the filmmakers Hala Alabdalla and Ossama Mohammed, the actress Reem Ali, and the cartoonist Ali Ferzat are among its first fifty signatories—titled “Deliver Syria So That It Regains the Right to Live and to Create!”….
Security Council debate on Syria sputters
Top news: Arab and Western states spent Tuesday calling on the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution urging Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down and delegate power to his deputy over his crackdown on an 11-month-old uprising, which has grown increasingly violent. But Russia and China, both veto-wielding Security Council members, remain unconvinced.
Vladimir Chizhov, Moscow’s envoy to the European Union, explained on Wednesday that Russia would veto the draft resolution unless it explicitly ruled out military intervention in Syria, while Li Baodong, the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, told the Security Council that China opposed the “use of force” and “pushing for forced regime change” in Syria. “Behind all the arguments lurked the ghost of Libya,” the New York Times observes.
SNC News
Bahiya Mardini catalogs the growing differences that are dividing members of the Syrian National Council, the main opposition organization that Washington is cultivating. They are fighting over finances, which are not transparent. They are also fighting over the proper relationship with Syria’s growing militias, which seek to coordinate under the umbrella organization of the Free Syrian Army.
الخلافات تتفاقم بين أعضاء المجلس الوطني السوري
بهية مارديني, 2012 الإثنين 30 يناير
اندلعت الإتهامات بين أعضاء “المجلس الوطني” حول الأمور المالية والتنظيمية وغياب الدعم عن “الجيش السوري الحر” بالإضافة لشكوك بوجود “أزلام” بشار الأسد بينهم.
Rebels Without a Clue: Why can’t the Syrian opposition get its act together?
BY JUSTIN VELA | JANUARY 31, 2012 – Foreign Policy
Muqdad’s frustration with the Syrian National Council (SNC), the body intended to serve as the political representation of the Syrian opposition, has grown. He has diligently traveled around Turkey, arranging coverage of the Syrian uprising by major media outlets, holding meetings in Western embassies, and coordinating with activists inside the country. In the meantime, he has come to see the SNC as disorganized, disconnected from the Syrians on the ground, and out of step with the broad spectrum of Syrian society.
“We know it is impossible to be 100 percent representative of the nation or the opposition,” Muqdad told me. “[But the SNC] does not know the principles of running the opposition.” …
It’s not only Muqdad whose initial optimism regarding Syria’s organized opposition has faded. A wide range of activists and diplomats are voicing concerns with the SNC, criticizing its lack of cohesion and effectiveness. While the majority of them have not given up on the council, they paint a picture of an organization out of touch with the protesters on the ground and dominated by the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood.
“No one from the SNC has influence inside Syria. Most members of the SNC are jumping on a train that started from the street,” says Ammar Qurabi, a Syrian human rights activist, arguing that SNC leaders are trying to use the momentum of the demonstrations to take political power. Qurabi refuses to work with the SNC and plans to launch his own opposition group in early February
The SNC is composed of a nine-person executive committee, sitting on top of an approximately 250-person body. The organization’s leadership is primarily made up of Sunni Arabs, and though it has made an effort to include members of other sects and ethnicities, few are present on the council.
Qurabi notes that the SNC has been particularly negligent in incorporating members of Assad’s Alawite sect. “No Alawite on the executive council — that is a scandal,” he says. “Especially when we fight Assad, who says, ‘I am Alawite. I protect Alawites’?” ….
“The Free Syrian Army could leave them in the dust unless the SNC can do something for the FSA,” the diplomat worries. …
One particularly damaging stumble occurred when SNC Chairman Burhan Ghalioun signed a draft agreement with the National Coordination Committee,..
The most divisive issue surrounding the SNC, however, clearly remains the prominent role played by the Muslim Brotherhood. “The Muslim Brotherhood is the only party in town,” says the Ankara-based Western diplomat. …
Muqdad’s initial optimism about the SNC faded, he says, when he realized the extent of the Brotherhood’s dominance. While he has been in close touch with Western diplomats, he thinks that non-SNC members have been blocked from speaking publicly and that the SNC takes credit for activities that it was not involved in.
“We have no problem with [the Brotherhood] as a political party,” explains Muqdad, a Sunni Muslim who joined the opposition in 1999 and claims to have spent years living underground. “[But] they are using the wrong ways to lead.” …
The Brotherhood’s prominence has also opened old wounds with former members of the Syrian military, who had counted the Islamist movement as its primary domestic foe before the current revolt. A defected Syrian soldier in the Free Officers Movement, which is aligned with the Free Syrian Army but does not take orders from it, describes the Brotherhood as “malignant.”
“[The Free Officers Movement] has a limited relation with the SNC because they are controlled by the Muslim Brothers,” he told me.
The officer, a Sunni, said that the Brotherhood’s presence was particularly problematic in Syria due to the large number of minorities in the country. It would be difficult to convince minorities, especially the Alawites, that their rights would be guaranteed with the Muslim Brotherhood steering the political opposition, he says.
Mohammed Farouk Tayfour, the deputy secretary-general of Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood, insists that his movement will cooperate fairly with other opposition groups. …
“All Syrians have the mentality that they want to be president,” Muqdad says. “Except me. I want to be on Miami Beach.”
U.S. spy chief says Syria’s Assad cannot hold power MSNBC
Thomas Pierret writes that Free Syrian Army members took a tank from loyalist forces and used it against them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g32jed0lN3M
Sectarian attack kills 14 of same family in Syria
By Khaled Yacoub Oweis
AMMAN | Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:49pm EST
(Reuters) – Militiamen loyal to President Bashar al-Assad killed 14 members of a Sunni family in the city of Homs on Thursday in one of the grizzliest sectarian attacks in the ten-month uprising raging in the Alawite-dominated country, activists and residents said….
“Alawites who had remained in Karm al-Zeitoun mysteriously left four days ago, and the rumor was that they did so on orders by the authorities. Today we know why,” said a doctor in the district who did not want to be named.“We also have seventy people wounded. Field hospitals themselves are coming under mortar fire,” he said. Hamza, an activist in Homs said that the attack was “pure revenge” for shabbiha members being killed by army defectors loosely grouped under the Free Syrian Army.
He said Sunni families were fleeing Karm al-Zeitoun to other parts of the city, and several Sunni neighborhoods, such as Bab Sbaa, also came under fire. Tit-for-tat sectarian killings began in Homs four months ago, following armored military assaults on Sunni areas of the city by forces led by members of Assad’s minority Alawite sect.
Mass killings have included Alawites in micro-buses on the way to their villages near Homs and Sunnis stopped at a roadblock while heading to work at a factory. Women from the two sects have been abducted and killed also, activists said.
The killings have raised the prospect of the pro-democracy protest movement against Assad turning into a civil war, as his opponents take up arms and fight back against loyalist forces cracking down on demonstrators.
New Jihad Group in Syria Announces Its Establishment – MEMRI
A new jihad group, Jabhat Al-Nusra Li-Ahl Al-Sham, (“The Front for the Protection of the Syrian People”) whose goal is to topple the Syrian regime, has released a video announcing its establishment. The 16-minute video, which was produced by the group’s media company Al-Manara Al-Baida (“White Lighthouse”), was posted January 24, 2012 on the jihadi forum Shumoukh Al-Islam after a two-day promotion campaign that included large banners and a countdown to the release….
In tumultuous Syrian city, kidnapping trade booms
January 27, 2012, Daily Times, Pakistan
In Homs, members of the same minority sect to which Assad himself belongs kidnap Sunni Muslims. Those who are part of the Sunni majority, backbone of protests against 42 years of autocratic Assad family rule, go after Alawites.
So far, sectarian violence and killing are rarely the goals of the abductions. But the kidnapping trend in the city of one million people, Syria’s third largest, has taken on a logic of its own.
Some seize people for money in Homs, where the bloody turmoil paralysing the city has left thousands jobless. Others kidnap to trade hostages. And some simply feel that having captives on hand could serve as leverage later. Residents say police write reports but never take action. “There is no one to complain to. There’s no law. You either sit and wait for God’s mercy, or you kidnap too. Homs is now in the hands of hooligans. Rationality is gone,” said Jamal, 30, an Alawite driver held for five days.
Stories like his are hard to verify, as government restrictions and the ongoing violence curb media access. But human rights groups and the government itself have chronicled dozens of kidnapping cases. All of those interviewed spoke by Skype, to avoid the telephone monitoring of security services. In Homs, near-empty streets are patrolled by jittery soldiers hiding behind stacked sandbags. Residents shut themselves inside by dusk to avoid kidnappers waiting under the cover of darkness.
Even going out in the daytime is risky now. Jamal was kidnapped at noon. “I was driving out of the market. Four men with Kalashnikovs waved me down. I sped away because I knew what would happen.” But a hidden car raced out of an alley and cut him off. “They dragged me out of my car and beat me. They took my two mobile phones, 2,500 liras ($40) in my pocket and my shoes.” Jamal was then taken to a house where he was crammed into a room with 10 other Alawites, held hostage for days on end. “It was the house of a guy people call ‘The Frowner’. He’s a creep. He runs the kidnapping scheme in that neighbourhood. It was such a farce, I stopped worrying I would die,” he said.
The kidnappers let Jamal call his family and tell them they needed to pay 150,000 lira (around $2,500) for his release and another 300,000 to get back his car. “My family is poor. They don’t have much money, so they talked to some of the Alawite thugs in our neighbourhood hoping to get some Sunnis released in exchange for me,” Jamal said.
In Syria, many caught ‘in the middle’
By Nic Robertson, CNN January 24, 2012
In places like Homs, the cradle of the uprising, the writing is on the wall for the rest of the country. Some neighborhoods have thrown out the government completely, such as in the Baba Amr district, where the Free Syrian Army has control. Communities have divided on sectarian lines. Many Christians have fled to Damascus. Garbage is piled high in the streets, electricity is cut, civilian causalities mount, and on the other side of the impromptu front-line barricades, the death toll of government soldiers creeps up as well.
A drive around Homs reveals a medieval-style siege, multiple checkpoints to move between neighborhoods, even a deep new ditch in places rings the city. But the uprising continues.
The opposition in Homs is better organized. A new council has been formed, it has a budget — money, some say, is coming from the Gulf — and runs medical and humanitarian supplies.
But the council is not the only show in town. Salafists are moving in too, Islamic radicals, many with terror tactics honed in neighboring Iraq. Reports abound of infighting both inside and outside Syria, the hard-liners already jockeying for post-al-Assad power.
If war escalates, as it surely seems it will, expect a long and bloody campaign. As the man in the middle I met on my way back to London told me: “We are afraid of the men with guns, afraid the radicals will impose their backwards views on us.”
We Intervene in Syria at Our Peril, By Ed Husain, Feb 1 2012
Western military involvement would worsen violence, not end it, and could spread the conflict beyond Syria’s borders.
Supporters of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad attend a rally in Damascus / Reuters
I was living in Syria the last time that the world was talking about President Bashar al-Assad’s imminent demise. With neighboring Iraq’s Saddam Hussein (a Ba’ath party leader, like Assad) overthrown, many of my students at the University of Damascus anticipated that soon we could remove the portraits of Assad from our classrooms. For encouraging dissent, I was monitored by the dreaded secret service, the mukhabarat. During my two-year stay in Syria, I was detained at airports and threatened with deportation if I did not stop calling for democracy. I was branded a CIA agent by regime-loyalist students who objected to my patronage of a student debate society in Damascus — an early attempt to encourage young people to think freely.
I supported the removal of Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq, but I also learned from the many mistakes that followed. Much like Iraq under Saddam, the ruling Ba’ath party in Syria controls almost every aspect of public life: business, military, media, police, education, and even religious institutions. Regime change in Syria would be bloody and protracted. I still maintain frequent contact with friends in Syria, and visited the country regularly until late 2010. When friends in Washington, DC, such as the normally measured Steven Cook present the U.S. with a false choice of intervening militarily or seeing Assad stay in office longer, as he did in a recent article on this site, I worry.
On Tuesday, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, slammed al-Maliki for his anti-Sunni policies, warning in essence that if the Shiite-dominated army represses Iraq’s Sunnis, Turkey (a Sunni-majority country) would feel constrained to intervene. Turkey has already made military incursions into Iraq in hot pursuit of Kudistan Workers’ Party (PKK) guerrillas who have attacked military and civilian targets in eastern Turkey.
Turkey’s embassy in Baghdad was targeted by (inaccurate) rocket fire twice last week.
Turkey’s Erdogan and Iraq’s al-Maliki are also at odds over Syria, with Erdogan calling for Bashar al-Assad to step down and al-Maliki more or less supporting the al-Assad government. (Al-Maliki is said to fear that the secular Baath Party might be overthrown by Sunni radicals who will give aid to Sunni insurgents in Iraq).
President Obama’s State of the Union Address
Obama devoted one-and-a-half paragraphs to the uprisings in the Middle East but didn’t explicitly mention America’s role in the military intervention in Libya that toppled Muammar al-Qaddafi — the centerpiece of what some have described as the Obama administration’s doctrine of “leading from behind.”
The takeaway line may have been Obama’s singling out of Syria: “In Syria, I have no doubt that the Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change can’t be reversed, and that human dignity can’t be denied”
But Obama did not say whether his administration would take any more concrete steps to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad see the light.
Around60 people have been killed in the restive city of Homs in the past two days ina brutal siege by Syrian security forces and shabbiha, militiamen, according to activists and residents. Residents claim the killings were along sectarian divides, referring to the situation as “racial cleansing.”Reports could not be confirmed, but video showed the bodies of women and children. Meanwhile the Free Syria Army has released a video of seven captured men alleged to be Iranian — five of whom are purported to be members of the Revolutionary Guards — heightening suspicions over Iranian and Hezbollah military support for Syrian regime forces. Also, the United Nations Security Council will hold a meeting today “behind closed doors” on are solution drafted by Morocco on Syria. The resolution would reflect the Arab League proposal calling for President Bashar al-Assad to yield power to his deputy and develop a transitional unity government that would hold elections within two months. Russia and China vetoed a draft resolution in October that would have condemned the regime violence in Syria.Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said this draft is also “unacceptable“maintaining that the document must rule out the use of force. Russia is believed to likely take issue with another point concerning the prevention of arms transfers. Representatives from the Arab League will meet with the Security Council on Saturday to gain support for its proposals on Syria as the group’s observer mission as been subject to great criticism.
Headlines
- A suicide car bomber killed at least 31 people and injured 60 in Iraq at a funeral procession in a Shiite neighborhood in sectarian violence that has seen casualties double those of last January.
The Eclipse of Bashar al-Assad, January 27, 2012,by Hilal Khashan
President Obama’s State of the Union Address
Obama devoted one-and-a-half paragraphs to the uprisings in the Middle East but didn’t explicitly mention America’s role in the military intervention in Libya that toppled Muammar al-Qaddafi — the centerpiece of what some have described as the Obama administration’s doctrine of “leading from behind.”
The takeaway line may have been Obama’s singling out of Syria: “In Syria, I have no doubt that the Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change can’t be reversed, and that human dignity can’t be denied”
But Obama did not say whether his administration would take any more concrete steps to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad see the light.
On Tuesday, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, slammed al-Maliki for his anti-Sunni policies, warning in essence that if the Shiite-dominated army represses Iraq’s Sunnis, Turkey (a Sunni-majority country) would feel constrained to intervene. Turkey has already made military incursions into Iraq in hot pursuit of Kudistan Workers’ Party (PKK) guerrillas who have attacked military and civilian targets in eastern Turkey.
Turkey’s embassy in Baghdad was targeted by (inaccurate) rocket fire twice last week.
Turkey’s Erdogan and Iraq’s al-Maliki are also at odds over Syria, with Erdogan calling for Bashar al-Assad to step down and al-Maliki more or less supporting the al-Assad government. (Al-Maliki is said to fear that the secular Baath Party might be overthrown by Sunni radicals who will give aid to Sunni insurgents in Iraq).
Turkey: Intervention in Syria: What Next? — Ruşen Çakır:
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu’s interview on Al Arabiya channel can be defined as a milestone in Ankara’s Syria politics. Of course, I’m referring to Davutoğlu’s open pronouncement of the possibility of Turkey’s intervention in Syria. Let’s remember the foreign minister’s words first.
“If the regime continues to kill protesters, then this goes beyond being a matter for Turkey but will become an international issue. Then, that case calls for United Nations intervention. Turkey, in the 1980s, called the United Nations to intervene to protect the Kurds from Saddam’s atrocities after the Halabja massacre. If the Arab League initiative fails and murders continue, Turkey will not hesitate to support the U.N. decision that anticipates an intervention in Syria.”
Let’s not be unfair to him. Davutoğlu is talking about an intervention in the case of a situation where several conditions must mature. In other words, the Baath regime will continue to massacre its own people and other initiatives will fail to prevent this. The U.N. will decide on a resolution and Turkey will intervene. (Indeed, here, we need to pay attention to the stress in the sentence “Turkey will not hesitate.”) When the course of events of today is reviewed, we can see that the probability of this scenario of coming true is high.
…..Frankly, Ankara has openly taken a stance against the Bashar al-Assad regime for some time, which personally does not bother me and I think this was way over due. It was more bothersome that close relations with the al-Assad family were established, ….But a significant portion of today’s Syrian opposition segments were nothing more than “Baath lovers” in line with the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government’s approach.
Possible outcomes
It’s obvious that an international intervention, in which Turkey will participate, will create extremely dangerous results and our country will be negatively affected by those. First of all, we face the risk of a sectarian conflict. As Davutoğlu emphasized in the same interview, the Syrian people took to the streets as an extension of the Arab Spring for a more democratic administration to replace the oppressive Baath regime, but in time, the reaction also became directed at not only the political power, but also the Nusayri (Alawite) minority that supported it.
Even though there are more differences than similarities between the Nusayris and the Shiites, this risk should not be completely disregarded given that, together with the effect of the strategic partnership between Tehran and Damascus, Sunni-Nusayri tension in Syria could spread to the entire region as a Sunni-Shiite conflict. There will, necessarily, be reverberations of this bitter development in Turkey.
In the event that an international intervention in Syria (one that could last long) triggers a civil war, the stance to be adopted by the Kurds in this country directly interests Ankara. There are serious claims that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has recently re-established very strong relations with the Baath regime and that al-Assad may use this organization as a tool to blackmail Ankara.
As a result, it is good and it is correct to side with the people against the Syrian regime, but it is not wise to side with military intervention.
Ruşen Çakır is a columnist for daily Vatan in which this piece appeared on Jan 23. It was translated into English by the Daily News staff.
Syrians won’t go along with Obama’s wishes, RT, 25 January,
President Obama’s promise to bring “strong and stable democracy” to Syria alarms its population, which sees the shining examples of Iraq and Libya and realizes what fate awaits it, says Dr. Ali Muhammad, editor-in-chief of the website Syria Tribune… “Every Syrian knows that the country will never go back to what it was one year ago, but at the same time the change will be decided by the Syrian people, not by the US or anybody else,”argues Dr. Ali Muhammad…..
Hind Aboud Kabawat: The Assad delusion, 2012-01-30
National Post, By Hind Aboud Kabawat
…Ten months later, I have come to rue those words; but they do, however, capture the ambiguity that many Syrian liberals (like myself) felt about the best way to modernize Syrian society and democratize the Syrian state. We wanted political change, absolutely, but we also coveted stability. And even as the barricades went up on the streets of Cairo and Sana, Tripoli and Tunis, we believed that Damascus and Aleppo, Homs and Hama would be spared such chaos. How wrong we were….
DIPLOMACY TO REMOVE ASSAD GAINS MOMENTUM, By David Pollock and Andrew J. Tabler
WINEP – January 25, 2012
President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday evening had much to say about the economy, but relatively little about foreign policy. Yet one line from that brief section stands out: “And in Syria, I have no doubt that the Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change can’t be reversed, and that human dignity can’t be denied.”
This sentence, which puts the United Stated firmly behind the demise of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, is all the more striking because it followed so closely upon the president’s description of Qadhafi as “gone.” Beyond the mere fact of singling out Syria’s government for such dishonorable mention, Obama’s statement used two very specific words that loom large in a context where every word reflected deliberate decision. First was his use of “soon,” indicating an assessment that Assad does not have much time left in power. Second was “regime,” indicating an official U.S. expectation that not just Assad personally but his whole ruling clique must also go.
Equally significant were the president’s next lines, which suggest that Washington is planning diplomatic rather than direct physical intervention in the Syrian crisis. Affirming that “we have a huge stake in the outcome” of “this incredible transformation” in the Arab region, President Obama nonetheless acknowledged that “its end remains uncertain” and that “it is ultimately up to the people of the region to decide their own fate.” Even so, he asserted that the United States will “stand against violence and intimidation” and “support policies that lead to strong and stable democracies.”
And, in fact, U.S. and international diplomacy aimed at removing Assad is quickly gaining momentum. An Arab League ministerial meeting on January 22 found that the Syrian government’s “partial progress” was “not enough” and urged the establishment within two months of a “national unity government” based on a “serious political dialogue” with the opposition — all under the authority of a vice president, rather than President Assad. Not surprisingly, the Assad regime rejected this plan, arguing that it went beyond the Arab League’s authority, violated Syrian sovereignty, and represented “a conspiratorial scheme hatched against Syria” for foreign intervention “led by the Qatari government.”
At the same time, the League’s report mandates an immediate referral of its plan to the UN Security Council. Qatar’s prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Hamad bin Jassim, and Arab League secretary Nabil al-Araby are delegated with this task. In anticipation of this maneuver, intense behind-the-scenes Security Council consultations are now underway.
Over the last few days, Western countries led by France have drafted a Security Council resolution, with senior U.S. diplomats involved in these discussions in both Paris and New York. The draft demands that Syria cooperate fully with the UN high commissioner for human rights and the special Commission of Inquiry of the UN Human Rights Council, and allow “full access for humanitarian relief.” It requests the UN secretary-general to support the appointment of a new Arab League special envoy to Syria, which media reports speculate could be Egypt’s Mohammed ElBaradei, to supplement the largely ineffective Arab League monitoring mission in that strife-torn country. And, should the Assad regime fail to comply, the draft “encourages all States” to adopt political and economic sanctions similar to those outlined by the Arab League last November, including cutting ties with Syria’s central bank.
Significantly, the absence of mandatory sanctions from this draft resolution is calculated to help secure the necessary Russian support (or at least abstention) in the Security Council….
For all of the media bias, the blood of Syrians tells the story – The National,
Faisal Al Yafai, Jan 24, 2012
The clouds of conspiracy are gathering over Syria. With more than half of Syrians supporting President Bashar Al Assad, there has been a concerted effort by the western media to minimise his domestic support while maximising criticism of his failings. In particular, the effectiveness of the observer mission is questioned, to speed the day when the United Nations authorises Nato intervention and ushers into power a more pro-western Syrian government.
That, at least, is the analysis of the situation that has been best articulated by Jonathan Steele in the Guardian and Aisling Byrne of the Beirut-based Conflicts Forum website. It is not wrong. But it is not right, either. Very few of the separate claims of this theory are inaccurate, but the way they are strung together misses the nature of what is happening in the Levant….
‘Why we have a responsibility to protect Syria’ (Shadi Hamid, The Atlantic)
“There are a number of reasons why intervention,today, would be premature…But it may not be premature in a month or in two. The international community must begin considering a variety of military options — the establishment of “safe zones” seems the most plausible — and determine which enjoys the highest likelihood of causing more good than harm. This is now — after nearly a year of waiting and hoping — the right thing to do. It is also the responsible thing to do.”
Syria: Arab League roadmap is ‘attack on national sovereignty’
“Syria rejects the decisions taken which are outside an Arab working plan, and considers them an attack on its national sovereignty and a flagrant interference in internal affairs,” state TV quoted an official as saying.
Grave abuses by both sides – that was the conclusion of the report by the League of Arab States (LAS) monitors. The League’s foreign ministers called on President Bashar al-Assad to delegate power to his vice president and form a national unity government with the opposition.
The Syrian official reacting to the Arab League’s call said the regional body should instead “assume its responsibilities for stopping the financing and arming of terrorists,” the television channel reported.
“Unanswered Questions About Syria Intervention”, by Jeremy Pressman
This is a must read.
Over the Horizon: Syria, Iran and the Enduring Allure of Airpower
By Robert Farley | 25 Jan 2012
Who shall we bomb next? Pundits and commentators have begun to fall over themselves declaring the necessity of launching military campaigns against Syria and Iran — the former to prevent a humanitarian disaster and the latter to forestall the development of a nuclear weapon. The catalyst for this enthusiasm is the success of NATO’s aerial campaign in Libya, a war that apparently vindicated the long-standing promise of advanced, precision-guided airpower to cheaply and easily solve inconvenient political problems. Unfortunately, the rediscovered enthusiasm for intervention demonstrates only that the foreign policy punditocracy is committed to serially mislearning the lessons of airpower in war…..Steven Cook argues that the United States and NATO ought to start seriously discussing intervention in Syria. If not and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is left to massacre his political opponents, he wonders, what message will it send to the international community about the right to protect? Anne-Marie Slaughter reluctantly concurs, suggesting that Western military power could ensure the security of safe harbors and corridors for Syrian civilians. …
Pro-Israel Hawk Celebrates ‘Liberals’ Joining the Topple Assad Argument – (h-t The Passionate Attachment)
Feigning concern for the Syrian people, Max Boot is “glad to see some distinguished friends and colleagues joining the argument that the U.S. needs to do more to bring down Assad.” In a Commentary piece, Boot recommends three articles from the “liberal” end of the regime change spectrum:
First Robert Danin, formerly of the NSC, now at the Council on Foreign Relations, argues that the U.S. can take more non-military action against Assad—viz., recall the U.S. ambassador, threaten to close the U.S. embassy, create an international contact group to handle Syria, provide more support to the opposition, keep Syria on the UN agenda and indict Assad for war crimes. Those all sound like sensible steps to me, although I’m skeptical they will be enough to make the difference.
Another Council colleague, Steve Cook, argues for going further. He believes “it’s time to think seriously about intervening in Syria,” by which he means military intervention along the lines of the Libya model—and acting even without UN authorization.
Anne-Marie Slaughter, former director of policy planning at Hillary Clinton’s State Department, more or less endorses that argument by citing R2P—the doctrine that the international community has a “responsibility to protect” civilians who are being slaughtered by their own governments. She adds, however, that any intervention would have to meet certain conditions: it would have to be requested by the Syrian opposition, endorsed by the Arab League, limited to protecting civilians (not regime change as in Libya), supported by most members of the UN Security Council (even if Russia will never go along), and with Arab and Turkish troops in the lead. All those conditions save the third one make sense to me: if we’re going to act, the best way to alleviate civilian suffering is by removing its cause—the Assad regime.
All three articles are thought-provoking and worth reading. I am heartened to see more interest in helping to topple Assad. But so far little of that interest has come from the Obama White House. Perhaps that will change with more liberal voices, such as these, joining the argument.
Former CIA unit chief Michael Scheuer discusses Syria and the Arab spring (h-t Camille Otrakji’s Syria Page)
Monday, January 16th, 2012
Michael Scheuer confirms the United States’ involvement in attempts to overthrow the Syrian regime. He explains Washington’s dilemma in dealing with the Arab Spring and how Washington’s “mindless pursuit of secular democracy” in fact created anarchy and empowered extremist Islamists.
سيريا بوليتيك ينشر السيرة الذاتية “الجبهوية” لعضو مجلس الشعب “المنشقعماد عبدالكريم غليون” – Syria Politic publishes the biography of the member of parliament who defected
Not short, tight or shiny: new dress code could see women forced into veils – Niqash
New guidelines on how the Iraqi government’s female employees should dress have caused a furore. The conservative Ministry of Women’s affairs says it is protecting female dignity while women’s rights advocates say it’s an attack on personal freedoms. by Kholoud Ramzi in Baghdad (26.01.2012)more
Watching Syria Sadly by Professor Brian Stoddard
EU tightens sanctions on Syria
English.news.cn 2012-01-23
BRUSSELS, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) — Foreign Ministers of the European Union (EU) on Monday decided to tighten restrictive measures against Syria.
The foreign affairs council of the EU added 22 persons responsible for “human rights violations” and eight entities “financially supporting the regime” to the list of those subject to an asset freeze and a ban from entering the EU.
This brings the total number of entities targeted by an asset freeze to 38 and the number of people subject to an asset freeze and a visa ban to 108.
In response to the violence in Syria, the EU has gradually imposed a comprehensive set of restrictive measures on Syria, including an arms embargo, a ban on the import of Syrian crude oil and on new investment in the Syrian petrol sector.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said: “Today’s decision will put further pressure on those who are responsible for the unacceptable violence and repression in Syria.”
“The message from the European Union is clear: the crackdown must stop immediately. We will continue to do all we can to help the Syrian people achieve their legitimate political rights,” said Ashton.
Against Syrian anger, Assad’s sect feels fear
By Mariam Karouny, DAMASCUS | Wed Feb 1, 2012
Comments (616)
jad said:
I think this post has too many provocative articles to read:
-Re:”Rebels Without a Clue: Why can’t the Syrian opposition get its act together?”
I can’t believe that I’m going to defend the SNC here, but for criticism to be constructive, the media must not play games and have an obvious agenda as this article doing, to criticize SNC they took the opinion of the worst two, Ashraf Moqdad and Ammar Qurabi. both are calling for international intervention and for the full support to the armed militia, while SNC try to maintain the min balance possible and somehow refuse such a disastrous plan those two along Wa7eed Saqer are promoting and attacking the SNC for not being criminal enough for their taste, that is not an objective criticism that is a propaganda.
-Re:Sectarian attack kills 14 of same family in Syria
By Khaled Yacoub Oweis
As usual of the sectarian Khaled, he will report the story that suits his views nothing else, why not putting the other tragedy that did happen the next day in Homs of killing a family with their 4 children in retaliation, for Khaled what matters is to be as much sectarian as possible.
-Re: Thomas Pierret writes that Free Syrian Army members took a tank from loyalist forces and used it against them.
That actually provide evidences that the footage of destroyed buildings we see in the media and the shelling of residential area by tanks may be the work of the FSA not the Syrian Army.
-Re: DIPLOMACY TO REMOVE ASSAD GAINS MOMENTUM, By David Pollock and Andrew J. Tabler
WINEP
I can’t expect anything else from those two Zionist club WINEP writers! Typical neocon propaganda.
– Re:‘Why we have a responsibility to protect Syria’ (Shadi Hamid, The Atlantic)
As Dr’ Abukhalil wrote yesterday
“I was an early supporter of military intervention in Libya. I called for a no-fly zone on February 23, just 8 days after protests began.” Now we know why you are cited right and left in the Western media, and I am sure that you will call for immediately foreign military intervention the second Qatar calls for one. (thanks Khaled)
PS If this guy (and I really don’t know anything about him) or any other guy or gal calls for foreign military intervention to help Palestinians, he/she would not even be allowed to utter the words in Western media.”
————————————–
An interesting article talking about the american newspaper by Dr. Abukhaleil. So true!:
Why I read The New York Times
By As’ad AbuKhalil
“In sum, the NYT is not an enjoyable read for an Arab anti-Zionist. It in fact serves to provoke the reader at different level. What is most provoking in the NYT is its fake and transparent attempt to disguise its strong political biases (very much like Fox News but from a different angle).
So if the current trend continues, and if published newspapers continue to lose revenue, and if the NYT ceases to publish, I won’t mourn its demise. Although, I will have to find new motives for my daily blogging.”
http://english.al-akhbar.com/blogs/angry-corner/why-i-read-new-york-times
February 2nd, 2012, 1:01 am
Dale Andersen said:
Memo To: BAD JAD
RE: “…if the New York Times ceases to publish…”
That won’t happen. The Times has so many fans and readers, it can always count on a rich “angel” to bail it out. Most recently, the richest man in the world, Carlos Slim, stepped in to write a check in return for 6 per cent ownership.
Carlos Slim, by the way, is an Arab. His grandfather immigrated to Mexico from Lebanon a century ago.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:10 am
zoo said:
Syria activists call rally in memory of Hama massacre
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/33450/World/Region/Syria-activists-call-rally-in-memory-of-Hama-massa.aspx
In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Hama massacre, nationwide protests are planned in the coming days as activists slam the silence of the international community during Hafez al-Assad’s bloody rule
AFP , Wednesday 1 Feb 2012
The Syrian opposition called on Wednesday for two-days of demonstrations across the country to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1982 Hama massacre, which claimed thousands of lives.
{..}
“We call for demonstrations in all of Syria on 2 and 3 February on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Hama massacre,” said the opposition Syrian National Council and other groups in a joint statement.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:11 am
jad said:
Zoo,
What’s the difference between the last two days protests and the coming two days protests, aren’t they protesting every day of the week.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:19 am
Syria no kandahar said:
Egyptian Advise,sounds logical:
February 2nd, 2012, 1:50 am
Syria no kandahar said:
Syria will stay one family.Hamad and Sauds can
Drink from نهر قويق
February 2nd, 2012, 1:57 am
ann said:
US, Russia clash over Washington’s war drive against Syria – 2 February 2012
The United States, France, Britain and the Arab League are pressing for the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution on Syria, while denying that the resolution is intended to pave the way for regime change and Western military intervention in Syria.
This is a lie. While the imperialist powers and their proxies are helping arm “rebel” forces that are fighting a deepening civil war in Syria, they are simultaneously trying to intimidate Russia and China, who oppose intervention, by casting them as responsible for the deepening bloodshed in Syria.
The resolution explicitly demands regime change, urging Assad to step down in favour of his deputy and prepare the way for multi-party elections.
Debate over the Arab League resolution has stalled, with Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, expected to veto it. Last night, diplomats at the UN leaving negotiations for the night said that “key differences” remained between the different countries.
In a propaganda offensive, one leading political figure after another has mixed demands for regime change with reassurances that no Libya-style operation to achieve this is under consideration.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that Assad’s “reign of terror” would end, but claimed there was no intention “to pursue any kind of military intervention.”
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé called foreign intervention “a myth”.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, declared, “The resolution does not call for military action and could not be used to authorise it,” but then warned that, “measures will be considered by this council if there is not an immediate end to the violence.”
Moscow has rejected these assurances. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pointedly refused to attend the meeting. Clinton’s spokeswoman said he was unavailable when she called him to discuss the situation.
Lavrov warned that the resolution could lead to “another Libya”. If the opposition “refuses to sit at a negotiation table with the regime,” he asked, “what is the alternative? To bomb the regime? I’ve seen that before. I guarantee the Security Council will never approve this.”
Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, declared, “The international community should not be meddling in economic sanctions or through the use of military force.”
The Chinese Ambassador to the UN, Li Baodong, stated his opposition to “pushing for forced regime change in Syria, as it violates the United Nations Charter and the basic norms guiding the practice of international relations.”
The draft is presented as a proposal for a peaceful transfer of power, stating that the security council is “reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, emphasising the need to resolve the current crisis in Syria peacefully, and stressing that nothing in this resolution compels states to resort to the use of force or the threat of force.”
But whereas it does not call for military intervention, neither is it excluded. Rather, it pledges “to review Syria’s implementation of this resolution within 15 days and, in the event that Syria has not complied, to adopt further measures, in consultation with the League of Arab States” [emphasis added].
It was the Arab League which provided the US with a casus belli against Libya when it sanctioned the establishment of a no-fly zone, leading to NATO bombings and military intervention.
That is why, yesterday, Vladimir Chizhov, Russia’s European Union envoy, reiterated the demand for the resolution to include “the most important thing: a clear clause ruling out the possibility that the resolution could be used to justify military intervention in Syrian affairs from outside.”
Behind the scenes, the US has made strenuous efforts to court Russia’s support. The Financial Times reported that, “Syrian opposition leaders have joined western and Arab officials in New York in pressuring Moscow. Burhan Ghalioun, head of the Syrian National Council, the main opposition group, met Russia’s UN ambassador on Monday, reassuring him that Russia’s interests would be preserved in a post-Assad era.”
The Russian government has until now refused US assurances on Syria.
Syria is Russia’s main ally in the region. It has defence and oil contracts with Damascus worth billions and its only Mediterranean base at the port of Tartus. Moreover, both Russia and China understand that efforts to depose Assad are only a way of isolating Washington’s main target, Iran, in an effort to secure undisputed hegemony over the oil riches of the Middle East and Caspian Basin.
This month, Moscow dispatched three warships to Tartus, including its only aircraft carrier. With the US, Britain and France having dispatched six warships to the Straits of Hormuz, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, after an Iranian threat to close the channel, the danger of a regional war could not be clearer.
Plans for military intervention in Syria are already proceeding.
The US is working with the Gulf States, led by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and Turkey to destabilize the Assad regime. The Free Syria Army (FSA) and its political backers in the Syrian National Council (SNC) are acting as a front for their military operations. In the run-up to the UN Security Council, the FSA escalated its offensive in neighborhoods of Damascus and the city of Hama.
The US media is openly debating whether the FSA should be armed by the Obama administration. CNN asked, “What kinds of assistance can and should the United States and its allies provide the FSA as part of an overall strategy of helping to achieve President Obama’s goal outlined last August to get Assad to ‘step aside’? Or should Washington subcontract that such support to regional allies…”
Nicholas Blandford wrote an article for the Christian Science Monitor, “Free Syrian Army: Better tool for toppling Syria’s Assad than UN?”
“Pushing for a UN resolution on Syria is one of the last steps the international community can take before mulling more seriously the military solution that some Syrian activists are openly advocating,” he states.
He cites “US-based Syrian activist Ammar Abdulhamid”—a representative of the neo-conservative Foundation for the Defense of Democracy—who argues that, “a UN resolution is no longer necessary, and might even be counterproductive… What is needed at this stage is the ability and willingness to provide the necessary materiel and logistical support to the rebels and to provide protest leaders with the training and advice necessary to lead the transitional period themselves.”
There is significant evidence of the US arming the FSA, with reports of unmarked NATO warplanes arriving at Iskenderun, near the Syrian border, delivering Libyan volunteers and weapons, and of US, French and British special-forces, providing training.
Turkey has made clear it backs a military solution. President Abbdullah Gull told Zaman on January 31 that Syria was now on a “path of no return.”
“The end is certain,” he said. If “authoritarian rulers” did not reform, “foreign intervention will be inevitable.”
Turkey is the base of operations for the SNC and the FSA. It is now offering itself as a home to Hamas, reportedly offering funding of up to $300 million. The top leadership of Hamas, a Sunni group originating in the Muslim Brotherhood, has already left Damascus. It has close ties to the Syrian opposition, which is also dominated by the Brotherhood.
February 2nd, 2012, 2:00 am
Syria no kandahar said:
ابو فاضل البطل
February 2nd, 2012, 2:05 am
Syria no kandahar said:
حلب تنتفض عن بكرة أبيها
الله اكبر
February 2nd, 2012, 2:11 am
Syria no kandahar said:
مسرحيه هزليه
للمعارصه العميله
مرشحه للفجله الذهبيه
February 2nd, 2012, 2:47 am
Syria no kandahar said:
Security Council needs to act immediately to support WAHABI SYRIAN BUTCHERS:
February 2nd, 2012, 2:52 am
Syria no kandahar said:
Don’t watch this if you have a weak heart
The WAHABI ISLAMIC TERRORISTS cutting the head of Syrian soldier.Ghalion,Zibaleh,Stepho,Hamad,Erdoghan
….all are actively participating in this crime:
February 2nd, 2012, 2:58 am
abbas said:
http://www.theworld.org/2012/02/syrian-composer-malek-jandali/
February 2nd, 2012, 3:20 am
Juergen said:
Abbas
Thanks for sharing, i am sure they wont sell his Ugarit CD anymore in the Syrian museum shops.
February 2nd, 2012, 5:03 am
Mina said:
egypt: now that it is clear the 500 egyyptian pound gharama wont be applied for who does not go to vote, no one bothers, except the families of the khwan and salafis! zero turnout in cairo last sunday monday for the upper chamber, and most p0eople i asked didnt even know it was actually on that date and were thinking it was next week!
yesterday match in bur said: hooligans against the army (police watching and not moving): 37 dead and 1000 injured;
the day before yesterday in front of the parliament ikhwan against tahrir protesters: 200 injured.
well, if “al islam huwa al haal” is the program of the ikhwan and salafis, i am getting really curious to see what they have to offer for youth frustration..
February 2nd, 2012, 5:33 am
Alan said:
Merkel seeking euro-savior and Iran-buster in China
http://rt.com/news/merkel-china-visit-support-303/
February 2nd, 2012, 6:00 am
Alan said:
Who is Syrian opposition? West has no idea
http://rt.com/news/syria-opposition-foreign-intervention-321/
February 2nd, 2012, 6:12 am
Alan said:
SYRIA. TEXT OF LEAKED ARAB LEAGUE MISSION REPORT Report Reveals Media Lies Regarding Syria
Report of the Head of the League of Arab States Observer Mission to Syria. December 24, 2011 to January 18, 2012
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=29025
League of Arab States Observer Mission to Syria
Report of the Head of the League of Arab States Observer Mission to Syria for the period from 24
December 2011 to 18 January 2012
http://www.columbia.edu/~hauben/Report_of_Arab_League_Observer_Mission.pdf
February 2nd, 2012, 7:26 am
Observer said:
This account from the NYT is also worth adding to the rest of the documents today on this post.
Please take the time to read it through and through.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/world/europe/soldier-says-atrocities-made-him-a-syrian-defector.html?_r=1&ref=world
February 2nd, 2012, 8:03 am
Observer said:
And here is another one
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/opinion/russias-bad-bet-on-syria.html?ref=opinion
February 2nd, 2012, 8:04 am
Afram said:
There’s an open letter by Syrian artists
“Deliver Syria So That It Regains the Right to Live and to Create!”….
CREATE???is this a bad joke?
(Edited. This account is banned from Syria Comment for two weeks. Please refrain from hateful sectarian language)
The fascist islamic court of egypt had just sentenced one of the greatest comedian ADEL IMAM 3 months behind bars for critiquing salafists and brotherhoods in his movies.
MR;Duried Laham/ghawar watch out…
عادل إمام وراء القضبان بتهمة ازدراء الدين الإسلامي
GMT 9:19:00 2012 الخميس 2 فبراير
أصدرت محكمة جنح الهرم حكمًا غيابيًّا على الفنان عادل إمام بالحبس 3 أشهر، بتهمة الإزدراء بالأديان والسخرية من الجلباب واللحية
http://www.elaph.com/Web/arts/2012/2/713732.html?entry=homepagemainmiddle
February 2nd, 2012, 8:53 am
Juergen said:
Observer
thanks for the post
This phrase is very strong out of what Omar said:
“Hitler died in Germany, but awoke in Syria.”
February 2nd, 2012, 9:21 am
jad said:
So the plan IS a military intervention and Alarabi iben al…. is telling us what’s blocking such a ‘lovely’ plan that he seems to ‘regret’:
العربي: هذه هي الأسباب التي تقف عائقاً امام التدخل العسكري في سورية
قال الأمين العام للجامعة العربية نبيل العربي، إن نظام الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد يرزح الآن تحت ضغوطات كبيرة من المجتمع الدولي، قائلا إن خروج للناس للشوارع يعني بلا شك حتمية الاستجابة لمطالبهم.
وأضاف العربي في مقابلة حصرية مع شبكة CNN “أن الدعم الذي يحظى به النظام السوري من روسيا، جعل موسكو تعرقل أي إشارة إلى التدخل العسكري، أو العقوبات.”
وأشار إن روسيا ” لا تريد خطة السلام العربية، والتي تنص على أن يفوض الرئيس صلاحياته لنائبه.. فنحن لم نطلب أن يتنحى الرئيس.. ولكن فقط تفويض الصلاحيات لنائب الرئيس، والتي هي في الواقع، خطوة وفقا لدستورهم.”
ورأى العربي أن القرار الدولي المنتظر “سيضع الضغط على الحكومة السورية، لأنهم سيدركون أن روسيا لا تستطيع الوقوف (لجانبهم) إلى الأبد.. فهم أيضا يتعرضون لضغوط كبيرة الآن.. وكما تعلمون، روسيا لا تريد أن تكون ضد الشعب.”
وأجاب عندما سئل عن يأس المعارضة من خطط الجامعة العربية، وأنها ترى أن النظام سيستمر في استخدام العنف، قائلا “حتى الآن، هذا صحيح، ولكن علينا أن ننظر إلى العالم الذي نعيش فيه.”
وتابع العربي قائلا إن الوقت ينفد والناس يموتون، مضيفا “إنه أمر مريع.. لكن ما الذي يمكن عمله؟ وأكثر من ذلك، نحن ذهبنا إلى منظمة عالمية، مسؤولة عن السلام في العالم.. مجلس الأمن هو الهيئة المنوط بها المسؤولية الرئيسية عن السلام والأمن في العالم. لا يمكننا الذهاب أبعد من ذلك.”
وحول التدخل الدولي في ليبيا، ولماذا لم يتم تكراره في سورية؟ قال العربي “أولا وقبل كل شيء، سيف الإسلام القذافي هدد أنه سيدمر مدينة بنغازي كلها.. وكان لديهم الوسائل للقيام بذلك.”
وأضاف “ثانيا: الموقع السياسي يختلف بين سورية وليبيا، وثالثا: في سوريا، هناك جيش نظامي قوي، بينما في ليبيا، لم يكن هناك جيش، سوى بعض الميليشيات التي يرأسها أبناء القذافي والتي هي مختلفة تماما.. وربما لأنه لا يوجد نفط في سورية.”
ولدى سؤاله عما كان يعنيه بعدم وجود نفط في سورية، وإذا كان النفط هو دافع التدخل في ليبيا، قال العربي “هذا ممكن.. ولكن على أية حال، يمكن أن نضيف إلى ذلك أن هذا هو عام الانتخابات في الولايات المتحدة، وهناك انتخابات في فرنسا.. وأوروبا ليست في أفضل الحالات الاقتصادية للدخول في مشروع من هذا القبيل.”
المصدر: وكالات-عربي برس
February 2nd, 2012, 9:35 am
jad said:
“Palestinians throw shoes at convoy carrying UN chief Ban Ki-moon into Gaza”
Very well-deserved!
February 2nd, 2012, 9:51 am
jad said:
Does it mean that there will be no voting before Saturday!
كلينتون ولافروف سيبحثان قرار مجلس الامن الخاص بسورية في ميونيخ
أعلنت صحيفة “واشنطن بوست” اليوم الخميس ان وزيرة الخارجية الأميريكية هيلاري كلينتون تعتزم بحث مشروع قرار مجلس الامن الخاص بسورية مع نظيرها الروسي سيرغي لافروف خلال الاسبوع الجاري على هامش مؤتمر الأمن المزمع عقده في ميونيخ السبت القادم.
وفشلت كلنتون عدة مرات في الاتصال هاتفيا خلال الايام القليلة الماضية بلافروف الذي يقوم حاليا بجولة في دول المحيط الهادي وآسيا.
من جانبها قالت وزارة الخارجية الروسية، أن لافروف سيشارك في مؤتمر ميونيخ بتاريخ 4 شباط الجاري.
وكالات – عربي برس
February 2nd, 2012, 10:06 am
Observer said:
Majed in regard to your previous post on the conversation with a member of the Alawi community, there is a Haaretz article today about the sect. Here it is
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/spotlight-syria-s-alawites-a-secretive-and-persecuted-sect-1.410617
My position is that people are fully entitled to their beliefs and to worship and organize in any way they like.
There is and there was a dictatorship of the mainstream orthodoxy in every religion be it the Catholic church when it declared the Cathars heretics or the Sunnis that declared the Alawis heretics and therefore one can understand the sense of persecution and the fear of the return of this persecution.
Nevertheless the French have actually studied the sect and the sacred texts of the community can be found at the National Library in Paris. The concept of the leader of the community being “God” is not new, for after the independence of Syria there was a declaration by the leader of the Alawi community that he is the “Rab” and he was sentenced to death and executed. I do not recall exactly when or the name of that person. I believe he was called the Murshid or something like that. This was again seared in the memories of the community as another example of the persectution by the Sunni majority. Now I have only conjecture when I say that this may explain the absolute insistence on the post of the presidency being in the hands of the Assad family as some equate him to this role of the “God or Murshid or whatever” as being the leader of the community and his departure may indicate the loss of a very important symbol.
As for the feeling of persecution, the roles in my opinion have been reversed. Even though the Sunni majority is a numerical majority it is perceiving its lot as that of a persecuted and humiliated community with grinding poverty, inability to access education and advancement and with a sense that there is a regime within the state apparatus that is inexorably biased against them.
This is where unfortunately the thinking on the part of the ruling sect gets in the way of a political solution for they can only relate to their memories of persecution and have no reference point to a concept of citizenship above sect and clan. Therefore, in their imagination they will face a return to utter subjugation and persecution. The most unforturnate part of this thinking is that it is dead ender with zero sum game. This continued repression and bloodshed and dehumanization of the Sunnis is going to bring about more violence and there is no way in this day and age for the 12% to control the 75%. (before some go balistic about this I would add that this applies to the Gulf countries as well).
On top of this problem is the fact that all of the communities in Syria are being trampled by regional rivalries and political expediencies be it from Russia or from Turkey or Iran.
Once the regime falls, it will be due mainly to the tenacity of the people and their desire for genuine change.
February 2nd, 2012, 10:09 am
majedkhaldoun said:
There will be a resolution about Syria on wednesday.and it is not what the regime likes.
February 2nd, 2012, 10:35 am
zoo said:
Why Russia Won’t Back Down On The Standoff In Syria
http://www.worldcrunch.com/why-russia-wont-back-down-standoff-syria/4607
..
Six reasons for “No”
Foreign politicians and diplomats are asking themselves why Russia agreed not to block the Libya resolution last year, but now is ready to go head-to-head with the West in defense of Bashar al-Assad. But experts reached in Russia gave Kommersant at least six concrete reasons why Russia is not likely to give in.
1. Syria is one of Russia’s most important allies in the Arab world. If Moscow abandons Damascus in this critical moment, then the message it will be sending to allies around the world is that one cannot rely on the Kremlin.
2. Damascus is one of Moscow’s most important trading partners, particularly in military technology. The military contracts that were signed in the past years were worth about $4 billion. In 2010 alone, Syria acquired about $700 million worth of Russian arms. Moscow recently approved the sale of 36 military planes to Damascus – for a sum of $550 million. The total Russian investment in the Syrian economy is around $20 million. One of the largest projects is a gas processing plant managed by a Russian company. Moscow is not convinced that the opposition in Syria would continue this partnership if it comes into power.
3. Russia’s only military base located outside of the former Soviet Union is in the Syrian port city of Tartus. The opposition in Syria has given no indication of whether or not they would allow Moscow to keep the base if they are successful in overthrowing Assad.
4. Russia is wary of the uncompromising Syrian opposition. Its leaders are oriented towards the Persian Gulf monarchs, towards Turkey and towards the West, but not in the least towards Moscow. In addition, among Bashar al Assad’s opponents, Islamists have a relatively strong position, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood. If they come to power in Syria, which is home to a relatively large number of Christians and Shiites, there is a real risk that the country will be splintered based on religion.
5. The Russian leadership clearly doesn’t believe the West’s promises that the resolution on Syria is not a steps towards a military intervention. Moscow thinks that the U.S. and European Union are being sly, and Moscow has not forgotten the Libyan precedent: NATO bombing of Muammar Gaddafi’s forces began just days after the UN Libya resolution was adopted in March.
6. As important as international relations are, Russian internal politics also plays a major role in this affair. A month before the presidential elections, Vladimir Putin does not want to appear weak to either voters or his opponents, either by giving in to the West’s demands or by betraying a traditional ally. Russians are still distressed about Moscow’s abstention from the vote on the Libya resolution, which facilitated Gaddafi’s overthrown. And the Kremlin truly does not want Assad to follow in Gaddafi’s footsteps… at least not before the elections on March 4.
February 2nd, 2012, 10:43 am
Syria no kandahar said:
Being in the right side of history is supporting
Killing and terrorism!!!
February 2nd, 2012, 10:46 am
Tara said:
Majed
I am not so sure. I read some report that the UNSC is considering dropping the mandate of Bashar handing power over to his VP in order for Russia to abstain from using the veto.
If UNSC pass such a resolution, it would render itself useless and it will definitely not stop the revolution. Syrians will not negotiate with the murderer.
February 2nd, 2012, 10:49 am
ann said:
New Syria Draft Drops Assad Delegating to Deputy, France Wants Vote
http://www.innercitypress.com/syria6v3las020212.html
UNITED NATIONS, February 2 — The new Syria draft of the UN Security Council, as obtained by Inner City Press and put online here, omits Paragraph 7(b) about “delegation by the President of Syria of his full authority to his Deputy.”
There are other changes, visible on the text we are putting online, in HTML as a courtesy after push-back about previously publishing track changes.
It can be analyzed later this morning: the Security Council meeting to discuss the draft has been moved from 10 am to 3 pm on Thursday (ironically, elsewhere in Manhattan at the Ritz Carlton there is a protest against Yemen’s Ali Saleh.)
French Ambassador Gerard Araud on his way into the Council at 10 am spoke of putting the text “in blue” on Thursday night, hoping for a vote on Friday.
The reference to transfer of power has been dropped; some are sure to insist that it is still in as “subtext.”
February 2nd, 2012, 10:57 am
ann said:
UN Syria Draft Resolution Removes References to Power Transfer – February 02, 2012
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-02/un-syria-draft-resolution-removes-references-to-power-transfer.html
Feb. 2 (Bloomberg) — Arab and European negotiators at the United Nations seeking a draft resolution backing Arab League calls for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step aside have removed specific references that spell out a power transfer.
The new draft, obtained by Bloomberg News, “fully supports” the Arab League’s decision to “facilitate a political transition” yet removes language about “formation of a national unity government” and “delegation by the President of Syria of his full authority to his Deputy.”
Those changes may go some way to mollifying Russia, which had said the previous draft was an endorsement of regime change.
February 2nd, 2012, 11:09 am
Ghat Al Bird said:
The latest on Russia’ position:-
Legitimacy of Assad’s regime should not be determined by others: Russian official
English.news.cn 2012-02-02 23:41:48.
MOSCOW, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) — A senior Russian official has rejected the idea other countries should determine the legitimacy of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Deputy Chairman of the State Duma’s Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev was commenting Thursday on a draft U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria being promoted by several Arab and Western countries.
“Russia objects to the Western draft resolution, which urges other people to decide on the legitimacy of the regime in Syria,” Kosachev told the Ekho Moskvy radio station in an interview.
After the conflict in Libya, Russia’s confidence in Western partners had “radically reduced”, Kosachev said.
Moscow had proposed talks between all Syrian parties, he said, adding the opposition refused the proposal, saying Assad’s regime was illegitimate and any talks with it were “senseless.”
Kosachev said Western countries’ words in the draft resolution on Syria were similar to their previous resolution on Libya, whose vague text was used by NATO-led forces to overthrow the North African nation’s government.
Security Council members have debated the Syrian draft resolution, with the Russian representative to the U.N. saying last week he was “deeply disappointed” with it.
Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement that Moscow would not back the draft.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
February 2nd, 2012, 11:16 am
zoo said:
A very thorough summary of the opposition currents in Syria
Syria’s fractured opposition, a long way from victory
A look at some of the factions and coalitions opposing the al-Assad regime
By Kazi Stastna, CBC News
Posted: Feb 1, 2012 4:34 PM ET
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/01/31/f-syria-opposition.html
…
“Syria has always been a fractured nation with a very weak sense of national political community,” said Landis. “And that’s the reason why a family like the al-Assad family has been able to rule for 40 years, because they are pros at divide and rule, and they have been extremely cautious in grooming personal loyalties as opposed to national loyalties.”
Broadly, the main opposition forces break down into four groupings but even within these there are many factions and interests.
….
Syrian National Council (SNC)
This is the largest and most internationally visible opposition group.
The members of the council are clearly divided among themselves as they have had to limit the council chairman’s term to three months because they haven’t been able to agree on who the chairman should be.
…
They are in favour of removing al-Assad from power and against negotiating with the regime but agree on little else.
They have also been vague on whether they would support a foreign military intervention, with some factions saying they would accept Arab forces but not Western troops, and others voicing support for actions short of intervention such as a no-fly zone.
The SNC has no coherent economic plan or vision of Syria’s future, and the internal bickering within the council and lack of a strong, unifying leader threatens to render the council impotent.
National Coordination Body for Democratic Change (NCB)
A more moderate opposition coalition than the SNC, the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change is made up of secularists within Syria who favour a peaceful transition of power without any military intervention and who are willing to negotiate with the al-Assad regime.
The group is led by Hassan Abdul Azim, a moderate dissident in his 80s who has been a prominent member of Syria’s socialist movement since the 1960s.
Some see him as too meek while others consider him the opposition’s best chance of starting a dialogue with the regime.
Unlike the exiled leaders of the SNC, he has experience on the front lines of the current uprising, having been briefly arrested by security forces in April 2011.
The NCB’s main spokesperson outside Syria is Haytham Manna, a writer and human rights activist.
..
The dissenting SNC members opposed any co-operation with what they saw as the too moderate NCB, some of whose members they considered to be agents of the current regime.
…
Local coordination committees
These are small grassroots groups organized on a local level within Syria that are leading the demonstrations that have been fuelling the uprising since March 2011. They often include young activists in their 20s and 30s and rely on small, tight networks of family and friends that have less chance of being infiltrated by regime spies.
Both the NCB and the SNC profess to be communicating and co-ordinating with these committees, but it is hard to verify the extent of this co-operation as identifying committee members would put them in jeopardy and getting accurate reports from within Syria has been difficult.
..
Free Syrian Army
More a loose affiliation than a coordinated fighting force, the Free Syrian Army is made up of defectors from the Syrian military and opponents of the regime who have picked up arms.
..
The number of Free Syrian Army fighters is unknown, but al-Asaad told the Reuters news agency in Ocotber 2011 that 15,000 soldiers had defected from the Syrian military.
…
Popular support?
More cautious observers have warned that, inside Syria, support for the anti-regime demonstrations is much less widespread than international media would have the public believe.
Between the hard-core al-Assad loyalists and the young activists leading the anti-regime protests is a mushy middle made up largely of middle-class Sunni Syrians who have already witnessed street muggings and attacks against their neighbours, and are apprehensive of a volatile situation spiralling out of control.
“They understand the Syrian realities better than the young people, and they’re very cynical, and they see that Syria can become Iraq,” said Landis.
“When Bashar says, ‘It’s either me or the deluge; it’s either me or civil war,’ they understand that.”
February 2nd, 2012, 11:16 am
ann said:
Head of Israeli Intelligence: 200,000 Enemy Missiles Can Target Israel
Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi explained Iran has enough material to create four nuclear bombs
15:35 GMT, February 2, 2012 The Head of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Military Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, spoke at the 12th Annual Herzliya Conference on Thursday (February 2) discussing the components of regional turmoil and their effect on Israeli security.
Maj. Gen. Kochavi elaborated on the explanations and reasons standing behind the regional turmoil in the Middle East and explained that the prevalent trend is a strengthening in the voice of the Arabic public. “This public that has not been able to express its aspirations for decades, discovered its capability and its voice since it began translating it into political power. This summarizes the revolution in the Middle East. This may develop in many different ways,” he said.
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February 2nd, 2012, 11:20 am
irritated said:
#32 Ann
If the resolution removes the clause asking Bashar al Assad to step down, then it is very close to the resolution the Russians proposed 3 months ago and the plan of the Syrian government ( national unity government, elections etc.).
The SNC will be bound to enter in a dialog supervised by the vice president, as Bashar offered months ago. The Local opposition will probably jump on the UNSC-AL wagon and accept the resolution.
If the SNC refuses to join the dialog they will bear all the blame and be discarded. The Turks will have to pressure them to accept. A light…..
February 2nd, 2012, 11:25 am
zoo said:
Democracy in name
February 02, 2012 01:44 AM
The Daily Star
The Egypt created after the fall of President Hosni Mubarak, almost one year ago, while allegedly founded on democratic principles, seems to be denying its citizens the most basic of human rights demanded by last year’s country-wide protests.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Editorial/2012/Feb-02/161859-democracy-in-name.ashx#ixzz1lF6sSwKG
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
February 2nd, 2012, 11:30 am
ann said:
On Syria Draft Without 7b, Araud Claims There’s Still “Transfer of Power”
A non-Western, BRICS diplomat scoffed to Inner City Press that “only one or two members of the Council will claim that the delegation of power is called for by this resolution — IT IS NOT.”
So it seems that around a single text, there are ALREADY divergent interpretations. The BRICS diplomat continue, “This time Russia will hold them to it.
http://www.innercitypress.com/syria7v3las020212.html
UNITED NATIONS, February 2 — Minutes after Inner City Press published the UN Security Council’s new Syria draft, which omits Paragraph 7(b) about “delegation by the President of Syria of his full authority to his Deputy,” French Ambassador Gerard Araud came out of the Council.
Inner City Press asked Araud, if you agreed to take out delegation of power by Assad, how can you claim it is still in the draft?
Araud said, “We didn’t drop the transfer of power.”
But Paragraph 7b is gone, Inner City Press pointed out.
“But 7a also, and 7c also,” Araud said. “We are supporting the plan, and in the plan you have the transfer of power.”
Another Western diplomat on the Council argued to Inner City Press that Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby talked about a delegation by Assad to his deputy, implying it would be temporary.
A non-Western, BRICS diplomat scoffed to Inner City Press that “only one or two members of the Council will claim that the delegation of power is called for by this resolution — it is not.”
So it seems that around a single text, there are ALREADY divergent interpretations. The BRICS diplomat continue, “This time Russia will hold them to it.
February 2nd, 2012, 11:31 am
norman said:
Ann,
I just hope that Russia will not fall for this .
February 2nd, 2012, 11:42 am
ann said:
“More rockets than ever” aimed at us: Israeli army intelligence chief – 2012-02-03
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/03/c_122649488.htm
JERUSALEM, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) — Israel’s foes have “more rockets than ever before” aimed at targets across the Jewish state, according to the head of Israeli army’s Intelligence Directorate.
“Our enemies have 200,000 rockets and missiles capable of hitting every part of Israel,” Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Director of Military Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi said in an address on Thursday at the annual Herzliya Conference.
In a timely illustration of his words, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired eight rockets into southern Israel overnight Wednesday, in the most severe incident of its kind since October.
The projectiles exploded in open fields in the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council, the military said. No injuries or damages were reported. The army did not launch reprisal attacks in response to the salvo.
On Israel’s northern border, the Yisrael Hayom daily said Wednesday that military officials were worried that Syria might transfer its stock of weapons, including sarin and VX nerve agent chemical warheads on long-range Scud missiles, to Lebanon-based Hezbollah.
“We are seeing a paradoxical process unfold, in which Syria is undergoing a process of ‘Lebanonization’ and vice versa,” a senior Israeli defense official told the newspaper.
“Syria, which was an island of stability in the past, is now being torn apart by military clashes. Lebanon is now perceived as being the more stable of the two,” the official added.
In a wide-ranging speech which canvased the last two years of seismic political changes across the Middle East, Kochavi warned that Israel was facing “a more hostile, more Islamic, more sensitive Middle East, one more attuned to public sentiment, less controlled by the regimes, and less susceptible to international influence.”
Referring to the IDF intelligence reports on Iran’s alleged clandestine nuclear weaponry program, Kochavi said that Teheran was in possession of 4 tons of low-grade uranium enriched to 3.5 percent and another 100 kilograms enriched to 20 percent, according to Haaretz.
Speaking a day earlier at the multi-day event, Israeli President Shimon Peres termed Iran’s leadership as “evil,” and said it was “the duty of the international community to prevent evil and nuclear (weapons) from coming together. That is the obligations of most of the leaders of the free world, one which they must meet.”
On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told Peres that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) investigators looking for evidence of Iran’s clandestine nuclear weapons program in recent days had held “good” talks with Iranian officials.
“I have been urging the Iranian authorities to prove that their nuclear program is genuinely for peaceful purposes. I think they have not yet convinced the international community,” Ban said.
He added, however, that there is “no alternative to a dialogue with Iran,” Ynet news noted.
“There is still a lot of work to be done and so we have planned another trip in the very near future,” said Herman Nackaerts, IAEA ‘s deputy director general and head of the department of safeguards, after concluding his visit to Iran.
Kochavi noted that if the uranium was enriched “to a 90-percent level, that would be enough for four atomic bombs.” Iran, in his words, wanted “to create hegemony in the region (and) deterrence, and to become an international player.”
February 2nd, 2012, 11:56 am
ann said:
On Syria, China’s Li Baodong IDs “Wording We Cannot Accept,” Counter Proposes
http://www.innercitypress.com/syria8v3las020212.html
UNITED NATIONS, February 2 — Forty minutes after Inner City Press published the UN Security Council’s new Syria draft, which omits Paragraph 7(b) about “delegation by the President of Syria of his full authority to his Deputy,” Chinese ambassador Li Baodong told Inner City Press that this does not go far enough.
Inner City Press asked Li Baodong about his French counterpart Gerard Araud’s claims that “we didn’t drop the transfer of power… We are supporting the [Arab League] plan, and in the plan you have the transfer of power.”
Li Baodong told Inner City Press, “They agreed to take out, 7a, b, c.” But, Li Baodong continued, in the “current wording, there is a serious problem that we cannot accept. We may consider using wording like ‘taking the initiative of the Arab into consideration… the Security Council supports the efforts of Arab League,’ rather than fully support.”
Inner City Press asked Li Baodong about earlier statements of a BRICS diplomat that “only one or two members of the Council will claim that the delegation of power is called for by this resolution — it is not… This time Russia will hold them to it.”
(Speaking to gaggle of correspondents as he left the Council at the same time as US Ambassador Susan Rice, Russia’s Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said it is heavy going, but we are working very hard.)
Speaking exclusively to Inner City Press, Li Baodong smiled and said, “I talked to some other ambassadors, still they have problems, I don’t thing they can easy get that. You can expect there will be very heated consultations.” Watch this site.
February 2nd, 2012, 12:00 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Creative Syria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsnIHax25sg&feature=related
.
February 2nd, 2012, 12:00 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
The important part of the resolution in the UN,are
Immidiate halt to the brutal oppression,and release of political prisoners,and allow the demonstrations freely., and follow up in two weeks, Russia must guarantee such things in two weeks,they will give a period of two weeks to convince Russia to accept te removal of Assad
February 2nd, 2012, 12:15 pm
Syria Comment » Archives » UN Security Council Meets; SNC Divisions; Sectarian Attacks and Kidnapping in Homs | The Daily Fawkes said:
[…] Syria Comment » Archives » UN Security Council Meets; SNC Divisions; Sectarian Attacks and Kidnapp…. This entry was posted in government, International News, news, wars and tagged government, International News, news by admin. Bookmark the permalink. […]
February 2nd, 2012, 12:31 pm
jad said:
الافتتاحية : رجاء حار الى النفطيين … سيبوا نزار قباني في حاله
الافتتاحية : عرب تايمز
سارع الاعلام السعودي – وخاصة محطة العربية ومن بعدها جريدة الشرق الاوسط – الى انتقاد مندوب سوريا في الامم المتحدة لانه استشهد بقصيدة شهيرة رائعة لنزار قباني هجا فيها العرب … وزعمت العربية ان نزار كان يقصد سوريا في قصيدته مع انه القى القصيدة في دمشق بلده ومدينته … ونزار لم يدخل السعودية قط لانه وكتبه كانا من الممنوعات ولا زالا حتى هذه اللحظة … الاطرف ان جريدة ( الشرق الاوسط ) اللندنية التي يملكها الامير سلمان والتي تباكت على ضيعة ادب نزار الذي يوظفه الاعلام السوري لصالحه هي الجريدة الوحيدة التي هجاها نزار ومسح بملاكها الارض في قصيدته الشهيرة التي وصف فيها ملك السعودية ب ( ابو جهل ) .. وكتب نزار قصيدته تلك بعد ان ( تطاولت ) جريدة عبد الرحمن الراشد انذاك عليه … وللتذكير فقط ننشر ما سبق ونشرناه في عرب تايمز بعد نشر نزار لقصيدته تلك ولن ننشر ما كتبته الشرق الاوسط عن نزار حتى لا نوسخ صفحاتنا
يومها قلنا وتحت عنوان : عندما هجا نزار قباني خائن الحرمين…. ما يلي : قبل وفاته كتب الشاعر الكبير نزار قباني قصيدة في هجاء الملك فهد وسماه أبو جهل وتحدث القصيدة عن جريدة الشرق الأوسط التي أصدرها ال سعود في لندن في شارع فليت ستريت
القصيدة كانت بعنوان ابو جهل يشتري فليت ستريت، حاربتها السعودية ومنعت نشرها وتوزيعها، وللتمويه على القراء بعث الأمير خالد صاحب جريدة الحياة ….جهاد الخازن إلى لندن لمقابلة نزار وتم إقناعه بنشر قصائده الجديدة في جريدة الحياة السعودية حتى يتم ايهام القاريء ان القصيدة السابقة عن ابي جهل وجريدته الخضراء في لندن لا تعني جريدة الشرق الأوسط مع انها الجريدة الوحيدة الخضراء، كانت ولا تزال
فيما يلي النص الكامل للقصيدة
{…}
ايا طويل العمر
يا من تشتري النساء بالارطال
وتشتري الاقلام بالارطال
لسنا نريد اي شيئ منك
فانكح جواريك كما تريد
واذبح رعاياك كما تريد
وحاصر الامة بالنار.. وبالحديد
لا احد
يريد منك ملكك السعيد
لا احد يريد ان يسرق منك جبة الخلافة
فاشرب نبيذ النفط عن اخره
واترك لنا الثقافه
http://www.arabtime.com/portal/news_display.cfm?Action=&Preview=No&nid=10451
February 2nd, 2012, 12:31 pm
Tara said:
Is a SC resolution supporting the AL’s initiative minus the call on Besho to hand over power to his VP better for the revolution than vetoed SC resolution supporting the Arab initiative in its entirety?
I am not sure. I am concerned about the revolutionists morales and there ability to continue revolting when the light is far.
February 2nd, 2012, 12:33 pm
jad said:
The NYT ‘article’ is not worth reading according to Dr. Abukhalil!
“Journalism standards of the New York Times
“There is no way to corroborate much of Mr. Omar’s account of his journey to becoming an enforcer for the Assad government.” But what the hell: we will supply our readers with a whole article over two pages based on his account. Who is counting here, damn it.
PS Do you think that the New York Times would lionize an Israeli occupation soldiers who defects or he refuses orders, and would publish his account of massacres without having verification for every little detail from 3794430 sources?
Posted by As’ad AbuKhalil”
VERY WELL DESERVED!
“With shoes
http://youtu.be/626TCgGISrU
The families of Palestinian prisoners in Gaza met Ban Ki-Moon with old shoes. I need footage, please.
Posted by As’ad AbuKhalil
“Crude and vulgar sectarianism in Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat
Look at the headline and this article by Tariq Al-Humayyid (a long-time propagandist for the sons of Prince Salman and the editor of his mouthpiece, Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat). They don’t even try to disguise their sectarian hatred while pretending (in English) that they are “liberals”. Liberals in the House of Saud camp? This Humayyid once described liberal reformers in Saudi Arabia as “an Iranian lobby inside Saudi Arabia”.
Posted by As’ad AbuKhalil”
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/
February 2nd, 2012, 12:37 pm
Tara said:
It is pathetic for Jaafari to quote Nizar. Had Nizar been alive, this rotten regime would’ve not hesitated carving his throat out if he to dare dissenting.
February 2nd, 2012, 12:38 pm
jad said:
Irritated,
“The SNC will be bound to enter in a dialog supervised by the vice president, as Bashar offered months ago. The Local opposition will probably jump on the UNSC-AL wagon and accept the resolution.”
They are already ‘IN’, however, I doubt that they have any power to stop any of the terrorists violence, unlike the regime that can do that.
“الحياة: المفاوضات مع روسيا ارتكزت على المقايضة بإقناع المعارضة بالحوار
علمت “الحياة” أن “الفكرة الرئيسية في المفاوضات مع روسيا في مجلس الامن في مشروع القرار حول سوريا ارتكزت على إمكان المقايضة بين موافقتها على دعم المبادرة العربية في قرار لمجلس الأمن وبين اقناع “المجلس الوطني” بالموافقة على دعوة روسيا الى إجراء حوار بين أركان النظام والمعارضة في موسكو”.
وبحسب مصادر عربية رفيعة، “تبدو العقبة الأصعب أمام قبول روسيا بتمرير القرار في لغة دعم الخطة العربية الواردة في القرار، والتي قد يكون في الإمكان التغلب عليها أما عبر الربط بصورة أو بأخرى بمبادرة موسكو أو بلغة لا تنطوي على “تبني” مجلس الأمن للخطة العربية وإنما الاكتفاء بنوع من الدعم والتأييد”.”
“غليون: يمكن ان تكون هناك مفاوضات نقل سلطة بحال عدد وجود فيتو روسي
أكد رئيس المجلس الوطني السوري برهان غليون في حديث الى “الحياة” أنه “إذا كانت روسيا مستعدة لأن تمرر قرار مجلس الأمن ولا تستخدم الفيتو ضده يمكن أن تكون هناك بعض جلسات مفاوضات على نقل السلطة، كما تقتضي الخطة العربية في موسكو”، واوضح انه “لا مشكلة لنا مع المكان بل مشكلتنا مع شرط المبادرة الروسية وبأية شروط سوف يتحقق نقل السلطة الى الشعب”، لافتا الى ان “اللقاء ليس اللقاء لمجرد الحوار”.”
February 2nd, 2012, 12:42 pm
jad said:
KSA is manipulating the SYP value and financing terrorist actions in Syria.
مجلس الأمن يفقد دولار السوداء ليرة من قيمته.. السعودية تتلاعب بالليرة وتموّل بهاإرهابييها
في الوقت الذي تركت فيه جلسة النقاش في مجلس الأمن مساء أول أمس أثراً واضحاً على سعر صرف الدولار الأميركي في السوق السوداء، وخاصة المواقف التي عبر عنها مندوبا روسيا والصين، حيث ارتفع مستوى العرض في السوق مقارنة بالأيام الماضية، ما أدى إلى كسر سعر صرف الدولار بحدود ليرة سورية، حيث انخفض سعر الشراء إلى 72 ليرة والمبيع إلى 72.60 ليرة، أكد رئيس جمعية الصاغة بسوريا جورج صارجي أن العديد من الدول الإقليمية وخاصة الخليجية منها لها دور كبير ليس بالجديد في التلاعب بسعر صرف الليرة السورية وأهمها السعودية التي تمتلك مبالغ هائلة من الليرة السورية فيقومون بعرض الليرة والطلب عليها.
وأشار صارجي في تصريح لصحيفة الوطن إلى أن هذه الدول عندما تكون حانقة على سوريا تقوم بعرض مبالغ ضخمة من الليرة السورية فتنخفض قيمتها.
وأكد رئيس الجمعية معرفة الجميع ومنذ سنوات عديدة بأن سعر صرف العملة السورية مقره في مدينة جدة بالسعودية، «وخصوصاً في الفترة التي لم يكن عندنا مكاتب للصيارفة، وكانت العملة السورية تتجمع في لبنان وفي الأردن وغيرهما ويتم شحنها جميعها إلى السعودية بقصد التجارة وفي الوقت الراهن يقومون بالتحكم بنا.
ولفت صارجي إلى أن أي صراف في البلد يعرف هذا الأمر مبيناً في الوقت ذاته أن المجموعات الإرهابية المسلحة التي تنشط في المحافظات السورية تتلقى أموالها من تلك البلدان بمختلف العملات بما فيها الليرة السورية.
وفي سياق آخر توقع رئيس جمعية الصاغة ارتفاع أسعار الذهب خلال الفترة المقبلة على المستوى العالمي كله متذرعاً بالأزمة الاقتصادية العالمية التي تدفع بالكثير من الدول إلى اكتناز الذهب على اعتباره الملاذ الأمن لرؤوس الأموال، لافتاً إلى أن أسعار الذهب محلياً تتوقف أيضاً على سعر صرف الليرة السورية التي تشهد تذبذبات متتالية خلال الفترة الحالية.
وقال: وعدنا مصرف سوريا المركزي قبل أشهر بأنه على استعداد لاستيراد الذهب بنفسه وبيعه للصاغة، وطلب منا عناوين وأرقام أفضل بائعي الذهب في العالم، وكان من بين هؤلاء الباعة أهم البنوك السويسرية (كريدي سويس) ولكن الأخير رفض التعامل مع الصاغة السوريين أو حتى مع المركزي السوري بسبب العقوبات الأخيرة التي فرضت على سوريى.
وتحدث صارجي عن أنه كان هناك اقتراح باستيراد الذهب من روسيا، ولكننا علمنا فيما بعد أن هذا البلد ليس فيه أوزان للذهب من فئة الكيلو أو الأونصة وإنما ما يسمى «بارة» ووزنها 12.5 كغ وهو ما لا نستطيع التعامل معها كصاغة ومحال تجارية لأن هذه الأوزان مخصصة لوضعها في الخزانة العامة للدولة ومن الصعب صبها وصياغتها وبيعها على أجزاء كالكيلو وغيره.
وعلى العوامل الأخرى التي تؤثر في أسعار الذهب المحلية تحدث صارجي عن ظهور دور جديد للمضاربين الذين يقومون برفع الأسعار والتحكم بها إضافة إلى تغير سعر أونصة الذهب عالمياً خلال اليوم الواحد الأمر الذي لا يسمح لجمعية الصاغة بإصدار سعر جديد لها في السوق السورية وخصوصاً أن التسعيرة يتم تحديدها في وقت محدد يومياً.
February 2nd, 2012, 12:47 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
47. jad said:
Irritated,
“The SNC will be bound to enter in a dialog supervised by the vice president, as Bashar offered months ago. The Local opposition will probably jump on the UNSC-AL wagon and accept the resolution.”
Delusion,
Neither the SNC ,the real opposition, nor the NCB the fake opposition will agree for dialogue until Assad is removed.
February 2nd, 2012, 12:48 pm
Juergen said:
Tara
This is truely the most evil thing to do, to ride him out of the country and now use his words to fully humiliate him. Do you know how his daughter has reacted to that?
The other day i asked an friend if there is any syrian writer of worldclass still living in Syria, he said all are out of the country.
As Rafik Schami said: “I could not have written what i wrote in Syria, i had to liberate my tongue.”
February 2nd, 2012, 12:56 pm
Alan said:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1170/p/salsa/event/common/public/index.sjs?distributed_event_KEY=655
Day of Mass Action to Stop a U.S. War on Iran
February 2nd, 2012, 12:56 pm
irritated said:
Juergen
As Rafik Schami said: “I could not have written what i wrote in Syria, i had to liberate my tongue.”
… and speak german (as one of my friends said)
February 2nd, 2012, 1:02 pm
jad said:
NCB is wise, pragmatic, politically mature, have morals, visions and standards unlike the SNC which is living in lalaland. I’m glad to see SNC is forced to face reality.
I think that this step, if taken, will save Syria and Syrians.
Go Haytham Manna!
February 2nd, 2012, 1:03 pm
Ghufran said:
People need to decide what they want immediately,what they want next and then what they want long term. A cessation of violence is by far the most pressing need in Syria,this cessation can allow the political track to move forward. I am not sure that the fighting parties are ready to talk yet but I doubt that politicians on both sides have much control on armed groups that are transferring Syria into a Syriastan,the problem is much bigger than what a lot of people are willing to admit,security and feeding the hungry will be the two biggest challenges for any future government.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:07 pm
irritated said:
#45 Jad
Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat is a caricature of the Saudi Arabia views of the events of the world through the prism of wahhabism.
It is interesting to watch how they express them, trying to sound smart and moderate. It is a lot of fun to read their articles, especially Tariq Al Hummayid’s , he is the best.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:10 pm
Juergen said:
Irritated
you are wrong, he writes in Arabic as well. If you mean that someone who live here for 40 years should refrain from speaking german than you have serious problems with integration.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:11 pm
irritated said:
#54 Jad
It is safer than reading “My Kampf” or “The secret diary of Angela”
February 2nd, 2012, 1:13 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Ghufran
I agree,stop the violence now, we will not talk,or have dialogue, till violence stop, allow free peaceful demonstrations, Russia must guarantee that, may be they will agree to send UN people to monitor the halt on oppression.
I dont expect the UN to be more incompetent than AL.
Al Dabi held press conference without permission by the AL chief Al Arabi, I expect him to be ousted soon.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:19 pm
Ghufran said:
Arab media is full of political prostitutes,Tariq is a great example,the last time I opened that piece of garbage,alsharq alawsat,was more than 6 months ago.
Alarabiya and aljazeera are not much better today ,and the regime mouth pieces have proven again that we all can become stupid and empty when we sell our conscience to the highest bidder.
Talking about stupid and empty,read how more than 70 Egyptians got killed and how security forces were too afraid to intervene,this scene will be the norm in many Arab countries if revolutionists fail to distinguish between changing a regime and destroying a country:
Police conscripts then stood by as rival fans attacked each other with rocks and chairs. “The police did nothing to stop it,” Amr Khamis, an Ahly supporter told CNN at the train station in Cairo after returning from the match.
“Officers refused to open the gates of the stadium so we could not escape and had to face thousands of Al Masry hooligans attacking with rocks, knives, swords and anything else you can imagine.”
February 2nd, 2012, 1:21 pm
jad said:
Jurgen
German national media culture is too advanced and very well structured and ruled by a set of excellent rules, if Alsharq Alawsat to be translated there to become a ‘German’ newspaper it will be banned for life.
We both know how proper the culture of debating is in Germany so I doubt that any German will think of what Alhamidy writes as funny or interesting. What they write is DISGRACE, SECTARIAN, SEXIST and simply DISGUSTING.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:22 pm
jad said:
Irritated
‘Mein Kampf’ is forbidden in Germany.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:27 pm
irritated said:
Juergen
I know Rafik Shami writes in Arabic. He has not yet been “assimilated”. I wonder his children from his bavarian wife speak or read arabic.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:30 pm
jad said:
Gufran
Do you think that the SNC have any power over the terrorists armed militias? I doubt.
المسلحون يستهدفون أحياء حمص الآمنة بقذاف الهاون 2 2 2012
http://youtu.be/5KnFpFaSte8
February 2nd, 2012, 1:31 pm
irritated said:
Ghufran
“The police did nothing to stop it,” Amr Khamis, an Ahly supporter told CNN at the train station in Cairo after returning from the match
If they had, Human Rights Watch will be blaming the police for “brutal’, ‘ excessive violence’, ‘inhuman’ etc and the policemen will be demoted and punished for ‘crimes against humanity’
Forcefully insuring the security of a normal citizen has become a ‘human rights’ abuse.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:37 pm
Ghufran said:
I hope that sane people in the regime and the opposition move beyond Bashar’s issue and stop trying to discount the other side. If people have not discovered yet that Syria is divided and fractured,then we will not be able to end this tragedy.
The regime must sacrify Bashar and his family without vengeance and humiliation ,they stayed in power for more than 40 years,and it is time for new blood,and the opposition needs to understand that regime supporters and those “fence sitters” are humans and they are as Syrian as the opposition crowd,this means that a new regime must give all Syrians a voice under the rule of the law.Syrians need outside help not outside weapons,Qatar for example can easily fund any US mission instead of paying thugs and drummers who are only complicating an already flammable situation.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:39 pm
irritated said:
MajedAlkhadoon
“I agree,stop the violence now, we will not talk,or have dialogue”
What? you lost hopes in the imminent victory of your “angels” that you have been hammering us with?
February 2nd, 2012, 1:42 pm
Alan said:
To experts on the linguist!
February 2nd, 2012, 1:43 pm
Alan said:
Associated Press
DAMASCUS, Syria – Gunmen kidnapped 11 Iranian pilgrims heading to the Syrian capital by road from Turkey on Wednesday, a diplomat in Damascus said.
The group of 35 pilgrims were on a bus outside the central city of Hama when armed men ambushed it, said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give details on the abduction.
The gunmen took away 11 men, leaving behind the women, children and elderly men, after stealing money and mobile phones from them, the diplomat said. The pilgrims had been heading to visit Shiite shrines in Syria, he said.
Iran’s state-run Press TV also reported the abduction of the 11, but did not provide details.
It was the latest in a string of reported kidnappings of Iranians amid Syria’s turmoil, as the regime cracks down on protesters and military defectors. Iran is Syria’s closest ally and has strongly backed President Bashar Assad.
Last Friday, gunmen snatched 11 Iranian pilgrims along the same highway, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. In December seven Iranian engineers building a power plant in central Syria were kidnapped. They have not yet been released.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:52 pm
zoo said:
Germany to protect Europe from Iran.
US airbase in Germany to host missile shield command
Reuters – 51 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/us-airbase-germany-host-missile-shield-command-175942604.html
BERLIN (Reuters) – The command centre for a controversial missile defense shield in Europe will be housed at a U.S. air base in western Germany, a NATO spokesman said on Thursday.
Ramstein Air Base, which already houses the European headquarters of the U.S. Air Force and a NATO installation, will host the centre, which NATO says aims to protect Europe from potential attacks by so-called “rogue states” like Iran.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:53 pm
Juergen said:
Irritated
I do not get your point, may be
(Edited for personal attack. Please refer to the Syria Comment Rules)
What difference does it make if an Arab has children with a german wife and the children dont speak Arabic?
JAD
thanks I appreciate what you wrote.
February 2nd, 2012, 1:54 pm
Alan said:
US, Israel plot to topple al-Assad Govt
February 2nd, 2012, 1:56 pm
jad said:
As long as a ‘predators’ and ‘liars’ are the heads of international ‘human rights’ agencies, the world will continue to have endless wars under the name of ‘humanitarian’ reasons!
Une assistante d’Hillary Clinton prend la tête d’Amnesty International USA
http://www.voltairenet.org/Une-assistante-d-Hillary-Clinton
————————————————-
Aldabi comes back, standing behind his finding report, we saw LOTS of armed militias:
فيديو – الدابي : متمسكون بكل ما ورد في تقرير المراقبين.. الحقيقة على الأرض تؤكد وجود مسلحين وشاهدت عدداً كبيراً منهم
“جدد الفريق محمد مصطفى الدابي رئيس بعثة المراقبين العرب إلى سورية تمسكه بكل ما جاء في تقرير البعثة الذي قدمته للجامعة العربية والتصريحات التي أدلى بها حوله مؤكداً قيام بعض الأطراف بتفسير التقرير الذي قدم للمجلس الوزاري العربي بشكل مناقض لما دونه رؤساء قطاعات المراقبة.
وأكد الدابي في مؤتمر صحفي عقده في العاصمة السودانية الخرطوم اليوم ان خطوة الجامعة بتجميد عمل المراقبين زادت الوضع سوءاً مشيراً إلى أن هناك أموراً سياسية كثيرة تؤثر في العمل على الأرض وهناك الكثير من الضبابية والمعلومات المغلوطة لذلك ارتأيت أن أقول الحقيقة واننا كنا محايدين في عملنا وأمينين في نقل الصورة.
الإعلام الخارجي فقط وليس السوري اختلق الكثير من الأخبار حول عمل البعثة”
{…}
http://www.mepanorama.com/97389/%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%83%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%83%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%B1/
February 2nd, 2012, 2:01 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Irritated
No I did not loose hope, the angels will win over the devile you
(Edited for personal attack)
and you
(Edited for personal attack. Please refer to Syria Comment Rules, especially Provocations designed to derail discussions away from substantive debate into dead-end arguments
This is a warning. Do not persist in this line of commentary)
Do I think Bashar will stop the oppression and allow peaceful demonstrations? No,NO, NO,
We have to embarras Russia.
The saying in Syria Follow the liar to the door, Bashar your idole is a liar, just like he lied to AL, he will lie again and again, then Russia will find it hard to support him any longer.
February 2nd, 2012, 2:04 pm
Syrialover said:
#26. Observer
A first rate comment and insight. It’s what I come to SyriaComment for.
It deserves wider circulation.
(Note: When I send comments like Obsever’s to friends and family I have to copy and paste the comment into an email. Because if I send them the link to SyriaComment people go crazy and give up trying to scroll through all the junk cut and paste from Ann and others. So their cutting and pasting creates the need for more cutting and pasting!)
February 2nd, 2012, 2:07 pm
jad said:
استقالة جميل عازر من “الجزيرة” احتجاجاً على تزييفها الحقائق
February 2nd, 2012, 2:12 pm
Ghufran said:
I read post # 26 to see if it was worthy for copying,pasting and the emailing to friends and I can state with certainty that it is not,however,any insight and analysis that skips the usual hateful propaganda is good for people to read.
Few notes: almurshed who came from alghaab ,and still has followers and people who now protect and surround his sons, was an alawi who started a cult on his own which is not now,and never was,part of the alawite sect. Alawis do not consider almurshidiyeen alawites,they are seen as a heretic sect,the same way many Sunnis look at alawites.
As for Sunnis being victims of oppression and corruption,one has to see how alawites did compared to their Sunni counterparts if we are to have an objective view on the subject.
The regime made it possible for impoverished syrians,especially alawites,to have a job and a salary by joining the army and security forces,many of them became a part of the corrupt system that was crafted by 48 years of albaath and alassad rule,this corrupt system attracted a large number of
Sunni merchants and businessmen who could not care less about who is in power as long as the dirty profits kept coming,I fault the regime for allowing and organizing corruption but I know that most fat cats,a lot of them are not alawis,were willful participants. The same fat cats who are supporting the regime will make a u-turn and support any new regime as long as their benefits are not compromised.
يللي بياخد أمي بناديه يا عمي
Finally,the rule of majority sect is never a guarantee of a just and effective system,syrians must be given the choice to elect whoever they find qualified to lead,this is why syrians should reject limiting the office of presidency to Muslims,that is a wish that will probably not come true in Syria or any other Arab country:
يا أمة ضحكت من جهلها الامم
February 2nd, 2012, 2:37 pm
Tara said:
Ghufran,
Do you agree that the majority of Alawis support Bashar? Do you agree that the majority of Syrian Christians support Bashar?
February 2nd, 2012, 2:50 pm
jad said:
حول مناقشات مجلس الأمن عن سوريا
by Samir Aita
أعطت مناقشات مجلس الأمن مشهداً محبطاً لجميع السوريين. إذ كانت جميع المداخلات مبنيّة على التباس ضمنيّ، متواجد أصلاً ضمن الصيغة التي أقرّت أخيراً من المبادرة العربية.
من ناحية أولى، أتى اجتماع مجلس الأمن بطلب من الجامعة العربية، كي يدعم صيغة مبادرتها الأخيرة، فقط. إلاّ أنّ كثيراً من الدول قد أرسلت وزراء خارجيّـتها يدفعون في خطاباتهم أبعد من المبادرة. والخلاف بين اقتراحي النصّ الروسي والنصّ الغربي-العربي يتضمّن هذا الالتباس، خاصّة فيما يدفع إليه في مرحلة ثانية، إذا لم يرس قرار من مجلس الأمن أيّ تطوّر إيجابي.
من ناحية ثانية، لا تنصّ المبادرة العربية الجديدة على تنحّي الأسد بشكلٍ صريح. بل على “تفويض رئيس الجمهورية نائبه بصلاحيّات كاملة للقيام بالتعاون التام مع حكومة الوحدة الوطنيّة لتمكينها من أداء واجباتها”. هذه الصياغة الملتبسة، التي تركت لآليّة التفاوض، تخلق مشاكلاً فيمن يفسّرها تنحيّاً، أو يفرض ذلك شرطاً للتفاوض وليس نتيجة له، وفيماً يفسّرها أن يعطى لنائب الرئيس دور حاسم في عمليّة التفاوض.
أخيراً، وهذا الأخطر. تنبني المبادرة العربيّة الجديدة على حلّ تفاوضي وليس على حلّ عسكريّ، في حين من الصعب تصوّر أيّ تفاوض في ظلّ العنف. إلاّ أنّ دول الخليج قد سحبت مراقبيها، في حين يشكّل وجودهم بحدّ ذاته، وليس ما يشيرون إليه عمّن يتسبّب في العنف والذي سيكون غير مرضي حتماً للطرفين، آليّة لتخفيض وتيرة التشنّج والاقتتال كي يمكن أن يكون هناك أصلاً تفاوض. وفي الحقيقة، أعطى سحب المراقبين إشارة مزدوجة: للسلطة كي تحاول الحسم عسكريّاً، قائلة أنّه لا تفاوض مع تواجد عناصر مسلّحة تقتل؛ وللمعارضة التي اختارت ضمناً الحلّ العسكريّ، والتي تقول أيضاً لا تفاوض قبل تنحّي الأسد.
النظام قد سقط أصلاً، والالتباس القاتل يتعلّق بطريقة الرحيل: أهي طريقة ليبيّة أم يمنيّة أم شيء آخر.
بعض المعارضة اعتمد أصلاً الحلّ الليبي، بل يتحدّث جهاراً على وسائل الإعلام عن ضرورة استئصال كلّ من يدعم النظام، ويبحث من خلال مجلس الأمن عن دعمٍ لحلّه الليبي، مع العلم أنّ عناصر هذا الخيار الليبي هي إلغاء تنوّع المعارضة وإعطاء شرعيّة سياديّة دوليّاً لمجلس انتقالي، وتشكيل مقاومة مسلّحة تهزم عسكريّاً الجيش القائم بدعمٍ خارجيّ. ويتّفق كثيرون، خاصّة مع ما يحدث اليوم في ليبيا، أنّ هذا يقود إلى حربٍ أهليّة.
من ناحية أخرى، تبدو المبادرة الروسيّة والصيغة الأخيرة من المبادرة العربيّة وكأنّها تتبنّى حلاًّ على الطريقة اليمنيّة. إلاّ أنّ الرئيس قد رحل في اليمن، في حين ما تزال عائلته تتحكّم بمراكز أساسيّة للسلطة. وعلى كلّ حال، أتى الحلّ اليمنيّ نتيجة لتفاوض ولم يفرض منذ البداية كشرط للتفاوض.
كما يتعلّق الالتباس أيضاً بأنّه ما زال للأسد مناصرين، وما زال هناك أناس كثيرون يخافون التغيير لعدم ثقتهم ببعض عناصر المعارضة وخطبها الهوجاء، بل أحياناً غير المسؤولة. كلّ هؤلاء يخشون على مصيرهم، في حين يستحقّون أن يؤخذ وجودهم كمواطنين ومصالحهم بعين الاعتبار. وهنا لا يكفي أن يأتي وزير خارجيّة دولة غربيّة ويصرّح أنّ هناك أقليّات يجب رعاية مصالحها، بلّ إنّ فشل المعارضة في الاتفاق على تعريف الدولة المدنيّة هو الذي يحمل بذور انسداد الأفق الحالي.
إذا كان أعضاء مجلس الأمن يريدون دعم الشعب السوري، فعليهم أن يضعوا محنته قبل مصالحهم في توجيه سياسات سوريا إلى هذا النحو أو ذاك. وعليهم إيجاد آليّات لمساعدة الجامعة على إعادة المراقبين بأعداد كثيفة، وآليّات لخلق مناخ للتفاوض بين السلطة وأطياف المعارضة برعاية عربيّة ودوليّة، وأن تجلس الدول الكبرى والإقليميّة المعنيّة بين بعضها كي تتّفق على ما هو معقول وممكن، لا أن تتصارع فيما بينها في المحافل، وربّما على أرضنا وعبر معارضاتنا.
خطى الشعب السوري بتضحياته خطوات كبيرة نحو إنهاء سلطة الأسد القائمة. وأنا واثق أنّه لا يمكن لعائلة الأسد أن تحكم سلميّاً البلد بعد الآن. لذا أنا لا أخاف من نتيجة قول الشعب السوري كلمته يوم يتوقّف العنف، لأنّ وقف العنف هو بالضبط ما سيسمح لهذا الشعب بإبراز وحدته وقوّته.
February 2nd, 2012, 2:50 pm
Ghufran said:
Tara,
Being half Sunni,half Palestinian,an expat with a PhD makes my testimony somewhat biased. In my opinion,most alawis and Christians are either supportive of the regime or not ready to support the SNC,however,a growing number of alawis are becoming comfortable with the NCB and Manna’ and many are also willing to see an end to alassad rule but not an end to the regime as a whole. The SNC failed to win the fence sitters because they want a radical regime change and they support violence against the army,remember that the party of fence sitters is not limited to minorities.
Assad needs to go but the minorities are not willing to accept a second class status just because two thirds of Syria is Sunnis,seculars,many businessmen and a long list of doubters share the same sentiment,people who still believe that the SNC and the FSA represent 80% of syrians are only kidding themselves.
February 2nd, 2012, 3:02 pm
Tara said:
Ghufran
Don’t you think that the minorities support Manaa et al because he and the group he represents is not authentic?
February 2nd, 2012, 3:12 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Ghufran
Before you said you are half Alawi,and half Palastinian.now you are saying you are half Sunni and half Palastinian, can you please make up your mind.
Second your opinion is worthless,as your statistics are wrong
February 2nd, 2012, 3:20 pm
Syrialover said:
77. Ghufran
“The regime made it possible for impoverished syrians,especially alawites,to have a job and a salary by joining the army”
But spending Syria’s scarce resources on military forces instead of putting it into education, infrastructure and development of its bureaucracy and legal system is WHY so many Syrians are poor and without hope, corruption rages and the economy is stunted and distorted.
There are studies out there clearly correlating the size of a country’s army and defence spending per capita with crushing political and economic underdevelopment.
And who is the main enemy that the Assads always need such a military for? As we now see: the Syrian people.
(I stand by #26 for fresh insights instead of emotion-driven opinion. Incidentally, Ghufran, I have cut, pasted and circulated a few of your comments too).
February 2nd, 2012, 3:35 pm
irritated said:
71. Juergen
You’re right. German is such a superior language, what’s the point of teaching arabic to Arab children?
February 2nd, 2012, 3:39 pm
irritated said:
Gufran
No doubt about that, the only authentic group is the SNC, this is why it has been recognized by Libya only and got vague promises by Saudi Arabia. Qatar their sugar daddy has yet to offer them an office in Doha with the Talibans and Hamas.
These Syrian minorities are really becoming more annoying! Without them all would be so simple!
It sounds like the Turkish narrative in 1915 and closer to us, the Serbian narrative and the German narrative in 1939.
February 2nd, 2012, 3:46 pm
Juergen said:
This was not the question, the question was why is that important
February 2nd, 2012, 3:56 pm
Tara said:
Irritated
May I call that thoughts hallucinations? I mean as opposed to auditory or visual hallucinations. One sees things that do not exist when having visual hallucinations and hears voices that only exist in his/ her brain with auditory hallucinations.
I haven’t heard the term thought hallucinations before but I guess we can coin the term on SC.
Thoughts hallucination is what people with irrational phobias have.
February 2nd, 2012, 3:56 pm
Halabi said:
I love how Haytham Manaa is now a menhebak favorite even though he was all but called a killer on a special report on Syrian TV.
http://youtu.be/kSHdkYfTmy8
He supports the Arab League plan and has called on Assad to resign. Or in menhebak speak, he wants to destroy Syria and trap women in burkas.
On another note, I condemn the characterization of almurshidiyeen as a heretical cult of the Alawite faith. It doesn’t matter what the Alawites think, if the murshidiyeen believe they are Alawite then it is so. It’s discrimination to dismiss people based on their religion and is a blatant affront to their rights as minorities.
The only way to overcome this sectarian imbalance is to give the murshidiyeen 40 to 50 years to rule the country.
February 2nd, 2012, 3:57 pm
irritated said:
Jad
‘Mein Kampf’ is forbidden in Germany.
I wonder why. Germans claim that Germany is a democracy with full respect for minorities.
In any case it is available everywhere else and in Turkey, it’s became a best seller in 2005.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mein_Kampf
“In Turkey, it was widely available and growing in popularity, even to the point where it became a bestseller, selling up to 100,000 copies in just two months in 2005. Analysts and commentators believe the popularity of the book to be related to a rise in nationalism, anti-US and antisemitic sentiment “because of what is happening in the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian problem and the war in Iraq”.[23] Dogu Ergil, a political scientist at Ankara University, said both left-wingers, the far-right and Islamists, had found common ground—”not on a common agenda for the future, but on their anxieties, fears and hate”.[24]”
February 2nd, 2012, 4:04 pm
irritated said:
87. Tara
Minorities have “sunnis” phobias, I have “thought” hallucinations.
Have you ever wondered what you have?
February 2nd, 2012, 4:15 pm
Ghufran said:
Majedkhaldoun,
My mom is a Palestinian and she is Sunni , my dad is an alawi, I hope this helps you “get it”.
I have little to say about your posts, I subscribe to higher standards,you are free to speak and we are free to like or dislike what you say, the same is true for me.
February 2nd, 2012, 4:17 pm
irritated said:
Juergen
“This was not the question, the question was why is that important”
I won’t make you a drawing, you won’t understand it anyway.
Just a hint: A language carries a history and a culture.
February 2nd, 2012, 4:18 pm
Tara said:
Irritated
I know what I have..,,
It is called “reality check”…sadly!
February 2nd, 2012, 4:23 pm
zoo said:
The Egyptian now in favor of crackdown on street protesters?
Ultra Violence
How Egypt’s soccer mobs are threatening the revolution.
BY JAMES M. DORSEY | FEBRUARY 1, 2012
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/02/01/ultra_violence?page=0,1
….
The conspiracy theorists may be on to something: The riots in Port Said will likely strengthen the hand of those in the ruling military council who want to crack down hard on the ultras, who have formed the backbone of street protests that have not quieted down even though Egypt has seated an elected parliament and will soon choose a new president. And this time, it seems, the Egyptian people will be with them.
February 2nd, 2012, 4:26 pm
Tara said:
Bronco
Btw, I liked pairing the word “visceral” with the feeling of intense emotion. Sounded like fine writing to me but was mad enough to enjoy it last night.
February 2nd, 2012, 4:31 pm
ann said:
Judith Miller: Muslim Brotherhood’s Rise Threatens Christians, Other Minorities in Egypt – 02 Feb 2012
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Miller-Muslim-Brotherhood-Egypt/2012/02/02/id/428345
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Judith Miller tells Newsmax that the radical Muslim Brotherhood inevitably will come to power in Egypt and other Arab states — resulting in a “very grim” future for Christians and other minorities.
The national security expert also warns that Egypt could face a total economic meltdown and says the option of a military strike on Iran is being weighed against the ultimate goal of a regime change in the Islamic republic.
Miller, who left The New York Times Washington bureau in 2005, now is an adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a Newsmax contributor.
She recently wrote in Newsmax about a culture of corruption and repression against reformers in Egypt. In an exclusive interview with Newsmax.TV, she was asked why other media outlets are not covering that situation more.
“I think there is a reluctance to turn our backs on the revolutions that took place throughout the Arab world during the Arab spring uprisings,” she says.
“There is a reluctance to acknowledge what is happening, which is that these revolutionary movements that were spearheaded largely by secular, liberal young people have been taken over by Islamist forces, and there is an unwillingness to come to grips with the direction in which these revolutionary movements are moving.
“The United States now faces a region that is going to be increasingly Islamic, increasingly intolerant to minorities, particularly Christians, and to alternative secular points of view.”
As to how much of an influence the Muslim Brotherhood is having on this intolerance, Miller says: “It’s a large factor.
“I think overall the prospects for Christians and other minorities are looking very grim if they come to power. And they seem poised inevitably to come to power, at least in Egypt but also other Sunni Arab states that have had these uprisings.”
Miller discusses the possibility of an economic meltdown in Egypt.
“That is where you face the most chaotic and potentially dangerous situation,” she says.
“If the Egyptian economy fails, and it’s rapidly on route to failing — they are almost out of hard currency — you could actually have riots and chaos in the streets. You could have a turning by the Muslims on their Christian brethren in the hunt for scapegoats. And that is what the Christian community fears the most.”
Miller was asked whether politics and President Barack Obama’s re-election concerns are influencing his policies regarding the ongoing turmoil in Syria.
“I think the Obama administration is very concerned about the spillover effect of chaos in the region on their election prospects,” she responds.
“What they’re particularly concerned about is a rise in the price of oil. That would dampen the burgeoning economic growth here, which could be completely offset should we see a sharp rise in the price of oil.
“Therefore, the administration is doing what it can to put a damper on things. It has been unwilling to do more than it has done about the chaos and the killing by the government in Syria because it is so concerned about the alternative, which is the collapse of Assad regime in Syria, the coming to power of militant jihadists, what their attitude might be toward the United States, what Iran might do in response to that.
“But surely any more instability in the Middle East will translate into higher oil prices for America, so of course they are concerned about that possibility.”
Miller says Russia is not cooperating with the United States and its allies regarding strong sanctions against Iran, partly because of Russia’s weapons sales to Iran. “But there’s no doubt that a covert war is being waged against the Iranian regime that involves the killing of scientists, the blowing up of institutions, the sabotaging of enrichment capability through computer viruses,” she adds.
February 2nd, 2012, 4:32 pm
ann said:
*** WHAT’S BAN (I LOVE ISRAEL) KI MOON UP TO NOW? ***
Ban Sets Syria Task Force Under Former Saleh Minister: UN Democracy Now?
http://www.innercitypress.com/syria1bandemoc020212.html
UNITED NATIONS, February 2 — As the UN Security Council battles on Syria whether to “fully support” or merely “take into consideration” the Arab League plan, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is setting up a UN system Task Force on Syria, meeting today, Inner City Press has learned.
But, of concern to democracy advocates, Ban has selected as the chair of his Syria task force a person who served as a minister and ambassador for Ali Saleh, Yemen’s dictator: Amat Al Alim Alsoswa.
What is Ban saying, these whistleblowing critics asked Inner City Press, by put in charge of the UN’s response to Syria a person who served another dictatorship and, they say, has even now been lobbying for the UN to not be involved in or monitor the promised democratization in Yemen?
Serving as Amat Al Alim Alsoswa’s deputy, the sources say, will be Oscar Fernandez Tarranco, now with the UN Department of Political Affairs but previously working with Amat Al Alim Alsoswa at the UN Development Program.
On the same day, Yemenis and others scheduled a protest against Saleh’s immunity in front of the Ritz Carlton
February 2nd, 2012, 4:41 pm
zoo said:
New resolution: No more request for Bashar to step down, no more calls for a national unity government… Will the Russia accept the ambiguity of the ‘full support of the Arab league plan’?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/02/02/syria-hama-anniversary.html
UN diplomats consider revised Syria draft resolution
Latest version still ‘fully supports’ Arab League peace plan
The Associated Press
Feb 2, 2012 1:12 PM ET
UN Security Council ambassadors are considering a revised resolution aimed at stopping the bloodshed in Syria that removes an explicit reference to President Bashar al-Assad stepping aside.
The latest draft, obtained by The Associated Press, still “fully supports” the Arab League’s Jan. 22 decision to “facilitate a political transition leading to a democratic, plural political system.”
The league’s peace plan calls for Assad to delegate his authority to his deputy.
But in an apparent effort to overcome Russian objections, the new version of the UN resolution no longer includes the explicit reference to Assad delegating his powers. It also removes the explicit call for a new national unity government and for transparent, free elections — also important parts of the Arab peace plan.
The revised draft also deletes a paragraph calling on UN member states to take steps to prevent the flow of arms into Syria. Russia is a major arms supplier to Syria, a key regional ally since Soviet times.
Council ambassadors were to discuss the latest version behind closed doors Thursday afternoon, and issued no statements about the new draft before the gathering.
Courting Russian support
It was unclear if the change would be enough to get Russian support for the resolution.
….
February 2nd, 2012, 4:47 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Ghufran
What you wrote now is different from what you said in a previous comment
Why don’t you admit it was a mistake, Why dont you
(Edited for personal attack. This is a warning.)
February 2nd, 2012, 4:47 pm
jad said:
Irritated,
What ‘really’ Tara has is
(Edited for personal attack. This is a warning that you will be banned for one week if you persist. Please consult the Syria Comment Rules)
——————————————
How could those who left Syria call on those inside to embrace death?
Syrians who chose to escape danger have no right to dictate action to the people they left behind
Never has Damascus been so gloomy. A quiet sadness hovers over the streets and alleys. The voices of people are strangulated, broken and oppressed. The sound of a guilty conscience rings in their remorseful voices.
The sound of death drowns out all other noise, creating a miserable, hushed rhythm. The faces are sombre. Even fights over gas cylinders are noiseless, with people clashing with their hands and eyes. They scramble to get hold of a blue gas cylinder but remain silent as they battle for it.
Only a few cars drive through Omawiyeen Square, which seems deserted like never before. A large screen set up in the square to broadcast programmes from the official Syrian satellite channel also seems forsaken, incongruous with the context of time and place, like an ancient relic placed in a museum for modern art.
Passersby no longer pay attention to the screen, perhaps altogether oblivious to its existence. They walk past it without glancing at it. The lights of the houses and restaurants on Kassioun Mountain flicker faintly behind a curtain of darkness.
I feel a lump in my throat as the residents of the city leave and head to Paris, Dubai, Istanbul, Amman or Beirut. Their departure saddens me. Does any city other than Damascus deserve to have them?
Some have given up too early, deserting the city only a few months into the revolution. But they didn’t just pack and leave. They write and talk as though they were still in the city. The people of Damascus die, while expats write about their death from afar. Those in Damascus get arrested, only to have their detention narrated by those escapees in the comfort of their retreats, where the air smells sweet, the people feel relaxed, and the streets are clean and bustling with life.
They call on the people to pour to the streets, to chant, rebel and strike, without feeling the slightest twinge of guilt, or considering how incredibly selfish their calls are.
How could those outside Syria call on the people inside to hit the streets, to embrace death, detention, abduction and revenge?
Some of them appear on satellite channels, well-groomed, profusely perfumed and hair neatly combed to theorise about politics, while others line up in the bitter cold to chant the fall of the regime at the risk of receiving a death shot at any minute.
Some of those who fled the danger will call for the imposition of a no-fly zone over Syria, others for foreign intervention or a hunger strike. But who gave them the right to demand such grave measures, having willingly left the country?
They have the right to escape danger for a while, but having done so, they should no longer ask the brave people who remained to seek death.
Only those angels who refused to abandon the country and chose to stay have the right to decide their destiny. Those who have fled the danger issue arrogant calls for those inside to protest and revolt, in exchange for promises to tell their brave stories and to keep their memory.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/31/syria-those-who-left?fb=optOut
February 2nd, 2012, 4:50 pm
Juergen said:
Irritated
If you would know him and his work, its all about Syria, about the history the beauty of the language. Anyway its a Sysiphos work to understand and communicate with you.
February 2nd, 2012, 4:54 pm
zoo said:
Ann
“Miller, who “was kicked out” of The New York Times Washington bureau in 2005″
The infamous Judith Miller is the NYT responsible for all the lies about Iraq nuclear program.
Miller was later involved in disclosing Valerie Plame’s identity as CIA personnel. She spent three months in jail for claiming reporter’s privilege and refusing to reveal her sources in the CIA leak.
She is a very dubious character
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Miller_%28journalist%29
All she writes should be subjected to scrutinity as she is a staunch Israel supporter and is a Moslem and Arab hater
February 2nd, 2012, 4:59 pm
Juergen said:
Irritated
Mein Kampf is forbidden because the heritage of Adolf Hitler came to the state of Bavaria ( his residency was there) They have the copyright and will not accept the publication. The books copyright though will end by 2014, lets see if a bill will be written to protect us further from this book of hate. Anyhow i am daccord that no book should be on an index or banned, but this book was not read when it should have been read ( 1925) and layouted the holocaust and all other sick racist views of the Nazis. By the way forbidden are all signs of the Nazi movement also the swastika, noone can wear it, you see what too much nationalism will do to one country?
February 2nd, 2012, 5:00 pm
irritated said:
Juergen
I know “The Dark Side Of Love” and I and many of my native english friends found it very difficult to read in its english translation. I think it’s about a mythical Syria that appeals more to westerners than to contemporary Arabs.
That may explain why I don’t think any of his works in German has been translated to Arabic. He is hardly known in the Arab world.
By the way, in english it is Sysiphus
February 2nd, 2012, 5:13 pm
irritated said:
105. Juergen
Do you mean that young germans are not nationalistic?
Just your remark about the lack of importance for an Arab kid living in germany to learn arabic is a clear sign of
(Edited for personal attack. This line of discussion is closed. Irritated, this is a warning. If you persist, you will be banned for one week)
February 2nd, 2012, 5:24 pm
Ghufran said:
Tara
What is not authentic about Manna’ ?
February 2nd, 2012, 5:30 pm
Ghufran said:
Russia argues that it is not up to the UN to tell a sitting president that he must resign,I think he must exit Syrian politics but not under Qatar or NATO pressure,however,the UN has,and should, taken punitive measures against brutal governments in the past.
The problem with the UN and western government in general in a nutshell is Israel and applying different standards to different countries based on how friendly their regimes are to western policies.
When a prostitute,like the Goat Sheikhs,asks a person to be virtuous,the call is appreciated but it loses its meaning coming from a prostitute.
February 2nd, 2012, 5:36 pm
bronco said:
102. Jad
I was very moved by this text. It is so sad and true in its message to the exiled syrians who are rejoicing for the sanctions and the humiliation imposed on the Syrians and calling for more pain.
I only hope that Damascus recovers soon its atmosphere of tolerance and sweetness that everyone who knows it remembers.
February 2nd, 2012, 5:37 pm
jad said:
Now Hammoudeh alsagheer ibn alqatariyeh objects and asking for a VETO…kid you not!
حمد”القطري “: لن نقبل بأي قرار باهت بشأن سوريا ..!
قال حمد بن جاسم “القطري ” رئيس اللجنة العربية المعنية بالآزمة في سوريا إن عدة لقاءات تمت أمس واليوم وهناك تقدم حدث ولكن هناك خطوطاً
لايمكن لجامعة الدول العربية أن تقبل بالتنازل عنها، مشيراً بالتحديد الى القرار الذي صدر عن الجامعة يوم 22 يناير والذي يتحدث عن خطه عربية واضحة للخروج من الازمة.
وأضاف في تصريح صحفي اليوم أن الموضوع الآن “يتمحور حول هذه النقطة أي أن نتنازل عن هذا”. وقال “قلنا لهم من الافضل على المعترض أن يعمل فيتو على هذا، ولن نقبل أن يكون هناك قرار باهت، ونحن أكدنا ألا يكون هناك لبس لأن القرار لا يشمل أي تدخل عسكري ولا يشمل موضوع السلطة هذا يخص الشعب السوري هو يقرر في مناقشته كيف يرى موضوع السلطة”.
وشدد حمد ب على أنه لن يتم القبول بأقل من ذلك. وقدم النصح لكل الدول بأن تاخذ هذا بعين الاعتبار وقال “إن هذا هو الحد الادنى إذا كان فيتو فليكن فيتو وتتحمل كل الدول مسؤليتها عما يجري بهذا الشأن”.
وحول المسودة الحالية للقرار قال “الآن معقولة ولكن هذا هو الحد الادنى الذي تقبل به الجامعة العربية ونحن خرجنا بالافكار النهائية لها، الطرف الثاني يعلم أن تقدماً كبيراً حصل ولانريد كل يوم يأتي يذوب الفكرة وبعدين يقول فيتو هذا ماقلناه للأصدقاء بوضوح والهدف الوصول الى نتيجة يرضاها الشعب السوري وتضع حداً للعنف في سوريا”.
وكالات
February 2nd, 2012, 5:44 pm
ann said:
110. Ghufran said:
The problem with the UN and western government in general in a nutshell is Israel and applying different standards to different countries based on how friendly their regimes are to western policies.
When a prostitute,like the Goat Sheikhs,asks a person to be virtuous,the call is appreciated but it loses its meaning coming from a prostitute.
.
.
Brave words. Thank you.
.
February 2nd, 2012, 5:47 pm
jad said:
Dear Bronco
I fully agree, it’s a sad yet true reality, those who are asking people to go and dies have nothing to loose, they want to be heroes on the expense of Syrians’ blood.
Unfortunately, I don’t think that Syria will get back to normal any time soon.
February 2nd, 2012, 5:51 pm
irritated said:
#113 Jad
If the new resolution is voted, it would be slap on HBJ’s face. No wonder he is furious.
Russian would have won but will probably abstain to avoid rubbing it in.
February 2nd, 2012, 5:53 pm
ann said:
*** TALK ABOUT DESPERATE 😀 ***
U.S., allies drop Syria sanctions demand, seek deal with Russia at U.N.
February 2nd, 2012, 5:54 pm
Humanist said:
Ghufran,
So you call murshidis “a cult”, but you are angry when sunnis consider alawites the same? Isn’t that a bit hypocritical of you?
Also your religious background and your political views seem to be exactly the same as Dr. AbuGhassan – is it a coincidence?
Just wonder…
(NB. If anyone suspects that an SC account is a front for another account, direct your concerns the moderators. Please do not badger other commenters on their IDs.
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February 2nd, 2012, 5:57 pm
Ghufran said:
Jad
The post# 102 is profound and I personally consider it the best read I had this week.
I have seen and heard the expats mentioned in the post,my response to their arrogance and ignorance is: remember that your kids are watching what you do and what you say and a higher authority will ask you what you did with your time and your money.
The same criticism is true for expats who discount every anti regime Syrian as a thug or an MB,many of those regime supporters came from privileged families who received preferential treatment from the regime but they think that other Syrians are not worthy of freedom and dignity,frankly speaking,I am sick of much of our expat community.
February 2nd, 2012, 5:58 pm
Humanist said:
Ann,
Do you have a job or studies?
Or is this your “job” perhaps….?
February 2nd, 2012, 6:03 pm
Humanist said:
Ann,
Can’t be much time left over spamming all day long?
Am I correct?
February 2nd, 2012, 6:08 pm
Ghufran said:
Humanist
I did not call the murshidyeen a cult,I was honest when I described how alawites see them,I also added that they should be free to practice their religion,the burden of proof is not on people like me but on those who classify people as believers and non believers and treat them as such.
Even in the US,many Christians consider Mormons a cult but they let them practice their religion freely and one of them,Romney,may become president,there is no clause in US constitution that mention the president’s religion,that is why Obama got elected despite being the son of an African man named Hussein,and it will not be long when a Jewish,or even a Muslim,receives this honor or at least the VP spot,Liberman got very close.
(I am not going to involve abughassan in this discussion)
ام كلثوم تغني قصة الأمس في شام أف ام الان
February 2nd, 2012, 6:16 pm
Ghufran said:
Jad,
I hate to see copying our famous surgeon’s English mistakes
(it is lose not loose), jus sayin’
February 2nd, 2012, 6:20 pm
irritated said:
Jad
Two characters have disappear from the serial: Adnan Bakkour and Heckle Ford. What happened to them, will they come back in another episode?
February 2nd, 2012, 6:21 pm
jad said:
Ghufran
“many of those regime supporters came from privileged families who received preferential treatment from the regime”
My experience is so different that yours, almost every person I know who his parents/him were either Baathist or in a political position or in a government position and I very well know of their corruption and where and how did they get all the money from and moved to the west are actually vocal anti-regime today, their sudden ‘moral’ wake up is more disturbing than comforting and it creeps me out to realize hat the same people who are responsible for almost every ill Syria has are the same ones who want to save us.
Thanks for the correction 🙂
February 2nd, 2012, 6:25 pm
zoo said:
That’s what I call confusion: Al Araby says that the Arab League peace plan does not ask that the president step down, but only delegate powers to the vice-president
U.S., allies drop Syria sanctions demand, seek deal with Russia at U.N.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-allies-drop-syria-sanctions-demand-seek-deal-with-russia-at-un/2012/02/02/gIQAxuqlkQ_story.html
…
The Arab League secretary general, Nabil Elaraby, and the chairman of the league’s council of ministers, Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jasim al-Thani, have appealed to the Security Council to lend its weight to a plan calling for the beginning of talks between the Syrian government and opposition, leading to the establishment of a unity government within two months. Under the plan, Assad would be required to grant one of his deputies authority to cooperate with the united government, which would be led by an individual selected by rival parties.
Elaraby sought to reassure Russia that the resolution is not intended to justify military action, to sanction Syria or to force Assad to leave power.
The Russians “don’t want the Arab peace plan, which says the president delegates power to the vice president,” he said in an interview with CNN. “We didn’t ask that the president should step down, but only to delegate powers to the vice president.”
February 2nd, 2012, 6:32 pm
Ghufran said:
Jad,
I think it is a mix,both groups are wrong,the second group is what I called incidental revolutionists,I have more respect for those who are wrong for the right reason,does this make sense?
BTW,this phenomenon is seen today in all of countries that witnessed a regime change.
Most revolutions are started by motivated brave young people who end up on the sideline while opportunistic politicians capture the fruits of a regime change,that is what happened in Iran and is happening in front of our eyes now.
February 2nd, 2012, 6:33 pm
bronco said:
125. jad
These are called opportunists and I am sure the opposition is full of them. They will bring with them the same corruption in any new system where they will manage to find a place.
February 2nd, 2012, 6:37 pm
zoo said:
West Rapidly Backpedals on Syria Resolution, Seeks Russia Deal
US Looking for Possible Exile Locales for Assad
by Jason Ditz, February 02, 2012
http://news.antiwar.com/2012/02/02/west-rapidly-backpedals-on-syria-resolution-seeks-russia-deal/
After two days of long-winded speeches, NATO and the Arab League finally appear to have noticed that Russia isn’t going to capitulate on the Syria resolution at the UN, and now say they are dropping all calls for sanctions or Bashar Assad’s ouster and are looking for negotiations.
Indeed, Arab League leader Nabil ElAraby is backpedaling so quickly that he’s revising history, insisting now that the Arab League’s “Yemen solution” for Assad to step down in favor of his Vice President never really meant for Assad to step down but instead of delegate certain powers.
A new compromise resolution is reportedly in the works, and it will finally answer long-standing Russian demands for a resolution “without foreign military intervention” and expressly including a clause warning nations not to “resort to the use of force or the threat of force.”
But while the “Yemen solution” appears dead so far as Syria’s government is concerned, and the UN Security Council resolution is not going to force the issue, US and European governments are hard at work looking for a potential exile locale for Assad, should he eventually decide to step down. His choices appear limited – reportedly no European nation will take him, and the Saudis, the default exile hosts for most Arab dictators, do not particularly like Assad either. The United Arab Emirates is reportedly “open” to the idea, but this seems far from a solid deal, presenting one more obstacle to a negotiated solution.
February 2nd, 2012, 6:41 pm
jad said:
رنا قباني آل ثاني.. صباحك سكر.. بشعاع الليزر
by بقلم: نارام سرجون
{…}
“ربما لاتعرف السيدة الدكتورة قباني مشهدا يوم أخذ جثمان “شاعر الدنيا وعاشق دمشق” أن الاسلاميين في المسجد المركزي بلندن قد منعوا الجثمان من دخول الجامع للصلاة عليه لأنهم صنفوه على أنه كافر ولما قيل لهم: هلا شققتم على قلبه ؟؟ .. قالوا: “لو رأيناه حيا أمامنا لشققنا قلبه وشققنا كتبه الآثمة” .. وهذه رواية شاهد عيان حضر الصلاة وصلى على الجثمان خارج الجامع بعد أن عجز المصلون عن اقناع الاسلاميين بالسماح بالصلاة عليه داخل الجامع ..وشاهد عياني ليس كشاهد عيان الجزيرة بالتأكيد يارنا .. وما حصل أن طائرة رئاسية سورية بعث بها الرئيس حافظ الأسد نقلت الجثمان الى دمشق لاتمام مراسيم الصلاة والدفن في المدينة التي علمت نزار أبجدية الياسمين كما أوصى هو بنفسه ..واليوم رنا تدافع عن ثورة الاسلاميين الذين منعوا نزار من أن يسمع صوت الأذان قبل ان يوارى الثرى ..
السيدة رنا هي من يريد بيع اسم نزار قباني وتحتكر قصائده في ديكتاتورية رديئة هي ديكتاتورية الثقافة واستبداد النخب المليئة بالصلف الأجوف والثقافة المفخخة .. ولو كانت لها ذاكرة لتذكرت أن نزار نفسه عندما توفي ابن الرئيس السوري “باسل الأسد” بعث رسالة بنفسه الى الرئيس قال له فيها بالحرف: “ان باسل قد رحل لأن السماء بحاجة الى فارس”… ورأيت هذه العبارة بنفسي وقد رفعتها ساحة الأمويين باللون الأسود لشهور طويلة ولم يعترض نزار قباني على استخدام كلماته في تأبين ابن الرئيس (الذي تصفينه بالديكتاتوري) ..وكان هو الأجدر بالصمت وعدم مجاملة الرئيس حسب اعتقادك يارنا ..
من المعيب والمشين أن نكتشف أن من يتلطى خلف اسم عملاق كعائلة قباني أجوف فكريا وضحل الى حد مخيف ..فالسيدة رنا قباني قيل لي انها اعترضت يوما على أن الممثل السوري تيم حسن قد قام بدور نزار قباني في مسلسله الشهير عن حياة الشاعر الكبير .. ولم أصدق عيني عندما قرأت تبريرها وسبب اعتراضها .. ولن تصدقوا أنتم أيضا ..ويومها تمنيت أن تغلق أبواب السماء كيلا تصل الأخبار الى نزار في عليائه لأنه سيختار الانتحار في النار على البقاء خالدا في الجنة كيلا يسمع صوت هذا القيء .. فالسيدة دام ظلها قالت انها لاتقبل لأن يقوم شخص من الساحل بتمثيل دور شخصية من الشام .. وسألت رنا القراء سؤالا لوذعيا مفاده: هل يقبل ابن الساحل ان يمثل دوره ابن الميدان؟؟ وبحسب منطق السيدة الفاضلة فان عمر الشريف آثم وأنطوني كوين أخطأ في تمثله لعمر المختار وكل فناني الدنيا يجب ان يحترموا هذه القاعدة والاكتشاف القباني ..حتى العرعور لم يصل به الاجتهاد الى ذلك ..وقد أرعدت السماء يومها من ذلك الكلام ..لكنه لم يكن رعد السماء يا رنا بل كان صوت نزار في السماء غاضبا ..قاصفا .. يرتجف غضبا من هذه الضحالة التي لم تقرأ كيف كتب نزار عن جرح الحسين وعباءته وعن جرح المسيح وصليبه ..
السيدة الفاضلة رنا قباني لم تجرحها مقالات الوديع شيمون بيريز(صاحب ملحمة قانا) في صحيفة الشرق الأوسط التي كان يزين بها مقالاته ويرصعها دائما بأقوال وأشعار نزار قباني ..بل ان بيريز نفسه كتب عام 2000 يحرض على صدام حسين (الذي وصفه بيريز بأنه رجل مسلح يقف على مفارق طرقات الشرق الأوسط يطلق النار في كل اتجاه من مسدساته) .. وختم مقالته بالقول: ولاأملك الا ان أذكر بكلمات جميلة للشاعر السوري الكبير نزار قباني .. سحقتنا ديكتاتورية الكلمات..
السيد شيمون بيريز لم يحرك مشاعر رنا قباني باستخدامه لشعر نزار كالماء القراح كي يغسل به الدم الذي على يديه وعلى سكاكينه وأسنانه وثيابه وحذائه .. الحبر من كلمات نزار في قلم شيمون بيريز لم يوقظ أميرتنا النائمة من اغفاءتها .. ولم تستيقظ رنا بعد تلك القبلة البيريزية لكن ماأوقظها هو قبلة بشار الجعفري !! .. وصار شيمون بيريز نسيبنا وحبيبنا ووصينا .. وصرنا نقيم له الولائم من ذبائح قصائد نزار … وربما يقول لنا شيمون بيريز يوما من على صحيفة عبد الباري عطوان أن أصوله دمشقية (وربما بشهادة رنا قباني) وأنه من حي مئذنة الشحم .. وتربى مع نزار قباني في نفس البيت حيث الورود وشجرة النارنج .. وأكل من نفس عروسة الزعتر التي أكل منها نزار .. وكان يطمر كنوزه الطفولية مع نزار في زورايب الحارة الدمشقية التي رسم على جدرانها صورا وكسر على أدراجها لعبا ..وهو أحق بالحرية وبالأحزان على الوطن السوري من بشار الجعفري … ومن بشار الأسد … ومنا كلنا”
{…}
” قد لا أكـون مُهذباً مثلَ الذين عرفتهـم
..
ومُعلباً مِثلَ الذين عَرفتهم .. ومشمعاً .. وملمعاً مثلَ الذين عرفتهم
..
لكنني أعطي دمي من أجلَ لحظة كبريــاء
أنا لاأستطيع مصادرة نزار قباني يا رنا .. فهو ثروة انسانية، بل ان استعمال بيريز لكلماته دليل على أن نزار قد دك حصون الغرور الاسرائيلي حتى اعترف به مبدعا خلاقا يعتد بكلماته .. ووصلت كلمات نزار قبل وصول صواريخ الكاتيوشا الى قلب اسرائيل ووصلت كلماته الى الكنيست والى فم وقلب مجرم كبيريز .. ولولا كلمات نزار وأمثاله التي ألهبت مشاعرنا على الدوام لما قاتلنا اسرائيل هذا القتال العظيم في 2006 .. كلماته كانت مثل شعاع الليزر الذي يوجه الصواريخ ..و ليزر نزار كان دوما موجها الى فلسطين ..فقط ..ولم نفعل سوى أننا لحقنا شعاع الليزر كما لحقته كاتيوشا حسن نصرالله .. وستلحق بليزر نزار بقية الصواريخ السورية .. فكيف لا تتبع صواريخ دمشق كلمات ابنها نزار الليزرية .. يا رنا ..
ولأنني لاأستطيع مصادرة أية قطعة من هذه التركة الانسانية العظيمة والعبقرية السورية، كما لايستطيع انكليزي مصادرة (هاملت) ومسرحيات وشعر ويليام شكسبير .. وكما لايستطيع فرنسي محاصرة (مأساة) فيكتور هوغو أو أعمال فولتير وجان جاك روسو .. فانني لاأجرؤ على منع البوذيين والوثنيين وأكلة لحوم البشر الأفارقة من أن يحبوا اشعار نزار قباني ..كما يحبه كل من قرأه على وجه الأرض ..
وكما لاأستطيع منع نساء العالم من عشقه والاحتفاظ بدواوينه تحت وسائدهن – حتى لو أفتى القرضاوي والازهر والنجف الأشرف بتحريم شعره – فانني لاأستطيع الادعاء وتوقع ماسيقول نزار لابنة أخيه رنا بعد اعتدائها عليه وعلينا .. وبعد فرمانها العثماني بسجن الكلمات .. وبعد بيعها للدواوين لأبي لهب ولأبي جهل ولأبي نفط ولأبي غاز ..ولبرهان غليون .. وللعرعور ..وللقصابين الثورجيين .. ولثورجية الناتو الهمج .. ولبرنار هنري ليفي .. وتحويل شعره الى أكياس موز تعلبها لنا قطر..
ومع هذا فسأقول لرنا قباني:
سنرسل لك ديوان نزار قباني كي تقرأيه .. ولكي تتعرفي عليه .. فيبدو أن نصف سكان الأرض من قبائل الزولو الافريقية الى الاسكيمو في القطب الشمالي يعرفون نزار قباني وأنت لاتعرفين هذا الرجل .. ونتمنى أن تقرأي اشعاره وخاصة قصيدة الثقافة المفخخة ..ولانك لم تقرأي لنزار فهاهي ذي القصيدة:
كل شيءٍ في حياتنا
صار مفخخاً..
السيارات.. والرسائل.. والطرود البريدية
حتى الثقافة العربية
صارت مفخخة…
وأخيرا وقبل عيد الحب القادم بعد أيام، هذه قصيدة من ديوان نزار خاصة لك بعنوان: ”
صباحك سكر” .. نقدمها لك مع شعاع الليزر .. يارنا بنت مسند .. أو بنت خليفة آل ثاني ..لافرق .. كلكم من نفس السوية ..
مع تحيات شعب نزار قباني”
February 2nd, 2012, 7:09 pm
jad said:
Qatar should know its real position in the world, the Russian answer to Hammoudeh alsagheer ibn alqatariyeh threatening was very quick:
دبلوماسي بمجلس الأمن : المبعوث الروسي أبلغ المجلس أنه سيستخدم الفيتو ضد مشروع القرار بشأن سوريا إذا عرض للتصويت يوم الجمعة. (رويترز)
February 2nd, 2012, 7:13 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
http://www.aawsat.com//details.asp?section=4&article=661879&issueno=12120
It looks that AlDabi will have Assad as his neighbour
February 2nd, 2012, 7:30 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Saddam hid in a hole in the ground, Gaddafi hid in a drainage tube, where Bashar will hide, in Chimney? or in Qlait river?
February 2nd, 2012, 8:40 pm
Tara said:
Ghufran
Mannaa is not authentic because he agreed to dialogue with Bashar.
February 2nd, 2012, 8:45 pm
jad said:
Sectarianism IS the killer of the region:
كتب ياسر خضر: اسرار الطائفة الحاكمة في سورية ورموزها
قبل اكثر من عقد من الزمن نشر مركز أرئيل الاسرائيلي دراسة عن المذاهب في المنطقة العربية توصل من خلالها الباحثون وهم من الفرنسيين والاسرائيليين ، إلى ان الطريقة الامثل لتحرير اسرائيل من خطر المقاومة العربية في جنوب لبنان وفلسطين يتمثل في تفجير صراع طائفي بين السنة والشيعة في الشرق كله بدءا من ايران وباكستان وصولا الى سورية ولبنان والعراق والخليج، ورأت تلك الدراسة ، التي سرق منها الصهيوني شمعون بيريز فكرة كتابه ” الشرق الاوسط الجديد” أن الصراع بين العرب وإسرائيل لا يجب ان ينتهي بصلح سببه حل للمشكلة التي تمثلها المقاومة المسلحة للإحتلال بل إن الحل موجود ومجاني وهو مرتبط بالصراع السني الشيعي فما أن يشتعل هذا الصراع حتى يتحول العرب من عداء إسرائيل إلى عداء ايران اكبر دولة وربما الدولة الشيعية الوحيدة في العالم
هذا المنطق التآمري فكريا نقله شمعون بيريز إلى كتاب وإلى سياسة عملية لإسرائيل فكانت اصداء افكاره اوامر عند الملوك والرؤساء العرب فرأينا في السنوات الماضية شعارات ملكية من مثل ” الهلال الشيعي ” وخطره ورويدا رويدا تحولت فكرة إسرائيلية خيالية ومستحيلة التطبيق إلى الاستراتيجية العربية المعلنة في خدمة اميركا وإسرائيل .
قبل عقود أيضا قتل باحث فرنسي في ظروف غامضة، قال خاطفوا ميشيل سورا انه ليس مستعربا صديقا بل جاسوس وبعد مقتله بسنوات صرحت زوجته للصحافة الفرنسية مطالبة بجثته بإعتباره ضابطا في المخابرات العسكرية وكان في مهمة في لبنان لهذا من واجب وزارة الدفاع الفرنسية استعادة جثته
ماذا كان يفعل ميشال سورا في لبنان ؟
كل ابحالث الرجل كانت عن المجتمعات الطائفية في البلد ودراسته حول تاريخ الشرق كانت عن الفروقات بين السنة والشيعة . الاف الباحثين اعطوا لفكرة اسرائيلية ذخيرتها المعلوماتية فكانت حكومة سنة اميركا في تركيا بصبغتها الاسلامية الرد على الثورة الايرانية الشيعية التي دعمت مقاومة السنة في فلسطين والشيعة في لبنان.
الهدف دوما مصلحة اسرائيل في أي عمل غربي ولذا كان لا بد من إسقاط سورية من الداخل لمصلحة إسرائيل لا لمصلحة حرية وديمقراطية يستحقهما الشعب السوري بشرف وجدارة
ماذا يجري في سورية سوى التطبيق العملي لدراسات مركز اريئيل ولافكار شمعون بيريز …من هنا ظهر علينا عدو الغرب بالأمس وصديقه اليوم صاحب سوء الخاتمة يوسف القرضاوي بمذهبية خطابية لا تبتغي الخير للمسلمين بل لأسياده في الدوحة من خدم اليهود الصهاينة
هل النظام في سورية علوي حقا؟؟
تقول أسطورة الإعلام العربي عن سورية بأن فيها نظاما علوياً يمكن هزيمته بسهولة فور إخراج المارد السنّي السوري من القمقم … هذه الدعاية التي تستند الى حقيقة أن الرئيس الراحل حافظ الأسد كان علوياً ومثله الرئيس الحالي بشار الأسد.
هذا الإستسهال دفع بالقطريين وهم الوكيل الى التصويب عبر الشيخ القرضاوي ومثلهم فعل السعوديون عبر تصويبهم على علوية النظام بالإستناد على الإنتماء العلوي للرئيس لناحية المذهب بالولادة .
هذا التسليم بعلوية النظام السوري إنسحب أحياناً حتى على مقالات كتّاب ينتمون إلى خط المقاومة، وهذا الخطأ الشائع كلّف سورية ستة ألاف شهيد لأن أصل الحراك الشعبي وقدرة المحرضين على الفعل في الداخل السوري إعتمدت على المشاعر الطائفية لمئات ألاف الطائفيين والوهابيين الذين سرح دعاة عقائدهم ومرحوا في كافة المناطق السورية تحت عين النظام وأحيانا برعايته .
بعد هزيمة الإخوان المسلمين في مواجهة الرئيس الراحل حافظ الأسد لم تنهزم الطائفة السنية بل قوي عودها كثيراً في سورية العلمانية، والتي واجهت الدولة فيها بالسنة فتنة الإخوان المسلمين وحصل السُنة في المقابل من الدولة العلمانية السورية على مكتسبات في الدين والتعليم الديني، وفي المساجد، وفي النفوذ، حتى صحّ القول بأن الطائفة الحاكمة في سورية هي السُنة وليس الدولة العلمانية، وبالتأكيد ليس الطائفة العلوية هي الحاكمة الآن، ولم يكونوا في زمن الرئيس حافظ الأسد وإليكم الدليل الموثق.
في السياسة الماضية:
رموز الحكم الذين شاركوا الرئيس حافظ الأسد وقاسموه فترة حكمه أبرزهم :
عبد الحليم خدام : سني
حكمت الشهابي : سني
مصطفى طلاس: سني
عبد لله الاحمر – سني
في الزمن الحالي:
الرئيس بشار الأسد وشقيقه متزوجان من سُنّة في محكمة سنّية والعلويون جميعاً يتزوجون في محاكم السُنّة.
شركاء الرئيس في السلطة :
نائب الرئيس فاروق الشرع : سني
رجل حزب البعث الواسع النفوذ في الدولة محمد سعيد بخيتان وهو سُنّي من عشائر حمص.
رجل المخابرات الأول في سورية وأكثر الأمنيين قٌرباً من الرئيس بشار الأسد اللواء علي المملوك : سنّي دمشقي وأصلي من داخل السور (دمشق القديمة وهو تحديداً من سوق ساروجة)، والرجل المعروف بحكمته الأمنية الكبيرة التي جنّبت العاصمة دمشق تحركات المعارضين، هو بالنسبة لأهل الُسنّة الدمشقيين إبن مدينتهم ويعرفه أهل الشام، ويتواصلون معه بوصفه واحداً من وجهاء العاصمة لا بصفته الأمنية فقط.
مدير الأمن السياسي الواسع النفوذ والذي يمسك بقبضته الأمنية المعالجات المتأنية في حمص منذ ستة أشهر، ويمسك بالأمن السياسي للنظام وهو اللواء ديب زيتون الُسنّي الذي يعتبره مشايخ حمص المعارضين والموالين، رجل الطائفة في النظام لشدة ثقتهم به وكثيرون من المشايخ الطائفيين يثقون به، اكثر من ثقتهم بالعصابات التي تسيطر على أحيائهم .
الرجل الأعلى مرتبة لناحية التراتبية الأمنية في سورية هو مدير الأمن القومي في سورية اللواء الإختيار وهو أيضا سُنّي ومن عائلة معروفة بعلمائها السُنّة على مر التاريخ.
معاون نائب الرئيس للشؤون التركية العماد تركماني : سُنّي وتركماني الأصل.
الاقتصاد السوري وزمارة رقبة النظام المالية بقبضة تجار دمشق وحلب وكلهم من السُنّة وهم من أشد الموالين للرئيس بشار الأسد.
في القاهرة والرياض مجتمعتين أقل من نصف المساجد التي في مدينة دمشق وحدها وهي كلها لأهل السُنّة والجماعة .
علماء الإخوان المسلمين والوهابيين أقل من ألف وعلماء وزارة الأوقاف في سورية والموالين للنظام بالآلاف .
في القاهرة معهد الأزهر للتعليم الديني وجامعته وفي دمشق العشرات لا بل في سورية المئات وربما ألاف المعاهد التي تخرّج بتمويل من النظام فقهاء يأتون الى سورية للتعلم من كل العالم الإسلامي وخاصة من بلاد وسط أسيا.
الوهابيون في سورية محترمون ورجالاتهم كانوا حتى إندلاع الأزمة من المكرّمين من الدولة، ولأجل عينيهم منعت الحكومة السورية مرات ومرات دعاة الأحباش من العمل في الأراضي السورية ، لا بل واعتقلت بعضهم حتى لا تقع فتنة في المساجد بين سُنّة الوهابية وسُنّة الاحباش القليلي العدد في سورية مع العلم أن جمعية الأحباش في لبنان حليف رئيسي للنظام السوري .
مناطق السُنّة فيها الغنى وفيها الفقر، وريف الُسنّة فيه غنىً وفيه فقر، ولكن العلويين بشكل عام وفي الغالب الأعم من الفقراء إلا قلّة قليلة وحظوتهم الموهومة موجودة في مخيلة كتاب السيناريو، أما على أرض الواقع بالمقبول من غيرهم من المعارضين ممنوع عليهم .
في المُحصّلة …إذا كان هناك طائفة مستفيدة من النظام السوري، وإذا كان الأمنيون يحكمون قبضتهم على الشعب السوري، وإذا كان هناك اقتصاديين وسياسيين وحزبيين وموظفين يتنعمون بخيرات البلاد لأسباب طائفية فهم جميعاً من أهل السُنّة، وأما غيرهم فيحصلون على ما يفضُل عن الأكثرية وهذا طبيعي.
هل هناك تمييز في سورية ؟ ما سبق عرضه ينفي بالوقائع وجود أي تمييز، ولكن نعم كان هناك منذ الثمانينات إجراءات قوية، واحيانا مُبالغ فيها وظالمة ضد من كان لهم صلة بالإخوان المسلمين، ومن ذاك التمييز ضد محاربي النظام بالسلاح ولدت أسطورة النظام العلوي لأن الإخوان المسلمين ربما خجلوا أن يعلنوها لأنصارهم بأن من سحقهم في سورية كان في الماضي وهو اليوم جيش السُنّة، واهل السُنّة ومجتمع السُنّة، قبل غيرهم من أبناء سورية …كل سورية وإلا فالمارد السنّي خرج من القمقم ولكنه لم يُحارب إلا أعداء النظام الذي يرى فيه سوءً يمكن إصلاحه في مقابل معارضة أفضل ما فيها هو أسواء ما في النظام.
http://arabi-press.com/?page=article&id=20875
February 2nd, 2012, 8:48 pm
Tara said:
نارام سرجون and Bassam al Kadi are “whore of words”. I think I have a true visceral despise toward prostituted passion.
February 2nd, 2012, 9:04 pm
irritated said:
MajedalKhaldoon #133
If you read #129, the revised UNSC resolution and the AL league plan DO NOT ask Bashar al Assad to step down, so your suggestions and the ones of the Saudi mouth piece Ashark Al Awsat are premature.
February 2nd, 2012, 9:18 pm
irritated said:
#136. Tara
Do you really think they give a damn about your opinion on their ‘prostitute passion’ writings?
February 2nd, 2012, 9:24 pm
ghufran said:
I can not wait to see a new leadership in Syria for a number of reasons,one of my selfish reasons is to finally see a new set of people receiving the blame for all of the country’s ills,if you think people will suddenly stop demonstrating and thugs will magiccally disappear after a regime change,think again.
Syria has a long way to go before the major issues of corruption,oppression and nepotism are gone or get under control,and that will not happen overnight and it requires a popular cultural revolution. The time for a new political phase is now,but expect a long journey,my feiends.
for the time being,anything that does not lead to the cessation of killing is a non starter, and the writings are all over the walls: people under threat of physical extinction are not good negotiators,the instict of survival takes over the brain.
February 2nd, 2012, 9:30 pm
zoo said:
Press Conference of Al Dabi about the observer mission (video)
http://www.mepanorama.com/97389/%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%83%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%83%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%B1/
فيديو – الدابي : متمسكون بكل ما ورد في تقرير المراقبين.. الحقيقة على
الأرض تؤكد وجود مسلحين وشاهدت عدداً كبيراً منهم
جدد الفريق محمد مصطفى الدابي رئيس بعثة المراقبين العرب إلى سورية تمسكه بكل ما جاء في تقرير البعثة الذي قدمته للجامعة العربية والتصريحات التي أدلى بها حوله مؤكداً قيام بعض الأطراف بتفسير التقرير الذي قدم للمجلس الوزاري العربي بشكل مناقض لما دونه رؤساء قطاعات المراقبة.
وأكد الدابي في مؤتمر صحفي عقده في العاصمة السودانية الخرطوم اليوم ان خطوة الجامعة بتجميد عمل المراقبين زادت الوضع سوءاً مشيراً إلى أن هناك أموراً سياسية كثيرة تؤثر في العمل على الأرض وهناك الكثير من الضبابية والمعلومات المغلوطة لذلك ارتأيت أن أقول الحقيقة واننا كنا محايدين في عملنا وأمينين في نقل الصورة.
واستغرب الدابي الحملة الإعلامية التي شنتها بعض الأطراف على البعثة والتي بدأت قبل أن تبدأ عملها مؤكداً أن الإعلام الخارجي فقط وليس السوري اختلق الكثير من الأخبار حول عملها لافتاً إلى ان البعثة كانت صادقة بقولها سواء قبل الاجتماع الوزاري أو بعده ففي الاجتماع قدمت الحقيقة وبعده أيضا ولو كان لدى أعضائها اهواء ومصالح لسكتوا عما يجري.
وأوضح الدابي ان التقرير يتضمن تفصيلات واضحة عن القطاعات التي شملتها عمليات المراقبة أعدها رؤساء لجان المراقبين بمشاركة الأمين العام المساعد للجامعة وغرفة عمليات الجامعة وممثلو حقوق الإنسان ونوقشت فقراته بعناية وسجلت فيه مشاهدات المراقبين الذين أوضحوا أن قطاع دمشق لا يشهد عنفا وتلخص المشهد باندفاع المواطنين تجاه المراقبين لتقديم شهاداتهم وفي بعض الأحيان كان المواطنون يستغلون وجود البعثة ويضربون الحراسة الأمنية بالحجارة دون ان ترد عليهم.
وقال الدابي ان البعثة وجدت في البداية ترحيبا من الحكومة والمعارضة وبدأ العمل بصورة حضارية ونتج عن ذلك تطورات ايجابية تمثلت بتراجع حدة العنف. وكانت البعثة تدخل إلى مناطق المعارضة دون حراسة وعلى مسؤوليتها الشخصية مؤكداً أنه رفض طلب الجامعة بتقديم تقرير بعد 5 أيام.
{…}
February 2nd, 2012, 9:32 pm
zoo said:
The new resolution draft 1 February 2012 (in english)
http://www.scribd.com/Radio-Canada/d/80299809-Resolution-du-Conseil-de-securite-des-Nations-unies-sur-la-Syrie-2-fevrier-2012
The details of the AL League plan is omitted and therefore it allows the Arab league to request its full implementation ( i.e removal of Bashar al Assad)
I don’t think the Russian will that. They will ask the specific list of steps of the Arab League plan.
February 2nd, 2012, 9:42 pm
Tara said:
From the Guardian:
“• The United States, European governments and Arab states have begun discussing the possibility of exile for Bashar al-Assad, according to Reuters. One official said as many as three countries were willing to take him as a way to bring an end to Syria’s bloody 10-month-old crisis. “We understand that some countries have offered to host him should he choose to leave Syria,” a senior Obama administration official said.”
I vote for Sudan, Afghanistan or Siberia
February 2nd, 2012, 9:48 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Tara
No,No Not Siberia please, he should go to Sudan, since Sudan will be next as far as the Arab spring.
I really think he will be killed in Syria.
Ghufran: stop the killing and arresting and beating and torture the people must take priority.
February 2nd, 2012, 10:04 pm
zoo said:
As expected (#136), the Russians will veto the new sugar-coated resolution if it keeps the clause calling for “full support” of the Arab League Plan. They won’t be tricked as the Arab League plan calls for Bashar al Assad to step down and this is out of the question.
Russia threatens to veto Syria resolution at U.N.
By Louis Charbonneau, Reuters February 2, 2012 8:43 PM
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Russia shot down suggestions from some U.N. Security Council members of an imminent deal on a draft resolution aimed at stopping Syria’s bloody upheaval, warning it would veto the current text if it were put to a vote on Friday.
Pakistan’s U.N. envoy said on Thursday the council was “two words away” from agreement and the council chairman from Togo said a consensus was near on an amended version of a draft backing an Arab League plan for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
But Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told a closed-door session of the world body that Moscow would veto the draft if it were submitted on Friday with a phrase saying the council “fully supports” the plan, several Western diplomats told Reuters.
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Russia+threatens+veto+Syria+resolution/6093569/story.html#ixzz1lHfQ3Qfz
February 2nd, 2012, 10:07 pm
irritated said:
Majedalalkhadoon
“I really think he will be killed in Syria.”
Your thoughts are the ones of a hateful and mentally sick teenager.
February 2nd, 2012, 10:12 pm
Tara said:
Majed
Ok. No problem. Will send him to Sudan…near his Arabic brethren.
February 2nd, 2012, 10:12 pm
Tara said:
It is Russia moment of fame. Longed by the Russians for long time after the fall of the USSR. Will see how long it will last. They are playing with fire. They are antagonizing the Syrian people who shall never forget. Once we achieve victory, we will give a small cozy farewell party to their naval base in Tartus.
February 2nd, 2012, 10:24 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Irritated
Yes I admit, after bashar killed over 7000 young man,after ruling in a dictatorship fashion, and steeling the people money, and run a very corrupt system, I admit I hate Bashar,your dirty wicked God.
February 2nd, 2012, 10:27 pm
Norman said:
The only way out for Syria is to force the regime on reform with time table and free the hand of the army to restore safety and security,
February 2nd, 2012, 10:33 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Norman
I see contradiction in your statement
Reform
Killing
February 2nd, 2012, 10:47 pm
jad said:
Sorry in advance for a long article, but it’s a good reading:
سوريا تعيش أكثر أيامها خطورة… هل سقوط الأسد حتمي فعلاً؟
بعد 11 شهرا من المواجهات في سوريا، اقتنع العالم بأن الوضع السوري أكثر تعقيدا مما توقع القادة الغربيون الكبار. لا التدخل العسكري المباشر ممكن، ولا إزالة النظام بالقوة قابلة للتنفيذ، فلا بد اذاً من تسوية في مجلس الأمن تحفظ وجه الجميع وتغري الروس بالموافقة على قرار يقتصر على وقف العنف والحوار. لكن التسوية أيضا تبدو شديدة الصعوبة لأن تضارب المصالح عالميا في أوجه.
نجحت قطر في إيصال الملف الى مجلس الأمن. نال رئيس الوزراء حمد بن جاسم بن جبر آل ثاني الثناء من الاميركيين والبريطانيين والفرنسيين في جلسة المجلس قبل يومين. يدرك هذا الدبلوماسي المحنك انه يلعب «صولد» في الازمة السورية، النجاح خطير والفشل أخطر. جرجر الشيخ حمد كل العرب خلفه الى مجلس الامن. تم تدويل الازمة بامتياز. قبل أشهر قليلة كان كل العرب في جامعتهم يؤكدون ان لا تدويل. وصل بعض الثناء الى نبيل العربي الأمين العام للجامعة العربية الحائرة كما جل العالم في التعاطي مع سوريا وأزمتها.
ونجحت روسيا كذلك في أن تصبح محور الاهتمام الأول في مجلس الامن. بات الغرب وخلفه العرب يخطبون ودها لاستدرار توقيعها على مشروع قرار مشترك. انتقم فلاديمير بوتين ومن خلفه ديمتري ميدفيديف من التدخل الغربي في بلاده. يده على الملف السوري، وعينه على آخر تصريح للخارجية الاميركية أعربت فيه عن «خيبة أملها» حيال رفض السلطات الروسية ترشيح المعارض غريغوري يافلينسكي للانتخابات الرئاسية. سيبقى بوتين صلبا في موقفه على الاقل لتمرير الانتخابات في 4 آذار المقبل بأقل خسائر ممكنة.
لا روسيا ولا الصين ستقبلان بتغيير للنظام السوري بالقوة. الغطاء الروسي للعملية العسكرية السورية واضح. كان القرار الامني السوري بـ«الحسم العسكري» خطا أحمر طيلة الأشهر الماضية. أبلغت موسكو مرارا القيادة السورية بضرورة التروي والإبقاء على علاقة جيدة مع الجامعة العربية، لكن الأمر تغير في الأيام الماضية …. ماذا جرى؟
نجح النظام السوري في تحويل «فخ» المراقبين لمصلحته. كان يراد للمراقبين أن يشجعوا على التظاهر، فاكتشف المراقبون أن الوضع على الارض مغاير للكثير مما تبثه الفضائيات. يقول تقرير دبلوماسي غربي ان خطة متكاملة كانت قد وضعت لاحتلال بعض الساحات الكبيرة في المدن الرئيسة وبينها دمشق من قبل المتظاهرين مع وجود المراقبين، بحيث تتحول الساحات الى ما يشبه ميدان التحرير في القاهرة. لم يتحقق شيء من ذلك، لا بل تحقق العكس تماما، حصل النظام السوري على اعتراف من فريق المراقبين، وخصوصا من رئيسه الضابط السوداني محمد الدابي، بأن في المدن والارياف السورية مسلحين.
وجد النظام السوري في المراقبين ما كان يبحث عنه طويلا. حصل على اعتراف عربي بوجود مسلحين من جهة، وعلى غطاء روسي للقضاء على المسلحين من جهة ثانية. يضاف الى كل ذلك ان قطاعات من الشعب السوري صارت تشعر بضيق شديد من انعدام الأمن في مناطقها فصارت تطلب وجود الجيش حتى ولو كانت ضمنياً من تيار المعارضة.
مصالح جيوسياسية
القراءة الامنية السورية استقرت على ان استمرار الوضع على ما هو عليه، يعني السماح بتوسيع رقعة المسلحين وتشجيع الناس على التظاهر أكثر. انتشر السلاح على نحو بات يهدد بـ«كسر هيبة» الدولة التي أصيبت أصلا بلكمات كثيرة كان أبرزها تفجير أبرز مقار الأمن والاستخبارات في دمشق.
من الصعب تصور اتخاذ القرار الامني بالحسم من دون تنسيق دقيق مع الروس وعلى الأرجح مع الايرانيين. المعركة لم تعد محصورة بسوريا. تسلسل الأحداث يوحي بأن موسكو وطهران ودمشق تخوض من على الأراضي السورية حربا استراتيجية بامتياز. لا مجال للفشل أو التراجع. الحسم الكامل اذاً هو الخيار الاستراتيجي. لن تكون حمص وحماه وغيرهما استثناء بعد السيطرة على ريف دمشق. الدعم الروسي لا يقتصر على السياسة وانما ثمة تنسيق أمني دقيق جدا وأسلحة روسية جاءت الى ميناء طرطوس مرارا.
لم ينتبه كثيرون الى الكلام الخطير الذي أدلى به وزير الخارجية الروسي قبل أيام. قال الدبلوماسي العريق ان بعض دول مجلس الامن يستخدم الوضع في سوريا لتحقيق مصالح جيوسياسية ذاتية وان «هذا الموقف هو من القرن الماضي ويعكس سيكولوجيا قديمة ينبغي التخلص منها». وصل الأمر بالرجل الى حد توجيه اتهامات مبطنة لدول الخليج، كلام ما كان وليد المعلم نفسه سيقول أقسى منه في توصيف ما يحصل دوليا وعربيا.
لن يقف الامر عند هذا الحد. سيقول سيرغي لافروف في مؤتمر ميونيخ المقبل بشأن الأمن والذي يعقد في الرابع من شباط الحالي كلاما قاسيا حول عملية الاطلسي في ليبيا. لم يهضم الروس مطلقا ما يصفونه بـ«الخديعة» الاطلسية التي انطلقت من شعار إنساني ضد العقيد معمر القذافي فانتهت بعملية عسكرية واسعة أطاحت النظام الليبي وبمصالح روسيا هناك.
العودة الى التصريحات الروسية حول سوريا والدرع الصاروخية والانتقادات الغربية للانتخابات في روسيا، توضح ان موسكو تريد استعادة دورها العالمي وانها قلقة من مستقبل المواجهة مع الغرب في العقود المقبلة. جاءت الازمة السورية تقدم لها وسيلة من ذهب في مواجهة المشاريع الغربية.
يقول سيرغي تشيميزوف المدير العام لمؤسسة «روس تكنولوجيا» الحكومية الروسية، ان سوريا هي باروميتر صورة روسيا في الشرق الاوسط وافريقيا. شدد هذا المسؤول الرفيع على ضرورة «تنفيذ موسكو التزاماتها جميعا في مجال التعاون العسكري والتقني مع سوريا حتى لا تفقد روسيا سوق التسلح في الشرق الاوسط وشمال افريقيا».
العالم اذاً أمام تحولات استراتيجية روسية سيطول أمدها وقد يتفعّل أكثر لو عاد فلاديمير بوتين الى السلطة في الانتخابات المقبلة. كيف يمكن لموسكو اذاً أن تقبل بخسارة ورقة كبيرة كالورقة السورية في الوقت الراهن؟
هذا الوضوح في الرؤية الروسية يتناقض تماما مع الغموض الغربي. جاء مسؤول أمني فرنسي كبير الى لبنان. أوحى كلامه بالضياع. فرنسا تتصدر قائمة العاملين على إسقاط بشار الأسد لكنها لا تعرف كيف. الجيش السوري لا يوحي بتفكك قريب. القوة الامنية لا تزال بيد الاسد. الرئيس السوري يوحي لزائريه وكان آخرهم الوزير السابق وئام وهاب بأنه في ذروة اطمئنانه الامني والسياسي. الشعب السوري منقسم وجل التقارير الدبلوماسية الغربية تؤكد ان الرئيس السوري ما زال يحتفظ بشعبية كبيرة. السفارة الاميركية في بيروت ومعها دبلوماسيون غربيون آخرون تحدثوا في الآونة الاخيرة لزوارهم عن شعبية للاسد لا تزال تتخطى 55 أو 60 في المئة.
قالت صحيفة «الغارديان» البريطانية قبل أيام: «ان التغطية الاعلامية الغربية لما يجري في سوريا تتجاهل معلومات واستطلاعات تناقض نتائجها الانطباع السائد وهو ان الشعب السوري يريد إطاحة الأسد». أشارت الصحيفة الى استطلاع للرأي جرى بتكليف من «مؤسسة قطر» كشف ان 55 في المئة من السوريين لا يرغبون برحيل رئيسها خوفا من حرب أهلية.
سأل المسؤول الأمني الفرنسي الذي زار بيروت مؤخرا عن حقيقة السلاح والمسلحين في سوريا. قال ان باريس لا تعرف كيف يمكن سقوط الاسد ولا تعرف ماذا سيحل بسوريا لو سقط الرئيس. أشار الى ضبابية في الموقف التركي توحي بتراجع أنقرة.
السوريون يعرفون لماذا أحجم الأتراك عن اندفاعهم حتى ولو بقيت التصريحات شاجبة. ثمة أمور أمنية لا تعرفها سوى أجهزة البلدين. ويعرف السوريون ايضا ان الجيش الاردني قتل شابا قبل فترة قصيرة لأنه حاول تهريب سلاح الى سوريا. القرار الامني الاردني حاسم بضرورة عدم التدخل. أما العراق فهو أكثر من أي وقت مضى سائر خلف الرغبة الايرانية في مساعدة سوريا اقتصاديا.
الأميركيون بدورهم حائرون. هم يريدون إسقاط الاسد لأن لا خيار آخر لديهم الآن. ماذا يفعل باراك أوباما؟ هو قال منذ شهر نيسان الماضي ان على الأسد الرحيل. كرر الامر في بيان مشترك مع فرنسا وألمانيا وبريطانيا في منتصف آب الماضي. لم يحصل شيء. ما زال الاسد قادرا على النزول الى قلب دمشق يخطب بشعبه دون ارتداء واق للرصاص ومعه زوجته وأبناؤه. كل يوم يمر مع بقاء الاسد في السلطة هو خسارة لأوباما وساركوزي قبيل الانتخابات الرئاسية في بلديهما. هل يتركان الاسد في السلطة حتى الانتخابات؟ الأمر صعب، ولكن كيف؟
لا أحد يملك جواباً. المصادر الغربية تفيد برغبة كبيرة في زيادة تسليح المعارضة. لا بد من نقل المعركة الى مرحلة أكثر دقة. المال موجود. دول الخليج دفعت الكثير في الأشهر الماضية. أقيمت خلية أزمة في فرنسا تضم الفرنسيين والاميركيين. الاتصالات مع أطراف المعارضة قائمة على قدم وساق. ليس مقبولا ترك الاسد يربح المعركة العسكرية.
حمص تحدد المصير
على أبواب حمص سيتحدد مصير أمور كثيرة. لو سيطر الجيش السوري على المدينة كما فعل مع ريف دمشق فسيقطع الطريق على المجلس الوطني السوري. هذا هدف كبير. منذ أعلن رئيس المجلس برهان غليون تحالفه مع رياض الاسعد صار السلاح والمسلحون محسوبين على المجلس. الخطة الامنية السورية واضحة الاهداف. كل مسلح هو مشروع قتيل. القرار المركزي السوري جازم في هذا السياق. باتت الاولوية هي القضاء على المسلحين وبعدها تعود السياسة.
لم يغلق الروسي أبواب مجلس الامن بعد. هم ينتظرون على الارجح ماذا سيفعل الاسد أمنيا. قد تصبح حمص هي الباروميتر، قد يدخلها الجيش السوري بمعركة كبيرة، وقد لا يدخلها لو حصلت تسوية في مجلس الامن.
من مصلحة روسيا في الوقت الراهن التفاوض باسم نظام قوي. لمصلحتها اذاً أن يسيطر الجيش السوري على أكبر عدد من المناطق. السياسة بعد وضع عسكري قوي أفضل من السياسة في ظل هشاشة نظام.
قال فيتالي تشوركين سفير روسيا في مجلس الامن: «لقد وجدنا في مشروع القرار المغربي بعض العناصر التي كانت في مسودتنا وهذا يساعد على الأمل». ترك الدبلوماسي الروسي الباب مفتوحا لتسوية ما. تريد موسكو قرارا يقتصر على 3 أهداف حددها لافروف، وهي وقف العنف من قبل كل الاطراف، وعدم السماح بتدخل عسكري خارجي، والدعوة لمؤتمر حوار ومصالحة.
ماذا يفعل الروس لو وصل الحسم العسكري الى أبواب حمص؟ هنا بالضبط سيمارسون أقصى الضغوط على نظرائهم الغربيين. هم لا يريدون ضمنيا وقوع مجزرة. هذا سيضعهم في موقف أضعف، ولكنهم قد يوظفون ذلك لفرض وجهة نظرهم القائلة بأنه لا بد من حوار سوري – سوري لإنقاذ سوريا وربما ايضا لإنقاذ ماء وجه المطالبين بإسقاط الاسد من دون القدرة على إسقاطه.
حدد لافروف قبل ايام قليلة خطوطا جاذبة للغرب حيال تسوية روسية ممكنة. قال ان «موسكو ليست حليفة لبشار الاسد، وان السوريين هم الذين سيقررون كيف يدار بلدهم ولا أعتقد ان السياسة الروسية تتمثل في مطالبة الناس بالاستقالة. تغيير الانظمة ليس مهمتنا».
هذا الكلام يرضي الغرب ولا يزعج سوريا. فروسيا تريد حوارا بين السلطة والمعارضة من دون شروط مسبقة. لو توصل الحوار الى تشكيل حكومة وحدة وطنية تشرف على انتخابات مقبلة وأدت تلك الانتخابات الى رحيل الاسد فلا بأس، أما ان يتم اللجوء الى القوة العسكرية أو التدخلات الخارجية لذلك فإن موسكو مستمرة في رفضها لذلك.
ماذا تقول المعارضة؟
تقول إن الحسم العسكري غير ممكن لان في البيوت أناسا يحمون المسلحين. وتقول ان موسكو «تبيع وتشتري» ولو وجدت مصلحتها في البيع فلن تتردد. التطمينات الغربية كثيرة بأن العقوبات المفروضة على النظام والضغوط العسكرية على الارض وفقدان جل علاقات سوريا مع العرب والغرب ستؤدي الى سقوط النظام. تؤكد المعارضة ان سقوط الاسد بات مسألة وقت، ولكنها لا تقدم إجابات شافية حول كيفية ذلك.
وفي المعارضة رأيان: أولهما في المجلس الوطني الذي يراد له غربيا في الوقت الراهن توسيع الأفق بحيث يتوسع الى طوائف وأقليات وتيارات اخرى ولا يقتصر في معظمه على «الاخوان المسلمين». وثانيهما تعبر عنه هيئة التنسيق وفي مقدمها الدكتور هيثم المناع. نجح الرجل حتى الآن في جمع الكثير من الخيوط. لم يسلم أوراقه الى طرف واحد. الجميع يسعى للتقرب منه بدءا بواشنطن مرورا بباريس وصولا الى موسكو. ولعله أكثر أطراف المعارضة قبولا حتى اليوم في الداخل السوري. موسكو تريده محاورا للنظام، وايران تعرفه ودمشق مستعدة للانفتاح عليه.
يضاف الى التيارين، العامل الكردي. هذه مسالة أكثر تعقيدا. تبين من خلال المؤتمر الذي عقد في اربيل العراقية وتحت جناحي مسعود البرزاني ان الاكراد يحسبون بدقة كل خطوة نحو مستقبلهم. لا ينظر الاكراد فقط لما يحصل في سوريا وانما تتشتت أنظارهم بين سوريا وتركيا والعراق وايران. أي خطوة غير محسوبة قد تأتي بنتائج سلبية. هم رفعوا شعارا لا يستطيع أي معارض سوري ان يمنحهم إياه: «حق تقرير المصير ضمن الوحدة السورية». هذا إنذار ليس لسوريا فقط بل ايضا لتركيا وايران.
انفراج أم انفجار؟
قرار الحسم العسكري السوري ما كان ليحصل لولا القناعة الداخلية اولا بأن السلاح قد يخرج عن القدرة على ضبطه، ولولا الغطاء الروسي والدعم الايراني.
تحاول طهران منذ فترة لعب دور كبير وبعيد عن الاضواء مع تركيا. جرت اتصالات كثيرة بين الجانبين. تزامن ذلك مع انفتاح ايراني جديد على وكالة الطاقة الدولية التي أنهى وفدها 3 أيام دون عوائق في ايران. يحكى عن رسائل نقلتها تركيا الى بعض الدول الغربية بشأن البرنامج النووي الايراني. وتزامن ذلك أيضا مع توتر شديد في العلاقات بين أنقرة وباريس على خلفية تبني قانون يجرّم إنكار إبادة الارمن.
يحار الغرب حاليا في التعاطي مع ايران. اسرائيل تكثف الضغوط. ينذر قادتها بعمل عسكري وشيك. ترد طهران وتهدد بإغلاق مضيق هرمز. يترنح سعر برميل النفط. يقلق أنصار أوباما من سقوط محتم لو تخطى سعر البرميل عتبة 130 دولارا. تتسارع وتيرة المبعوثين الاميركيين الى المنطقة لتهدئة الاندفاع الاسرائيلي. تسري وعود قاطعة بخنق ايران اقتصاديا ونفطيا. تنبري السعودية للتأكيد على انها ستعوض النقص النفطي في اسواق العالم.
يعتقد الغربيون أن تشديد الخناق على ايران كبير الاهمية في الوقت الراهن. سيعملون أيضا على تحويل الانتخابات الايرانية القريبة الى مشكلة داخلية ايرانية. سيصار الى تأجيج المعارضة الداخلية وإسماع أصوات كثيرة من الخارج، وثمة من يتحدث عن احتمال وقوع حوادث امنية ومصادمات عنيفة.
من الصعب تصور ايران متفرجة على محاولات خنقها من دون تحريك ساكن. ثمة من يصل الى حد القول بأنها قد لا تتردد في اللجوء الى الحرب لو ضاقت عليها السبل. يقول آخرون ان ذلك مستحيل لان الايرانيين هم أسياد من فاوض ومن أتقن لعبة التقدم والتراجع. لم يلعب الايرانيون كل أوراقهم بعد وهي كثيرة من العراق الى البحرين واليمن وصولا الى لبنان وأفغانستان.
لكن ثمة من يقول ان ايران باشرت فعليا الحرب. الحسم العسكري في سوريا هو البداية الفعلية. يقال ان مسؤولا عسكريا ايرانيا كبيرا جاء الى دمشق مؤخرا حاملا رسالة واضحة من مرشد الثورة الاسلامية الامام علي خامنئي مفادها ان ايران بناسها وقيادتها وجيشها ستكون الى جانب سوريا إذا تعرضت لأي هجوم. حامل الرسالة قيادي معروف بأنه لا ينقل رسائل كلامية بل يقرنها بالفعل.
تحركت ايران ايضا ومجددا صوب حركتي حماس والجهاد. أُعيد نسج بعض الخيوط التي كادت تنقطع مع حماس رغم كل الضغوط الخليجية. استقبل خامنئي الامين العام لحركة الجهاد الاسلامي رمضان عبد الله شلح . قال بحضوره: «ان الهدف الرئيس لمخطط أميركا وبعض دول المنطقة في سوريا هو توجيه ضربة الى جبهة المقاومة لان سوريا تدعم المقاومة الفلسطينية والمقاومة الاسلامية». كرر مقولته الشهيرة في مناسبات كهذه: «ان النصر الالهي سيتحقق حتما».
حين تتحدث ايران عن «النصر الالهي» تكون يدها على الزناد، ولكن يدها الاخرى على ملفات التفاوض. ليس رمضان شلح من الزوار الذين تتم معهم مناقشة قضايا دبلوماسية…
السباق محموم أكثر من أي وقت مضى بين الانفراج والانفجار. لكن المشكلة تكمن الآن في أن أوباما وساركوزي في أوج حملتهما الانتخابية، فلا الحرب مضمونة ولا التراجع صوب تسوية مفيد. سوريا تحاول ربح الوقت، ولكن الاوقات لا تزال صعبة تماما للخروج من أزمتها المفتوحة على كل الاحتمالات.
من يضمن نجاح الحسم العسكري. ولو نجح فماذا عن مستقبل علاقة السلطة بالجزء المعارض من الشعب؟ ماذا عن مستقبل السياسة، وهل تكفي خطوات جذرية في داخل مؤتمر حزب البعث، أو تغيير للدستور أو تشكيل أحزاب وقانون إعلام جديد لوأد الفتنة؟
تبدو سوريا، أكثر من أي وقت مضى، أمام أكثر أوقاتها خطورة. وحين ينحصر الكلام بالسلاح، تصبح الرؤية محجوبة تماما خلف غبار المعارك، خصوصا اذا ما كان خصوم الاسد يريدون رحيله مهما كلف الثمن، وهو سيحافظ على البقاء مهما كلف الثمن. هي معركة إقليمية ودولية بامتياز تجري على أرض سوريا وبدماء السوريين.
http://www.assafir.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=309&EditionId=2067&ChannelId=49167
February 2nd, 2012, 11:19 pm
ghufran said:
jad,
it is hard to compete with our Lebanese brothers when it comes to the business of talking,but let me try.
Iran must corner the west by simply allowing inspection and assuring the GCC that there will be no nuclear bomb.Iran does not need a nuclear bomb,at least not now,the time is ripe for a change,it is either a regional conflict with no winners or a political settlement that helps everybody. Russia in particular does not want to start the year with a new war,Obama will not bomb Iran,and Sarkozi should be worried about his own political future. As for Syria,one problem among others is the presence of armed militias and common thugs who only listen to themselves,even if a settlmenet is reached between Syrians,those guys may still continue to fight til the end,Syria needs a strong army regardless if the regime gets out of the way or not,this is the middle east,that is one reason why I did not like engaging the army in this conflict and was opposed to hunting syrian soldiers and officers,if the army collapses,any future government will not have any teeth, and law and order will become a luxury that is unreachable.
February 2nd, 2012, 11:50 pm
jad said:
The resolution draft is too vague and can be understood in too many ways according to a UN diplomat:
مجلس الأمن: مشروع قرار معدّل… ولا موعد للتصويت
مفاوضات مكثّفة في نيويورك لتجنّب الفيتو الروسي
افاد دبلوماسيون امس بأن الدول الاعضاء في مجلس الامن تناقش صيغة جديدة لمشروع قرار حول سوريا، تتضمن تنازلات بناءً على طلب روسيا، سعياً للتوصل الى تفاهم حول الأزمة السورية. واوضح الدبلوماسيون ان المشروع «يدعم خطة الجامعة العربية، لكنه لا يشير الى تفاصيل عملية انتقال السلطة، وخصوصاً نقل سلطات الرئيس السوري بشار الاسد الى نائبه»، فيما تحدّثت تقارير اخرى عن تقديم المغرب تعديلات على مشروع القرار الذي تقدمت به تتعلق بإزالة بنود حظر بيع الأسلحة وفرض عقوبات على سوريا لتفادي الفيتو الروسي. وتهدد روسيا باستخدام حق النقض (الفيتو) ضد مشروع القرار الذي ينص على تنحّي الأسد وفرض عقوبات على النظام وحظر الأسلحة
{…}
وقال مصدر دبلوماسي عربي لـ«الأخبار» إن النص الجديد الذي يجري التسويق له لا يختلف عن القديم. العبارات بقيت مبهمة عن قصد. والنص مشحون باحتمالات وعبارات قابلة لسوء التأويل.
{…}
بدوره اعلن الرئيس التركي عبد الله غول ان تركيا قد تفكر في منح اللجوء لعائلة الرئيس السوري بحسب ما نقلت عنه الصحافة التركية الخميس. وقالت «رويترز» انه «مع اظهار الاسد سيطرته على أجهزة الامن القوية ومع تشرذم المعارضة السورية على الصعيد العسكري، يبدو البحث عن لجوء الاسد من قبيل تصعيد الضغط النفسي».
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/34319
February 2nd, 2012, 11:56 pm
syria no kandahar said:
اسيليوس نصّار والجهاد الأحسن
by Carlos Hanna
كان مقاتلاً، لكنه لم يكن كسائر المقاتلين. كان محارباً، لكنه لم يشبه أياً من المحاربين. كان مسلّحاً، لكنّ أسلحته ليست من هذه الدنيا. كان ثائراً، لكن ثورته ليست من هذا العالم، وإنْ كانت في هذا العالم. كان يقتدي بيسوعه. كان عمره على عتبة الثلاثين عاماً. كان اسمه باسيليوس نصّار. أصبح اسمه الشهيد باسيليوس نصّار.
هو من قرية كفربهم في محافظة حماة. نشأ في قريته، وطلب العلم اللاهوتيّ في معهد القديس يوحنا الدمشقي بجامعة البلمند، وحاز درجة الماستر في اللاهوت، ثم عاد خادماً لكنيسة قريته. قتلته رصاصات الغدر الأسبوع الفائت وهو في مهمة إنسانية إذ كان يحاول إسعاف أحد المصابين من أبناء رعيته.
كان سلاح باسيليوس الإنجيل الشريف، ودرعه الصليب المحيي، وسيفه الحقّ القاطع، وترسه البر والتقوى، وحصنه الكنيسة المقدسة التي اقتناها الرب بدمه الكريم. حمل المحبة لواءً يستظلّه ضدّ الكراهية والتعصب، ورفع الرجاء سوراً يواجه به الظلم والقهر، وجاهر بالإيمان بمعلّم لم يترك شريعةً سوى وصيّة واحدة: “أحبّوا بعضكم بعضاً كما أنا أحببتكم”.
كان باسيليوس يؤمن بأنّ “العبد ليس أفضل من سيّده”. تفوّه المسيح بهذا الكلام عندما غسل أرجل تلاميذه ليلة صلبه. حمل باسيليوس مئزره وطاف يخدم الفقراء والمساكين والمحتاجين والمعوزين والمرضى والزمنى والأرامل والأيتام والعجزة… وفي رحلته الأخيرة، أراد أن يكون كذلك السامريّ الذي اعتنى بذاك الذي “وقع بين أيدي اللصوص” جريحاً ينازع الموت. هو تجاوز ما صنعه السامريّ، إذ إنّه لم يكتفِ بتأدية المال لمعالجة الجريح، بل دفع دمه فداءً لينقذ إنساناً من الموت. مات هو ليحيا إنسان آخر. فبلغ بالشهادة إلى أقصاها.
لم يؤمن باسيليوس، كمعلّمه المصلوب، بالعنف سبيلاً إلى الدفاع عن المظلومين. آمن بالكلمة الحقّ، وبالكرامة الإنسانية، وبالحرية التي هي صورة الله في الإنسان. لم يحمل سلاحاً للدفاع عن أبناء رعيته بل حمل كفنه الأبيض. لم يحمل راية بيضاء يستسلم بها أمام الحقد الأعمى والفتنة التي اشتعلت بين أبناء الوطن الواحد والمدينة الواحدة والقرية الواحدة، بل رفع راية المحبة التي وحدها تقضي على الحقد وتنتصر عليه. ليس بالحقد ينتصر المرء على الحقد. هذا ما قاله لنا باسيليوس في استشهاده.
يأتي باسيليوس من كنيسة أنجبت آلافاً من الشهداء القدّيسين، من كنيسة تعتبر شهادة الدم أسمى الشهادات. هو يأتي من كنيسة لم يكن عصرها الذهبيّ عصر تحالفها مع الدولة، بل كان عصرها الذهبيّ عندما كانت تحيا وتنتشر وتبشّر في ظل الاضطهادات التي مارستها ضدّ أبنائها الدولة الرومانية الطاغية. هو يأتي من كنيسة يقول أبناؤها: “إننا به (بالرب) نحيا ونتحرّك ونوجد”، وليس بسواه.
تهمّنا معرفة الجهة التي قتلت الأب باسيليوس الشهيد الجديد، وإن كان ذلك صعباً في خضمّ الحروب الداخلية. لكن يهمّنا أكثر عدم المتاجرة بدمائه الطاهرة، وعدم استغلالها في البازار الفتنوي الداخلي. غير أن الواقع المرير يشير إلى أنّ مواطناً سورياً شريفًا قُتل برصاص سوري أطلقه مواطن سوري. هذا هو الأمر الأشدّ إيلاماً، أن يسقط أبناء الوطن الواحد بعضهم برصاص بعض.
طوبى للكنيسة الأرثوذكسية بانضمام باسيليوس الحبيب إلى قافلة شهدائها الأبرار.
February 3rd, 2012, 12:00 am
jad said:
OMG, everybody is attacking Rana Qabbani today, another funny ‘whore of words’ comment:
الافتتاحية … الى رنا قباني ابنة سفير حافظ الاسد السابق في واشنطون … رجاء سكري بوزك
عرب تايمز – الافتتاحية
كتب : اسامة فوزي
اعلنت رنا قباني ابنة اخ نزار قباني ومطلقة محمود درويش رفضها المطلق لاستخدام نظام الرئيس بشار الاسد فقرات من اشعار عمها الراحل نزار قباني لتبرير مواقفه الدموية، مثلما فعل السيد بشار الجعفري مندوب سورية في الامم المتحدة ليلة امس الاول.وقالت الدكتورة قباني في رسالة بعثت بها الى جريدة عبد الباري عطوان : ان استخدام اشعار عمها هو محاولة لاستغلاله وروحه وهو المعادي للطغاة. واضافت بأن عمها الشاعر الكبير نزار قباني مات في المنفى، لانه لم يستطع العيش في بلده سورية الحبيبة التي تحولت الى ديكتاتورية دموية، ولو كان حيا اليوم لكان من الاصوات القوية للشعب السوري وثورته الشجاعة
وكان السيد الجعفري قد بدأ خطابه يوم امس امام مجلس الامن الدولي الذي عقد جلسة خاصة لمناقشة مبادرة عربية تطالب بتنحي الرئيس الاسد وتسليم مهامه الى نائبه فاروق الشرع وتشكيل حكومة وحدة وطنية، بدأ خطابه بجزء من قصيدة للشاعر نزار قباني متألما على سورية تقول ‘دمشق يا كنز احلامي ومروحتي اشكو العروبة ام اشكو لك العربا في صحيفة الجارديان مقال للكاتب البريطاني باتريك سيل مؤلف كتاب “الأسد”، السيرة الذاتية للرئيس السوري السابق حافظ الأسد ووالد الرئيس الحالي
انتهى تصريح رنا قباني لعبد الباري عطوان
لماذا نطلب منها ان تسكر بوزها
اولا : لانه ليس لها الحق في المتاجرة باسم الشاعر العربي الكبير نزار قباني الذي لو كان حيا ورأى كيف تمول ريالات النفط حربا اهلية وطائفية في سوريا لكان اشد على النفطيين من مبعوث سوريا للامم المتحدة الذي كل ما فعله انه قرأ ابياتا شعرية في حب دمشق وهجاء العرب قالها نزار في قلب دمشق .. وليس من الدوحة او الرياض
ثانيا : ولما علم نزار وهو على مستشفى المرض في لندن انه سيموت رفض عروضا اردنية وسعودية لدفع نفقات دفنه ونقل جثمانه الى الاردن او السعودية وطلب ان يدفن في بلده سوريا ولم يذكر في وصيته ان الشخاخة رنا مطلقة محمود دوريش وكيله له تنطق باسمه .. بعد موته
ثالثا : لان رنا مطلقة محمود درويش وزوجة باتريك سيل اخر من يحق له ان يتحدث عن ( جرائم ) النظام السوري .. فابوها ( صباح قباني ) كان سفيرا لحافظ الاسد في واشنطون عام 73 وعمل في وزارة الخارجية يوم ارتكب رفعت الاسد وعبد الحليم خدام مجزرة حماه .. وخدام هو الذي وظف والدها في وزارة الخارجية السورية ولم نسمع منه – ولا من اسرة رنا – اية كلمة ضد جرائم النظام الذي يمثله صباح قباني ( ابو رنا ) في واشنطون … والاذاعة السورية التي فزرتنا ببرامجها السخيفة التي كانت تتغزل بالرئيس والحزب القائد كان مديرها صباح قباني والد ام شخة
رابعا : زوج رنا الصحافي البريطاني ( باتريك سيل ) هو الذي ارخ لحافظ الاسد وكتب سيرته الذاتية ( الاسد السيرة الذاتية ) ونافق له في كل مناسبة وهو الذي كتب بعد اندلاع الربيع السوري الاخونجي النفطي محذرا من تسلم الاخونجية الحكم في سوريا .. فتحت عنوان إذا ما سقط الأسد فسنرى تحالفات المنطقة تنهار كتب سيل في الغارديان البريطانية يقول بالحرف : إن الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد ليس الوحيد الذي يشعر بقلق وهو يراقب الاحتجاجات. فتغيير النظام هناك سيعيد تشكيل الشرق الأوسط.يقول سيل إنه إذا ما عجز النظام السوري لبشار الأسد عن إعادة تأكيد سلطته، وتم أسقاطه أو مجرد إضعافه بفعل فترة ممتددة من الاضططرابات الشعبية فإن التداعيات الجيوسياسية لذلك الانهيار ستكون جمة
هل عرفتم لماذا طلبنا من رنا قباني ان تسكر بوزها … وتاكل خرا
http://74.208.163.97/atn/news_display.cfm?Action&Preview=No&nid=10452
February 3rd, 2012, 12:33 am
annie said:
This is the Qabbani Ambassador Ja’afari should have quoted
http://youtu.be/C1BGVGzIpQo
February 3rd, 2012, 2:24 am
ann said:
UNSCR – SYRIA – BLUE 2 Feb 2012
List of Co-Sponsors: Morocco, France, United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Portugal Colombia, Togo, Libya, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Turkey.
The Security Council,
pp1 Recalling its presidential statement of 3 August 2011,
pp2 Recalling General Assembly resolution A/RES/66/176 of 19 December 2011, as well as Human Rights Council resolutions S/16-1, S/17-1 and S/18-1,
pp3 Noting the League of Arab States’ request in its decision of 22 January 2012,
pp4 Expressing grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in Syria, and profound concern at the death of thousands of people and calling for an immediate end to all violence,
pp5 Welcoming the League of Arab States’ Action Plan of 2 November 2011 and its subsequent decisions, including its decision of 22 January 2012, which aims to achieve a peaceful resolution of the crisis,
pp6 Noting the deployment of the League of Arab States’ observer mission, commending its efforts, regretting that, due to the escalation in violence, the observer mission was not in a position to monitor the full implementation of the League of Arab States’ Action Plan of 2 November 2011, and noting the subsequent decision of the League of Arab states to suspend the mission,
pp7 Underscoring the importance of ensuring the voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes in safety and with dignity,
pp8 Mindful that stability in Syria is key to peace and stability in the region,
pp9 Noting the announced commitments by the Syrian authorities to reform, and regretting the lack of progress in implementation,
pp10 Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, emphasizing its intention to resolve the current political crisis in Syria peacefully, and noting that nothing in this resolution authorizes measures under Article 42 of the Charter,
pp11 Welcoming the engagement of the Secretary-General and all diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the situation, and noting in this regard the offer of the Russian Federation to host a meeting in Moscow, in consultation with the League of Arab States,
1. Condemns the continued widespread and gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities, such as the use of force against civilians, arbitrary executions, killing and persecution of protestors and members of the media, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, interference with access to medical treatment, torture, sexual violence, and ill-treatment, including against children;
2. Demands that the Syrian government immediately put an end to all human rights violations and attacks against those exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, protect its population, fully comply with its obligations under applicable international law and fully implement the Human Rights Council resolutions S-16/1, S-17/1, S-18/1 and the General Assembly resolution A/RES/66/176;
3. Condemns all violence, irrespective of where it comes from, and in this regard demands that all parties in Syria, including armed groups, immediately stop all violence or reprisals, including attacks against State institutions, in accordance with the League of Arab States’ initiative;
4. Recalls that all those responsible for human rights violations, including acts of violence, must be held accountable;
5. Demands that the Syrian government, in accordance with the Plan of Action of the League of Arab States of 2 November 2011 and its decision of 22 January 2012, without delay:
(a) cease all violence and protect its population;
(b) release all persons detained arbitrarily due to the recent incidents;
(c) withdraw all Syrian military and armed forces from cities and towns, and return them to their original home barracks;
(d) guarantee the freedom of peaceful demonstrations;
(e) allow full and unhindered access and movement for all relevant League of Arab States’ institutions and Arab and international media in all parts of Syria to determine the truth about the situation on the ground and monitor the incidents taking place; and
(f) allow full and unhindered access to the League of Arab States’ observer mission;
6. Calls for an inclusive Syrian-led political process conducted in an environment free from violence, fear, intimidation and extremism, and aimed at effectively addressing the legitimate aspirations and concerns of Syria’s people, without prejudging the outcome;
7. Fully supports in this regard the League of Arab States’ 22 January 2012 decision to facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system, in which citizens are equal regardless of their affiliations or ethnicities or beliefs, including through commencing a serious political dialogue between the Syrian government and the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition under the League of Arab States’ auspices, in accordance with the timetable set out by the League of Arab States;
8. Encourages the League of Arab States to continue its efforts in cooperation with all Syrian stakeholders;
9. Calls upon the Syrian authorities, in the event of a resumption of the observer mission, to cooperate fully with the League of Arab States’ observer mission, in accordance with the League of Arabs States’ Protocol of 19 December 2011, including through granting full and unhindered access and freedom of movement to the observers, facilitating the entry of technical equipment necessary for the mission, guaranteeing the mission’s right to interview, freely or in private, any individual and guaranteeing also not to punish, harass, or retaliate against, any person who has cooperated with the mission;
10. Stresses the need for all to provide all necessary assistance to the mission in accordance with the League of Arab States’ Protocol of 19 December 2011 and its decision of 22 January 2012;
11. Demands that the Syrian authorities cooperate fully with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and with the Commission of Inquiry dispatched by the Human Rights Council, including by granting it full and unimpeded access to the country;
12. Calls upon the Syrian authorities to allow safe and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance in order to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to persons in need of assistance;
13. Welcomes the Secretary-General’s efforts to provide support to the League of Arab States, including its observer mission, in promoting a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis;
14. Requests the Secretary General to report on the implementation of this resolution, in consultation with the League of Arab States, within 21 days after its adoption and to report every 30 days thereafter;
15. Decides to review implementation of this resolution within 21 days and, in the event of non-compliance, to consider further measures;
16. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
February 3rd, 2012, 2:27 am
ann said:
At UN, Syria Blue Draft Is “Without Prejudging the Outcome,” No Delegation?
http://www.innercitypress.com/syria2blue020312.html
UNITED NATIONS, February 3 — Three hours after the UN Security Council ended its consultations on Syria and spoke of a blue or “final” draft resolution to be sent to capitals, Inner City Press obtained the draft and it now putting it online, here.
As a non-Western diplomat told Inner City Press just after the consultations broke up, concessions were made such that now while the Council “calls for an inclusive Syrian-led political process,” it is explicitly “without prejudging the outcome,” in Operative Paragraph 6.
The non-Western Council diplomat said that means that Bashar al Assad does not have to delegate power to his deputy, even temporarily.
French Ambassador Gerard Araud on Thursday, even after agreeing to omit the original paragraphs 7a, b and c, insisted to Inner City Press that it still called for the “transfer” of power.
In the Council’s closed door consultations on Thursday, much time was spent insisting on the important of common interpretations, or at least common public statements and “no statements to the press.”
Also dropped, from the “blue” or final Operative Paragraph 16, is that the Council if it considers further measures would do so in consultations with the League of Arab States.
February 3rd, 2012, 2:31 am
ann said:
Armenian youth is kidnapped in Aleppo – February 03, 2012
http://news.am/eng/news/91778.html
YEREVAN. – The Armenian community of Syria has found itself in a difficult situation because of the clashes in the country, Yerkir daily writes.
“Our Syrian-Armenian community sources inform that an Armenian youth was kidnapped yesterday [Thursday] in an Armenian district of Aleppo, and they demand close to fifty-thousand dollars as ransom. The number of local crimes in Syria has increased in the recent times, since the authorities are busy with suppressing the anti-government demonstrations. And the Armenians, specifically the rich, have become the targets of potential thieves. Numerous rich Armenians are getting threats these days. And the youth who was kidnapped, in line with some information, is wealthy, too, and he had just gotten married. Later, information was also received concerning a second such incident”
February 3rd, 2012, 2:34 am
ann said:
Document shows NYPD eyed Shiites based on religion – February 02, 2012
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Police Department recommended increasing surveillance of thousands of Shiite Muslims and their mosques, based solely on their religion, as a way to sweep the Northeast for signs of Iranian terrorists, according to interviews and a newly obtained secret police document.
____________________________________________
The document offers a rare glimpse into the thinking of NYPD intelligence officers and how, when looking for potential threats, they focused their spying efforts on mosques and Muslims. Police analysts listed a dozen mosques from central Connecticut to the Philadelphia suburbs. None has been linked to terrorism, either in the document or publicly by federal agencies.
The Associated Press has reported for months that the NYPD infiltrated mosques, eavesdropped in cafes and monitored Muslim neighborhoods with plainclothes officers. Its spying operations were begun after the 2001 terror attacks with help from the CIA in a highly unusual partnership.
The May 2006 NYPD intelligence report, entitled “US-Iran Conflict: The Threat to New York City,” made a series of recommendations, including: “Expand and focus intelligence collections at Shi’a mosques.”
The NYPD is prohibited under its own guidelines and city law from basing its investigations on religion. Under FBI guidelines, which the NYPD says it follows, many of the recommendations in the police document would be prohibited.
The report, drawn largely from information available in newspapers or sites like Wikipedia, was prepared for Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. It was written at a time of great tension between the U.S. and Iran. That tension over Iran’s nuclear ambition has increased again recently.
Police estimated the New York area Shiite population to be about 35,000, with Iranians making up about 8,500. The document also calls for canvassing the Palestinian community because there might be terrorists there.
“The Palestinian community, although not Shi’a, should also be assessed due to presence of Hamas members and sympathizers and the group’s relationship with the Iranian government,” analysts wrote. The secret document stands in contrast to statements by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who said the NYPD never considers religion in its policing. Kelly has said police go only where investigative leads take them, but the document described no leads to justify expanded surveillance at Shiite mosques.
The document also renews debate over how the NYPD privately views Muslims. Kelly has faced calls for his resignation recently from some Muslim activists for participating in a video that says Muslims want to “infiltrate and dominate” the United States. The NYPD showed the video to nearly 1,500 officers during training.
Documents previously obtained by the AP show widespread NYPD infiltration of mosques. It’s not clear, however, whether the May 2006 report prompted police to infiltrate the mosques on the list. One former police official who has seen the report said that, generally, the recommendations were followed but he could not say for sure whether these mosques were infiltrated.
A current law enforcement official, also familiar with the report, said that since it was issued the NYPD learned that Hezbollah was more political than religious and concluded that it’s not effective to monitor Shiites.
Both insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the program. On Thursday, Kelly described the document as a “contingency plan,” though that is not mentioned in the document and there is nothing indicating what would trigger such a contingency.
“This was a 2006 document that talked about what we would do if there were hostilities involving Iran,” he said. “It seems to me that it would be prudent for us to have plans in that regard.” Neither David Cohen, the NYPD’s top intelligence officer, nor department spokesman Paul Browne responded to emails or phone calls from The Associated Press this week.
Iran is an overwhelmingly Shiite country, but Shiites are a small percentage of the U.S. Muslim population. By contrast, al-Qaida is a Sunni organization and many U.S. leaders consider Shiite clerics as allies in the fight against homegrown extremism. Shiites are often oppressed overseas and many have sought asylum in the West.
The document is dated just weeks after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Congress that, “We may face no greater challenge from a single country than from Iran.” Even now, the U.S. remains particularly concerned with Iran, not only because of its nuclear research but also because intelligence officials don’t believe they know how Iranian sympathizers inside the United States would respond if the two countries went to war. By far, the largest group of Iranians in the U.S. lives in or around Los Angeles. Yet the NYPD, with a smaller Iranian population that police estimated at about 8,500 in New York City, shared the concerns about reactions to an open military conflict.
Asad Sadiq, president of the Bait-ul-Qaim mosque in the Philadelphia suburb of Delran, N.J., said the NYPD was being unfairly broad. “If you attack Cuba, are all the Catholics going to attack here? This is called guilt by association,” Sadiq, a dentist, said after seeing his mosque in the NYPD document. “Just because we are the same religion doesn’t mean we’re going to stand up and harm the United States. It’s really absurd.”
The AP showed the document to several veteran counterterrorism analysts. None said they had seen anything like it. “It’s really problematic if you make a jump from a possible international conflict to saying therefore we need to monitor Shiite mosques writ large,” said Brian Fishman, the former research director at West Point’s Combatting Terrorism Center. “It doesn’t follow.”
For instance, the NYPD analysts focused much of the report on the Alavi Foundation, a New York nonprofit group that the federal government has since accused of being secretly controlled by the Iranian government. Analysts then looked at a mosque where Alavi members prayed and that police say may have been linked to an effort to buy information about rocket technology for Iran.
There is no explanation, however, for how those suspicions warranted expanding surveillance to other Shiite mosques, including those far outside the department’s jurisdiction in Connecticut and New Jersey.
“Any time that you begin to isolate certain communities from a policing perspective because you think there’s risk, you have the potential that somebody overreaches,” said Robert Riegle, a former Department of Homeland Security analyst who oversaw efforts to work with state and local agencies.
At the Al-Mahdi Foundation mosque in Brooklyn, worshippers intoned their prayers Wednesday while touching their foreheads to disks of clay on the floor, a Shiite tradition. “After 1,400 years, the Shias are being targeted in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Pakistan, everywhere,” Imam Malik Sakhawat Hussain said after being told that his mosque was in the NYPD document. “If U.S. authorities become suspicious of the Shias, I would say we are a very oppressed community of the world.”
At the Masjid Al-Rahman, a prayer hall in the basement of a Brooklyn apartment building, manager Abo Maher was surprised to see his mosque on the NYPD’s list of Shiite locations. “This isn’t even Shia,” he said. “Their information is wrong.”
The police department’s Demographics Unit, the secretive squad of plainclothes officers used to monitor restaurants, social clubs and other gathering spots, found similar issues in Iranian neighborhoods, one former NYPD official recalled.
Muslims make up only a fraction of New York’s Iranian community so squad members returned from their rounds in Iranian neighborhoods and reported finding Jews and Christians, the former official said.
Sadiq, the New Jersey mosque president, said about 250 families — mostly Pakistanis and Indians and few Iraqis — attend his mosque. Every few years, he said, an FBI agent stops by, introduces himself and asks whether there’s been any radical rhetoric in his mosque and whether he knows anyone with connections to Iran. The most recent meeting was just Wednesday, he said, and the NYPD would be welcome if it came openly.
The intelligence unit operates in secrecy with little outside oversight. The City Council is not told about secret intelligence programs. And though the unit operates under the auspices of a federal anti-drug task force and receives federal money, it is not overseen by Congress. The Obama administration, including the Justice Department, has repeatedly sidestepped questions about whether it endorses the NYPD’s tactics.
“They think that they can do whatever they want and get away with it,” Sadiq said. The document also suggests a broader international intelligence mission than the department has previously acknowledged. The NYPD has officers stationed in 11 foreign cities such as London, Paris, Madrid, and Tel Aviv, where they work with local police and act as the NYPD’s eyes and ears overseas.
In their recommendations for the foreign liaison unit, analysts wrote that officers should: “Focus international intelligence collection on the Iranian threat, to include the activities of the IIS, Hezbollah, Hamas etc. throughout Europe and the Middle East.”
NYPD officers abroad are not supposed to be spies and do not answer to the U.S. director of national intelligence or the CIA station chiefs who coordinate America’s efforts to gather intelligence on Iran. In fact, the NYPD’s international officers aren’t even paid by the department. Rather, the program is paid for through a nonprofit foundation that raises money from corporate donors.
It has not previously been known that the NYPD would consider gathering overseas intelligence on Iranian intelligence services. The police department does not disclose details about the inner workings of the international program to the City Council, to Congress or to U.S. intelligence agencies.
February 3rd, 2012, 2:55 am
Uzair8 said:
Heard 2 programmes on the BBC World Service last night/early morning.
1. Assignment
Tim Whewell goes undercover in Damascus. Tries to find out more about the ‘silent majority’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00n5sr5
2. Witness
The Hama massacre. 10 minutes long.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00n5sr7
February 3rd, 2012, 3:41 am
jad said:
The establishment of an additional new opposition party called “National Current for Change” basically it collect the most aggressively vocal Syrian opposition figures, Ashraf Moukdad, Ammar Qurabi, Wa7eed Saqr, Bahiya Mardini, Bassam J3ara and others who share the same views, in short, the ‘Nato worshiper’ crowds, now SNC has a very loud competitor for who can beg the Nato more and shout and curse louder than the other…
Another wild monster will enter the Syrian circus, GOD HAVE MERCY ON ALL OF US!
Ashraf Almoukdad
بشرى لكل السوريين الأحرار:
أعلن امس في استنبول عن تأسيس أول وأكبر حزب “عقلاني سوري”اجتمع مايزيد عن مئة ناشط سوري معروف من داخل سورية وخارجها لتأسيس تيار التغيير الوطني أكثرهم حضر شخصيا والبعض حضرا روحا وقكرا. وبعد يومين من مناقشات حامية ومركزة تمخض هذا الحزب ليمثل الجهة الثانية في الحياة السورية السياسية في مابعد التحرير
انتخبت 16 لجنة والذين بدورهم انتخبوا رئاستهم ومن ثم تم انتخاب منسق لهذه اللجان بقيادة المعارض الشرس عمار القربي….يذكر أن جميع من اشترك في تاسيس هذا التيار هم من اشاوس المعارضة السورية ومن هم وقفوا منذ ماقبل الثورة يطالبون بقلع بشار الاسد ونظامه العفن…يذكر بين هؤلاء الاسماء …وحيد صقر.بسام جعارة. جوجيت علم.بهية مارديني. وسيم ابازيد. بسام العمادي. الداعية زاهر بعدراني. اشرف المقداد. حمال ابو خالد.
ميساء اقبيق. رضوان باديني. شادي الخش. يوسف الاموي.غسان الاطرش.سيد السباعي.باسل الكويفي. عبد الكريم الريحاوي.ميرفت دهان. لمى الاتاسي.وسيم سنقر. بسام البني.صلاح بلال. وغيرهم من المعارضين السوريين المعروفين بالتصاقهم باهداف الثورة وايمانهم بمطالب ثوارنا..وبدأ هذا التيار اعمله مباشرة بتشكيل اربعة مكاتب اقليمية في استنبول والقاهرة وواشنطن واوروبا …سنوافيكم بالتفاصيل تباعا
February 3rd, 2012, 3:48 am
Juergen said:
Jad
Thank you for posting the article about the daughter of Quabbani.
Irritated
Before 2006 it was highly unthinkable to see young Germans running around with flags or be openly proud of their country. ( except those soccer fans) With the 2006 world cup in the country changed a lot, it was no longer an obstacle to many to be proud of being german. But i would say until now we still arent so nationalistic, many dont know the national song, you hardly see flags on peoples property, just in front of national symbols. I put it that way many give nationalism a miss, its just not so important.
February 3rd, 2012, 4:13 am
Uzair8 said:
An interesting piece by Rami Khouri.
Syrian scenarios
By Rami G. Khouri
Friday, 03 February 2012
http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2012/02/03/192264.html
February 3rd, 2012, 4:16 am
mjabali said:
Mr. Ghufran:
Sulsyman al-Murshid is from Jawbat Burghal and not from al-Ghab. Also, the Alawis do not consider the Murshdiyah as heretic, never heard of that. There is no text or edict to consider them heretic the way the Sunnis has a number of those decrees issues by their Sheikhs claiming the Alawis as heretics. The Alawis do not have a council (like the Sunnis) to see if these people are heretic or not. Never heard of that too. The Alawis I know take the beliefs of the Murshidiyah as something that does not concern them.
February 3rd, 2012, 4:41 am
Alan said:
Talks to Michel Chossudovsky, Director at the Center for Research on Globalization.Montrial- Canada
Assad may stay? UN gives in to Russia
February 3rd, 2012, 6:59 am
Alan said:
http://tv.globalresearch.ca/2012/02/syria-resolution-part-proxy-war-against-iran
Syria Resolution Part of Proxy War Against Iran
by grtv
The UN Security Council has agreed it wants to avoid military intervention in Syria – but differences remain over the way ahead. The U.S. – as well as its European and Arab allies – want President Assad out of power. For its part, Russia says the UN shouldn’t be used as a platform for excessive interference in Syrian affairs.
Neil Clark, a journalist and contributor to the Guardian, believes that Russia’s stance on Syria has much more international support than one may assume.
“It would be mistake for the Russians to think that they are isolated,” he said. “They are not, they have world opinion. It’s just the West which shouts the loudest. Britain, France, America, Israel, a few Arab states backed by the West – this is not the world. This is not the international community.”
February 3rd, 2012, 7:10 am
Hans said:
The number of death in Syria is reported by the liars of the Human watch group in London, who is 100% radicals and even worse then that they are the murders of many best of the Syrians over the last 60 years of Syria History after independence.
It is clear that there many dead people but it is more clear that many of the dead are killed by the terrorists, mercenaries oppositions as Ehsani found on his visit to Syria.
Russia and many of the world is saying that but the western propaganda and the some of the Arabs traitors are lying about it.
regime change is not going to happen in Syria to please the Israeli and the Americans.
the Radicals are taking all over the middle east that’s the new neocons policy of the Americans I am sure the is a reason for that maybe to bring the middle east countries back the age where pigs are more important then Arabs.
I believe any animal in the west is more important then arabs anyway! I have seen people spending almost 50K$ on one animal cancer treatment which many Arabs can’t afford.
One day we will know that the number of death in syria is a very inflated and probably many of the people who have died were the one killed by the criminals in Syria.
the Saudis prisons are full of people who are held without due process and tortured on a daily basis, same the other GCC countries but It is only the Syrian regime who is blamed for torturing its opposition. how about the Secret prisons the USA uses outside USA or how about the KGB. Mexico is a very rich country but very corrupt and worse than syria and many others i think the USA should invest in turning the regime there and have a mexican spring than an arab one.
go to hell the american policy! BTW Russia is awake and the UNSC is not passing anything it is going to fail worse than the AL and will see the Americans walking with their tails down. i love Hillary tail when i met her few years ago as a senator it was short now it is very long as a state secretary.
February 3rd, 2012, 7:26 am
Hans said:
BTW where is Robert Ford, is he playing Extra in any Hollywood movie coming out soon, I have not heard any recent egg throwing at him.
Is he convinced that the Syrians don’t want him around and they know that he is a Pig pretending to be a dove.
one conclusion from the Syrian and other Arabs springs that arabs are going to be led and ruled by the Americans and the Israelis for centuries to come.
February 3rd, 2012, 7:41 am
Alan said:
161. HANS,bravo!
February 3rd, 2012, 7:47 am
Syrialover said:
#154. Uzair8 I listened to the eyewitness reminiscence of the Hama massacre on the BBC link you gave us.
It took 3 nightmare weeks and the Government brazenly denied and lied about it during and after. The town exits were blocked by the army, communications cut, schools and hospitals shut, the media were kept away and there was an information vacuum inside Syria,the army went house to house and there were forced pro-Government rallies of the residents. A lot of the reminiscences came from a man who was 16 at the time and courageously went out every day to witness what was going on as the bodies mounted and were bulldozed, even taking photos.
The similarity to the Government’s current behaviour is chilling. You can see how easy, if not inevitable, another Hama or two would be for Bashar and Co.
Sickeningly, the sadistic Rifaat Assad, who directed the Hama operation, is living a fine life in the west, and I note his smartass con artist son is out there promoting and defending his cousin Bashar to whoever will listen. I hope the current commemorations of the Hama massacre are proving socially inconvenient for them.
However, just to put his bet both ways, Rifaat still shared some unkind insider info about his nephew Bashar, suggesting he is not a leader as his father was, more just taking orders from others.
But not as mean as the other properous exile Khaddam, who tells the same reporter how weak little Bashar was cruelly bullied by his brother Basil, and he’s “both brutal and indecisive” and so on.
Read: http://articles.cnn.com/2012-01-31/middleeast/world_meast_syria-assad-profile_1_bashar-damascus-spring-alawites?_s=PM:MIDDLEEAST
February 3rd, 2012, 8:35 am
Alan said:
Dialogue with George Galloway about Palestine (University of Indonesia, 2012)
February 3rd, 2012, 8:39 am
Alan said:
http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/02/02/libya-diplomat-dies-militia-custody
Libya: Diplomat Dies in Militia Custody
Investigate Death of Former Envoy to France
(Tripoli) – A Libyan diplomat who served as ambassador to France died less than 24 hours after he was detained by a Tripoli-based militia from the town of Zintan, Human Rights Watch said today. Dr. Omar Brebesh, who was detained on January 19, 2012, appears to have died from torture.
A preliminary autopsy report viewed by Human Rights Watch said the cause of death included multiple bodily injuries and fractured ribs. Photos of Brebesh’s body, seen by Human Rights Watch, show welts, cuts, and the apparent removal of toenails, indicating that he was tortured prior to death. Human Rights Watch also read a report by the judicial police in Tripoli, which said that Brebesh had died from torture and that an unnamed suspect had confessed to killing him.
February 3rd, 2012, 8:44 am
Ghufran said:
2 Americans were kidnapped in Egypt which is seeing a surge in crimes after the removal of Mubarak (hint).demonizing the police force and massive protests were critical factors in this sad outcome. One year after the revolution, things are not looking good in Egypt , a country that does not have Syria’s religious and ethnic diversity.
February 3rd, 2012, 8:46 am
Alan said:
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15707991,00.html
Für Russland sei es wichtig, mit den arabischen Staaten zusammenzuarbeiten, sagt Hans-Henning Schröder, Leiter der Forschungsgruppe Russland der Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik. Deshalb wolle das Land nicht im Schlepptau der USA in die Region einmarschieren
February 3rd, 2012, 8:54 am
majedkhaldoun said:
In the period after the Assad removal, we will have a very dangerous period,just like the one we witness now in Egypt, the cause of it is the economic situation, there will be chaos,crimes and frustrations,it will last a year or two, ofcourse the Assad is to blame since he refused to have orderly transition,and choose the oppresion solution, there will be revenge,no way we can avoid it,many will die, tens of thousands,We will need help from Arab countries.
We need to have a goverment ready to be in charge, I very much hope that the SNC,who has great people,form a goverment in exile to be ready to manage this period soon after the departure of Assad.
February 3rd, 2012, 9:13 am
Tara said:
There was a genuine comment yesterday that ached my heart. I will be with soul hurt all day today.
February 3rd, 2012, 9:17 am
Atheist Syrian Salafist Against Dictatorships said:
Ghufran
I remember your dismissing Nizar Qabbani’s political peoetry and commenting something to the effect that he was mainly good at writing “love” poetry. I wanted to comment at the time but let it slide until I saw Annie’s post at #146 above and your comment came to mind again.
Sadly, you don’t seem to know the full extent of his work because his political oeuvres were several notches more powerful and impressive (as in leaving a strong impression in one’s mind and heart) than his romantic stuff, excellent though it is. Did you listen attentively to #146 above? And after that ends you will be offered several other videos of or about him, not to mention the myriad of poems of his that you can find online, if that one poem was not proof enough. He was, still is and will forever be the tongue of all Arab dissidents and a painful thorn in the eye and side of all Arab dictators and their apologists.
February 3rd, 2012, 9:41 am
zoo said:
More calls for foreign intervention to get out of the stalemate
Finish Him
Without international intervention, there’s a good chance that Syria’s dictator, Bashar al-Assad, could still rule for years.
BY DANIEL BYMAN | FEBRUARY 2, 2012
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/02/02/finish_him_assad_syria
February 3rd, 2012, 9:47 am
irritated said:
#169 Majedalkhadoon
Waking up to reality… starting to fear what comes after Bashar. Don’t you think it is too late. You would not be able to blame the regime anymore. Who would you blame? The opposition has opened a can of worms. The Syrians must live with these worms swarming their lives..
“We will need help from Arab countries.” oh yes, plenty of Saudi soldiers will do the job.
February 3rd, 2012, 9:56 am
irritated said:
158. Juergen
Nationalism like sectarianism and racism are sleeping virus. Now that Germany is successfull economically, is not involved in any controversial war, all is quiet on the front.
Nazism grew in a moment of deep economical crisis.
Pray God that Germany stays economically successful, as the virus is waiting to come out even if it shows no signs.
This is also probably why the inconsciently Germans are so eager to work hard to avoid such situation where their old demons may come back.
February 3rd, 2012, 10:05 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
What is the name of this Friday ?
.
February 3rd, 2012, 10:12 am
zoo said:
Israel’s new friends and potential allies
http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/israels-new-allies-6441
Today’s realities—which include both already radicalized and radicalizing neighboring Arab states and parties and increasingly militant non-Arab Muslim states in an outer ring (Turkey, Iran, Pakistan)—have prompted Israel to expand its concept of the potentially friendly or even aligned “periphery” to include such states as Azerbaijan, India, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and (Greek) Cyprus. Last month, Southern Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, visited Israel, and Netanyahu is expected to reciprocate the visit this year. For decades, Israel supplied southern Sudan’s Christian and animist rebels with arms and training in their guerrilla war against (northern) Sudan’s Muslim Arab government. Now that the South is independent, it is likely that relations with Israel, including military relations, will flourish.
{..}
February 3rd, 2012, 10:17 am
zoo said:
Russia defending interests in Mideast
http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/russia-defending-interests-in-mideast-1.975116
Should the Al Assad regime fall, Turkey is set to benefit the most. For Moscow, this will change the balance of power from central Asia to Middle East
* By Marwan Kabalan, Special to Gulf News
* Published: 00:00 February 3, 2012
…
Domestically, the Russian government fears the fast-growing internal opposition movement since the early December parliamentary elections, which was marred by fraud and ballot stuffing. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is seeking a return to the presidency next month, seems to be convinced that any popular protest in any part of the world, and especially in the Middle East, is supported by the US; it will have a domino effect and it will hence be inspiring for his internal opposition. The closer he, therefore, gets to the March election, the more resistance he will produce to prevent a victory by the opposition in Syria. Here, Putin is in fact defending himself not the Syrian regime.
…
Finally, Russia seems to be concerned about the rise of Turkey’s influence in the Middle East, the Balkans, Central Asia and Caucasia. With one third of its population being Muslims, Russia views Turkey’s policies, especially under the Islamically-oriented government of the AKP, with great suspicion. Turkey is marketing itself as model of liberal Islam in the Islamic world and with the ascendance of Islamist forces in all of the Arab countries which have so far witnessed change; Turkey is acting or presenting itself as a mentor for these forces.
Bearing in mind the centuries-old historic animosity between the Sunni Muslim Ottoman Empire and Christian Russia, Moscow is absolutely alarmed by the rise of Turkey and its interpretation of Islam. Should the Syrian regime fall too, Turkey, which has openly supported the opposition, is set to benefit the most.
February 3rd, 2012, 10:23 am
jad said:
SNC through Ghalyoun instead of taking Clinton’s advise of giving the Syrian religious minorities some assurance for the future, he is threatening them:
غليون ينذر العلويين وبقية الأقليات الدينية : لا ضمانة لمستقبلكم وعدم تهميشكم في المستقبل إلا بقدر مشاركتم في الثورة !؟
لندن ، الحقيقة ( خاص): أنذر برهان غليون ، رئيس “المجلس الوطني السوري” ، الطائفة العلوية والأقليات الدينية الأخرى بالتهميش وبعدم ضمان مستقبلها ، بعد سقوط النظام ، بالنظر لعدم مشاركتها في الثورة! فجوابا على سؤال يتعلق بضمانات من أن لا يجري الانتقام من الطائفة العلوية إذا ما وصل الأخوان المسلمون إلى السلطة ، قال غليون في مقابلة معه نشرتها “الحياة” اللندنية الصادرة اليوم ” إن أهم وأكبر ضمان لعدم تهميش أي طائفة هو مشاركة الطائفة في هذه للثورة”، أي ليس الدولة المدنية التي يبشّر بها!؟
من ناحية ثانية ، وصف غليون حزب الله في المقابلة نفسها حزب الله بحزب تخريب ، وهو التوصيف الذي تطلقه إسرائيل على المنظمات الفلسطينية المسلحة. وقال إن حزب الله ” سيتحدث لغة مختلفة بعدما يسقط نظام الأسد لأن ليس لديه اي حلول من التعاون والتنسيق مع سورية إذا أراد أن يكون فعلاً قوة إيجابية في المنطقة وليس قوة تخريب “.
February 3rd, 2012, 10:46 am
Syria no Kandahar said:
The friendly Arab Russian Republic:
أعربت وزارة الخارجية الروسية اليوم الجمعة عن قلقها إزاء الإضطرابات في مصر، وحثت على تفادي المزيد من التصعيد.
ونقلت وسائل إعلام روسية عن بيان للوزارة أن “موسكو قلقة من الإضطرابات الواسعة النطاق التي تشهدها مصر الصديقة، وتعتقد أن المهمة الرئيسية (للسلطات المصرية) تتمثل بمنع تصعيد العنف لاحقاً واتخاذ كافة التدابير اللازمة ضمن الإطار القانوني من أجل إعادة الإستقرار والهدوء بالبلاد”.
وقال البيان “ندعو السلطات وكافة القوى السياسية والشخصيات ذات النفوذ إلى التحلي بضبط النفس والإستعداد للتعاطي مع القضايا الماثلة أمامهم عبر الحوار والإجراءات التوافقية، وندعو أيضاً إلى التركيز على مواصلة المسيرة السياسية والإصلاحات الإقتصادية والإجتماعية تحقيقاً لمصالح جميع المصريين”.
ودعت الخارجية المواطنين الروس مجدداً إلى الإمتناع عن زيارة المناطق التي تشملها المظاهرات أو الفعاليات الإجتماعية الأخرى، كما دعت رعاياها الموجودين بالمنتجعات المصرية إلى عدم مغادرة المناطق السياحية.
وكانت اشتباكات دامية وقعت بين جماهير ناديي “الأهلي” و”المصري” لكرة القدم في نهاية مباراة جمعتهما باستاد مدينة بورسعيد (شرق القاهرة) مساء الأربعاء الفائت، وأسفرت بحسب وزارة الصحة المصرية عن مقتل 74 وإصابة 188 آخرين.
عكس السير
February 3rd, 2012, 10:47 am
jad said:
Exposed: The Arab agenda in Syria
By Pepe Escobar
“Here’s a crash course on the “democratic” machinations of the Arab League – rather the GCC League, as real power in this pan-Arab organization is wielded by two of the six Persian Gulf monarchies composing the Gulf Cooperation Council, also known as Gulf Counter-revolution Club; Qatar and the House of Saud.
Essentially, the GCC created an Arab League group to monitor what’s going on in Syria. The Syrian National Council – based in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries Turkey and France – enthusiastically supported it. It’s telling that Syria’s neighbor Lebanon did not.
When the over 160 monitors, after one month of enquiries, issued their report … surprise! The report did not follow the official GCC line – which is that the “evil” Bashar al-Assad government is
indiscriminately, and unilaterally, killing its own people, and so regime change is in order. ”
{…}
“The report is adamant. There was no organized, lethal repression by the Syrian government against peaceful protesters. Instead, the report points to shady armed gangs as responsible for hundreds of deaths among Syrian civilians, and over one thousand among the Syrian army, using lethal tactics such as bombing of civilian buses, bombing of trains carrying diesel oil, bombing of police buses and bombing of bridges and pipelines.”
{…}
“The Syrian National Council is essentially a Muslim Brotherhood outfit affiliated with both the House of Saud and Qatar – with an uneasy Israel quietly supporting it in the background. Legitimacy is not exactly its cup of green tea. As for the Free Syrian Army, it does have its defectors, and well-meaning opponents of the Assad regime, but most of all is infested with these foreign mercenaries weaponized by the GCC, especially Salafist gangs. ”
{…}
“So here’s a suggestion to the House of Saud and Qatar; since you’re so seduced by the prospect of “democracy” in Syria, why don’t you use all your American weaponry and invade in the dead of night – like you did to Bahrain – and execute regime change by yourselves?”
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/NB04Ak01.html
February 3rd, 2012, 10:55 am
Syria no Kandahar said:
The new liberated Free Graveyard of Libiya:
نابشو القبور في ليبيا يعبثون بقبور مجاهدين ضد الاستعمار الإيطالي وضد العدو الإسرائيلي
يتناقل الوسط الليبي منذ يومين قيام عن مجموعة مجهولة بالدخول إلى مقبرة شهداء الهاني في العاصمة الليبية طرابلس في محاولة لنبش قبر والد القذافي المتوفى منذ سنوات طويلة، إضافة إلى نبش قبر ابن القذافي سيف العرب الذي قتل مؤخراً مع عدد من أحفاد القذافي ومحاولة العبث بقبور بعض المجاهدين الليبيين ضد الاستعمار الإيطالي وقبور الذين شاركوا في معارك التحرير ضد العدو الإسرائيلي، وهم
وقال الكاتب الصحفي الليبي أسعد أبوقيلة في تصريحات له أن ليبيا الجديدة اليوم هي هدم الأضرحة والقباب المبنية على قبور الشهداء والصالحين ونبش القبور والاضرحه وحرق عظام ألموتي مستمرة في ليبيا وهذا يحدث لاول مرة في تاريخ ليبيا منذ سقوط نظام الزعيم الليبي الراحل معمر القذافي وهذه ظاهرة غريبة علي الشعب الليبي , وكل يوم نسمع خبر جديد عن هدم مقبرة ونبش قبور وحرق العظام من مجموعات ليبية مسلحة مجهولة.
وتابع أن عمليات نبش القبور أصبحت تطال كل الأضرحة والقبور الليبية بعد أن تم نبش كل قبور أسرة القذافي, حيث تفيد مصادر إعلامية “للثوار” بنبش جثمان مؤسس الحركة السنوسية المهدي السنوسي في زاوية التاج في مدينة الكفرة وهو والد الملك إدريس السنوسى ملك ليبيا الذي أطاح به القذافي إثر ثورة شعبية ليبية.
February 3rd, 2012, 10:57 am
jad said:
SYRIA. TEXT OF LEAKED ARAB LEAGUE MISSION REPORT Report Reveals Media Lies Regarding Syria
Commentary by Michel Chossudovsky
Global Research Editor’s Note
We bring to the attention of our readers the Observers’ Mission Report of the League of Arab States to Syria.
The report acknowledges the existence of “an armed entity” involved in the killings of civilians and police as well as the conduct of terrorist acts, which in turn have contributed to triggering actions by government forces.
The Report refers to “armed opposition groups” as well as to the “Free Syrian Army”, both of which, according to the AL Mission, are involved in the deliberate killing of innocent civilians:
“In some zones, this armed entity reacted by attacking Syrian security forces and citizens, causing the Government to respond with further violence. In the end, innocent citizens pay the price for those actions with life and limb.
“In Homs, Idlib and Hama, the Observer Mission witnessed acts of violence being committed against Government forces and civilians that resulted in several deaths and injuries. Examples of those acts include the bombing of a civilian bus, killing eight persons and injuring others, including women and children, and the bombing of a train carrying diesel oil. In another incident in Homs, a police bus was blown up, killing two police officers. A fuel pipeline and some small bridges were also bombed. ”
“Such incidents include the bombing of buildings, trains carrying fuel, vehicles carrying diesel oil and explosions targeting the police, members of the media and fuel pipelines. Some of those attacks have been carried out by the Free Syrian Army and some by other armed opposition groups.”
The Mission also underscored to role of media distortion in the coverage of events in Syria as well as the campaign to discredit ithe Mission’s findings:
“The Mission noted that many parties falsely reported that explosions or violence had occurred in several locations. When the observers went to those locations, they found that those reports were unfounded.
The Mission also noted that, according to its teams in the field, the media exaggerated the nature of the incidents and the number of persons killed in incidents and protests in certain towns.”
The Report also underscored attempts to discredit the Mission and dismiss its findings:
Arab and foreign audiences of certain media organizations have questioned the Mission’s credibility because those organizations use the media to distort the facts. It will be difficult to overcome this problem unless there is political and media support for the Mission and its mandate. It is only natural that some negative incidents should occur as it conducts its activities because such incidents occur as a matter of course in similar missions.
Also of significace were attempts by officials of AL governments to pressure several of the observers into providing “exaggerated accounts of events”.
Some observers reneged on their duties and broke the oath they had taken. They made contact with officials from their countries and gave them exaggerated accounts of events. Those officials consequently developed a bleak and unfounded picture of the situation.
Also of significance is the fact that the Mission acknowledged that peaceful protests by unarmed civilians against the government were not the object of government crackdowns:
group team leaders [of the Observation mission] witnessed peaceful demonstrations by both Government supporters and the opposition in several places. None of those demonstrations were disrupted, except for some minor clashes with the Mission and between loyalists and opposition. These have not resulted in fatalities since the last presentation before the Arab Ministerial Committee on the Situation in Syria at its meeting of 8 January 2012.
While the Mission does not identify the foreign powers behind “the armed entity”, the report dispels the mainstream media lies and fabrications. It largely confirms independent media reports including Global Research’s coverage of the armed insurrection since April 2011.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=29025
February 3rd, 2012, 10:59 am
Syria no Kandahar said:
One of the Democracy exporters:not even one woman:
أعلن في الكويت رسميا نتائج انتخابات مجلس الأمة، حيث حقق التيار الإسلامي نتائج متقدمة فيما خلا البرلمان الجديد من وجود أي امرأة.
وحصل الاسلاميون على 21 مقعدا من أصل 50 مقعدا، فيما حصدت المعارضة ثلثي المقاعد.
وتشير الأرقام إلى خسارة معظم النواب السابقين الذين اصطفوا إلى جانب الحكومة والذين ارتبطت أسماؤهم بقضية الإيداعات المليونية.وأظهرت النتائج أيضا خسارة قوى ليبرالية في الانتخابات التي تعد الرابعة خلال ست سنوات.
February 3rd, 2012, 11:02 am
irritated said:
#178. jad
And Juppé advises the Syrian Christians to dissociate from Bashar without offering them any protection or guarantee.
If he does not remember what happens to the Iraqis Christians, the Syrians know it well since they are the ones who hosted the refugees while France and the Western countries were looking on the other side.
February 3rd, 2012, 11:23 am
jad said:
The French state that the resolution is ‘so close’ to be signed, the Russian within 30min state ‘No it’s not’!
17:28-فاليرو: تصويت في مجلس الأمن “قريبا للغاية” على مشروع قرار بشأن سوريا
17:56-خارجية روسيا: لا نستطيع دعم مشروع القرار المعدل حول سوريا بمجلس الأمن
February 3rd, 2012, 11:25 am
irritated said:
#184. jad
With such a report denying all Al Jazeera’s rantings and biases, no wonder HBJ rushed the AL to the UNSC.
No wonder too that the Al Jazeera tried all it could to discredit the mission and Al Dabi and spread its poison in international media.
One more observer mission reports like would have destroyed the whole structure he has been funding for the last months.
A the UNSC, he is not dealing with dummies, he already got a slap and I don’t think it is the last one.
Contrary to the weak and confuses Arab FM, the Russians are tough cookies.
February 3rd, 2012, 11:33 am
Jad said:
Irritated
An observer saying that to deny the armed militia existance is an insult to people’s intelligent:
فتحي بلحاج نكران الجماعات المسلحة ضحك على العقول
February 3rd, 2012, 11:46 am
irritated said:
Jad #191
Remember that ALL foreign countries, including the USA warned the opposition to keep the demonstrations peaceful and avoid at all costs to use violence and weapons against the regime.
This is why the pro-opposition media and groups have tried all they could to deny the existence of these armed gangs and mutineers.
Now the reality blew up to their face at the AL meeting in Cairo, so it was so embarrassing that the Qatarmafia tried to prevent the publication of the report, withdrew the observers and hastily called for a UNSC’s immediate resolution to a regime change, hoping that the report would be forgotten.
The Russian objections and the delays have given a chance to the report to pop up in the media and is now contributing to re-enforce the Russian stand and weaken the Qatarmafia.
What tricks are they are going to use? probably escalation of violence and intense media misinformation so the world believes that the AL plan will save the lives that Russia’s “killing machine” is executing. Yalla ya Al Jazeera, the lying machine!
February 3rd, 2012, 12:03 pm
jad said:
Homs
HNN| شـبكة أخـبار حمص
تصوير شبكة أخبار حمص الأولى
http://www.facebook.com/HNN.SYRIA
عمدت المجموعات الإرهابية المسلحة على إقامة حواجز
وهذه المتاريس في منطقة الخالدية المتاخمة لمنطقة حي السبيل والتي من شأنها استخدامها لفصل الحارات
وتهجير أهاليها ورفعوا عليها علمهم الساقط
الذي يعلم كلنا رمزه وماهيته
كما يعرض الفيديو بعضاً من إرهابهم وتخريبهم
وكيف آلت إليه الحال في حمص
وكما يبين مدى تراجع الخدمات في حمص نظراً لحجم الإرهاب
الذي تعاني منه المدينة
ملاحظة : هذا الفيديو تم تصويره سابقاً
ونؤكد أننا أخرنا نشره كنوع من اجراءات السلامة
وللمشاهدة على اليوتيوب :
حمص: المتاريس التي أقامتها المجموعات الإرهابية
http://youtu.be/R7xRITVcVss
February 3rd, 2012, 12:06 pm
zoo said:
Kuwait Islamists ride opposition election surge (no women)
By HUSSAIN AL-QATARI, Associated Press – 7 hours ago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hv-3fNSSWiB1L_c_GwZ3mWMQHGYA?docId=c24078aca1fc47f692fb237eb7197082
KUWAIT CITY (AP) — Opposition groups that include hard-line Islamists have taken control of Kuwait’s parliament, according to election results Friday, in a rise that could limit the hands of pro-Western rulers in dealings such as U.S. plans to boost its military presence in the oil-rich Gulf nation.
The conservative surge also left the 50-seat assembly without any women lawmakers.
(..)
February 3rd, 2012, 12:11 pm
jna said:
Foreign-based Syrian opposition sets preconditions for Moscow talks
Feb 3, 2012
The main foreign-based Syrian opposition faction known as the Syrian National Council will not join the proposed Russian-hosted talks about a political settlement in Syria until the Syrian government ends anti-opposition violence and releases all political detainees.
The Council’s leader Burhan Ghalioun spoke about this in an interview published by Al Hayat on Friday.
The Syrian government and the Syrian-based opposition have indicated readiness to attend the Moscow talks.
(TASS)
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012/02/03/65269589.html
(Is Ghalioun pledging to desist opposition violence and release all kidnaped persons and hostages?)
February 3rd, 2012, 12:25 pm
Jerusalem said:
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisian forces killed two gunmen and captured a third after clashes on Wednesday night with what appeared to be a group of Islamists smuggling weapons in the east of the country, several security and government sources said. (I guess Islamist have green light to smuggle weapon everywhere in the Arab world besides Qatar and SA)
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE81106R20120202
————-
I wrote to Al jazeerah asking how come the live blog of Tunisia has been removed and we hear nothing on Tunisia anymore same with Libya as if these two countries are wiped of the map. I got a reply saying I should look under Africa tab. Which I did, but there was more news about Mogadishu and Somalia…The mission of destruction has been accomplished no need for survival count anymore.
February 3rd, 2012, 12:30 pm
zoo said:
Post-revolution or pre-revolution?
Over 1400 injured in central Cairo’s clashes: ministry
English.news.cn 2012-02-03 19:13:23
CAIRO, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) — Egyptian Health Ministry said Friday that some 1,482 were wounded in clashes that erupted Thursday night between police and protesters near the Interior Ministry building in central Cairo.
The ministry said 835 of the injured were treated on the spot, while the other 647 were sent to hospitals, according to official MENA news agency.
During the clashes, the security forces fired tear gas canisters to prevent the crowds from reaching the building.
A new wave of protests has hit several areas of Egypt. In Suez, two people died and dozens were injured after protests erupted outside the provincial government institutions.
Local security authorities said thugs should be blamed for the clashes.
The protests were triggered by a riot of football fans in Egypt ‘s Port Said Stadium after a match on Wednesday night, in which 74 people were killed and hundreds injured.
February 3rd, 2012, 12:33 pm
jad said:
Palestine is Still the Issue | Interview – The Angry Arab on Zionism, Syria, and more
{…}
AW: I put on Twitter that I was going to interview you, and I got several Syrians angrily Tweeting questions.
AA: On Facebook, if you read Arabic… both sides are very unhappy with me, and the Syrian regime side, they have a lot of supporters. And both sides are unhappy. What can I say? I have nothing to apologise for. If anything, I think the positions taken by the Syrian National Council have reinforced every single suspicion and doubt that I have harboured against them all along. I do believe there is a real conspiracy, and I believe there is an attempt to hijack a legitimate uprising against a repressive regime.
AW: One question on Twitter was: “How does it feel to be called a regime apologist?”
AA: If some intellectual goons of the Syrian National Council think that they can intimidate me or delegitimize what I do, by calling me a “regime stooge” or something like that, of course that’s not going to bother me, because I know myself. I mean, as long as I get a daily barrage of criticisms, and sometimes insults – not as obscene as the ones I get from the other side, but still from the side of the regime – I know where I stand.
When I was opposed to the Syrian regime in 1976 when they invaded Lebanon, to crush a great leftist movement at the time, these people who are criticising me now were not even born. So I don’t need any sermons about the stance against the Syrian regime. Their intellectual method is very clear. It’s quite funny, in fact – you may be opposed to the Syrian regime, you may call for its overthrow, you may support armed rebellion against the Syrian regime. But – if you don’t support the Syrian National Council, you are for the regime. What the fuck is that? It’s absurd. In other words, I want to reassure my enemies that their attacks on me and name-calling do not bother me in the least, and the more they come, the better. I want to make the life of my enemies miserable…
I don’t support the Free Syrian Army. Now I have received information that the Free Syrian Army of Riad al-Assad comes from the background of Hizb ut-Tahrir [a political-religious movement]. No, I don’t support that. I don’t support pawns of Turkish, Islamist intelligence. But the principle: I am in favour of the right of every Arab population to raise arms against its government. Absolutely, and I make no apologies about that.
AW: The Tunisian government as well?
AA: Absolutely!
AW: One of your criticisms of Al-Jazeera [the popular Arabic satellite TV channel owned by the royal family of Qatar] is that they now rely on anonymous sources a lot. Someone on Twitter wanted me to ask: “why then do you use anonymous sources on your blog?”
AA: I am not a newspaper. I am not a TV station. I am a blogger who is doing a very personal thing. I share whatever information I have, and even rumours. Sometimes I receive rumours and I share them with people. Sometimes they are true, sometimes they are not – and whenever I am given evidence that something I have put is wrong, I always say that I’m correcting it, and I don’t change it. I have a policy of never re-editing things I have posted after I’ve posted them.
On Al-Jazeera [Arabic], when they used to air Bin Laden’s tapes, they used to put the disclaimer every time: “We have not yet authenticated this statement” — even when it was very clear it’s Bin Laden! [But now] whenever they put various clips from YouTube, they never have any disclaimers…
AW: So don’t you think journalists might have reason to be using anonymous sources in Syria?
AA: I did not in any way oppose the use of anonymous sources in journalism. I was making the point about how Al-Jazeera is now comical. This is like a caricature of propaganda TV in the Arab world…
AW: What accounts for the shift? Is it purely [Qatari] reconciliation with Saudi Arabia?
AA: Absolutely… Basically, Al-Jazeera have become to me much more malleable, much more obedient in its service for the shifts in Qatari foreign policy than I’d expected. But it has become a campaign by Qatar and whatever Qatar represents… It has become so feverish, the campaign is so comical, it’s so lacking in credibility, and therefore lending an undeniable, unwitting hand to the Syrian regime.
{…}
http://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/interview-angry-arab-asad-abukhalil/
From the Angry Arab today:
“Mason conspiracy
Speakers (especially Lebanese) on Syrian regime TV are out of control. They are invoking all sorts of theories. To them, Russia is a great super power again and is willing to defeat the US over Syria. They lately have been speaking about the Free Masons being involved in the Zionist plot against the Arab world. Kid you not. Yesterday, Lebanese Arab nationalist commentator, Rafiq Nasrallah, said that Henry Kissinger plotted the Sunni-Shi`ite split back in 1973. He did not explain, however, Kissinger’s role during the reign of Mu`awiyah.
Posted by As’ad AbuKhalil”
“Cooking for the male protesters
“She points out that Syrian women have been “providing logistical work for protest activity.”” Oh, spare me the fake attempt to attribute feminist motives to a movement that is led by the polygamous leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. Yes, early on there were secular trends but they were marginalized by regime repression and by Ikhwan and Salafites who hijacked the uprising. Providing logistical work? Yes, that means preparing the meals. The protests in Syria have become increasingly segregated and increasingly male chauvinist.
Posted by As’ad AbuKhalil”
“Cicero speaks to Hariri rag
So Cicero speaks to Hariri rag, Al-Mustaqbal. He expressed “salutations” to Sa`d Hariri for his political stance vis-a-vis Syria and said that the Syrian National Council does not receive funds from Hariri. And people expect progressives to follow those types? You want to throw the label of “revolutionary” on such characters?
Posted by As’ad AbuKhalil”
February 3rd, 2012, 12:40 pm
bronco said:
195. jna
No more pre-conditions that Bashar steps down?
In view of the UNSC resolution voting, I guess the Turks and the US are starting their pressure on the SNC to renounce to that pre-condition that will not be part of the resolution. If they stick to it, they will probably be sidelined and the dialog stipulated by the resolution will happen with the Syrian based opposition.
February 3rd, 2012, 12:41 pm
annie said:
I am reposting you Uzair8:
you should all listen. The Revolution is prevailing, the Revolution is winning. Join it and walk in the righteous way.
158. Uzair8 said:
Heard 2 programmes on the BBC World Service last night/early morning.
1. Assignment
Tim Whewell goes undercover in Damascus. Tries to find out more about the ‘silent majority’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00n5sr5
2. Witness
The Hama massacre. 10 minutes long.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00n5sr7
February 3rd, 2012, 12:52 pm
irritated said:
Annie #200
“Join it and walk in the righteous way.”
Preaching again? Hallelujah!
February 3rd, 2012, 12:57 pm
jad said:
أما آن الأوان لجوري دمشق أن يزهر
السلمية هي خيار من يريد للثورة و للوطن ان ينتصر … أما العسكرة فهي خيار من يريد للثورة فقـــط ان تنتصر ..
لماذا السلمية هي الخيار الاسلم لنصر الثورة :
1 – الأساليب اللاعنفية تمكن من استقطاب أعداد واسعة و كبيرة من الشعب السوري للمشاركة و الانضمام للثورة … بينما لا تستطيع ممارسة العمل المسلح إلا أعدادا قليلة و محدودة من الناس …
2 – اللاعنف يكشف للعالم اجرام آلة النظام العسكرية القمعية و يأتي بالمزيد من التعاطف العالمي مع ثورتنا … و النظام منذ بداية الثورة عمل جاهداً لاضعاف موقف الثورة دولياً و داخلياً من خلال الترويج لوجود “عصابات مسلحة” … و انتج افلاماً مفبركة تبرهن وجهة نظره … بل قام بالقاء البنادق امام البيوت في درعا لدفع الثورة للتسلح … مع الاسف اليوم نقوم نحن بتصوير تلك المشاهد التي تقتل تأييد الثورة داخلياً و خارجياً ..
3 – اللاعنف يساعد في تقوية الشعور بالذنب لدى مؤيدي النظام للابتعاد عن تأييده .. و لدى مسؤولي النظام للانشقاق عنه … بينما عسكرة الثورة و وجود مشاهد التدمير و الخراب في الحارات والازقة يدفع مؤيدي النظام للتمسك في النظام و ينهي فرصة انضمام الصامتين للثورة .. بل و يقوي الشعور بالذنب لدى الثوار السلميين الذين اُحبط الكثير منهم من عسكرة الثورة و فضل الابتعاد عنها للحياد …
4 – الأساليب اللاعنفية لها تأثيرها الإيجابي في دفع العنف المجتمعي عن الأجيال السورية المقبلة … هذا العنف الذي بدأ يعبر عن نفسه بشكل أو بآخر في المجتمع السوري حالياً ..
5 – الاساليب اللاعنفية تزيد تماسك المجتمع بكل مكوناته من خلال تضامنهم في تطبيق تلك الاساليب .. بينما الاساليب العنفية المطبقة حالياً في معظمها تترافق مع اعمال طائفية و هذا يشكل خطراً في المستقبل على تماسك المجتمع و وحدته ..
February 3rd, 2012, 12:57 pm
bronco said:
#198
Jad
Thanks for the link to the interview with As’ad Abukhalil, excellent.
February 3rd, 2012, 1:01 pm
zoo said:
Another slap to Erdogan’s freedom of speech?
Jailed publisher Zarakolu up for Nobel peace prize
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/jailed-publisher-zarakolu-up-for-nobel-peace-prize-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=12932&NewsCatID=339
Swedish MPs have applied to the Nobel Peace Committee to nominate jailed publisher Ragıp Zarakolu for the peace prize, daily Radikal reported today….
..the books Zarakolu had published on the Armenian and Kurdish issues, as well as Islam, and said his efforts, for which he was jailed, contributed to bringing cultures together.
…
February 3rd, 2012, 1:06 pm
jad said:
Bassam AlKadi- بسام القاضي
حماه كانت مجزرة..
كانت مجزرة جزاروها الأخوان المجرمين ومن لف لفهم، ورفعت الأسد ومن لف لفه…
مجزرة يريد الخونة اليوم استعادة ذكراها لإعادتها على أرض الواقع معممة في كل شارع وحي سوري..
يريدونها اليوم معادة لكن فقط بيد الأخوان المجرمين والوهابيين وعبيد الناتو ممن حولوا سورية اليوم إلى نهر من دماء يسفكها جلاديهم باسم الحرية والديمقراطية والثورة……
حماه اليوم ليست قميص عثمان، بل هي السلاح الصدئ الذي يجربه غليون ومجرميه من سادة وعبيد لإحراق سورية بكاملها على مذبح أوهامهم….
February 3rd, 2012, 1:07 pm
jad said:
Bronco,
What’s your take on Jumblat’s latest statement? Is he stepping back a bit in his political stand against Syria?
خاص عربي-برس: هل احجم وليد جنبلاط عن مهاجمة السلطات السورية؟
“اثارت المواقف الأخيرة للنائب وليد جنبلاط حول الأزمة السورية علامات استفهام كبيرة، فالنائب الإشتراكي تتغير نبرة تصريحاته بين اسبوع واسبوع، رئيس جبهة النضال كان قد تغنى بالثوار الذين “ليس على صدورهم قميص في درعا والصنمين وبصرة الحرير وخربة غزالة وادلب وحمص وحماه وغيرهم في المدن والقرى السورية المختلفة هم الذين يمتلكون المستقبل لانهم يمثلون” “قوة الضعفاء”، ليعود ويعترف بوجود معارضة حملت السلاح وان كان جنبلاط قد برر لها ذلك بحجة الدفاع عن النفس، والأهم من هذا كله اكد جنبلاط انه لا يراهن على سقوط النظام السوري حالياً بعدما كان يعتقد ان حركة الشعوب لا تعود الى الوراء.”
http://arabi-press.com/?page=article&id=20999
February 3rd, 2012, 1:11 pm
zoo said:
The headline wording implies that the Russian are to blame for the death toll.
Russia rejects Syria text as deaths mount
AFP – 29 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/millions-urged-mark-massacre-syrias-hama-104226573.html
Russia on Friday rejected the latest bid for UN action to end the political crisis in Syria, as at least 20 more people were killed, several in clashes between loyalist and rebel troops.
{..}
February 3rd, 2012, 1:18 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
After 11 month of peaceful revolution, after over 7000 killed by Bashar thugs, and 60,000 were in jail, there are still people (pro regime)asking for the revolution to stay peaceful,
We need the FSA to get weapons,we need people to join the FSA, and FSA is the only way to win this revolution,God bless the FSA.
February 3rd, 2012, 1:24 pm
bronco said:
Jad
ref: jumblatt
As there seems to be a growing acceptance in the international community that Bashar will not be asked to step down but may step aside ( as Obama asked months ago) and that a dialog between the opposition and the regime is the only way out, I guess Jumblatt is, as usual, gradually changing his stance.
In addition the Druze community in Syria seems to have stayed consistently on Bashar’s side.
If Jumblatt is a precursor of a shift in the public opinion, then it seems the shift is coming.
February 3rd, 2012, 1:26 pm
Alan said:
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012/02/03/65278680.html
No Syria-Iran trade-off – Moscow
In a statement issued by its Foreign Ministry Friday, Russia categorically dismissed speculation that it may turn a blind eye to an American-led attack on Iran provided the United States promises not to attack Syria.
It said any attack on a sovereign country without the permission of the UN Security Council would only make matters worse. It also said the threats of sanctions against Iran must give way to negotiations.
(TASS)
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012/02/02/65163021.html
US, Britain, France up for war
The United States, Britain and France have begun to deploy troops in the Gulf in a move which experts say suggests preparations for a war with Iran. The first strikes could be carried out at the beginning of the summer, media reports say.
According to reports, troops are arriving at Masirah Island in Oman which is located south of the Strait of Hormuz where a US air base is deployed. Two American strike groups are currently stationed in the Gulf. Some reports say that the grouping will be reinforced with one more aircraft carrier, the destroyer Momsen and the nuclear submarine Annapolis. The US is also enhancing its presence in Israel and Kuwait. British troops and troops from the United Arab Emirates have been arriving in Saudi Arabia. The main target is Iran, whose nuclear program has long been an issue of particular concern in the West. Reports leaked out into the press that hundreds of penetration bombs capable of destroying heavily fortified underground bunkers have been delivered to an American base on the British Island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
The Strait of Hormuz, a major waterway for the transportation of Gulf oil to regions across the world, serves as yet another pretext for going into open confrontation. Tehran has threatened to block it, and the allies are getting ready to strike if it keeps its word. However, none of the countries involved is prepared for war, Vladimir Sazhin of the Institute of Oriental Studies, says.
“All countries involved in this conflict are facing domestic problems. An election race has got under way in the US. Parliamentary elections in Iran have been set for March 2nd, and presidential elections have been scheduled for the summer of 2013. France’s presidential elections are just round the corner, and Europe as a whole is too preoccupied with its own economic problems to handle another war.”
However, a concentration of military forces in the Gulf creates an explosive situation in the region. One accidental shot would be enough to trigger fire on both sides. If that happens, Vladimir Sazhin says, the allies will have a clear advantage.
“Should military operations start, the United States will send powerful naval groups backed by a large number of planes, and strategic bombers will fly from the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean. The US will be joined by Britain, France and Arab oil-producing monarchies in the Gulf. Iran has no allies in the region. Syria is not in the best of shape to support it. Tehran can count only on Hezbollah in Lebanon and possibly, on Hamas in Gaza.”
The most unpleasant thing about all this is that the deployment of troops in the Gulf and stoking tensions may disrupt talks between Iran and international organizations. Many countries, first of all Russia, believe that neither using force nor imposing sanctions will help resolve the conflict. Russia’s Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin has this to say.
“Sanctions have long become ineffective, so the Iranian issue has no room in the UN Security Council. The six-party talks on Iran and talks between the IAEA and Iran should take center stage on the international agenda because they give some hope. IAEA representatives are currently visiting Iran to look into the possibilities of arranging a six-party meeting with Iran. Even though there is hope, the increasing confrontation between the West and Iran is causing more and more concern. The Iran problem is going to be the hottest in 2012.”
All countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization share Russia’s concern. China is yet another major international player opposed to a military campaign against Iran. Unfortunately, neither protests from China, nor warnings from Russia have had any effect on the allies as they step up preparations for a new Middle East conflict.
February 3rd, 2012, 1:43 pm
Juergen said:
Syrian embassy in Berlin was attacked today.
this is a translation of the article published in a local newspaper:
Assad’s opponents in Berlin: 20 to 25 people invade Syrian Embassy
Opponents of Syrian President Assad on Friday stormed the embassy in Berlin. – Photo: dapdGut two dozen dissidents stormed on Friday, according to police and an eyewitnesses of the Syrian embassy in Berlin.
About 20 to 25 people have entered on Friday the empty Syrian embassy in Berlin-Tiergarten. The intruders broke open the door to get into the building in the Rauchstrasse, a police spokesman said. Inside the building, the invaders destroyed by its own pictures of President Bashar al-Assad and his father Hafez al-Assad. From two windows on the first floor they hung a banner and a flag of the Syrian opposition to the Syrian Kurds. At the main entrance, they sprayed the slogan “Down with Bashar.” The front of the building was sprayed with slogans. The police picked up some of the sprayer and detained them.
After the intruders left after 20 minutes and gathered outside the fence for a demonstration.
If the intruders are suspected of being Syrian, according to police. The building was empty. People were not injured. Information about the background, the police do not know yet. The regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s been months ago with brutal violence against critics. Thousands of people were killed. On Friday went to others in the opposition stronghold of Hama many residents against the government on the road. Occasion was the anniversary of a massacre, the soldiers of Hafez Assad’s father in 1982 had committed against the population, reported government opponents.
http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/assads-gegner-in-berlin-20-bis-25-personen-dringen-in-syrische-botschaft-ein/6149404.html
February 3rd, 2012, 1:57 pm
Alan said:
Russia Blocking UNSC Resolution on Syria
West & Arab proxies fail to swindle world with genocidal Libya-style regime change resolution at UNSC.
“…the UN is debating how to stop a conflict that it says has killed more than 5,400 people and is evolving into a civil war,” reports Businessweek. What Businessweek fails to mention is that the casualty reports continuously cited by both the UN and the corporate-media, come from an overtly compromised UN human rights report made up of “witness testimony” recorded not in Syria, or even in neighboring countries, but in Geneva by witnesses supplied by Syria’s foreign-funded opposition movement.
Additionally, the UN report was compiled not by objective third-parties, but by Karen Koning AbuZayd, a director of the US Washington-based corporate think-tank, Middle East Policy Council, that includes Exxon men, CIA agents, US military and government representatives, and even the president of the US-Qatar Business Council, which includes amongst its membership, AlJazeera, Chevron, Exxon, munitions manufacturer Raytheon (who supplied the opening salvos during NATO’s operations against Libya), and Boeing.
Clearly then, one can understand why Russia, China, and other nations are hesitant to sign onto what seems to be more of a plot of foreign-destabilization aimed at long planned regime change in Syria, than any legitimate concerns about the government’s alleged transgressions against an overtly armed, violent, and foreign-backed insurrection.
Businessweek notes that Russia’s hesitation may be well-founded with Libya in hindsight. Of course in Libya, a UN no-fly zone designed to allow NATO forces to “protect” Libyan civilians from government atrocities later determined to be fabricated, immediately turned into close-air support for foreign armed Libyan Islamic Fighting Group terrorists who committed a documented array of atrocities as they starved out and destroyed entire Libyan cities. One such city, Tawarga, saw its entire population of 30,000 purged by NATO-backed rebels, leaving what the London Telegraph described as a “ghost town.”
With this in mind, and even literally the same NATO-backed Libyan rebels now operating on Syria’s borders, it would be morally abhorrent for Russia, China, Brazil, India, South Africa, and others to allow what is clearly a repeat performance of NATO’s genocide in Libya, on behalf of Wall Street and London’s corporate-financier elite through the US, UK, EU governments, NATO and the UN.
It should be noted that America’s calls for regime change in Syria are not simply the result of spontaneous uprisings inside of Syria and the government’s response, but the culmination of decades of policy aimed toward replacing Syria’s government with a more pliant proxy regime. The latest unrest was in fact funded by the US, with open admissions coming from the US State Department itself.
Syria has been slated for regime change since as early as 1991. In 2002, then US Under Secretary of State, John Bolton, added Syria to the growing “Axis of Evil.” It would be later revealed that Bolton’s threats against Syria manifested themselves as covert funding and support for opposition groups inside of Syria spanning both the Bush and Obama administrations.
In an April 2011 CNN article, acting State Department spokesman Mark Toner stated:
We’re not working to undermine that [Syrian] government. What we are trying to do in Syria, through our civil society support, is to build the kind of democratic institutions, frankly, that we’re trying to do in countries around the globe. What’s different, I think, in this situation is that the Syrian government perceives this kind of assistance as a threat to its control over the Syrian people.
Toner’s remarks came after the Washington Post released cables indicating the US has been funding Syrian opposition groups since at least 2005 and continued until today.
In an April AFP report, Michael Posner, the assistant US Secretary of State for Human Rights and Labor, stated that the “US government has budgeted $50 million in the last two years to develop new technologies to help activists protect themselves from arrest and prosecution by authoritarian governments.” The report went on to explain that the US “organized training sessions for 5,000 activists in different parts of the world. A session held in the Middle East about six weeks ago gathered activists from Tunisia, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon who returned to their countries with the aim of training their colleagues there.” Posner would add, “They went back and there’s a ripple effect.” That ripple effect of course is the “Arab Spring,” and in Syria’s case, the impetus for the current unrest threatening to unhinge the nation and invite in foreign intervention.”
As the UN debates “how to stop a conflict that it says has killed more than 5,400 people” they may wish to turn toward the regimes bent to the will of Wall Street and London and kindly ask them to stop arming and backing terrorist death squads on Syria’s borders. They may consider drafting a resolution against the use of “NGOs” like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) to manipulate the political landscape of a foreign, sovereign nation-state.
While this is all wishful thinking, as these “international institutions” are nothing more than functionaries of Wall Street and London’s global ambitions, we must recognize that nations are increasingly reluctant to intervene in Syria, not because they are apathetic to the violence, but because it will only embolden the campaign of destabilization and terror demonstratively carried out by the West over the last year, built on similar campaigns carried out since the conclusion of World War II.
February 3rd, 2012, 2:07 pm
Sandra said:
For the anniversary of so called the massacre of Hama in 1982, Dr Larbi Sadiki wrote an article in Aljazerah named: The revenge of Hama, 30 years on. I felt compelled to translate and post on Al Jazeera English blog (despite all the load of crap and thumps down that I have received) the accomplishment of Muslim Brothers in Syria prior 1982 – they were posted in Arabic by a lady named Mona in Arab times- I take no credit in compiling the data, I just translated to the best of my Arabic.
————–
These are the accomplishments of Muslims brothers in Syria prior to so called Hama Massacre (1982).
1- Killing Dr. Muhamad Fadel (1977-2-22) Dean of Damascus faculty of law and was the defense lawyer for Palestinians in Geneva. He contributed 22 books in international law.
2- Killing the researcher and neurological Dr. Mahmud Shahada Khalil
3- Killing judge Darwish Al Zouni (1980-12-20)
4- Killing professor and president bar association Nazih Jamali in Damascus
5- Killing colonel Abed El Karim Razouk
6- Killing the president of Mujtahed Hospital in Damascus Dr. Ibrahim Nahameh
7- Killing sheik Muhamad El Khatib, the orator of Amawi mosque
8- Killing sheik Muhamad El Shami in Aleppo
9- Killing sheik Muhamad Adnan Al Lazkani
10- Killing the scientist Dr. Youssef Sayegh, professor at the university of Damascus
11- Killing the journalist Muhamad El Horani
12- Killing sheik Muhamad Adib Zekour while praying
13- Killing sheik Muhamad Hisham Akili while praying
As for the massacres in name of Muslim brothers
1- The massacre of -Al Madfahieh- in Aleppo killing 100 and injuring many (I don’t have the exact count);
2- The massacre of – El Klassieh Street- in Aleppo in 1980, 8 died including 6 children and 20 injured in addition of homes and stores destruction;
3- The massacre of private company -El Tajzeheh- in Sabeh Baherat square in Damascus in 1980;
4- The massacre of Latakia in 1981, Muslim brothers entered the clinic of Dr. Abed El Rahman Hilal, killed four patients in waiting room, plus the one with Dr. Hilal at that time and injured 10 other patients;
5- The massacre of Homs 1980 in Warsha Street, killing three children, injuring four civilians and destroying several homes;
6- The massacre of Al Ashrafieh in Aleppo 1980, killing four workers and injuring 7 others.
7- The massacre of Milling Institution in Aleppo, killing 11 civilians and injuring 19 others.
8- The massacre of Al Azbarieh in Damascus, killing 173 civilians and injuring hundreds.
And the list goes on; this is a synopsis of what was happening in Syria prior Hama incident. Many innocents perished in Hama but security and peace rained for a long time since that event. With the same logic of people of Hama according to the author Dr Larbi Sadik taking revenge after 30 years means Iraqis and Afghanis will be taking their revenge from Americans in 30 years from now? As long as religions keep teaching revenge the world will never be in peace. What happened to compassion and forgiveness?
February 3rd, 2012, 3:02 pm
Ghufran said:
أعلن في الكويت رسميا نتائج انتخابات مجلس الأمة، حيث حقق التيار الإسلامي نتائج متقدمة فيما خلا البرلمان الجديد من وجود أي امرأة.
وحصل الاسلاميون على 21 مقعدا من أصل 50 مقعدا، فيما حصدت المعارضة ثلثي المقاعد.
وتشير الأرقام إلى خسارة معظم النواب السابقين الذين اصطفوا إلى جانب الحكومة والذين ارتبطت أسماؤهم بقضية الإيداعات المليونية.وأظهرت النتائج أيضا خسارة قوى ليبرالية في الانتخابات التي تعد الرابعة خلال ست سنوات.
February 3rd, 2012, 3:11 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
Assad is living the worst nightmare he ever imagined. He knew the people feelings and ideologies and he said it was the difference with Tunis, Egypt, etc.
But did he really ever imagine that syria people would accept the Assad Democratic ¨Monarchy¨ for 100 years more?
He is so charming, so reformist, so cool, the doctor, but how can he be as profoundly stupid to believe this way?
More, after the mess he has created how can he be so border-line not to leave power?
February 3rd, 2012, 3:20 pm
jad said:
This is the smartest, wisest and most honest Syrian I ever heard so far
God bless him and send FSA and Alqaeda to hell! (Mr. Moderator, am I allowed to say that against the terrorist militias?)
أفهم من مليون واحد بيقرا و بيكتب
http://youtu.be/4f0d3hUUL0o
February 3rd, 2012, 3:25 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
الكنسية السورية أخَّرت مشاركة المسيحيين في الثورة
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/03/192394.html
February 3rd, 2012, 3:44 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
After reading today´s SC posts I got the following conclusion.
1) Assadists keep very active in posting opinions and propaganda, while oppositors almost stopped writting.
2) Assadists comments have a majority of thumbs down while little pro democracy comments have most thumbs up. Therefore anti Assad keep on reading and defending their views but not writting anymore.
I reflexes the reality in Syria. The regime keeps on spreading its propaganda alone while it loses public opinion and syrians support.
February 3rd, 2012, 3:49 pm
Halabi said:
Here is Assad’s secular, professional army cleansing away, fulfilling the popular demand of menhebaks. http://youtu.be/qNz0pj1DUPw
Humans will find the video revolting, but menhebaks will see this as a just military operation.
February 3rd, 2012, 3:57 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
218. HALABI
Frankly revolting. It shows how Assad Mafia Milicia is not professional in any sense. They are thugs, gangsters, burglars, criminals and ill minded people. The big problem is:
What are we gonna do with those people after the regime falls? If war longs they will be killed one by one but if the regime falls soon then they will live between syrian people and will probably create problems to be reinserted in an hipotetical civil society restoration.
February 3rd, 2012, 4:10 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Halabi
All those pro regime thugs are criminals,This is what they defend, this will fill their pockets,and they sleep without conscious,they never get tired defending their wicked God Bashar,they kneel and prostrate to kiss his dirty shoe, they know he is devil not God,they have no ethics or morality, but we will get rid of them, we will clean this world from them,
February 3rd, 2012, 4:18 pm
zoo said:
How a Regional ‘Great Game’ Reinforces Syria’s Deadlock
By Tony Karon | @tonykaron | February 2, 2012
Syria itself was the product of a “Great Game” among rival empires. The nation-state we know as Syria today was invented by France and Britain, which carved it out of the old Ottoman province of Syria (which back then included all of Lebanon, Israel/Palestine and much of Jordan) while sharing the victors’ spoils at the close of World War I. Today, the country’s fate may rest once again on the outcome of power games in distant capitals.
The U.N. Security Council remains deadlocked over a response to Syria’s escalating civil war. The death toll is rising steadily as the Assad regime relies on its security forces to brutally suppress challenges from protesters, and by an insurgency dominated by defectors from the armed forces. But an Arab League-sponsored resolution demanding that President Bashar al-Assad cede power to a national unity government pending new elections, is getting the proverbial “Nyet” from Moscow, supported by fellow veto-wielder Beijing.
Read more: http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2012/02/02/how-a-regional-great-game-reinforces-syrias-deadlock/#ixzz1lM9FgCcB
February 3rd, 2012, 4:23 pm
Juergen said:
Is Revlon still on here?
This is the video of the attack today on the Syrian Embassy in Berlin.
February 3rd, 2012, 4:25 pm
Ghufran said:
Jad,
That simple man in the video you posted has more honor and common sense than most politicians on both sides. His words reminded me of the people I left back home.
February 3rd, 2012, 4:26 pm
irritated said:
Juergen
Vandals force entry into Berlin’s Syrian Embassy
http://rt.com/news/line/2012-02-03/#id25989
According to Berlin police, 20 people broke into the Syrian Embassy in the German capital on Friday afternoon.
The men, all of whom were of Syrian origin, vandalized offices and defaced walls with spray-painted slogans before being detained by German police.
The German Foreign Minister issued a statement following the incident, saying that Germany takes its responsibility for diplomatic facilities very seriously.
Germany has long been a critic of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his crackdowns on the uprising that has taken hold of the country over the past 11 months.
February 3rd, 2012, 4:30 pm
zoo said:
* BREAKING NEWS * It looks like the Russian won: Bashar al Assad stays and no Russian arms embargo
Syria resolution text agreed – Russia’s UN envoy
Published: 03 February, 2012, 02:22
Edited: 03 February, 2012, 09:41
UN Security Council members have agreed to the text of a resolution on Syria. Reports say the new draft does not include provisions which Russia vocally opposed, namely an arms embargo and the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad.
“We have the text, which we will send to our capitals – and then we will wait for the result,” Churkin said after a four-hour closed session at the UN on Thursday. He added that the agreement on the resolution “does not at all predetermine its fate.”
A new version of the resolution has been put in its final form and prepared for a vote, Churkin said.
Diplomats have reportedly agreed to drop demands for an arms embargo against Syria and the resignation of President Assad.
However, the draft still “fully supports” the Arab League’s decision to “facilitate a political transition leading to a democratic, plural political system,” the Associated Press reports.
The Security Council could soon reach a consensus on issue, current council president Kodjo Menan of Togo said on Thursday. Security Council members want “swift action,” Menan said, but added that there is no deadline for such a decision.
The news follows days of heated political debates in the UNSC, with many members supporting a Western-backed draft calling for foreign nations to put an end to what some called the “Syrian killing machine.”
Russia and China were the only permanent Security Council members opposing the draft, reminding others that it was not their place to intervene in the domestic affairs of another country.
Russia’s permanent envoy to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin earlier said any proposals including an arms embargo or a demand for Assad’s resignation would be vetoed.
Diplomatic insiders say there had been two draft resolutions on the table in the UNSC. A version put forth by Morocco, the only Arab state on the Security Council, was opposed by Russia and China over provisions for foreign intervention in what both Moscow and Beijing call a ‘domestic’ affair. The two states had previously vetoed a similar resolution, fearing its passage would cause a repeat of the Libyan scenario with another NATO military incursion.
In turn, some UNSC members said Russia’s draft proposal was far too soft to have any effect on the conflict in Syria. To these claims, Churkin stressed the hope for a consensus on the matter, but noted that it was still too early to talk about a vote.
It is not in America’s plans to push for a resolution demanding foreign intervention in Syria, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland announced on Thursday. She added that America wants a peaceful solution to the conflict in the country, saying that the situation in Syria is different from that of Libya. Nuland stressed, however, that the US is calling on other countries to back the toughest possible resolution on Syria.
Michel Chossudovsky, the Director at the Center for Research on Globalization, believes that instead of revising the current draft resolution, the Security Council should scrap it and work out a new one, based on the results of the Arab League’s report.
“I think that resolution should be scrapped,” he told RT. “What they should do is throw out that draft resolution and have another one which actually focuses on the foreign forces – including Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia – which are supporting an insurgency in a sovereign country namely Syria.”
Chossudovsky believes that the Security Council paid too little attention to the Arab League observer mission’s “extremely explicit” report, which should be taken very seriously.
“The report should be made public,” he said. “This observer mission is made up of people who are not necessarily politically inclined. They are independent observers and they are saying the truth.”
http://rt.com/news/syria-united-nations-russia-377/
February 3rd, 2012, 4:35 pm
Tara said:
Bashar will be extracted with or without UNSC. All what he and his thugs should do is begging for forgiveness.
February 3rd, 2012, 4:48 pm
Ghufran said:
Sandro,
I hope you were not serious when you drew conclusions from the number of thumbs up and thumbs down posts received on this blog. The only conclusion from those numbers is that posters now have a predetermined position about posters not the message.
An anti regime poster can say ” the winter is cold” and he gets rewarded with a heavy dose of thumbs down from pro regime posters,and the same goes for the other camp.
Personally,I like to focus on the message despite the fact that many posters are now more predictable than aldounia tv or al-Ar’our.
February 3rd, 2012, 5:07 pm
Ghufran said:
طرابلس ـ ا ف ب: اكدت منظمة ‘هيومن رايتس ووتش’ الجمعة ان سفيرا سابقا لليبيا في فرنسا عمر بريبش توفي على الارجح تحت التعذيب بعد 24 ساعة من اعتقاله من قبل احدى الميليشيات.
واوضحت المنظمة ان ميليشيا من مدينة الزنتان مقرها في طرابلس اعتقلت عمر بريبش (62 سنة) في 19 كانون الثاني/يناير الذي توفي بعد 24 ساعة وان نتائج التشريح الاولية تفيد عن اصابته ‘بجروح مختلفة في الجسم وكسور في ضلوعه’ مما ساهم في وفاته.
واكدت المنظمة ان ‘صورا لجسده شاهدتها هيومن رايتس ووتش تظهر رضوض وجروح واظفار رجليه مقلوعة مما يدل على انه تعرض للتعذيب قبل موته’. وتزداد انتقادات منظمات الدفاع عن حقوق الانسان لميليشيات الثوار الذين قاتلوا نظام القذافي وتتهمها بتعذيب الاسرى ومعظمهم من انصار النظام البائد.
February 3rd, 2012, 5:21 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Zoo
Till we see the final UN resolution,there is no need to get excited,The people in Syria will get rid of Bashar,would Bashar abide by the UN resolution, that will say immidiate halt to violence and allow peaceful,demonstrations, or is he going to snob the UN and continue the killing?
February 3rd, 2012, 5:38 pm
Ghufran said:
اضرم مسلحون النار في مركز للشرطة شرق القاهرة الجمعة وافرجوا عن المحتجزين داخله، بحسب ما افاد مسؤولون امنيون لوكالة فرانس برس، وسط اضطرابات تعم البلاد في اعقاب اعمال عنف ادت الى مقتل 74 شخصا عقب مباراة لكرة القدم في بورسعيد.
واقتحم المسلحون الذين كانوا يحملون بنادق رشاشة، مركز الشرطة في ضاحية المرج، وحرروا المسجونين داخله قبل ان يضرموا النار في المبنى.
وفي حي الدقي في القاهرة، اقتحم خمسة رجال مركزا للشرطة وحاولوا الاستيلاء على سلاح احد عناصر الشرطة الا ان الاخير نجح في صده، بحسب المصدر نفسه.
وتشهد مصر تدهورا في الاوضاع الامنية منذ سقوط الرئيس السابق حسني مبارك قبل عام، خصوصا بسبب تخلي الشرطة، التي تواجه اتهامات بالتقصير على خلفية موقفها خلال الثورة، عن القيام بمهامها بشكل كبير.
كما تشهد العاصمة القاهرة، اكبر المدن في مصر وافريقيا من حيث عدد السكان البالغ عددهم حوالى 20 مليون نسمة، ارتفاعا في معدلات السطو المسلح وسرقة السيارات والهجمات على المصارف.
February 3rd, 2012, 5:40 pm
jad said:
#217
What George Sabra said is ‘disturbing’ and ‘dangerous’ for the future of the Syrian Christian community, he made a huge mistake speaking on behalf of his own faith while he is not even a religious Christian (he is an ex-communist) and not as a politician that the future may depend on his words.
This is why I keep ranting that the SNC members are very dangerous to the future of Syria when they don’t realize what they say.
Identifying himself as a ‘Syrian Christian’, he voluntarily made three deadly mistakes thinking that he is gaining the trust of the MBs to ‘consider’ him as the new head of SNC (I doubt that he will get it):
1- The most humiliating statement is when he ‘consciously’ considered some people to be less Syrians than others because they belong to a religious minority group in the most primitive form of political surrender.
2- Intentionally dismissing the Christian activist sacrifices on the ground for ‘his’ ‘revolution’ which is disgusting.
3- For a pure political reason, attacking Bourhan Ghalyoun that he didn’t do enough while we all know that he did try, my guess is because he wanted to please the hawks in his MB council.
I honestly feel so sorry for the Syrian Christians for having so many ignorant people speaking on their behalf.
Ya 3eeb alshoum!
February 3rd, 2012, 5:42 pm
Alan said:
I can congratulate myself! Win brains!
February 3rd, 2012, 5:43 pm
Ghufran said:
Alarb online web poll (1622 votes)
ألغت الجامعة العربية مهمة مراقبيها في سوريا وتوجهت إلى مجلس الأمن بحثا الحل، هل هذا الوضع ناجم عن:
تشدد النظام السوري
20.2
عجز الجامعة العربية
16
تعليمات خارجية
63.8
February 3rd, 2012, 5:51 pm
zoo said:
SNC chief: Participating in Syrian revolution will protect Alawites
February 3, 2012
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=360185
Syrian National Council President Burhan Ghalioun said in remarks published on Friday that the Alawite sect in Syria can protect itself by participating in the Syrian revolution.
Ghalioun told Al-Hayat newspaper that the SNC accepts holding dialogue with Iranians “if they release a statement recognizing the rights of the Syrian people, a democratic regime in Damascus, and [the need] to get rid of the current [Syrian] dictatorship.”
Ghalioun also said he expects Lebanon’s Hezbollah to embrace a stance that is “completely different” from the one it is presently adopting toward the Syrian situation “after Assad’s regime collapses.”
“[Hezbollah] only has the choice to cooperate and coordinate with Syria [even after Assad’s regime collapses] if it wants to become a positive force and not a group that seeks to sabotage the region.”
Hezbollah is mainly backed by Syria and Iran.
Ghalioun also said that Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa “will not be the president of a [Syrian] regime, but will only serve as a cover for transferring power [to his deputy].”
Last month, the Arab League asked the UN to support a new plan for resolving the crisis in Syria that sees Assad transferring power to his deputy and a government of national unity within two months. The UN Security Council convened earlier in the week to review an Arab-and Western-backed resolution to resolve the Syrian crisis.
To read more: http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=360185#ixzz1lMVd0RBk
Only 25% of a given NOW Lebanon article can be republished. For information on republishing rights from NOW Lebanon: http://www.nowlebanon.com/Sub.aspx?ID=125478
February 3rd, 2012, 5:53 pm
Alan said:
http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/333983.html
03/02/2012
Russian ForMin denies any “swaps” with US on Iran and Syria
MOSCOW, February 3 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday any sort of allegations about the so-called “swaps” between Russia and the United States on Syria and Iran are absolutely groundless.
“Regrettably we have to say that the Russian Argumenty Nedeli publication, referring to anonymous sources, is disseminating untruthful and absolutely groundless allegations about some “swaps” between Russia and the United States on Syria and Iran,” the ministry said in a comment. “It is utterly untrue that our country may allegedly agree to a secret deal giving a go-ahead for a U.S. combat operation against Iran in exchange of the West’s non-interference into Syria’s domestic affairs.”
February 3rd, 2012, 5:54 pm
jad said:
Zoo
No wonder Homs is a war zone tonight, they got the orders from Hammoudeh alsagheer ibn alqatariyeh to escalate since the UN didn’t do as he pleases.
HNN| شـبكة أخـبار حمص
عااااجل :
الإرهابيون في حالة جنون مطلق وتخبط بشكل غير طبيعي
والتعطش للإرهاب والدماء مازال مستمراً
وقذائف الهاون مازالت تسقط على العديد من الأحياء
و اصوات التكبير تخرج من جوامع باب السباع و المريجة
Frankly, the UNSC resolution is still vague and not a victory to the Russians, and I’m not sure why some people on SC are so angry about it.
The resolution actually condemns the regime pretty bad and is not useless, some guys and girls need to wake up and deal with reality instead of keep hiding their heads inside a box they made themselves.
Zoo#235
Threatening minorities is useless, unaccepted and very damaging.
Where are the 75% majority? Why Ghalyoun and his MBs council doesn’t to threat them?
February 3rd, 2012, 5:57 pm
zoo said:
Contradictions over the content of the resolution..Is Bashar in or out?
UPDATE 1-UN council to vote on Syria resolution Saturday-envoys
Fri Feb 3, 2012 10:38pm GMT
UNITED NATIONS Feb 3 (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council will meet on Saturday to vote on a European-Arab draft resolution endorsing an Arab League plan calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up power, council envoys said.
“We are heading to a vote tomorrow,” a council diplomat told Reuters on Friday on condition of anonymity, adding that it was unclear if Russia would vote in favor, abstain or veto the resolution.
Diplomats said that the meeting was tentatively scheduled for 9:00 a.m EST (1400 GMT), though Russia had requested that it be pushed back to 11:00 a.m.
Russia, which threatened on Thursday to veto the text, had promised to submit suggestions for revising the draft on Friday. But diplomats said the drafters had received no proposals from the Russian delegation so far.
Some diplomats have expressed optimism that Russia will vote in favor of the resolution, which could be adopted unanimously by all 15 Security Council members. But others are more cautious, saying that Moscow might veto it as they did in October to a European-drafted resolution condemning Syria. (Reporting By Louis Charbonneau; Editing by Stacey Joyce and Jackie Frank)
February 3rd, 2012, 5:58 pm
Halabi said:
Majed, Sandro,
When all of this is over there will be amnesty or clemency for the crimes committed during the revolution. It’s the only way to move the country forward. Many criminals will remain in Syria and go on with life, others will live in luxury abroad on our dime, like Khaddam and Rifaat.
Revenge, a great motivator, is destructive if left unchecked.
I will do all I can to make sure that the revolution is magnanimous in victory, and I know that members from the SNC, LCC, my friends and family and the non-violent protesters will work on that too.
So what do you do when you see a menhebak in the future? You say with smile: “I forgive you and hope that we can build our country together.”
February 3rd, 2012, 6:03 pm
Ghufran said:
My vote for the best post for today goes to Halabi#238
welcome to Ghufranville 🙂
February 3rd, 2012, 6:10 pm
Alan said:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=29054
SYRIA: New Flawed UN Security Council Resolution: Evidence of Terrorist “Armed Entity”
Its sponsors include America, Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Colombia, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, UAE, Oman, Lybia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Togo.
Notably, Russia and China aren’t included. Nonetheless, Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said:
“We have the text which we shall send to our capital cities and will wait for the result.” He added that doing so “does not predetermine its fate in any way.”
More on its text below.
On February 3, Itar-Tass headlined, “UN Security Council agrees on Syria resolution,” saying:
On February 2, tentative agreement was reached. Key Russia/China concerns were addressed. Some perhaps but not all. Resolution sponsors “urged all countries to launch an open political process headed by the Syrians in the atmosphere free of violence, fear, intimidation and extremism.”
Earlier drafts were one-sided ultimatums. Though softer, the new version “still contains some veiled threat of sanctions” or worse if Syria fails to comply within 21 days. “In this case, the (SC) may consider some additional measures.”
Therein lies one of several flaws. Saying passage is far from sure, The New York Times called the measure “wobbly,” adding that SC members fully support the Arab League plan.
In fact, it’s Observer Mission report acknowledged what Western media reports suppress. Mission head General Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi said:
“The mission was witness to acts of violence against government forces and citizens leading to death and injury of many. A case in point was the attack against a civilian bus which killed eight persons and injured others, including women and children.”
Heavily “armed opposition groups” are involved. In Homs and Daraa, for example, they used externally supplied “thermal bombs and anti-armor missiles.”
“In Homs, Idlib and Hama, (observers) witnessed acts of violence being committed against Government forces and civilians that resulted in several deaths and injuries.”
Various incidents “include the bombing of buildings, trains carrying fuel, vehicles carrying diesel oil and explosions targeting the police, members of the media and fuel pipelines. Some of those attacks have been carried out by the Free Syrian Army and some by other armed opposition groups.” However, naming them was unaddressed.
Media misinformation was also highlighted. For example, “many parties falsely reported that explosions or violence had occurred in several locations. When the observers went (there), they found that those reports were unfounded.”
Moreover, observers said government forces didn’t attack peaceful pro and anti-Assad demonstrations, except for minor incidents. While stopping short of blaming foreign governments, readers can draw their own conclusions from clear evidence provided.
As a result, mission findings were discredited for not delivering what Washington and rogue partners want. Arab League governments were heavily pressured to provide one-sided “exaggerated accounts of events.”
Mission head al-Dabi pointed fingers elsewhere. As a result, he was assailed for not cooperating and vilified for once running Sudan’s military intelligence under Omar al-Bashir. Washington wants him tried in the Hague.
New Draft Resolution
Its language states:
It “e)xpress(ed) grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in Syria, and profound concern at the death of thousands of people and calling for an immediate end to all violence.”
It welcomes “the League of Arab States’ Action Plan of 2 November 2011 and its subsequent decisions, including (on January 22) which aims to achieve a peaceful resolution of the crisis.”
It expressed disappointment that violence prevented mission observers monitoring as planned and forced suspending their initiative as a result.
It stressed “the importance of ensuring the voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes in safety and with dignity.”
It’s “(m)indful that stability in Syria is key to peace and stability in the region.”
It noted “announced commitments by the Syrian authorities to reform (but) lack of progress in implementation.”
It “(r)eaffirm(ed) its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, emphasizing its intention to resolve the current political crisis….peacefully, and nothing in this resolution authorizes measures under article 42 of the (UN) Charter.”
It states:
“Should the Security Council consider that measures” short of “armed force….inadequate or have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security. Such action may include demonstrations, blockade, and other operations by air, sea, or land forces of Members of the United Nations.”
The resolution “demands that the Syrian government immediately put an end to all human rights violations and attacks against those exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, protect is population, fully comply with its (international law) obligations….and General Assembly resolution A/RES/66/176.”
It included a laundry list against him alone. It ranged from killing civilians to disappearances, arbitrary detentions, preventing access to medical treatment, sexual violence, and ill-treatment, including against children.
It sounds similar to false or exaggerated anti-Gaddafi charges throughout NATO’s campaign against him. Assad’s now target one before moving on to the next one.
It “(c)ondemns all violence, irrespective of where it comes from (but not naming it), and in this regard demands that all parties in Syria, including armed groups, immediately stop all violence or reprisals, including attacks against State institutions, in accordance with the League of Arab States’ initiative.”
It calls for “all those responsible for human rights violations, including acts of violence, (be) held responsible.”
It demands “Assad’s government….without delay:
(a) cease all violence and protect its population;
(b) release all persons detained arbitrarily due to the recent incidents;
(c) withdraw all Syrian military and armed forces from cities and towns, and return to their original home barracks;
(d) guarantee the freedom of peaceful demonstrations;
(e) allow full and unhindered access and movement” of Arab League “institutions” and international media in all parts of Syria to accurately determine conditions; and
(f) give Arab League monitors “full and unhindered” access on the ground.
It calls for addressing all aspirations and concerns of Syria’s people, “without prejudging the outcome.”
It supports transitioning Syria “to a democratic, plural political system, in which” all citizens are treated equally.
It demands Syrian authorities cooperate fully, including “unhindered access for humanitarian assistance.”
It requests the Secretary-General report within 21 days on implementation of the above provisions, in consultation with Arab League states.
It decided “to review implementation of this resolution within 21 days and, in the event of non-compliance, to consider further measures.”
Fact check
Washington, rogue NATO partners, and regional despot allies abhor democracy and won’t tolerate it at home or abroad. Claiming otherwise belies America’s longstanding agenda, more recently in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and elsewhere throughout the region.
Expressing disappointment that violence prevented Arab League observers from operating as planned, it stops short of blaming externally generated insurgents.
Saying Syrian stability “is key to peace and stability in the region” ignores over 10 years of Washington-led and/or supported violence in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Bahrain, Yemen, Egypt, Palestine, and elsewhere.
Claiming Assad failed to implement reform commitments belies serious steps he proposed, release of thousands of prisoners, nonviolence against peaceful opposition protesters, continued instability preventing him from moving faster, and Arab League mission head al-Dabi commending his cooperation.
Affirming Security Council members’ commitment to peaceful conflict resolution ignores Washington’s longstanding regime change agenda by any means necessary.
In addition, allowing further measures for non-compliance gives Washington enormous leverage to exploit. Imagine what it has in mind. Assad alone is blamed, not unnamed responsible parties.
Moreover, language sounds ominously like Libyan Resolution 1973. It authorized “all necessary measures….to protect civilians and civilian population areas under threat of attack.”
Straightaway, NATO intervened belligerently. Many tens of thousands died. Libya was ravaged and destroyed. Civilians, of course, suffered most. Violence continues unchecked. Human misery is incalculable. Western intervention assures Syria the same fate and perhaps Iran if it’s targeted next.
Washington wants governments in both countries replaced by pro-Western ones. Doing so gives it unchallenged regional control, including over its valued oil and gas resources.
In his book, “Winning Modern Wars,” General Wesley Clark said Pentagon sources told him two months after 9/11 that regime change was planned in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Iran, Somalia, Lebanon, and Sudan. In weeks, Afghanistan was attacked. It’s now America’s longest war with no resolution in sight. Perhaps Syria’s next, then Iran.
United, Russia and China are bulwarks against it. Hopefully, they’ll demand language revisions to exclude interventionist wiggle room for Washington and rogue partners. It’s ominously there. Obama officials will take full advantage. Checking them is key.
February 3rd, 2012, 6:10 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
News about 138 civilian dead in Khaldie suburb in Homs.
Assad alone has commited more crimes against arabs that all arab dictators together.
Assad will be assassinated tomorrow or after 10 years in any place of the world for what he has done. Same destiny will follow Maher, Rami and many other.
February 3rd, 2012, 6:18 pm
abbas said:
Dear Halabi
How do we know that the video is actually for Syrian soldiers and not the other way around, what if that poor guy was a soldiers and those were the FSA and it’s a propaganda video to incite hatred ? It was proven that a lot of what is posted on Youtube is fake propaganda
February 3rd, 2012, 6:23 pm
bronco said:
#236 Jad
From what I read, yes, the resolution is very critical of the regime but asks for stop of violence on ‘both sides’. That would require the return of the AL observers mission to make sure that the ceasefire is respected. A headache for the AL.
It also requests the AL to organize the dialog between the government and the opposition. If the SNC refuses to cooperate and to possibly travel to Russia for the dialog, they’ll bear the blame and will maybe be bypassed. Another headache for the AL.
In addition, if after 21 days there is no progress then the Securty council will meet again.
I think the regime will only withdraw its troops when the observers will be back and when the AL will take the responsibilities of the security of all the citizens in the cities they are leaving.
The AL will be obliged to take actions to this effect.
I guess that the opposition, furious at the UN if it does not require Bashar to step down, will escalate the violence and provocations. Of course, this will be useless because the UNSC will not meet every day about Syria. They are alone.
The AL has exhausted their ultimate card, the UNSC, now the game is totally in their hands and it is not an easy game as they can’t expect many countries to help while there are many countries that want the opposite
February 3rd, 2012, 6:23 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Halabi
There will never be amnesty for those who has blood on their hands, those will be tried and appropriate sentence will get to them.
Bronco keep wanting dialogue before stopping the violence, he is dreaming ,this will never happen,and the observers ,if they are to get back to work UN must be involved in it, Al Dabi must be removed,and international observers will be assigned the responsibility to oversee their mission.
The latest news,an hour ago, is that Russia will agree to limit Assad power.
February 3rd, 2012, 6:43 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
It is good news not to have a UN Resolution. This way there will be no foreign intervention and blood suckers. Congratulations to all putrefying dimplomacies in the world.
It will be the syrian people with their own hands who will end exterminate the regime and their sucking criminal followers.
February 3rd, 2012, 6:47 pm
Halabi said:
Thanks Ghufran.
As for how do I know that the video is real, I don’t but I also questioned it. I do know that I had an uncle who spent 16 years in prison because he wouldn’t submit to the Baath and corruption. No charges, no trial, just 16 years, released a few months before his death from cancer.
Another true story. In tenth grade I was playing football at Aleppo College, also known as Amercan, with some friends after school. Another class wanted in, but we were the older students and weren’t going to give in. A kid in the lower grade was there with some of his dads military bodyguards and a military jeep. The soldiers drove it onto the field and kids actually had to jump on the hood in order to avoid being run over.
That was enough to scare us off – no one was hurt but it wasn’t cool.
The amount of power that even the son of mid-ranking army or party official in Syria is unjust. The proud Syrian people don’t want to live like that anymore, no more humiliation.
Syria has been ruled by a dictatorship that has brutalized two generations. It’s time for freedom and this is the chance.
February 3rd, 2012, 6:48 pm
Ghufran said:
Amen,Halabi
February 3rd, 2012, 6:55 pm
Ghufran said:
Fareed Zakaria on CNN
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/03/zakaria-democracy-takes-time/
February 3rd, 2012, 7:04 pm
Halabi said:
I hear you Majed, but you can’t get them all. Many need to be caught and punished, and anyone carrying out revenge must face the courts as well. At some point people have to move on. I am sure that the Islamic clerics will get together and call for it, other religions will too, then people will calm down and go about life. It happens everywhere and Syria is the same.
February 3rd, 2012, 7:07 pm
Ghufran said:
Another piece by Zakaria
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/03/how-will-it-end-in-syria/?hpt=wo_r1
February 3rd, 2012, 7:07 pm
Tara said:
As long as Assad is not exiled to the US or Montreal, I am fine wherever he goes. My ultimate preference is really truly Sudan. Imagine him with the traditional Sudanese head piece.
….
Talking (or forcing) Assad into stepping down is sort of a separate issue, but the U.S. insists it’ll happen one way or another. And when it does, he’s going to need to go somewhere. Three countries have reportedly offered to take him, but the unnamed Western officials who spoke to Reuters wouldn’t say which ones. Historically, the path to exile can take some quirky turns, as this Qaddafi-related graphic from Good magazine shows. For now, the question of where to relocate Assad is an open one, so let’s take a look at the likeliest candidates:
United Arab Emirates: We’ll start with the only option named in the Reuters report. Though it doesn’t explain why U.A.E. would want him, the story said “one official said the United Arab Emirates might be among those open to the idea.” But the U.A.E., which the Associated Press in February called a “luxury refuge” for “political fugitives in exile” has a history of taking in political exiles, and several currently live there: “The roster of Emirate exiles includes former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the late Pakistani ex-Premier Benazir Bhutto and a turncoat Chechen warlord who was gunned down by a killer with a gold-plated pistol.” The Gulf state has been a sharp critic of Assad recently, and was one of the bloc of countries that pulled its people from the Arab League’s monitoring mission in Syria…
Turkey: Syria’s northern neighbor has good reason to want peace south of its border, and its president, Abdullah Gul, reportedly told reporters there this week that he’d consider offering Assad’s family asylum if they asked. The Turkish government officially sides with the Syrian opposition, but the fighting has taken such a toll on cross-border commerce, as Reuters reported last week, that Turkey would likely be glad to accept Assad in order to calm things down. Turkey’s got some history with other exiled political leaders as well. It was the first stop for Leon Trotsky after he left Russia, and more recently its taken in Iranian dissidents. But before that, Turkey played host to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
United Kingdom: Prime Minister David Cameron might think Assad is a “wretched tyrant,” but Assad’s wife is British, so that might get him some traction toward a UK exile. Former CIA analyst Bruce Reidel, now with the Brookings institution, also brought up the U.K. as an option in his comments to Reuters. The British tabloids love pointing out Assad’s wife Asma’s background at Queens College, so there could be some pressure on Cameron to allow the family to settle there. And there’s certainly precedent for leaders the U.K. disdained taking up residence there after they leave power: Vladimir Lenin lived in London after he left Russia in 1902, and a memorial to him even stood in the city until it was taken down during the cold war.
Russia: The loudest opponent of anything alluding to force in the United Nations’ wrangling over a Syria resolution, Russia might have to put its money where its mouth is and accept Assad as an exile. Though another suggestion of Reidel in the Reuters piece, it seems a long shot. That’s because Russia has sunk a lot of diplomatic capital into keeping Assad in power, and it’s easy to imagine the country would not be happy with him if he couldn’t keep hold of it. As UCLA professor Daniel Treisman explained at CNN Thursday, Syria holds Russia’s only Mediterranean naval port, and Russia also sells weapons to the Syrian Army. But since Russia’s such a benefactor to Syria, whatever new government takes Assad’s place will probably be keen to keep the relationship going. If Russia makes a transition smoother by allowing Assad refuge, it will also gain favor with his replacement. Russia has an interest in keeping Syrian unrest at a minimum, Treisman explained, because it’s concerned about that unrest spreading north. Helping to remove the figure causing all that unrest would be one major way to quell it.
http://news.yahoo.com/assad-leaves-syria-where-210736115.html
February 3rd, 2012, 7:09 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
News about 350 killed in Khaldie disctrict (Homs) and Zabadani after being hardly bombed with missiles 240. Source: Youkal
أفادت اوساط المعارضة السورية ان قصفا عنيفا بقذائف من عبا ٢٤٠ يدمر الزبداني في ريف دمشق وحي الخالدية في حمص . وتقول المعلومات انه سقط في المنطقتين حتى منتصف الليل نحو ٣٥٠ شهيدا.
Tomorrow Russia will find it hard to justify it shamefull position.
February 3rd, 2012, 7:28 pm
jna said:
For the first time in the many months of conflict I see a glimmer of optimism about a path forward as a result of developments at the UN Security Council. If the Arab League, the pro-opposition West, and the BRICS countries can reach a compromise plan for a Syrian transition to democracy, then there will be tremendous pressure on both they Assad regime and the Opposition to come into compliance with the provisions. And the Arab League monitors are already in position to assist in determining who is in compliance and who is not. And be assured, the text of the latest plan has provisions proscribing violence by both government and opposition.
February 3rd, 2012, 7:34 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
Direct news from Zabadani:
25 % of the buildings of central Zabadani have been affected, totally or partially destroyed, some of them are still on fire. Whole families have been butchered inside buildings. Assad is confident that UN is useless and begins his last offensive against his own population.
Assad forever. If Assad dies his son Hafez must be the new president, with Maher as regent.
February 3rd, 2012, 7:34 pm
Ghufran said:
Joshua on CNN
http://www.cnn.com/video/standard.html?hpt=imi_mid#
February 3rd, 2012, 7:37 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
253 JNA
In the meanwhile the CRIMINAL will end with the life of 6.000 more innocent or oppositors. Do you feel optimistic? Don´t expect any reform from the CRIMINAL. Even a nuclear bomb could not eliminate them.
February 3rd, 2012, 7:38 pm
Ghufran said:
Mahmoud Darweesh at his best
للنيل عادات وإني راحلُ
امشي سريعاً في بلاد تسرق الأسماء مني
قد جئت من حلبٍ.وإني لا أعودُ إلى العراق
سقط الشمال. فلا أُلاقي غير هذا الدربِ
يسحبني الى نفسي ومصر
كم إندفعت إلى الصهيل
فلم أجد فرسا وفرساناً
وأسلمني الرحيل إلى الرحيل
ولا أرى بلداً هناك
ولا أرى أحدا هناك
الأرض أصغر من مرور الرمح
في خصر نحيل
والأرض أكبر من خيام الأنبياء
ولا أرى بلدا ورائي ولا أرى أحدا أمامي
هذا زحام قاحل والخطو قبل الدرب
لكنَّ المدى يتطاولُ
للنيل عادات وإني راحلُ
وطني قصدتي الجديده
أمشي إلى نفسي فتطردني من الفسطاط
كم ألجُ المرايا. كم أُكسرها فتكسرني
أرى فيما أرى دولاً توزع كالهدايا
وأرى السبايا في حروب السبي
تفترس السبايا
وأرى إنعطاف الأنعطاف أرى الضفاف
ولا أرى نهرا فأجري
وطني قصدتي الجديده
كيف أدري أن صدري ليس قبري
كيف أدري ان أضلاعي سياج الأرض
أو شجر الفضاء وقد تدلى
كيف أدري أن هذا الليل قد يدمي
فأرمي القلب من سأمي
إلى عسس الأمير
وقد تساوى الحبل والمحكوم
هل وطني قصدتي الجديدة؟
هيت لك ما أجملك
الليل ليلي وهذا القلب لك
لا الحب ناداني ولا الصفصاف أغراني
بهذا النيل كي أغفو
ولا جسد من الأبنوس مزقني شظايا
أمشي إلى نفسي فتطردني من الفسطاط
كم ألج المرايا كم أُكسرها فتكسرني
أرى دولاً توزع كالهدايا
والنهر لا يمشي إليَّ فلا أراه
والحقل لا يضنو الفراش على يديَّ
فلا أراه
لا مصر في مصر التي أمشي إلى أسرارها
فأراى الفراغ
وكلما صافحتها شقت يدينا بابلُ
في مصر كافور وفيَّ زلازلُ
للنيل عادات و اني راحل.
February 3rd, 2012, 7:46 pm
bronco said:
#250. Ghufran
Another piece by Zakaria? It’s an interview on CNN of Joshua Landis
February 3rd, 2012, 7:49 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
قصف عنيف يستهدف عدة أحياء في حمص
أكثر من مائتين و عشرين شهيدا و أكثر من أربعمائة جريح في حي الخالدية بحمص
http://thenewsyria.net/syria_article.php?z=ar&id=4619
The regime will pay the price very big
February 3rd, 2012, 7:52 pm
Ghufran said:
Bronco,
This is the piece,I am not 25 any longer
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/03/how-will-it-end-in-syria/?hpt=wo_r1
February 3rd, 2012, 7:54 pm
Tara said:
A massacre in Homs khaledya today. 250 killed and 700 wounded. Zabadani’s is under fire. Damascus suburbs is also under fire. All signs the regime is near the end.
UNSC will be voting tomorrow.
February 3rd, 2012, 7:57 pm
bronco said:
#253 JNA
I agree with you. Qatar and the AL have been threatening the regime of the escalation to the UNSC as if they were sure it would be lethal to the regime. I turned out that it was not and that in the contrary it formalized the necessity of a dialog between the willing opposition and the regime, it reaffirmed the rejection of an imposed regime change and military option and it encourages a negotiated evolution toward a pluralistic and democratic system.
Beyond the hysterical calls for punishment and revenge, that is, I hope, what will happen because the regime, the opposition and the AL have no other recourses, the UNSC being the ultimate one.
February 3rd, 2012, 8:04 pm
Tara said:
Amir
The name of this Friday is: Forgive us Hama. We shall never let you down again.
February 3rd, 2012, 8:08 pm
irritated said:
Tara #261
Have you any sources other than the “eye witnesses” and the “activists” and of course Al Jazeera and Al Arabya?
All media says : the reports cannot be confirmed.
In view of the UNSC resolution that will infuriate you, Qatar and many of the hardliners opposition, I expect more violence tomorrow too.
February 3rd, 2012, 8:18 pm
Syrialover said:
“Analysts said that Russia had a huge interest in maintaining arms sales to the Assad regime. “Russia would not endorse a Libya-style freeze on selling military equipment to Syria when they are so heavily invested in all three branches of the Syrian military,” said Scott Johnson, defence analyst at IHS Janes, the defence consultancy. He said Syria has $3bn in debts to Russia for military hardware.”
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/45d0b474-4dc2-11e1-b96c-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1lN5HuVrM
It says it all. But Russia won’t get payment or continued orders no matter who ends up running Syria. Losers backing losers.
February 3rd, 2012, 8:20 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
Assad tonight is spending a lot of rockets and missiles as a gift to Russian mafia power. This is a message to let Russia know that Syria is a good arms costumer and consumer.
Let´s pray tonight, this is the only thing we can do now.
February 3rd, 2012, 8:20 pm
bronco said:
260. Ghufran
Strange! With that link, I get an interview on CNN with Joshua Landis, I am not 25 either
February 3rd, 2012, 8:21 pm
jad said:
HNN| شـبكة أخـبار حمص
شبكة أخبار حمص الأولى
http://www.facebook.com/HNN.SYRIA
كان الوضع مريب منذ صباح اليوم
كان هدوءً غريباً والجميع كان في حالة استغراب
ولكن الآن فهمنا لما كان هذا الهدوء
أخوة الشياطين جهزوا العدة لاحداث البلبلة والمجازر في حمص
والعربية والجزيرة تشاركهما المتاجرة بدماء السوريين
لتنفيذ أقذر المخططات بحق شعبنا
أولا لا وجود لأي تواجد للجيش في حي الخالدية ولا أي مكان آخر
وما يحدث الأن من تهويل وتسويق هو لاستغلال الأمر في مجلس الأمن
بعد أن ظهرت المؤشرات على فشل مؤامرتهم
لذلك وجب منهم التصعيد والتضحية والمتاجرة بالناس
نحن هنا لا نكذب وجود ضحايا وقعت من جراء قذائف الهاون
تلك القذائف التي ربما وجهت إلى تلك المنطقة
من أجل اتهام الجيش الغير موجود بحمص
والجزيرة والعربية يلعبان دورهما بشكل غريب ومتناقض
في البداية كانوا يعرضون مقاطع فيديو للمسلحين وهم يقومون مجازر بحق
قوات الأمن وحواجز الجيش والآن تراهم يسوقون بأن الجيش يقصف حمص
وشتان ما بين الأمرين
والجثث التي تم عرضها لا نعرف لمن تعود
ولا تنسوا أن هناك الكثير من المخطوفين في حمص
ولا تنسوا أن هناك عناصر من حفظ النظام قد تم خطفهم
وليست المرة الأولى التي يقتلون فيها ويمشون بجنازة من قتلوهم
حتى العناصر المسلحة منهم عند تصفيتهم كانوا
يسوقون على أنهم منشقين أو على أنهم مدنيين أبرياء كانوا يشترون الخبز
وغليون بيك يصرح على قناة الخنزيرة أن يقوم الجيش الكرر بممارسة مهامه
وشيوخ الفتنة تنادي على الجوامع لاثارة البلبلة بين الناس
7 بيك آب مجهزة برشاشات دوشكة تابعة للمجموعات الإرهابية
متوزعة ما بين الخالدية والبياضة
وتحذيرات من قيام الارهابيين بأي هجوم على الحارات المؤيدة
لذلك أخذ الحيطة والحذر
قذائف الهاون ما زالت تتساقط على الكثير من الأحياء
ولكن بشكل متقطع
الرجاء اخلاء الطوابق العليا من المنازل خوفاً من اي قذيفة هاون طائشة
يطلقها أخوة الشياطين
والاشاعات بشكل مخيف يتم تسويقها على صفحات الفورة
الرجاء الانتباه من الانجرار وراء هذه الاشاعات
نوافيكم بأية مستجدات فور جمعها
شبكة أخبار حمص الأولى
http://www.facebook.com/HNN.SYRIA
February 3rd, 2012, 8:21 pm
Tara said:
Angry protestors are storming the Syrian Embassy in Cairo in protest against Homs massacre. Assad is trying to assassin Homs but Homs shall not die and will haunt him and his family until their bitter end. My heart cries for Homs today…
February 3rd, 2012, 8:32 pm
zoo said:
Clarifications on the contradictions in the previous article I posted @237
Bashar is not asked to leave. Yet this article is still fuzzy about the Arab league Plan.
Does the resolution ‘fully supports the Arab League plan” ( that calls for Bashar to leave) or only support “the decision of the Arab League to facilitate a democratic transition”
The wording of this is very important. We’ll have to wait
Security Council to vote Saturday on Syria: diplomat
AFPAFP – 2 hrs 16 mins ago
Members of the UN Security Council will meet Saturday morning for a vote on a resolution condemning the violent repression in Syria, a diplomat said.
“It is the same text that’s going to a vote,” a diplomat said Friday, referring to the draft resolution sent to the council’s 15 members the previous day.
That draft states the council “fully supports” an Arab League plan to facilitate a democratic transition, but leaves out explicit references to calls for President Bashar al-Assad to step down and does not mention an arms embargo or sanctions.
http://news.yahoo.com/millions-urged-mark-massacre-syrias-hama-104226573.html
February 3rd, 2012, 8:35 pm
Tara said:
• Schoolchildren are being detained and tortured with impunity by the Syrian army, according to Human Rights Watch. It has documented at least 12 cases of children detained under inhumane conditions and tortured, as well as children shot while in their homes or on the street. “Hossam”, aged 13, recounted his treatment:
They interrogated me by myself. They asked, “Who is your god?” And I said, “Allah.” Then they electrocuted me on my stomach, with a prod. I fell unconscious. When they interrogated me the second time, they beat me and electrocuted me again. The third time they had some pliers, and they pulled out my toenail. They said, “Remember this saying, always keep it in mind: we take both kids and adults, and we kill them both.” I started to cry, and they returned me to the cell.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/feb/03/egypt
February 3rd, 2012, 8:42 pm
irritated said:
The erratic variation in time of the reported death in Homs show well that there is no way to verify what is going on. ( 100, 200?)
http://news.yahoo.com/middle-east/
Syrian activists: 200 dead in government assault AP – 5 mins ago
Mortar fire kills 105 in Syrian “massacre”: rights group AFP – 51 mins ago
Syrian activists: 200 dead in govt assault – AP – 59 mins ago
Syrian activists: 100 dead in govt assault – AP – 1 hr 7 mins ago
Syrian activists: Death toll from government assault in Homs rises to 200 AP – 1 hr 4 mins ago
Syrian activists: government assault kills more than 100 people in Homs AP – 1 hr 22 mins ago
February 3rd, 2012, 8:50 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
The saying in Syria The Kh…. will not believe till he sees in his own eyes, in fact even if he sees it in his eyes he will deny it,
February 3rd, 2012, 8:55 pm
Syrialover said:
Syrians are now openly remembering Hama. I feel very emotional.
Incredible this day has now come. The decades of lies and forced ignoring now exposed by the truth in the hearts and minds of brave Syrians.
Exactly where in the west is the vicious criminal Rifaat Assad at the moment? Does anyone here have that information? Please tell us.
This is HIS moment of fame and shame. The world media must hunt him down with a big spotlight in preparation for his trial for crimes against humanity.
February 3rd, 2012, 8:57 pm
ss said:
270 “Angry protestors are storming the Syrian Embassy in Cairo in protest”
Angy protestors are killing thier egyptian brothers. I wonder who are these angry protestors?? They were angry in the soccer game as well that left 80 innocent people dead. I smell MB big time in Egypt, I smell Qaeda too in both egypt and Syria. Such a mass plan and attacks in both countries simultaneouly could never be achieved without the help of radial islamists. Only the radical islamic terrorists are able to conduct such a mass murder; THEY ARE PROFESSIONAL
February 3rd, 2012, 9:12 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
مجازر في حمص 200 شهيد 500 جريح ندائات استغاثة سهير الأتاسي أحمد رمضان برهان غليون أخبار سورية الجزيرة
February 3rd, 2012, 9:13 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
العربية مداخلة النقيب عمار الواوي ويحذر أهالي دمشق من الخروج غدا وكلام خطير جدا جدا 4 2 2012
February 3rd, 2012, 9:15 pm
ss said:
Syrialoversaid:
“Syrians are now openly remembering Hama. I feel very emotional.
“Incredible this day has now come.”
I am emotional too for the people who were kidnapped, killed, and filmed in a fabricated video, braodcasted by the mother f ALJAZEERA as the Syrian army killed them. Aldabi gave you a huge finger from Al7’artoom, a huge one as the elephant 7’artoom stating clearly that there has been crimes commited by armed gangs. Its useless to repeat the same thing over and over again for the last 8 months…..I really smell a victory, and there is no force on earth can defeat the free Syrians. We will prevail
February 3rd, 2012, 9:18 pm
Syrialover said:
Wait, here’s a nice clue. Rifaats’ slimy son Ribal using some of his father’s $ billions trying to influence British politicians a few months ago. (Yes, billions, that’s right, billions, stolen from Syria, to quote this report).
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/why-are-tories-having-dinner-tonight-with-son-of-syrian-war-criminal-2350420.html?origin=internalSearch
You think they would have learnt after being burnt by Saif Gaddafi.
February 3rd, 2012, 9:18 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
عاجل ردآ على المجازر في حمص احرار اليونان قامت بقتحام السفارة السورية في اليونان أثينا وتم حرق السفارة بكاملها
مصر – القاهرة || قام الاحرار باقتحام السفارة السورية بمصر نصرة لحمص
القاهرة الان تم أخراج المحتجزين منداخل السفارة وردا على أعتقال بعضهم لدى الامن المصري قام الاحرار وهم بحالغة غليان من ما يجري بحرق سور السفاراة الان والدخان الاسود يتصاعد منها
إقتحام السفارة ورفع علم الثورة السورية في برلين
February 3rd, 2012, 9:20 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Happening now at London | London, UK | By SyrWishes
http://qik.com/video/47861206
February 3rd, 2012, 9:26 pm
ss said:
281:” إقتحام السفارة ورفع علم الثورة السورية في برلين”
Are you serious??? dont you want to fabricate the video a little, clone these people, makes them hundreds, they are few people expresing their opinion, this video does not show invasion at all.
February 3rd, 2012, 9:28 pm
bronco said:
The UN resolution on which there will be a vote tomorrow is available nowhere. If any one finds it on internet , please post the link
It has been changed so many time, and the changes have been often reported or interpreted erroneously by the media. It would be better to read the original. Why is is hidden?
February 3rd, 2012, 9:29 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
عاااااجل مقطع جديد لجرحى وقتلى مجزرة الخالدية 4 2 2012
February 3rd, 2012, 9:29 pm
ss said:
(This user is banned from Syria Comment for two weeks)
February 3rd, 2012, 9:30 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
حمص الخالدية جثث واشلاء مجزرة الخالدية4_2_2012
February 3rd, 2012, 9:31 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
اقتحام للسفارات السورية في اليونان وتركيا والاردن و برلين والقاهرة .
وبدأت التجمعات امام سفارات سورية في دول اخرى منها السفارة البريطانية.
February 3rd, 2012, 9:32 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
SS
(Edited for personal attack, hateful language. A repeat of this kind of language will lead to loss of posting privileges at Syria Comment)
February 3rd, 2012, 9:34 pm
Tara said:
” He smells MB big time…He smells Queda too”. The next post: “He really smells a victory”. Too much smelling! Olfactory hallucinations?
I think olfactory hallucinations are sort of benign experience. Not a sign of intense mental problem.
I would like to have Pasha de Cartier olfactory hallucination.
February 3rd, 2012, 9:37 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Demonstrators broke into the Syrian embassy in Greece
February 3rd, 2012, 9:40 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Happening now in London
http://qik.com/video/47861206
February 3rd, 2012, 9:42 pm
Hans said:
Ron Paul to Piers Morgan; ” Iraq was all lies and we are broke” does that sound a familiar story to the Syrians, in few years from now, Syria is going to be all lies to Obama as Iraq was all lies to Bush.
it is clear that the Americans have had their eye on Syria for a long time and now they are letting all their dogs out, including the pigs of the GCC and the trash and the Zebelah of MB.
it is a clear message that Syria is in the eye of the storm at the current time and as i said in the past that only Russia is the one who can save Syria from the Claws of the Americans and the criminals of the MB. Although all other countries in the middle east is falling in the hands of the radicals Muslims, i don’t think Russia will allow that given the radicals Muslims of the middle east they always have been the friends of Britain and USA.
all he radicals Wahabi have been in the hands of the Americans for decades if not centuries. Israel is very happy to have the radicals take over Syria because it secures a civil war in Syria and endless bloody future
February 3rd, 2012, 9:46 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
This is what is happening in Homs now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oow4xuDVkc&feature=g-all-lik&context=G219c01eFAAAAAPAALAA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0wFVv8cgSg&feature=share
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpha0VQrmnQ
February 3rd, 2012, 9:48 pm
zoo said:
A vote on Saturday? Not sure…
“Late Friday the Security Council scheduled a meeting for Saturday, but it was uncertain whether a vote would be taken.”
Can US and Russia cut a deal on Syria action? Both sides to give it a try.
http://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/content/view/print/461678
With Russia balking at even a watered down Syria resolution and the Arab League concerned by the UN text’s weakening, Hillary Clinton is set to meet with Sergei Lavrov in Germany.
By Howard LaFranchi, Staff writer
posted February 3, 2012 at 7:05 pm EST
Washington
United Nations Security Council members contemplated a watered-down resolution on Syria Friday, with Russia balking at any wording that could be construed as support for “regime change” targeting President Bashar al-Assad.
But with Western powers anxious for some Syria action, and with Arab League supporters unhappy with the changes already made in the text and insisting they will accept no further weakening, prospects were growing for a last-ditch, high-level diplomatic encounter to salvage the resolution.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are set to meet on the margins of the weekend’s annual Munich Security Conference in Germany. The two will meet to discuss the Syria resolution among other issues, State Department officials said. Late Friday the Security Council scheduled a meeting for Saturday, but it was uncertain whether a vote would be taken.
The US wants a resolution on Syria, and thus the support of the veto-wielding Russia, but it also wants any resolution to contain the international community’s demand for a political transition in Syria, officials said.
“We want to see the Security Council speak in a unified and strong fashion in support of the Syrian people,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters in Washington Friday. He said the resolution must inform “the Syrian government that the violence needs to end and a political transition needs to take place.”
The week had started with widespread optimism that the Security Council was on the verge of passing something meaningful on Syria, aimed at quelling the country’s escalating violence. But by Thursday, Russian objections had stripped a Morocco-sponsored, Arab-backed resolution of two key elements: a call for Mr. Assad to step down to make way for a caretaker government and elections; and a ban on arms sales to any actor in the Syrian conflict.
Western diplomats said they were not happy to see the resolution “defanged” of two important provisions, as one said, but that getting a resolution with Russian support would still send a strong message to Assad.
On Friday, council delegates were reviewing with their home governments a revised resolution that no longer mentions Assad but which says instead that the council “fully supports” an Arab League initiative on Syria.
But that Arab League proposal would have Assad step down to pave the way for new leadership, so the new wording seems anything but assured of Russian support.
The draft resolution says the council “fully supports … the League of Arab States’ 22 January 2012 decision to facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system … including through commencing a serious political dialogue between the Syrian government and the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition.”
The resolution also condemns the Syrian government for failing to follow through on reform commitments it has made over the past year.
The Security Council has been unable to agree on any resolution on Syria since the unrest began there nearly a year ago. The previous attempt at a resolution in October was vetoed by Russia, which said it feared that supporters would use a successful resolution as a pretext for the same kind of “regime change” action that Western powers had employed in helping Libyans bring down the regime of Muammar Qaddafi.
Secretary Clinton is likely to appeal to Russia’s interest in maintaining relations with the broader Arab world when she meets with Mr. Lavrov to discuss Syria, some diplomatic experts say. They note that Russia has already said it wants to find a way to support a resolution on Syria, and they add that Russia would be particularly loath to veto an Arab-sponsored text.
The perspective of Russia, which maintains close ties with Assad and continues to sell arms to him, is that any resolution should condemn all parties responsible for the country’s violence, and that what is an internal conflict should be resolved without outside intervention.
But the question remains, what value will a resolution that has no teeth have in quelling Syria’s violence, which human rights organizations now say has claimed 7,000 lives? The revised text still calls for a “Syrian-led political transition,” but some analysts said that was probably vague enough for Assad to live with.
Assad ignored and ultimately drove off (through a studied lack of cooperation) the Arab League’s recent observer mission, some regional analysts note. They add that he is likely to do the same with a verbal condemnation from the Security Council.
February 3rd, 2012, 9:48 pm
Syrialover said:
# 279. ss.
You’ve made a mystery. I don’t understand what that has to do with Syrians finally speaking about Hama.
February 3rd, 2012, 9:49 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
شاهد عيان :: الجيش الحر يقوم بإخراج المعتقلين الموجودين بفرع المخابرات الجوية بحمص من الزنزانات الكوجودة تحت الأرض بعد تدمير المبنى و احتلاله من قبل عناصر كتيبة الفاروق.
February 3rd, 2012, 9:52 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
إقتحام السفارة السوريّة في قبرص ورفع علم الإستقلال
February 3rd, 2012, 9:55 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
قتحام السفارة السورية في القاهرة نصرتاً للمناطق المنكوبة في سوريا 04 02 2012 ج1
February 3rd, 2012, 9:59 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
دمشق حي برزة في مظاهرة ليلية نصرة لحمص والزبداني 4-2-
February 3rd, 2012, 10:02 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
شام دمشق نهر عيشة قطع الطريق الدولي دمشق درعا الاردن 4 2
February 3rd, 2012, 10:07 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
إقتحام السفارة السورية في لندن.
February 3rd, 2012, 10:10 pm
Hans said:
If the news is true i am hopping (Edited for calls for violence, hateful language)
(WARNING: Hans, any similar language will lead to a ban from posting to Syria Comment.)
February 3rd, 2012, 10:13 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
الجيش الحر يعلن وصول المعارك إلى دمشق منذ الليلة
http://zaman-alwsl.net/readNews.php?id=24479
February 3rd, 2012, 10:15 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Hans
No wonder you have chosen this name.
(Edited for personal attack)
February 3rd, 2012, 10:20 pm
Hans said:
Haytham Khoury, you calling me a Nazi, but it is clear that your account is either hacked, or someone writing in your name, because this is not your style of writing.
otherwise, i am considering that you
(Edited for personal attack)
February 3rd, 2012, 10:28 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
موحسن:الجيش الحر وخروجه نصرة لحمص 4-2-2012
February 3rd, 2012, 10:33 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Activist More than 200 Syrians killed in 3 hours – CNN – AC360
February 3rd, 2012, 10:37 pm
Hans said:
I am not sure who is the moderator at the current time but it is clear that what I wrote to Haythem Khoury was not a personal attack and it is nothing equals of him calling me a Nazi, sorry moderator you blew that one up.
i told him that he lost it because of the russian blow to his people there is nothing insulting or even attacking him.
February 3rd, 2012, 10:42 pm
jna said:
283. broncosaid:
The UN resolution on which there will be a vote tomorrow is available nowhere. If any one finds it on internet , please post the link
This is the latest version I found (don’t hold your breath). Inner City Press has been very on top on this SC resolution and its changes.
http://www.innercitypress.com/SCv4syriablue020312icp.html
February 3rd, 2012, 10:47 pm
jad said:
In the biggest massacre yet FSA killing people for the media and Hammoudeh asked for the Syrian blood on Aljazeera:
مسلحو ” كتيبة الفاروق” يرتكبون مجزرة مروعة في حمص ويفجرون مبنى في الخالدية مليئا بالرهائن!؟
صحفي في مكتب “الجزيرة الإنكليزية” بلندن : توجيهات من الخارجية القطرية بتسخين التغطية الإعلامية هذه الليلة قبل ساعات من انعقاد مجلس الأمن !؟
حمص ، الحقيقة ( خاص) : تقوم وسائل الإعلام العربية والأجنبية ، لاسيما “العربية” و”الجزيرة”، ومعها صفحات الجناح الأميركي ـ الخليجي في المعارضة السورية ، منذ ما قبل منتصف هذه الليلة ببث أنباء من حي “الخالدية” في حمص تزعم أن الجيش يقصف الحي بالمدافع ، وأن هناك المئات من القتلى والجرحى من الأبرياء! الأنكى من هذا ، أن مجموعة من نصابي الجناح المذكور ، المقيمين في مصر وتركيا وغيرهما ، خرجوا إلى وسائل الإعلام ليصفوا عن بعد آلاف الكيلومترات ما الذي يحصل!؟ لكن الأنكى من هذا كله هو أن “الجزيرة” بثت شريطا يظهر فيه عدد كبير من الضحايا ، مدعية أنهم ضحايا المجزرة التي ينفذها الجيش في “الخالدية”، دون أن ينتبه هؤلاء إلى أن جثث الضحايا مصفوفة بجانب بعضها البعض بعناية ، وأن معظمها جرى تقييد أيديها بأربطة محلية مصنّعة من ملابس الضحايا كما يبدو ، و / أو نزعت ملابس أصحابها ( شبه عراة) من قبل الخاطفين!؟
نعم هناك مجزرة يجري ارتكابها ، أو بالأحرى ارتكبت وانتهت. ولكن هذه هي حقيقة ما جرى في حمص هذه الليلة ، وبالتأكيد ليست الحقيقة الكاملة، لأن هناك تفاصيل أخرى تحتاج لبعض الوقت كي نعرفها و نتأكد منها :
أولا ـ أقدم مسلحو ” كتيبة الفاروق” الذين يسيطرون على معظم المدينة على تفجير مبنى في حي “الخالدية” مليء بالرهائن المدنيين والعسكريين . وهذا يفسر أن الضحايا مقيدون من أيديهم. كما أقدموا على تصفية بعضها بإطلاق النار عليها مباشرة؛
ثانيا ـ تأكد أنه لا وجود للجيش السوري في المنطقة على الإطلاق ، وأن أي قذيفة من قبل الجيش لم تسقط على حي “الخالدية” مطلقا؛
ثالثا ـ تأكد أن القذائف التي أطلقت على حي الخالدية مصدرها “جنينة العلوني” في حي ” الخالدية” نفسه ، ومن أطلقها هم مسلحو ” كتيبة الفاروق” أنفسهم لإيهام الأهالي بأن الجيش يقصفهم ، ولكي يكتمل ” الأكشن الإعلامي”؛
رابعا ـ إن الضحايا هم من أصل حوالي 30 عسكريا جرى اختطافهم نهار ومساء أمس ، و حوالي 150 من الرهائن الذين اختطفهم مسلحو الكتيبة المذكورة في أوقات مختلفة ، وجرى تجميعهم في المبنى المذكور الذي تحول إلى ما يشبه ” سجن مركزي” يديره المسلحون؛
خامسا ـ يبدو أنه كانت هناك محاولة لتحرير الرهائن من قبل أجهزة الأمن ، ولهذا أقدم المسلحون على نسف المبنى قبل ذلك. علما بأن المعلومة المتعلقة بعملية أمنية لتحريرهم لم تتأكد به؛
سادسا ـ بعض جثث الضحايا هي لعناصر “حاجز شارع القاهرة” الذين هوجموا ليلا من قبل المسلحين، وبعضها الآخر لعناصر من ” كتيبة الفاروق” قتلوا خلال مهاجمتهم الحاجز المذكور؛
على صعيد متصل ، وبخلاف ما زعمته صفحات ما يسمى “الجيش الحر” قبل قليل عن أن “الجيش ” دمر مقر ” فرع المخابرات الجوية” بحمص وحرر المعتقلين وقتل عناصر الفرع ، يبدو أن الخبر لا أساس له من الصحة ، وشبيه بخبر ” تدمير” فرع المخابرات الجوية في حرستا وفرع حزب البعث بدمشق في 20 تشرين الثاني / نوفمير الماضي!
في سياق متصل أيضا ، علمت “الحقيقة” أيضا من مصدر عسكري صديق أن جميع الدبابات والمدرعات السورية التي تشارك في عمليات على الأراضي السورية جرى تذخيرها منذ وقت طويل بقذائف خلبية ( صوتية) فقط . وقال المصدر “إن دبابة أو عربة قائد السرية هي الوحيدة التي سمح لها بأن تحمل قذائف حقيقية من أجل أن يكون أمر إطلاق النار مسيطرا عليه إلى أقصى حد ممكن من قبل الضباط القادة ، و عدم إقدام سائقي الدبابات والمدرعات وطواقمها ، وهم من صف الضباط والجنود، على إطلاق نار غير مسؤول”.
تبقى الإشارة أخيرا إلى أن “الحقيقة” اتصلت بأحد الأصدقاء الصحفيين البريطانيين العاملين في مكتب ” الجزيرة الإنكليزية” بلندن قبل لحظات لمعرفة سبب قيام “الجزيرة” بهذه الحملة المسعورة في ساعة متأخرة من الليل. وقد أكد الصحفي أن توجيهات وردت من وزارة الخارجية القطرية طالبت المحطة بـ”تسخين التغطية بعد أن تأكد أن مجلس الأمن سيعقد جلسة خاصة يوم السبت مخصصة للأزمة السورية ، و للبحث في إمكانية التصويت على مشروع مسودة القرار المنتظر بعد المشاورات التي جرت بين موسكو وواشنطن وتوصلهما إلى اتفاق أولي بشأن المسودة التي كانت موسكو تعارضها في شكلها المقترح”.
يشار أخيرا إلى أن المعلومات الواردة قبل نشر هذا التقرير بدقائق أكدت أن الأحوال هادئة نسبيا في حمص الآن ، باستثناء سماع بعض الأعيرة النارية المتقطعة.
http://www.syriatruth.org/news/tabid/93/Article/6626/Default.aspx
February 3rd, 2012, 10:48 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Dear Moderator:
Please look at the expression (edited) that SS used in
#285
(SS is banned for two weeks. Hints or calls or suggestions of violence directed against SC commenters or authors are not tolerated.)
February 3rd, 2012, 10:51 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Dear Hans:
I do not care about whatever you say about me.
I care about you asking for the army erase some quarter of Homs.
February 3rd, 2012, 10:53 pm
jad said:
From FB:
“سيتم النقل المباشر على جميع القنوات السورية بعد قليل عن الاوضاع في حمص لتكذيب الاخبار المغرضة التي قامت القناة الجزيرة الطائفية من كذب و اشاعات ….”
“Syrian TV will now broadcast directly from #Homs refuting lies of @Aljazeera and other corporates”
February 3rd, 2012, 10:54 pm
jna said:
Text of post #310
UNSCR – SYRIA – BLUE 2 Feb 2012 — As obtained by InnerCityPress.com
List of Co-Sponsors: Morocco, France, United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Portugal Colombia, Togo, Libya, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Turkey.
The Security Council,
pp1 Recalling its presidential statement of 3 August 2011,
pp2 Recalling General Assembly resolution A/RES/66/176 of 19 December 2011, as well as Human Rights Council resolutions S/16-1, S/17-1 and S/18-1,
pp3 Noting the League of Arab States’ request in its decision of 22 January 2012,
pp4 Expressing grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in Syria, and profound concern at the death of thousands of people and calling for an immediate end to all violence,
pp5 Welcoming the League of Arab States’ Action Plan of 2 November 2011 and its subsequent decisions, including its decision of 22 January 2012, which aims to achieve a peaceful resolution of the crisis,
pp6 Noting the deployment of the League of Arab States’ observer mission, commending its efforts, regretting that, due to the escalation in violence, the observer mission was not in a position to monitor the full implementation of the League of Arab States’ Action Plan of 2 November 2011, and noting the subsequent decision of the League of Arab states to suspend the mission,
pp7 Underscoring the importance of ensuring the voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes in safety and with dignity,
pp8 Mindful that stability in Syria is key to peace and stability in the region,
pp9 Noting the announced commitments by the Syrian authorities to reform, and regretting the lack of progress in implementation,
pp10 Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, emphasizing its intention to resolve the current political crisis in Syria peacefully, and noting that nothing in this resolution authorizes measures under Article 42 of the Charter,
pp11 Welcoming the engagement of the Secretary-General and all diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the situation, and noting in this regard the offer of the Russian Federation to host a meeting in Moscow, in consultation with the League of Arab States,
1. Condemns the continued widespread and gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities, such as the use of force against civilians, arbitrary executions, killing and persecution of protestors and members of the media, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, interference with access to medical treatment, torture, sexual violence, and ill-treatment, including against children;
2. Demands that the Syrian government immediately put an end to all human rights violations and attacks against those exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, protect its population, fully comply with its obligations under applicable international law and fully implement the Human Rights Council resolutions S-16/1, S-17/1, S-18/1 and the General Assembly resolution A/RES/66/176;
3. Condemns all violence, irrespective of where it comes from, and in this regard demands that all parties in Syria, including armed groups, immediately stop all violence or reprisals, including attacks against State institutions, in accordance with the League of Arab States’ initiative;
4. Recalls that all those responsible for human rights violations, including acts of violence, must be held accountable;
5. Demands that the Syrian government, in accordance with the Plan of Action of the League of Arab States of 2 November 2011 and its decision of 22 January 2012, without delay:
(a) cease all violence and protect its population;
(b) release all persons detained arbitrarily due to the recent incidents;
(c) withdraw all Syrian military and armed forces from cities and towns, and return them to their original home barracks;
(d) guarantee the freedom of peaceful demonstrations;
(e) allow full and unhindered access and movement for all relevant League of Arab States’ institutions and Arab and international media in all parts of Syria to determine the truth about the situation on the ground and monitor the incidents taking place; and
(f) allow full and unhindered access to the League of Arab States’ observer mission;
6. Calls for an inclusive Syrian-led political process conducted in an environment free from violence, fear, intimidation and extremism, and aimed at effectively addressing the legitimate aspirations and concerns of Syria’s people, without prejudging the outcome;
7. Fully supports in this regard the League of Arab States’ 22 January 2012 decision to facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system, in which citizens are equal regardless of their affiliations or ethnicities or beliefs, including through commencing a serious political dialogue between the Syrian government and the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition under the League of Arab States’ auspices, in accordance with the timetable set out by the League of Arab States;
8. Encourages the League of Arab States to continue its efforts in cooperation with all Syrian stakeholders;
9. Calls upon the Syrian authorities, in the event of a resumption of the observer mission, to cooperate fully with the League of Arab States’ observer mission, in accordance with the League of Arabs States’ Protocol of 19 December 2011, including through granting full and unhindered access and freedom of movement to the observers, facilitating the entry of technical equipment necessary for the mission, guaranteeing the mission’s right to interview, freely or in private, any individual and guaranteeing also not to punish, harass, or retaliate against, any person who has cooperated with the mission;
10. Stresses the need for all to provide all necessary assistance to the mission in accordance with the League of Arab States’ Protocol of 19 December 2011 and its decision of 22 January 2012;
11. Demands that the Syrian authorities cooperate fully with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and with the Commission of Inquiry dispatched by the Human Rights Council, including by granting it full and unimpeded access to the country;
12. Calls upon the Syrian authorities to allow safe and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance in order to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to persons in need of assistance;
13. Welcomes the Secretary-General’s efforts to provide support to the League of Arab States, including its observer mission, in promoting a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis;
14. Requests the Secretary General to report on the implementation of this resolution, in consultation with the League of Arab States, within 21 days after its adoption and to report every 30 days thereafter;
15. Decides to review implementation of this resolution within 21 days and, in the event of non-compliance, to consider further measures;
16. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
February 3rd, 2012, 10:56 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Guys:
I am so sorry if I exceeded today in my language. The country is in fire. It is not easy to have more than 200 people killed in one day.
All my posts were to let you know what is happening.
Nobody is winner, we are all losers.
February 3rd, 2012, 10:58 pm
jna said:
http://www.innercitypress.com/
Check for updates on UN Security Council draft resolution on Syria.
February 3rd, 2012, 11:04 pm
jad said:
Dear Haytham
You (Edited)
The truth about what’s happening in Homs is just unfolding now and it seems that the terrorists themselves commit this massacre.
HNN| شـبكة أخـبار حمص
عــــــــــــــــــــــاااجل :
نقلاً عن التلفزيون السوري
مصدر اعلامي في الحكومة السورية ينفي ما يجري فبركته على قنوات الفبركة والتضليل من ان حمص تتعرض لقصف من الجيش العربي السوري وكل مشاهد القتل التي يتم بثها الان هي للابرياء الذي تم خطفهم على ايدي المجموعات الارهابية المسلحة فتم قتلهم والتمثيل بجثثهم وعرضهم على اساس انهم ضحايا القصف المفبرك
ويؤكد أنها تأتي في إطار التصعيد من قبل المجموعات المسلحة ومجلس اسطنبول ومنابرهم الإعلامية لاستغلالها في مجلس الأمن ضد سورية
HNN| شـبكة أخـبار حمص
شبكة أخبار حمص الأولى
http://www.facebook.com/HNN.SYRIA
بيان صادر عن شبكة أخبار حمص الأولى :
هدوء نسبي يعم أرجاء حمص
الاشاعات على صفحات الفورة يتم نشرها بشكل مرعب
وكلها أخبار كاذبة والأهم تلك التي يسوقها مندوبي الجيش الكر
أنهم قاموا وفعلوا وردوا و ……الخ من العمليات الوهمية
وأهم كذبهم أنهم قاموا باستهداف حاجز باب الدريب والحاجز الذي عند دوار فدعوس
ونحن ننفي هذا الخبر الغبي
لأنه لا وجود لحاجز بباب الدريب حالياً
وحاجز دوار فدعوس عين الله عليه متل الأسد شامخ
أما خبر أنهم استهدفوا وقاموا وقعدوا بمبنى المخابرات الجوية
فهو خبر يرونه بأحلامهم وفرع المخابرات الجوية
من أول الأحداث وهم يستهدفونه مثله كمثل أي فرع من الأفرع الأمنية
باطلاق رصاص من بعيد ناهيكم عن قذائف الآر بي جي
ولكن لاشيء يذكر من هذه الشائعات الخلبية لجماعة الجيش الكر
جماعة البلطجية والخونة والذين لادين لهم ولا عمل غير سفك الدماء
لذلك ننفي خبرهم هذا أيضاً وكل مقلب وإنتو بخير يا فشلة
و تم التأكد أن فرع المخابرات الجوية لم يمس بشعرة سوء
والغرض من تلك الأخبار محاولة منهم لرفع معنوياتهم
التي تنهار يوماً بعد يوم
حتى أنهم أصبحوا يتخبطون في تسويق مسلسلات الدم
وصدق من قال أوقفوا العربية والجزيرة من التجييش والتحريض
وكل سورية ستكون بخير
اما الاشاعات فيما يتعلق بتسميم المياه
فنجد أنه من التعقل الحذر حتى يصدر بيان رسمي فيه
من قبل الجهات الرسمية
شبكة أخبار حمص الأولى
http://www.facebook.com/HNN.SYRIA
Besides, are you that happy that the Syrian embassies are getting burned to be so excited about it? This kind of vandalism is wrong and those people who commit such action will be held responsible in their respected countries.
Here, the Syrians who commit the burning in Cairo will be deported:
عاجل:
مصر : القاهرة : القاء القبض على عشرات المخربيين في مصر الذين اقتحموا مقر السفاره السورية بالقاهرة وسيتم ترحيلهم الى سورية لــ اعتدائهم للمره الثانيه على سفارتنا
February 3rd, 2012, 11:12 pm
ann said:
On Syria, Russia Has Amendments, Meeting Shift to 10am, Hillary Lavrov Drama
http://www.innercitypress.com/syria2sat020312.html
UNITED NATIONS, February 3 — Amid confusion about when and even if the UN Security Council would meet on Saturday about its ostensibly final Syria draft resolution, between 7 and 8 pm on Friday diplomats from four delegations ran into the Council, and finally left at 8:35 pm. Inner City Press asked them questions.
One delegation, non-Permanent, told Inner City Press, “You know the Russians have already submitted amendments… The meeting will start at 10 am but it will be closed consultations. Any member can put a stop to moving to a vote. Hillary Clinton is supposed to meet with Lavrov at 2:30 pm, their time.”
Just in time for the drama in the Security Council in New York.
Earlier, after the UN Spokesperson’s Office had squawked at 9 am Saturday Council meeting, then said to disregard, then closed down for the night, a representative of February’s Togolese presidency of the Council first told Inner City Press, the meeting would start at 9 am.
Then another said, the Russians have asked for 11 am. Finally a Permament member told Inner City Press, and the others nodded in agreement, 10 am. To coincide with the Clinton – Lavrov meeting?
The draft put in blue Thursday night (and put online by Inner City Press early on Friday, just after midnight) calls for a process without prejudging the outcome.
But it still “fully supports” the Arab League plan, which calls for Assad to delegate power to his deputy. Now, there are amendments proposed.
February 3rd, 2012, 11:22 pm
Mohamed Kanj said:
So they claimed the syrian army shelled khalidiyeh which led to the murder of the civilians they showed “with their hands and feet tied”. Its become so obvious now, that the battle in syria is between the educated and the uneducated. These civilians were kidnapped by the terrorist in homs and they didnt have any brains to remove the straps from their hands and feet before filming
February 3rd, 2012, 11:40 pm
ann said:
Changing the Syrian regime by force to be disastrous – 2012-02-04
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/04/c_122654988.htm
DAMASCUS, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) — As the UN Security Council still seems divided over finding an appropriate approach to end the simmering tension in Syria, opponents and proponents in the unrest- torn country appear to be united over rejecting any form of changing the regime of President Bashar al-Assad by force, considering that it would be “disastrous.”
Assad has recently warned that any foreign intervention in his country would lead to a “temblor in the region.”
George Gabbour, a political analyst, believed that the Syrians reject the use of force to topple the regime in their country, because “the use of military power would be disastrous and it doesn’t commensurate with the interests of a large segment of the Syrian people, especially that there are other segments, which support the president’s reforms and don’t want him overthrown.”
Toppling the regime by force is “a violation to the United Nations’ charter and the principles of international law,” he told Xinhua by phone.
On the opposition side, Hasan Abdul-Azim, head of the opposing National Coordination Body, voiced rejection to the concept of using force to change the Assad regime, pointing that “such intervention would pose dangerous repercussions on the Syrian and regional arena as well.”
During a phone call with Xinhua, Azim criticized the regime’s approach in handling the crisis, saying “no regime can resist the ambitions and aspirations of its people, especially as the region is witnessing major changes … and the Syrian regime can’t be an exception in this context.”
He expressed optimism that change “will occur in Syria, not by military force but through peaceful demonstrations, sit-ins and civil disobedience.”
Political activist Izz al-Din Abboud told Xinhua that “the change in Syria is inevitable but not through military force as in Libya because that would only complicate the situation even more.”
Abboud, who is from the Druze minority, expressed astonishment over the Syrian minorities’ fears of regime change, accusing the regime of “implanting such fears among the minorities” to preserve their support.
Faroq Hajji, another political activist, said that any use of military force to topple Assad’s regime would lead to ” deterioration of the situation in Syria and more shed of the Syrian blood.”
In a phone call with Xinhua, Hajji criticized protests that turned into unrest, stressing that “they should remain peaceful as it started.”
“The geopolitical site of Syria is exceptional as it’s close to Israel, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey, as well as its allies with Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah,” Hajji said, adding that “any use of force amid this complicated political landscape would rebound negatively on the regional situation.”
As for the West’s interests in the region, Hajji said ” globalization has dedicated a new logic in international relations, and therefore, the Western countries are looking to make the Middle East an area of their influence.”
The UN Security council convened Tuesday in presence of foreign ministers of the United States, Russia, China and the Arab League (AL) chief Nabil al-Arabi, to discuss the AL’s recent plan calling on Syrian President Assad to step down, as well as to pass a resolution condemning violence in Syria.
The council members failed to reach an agreement on the issue and met again behind closed doors on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the draft resolution on Syria.
On Friday, UN Security Council failed to reach an agreement over the resolution on Syria because of Russia’s opposition to the clause hinting on the possible regime change in Damascus.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Friday that Russia would not support the updated version of the West-Arab draft resolution on Syria as it still fails to take into account Moscow’s principal considerations.
“We have received the text (of the revised draft). Although some of our concerns have been considered, nevertheless, this is not enough for us to support it,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennadi Gatilov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.
The draft was officially published in a final version but no proposals about its voting have been made, the diplomat added. He said no ballot in the United Nations was expected in the next few days and the consultations could be continued.
The Syrian leadership has accused the broad-based opposition of acting out a Western plot by calling for foreign intervention and smuggling in weapons and ammunition to militia groups inside the country. Those militia groups call themselves the “Free Syrian Army,” who launch attacks on government and military bases, citing the government’s crackdown on opposition protesters in the 10- month-old unrest.
February 3rd, 2012, 11:42 pm
jad said:
Mouhamad,
The orders from qatar&co. to kill and spell Syrian blood was sudden, and the criminals didn’t have time to edit the footage of their ‘achievement’.
Moderator,
By editing my comment to Dr. Haytham for no reason you gave the impression that I was attacking him, I wasn’t at all, I was asking a friend of mine to try to stay away from the news for few minutes to feel better instead of loosing his temper.
That wasn’t professional of you at all. At least put some explanation instead of writing (edited).
Dear Haytham, what was edited doesn’t have any thing rude at all, I apologize on behalf of the moderator for giving you and the readers the wrong impression.
February 3rd, 2012, 11:49 pm
Halabi said:
The hands are not tied in a way to secure a prisoner. Some people’s faces are tied, one guy has a piece of cloth that keeps his toes together.
http://youtu.be/Z0wFVv8cgSg
You don’t want to check out the video? Then just read your propaganda in Syria Truth (any media outlet that calls itself the truth can’t be trusted).
وأن معظمها جرى تقييد أيديها بأربطة محلية مصنّعة من ملابس الضحايا
Syrian TV will start filming in Homs once they get those plastic bags from Midan to the scene.
February 3rd, 2012, 11:58 pm
Tara said:
Dear moderator
Thank you for your hard work in bringing SC to civility. It has been long due…. Please do not allow anyone to bully you and continue to moderate as you see fit.
February 4th, 2012, 12:08 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Another massacre in Homs today, reminding us with what Hafiz did in Hama in 1982,it is so much heart breaking,this regime is criminal, how can we forgive those who are committing such crimes, freedom is so prescious, the price is too high,this revolution says we would rather die,than to live in humilliation,Bashar must face the same fate as Gaddafi.
Haytham, I feel your pain, and appreciate your good personality, your good morality,crime has no religion, has no nationality,dictatorship is wicked,in this century,those criminal has no place on earth.
Those who are obfuscating the news, if you have a conscious, ,please stop doing that ,think of your families,they are dear to you, and those who died are dear to their families,.
February 4th, 2012, 12:27 am
Ghufran said:
Haytham,
Despite disagreeing with some of your political views,I looked at you as a guy who can remain calm and civilized under pressure,it was a huge disappointment to see someone like you
[Edited for personal attack]
الله يسامحك و يهدي الجميع
أسوا الفساد فساد الافضل
February 4th, 2012, 12:33 am
bronco said:
JNA #215
Thanks for posting the updated resolution ( if it is the one)
This is the paragraph that has been changed to modify the sentence: “Fully supports the Arab League Plan” to
“support the decision of the Arab League…(with the date of the plan)”
There is a question mark: The inclusion of the date of 22 january 2012 which is the date the Arab League Plan was announced seems like a trick to imply that the ‘decision’ means the “plan”?
The details of what they mean by the ‘decision of the Arab League’ have to be clearly spelled out otherwise it is a carte blanche to the AL to implement a regime change.
If this is the resolution, the Russians will veto it, for sure, as they are no fools to be tricked like that.
”
7. Fully supports in this regard the League of Arab States’ 22
January 2012 decision to facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system, in which citizens are equal regardless of their affiliations or ethnicities or beliefs, including through commencing a serious political dialogue between the Syrian government and the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition under the League of Arab States’ auspices, in accordance with the timetable set out by the League of Arab States;”
February 4th, 2012, 12:34 am
zoo said:
Israel will not pull out of the next Middle East war until Hizbollah is annihilated
By Con Coughlin
8:37PM GMT 02 Feb 2012http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/9057277/Israel-will-not-pull-out-of-the-next-Middle-East-war-until-Hizbollah-is-annihilated.html
It is the front line of Israel’s deepening conflict with Iran, and beneath the snow-capped peaks of Mount Hermon the final preparations are taking shape for a conflict that promises to change the landscape of the modern Middle East.
{…}
February 4th, 2012, 12:44 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Anyone who call Haytham Khouri uneducated, and refer to him as corrupt, he is describing himself,Haytham is a noble man,there is no nobility in those who criticise Haytham , he is mad because Haytham telling us the news from Homs, shame on you.
[Edited for personal attack. This line of discussion is CLOSED. This user is banned for a week.
Do NOT use inflammatory language against other commenters.
Do NOT personalize disputes.
This is the last warning to those who attack other users with contemptuous and hateful remarks. The moderators do not have time to constantly monitor or edit remarks that are colored by contemptuous language]
February 4th, 2012, 12:58 am
irritated said:
Jad
The events in Homs coincides curiously with the debate at the UNSC where the opposition hopes that by increasing the death toll it will move the UNSC to take a stronger stand than the softened UNSC resolution put at vote saturday.
The media are more than happy to listen to horror stories and disseminate them to influence the countries voting.
We have seen that before. Always before a UN resolution vote, violence increases in the media while it is not sure what is really happening on the ground and who are the dead. armed rebels? soldiers? civilians? Each group has its narrative. If the AL observers had not been withdrawn by the GCC and the AL maybe we would have known better. Now we are in the dark.
February 4th, 2012, 12:59 am
jad said:
عضو “المجلس الوطني السوري”: اذا استخدمت روسيا حق الفيتو ستصبح عدوة للشعب السوري
قال عضو “المجلس الوطني السوري” المعارض رضوان زيادة في حديث لـ”روسيا اليوم” من واشنطن انه “وبعد 11 من قتل النظام السوري شعبه بشكل يومي نجد روسيا ما زالت تدعم النظام في مجلس الامن الدولي”.
واشار الى ان النسخة الاخيرة من القرار استجابت لبعض التحفظات الروسية”، و”على روسيا ان تتفهم انه لا بد من الاستجابة للمبادرة العربية الداعية الى تنحي الاسد”.
واعتبر رضوان ان “المجلس الوطني يملك دعما كاملا من الشعب السوري، والآن لدينا الجيش السوري الحر الذي يقوم بما يمليه عليه ضميره وواجبه”، حسب رأيه.
وحذر زيادة خلال الحديث مع “روسيا اليوم” من الولايات المتحدة انه “اذا استخدمت روسيا حق النقض “الفيتو” فانها ستواجه كافة العرب، وسيكون فيتو موجها ضد الجامعة العربية وليس ضد الثورة السورية والشعب السوري فقط، وسيعني نهاية حتمية للعلاقات التاريخية بين سورية وروسية، وستصبح روسيا عدوة للشعب السوري”.
وفيما يتعلق بالاقليات اكد رضوان انه “يجب على جميع السوريين، وواجبهم، الوقوف معا من اجل ازالة النظام وبناء سورية الديمقراطية والتعددية المدنية”، حسب تعبيره.
http://arabic.rt.com/news_all_news/news/577686/
February 4th, 2012, 1:00 am
Ghufran said:
The language used by haytham is unacceptable even by his own admission, educated people must stay above the crowd when it comes to how they respond to disagreements, his apology is a sign that he regrets copying few fools on this blog.
There is a war in Homs and with that comes a barrage of lies and rumors seeping from both sides of the conflict, using aljazeera and alarabiya as a proof of the credibility of a story should make most of you suspicious especially when the news and the videos(including the one with dead people with their hands tied) pop us hours before a UNSC meeting. Homs is a killing field now, that is why the violence must stop.
Give me a plan that removes the regime thugs without destroying Syria and count me as a supporter, the only plan is the one that stops the killing and start the dialogue, trying to libyalize Syria is not a plan, it is suicide.
February 4th, 2012, 1:22 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Ghufran, your Idole,Bashar is trying to end the revolution before the UN reach a resolution, he is foul, he does not realize that the revolution will never end till he is gone, your analysis is wrong, and frankly I do not think much of your opinion.
February 4th, 2012, 1:30 am
jad said:
Here we go! the real reason of yesterday’s massacre in Homs and probably today too is for political gain at the UN before the voting:
“دعا المجلس الوطني السوري روسيا لادانة النظام السوري بعد مجزرة حمص.”
“وتعليقا على هذه التطورات قال رئيس المجلس الوطني السوري برهان غليون إن ما يحدث في سوريا اليوم من شأنه حسم مواقف المترددين واختبار الرهان الروسي على النظام في سوريا.
وأضاف للجزيرة أن المعارضة ستتجه إلى الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة إذا أعاق الفيتو الروسي قرار إدانة النظام في مجلس الأمن.
وقال إن ما يحدث في حمص يدل على أن النظام يريد أن يكسب الوقت لتنفيذ خططه قبل التصويت المرتقب على القرار في مجلس الأمن الدولي.”
February 4th, 2012, 2:03 am
annie said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fjqR7H6YumE
We need some beauty
February 4th, 2012, 2:58 am
Badr said:
This analysis makes sense to me:
Mid-East musical chairs
February 4th, 2012, 5:06 am
Revlon said:
The tragic events of this weekend, like no other, have served the rising Syrians to get over their outstanding pain and guilt over their silence over the tragedy of Hama.
Silent no more!
Complacent no more!
Fearful no more!
A Genuine Syrian identity is being borne.
One that cherishes freedom, values courage and sacrifice for others, and brims with a sense of duty and responsibility to do one’s share in helping others.
February 4th, 2012, 5:16 am
Revlon said:
Another Zanga has been liberated; A command center for outlawed Assad forces has been ambushed and cleansed.
Bustan AlDiwan,
Homs old city
شباب سورية حمص بستان الديوان الجيش الحر يحرر الحي من كتائب بشار وفرحة اهالي الحي 1 2 2012
February 4th, 2012, 5:23 am
VOLK said:
Russia’s foreign minister sternly warned Washington Saturday that any attempt to put a draft resolution on Syria to vote at the United Nations would lead to “scandal,” a blunt warning that Moscow is prepared to use its veto power.
Sergey Lavrov said in an interview broadcast on Russian state television Rossiya that Moscow had submitted its mendments to the Western-backed draft. He said that Russia hopes that “bias will not prevail over common sense.”
“If they want another scandal at the UN Security Council, we wouldn’t be able to stop them,” Lavrov said, voicing hope that Washington wouldn’t put the draft to vote.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/02/04/syria-un-security-council.html
February 4th, 2012, 6:34 am
majedkhaldoun said:
The Syrian embassies in Tunis,Greece,Cairo, must be closed and send the ambassadors back to Syria, the pictures from Homs are so horrible. Turkey must do something,the number of daily death has increased to over 250 a day, the regime media are lying,but they can not hide the truth ,
India will sign the resolution,
Tunis has already asked the Syrian ambassador to leave
February 4th, 2012, 7:25 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
The junta wanted to convey a message of intimidation. That it is ready to commit Hama 2.0. But they didn’t take into account that it is impossible to intimidate people who lost their fear.
Fearless people, when you try to intimidate them, they become more angry more adamant and much more revengeful.
I hope I will be able one day to visit Syria, to see the gallows that were used to hang Maher and Bashar.
===
Thanks Tara!
.
February 4th, 2012, 7:33 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Is there problem so my comments are in moderation
February 4th, 2012, 7:36 am
Juergen said:
Amir
Its funny that we all may think that we live in the best time and age. 60-70 years ago it was possible to have a breakfast in Jerusalem and lunch in Damascus and dinner in Bagdad.
February 4th, 2012, 7:56 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Juergen,
Here’s a short clip about the ‘Imperial Airways’, a British company which during the twenties and thirties flew seaplanes in the route London- Tiberias, Sea of Galilee (lake Kinneret, in Hebrew)- to Baghdad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cscbtskc8xk
.
February 4th, 2012, 8:22 am
Tara said:
SS is on vacation for 2weeks. I wish him to have a great and pleasant smelling experience.
Ah..also, I just want to acknowledge that I was too busy and forgot to say Bye Bye to Affram. Sorry Afram.
Feeling generous today.. Decided to start my day with an act or two of kindness.
February 4th, 2012, 8:23 am
Observer said:
I usually go over the sites that are pro regime like Manar or Doonia or SANA and Cham Press and then go over RT and then Haaretz and finally the satellite channels and a few other sites to gather two things: information and tone of information and discourse.
First, something terrible happened in Homs and the pictures of the funeral this morning show many corpses whether it is 260 or 45 it is not clear. How terrible is not clear. What action provoked this attack is also not clear.
Second, the Syrian regime has lost this information battle. The speed with which the information came out, the direct broadcasting of the pictures and the testimony of people on the ground to the satellite channels was very rapid.
Third the lack of outside press has come to play a bad joke on the regime as the local people can upload pictures and video immediately without interference and the tone of the story cannot be countermanded with official Syrian propaganda.
Fourth, this could not have come at a worse moment for the regime with these pictures embarrassing Russia and essentially neutralizing South Africa Brazil and India. If a veto is coming it will be a lone veto with majority in favor and perhaps a few abstentions.
Fifth, the SNC will go to the general assembly and with Syrian embassies being stormed around the world and pictures streaming out of Syria, the regime does not stand a chance.
Sixth, the expelling of Syrian ambassadors from Arab countries will gather pace and if the regime becomes a pariah in Arab circles it will have a difficult time relying on friendly countries like Venezuela and Cuba to help. Even Algeria will find it difficult to help.
Seventh, today’s big rally against Putin in Moscow is a harbinger of a difficult re election and a robust opposition that will limit the ability of Putin. He may play the nationalist card to the hilt by supporting Assad against ever more encroaching Western influence as he paints a Russia being surrounded by pro West regimes from Poland and Georgia and what have you.
Eighth, RT announced that Lavrov and the head of Russia’s secret service are going to Damascus on the 7th. I speculate, but I think that they are going to announce that they can no longer support his policies and he will have to change and work with the opposition on some form of transition. The question is how to do it without having the boy lose face and to assure the minorities of a safe post regime Syria.
It is also possible they may tell him to conduct the crushing of the revolt without allowing any reporting.
Now if I were the opposition I would compromise and offer an exploratory delegation to talk in Moscow or New Delhi to explore the ideas of the regime and the Russians on what they want without accepting anything or compromising the principle of resignation of the clan members.
If the regime is not offered some compromise to come out with some assurance that the retribution will not be a la Ghadafi then cracks will appear. If on the other hand there is a maximal demand of regime change, it will make the sect and the clan fight to the bitter end.
The regime may choose to fight to the bitter end as many dictators cannot fathom that they cannot be in power; as we see in the declaration of Rifaat Assad or Khadam. They talk as if they have still followers and credibility when we know that they are thugs and killers. Remember that Ghadafi and before him Causcecu and his wife were contemptuous of their captors to the very end; the last moment of their lives. This is what power does to the mind.
February 4th, 2012, 8:53 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
The IDF radio says the Lavrov will meet with Bashar in Damascus on Tuesday.
.
February 4th, 2012, 9:03 am
Ghufran said:
Tara,
This blog will be better off without people like SS,tlaas,majedkhal,snk,etc. There is nothing personal about my opinion,SC can not afford to be a dumping ground for people’s filth,I for example strongly disagree with posters like revlon but he,so far,kept the discussion clean and stayed away from personal attacks,and i always responded in the same manner.
People all over the world read and qoute this blog,those who can not keep their posts clean should find another venue to practice the art of verbal vandalism.it is depressing to see educated people lower their standards to meet thugs expectations.
I support the moderator in his effort to enforce the rules,and I am sorry I used harsh,but measured ,language with Haytham,I used to look at him as a sample of syria’s educated and moderate opposition,without moderation and common sense you and I will not have a country called Syria.
February 4th, 2012, 9:06 am
Tara said:
Tunesia expelled the Syrian Ambassador today. The head of the Arab Parliment is calling for expelling all syrian Ambassadors in the Arab world.
February 4th, 2012, 9:07 am
Revlon said:
222. Hi Juergen,
Hope peaceful protests spread to include all Syrian embassies around the world to send the message that those who occupy them are accomplices to crimes against humanity and part of an outlawed, tyranical regime.
February 4th, 2012, 9:08 am
jna said:
MUNICH – (AP) — Moscow still sees two problems of “crucial importance” with a draft U.N. resolution on the violence in Syria, Russia’s foreign minister said Saturday amid Western attempts to head off a Russian veto in the Security Council.
Sergey Lavrov said the resolution makes too few demands of armed groups opposing President Bashar Assad’s regime. He also said Moscow remains concerned about whether it prejudges the outcome of a national dialogue among political forces in Syria.
…
He added, however, that there were the two issues which “are of crucial importance and they must be modified if a resolution is to be adopted.”
He expressed concern about “an absolutely unrealistic provision expecting that the government of Syria would withdraw from the cities and towns exactly at the time when the armed groups are taking over the quarters of those cities and towns.”
…
He said Moscow had submitted its amendments to the Western-backed draft. He said that Russia hopes that “bias will not prevail over common sense.”
http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/russia-still-2-big-problems-with-syria-resolution-1.3503887
The Russian position is sensible and I am hoping, but not expecting, that the anti-Assad countries will put aside their maximalist language for the sake of starting a non-violent transition to democracy in Syria. We will see.
February 4th, 2012, 9:08 am
Tara said:
Only in Syria: a massacre in memory of a massacre.
فقط في سوريا مجزرة في ذكرى المجزرة
330 killed and 1500 wounded in Homs yesterday.
February 4th, 2012, 9:19 am
Norman said:
Tara, and how do you know that, hear say?, it did not happen,
February 4th, 2012, 9:28 am
Ghufran said:
Observer,
The Russians do not want to lose Syria and are not stuck on Assad but rather stuck with him,he failed to do his job and his regime is about to fall,Bashar is now a liability to his supporters and friends and his presence is helping to unite people and countries against the regime. For the sake of Syria,including minorities,he needs to leave.
The opposition must work with and not against Russia,they also need to talk to regime figures and army leaders who are willing to negotiate about a solution that protects the interest of a large section of the Syrian society.
Insisting on “everything or nothing” is a prescription for civil war,and time is running out.
A regime change is inevitable.
February 4th, 2012, 9:32 am
Tara said:
Norman,
It did happen. For you nothing happens unless and until it is on Aldunya and SANA.
February 4th, 2012, 9:37 am
Norman said:
Ghufran,
I think that they are frustrated, nothing is going their way they were told it would and nobody is coming to help them destroy more of Syria,
It is reform and security at the same time,
February 4th, 2012, 9:38 am
Ales said:
Story of massacre in Homs seems fabricated to blame Syrian army. Even western media is very cautious and reports it as claims by London based HRW and LCC. Possible gain for reporting massacre of people in this way seems to be UN council resolution.
An example from bloody European history: France was all for separation of religion and state before 1st World war, law was passed for this. But when ugly massacre of 1st World war dragged, they forgot the law, embraced religion again and they motivated citizens by religion (sermons, etc) to kill all evil, barbaric and Lutheran Germans. Germans killed children, raped woman, they reported. War had to be fought and won because “winning this war is a mean to end/stop all future wars”… Barely 20 years later, 2nd world war had started.
Exactly same propaganda is used by all sides than and now (Syria by all sides, Iran, many other cases). In this light, we should not be surprised that French media and politics do not report anymore about their journalist killed in Hama. It’s media value has expired when it was discovered he was apparently killed by wrong side.
February 4th, 2012, 9:46 am
bronco said:
337. VOLK said:
I fully agree. Russia is fed up with Qatar and its friends who are trying to force into the throat of the UNSC their Arab League Plan which is nothing else then a Forced Regime Plan that goes against the Chart of the UN.
After the deflated ‘deja vu’ of the “nuclear threat” strategy , now the “human rights” is the the new strategy that some countries with their own agenda have been using to force disguised resolutions calling for regime changes, thus bypassing the UN chart rules.
Russia’s continuous objections on the UN resolution despite Qatar’s call for an immediate vote, coincides with the increase of violence in Syria, obviously supposed to create a ‘human rights’ urgency to force the UNSC to approve the crooked resolution.
Russia will probably threat the veto until the Arab Plan is trimmed to remove any forced regime change clauses and clearly spelled out in the resolution. Childishly playing on words and invoking the urgency of an agreement for the sake of stopping violence will not work anymore. For Russia it’s ‘deja vu’.
February 4th, 2012, 9:49 am
Tara said:
Protestors are storming the Syrian embassy in Libya in protest against Homs massacre. Our new flag is going high in the sky.
One embassy after the other across the globe…
February 4th, 2012, 9:52 am
Ghufran said:
This from a Facebook page (pro regime)
اآدمن تحياتي إذا راجعت تعليقاتي البارحه تلاحظ أنني أول شخص على الإطلاق قال أن المعروضين على قناة الجزيره هم نفسهم المخطوفين من المدنيين وبعض العسكريين ؟ أنا لم يكن كلامي ظن أو إستنتاج وإنما إتصلت وقتها مع شخص من الخالديه فيه ضمير؟ وكنت سابقا قد طلبت منه تحرير قريب لي مخطوف في الخالديه ؟ جاوبني بالحرف / قتلوا كل المخطوفين مشان يفرجوا المحطات أنو في مجزره كبيره بالخالديه / قلت له هل دخل جيش لعندكم : قال ولاعسكري واحد بالعكس المسلحين هم من قتلوا كل عناصر الحواجز المحيطه بنا @ سألته هل مات حدا من أهل الخالديه . أجاب مات سبعه من إطلاق النار الكثيف ؟ قلت له هل هي الثوره ؟ قال لي أبوس رجلين الدوله تجي تخلصنا من المجرمين تعبنا وصار يبكي
February 4th, 2012, 9:55 am
bronco said:
Tara, dissapointed?
After the UAE….
Turkey could offer Al Assad sanctuary if he decides to leave Syria
Reuters Feb 3, 2012
Abdullah Gul, Turkey’s president, said that his country would consider a request for asylum coming from Syria’s ruling Al Assad family.
http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/turkey-could-offer-al-assad-sanctuary-if-he-decides-to-leave-syria
February 4th, 2012, 9:58 am
Ghufran said:
A damaging testimony from a Tunisian observer:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A8%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3%D9%8A&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDwQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D4xeu5eUcPv0&ctbm=vid&ei=c0gtT8OxB8fItgel1oTeDw&usg=AFQjCNF9qgsLAmtIIBrSG3bT6val08VYpw
February 4th, 2012, 10:05 am
zoo said:
As expected, the activists pushing a media campaign to force a vote at the UN with a crooked resolution.
Note the massacre between quotes…
Syria “massacre” puts pressure on Moscow to back U.N.
By Mariam Karouny and Stephen Brown | Reuters – 8 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/death-toll-hits-217-shelling-syrias-homs-group-004906793.html
BEIRUT/MUNICH (Reuters) – Syrian forces killed more than 200 people in an assault on the city of Homs, activists said, the bloodiest day of an 11-month uprising giving sudden urgency to a push for a U.N. resolution calling for President Bashar al-Assad to cede power.
February 4th, 2012, 10:10 am
Halabi said:
Just to be clear, the menhebak narrative is that the people who were killed in Homs last night were kidnapped soldiers and civilians. Does that mean that they will receive a state funeral like the victims of terrorism in Damascus?
The regime’s media said everything is calm in Homs, but there are terrorists. Some say the victims were all soldiers, some say they were all civilians, and others say it was a mix of both.
But the best is Syrian TV’s forensic analysis (of the fabricated videos). طبيب شرعي للإخبارية: الجثث التي عرضت لونها أزرق ما يؤكد أن الوفاة لم تتم عبر قصف كما أن الجثث غير ملطخة بأي دماء الأمر الذي يثبت حدوث تصفية جسدية عن طريق القتل المباشر بالرصاص
Here is what our Syrian brothers and sisters had to deal with in Homs a few hours ago. I am not expert, but I see signs that the bodies are ملطخة with blood.
http://youtu.be/w4s7lGAD0gI
February 4th, 2012, 10:15 am
Revlon said:
Lieutenant Paratrooper Mamoun Kilzi announces the formation of the Brigade of Free Aleppines dedicated to protecting civilians from outlawed Assad forces.
There was no mention of relation to FSA
حلب :: بيان تشكيل لواء أحرار حلب 2-2-2012م
February 4th, 2012, 10:21 am
zoo said:
Anthony Shadid of the NYT reports evidence of provocation to violence in a concerted efforts of the opposition to pressure the UN vote.
“(In Homs), the barrage was apparently unleashed after defectors attacked two military checkpoints and kidnapped soldiers. ”
“The simultaneous attacks on Syrian embassies in Amman, Berlin, Cairo, Kuwait and elsewhere, he said, were evidence of a coordinated assault by Syria’s enemies.”
Death Toll Is Said to Rise in Syrian City of Homs
By ANTHONY SHADID
Published: February 4, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/world/middleeast/syria-homs-death-toll-said-to-rise.html
….
Accounts by activists, independently basing their information on what they described as contacts in Homs, said the barrage was apparently unleashed after defectors attacked two military checkpoints and kidnapped soldiers. One activist put the number of abducted soldiers at 13, another 19. They suggested that enraged commanders then ordered the assault, which lasted from about 9 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday, focusing on the neighborhood of Khaldiya. Five other neighborhoods were also assaulted.
At one point, a resident said, people left the top floors of residential buildings, fearful that shelling they described as random would wreck their homes.
The precise number of dead was almost impossible to obtain
{…}
February 4th, 2012, 10:22 am
jad said:
From FB about Homs massacre:
George Zeitoun
تقرير وتحليل خاص في مجزرة حي الخالدية:
كثرت شهادات من يشاهد قريبا او صديقا او احدهم من الذين قتلوا في الخالدية… عدد القتلى وصل الى 425 قتيلا البارحة وتهدمت ابنية على اثر انها قصف من النظام… الدلائل تشير الى ان العدد اقل بكثير من ذلك وحسب معلومات الكثير من اهل مدينة حمص التي تردني تباعا، لست اريد ان انفي الخبر الذي تتناوله المعارضة ولكن بدأ الشك يسري فيني اكثر (الفار يلعب بعبي) لا توجد اي اخبار عن وجود دبابات قامت بقصف مباني وانما سقوط هاون على المنطقة حسب شهود عيان والتي لا يمكن ان تقتل هذا العدد الكبير والى حد الان لم نشاهد الا 40 جثة وحتى خلال مراسيم التشييع لم يظهر اي عدد اكبر من ذلك… احد المقتولين شاب متواضع من الإنشاءات ذكرت المصادر المقربة منه انه لم يشارك بأي مظاهرات وانه خطف بهجوم مسلح ووجد مقتولا في اليوم الثاني بحي الخالدية، الشهادة الثانية عن عسكري مخطوف ايضا منذ عدة ايام وجد من بين اسماء المقتولين التي قامت المعارضة بنشرهم… اين هم ال 425 شهيدا ليلة البارحة؟ اين هم ربع هذا العدد البارحة؟
تفاصيل التحليل:
-اولا الجثث لرجال في العقد التالت والرابع واواخر العقد العشرين من العمر علما ان تنسيقيات المعارضة اكدت ان القتلى مدنيون سقطوا نتيجة استهداف ابنية بقذائف الدبابات وعليه فنسبة الجثث من النساء والاطفال يجب ان تكون اكثر من النصف وهذا مالم يكن .
-ثانيا الالبسة الداخلية في عدد منها داكن وهي نفسها المستخدة في الجيش السوري وكلنا يعمل ان عدد من اختطفوا ومن مصادر المعارضة (موقع الحقيقة) بلغوا 30 مختطفا في اليومين السابقين فقط .
-ثالثا الهدف من الصور القول للناس بان الجثث قضت بقصف ابنية سكنية والسؤال لماذا نلاحظ اثار تشوه لاي من هذه الصور ولافقدان لاطراف ولا تهشيم لرؤوس فالجثث كانت شبه سليمة وايضا نظيفة جدا فلادماء ولاغبار وبالنظر الى رؤوس الضحايا نلاحظ نظافة الرؤوس التي يجب في مثل هذه الحالات ان تكون في اسوء مايكون والجثث التي سحبت من تحت أنقاض غزة وجنوب لبنان مازالت بالذاكرة.
-رابعا الجيش كان يستخدم المدفعية والدبابات في القصف وعليه فيجب ان ترتج الابنية في المنطقة المحيطة لموقع انهيار المبنى وعليه فموقع التصوير بالضرورة بمكان ان يقع في مكان قريب فعملية الاخلاء يجب ان تكون سريعة وقصيرة والى مكان قريب خوفا من القذائف التي تتساقط عشوائيا على المدنيين ولكن الصور ثابتة مستقرة ولا يوجد اي ضجيج سوى صراخ عبد الله الساروت بين الجثث .
-خامسا الجثث كانت عارية تمام ومقيدة الايدي والاربطة نظيفة تماما كيف ذلك من اخلى الجثث عليه ان يكون بحالة من الهستيرية والاضطراب النفسي الشيء الكثير فما راه مجزرة نساء واطفال ورجال وشيوخ مقطعة الاوصال وعليه فالدماء يجب ان تملئ يديه وجسده وعليه يجب ان تكون الاربطة حول رؤوس الضحايا و(أيديهم) متخمة بالدم ولكنها بيضاء.
-سادسا الصور عرضت ضحايا ضمن مبنى سكني ولكن الم يكن من الاجدى ايضا وفي ظل التوثيق المرير للمعارضة ان يتم تصوير عملية الاخلاء او جزء منها ولو كان لدقائق فهذا سيكون الضربة القاصمة للنظام.
-سابعا هم من أهل الخالدية لم يتم ذكر اسم واحد ولم يتم تصوير جريح واحد فاهات الجرحى كافية لتقطيع قلب اي اسنان واثارة جنونه مرفقة بيا الله ..
-ثامنا الجزيرة والعربية وعدد من المواقع الوطنية بدات الحملة بين الساعة الواحدة والتالتة ليلا بعاجل مجرزة مجرزة مجرزة ليتبعها مظاهرات في اكثر من منطقة بشكل متتالي وسريع جدا في الفردوس في حلب الهامة في دمشق بنش في ادلب وغيرها مع العلم ان كل ماذكر لايتجاوز تعداد سكانه المئة الف.
يليه اخبار عن سقوط سفارات في كل من برلين والقاهرة وطرد سفير سوريا من تونس وترنح اميركي باغلاق سفارتها في دمشق.
طبعا كل هذا ظهر بعد كلمة حمد بن جاسم البارحة وتصريحه للروس باستخدام الفيتو لن نرضى بقرار منقوص .. وتصريح هيلاري انها ستكون عار على الامم التمتحدة ان تقف دون حراك لما يجري في سوريا وفرنسا تتهدد روسيا بتسجيل ما يحدث بالتاريخ.
-تاسعا اي نظام مجنون في العالم يعمد الى ارتكاب مجزرة قبل جلسة مجلس الامن اليوم مجرزة طويلة عريضة بهذا العدد الذي لم يشهده احد طيلة فترة الاحداث في سوريا … واخيرا وبعد كل هذا التخبط يخرج وزير خارجية روسيا ليقول قرار مجلس الامن بصيغته المعدلة غير مرضي وسيكون فضيحة لواشنطن بمجلس الامن ان تم تقديمه اليوم.
February 4th, 2012, 10:25 am
Tara said:
Bronco
As long as he stays out of Damascus, the US, and Montreal; I would grudgingly concede. There is a piece of my heart in these 3 places…
February 4th, 2012, 10:30 am
zoo said:
Showdown at UN
UN vote on Syria to go ahead: Western powers
AFP – 26 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/un-security-council-vote-syria-diplomat-000303906.html
Western diplomats at the United Nations said they are determined to vote Saturday on a resolution condemning bloodshed in Syria, despite strong Russian objections.
The Western allies are “determined to vote today,” France’s UN ambassador, Gerard Araud, said ahead of talks in the Security Council.
British UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant also said: “We expect a vote today.”
That stand drew the battle lines for a showdown between the Western powers and Russia in the Security Council just hours after allegations that between 217 and 260 civilians had been massacred by Syrian forces in the city of Homs.
Russia has refused to support a Western-Arab draft resolution that would condemn the Syrian government’s bloody crackdown on a 10-month old uprising and require President Bashar al-Assad to abide by an Arab League timetable for political reform, including his own resignation.
February 4th, 2012, 11:02 am
Tara said:
The al-Assad regime deserves to be demolished
It is 9 a.m. in the morning in Harasta, one of the suburbs of Damascus, and there is loud banging at the door. It is only a few seconds until the door opens up and I face the dreaded Syrian security forces, whose atrocities I have been listening to, documenting and reporting on while I have been in Syria.
Harasta is only a 15-minute drive from Damascus’ city center and was in the hands of the Free Syrian Army militias in previous days. During the night of Jan. 25, heavy clashes between the Syrian regime and the free army lasted the whole night until the dawn when the sound of the muezzin’s voice calling the faithful for morning prayers blended with the continuing sound of Kalashnikovs shooting. Only when we saw the regime soldiers at the doorstep did we realize who had won the fight.
Mohammad Abood, 23, whom I met over the Internet and asked to stay at his house for a couple of days for reasons that have nothing to do with my undercover journalism, is now at the door, getting a heavy beating from the soldiers who trade turns insulting him. One shabiha, who appears to be the leader of the four-to-five squad of soldiers, is directing them to search the house, while giving other orders and questioning me at the same time.
The two-bedroom apartment is turned upside down by the soldiers, but for the time being, they seem undecided what to do with me, though they dutifully confiscated all my personal belongings, including my computer, camera, phone and whatever they deemed necessary into plastic bags. The belongings were never returned.
Now we are in the narrow streets of Harasta but not alone. Every corner has a few soldiers guarding the city as if they are an occupying army in a foreign land. A few other groups of arrested Harasta residents coming from the muddy, steep streets appear to share the same faith as we do. After a couple-minute walk to a larger road, I see a few other arrested groups joining us to be taken to one of the security complexes in the city, knowing that the worst yet to come.
In only 14 days, in a half-dozen suburbs of Damascus, I have seen the viciousness of the security forces every single day in different forms and shapes. I have witnessed unarmed protesters being attacked twice, one of which was a funeral crowd who were joyfully praising their “martyr” on Jan. 21 in the city of Douma. After I arrived in this city on Jan. 19 to leave the next night, my plans had to change because the Syrian Army would be laying siege in eastern Ghouta for the next four days.
In central Damascus, I saw individuals getting arrested in broad daylight for no apparent reason.
And finally I was arrested, along with over a thousand people in a single morning in Harasta, in which I witnessed scores of old and young locals receiving their first heavy whippings in the front yard of the Harasta Police Hospital. Surely what awaited them in the coming days and weeks will be the most horrifying.
I talked with a much respected local doctor who had been jailed twice and tortured since the Syrian revolution began just because he insisted on treating wounded protestors who came to his hospital.
Doctors are prohibited from carrying any kind of first-aid kit under this evil regime, and if found, even mere pain killers in their cars constitute a crime warranting arrest because it shows their intention of helping injured people in some other place.
The horror stories I have heard from scores of local people were beyond any imagination.
When Col. Moammar Gadhafi said he would do house-to-house raids to hunt down the rebels like rats, the international community moved immediately to stop the pending slaughter, invoking the much-discussed “right to protect” civilians in Libya.
The Syrian regime’s regular and irregular forces search houses every single day for months, one of which I was also victim of. The regime sends dozens of its tanks into the streets, hits the cities with mortar shells and terrifies its people day in, day out.
This regime deserves to be demolished.
February/04/2012
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/the-al-assad-regime-deserves-to-be-demolished.aspx?pageID=449&nID=12995&NewsCatID=423
February 4th, 2012, 11:06 am
zoo said:
Russian Foreign Minister to meet with Assad on Tuesday
“Russia does not intend to ask President Assad to step down”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has announced an imminent visit to Syria to meet with President Bashar al-Assad.He broke the news while attending the Munich Security Conference.
Mr Lavrov, who will travel to Syria on Tuesday, emphasized that Russia does not intend to ask President Assad to step down as this does would contravene Russian foreign policy.
Russia has taken issue with the proposed draft resolution aimed at ending the violent uprisings that have wracked Syria for the past year. Lavrov cited the fact that the draft document makes too few demands on the armed rebels in the country.
On Friday, there were fresh reports of a major military offensive on the western city of Homs, in which some 200 people are believed to have died.
http://rt.com/news/line/2012-02-04/#id26013
February 4th, 2012, 11:21 am
zoo said:
Will Tunisia be the first country to recognize the SNC as “the representative of the Syrian people” ?
Tunisia to withdraw recognition of Syrian government
Tunisia has started preparations to withdraw recognition of the Syrian government under President Bashar al-Assad and to expell the Syrian ambassador. The announcement was made on the Tunisian President’s Facebook page, which explained the move as “the only way to stop ongoing violence in the country.” Syria has been locked in an almost year-long violent battle between pro- and anti-government factions which is estimated to have cost more than 5,000 lives and is the focus of international concern.
http://rt.com/news/line/2012-02-04/#id26013
February 4th, 2012, 11:23 am
ghufran said:
Daniel Treisman,Professor of political sciences at UCLA
Counting pennies while protesters are gunned down may seem cynical. “How many people need to die before the consciences of world capitals are stirred?” Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague demanded on January 31, clearly thinking of Moscow.
But Russian policymakers have developed an allergy to Western leaders’ moralizing. Just as it was pressing al-Assad to resign, the U.S. State Department quietly lifted a ban on military aid to the Karimov dictatorship in Uzbekistan, which had butchered its own protesters a few years earlier. (Uzbekistan is important for supply lines to NATO troops in Afghanistan.) Neither did Washington press the king of Bahrain — where the U.S. Navy has a port — to step down after he crushed popular demonstrations in his capital.
From Washington, the West’s recent interventions in the Middle East seem unplanned and responsive, with modest goals. From Moscow, it is easy to see a pattern in the repeated use of force to overthrow leaders — from Afghanistan and Iraq to Libya — and diplomatic pressure to dislodge others — in Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen. President George W. Bush may be gone, but his “Freedom Agenda,” it sometimes seems, lives on.
Libya is a particularly sore point. Russia’s leaders felt they were tricked into supporting a resolution to protect civilians only to see it used to provide cover for airstrikes to overthrow Moammar Gadhafi. Vague phrases like “further measures” now set off alarm bells.
Beyond commercial and strategic interests, the Kremlin’s greatest fear is of instability in the Middle East and Central Asia. Russian policymakers already worry about the northward spread of Islamic militancy and opium if the departure of NATO from Afghanistan leads to Taliban resurgence and state collapse.
Rather than a fairytale struggle between the people and a dictator, they see a potentially explosive religious conflict between Syria’s ruling Alawis (close to Shi’a Islam) and majority Sunnis. The zeal with which rulers of the Gulf states and some in Washington call for al-Assad’s ouster seems part of a broader project to isolate Iran, Syria’s ally.
Still, unless al-Assad manages to decisively defeat his opposition in short order, the Russians are likely to soften their position — not because of moral arguments, but simply because they do not want to end up on the losing side. If they alienate al-Assad’s successors, the very interests they seek to protect could be in jeopardy. Russian Foreign Secretary Sergei Lavrov hinted at a shift on January 31, saying: “We are not friends or allies of President Assad.”
February 4th, 2012, 11:28 am
zoo said:
It looks like a Russian-Chinese veto is looming and may enflamme further the region.
“We have the text on the table. We’ve made considerable efforts to go to the Russia. No it’s over. This text is simple: We suport the arab league peace plan, nothing more, nothing less. We are not going to move from that. we vote today.”
http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2012/02/04/un-security-council-to-vote-on-syria-as-bloodshed-intensifies-2/
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned earlier Saturday that there will be “scandal” if a Western-backed resolution on the violence in Syria is put to a vote.
German ambassador to the United Nations Peter Wittig responded saying it would be a scandal to not take action on the worsening violence in Syria.
“Endgame. No more foot dragging. The scandal is not to act, the scandal would be a failure to act.”
{..}
February 4th, 2012, 11:31 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Let the Russians veto the resolution.
Then, when the Assads are history, the Russians will have to do some explanations to the Syrian people. Go ahead, veto.
.
February 4th, 2012, 11:40 am
Tara said:
A Russian veto is preferrable to toothless resolution that does not call for Bashar removal. A Russian veto at this time would in my opinion set the stage up to sideline Russia and would prompt the AL, the US and the EU to act together to support the revolution goal of toppling Bashar
February 4th, 2012, 11:40 am
Norman said:
Zoo,
They should act they should give the Syrian army the same rights that the American army had in Iraq to stop that civil war, no negotiation with armed militant, let the Syria army that stopped the civil war in Lebanon do that in Syria without restrictions.
And force the Syrian government on a time table for reform or else.That is the only way.
Reform and multi party system with no set aside for any party or any religion, I am sick of all what is going on aren’t you all, and yes the president should run in 2014.
February 4th, 2012, 11:41 am
Revlon said:
كلمة الشيخ إسماعيل المجذوب في مجزرة الخالدية
04 02 2012
Funeral sermon by Sheikh Ismail majzoub for the souls of victims of Khalidya massacre perpetrated by outlawed Assad forces.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Lz6QpKijfDo
…….
We do not count on UN to support us!
We do not count on the criminals of the world to support us!
We only count on mighty God to bestow serentity onto our hearts and happiness into our souls through a quick resounding victory…………..
February 4th, 2012, 11:46 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Tara #371,
I agree.
.
February 4th, 2012, 11:50 am
ann said:
UNSC Resolution is DEAD
February 4th, 2012, 11:56 am
ann said:
Double VETO China and Russia
February 4th, 2012, 11:56 am
Norman said:
Congrat,
Veto by the Russians and the Chinese.
Than GOD.
February 4th, 2012, 11:57 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Morocco – Yes. Russia and China veto. This is a historic shift.
.
February 4th, 2012, 11:58 am
Revlon said:
The voting that counts has taken place on the ground in Syria, in the funerals processions and sermons of the victims of Khalidya and other massacres around the country that have been perpetrated by the outlawed Assad forces.
The vote has been unanimous:
Yes to defend God given people’s freedom
Yes to self-reliance and prayer to God for support
Yes to the dismantling of the regime, with all of its elements, including All of Assad-Makhloof clan and their killing and torture machine; Outlawed Assad army and intelligence systems.
UN resolutions are for the record!
February 4th, 2012, 12:03 pm
Norman said:
PrintBack to story
Syria Resolution Turns on Russia’s Veto Power
By Flavia Krause-Jackson, Henry Meyer and Jonathan Tirone – Feb 4, 2012
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad next week, the ministry said before a United Nations Security Council vote on a resolution on Syria opposed by Russia.
Lavrov will be accompanied on the Feb. 7 visit to Damascus by Mikhail Fradkov, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, the ministry said in a statement on its website.
The 15-member security council is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. in New York to vote on a draft resolution proposed by Western and Arab countries aimed at ensuring a political transition in Syria. Al Jazeera reported that shelling by security forces in the Syrian city of Homs killed at least 200.
Almost a year after the uprising against Assad began, the threat is looming of a Russian veto that could prolong a conflict in Russia’s Mideast ally that the UN says has killed more than 5,400 people and is evolving into a civil war.
France condemned the Homs attack as “a crime against humanity” and said any country delaying passage of the resolution would carry “a great historical responsibility.”
The resolution backing an Arab League plan to end the bloodshed in Syria isn’t “hopeless” and may win Russian backing if changes are made, Lavrov said at a security conference in Munich today before talks with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Not ‘Hopeless’
“We are not saying this resolution is hopeless,” Lavrov said at the annual security conference. The text has to be altered in order to address violence perpetuated by armed groups outside government control as well as remove ambiguities concerning the Arab League’s timeline for peace, according to the Russian minister.
While Lavrov made clear that Russia was prepared to veto the resolution, he left open the possibility of finding a compromise.
The resolution’s “condemnation of the government is accompanied by much briefer condemnation of the armed groups,” Lavrov said. The language means that the Security Council risks “taking sides in a civil war,” he said, while adding that Russia doesn’t consider itself a “friend or ally” of the Syrian president.
Arab League Support
At stake at the UN is how much support to give the Arab League, which imposed economic sanctions on the regime and has called on Assad to step aside.
“We are witnessing a genocide in Homs,” Al Jazeera cited Abu Jaffar, from the city’s Al Khaldiya neighborhood, as saying. “More than 300 mortar shells fell on Homs, most of them in Al Khaldiya.”
The Syrian authorities are attacking because “they think they won’t have time to kill and use violence if the Security Council votes,” Burhan Ghalioun, president of the main opposition coalition, the Syrian National Council, said in an interview yesterday with Al Jazeera from Paris. Syrian forces killed 15 people outside Damascus today, Al Arabiya reported.
Tunisia expelled Syria’s ambassador because of escalating violence against civilians, Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafiq Abdel Salam said in an interview today with Al Jazeera. Five people were arrested in London after activists broke into the Syrian Embassy, the Press Association reported, citing the Metropolitan Police.
Working With China
Russia and China blocked a Security Council resolution in October, when Western powers sought to hold the Syrian president responsible for violence.
Russia is working closely with China on ensuring a “balanced” UN security council resolution on Syria, the Russian foreign ministry said today.
Lavrov spoke by phone today with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi to discuss their efforts to amend the Arab-western draft resolution in order to “open the way for a political resolution of the Syrian crisis,” the ministry said in a statement on its website.
In a final effort to win Russian acceptance, Arab and European Union negotiators made concessions in response to objections that the proposal endorsed regime change.
The new draft says there should be no “prejudging the outcome” of the political process and “nothing in this resolution authorizes” military action, responding to Russian concern that last March’s UN authorization of all necessary measures to protect civilians was used to bring down Muammar Qaddafi’s regime.
‘Roller Coaster’
Arab and EU diplomats refused to barter on the degree of support to give for the Arab League plan, a sticking point in four days of negotiations that Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin described as “a roller coaster.”
Pakistan’s Ambassador Abdullah Haroon said on Feb. 2 that the council was “two words away” from agreement, referring to requests by Russia to substitute less stringent language for “fully supports” in regard to the Arab League.
A vote was scheduled without any shift in positions after a fresh round of meetings yesterday in New York failed to produce a new text.
“Some of our concerns and the concerns of those who share our view were taken into account but, nonetheless, that’s not enough for us to support it in its current form,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told the Interfax news agency.
To contact the reporter on this story: Flavia Krause-Jackson in United Nations at fjackson@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: John Walcott at jwalcott9@bloomberg.net
.
®2012 BLOOMBERG L.P. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
February 4th, 2012, 12:03 pm
ghufran said:
Attacks on Bashar Aljafari are intensifying,here is a sample,I welcome any comments backed by some credible info:
هو صديق لأغلب رجال حزب الله.. والمستشارين الإيرانيين في سوريا..
ويتهم أن شهادة ميلاده في دمشق مزورة وأنه ولد في أصفهان بإيران ودرس بدمشق وحصل على الجنسية فيها وخصوصاً أنه يتقن الفارسية وزوجته إيرانية..
كتبت عنه الصحافة الإسرائيلية كثيراً عام 2008.. وذكرت (هارتس) في أحد تقاريرها عام 2008 أن مدير عام وزارة الخارجية الإسرائيلية الأسبق ورئيس حركة السلام الآن الإسرائيلية ـ آلون ليئيل ـ كان على اتصال به وأنه اجتمع به مرات عدة إحداها بحضور السفير عماد مصطفى.. وأنه قدم تقريراً لوزارة الخارجية الإسرائيلية عن تلك اللقاءات أشار فيها إلى استعداد سوريا للمفاوضات المباشرة .. وقد نفى الجعفري ذلك على العربية..
وقد ألف الجعفري موسوعة كبيرة عن تاريخ أندونيسيا وأرخبيل الملايو.. حين كان يعمل في السفارة السورية في أندونيسيا.. واسم الكتاب: (أولياء الشرق البعيد)..
والجعفري يجيد العربية والانكليزية والفرنسية والفارسية بطلاقة..
ويعتبرونه عرّاب الصفقات السرية للنظام في السنوات السابقة مع واشنطن وإسرائيل.
له صداقات عديدة مع كبار رجال الأعمال اليهود الذين لهم أصول سورية.. ولهم علاقات جيدة مع إسرائيل.. وهو ما يجعل له دوراً في أمريكا يتجاوز بكثير دور السفير السوري هناك..
ويشاع الآن بأنه يسعى لعملية كبيرة يقدم من خلالها النظام تنازلات مقابل سكوت أمريكا عن جرائمه وذلك بالتنسيق مع روسيا وإيران وعلي مملوك شخصيا..
بدأ الدكتور بشار الجعفري تجربة عمله في وزارة الشؤون الخارجية في عام 1980.
وكان السكرتير الثالث في السفارة السورية في باريس ما بين 1983-1988. حقق الدكتور الجعفري المستوى المهني للمستشار خلال سنوات 1991-1994، أثناء العمل في البعثة الدائمة للجمهورية العربية السورية لدى مقر الأمم المتحدة في نيويورك.
خدم مرة أخرى في السفارة السورية في فرنسا على مستوى وزير مستشار في الفترة 1997-1998. من 1998-2002، وكان الدكتور الجعفري عين الوزير المفوض والقائم بالأعمال في السفارة السورية في أندونيسيا. في عام 2002 ، تم تعيينه مديراً لإدارة المنظمات الدولية في وزارة الشؤون الخارجية في دمشق، سورية، كان يشغل المنصب حتى عام 2004.
حيث أدى اليمين كسفير فوق العادة والمفوض والممثل الدائم للجمهورية العربية السورية لدى مكتب الأمم المتحدة في جنيف. وفي عام 2006، تولى الجعفري منصب السفير فوق العادة والمفوض والممثل الدائم للجمهورية العربية السورية لدى مقر الأمم المتحدة في نيويورك).
February 4th, 2012, 12:12 pm
Tara said:
France rep to the SC:
The father killed and the son is killing…
We will continue to work with the AL and with the opposition…
——-
The Russian naval base in Tartous should be a fair target to the FSA.
February 4th, 2012, 12:15 pm
ann said:
381. ghufran said:
Attacks on Bashar Aljafari are intensifying
.
.
He refused Qatar blood money to commit grand treason against his own country
.
February 4th, 2012, 12:17 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
WOW Susan Rice Wow wow wow.. it was powerful!
Tara, did you listen to her speech ?
.
February 4th, 2012, 12:22 pm
Hans said:
Yay victory to the truth!
the devils lost big time today.
Syria won, GCC and the devils lost today.
February 4th, 2012, 12:23 pm
Tara said:
Amir
Very powerful indeed. Time for superpower to behave and act as such and show the Russian the difference between what makes a boy and what makes a man.
February 4th, 2012, 12:27 pm
ghufran said:
Qatar et al were not interested in a resolution that helps end the crisis,what they want is a regime change at any cost even if that means the destruction of Syria. By pushing the Russians to veto the resolution,which still had vague language the minute it was put to vote,they want to blackmail any opposition party and stop them from going to Russia,they want Doha,not Moscow, as the place where Syria’s future is determined. This also gives the regime a green light to try to end the armed struggle against it which will certainly lead to further loss of lives.
In the near term,more violence is expected and further political sanctions are likely to follow,but at the end of the day,this crisis can only be solved if fighting parties sit down and negotiate with the help of a mediator,Qatar does not want Russia to be that mediator but only the power balance on the ground will overcome Qatari veto. If the army succeeds in improving security in Homs and other troubled spots,negotiations will suddenly become “a good idea”,this is the Middle East where violence and force dictate the course of events.
February 4th, 2012, 12:28 pm
jna said:
I’m disgusted with my country’s (USA) failure to work with the Russians and Chinese at the UN Security Council. They are ushering in a Syrian civil war and now have the blood of Syrians on their hands.
February 4th, 2012, 12:29 pm
ann said:
Susan Rice’s job was to convince the Russians and the Chinese to refrain form using their VETO. She failed TWICE. She should be fired from her job.
February 4th, 2012, 12:30 pm
Revlon said:
Abu Hadi, member of the Assad special security units made famous for leading the killings and scenes of humiliation against Albaida people has been ambushed and killed by a special FSA unit.
نهاية الشبيح أبو هادي الذي ظهر في فيديو البيضا على أيدي أبطال الجيش الحر
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QbCAQwriM6k
Uploaded by MsHotspeed on Feb 3, 2012
February 4th, 2012, 12:30 pm
Juergen said:
Hans
Did you yet pick a new country you will support after the downfall of the Assads? I think you should hurry, Iran may be a good next target dont you agree?
February 4th, 2012, 12:36 pm
ghufran said:
I hope the gruesome scene makes you feel better,revoln.
The video is disgusting,enjoy.
I still can not understand how people with Syrian blood celebrate the death of other Syrians,pity the nation.
February 4th, 2012, 12:39 pm
bronco said:
Ann
It was expected, the resolution text is a blind endorsement of the Arab League Plan that was concocted by Qatar and France and the UK.
Expect a huge incitation to violence from the furious and humiliated Qatar and co.
February 4th, 2012, 12:41 pm
irritated said:
#389 Ann
“She should be fired from her job”
The hilarious Hillary and her hairdresser too
February 4th, 2012, 12:44 pm
Tara said:
Today marks the end of any potential peaceful resolution to the crisis in Syria. The next stage in the Syrian saga is going to be very very bloody. I expect the west to provide overt and clandstein material support to the resolution and I would not exclude a possible eventual NATO intervention. Russia rendered itself sidlined and isolated. War will be declared and the pain that so far was only felt by the revolutionists, will soon hit hard everyone else.
February 4th, 2012, 12:44 pm
Hans said:
very weird, more arabs upset with the two Russian vetos than by the many americans ones to hold Israel accountable for all the crimes against humanity the Zionist country acts against arabs in the last 8 decades, it seems many arabs in supports of Israel continuing to kill arabs.
February 4th, 2012, 12:50 pm
Juergen said:
JNA
as it looks like the russians and china want their iron curtain back, wont be too long and they will face their own people demanding a revolution.
February 4th, 2012, 12:51 pm
Revlon said:
عقيد طيار ركن بالجيش السوري يُعلن انشقاقه
Colonel Qasem Mohammad Saadeddin, fighter bomber jet pilot defects from outlawed assad forces and joins FSA along with 40 officers and soldiers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEdetlD_rGQ
Uploaded by moatazab on Feb 3, 2012
February 4th, 2012, 12:51 pm
ann said:
392. ghufran said:
I hope the gruesome scene makes you feel better,revlon.
The video is disgusting,enjoy.
I still can not understand how people with Syrian blood celebrate the death of other Syrians,pity the nation.
.
.
Welcome to the muslim brothers world Gufran
.
February 4th, 2012, 12:55 pm
irritated said:
#387 Ghufran
Qatar’s megalomania reminding of Bush’s is become more and more obvious.
Their ‘success ‘ is killing Qaddafi went to their head. They think that they can manipulate the UNSC with their media and their money.
Soon they will ask to be part of then G8 and permanent member of SC! If they don’t stop bullying Russia and China and Arab countries, they will loose the little credibility they have left.
“Qatar does not want Russia to be that mediator but only the power balance on the ground will overcome Qatari veto”
February 4th, 2012, 12:55 pm
hans said:
The hillarous Hillary is getting fat, I wonder why, she used to be more attractive and more in shape, must be Bashar given her run for her money, or the Russians are not given her what she wants.
February 4th, 2012, 12:55 pm
ann said:
398. Revlon said:
Colonel Qasem Mohammad Saadeddin, fighter bomber jet pilot defects from outlawed assad forces and joins FSA along with 40 officers and soldiers
.
.
SO WHAT?! 8)
.
February 4th, 2012, 12:59 pm
bronco said:
Ref: the double veto
Welcome to the new bipolar world.. Finally
France and Germany are begging China for money to sustain the EU disastrous economy and the euro. I expect soon a change in the EU stance on Syria.
February 4th, 2012, 1:01 pm
Juergen said:
dont know if this is the correct version of what was on the table in the security council
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2012/02/text-of-the-unsc-resolution-on-syria-with-russian-changes.html
February 4th, 2012, 1:06 pm
Revlon said:
Sorry to disappoint sweety pie!
No it did not make me feel better.
It certainly would make the families whose members were humiliated, tortured and killed at his hands celebrate divine justice!
((I still can not understand how people with Syrian blood celebrate the death of other Syrians, pity the nation.))
Here the post that you referred to:
390. Revlon:
Abu Hadi, member of the Assad special security units made famous for leading the killings and scenes of humiliation against Albaida people has been ambushed and killed by a special FSA unit.
There is not a word of celebration in what I wrote; read it again, aloud this time!
I merely reported the incident.
As to what I would have liked to have happened is for the guy and his team was to be arrested, and detained for later proper investigation, and trial for the crimes that he committed against Syrians, whose blood you seem to selectively revere!
February 4th, 2012, 1:09 pm
Hans said:
the world according to the west and the USA, that everyone has to listen, do what the west wants and be happy.
the USA is trying to outs Assad but still supporting many dictatorships all over the world, that doesn’t sound right to any smart with middle in the road vision.
you can’t oust Assad and support the Bahrain king or prince or what ever.
you can’t oust Assad and support dictatorships in Latin america, in middle Asia and elsewhere.
you can’t oust Assad and allow Israel to kill Palestinians on a daily basis, that’s not only double standard but also it is flowed. USA today received a serious blow to its foreign policy and even Hillary could not stop it with its genius teams.
Russia NO means NO what part of NO you don’t understand damn it.
February 4th, 2012, 1:09 pm
Tara said:
It is repulsive when criminals like Bashar Jaafari invoke literature, history in their speech. It just does not fit.
February 4th, 2012, 1:11 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
(Edited for hateful language)
.
February 4th, 2012, 1:12 pm
Juergen said:
Zabadani and madaya get Assads greetings now: severe shelling by the army. So i guess someone in Damascus thinks he got a free pass?
February 4th, 2012, 1:13 pm
irritated said:
396. Hans
Don’t underestimate the power of the media in the Arab world. The Arabs are easily manipulated by the biased and powerful channels that keep showing horrors videos pointing the blame on the ‘heretic’ Syrian regime for the violence.
Don’t worry, Arab public opinion is known to flip easily.
Look at Egypt: the army were the savior, now they are the demons.
Look at Libya: the TNC was the savior now they are the demons
Look at Hezbollah: There were the heroes, now they are the villain
Look at Bashar Al Assad: he was the most popular Arab leader, now he is a monster.
Soon the Arabs will also decry the islamists when they will see the worsening of their economical situation.
It is only a matter of time…
February 4th, 2012, 1:14 pm
irritated said:
Juergen $410
“So i guess someone in Damascus thinks he got a free pass?”
Sure he did. It’s cleanup time.
February 4th, 2012, 1:16 pm
Revlon said:
411. irritated:
((396. Hans
Don’t underestimate the power of the media in the Arab world. The Arabs are easily manipulated by the biased and powerful channels that keep showing horrors videos pointing the blame on the ‘heretic’ Syrian regime for the violence))
Which peoples of the world are your gold standard, that do not get easily biased by powerful media?
February 4th, 2012, 1:20 pm
irritated said:
#405. Norman, Hans
Hillary is depressed because she failed in all the missions Obama gave her: Israel-Palestine, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria etc..
She needs a long rest and some advices on her look.
He looks increasingly like Miss Piggy.
February 4th, 2012, 1:22 pm
Tara said:
Irritated@412
“it’s clean-up time”.
No, it isn’t. The NATO does not take orders from the UNSC. Did you forget?
The opposition has so far declined a military intervention by the NATO in Syria, however if more crimes against humanity are committed, the next step would be for the opposition to endorse NATO intervention fair and square.
February 4th, 2012, 1:27 pm
Revlon said:
412. irritated:
((Juergen $410
“So i guess someone in Damascus thinks he got a free pass?”
Sure he did. It’s cleanup time))
Let me see!
Juergen was talking about shelling of Zabadani town with the certain implication of wide scale destruction of civilian properties and wasting of human lives!
You call that a clean up time!
What would follow that?! Tea time?!
[Edited for personal attack]
February 4th, 2012, 1:27 pm
Tara said:
Irritated,
And one more thing, your comment is disgusting and CRIMINAL.
February 4th, 2012, 1:33 pm
Syrialover said:
I feel sick at what a funny joke some people here think what is happening in Syria is.
They are being stupid about Hillary Clinton’s hairdo while Syrians in Homs and losing their lives, Syrians are losing their country.
Hans, Ann, Irritated and others. It is like drunks at a funeral laughing loudly, squealing and showing off.
Will the children please leave the room. They have no place on this serious forum and are offending and angering us who care what is happening in Syria.
February 4th, 2012, 1:36 pm
norman said:
Tara,
were you against the cleanup by the US army in Faluja, and resoring security in Iraq, aske no more from teh Syrian army.
February 4th, 2012, 1:36 pm
Hans said:
Huh Huh!
To all of ones who calls me Nazi, or accuse me of being a German racist.
First of all I was never a pro Russian all my life, in fact I was the opposite, I have been all my life pro USA,until I seen with my eyes the double standards this adminstration has been medling in the middle east toward the benefit of Israel with the help of the retards GCC goat beards retards.
(calling them princes is an insult to myself because no prices on me).
As I said in the past, destroying Syria in the name of ousting Assad is like killing the patient before killing the cancer and we all agreed upon that.
or the other analogy is to use a chemo drug which causes a worse cancer than the first, we all know that one too.
February 4th, 2012, 1:38 pm
irritated said:
#413 Revlon
Good point… but I think the Arabs are new to the kind of manipulative information that Al Jazeera has introduced in Arabic in the Arab world.
For example the way they often use unconfirmed violent videos while showing an interview is a very manipulative and disgusting technique. Their aim is to discredit the interviewee that they don’t like.
The western countries, while manipulated too by some channels, have the resources of more objective channels to counter, and they are able to distanciate themselves to a certain extent.
In addition, in the western countries they are strict regulations on what you can or cannot say or show. In the Arab world there aren’t. Graphic, bloody and revolting violence is forbidden in ALL western TV channels. Al Jazeera seems to find a sadistic joy of showing blood, horrifying wounds, dead bodies in a deliberate intent to incitate repulsion, revenge and more violence.
Yes, most people are fascinated by graphic violence and Al Jazeera’s management use the lowest human instincts to attract more audience and impose the political agenda of their owners.
I think it is an unhealthy channel hiding under a professional look.
February 4th, 2012, 1:44 pm
Revlon said:
419. Norman:
((Tara,
were you against the cleanup by the US army in Faluja, and resoring security in Iraq, aske no more from teh Syrian army))
Norman dear!
Your US-Iraq parallel that you seem to repeat every now an then is only relevent if you would:
1. Regard Assad army as an occupying force of Syria, which I do! Mind you, The “Syrian Army” has been attacking Syrian cities and towns, while US forces attacked Iraqi cities.
2. Approve of the American army human rights record in Fallujah and elsewhere in Iraq!
February 4th, 2012, 1:48 pm
Tara said:
Norman
One must have the minimum human decency of refraining from the use of “clean up”, ” surgical strike” or other genocidal terms. Clean up when and should it happens may inflict one’s family and loved one down the line. Just remember that.
February 4th, 2012, 1:56 pm
Syrialover said:
#420 Hans
“As I said in the past, destroying Syria in the name of ousting Assad is like killing the patient before killing the cancer and we all agreed upon that.”
Assad has destroyed Syria. It was in a coma and slow death for all these years but now he is panicking out of control and finishing it off. He can only destroy it more because he does not have the capability to repair it.
February 4th, 2012, 1:57 pm
irritated said:
$416 Revlon, Tara
Zabadani is in the hands of army mutineers and armed gangs that have no legitimacy, except the one they claim they have.
No country in the world has recognized the FSA, in the contrary they have rejected it. They are simply outlaws and as any outlaws in any country, they need to be stopped, fought and tried on martial tribunal.
Now, if they use the civilians as human shields, it is bound to be violent and complicated, but they have no right to occupy any piece of Syria and the Syrian army has all the duty and the legitimacy to cleanup all the illegal armed presence to ensure the security of all the citizens, not only the ones sympathetic to the outlaws.
While the Syrian army and its goverment are the only legitimate and recognized power by the UN, they are the only rulers and they should fight any unacceptable other armed presence in the country.
February 4th, 2012, 2:01 pm
Badr said:
A short audio stream about the Syrian poet “Adonis”, on the occasion of an exhibition of his art works in London:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00n7lfx
starting at the 11:22 mark
“…and to change any Arab regime is bound to be positive…“
February 4th, 2012, 2:04 pm
Syrialover said:
My comment #418. They don’t leave, they childishly put thumbs down as expected. They make this their playground and want to keep making silly noises.
The reality of Syria is too hard for their heads to understand. How lucky they are that they do not have to care. They are more interested in Hillary Clinton’s hairdo.
February 4th, 2012, 2:12 pm
Revlon said:
421. irritated:
#413 Revlon
((The western countries, while manipulated too by some channels, have the resources of more objective channels to counter, and they are able to distanciate themselves to a certain extent.))
I have been around the globe, and I would argue the opposite!
People of the Middle East have a healthier and more balanced access to news of the world than anywhere on the globe!
Public opinion in the US and Canada is largely formed by a handful of giant media corporations; never mind the plethora of more objective resources that most people have neither the interest in nor the time to follow!
Media coverage in EU is far more diverse when it comes to covering local news, but again the world is seen mainly through western eyes
People in the Middle east have for a long time had access to VOA, BBC, Isreali radio, France media and German media that show them how others see them.
Al Jazeera news channel has transformed the landscape of news coverage not only at a regional level but around the world.
Now other people around the world can see themselves in the eyes of the Arabs!
February 4th, 2012, 2:12 pm
irritated said:
Tara #415
“The NATO does not take orders from the UNSC. Did you forget?”
Are you serious? The NATO makes no move without a UNSC resolution.
France and the USA is moving out of Afghanistan, do you think they will send their army to Syria? Nobody will move, there is no other choice than negotiations.
February 4th, 2012, 2:15 pm
ghufran said:
I keep hearing about Homs being under seige and continuous bombing but aljazeera has been airing live demos in Homs until 30 minutes ago,aljazeera is also now planning on connecting with a rep for the revolution from Homs.I complained from the lack of foreign press and then I did not like stopping the AL mission,
the truth seems to be an inconvenient nuance to both sides.
February 4th, 2012, 2:19 pm
Revlon said:
402. annsaid:
((398. Revlon said:
Colonel Qasem Mohammad Saadeddin, fighter bomber jet pilot defects from outlawed assad forces and joins FSA along with 40 officers and soldiers
SO WHAT?!))
I know how busy you are!
let me clarify that!
Here is what it means:
The statement that the Armed forces are solidly behind Assad is a fallacy; ranks and files and officers have been trickling out since AlQash3ami of the Republican Guard leaving behind hitherto concealed cracks and joining and cementing the ranks of FSA.
February 4th, 2012, 2:26 pm
irritated said:
#429 Revlon
I have been a welcomer and fan of Al Jazeera’s professionalism when it started but it gradually became the mouth piece of a megalomaniac country with a very dubious agenda and with an open incitation to violence under the pretext of attaining democracy in the Arab countries, when the owner of the channel is part of an authoritarian family managing his tiny emirate.
While Fox news and Al Arabya agenda is clear, one wonders what is the real agenda of Al Jazeera.
February 4th, 2012, 2:26 pm
Syrialover said:
The dead prepared for burial in Homs. I suppose we will hear from the usual that these photos are fakes. It is a tragedy beyond bearing for both the killed and those who felt they had to kill them, they are all Syrians.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/world/middleeast/syria-homs-death-toll-said-to-rise.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
February 4th, 2012, 2:32 pm
Syrialover said:
Speculation on the man the Arab League sees as Assad’s immediate replacement.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/world/middleeast/under-syria-plan-assad-loyalist-would-likely-lead-transition.html?ref=middleeast
February 4th, 2012, 2:33 pm
Norman said:
423. Tarasaid:
Norman
One must have the minimum human decency of refraining from the use of “clean up”, ” surgical strike” or other genocidal terms. Clean up when and should it happens may inflict one’s family and loved one down the line. Just remember that.
Tara, sorry, but when my wife cleans the house she does not destroy the furniture, but when the dog start destroying the furniture we put the dog in his cage,
That is what the Syrian army needs to do clean up Syria and put the dogs that are destroying Syria in the cage,
Revlon, The Syrian army responsibility is to restore peace and security to the Syrian people and as you see if you can admit that almost all the trouble in Homs,Hama,Damascus suburb and Idlib, the rest of Syria is calm so either the rest of Syria does not want reform and change or there are no militants in these other areas.
February 4th, 2012, 2:37 pm
Revlon said:
425. irritatedsaid:
(($416 Revlon, Tara
Zabadani is in the hands of army mutineers and armed gangs that have no legitimacy, except the one they claim they have.
No country in the world has recognized the FSA, in the contrary they have rejected it. They are simply outlaws and as any outlaws in any country, they need to be stopped, fought and tried on martial tribunal.))
Legitimacy of any government is granted by its people.
Recognition by other governments and UN follows, and is founded in the former.
Legitimacy of the current Syrian Regime and its armed forces has been declared null by the rising Syrian people.
Its Legitimacy in th eyes of public of the region and the world has practically ceased.
Pronoucing that illegitmacy at the level of the SC has faild due to East-West power struggle, and has nothing to do with the just cayse of the tyranical regime!
February 4th, 2012, 2:40 pm
Dale Andersen said:
RE: “…I have been all my life pro USA, until I saw with my own eyes the double standard this adminstration has been meddling in the middle east to the benefit of Israel…”
[Edited for personal attack]
The USA has been “meddling” in the Middle East for decades and has supported Israel since 1948. So suddenly [Edited for personal attack] Hans wakes up from a golden slumber, looks around and say, “Wait a minute! I was duped!”
No Hans, it’s not that way. Face it, you [Edited for personal attack]
[WARNING. This account will be banned for two weeks if it persists in using personally-denigrating remarks against other commentators]
February 4th, 2012, 2:49 pm
Revlon said:
431. Norman:
((Revlon, The Syrian army responsibility is to restore peace and security to the Syrian people and as you see if you can admit that almost all the trouble in Homs,Hama,Damascus suburb and Idlib, the rest of Syria is cal))
Norman,
Your list of restive areas is incomplete!
All Syrian cities and towns have witnessed demonstrations and arrest, torture, and murders by regime forces, albeit to variable extent.
Areas with highest casualties include from south to North: Dar3a, Damascus Suburbs, Homs, Rastan, Hama, Idlib, Baniyas, Lattakia,and certain Suburbs of Aleppo!
((so either the rest of Syria does not want reform and change or there are no militants in these other areas.))
We will never know what Syrians really want until fair general elections are held and supervised by UN observers!
As to the prospects of Assad-Makhloof clan and his military and security entourage, they would have to be subjected to independant refereed trial for crimes against humanity, along with any people from the opposite camp whom they accuse of committing similar crimes.
February 4th, 2012, 2:54 pm
SC Moderation said:
Note from moderation team.
Several comments are under moderation today. We urge commentators here to avoid using provocative language such as ‘cleansing,’ or ‘clean up.’ We also ask commentators to avoid reacting to provocative posts by those who are under warning. Under warning are Irritated and Hans. Please observe the Rules established by Professor Landis, and help keep discussion civil and productive.
We urge commentators to avoid accusing others directly or by implication as Nazis or criminals or terrorists, and to avoid using national stereotypes to demean and denigrate.
Comments that are solely concerned with public personalities physical attributes will be deleted without notice.
February 4th, 2012, 2:55 pm
ghufran said:
revoln,
it is a stretch to say that the syrian people have decided that the syrian army’s legitimacy is “null”,when violence stops,emotions will calm down and hate will take a break.
I heard Ziadeh on aljazeera,I never liked his writings but after I heard his voice I would like to beg him to please just write and not talk,I respect his “right to write”.
finally,this is Joshua on Alsharaa:
“Shara is the Sunni face of this Alawite family values regime,” said Joshua M. Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma. “Shara is a throwback to the old system. He’s cynical in that he has understood how the power is played.”
Although Mr. Landis, like others, expressed strong doubts that Mr. Assad would willingly relinquish power, he did not rule out the possibility that Mr. Shara could be an important part of Syria’s future.
“Should we get to the point where Assad is ready to leave the country, it could keep the country from falling into leaderlessness,” he said. “It’s like the Yemeni thing: you want to preserve the veneer of constitutional legality, because you don’t know how the opposition is going to play out.”
February 4th, 2012, 3:01 pm
Dale Andersen said:
Memo To: NORMAN
[This account is banned from Syria Comment for two weeks]
February 4th, 2012, 3:02 pm
Antoine said:
NORMAN said : “and as you see if you can admit that almost all the trouble in Homs,Hama,Damascus suburb and Idlib”
You forgot Daraa, Qalamoun-Rankous, urban areas of Latakia, large parts of Deirezzor, large parts of the Kurdish areas.
Also, do not forget that “Homs, Hama, Idlib” , basically north-west Syria and Orontes valley, is the heart of Syria and Syrian culture and it is intellectual dishonesty to demean them in any way.
February 4th, 2012, 3:10 pm
Norman said:
If anybody thinks that Al Shara will be accepted on the long run are dreaming, the goal is to destroy the secular nature of Syria and the Baath party, after AL Shara they will say that he is not implementing the AL Resolution and with Assad gone the GCC supported opposition will take over disband the army and ban the Baath party, I am glad that Russia and china are alert to the plot,
Antoine,
Most deaths are in the above cities and Dara, there are demonstrations but no militants like in the above areas.
February 4th, 2012, 3:25 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Homs last night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jDtvyZ4Q_U
.
February 4th, 2012, 3:27 pm
Ghufran said:
What the AL and the West do after the double veto will give us a hint if they are actually looking for a solution or not. The army will be asked to restore order in the next few weeks and if that fails and no political initiative sees the light,them we may see an actual partition of Syria this year even if Assad remains president on paper. I was told that there is a recognition now that the SNC will practically dissolve due to deep divisions among its members and its failure to swallow the NCB,the unwillingness to embrace minorities and the urge to score a military victory (a Syrian Benghazi) which is now the focus of Shiqfeh and his friends. Qatar will use the Russian veto to say that Russia can not mediate and that only a military intervention can end this crisis. The only thing that can delay or prevent a national disaster is a sudden shift in the balance of power or a regional war if Iran is attacked by Israel. Anything that comes from Bashar will be rejected by the opposition which insists on him leaving his office as a prerequisite for any dialogue. What will determine the course of events is,unfortunately , force not speeches and press conferences. Tuesday is when the picture may start to form,will Russia manage to strike a coup? I am not sure.
February 4th, 2012, 3:54 pm
Ghufran said:
قال وزير الخارجية التركي أحمد داود أوغلو اليوم السبت إن بلاده تعارض إعدام الرئيس المصري المخلوع حسني مبارك.
وذكر أوغلو في تصريح صحفي أن بلاده تعارض إعدام مبارك كونها دولة ألغت هذه العقوبة، مشيرا إلى إيمانه بأنه لا مكان لنظام مثل نظام مبارك والعقيد معمر القذافي والرئيس السوري بشار الأسد في الشرق الأوسط الجديد، وفق تعبيره.
واعتبر رئيس الدبلوماسية التركية إعدام مبارك خطأً فيما يتعلق بالحفاظ على الأمن الاجتماعي بمصر، بالإضافة إلى الأسباب الإنسانية المبدئية.
PS: Kurds are exempted
February 4th, 2012, 4:01 pm
Juergen said:
OTW has put on this video. Its one of those videos one will not forget. Women digging the grave for a 8 year old child killed in yesterdays massacre. Men werent allowed to go to the cemetary. How much pain lies within every victims fate, its quite unbearable and i wonder what has become out of my beloved Syria.
I was a soldier in Bosnia, 5 years after the war i experienced the hate and the visible sings of hate and despair. I remember visiting an old couple living with 4 other neighbors on a hilltop near Srebreniza. Their house was almost in ruins, but those 2 were desperatly rebuilding it. The men told me that the army came up the hill just to destroy his house, as he is the only muslim among his neighbors. His son was arrested and he never saw him again. Some say that men in war will always act like animals, i think not even animals act so deliberatly evil.
February 4th, 2012, 4:05 pm
Ghufran said:
دعت إحدى الصفحات الإسلامية على موقع التواصل الإجتماعي “الفايسبوك” والتي تطلق على نفسها أسم “أخبار أهل السنة في لبنان” الى مناقشة تحرك يهدف الى إقتحام السفارة السورية في بيروت إحتجاجاً على ما يجري من احداث في سوريا.وفي ما يلي النص الذي وضعته الصفحة: “يا ابطال السنة في لبنان هل انتم مستعدون للنزول الى سفارة سوريا في بيروت و اقتحامها… سننزل بسلاحنا الكامل لاقتحامها وتدميرها عن بكرة ابيها ارجو ردكم حتى نرتب الموضوع”.تجدر الإشارة الى أن العديد من المشاركين رفضوا هذه الدعوة وأكدوا أن هذا الأمر يشكل خطراً على الإستقرار في البلد.
وفي ما بعد نشرت الصفحة ما يلي: “بعد نشرنا خبر نيتنا اقتحام السفارة السورية.. الجيش اللبناني الخائن وشبيحة القومي السوري وحزب اللات يحيطون بالسفارة السورية التي اصبحت معسكر امنيا وتم نشر قناصة على الابنية المحيطة..”.
February 4th, 2012, 4:20 pm
irritated said:
#434 Revlon
“Legitimacy of the current Syrian Regime and its armed forces has been declared null by the rising Syrian people.”
Until you prove me that the ‘rising syrians’ represent the majority of the Syrians, their declaration is null and void.
The current government and its armed forces remain responsible for the country whether you like it or not.
For what we have seen in 11 months, despite your thousands of horrors and defections videos, the proof is far from made.
February 4th, 2012, 4:32 pm
bronco said:
#443
Ghofran, I agree, it is only force that will decide the outcome.
Diplomacy will come after.
February 4th, 2012, 4:34 pm
Antoine said:
JUERGEN,
Were you there as an UN soldier in Bosnia ?
I want to ask, did the Bosniaks commit any crimes against the Serbs, or was it one-sided ?
February 4th, 2012, 4:34 pm
Tara said:
I expect more Arab countries to follow suit with Tunisia. I also expect more and more declaration of Arab countries to declare Assad’s regime illegitimate.
February 4th, 2012, 4:36 pm
Antoine said:
GHUFRAN, if you don’t mind, I personally find your style quite distasteful , especially your quoting news against “certain” countries like Turkey, Qatar, KSA, with the intention of demeaning and point-scoring, firstly, what is the relevance of those posts, secondly, why do you post them ?
I suspect your intention is to highlight the hypocrisy of those countries and their low credibilty, thats fine and dandy, but my point is WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE OF SUCH ARTICLES IN A DISCUSSION ON SYRIA ? I have been following your mostly well-balanced posts for quite some time, and I have consistently seen this disturning trend in your posts.
I don’t mind the content of those anti-Qatar or anti-Turkey or anti-Wahhabi articles, but I ask you again, how is that relevant to the discussion (unless you want to show that it is not Bashar alone who commits crimes) – in which case, if such an intention on your part is true, it is a serious case of short-sightedness and lack of feeling, given the immense tragedy Syrians are facing every day, and by your own admission, a major part of those who are suffering are anti-regime.
I would be very grateful if you took the pain and time to answer this, Ghufran.
February 4th, 2012, 4:45 pm
Norman said:
Bronco, Ghufran,
The solution should be two legs, now that Syria and president Assad do not look weak and on the run , they need to give the Russians and the Chinese who said that Syria wants reform a face saving measure and that is to cancel article 8 and 3 , put the constitution out and call for referendum on it , set time for the elections and announce that president Assad will not run in 2014 but will see that the elections are free and fair with international monitors,only political / Reform,in adition to a security track will save Syria, otherwise we will have what we have had in the last year.
February 4th, 2012, 4:47 pm
Syria no Kandahar said:
Homs deaths and crimes weapons come from Lebanon :
نفذت وحدات عسكرية من الجيش اللبناني عملية انتشار واسعة على الحدود الشمالية مع سوريا وداخل القرى والبلدات القريبة من الحدود في منطقة وادي خالد،
وبدأت العملية عند الساعة الخامسة والنصف عصر أمس، وانتهت عند الساعة الحادية عشر والنصف ليلاً، وقد سير خلالها الجيش اللبناني عدداً من الدورياتالراجلة على طول الحدود مع سورية، ونصبت الحواجز المتنقلة والثابتة لا سيما في بلدتي الرامي والهيشة، وأفيد عن دهم وحدات الجيش لعدد من المنازل في البلدتين قيل إنها تعود لمطلوبين ومتهمين بتهريب السلاح إلى سوريا.
وأفادت معلومات خاصة عن “قيام مروحيتان تابعتان للجيش اللبناني بالتحليق في سماء المنطقة، خلال عملية انتشار الجيش قبل أن تنفذ إحداهما عملية إنزال لجنود من فوج المجوقل قرب مستوصف الهيشة”، وذكرت المعلومات أن الجيش “تمكن من العثور على صيد ثمين في هذه المنطقة”.
مصدر أمني لبناني أكد لـ”الانتقاد”، أن الهدف الحقيقي من هذا الانتشار الواسع هو “مكافحة عمليات التهريب بكافة أنواعها وأشكالها وضبط الحدود الشمالية مع سوريا، وفرض الأمن والاستقرار في المناطق القريبة من الحدود السورية”، ورفض المصدر تأكيد أو نفي حصول الجيش على صيد ثمين خلال عمليات الدهم مكتفياً بالقول إن “الجيش اللبناني يقوم بواجباته الوطنية للحفاظ على سلامة الوطن والمواطنين من كل الأيادي العابثة بأمن هذا البلد”.
وقد استحدثت وحدات الجيش عدداً من المواقع الجديدة على الحدود، وسحبت عناصرها التي انتشرت ليلاً في منطقة الوادي تاركة حاجزاً ثابتاً داخل بلدة الهيشة عند تقاطع مخفر الدرك حيث تتفرع مختلف طرقات قرى وبلدات منطقة وادي خالد.
“الانتقاد” ـ الشمال
February 4th, 2012, 4:57 pm
Ghufran said:
Antoine,
Feel free to think whatever you want of my posts,some of which may not necessarily be relevant to Syria’s crisis to you and other people. Syria is now the center of a regional and international geopolitical dance. By pointing to the hypocrisy of Qatar and other freedom and democracy champions,I am trying to inform not to impress,sometimes I do a good job,and often I do not. Speaking about islamists is quite relevant to Syria’s situation also since the country is likely to live with them,or under them,for years to come.
Relax and keep posting,I will not question why you post.
February 4th, 2012, 5:01 pm
Syria no Kandahar said:
Hamad will probably try to give 250 millions$ to Aljaafari to defect,He thinks money can buy anything and anybody :
واكد في مداخلة له في مجلس الأمن ان بلاده هي اليوم ضحية لأزمة إفتعلتها جهات لا تريد الخير لا لسوريا ولا لشعبها من خلال دعمها لمجموعات مسلحة إرهابية”.
ولفت الى ان “أكبر دليل على إجرامية هذه المجموعات المسلحة هو ما قامت به صباح اليوم من قتل للمواطنين وإعتداء على السفارات السورية في الخارج ولم يصدر أي شي عن الأمين العام للامم المتحدة”، معتبراً أن هدف ذلك هو الضغط على مجلس الامن، متسائلا إن كان هناك عاقل يمكنه أن يصدق أن حكومة ستقوم بارتكاب مجازر في مدينة ما في يوم سيعقد فيه مجلس الامن جلسة للنظر في وضع هذه البلاد؟”.
February 4th, 2012, 5:03 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
Whatever happens in the future, the syrian people revolution against Assad criminal dictatorship has gain a golden place in all history book and encyplopaedias. No matter what Assad does, everything is exposed by now. All the people in the globe is looking atonished what is happening in Syria and in the UN Un-security Council.
Rice statements were very suitable and clear. It is UNFORGIVABLE. Syrian people will never forget nor forgive China and Russia role in the crisis. Probably arab people will be very carefull in the future since US has proved to be more sensible about arab people lives than oriental tyrannies.
We can expect a campaign against Russian interests in Syria and outside Syria. The russian mafia is being exposed even by its own people.
February 4th, 2012, 5:04 pm
Antoine said:
NORMAN,
Why do you mention Syria and President Assad in the same line ? “Now that Syria and President Assad are”…..are they inseparable from each other, for some reason ? I’m curious.
Btw what made you think that he doesn’t look weak ? The reality is he hasn’t looked weaker in the last 11 years, infact he hasn’t looked strong since October. The FSA is growing in size and strength everyday and a few days ago they managed to capture several regime checkpoints in Homs and Rastan and also managed to capture several Armpured vehicles. Currently, the FSA in Homs are using an armoured vehicle in combat. We all saw how many Tanks were destroyed in Rastan. All these Army offensives have proved time and again to be failures, we have sen this so many times since July, the Army goes in with full force, the FSA and tansiqyat retreat and go underground, after a time the Army has to leave and eventually the FSA are able to freely operate again. To this day, there hasn’t been a single significant Army victory against the FSA.
In Jabal Zawiyah villages in Idleb the Army killed about 100 FSA fighters, yet a few weeks later the FSA were back in action in those villages and currently those villages are again in the hands of the FSA and are seeing daily demonstrations and attacks against the Army, infact in the last few weeks many Army men were killed by the FSA in that region. In Rastan the Army went full force in October, decaled victory, and what is theur position there now ?
You guys cannot keep on thinking in the same old, Baathi metality as if this was the 1970s and 1980s, wake up man, this is 2012, only way for you guys to “win” this thing will be to launch all-out massacre in Homs, Hama, Idleb, Daraa, Reef Damascus, atleast 100,000 to 200,000 civilans will be killed and many from your side will be killed as well. There can and will be ethnic cleansing against Alawites and unfortunately even Christians might end up losing much more. Please don’t destroy Syria and tell your leader to LEAVE. We wabt to go back to before 1963, Syria was a civilzed country back then.
February 4th, 2012, 5:06 pm
Ghufran said:
Speaking about $ 250 million:
واشنطن – اشترت قطر لوحة للرسام الفرنسي بول سيزان بـ 250 مليون دولار، وهو أعلى ثمن يدفع بلوحة في سوق الفن المعاصر.
وذكرت مجلة “فانيتي فير” الأميركية أن قطر دفعت ربع مليار دولار لاقتناء اللوحة “لاعبا الورق” العائدة إلى القرن العشرين، ضمن أحدث جهودها لمنافسة أبوظبي التي اصبحت عاصمة ثقافية للشرق الاوسط بمتاحفها العالمية والمهرجانات التي تقام فيها.
وأشارت إلى أن عملية الشراء هذه جرت في الواقع في العام 2011 الفائت.
February 4th, 2012, 5:07 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
SYRIANOKANDHARA
One day you will swallow your words. Time is on our side. Assad may kill 40.000 people as it is planned in the next days or weeks but he and you have lost the war. The righteous people of Syria has already won it.
February 4th, 2012, 5:08 pm
Syria no Kandahar said:
The FREE Syrian army name comes from being FREE to do whatever crimes
They want to do:killing innocent Syrians civilians or soldiers,kidnapping ,torturing ,
Stealing …Now they will be more FREE and attack Russians (and may be Chinese )interests:
اعلن مالك الكردي نائب قائد مايسمى “الجيش الحر” في تصريح ادلى به لوكالة “إي اف اي” (EFE) الاسبانية للانباء يوم السبت 4 فبراير/شباط ان “الجيش” سيضرب المصالح الروسية في سورية، ان لم تتخل موسكو عن “دعم نظام بشار الاسد” ، حسب تعبيره.
واورت الوكالة قوله: “إذا واصل الروس دعم النظام السوري، ستتحول مصالح روسيا في الأراضي السورية إلى هدف لعمليات الجيش الحر”.
February 4th, 2012, 5:09 pm
Juergen said:
Antoine
The initial phase came from the Serbs but in the war also the Bosnians were engaging in war crimes. I was part of the SFOR and stationed with the German Army in the headquartes of this mission.
February 4th, 2012, 5:15 pm
Antoine said:
Ghufran,
I speak my mind too, but to be honest , I felt your last comment about Turkey, with a parting shot about the Kurds, was like a cheap shot at best. There was no need to bring up a statement from Davutoglu, and even lesser need for a parting comment about Kurds, especially since I hope you are aware, that in the Syrian Arab Republic, Kurds and “Arabs” ; as well as Assyrians and “Arabs” ; or even Armenians and “Arabs” for that matter, do not have an equal status, and that is officially enshrined in the Constitution
I do not accuse you of anything, but frankly, i find your numerous parting shots about women rights in KSA, labour rights in Qatar, Kurdish rights in Turkey, to be like cheap shots with no relevance at best, and malicious intent at worst.
I would like to continue to engage with you, and would like you to respond, in a calm manner ofcourse.
February 4th, 2012, 5:16 pm
Ghufran said:
I actually have to agree with Antoine on the issue of using force but that theory is too late to test now,every time the army and security forces leave,troubles start and new attacks are launched. The mistake was the failure to understand that what worked in 1982 will not work today. The regime may finally be willing to change under pressure but it is probably too little too late,the phenomenon of armed rebellion is all over Syria and the departure of Assad is not enough to stop it.the time to play politics was 9 months ago not now,this does not mean that we should not try,but I am skeptical,I think one party has to dominate,then it is up to the west to pressure the victor to implement reform and provide elections,without outside pressure,no Syrian regime will agree to share,welcome to the middle east.
February 4th, 2012, 5:21 pm
Antoine said:
JUERGEN,
Did you go to Sarajevo ?
February 4th, 2012, 5:22 pm
Hans said:
Syria truly needs a democracy where the president has no significant power all the power to the prime minister who should be fairly elected. like Iraq, Israel and other countries, the problem with this kind of style democracy that we won’t ever have a civil election we will always have turmoil, destruction and chaos, unless the UN or other foreign agency supervise every election in the country.
to have democracy you have to have the basis which usually develop from within not the imposed on by outside powers or the religious leaders style version of democracy.
Syria is not KSA and it is not Somalia, can’t be ruled by militia and should not be ruled by Shiekhs.
Russia will have Assad step down, mark my words but not for a western person to clime the helm.
it is going to be a man who either worship Stalin or a man who is more look like Putin which is a new form of democratic dictator.
I am still cheering the blow to the USA face this morning, if anyone interested I have good AMERICAN burbon
February 4th, 2012, 5:23 pm
Norman said:
Antoine,
President Assad is the president of Syria and as long as he is the president he represent Syria,
The UN security councel is more terrorizing than your FSA that will be on the run very soon that Syria has a free hand to destroy the militants including the FSA.
Political reform should be done at the same time,
And no we do not want Syria to be before 1963 with illiteracy at 90% and Syria as a puppet to it’s naibours.
February 4th, 2012, 5:23 pm
Syria no Kandahar said:
Kidnapping is the best business in and around Homs these days.To start your Co
You just need:
1-weapon
2-basement
3-numbconsioussness
4-be a revolutionist
5-cell to negotiate with family
Many homsis recognized there loved ones on Aljazera after being killed by FSA
with hands strapped:
حمص ..
تعرف بعض أهالي حمص على عدد من المخطوفين من قبل المجموعات الإرهابية المسلحة منذ أيام بعد ظهورهم مقتولين ومنكلا بهم ضمن الجثث التي تناقلت صورها محطات سفك الدم السوري ومجموعاتها الإرهابية على أنهم ضحايا القصف المزعوم.
وقالت ثناء المحمد مواطنة من حمص في اتصال مع التلفزيون العربي السوري صباح اليوم إنها تسكن في مدينة حمص وإن الجيش لم يدخل المدينة ولا تواجد لعناصره فيها موضحة أنها رأت الفيديو الذي عرضته قناة الجزيرة لجثث مكبلة وموضوعة على الأرض وتعرفت على جثتين من بينها وهما ابن خالها وصديقه وقد تم اختطافهما منذ 17 يوما من السوق حيث كان وجهاهما ظاهرين والجثث الأخرى لم تكن واضحة لكنها لأشخاص مخطوفين وبعضهم من أقاربها.
وأضافت المحمد.. إن الوضع في حمص غير طبيعي والموظفون لايستطيعون الخروج من المنازل والذهاب إلى عملهم أو إلى المدارس بسبب الإرهابيين واصفة الوضع بالمأساوي مؤكدة أن ما يظهر على قنوات الجزيرة والعربية كذب ولا يوجد جيش في حمص.
وقالت المحمد إن العصابات المسلحة والمسلحين يقصفون حيها بقذائف ار بي جي والهاون ويستخدمون كل أنواع الأسلحة والقذائف والرشاشات.
ونفت المحمد ما أشيع عن تسمم المياه في حمص اليوم وقالت هذا الكلام كذب وعلى مسؤوليتي وأنا شربت من الماء مع أولادي ولايوجد شيء كلها إشاعات فاقت الخيال ونرجو أن يحسم الوضع في حمص لأن الأمر يحتاج إلى دخول الجيش العربي السوري لحماية المواطنين الأبرياء من العصابات المسلحة المنتشرة التي تقوم كل يوم بالخطف والقتل والتنكيل بالجثث.
من جهته قال خالد الشلبي مواطن آخر من حمص.. إنه من حي الخالدية ويسكن بجانب جامع النور وإنه يوجد أكثر من 50 مخطوفا لافتا إلى أن الناس يقتلون في الشارع على يد المسلحين الذين يقطعون الشوارع بأكياس الرمل ويضربون حي كرم شمشم كل ساعة.
وأكد الشلبي أن هناك جماعة مسلحة يرتدي أفرادها ملابس عسكرية والدليل أنهم ليسوا من الجيش ان اعمارهم لا تتجاوز 16 و 17 عاما وقال .. أول أمس ذهبوا إلى المستوصف وأطلقوا النار على الحراس والمدنيين هناك مشيرا إلى انه لاتواجد للجيش السوري في حي الخالدية والناس هجرت منازلها بسبب قيام المسلحين بضرب القذائف معتبرا ان بعض وسائل الإعلام العربية مستأجرة وكاذبة.
من جهتها أكدت نصرة بدور أن المجموعات المسلحة تعتدي على الأهالي وكل من يخرج يتعرض للقتل أو الاختطاف.
February 4th, 2012, 5:27 pm
Antoine said:
Ghufran,
I speak my mind too, but to be honest , I felt your last comment about Turkey, with a parting shot about the Kurds, was like a cheap shot at best. There was no need to bring up a statement from Davutoglu, and even lesser need for a parting comment about Kurds, especially since I hope you are aware, that in the Syrian Arab Republic, Kurds and “Arabs” ; as well as Assyrians and “Arabs” ; or even Armenians and “Arabs” for that matter, do not have an equal status, and that is officially enshrined in the Constitution
I do not accuse you of anything, but frankly, i find your numerous parting shots about women rights in KSA, labour rights in Qatar, Kurdish rights in Turkey, to be like cheap shots with no relevance at best, and malicious intent at worst.
I would like to continue to engage with you, and would like you to respond, in a calm manner ofcourse. Please don’t stop engaging with a poster even if you don’t like his comments.
February 4th, 2012, 5:30 pm
Ghufran said:
Antoine,
There are Kurds in Syria who will be part of any future political settlement,and that will definitely affect Turkey,a country that does not have a good record about treating minorities ,but Turkish officials have no problem lecturing others about human rights
( and I have not even started talking about Turkish alevis), however, Turkey succeeded where Arabs have failed: giving its people the right to vote and accepting the principle of power sharing.
I have to be honest with you too,I rarely read your posts but I have no problem exchanging ideas with you or anybody who watches his tongue and stays away from the practice of verbal vandalism.
February 4th, 2012, 5:33 pm
bronco said:
452. Norman
I guess that this is the purpose of the visit of Lavrov tuesday.
The timing to announce the reforms you mention is perfect as any reforms cannot be used by the opposition as a sign of weakness anymore.
Bashar is not ’embattled’ as the biased media have been trying to portray in the last few weeks, he is in full power with two very important ally that have rebuffed the megalomaniac Qatari’s regime change plan
I expect very important announcement soon.
In the meantime a SMS referendum has been announced on the Syrian TV asking the people to express their agreement/disagreement for a full scale intervention by the Syrian army in Edlib.
Last day to send the SMS is tomorrow.
Of course this ‘referendum’ will be dismissed by the opposition, but who cares.
February 4th, 2012, 5:35 pm
Antoine said:
Listen, Norman, the fact that the some people can’t realize is that this “destroying the armed gangs” , “destroying the militants” that some people are dreaming of for the last 5 months, is simply impossible, because the armed element in the Uprising is like a mirage, they just disappear into the shadows and again reappear in full force. Any large-scale military offensive will only kill more and more civilans, while not harming the FSA ( or other armed anti-regime groups) so that they are still able to carry out armed attacks, it only resulting in more and more dead civilians, ( a lot of them women, children and elderly), while resulting in more and more angry young men against the regime.
Do you agree with this assesment Ghufran ?
February 4th, 2012, 5:36 pm
Norman said:
Antoine,
The Syrian Arab Republic, Arab stands for Arab land as we all mixed in Syria as we are mixed in the US, it is the united states of America, not that all born and bread in the US , so in the Syrian Arab republic , all people who live in Syria are equal, Armenians, Kurds, Assyrians , Orthodox, Sunni, Druz and Alawat and the constitution should reflect that all can be all what they can be, that is the only way to have Syria for all Syrians.
February 4th, 2012, 5:39 pm
irritated said:
457. Antoine
Thanks for lecturing us with such a superior tone, it is very refreshing.
February 4th, 2012, 5:40 pm
Antoine said:
Ghufran,
How can you be so sure the Kurds will be willing to be part of any future political settlement ? How can you draw conclsuions from what some self-appointed “Kurdish leaders” have to say, that too from Iraq, a country which has dubious conflict of interest ofissues when it comes to Syria.
Although I agree the Kurds will be much less militant thatn people from Hama or homs or idleb, the reason is not their Kurdishness, but the fact that the regime did not use any significant military force against anti-regime elements among the Kurds in the last 11 onths. And that was a clever move by the regime.
February 4th, 2012, 5:40 pm
Alan said:
211. JUERGEN Diriger !
February 4th, 2012, 5:41 pm
Norman said:
Bronco,
I agree , i just hope they move swiftly,
February 4th, 2012, 5:44 pm
Antoine said:
” Turkey,a country that does not have a good record about treating minorities ,”
Ghufran, can you name ONE country in the Middle East that has a good record in dealing with minorities ? ( or even majorities, as is the case in Bahrain, Syria, Israel and until recently, Iraq).
Even Syria, while ensuring safety of life and property to ethno-religous minorities, has trampled all over their cultural rights.
In my opinion, JORDAN scores the best when it comes to minorities, and anyone is free to disagree.
The Syrian Christians today, are in the same position as the Egyptian Christians under Mubarak, while their Rught to Life was secured, they were still in a vulnerable position and their cultural existence was obliterated by the Nasserist legacy, you cannot hope for a perfetcly secular State in a deeply chauvinstic and sectarian society.
February 4th, 2012, 5:48 pm
irritated said:
Ghufran
“Turkey succeeded where Arabs have failed: giving its people the right to vote and accepting the principle of power sharing.”
After how many decades of a military dictatorship?
February 4th, 2012, 5:49 pm
irritated said:
Antoine
“the armed element in the Uprising is like a mirage, they just disappear into the shadows”
…and they will soon disappear for good in a Turkish refugee camp that will become the new Ashraf Camp
February 4th, 2012, 5:53 pm
Antoine said:
Btw, Ghufran, Turksih Alevis are treated a lot way better than many Arab regimes treat minorities or non-conformists, whether they be Shias in Bahrain/KSA, Sunnis in Iraq, Palestinians in Lebanon, Muslims in Israel, Copts in Egypt, Kurds and/or Islamists in Syria.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Turkish Parliament is Alevi, if you didn’t know.
February 4th, 2012, 5:57 pm
Tara said:
Bronco
You are giving credibility to an SMS referendum run by the Syrian regime in regard to their current practice of wide scale military intervention?
Now, it might be only me, but I find your assertion of it’s credibility mind boggling and offensive. I truly honestly believe that even die-hard regime supporters, deep down in their mind, would not give any credibility to a regime-run referendum.
No offense Bronco, but an assertion like that is almost approaching a cult “love” that I seriously hope you do not have
February 4th, 2012, 5:58 pm
Antoine said:
People are misjudging the nature of the Turkish military dictatorships, whenever the Military took power, it always took care to RETURN power to the civilans, and moreover, the civilians did not have to ask the Military to return power, they did that on their own.
The Turkish Military dictators DID NOT create Cults of Personality like the baathists ( how many of us can name even a single Turkish military dictator ?), nor did they create theur own Party, nor did they try to influence the outcome of elections, nor did they try to create a One-Party State ; they did not try to create a monopoly over the economy, nor did they imdulge in mass corruption and cronyism.
People should ponder before posting.
February 4th, 2012, 6:02 pm
anton said:
Dear Patriotic Syrians and Syria Lovers
I second you all
God bless Syria , and the Syrian Army
February 4th, 2012, 6:08 pm
Antoine said:
“and they will soon disappear for good in a Turkish refugee camp that will become the new Ashraf Camp”
YAAAWN…..you have been saying that for the last 6 months.
And your cheap comment about Camp Ashraf reveals your Iranian Khomeinist-Islamists affiliation.
February 4th, 2012, 6:11 pm
Antoine said:
Watch this Norman, Ghufran and the rest, you’ll know what I mean –
February 4th, 2012, 6:21 pm
Equus said:
To 449. Antoine
Well, if you watch Angelina Jolie movie, it tells you otherwise (only one side of the story as usual). She is deflecting humanitarian propaganda as usual like posing with rebels in Libya (that is so so humanitarian forgetting that NATO killed between 70,000 civilians and rebel raped 200 women plus Khadafi himself). Oh but let’s not forget that out of all raped women by rebels in Libya, Anderson Cooper of CNN decided to focus on one woman ONLY raped by Khadafi’s men. Aren’t they all victims how could a genuine humanitarian pick and choose which victim is juicier to make the headline news? This is a nice link:
http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/in-the-land-of-blood-and-honey-hollywood-has-become-pure-propaganda/
————
My question when all these Muslims were expelled/ slaughtered in Bosnia where was Qatar, Saudi Arabia to donate? All of a sudden Qatar is concerned about the poor Muslims in the suburb of France and busy buying arts and athletes….
February 4th, 2012, 6:35 pm
irritated said:
Antoine #486
“your Iranian Khomeinist-Islamists affiliation.”
If you don’t know the history the Ashraf camps, let me lecture you for once. The camp is composed of iranians defectors who fought together with Saddam Hossein against Iran. They are considered by the USA as terrorists.
They are now a big embarassment to the UN as no one wants them, now that he camp will be closed.
I enjoy how you associate Iran to Khomeini to Islamists. What is your opinion about Hezbollah then?
February 4th, 2012, 6:41 pm
ghufran said:
antoine,
I did not know you are from Turkey,cool,from what I see you are probably not an alevi,that is cool too.
I knew that there are alevis in the turkish political establishment,I posted a nice summary about alevis on this site few weeks ago.
are you referring to Kemal Kilcdaroglu or somebody else?
this guy is facing charges of insulting the judiciary by suggesting that they acted ” at the behest of the government” against its political opponenets.
Arabs and Arab governments can certainly learn from the turkish experience and I am sure that when there is a change of leadership ,in either Syria or Turkey, relations will go back to where it is supposed to be.
It is not a secret that I am not a fan of Turkish and Iranian regional policies,especially Iran,I also have relatives whose parents had to leave Liwaa iskandaroun after it was annexed by Turkey,some opposition bloggers prefer to call it Hatay,it is half the size of lebanon and it was given as a gift to Turkey in 1939,we can talk and disagree about how and why later on (you will hear that a referendum was conducted and people “chose” to join Turkey).My posts are not intended to be insulting but any time the words Kurd,Alevi or Armenian are mentioned,some Turkish friends get uncomfortable.
this post is a distraction from the subject,but that is what I do from time to time,sorry.
February 4th, 2012, 6:46 pm
jna said:
398. Juergensaid: JNA
as it looks like the russians and china want their iron curtain back, wont be too long and they will face their own people demanding a revolution.
Juergen, please this is a serious issue, many lives are at stake. Spare me the Neo hyperbole.
February 4th, 2012, 6:48 pm
irritated said:
#484 Antoine
“The Turkish Military dictators DID NOT create Cults of Personality like the baathists”
Who are you kidding? There are posters of Ataturk at every corner of Turkey, even in buses.
I never saw such a cult of personality greater than I have seen in Turkey. Even Mao pales in front of the omnipresent Ataturk in homes, office, kitchens and stables.
I was wondering what kind of person who were to lecture us with such a tone of superiority, now I know.
February 4th, 2012, 7:04 pm
ghufran said:
snk said that the lebanese army may have found ” a treasure” in its hunt,this piece says that they did not.
نفذ الجيش اللبناني، مساء أول من أمس، عملية تفتيش عن مسلحين ومهربي سلاح الى الأراضي السورية في منطقة وادي خالد في عكار الشمالية، إلا أنه لم يعثر على أسلحة، فانسحب عناصره من المنطقة بعدما أنزلتهم فيها مروحيتان تابعتان لسلاح الجو فيه، نتيجة معلومات تلقتها قيادة الجيش حول إمكان وجود عناصر من «الجيش السوري الحر» في المنطقة
is there any serious man who actually believes that the Lebanese army will capture smugglers and fight armed gangs to satisfy Syrian government demands?
February 4th, 2012, 7:16 pm
bronco said:
#483 Tara
I think a mobile phone is more available to all the social classes in Syria than the ‘internet’ users on which most ‘serious’ polls were based ( Pepperdine for example).
I agree that the result could be manipulated. Yet, if done under an independent supervision, I think it could become an excellent and easy tool to know what the common syrian think in the impossibility of conducting real referendums.
The fact that all Syrians are asked to vote is already a very interesting step further.
February 4th, 2012, 7:21 pm
zoo said:
Attack on Syrian Consulate in Istanbul stopped
ISTANBUL – Hurriyet Daily News
[Attack on Syrian Consulate in Istanbul stopped ]
Unidentified attackers targeted the Syrian Consulate building in Istanbul last night but were stopped by the police forces, reports claimed.
Five person were taken into custody for allegedly planning to attack the building with the Molotov coctails that were found in their possession.
February/04/2012
February 4th, 2012, 7:30 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
I think minhebbaks should be brought to tribunals, then sent without sentence to prison where they should be
[Edited for intolerable language of violence and hatred. Do not repeat this kind of rhetoric, please]
February 4th, 2012, 7:32 pm
Syriacomment said:
Read what it is like to be in Damascus now. People there won’t care about politics and history, they just want to survive.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/world/middleeast/damascus-avoids-syrian-uprisings-blood-but-not-pain.html?ref=middleeast
February 4th, 2012, 7:38 pm
Syrialover said:
#496 should read from Syrialover. Apologies
February 4th, 2012, 7:41 pm
Tara said:
Bronco
You have a point. Mobile phone poll is more inclusive than Internet poll but also has same limitations. One user can submit multiple times, the SEA can skew the results drastically, and people might not participate in fear of being tracked. Also, on top of all, the results can be easily manipulated.
February 4th, 2012, 7:48 pm
ghufran said:
the article from 497 is a good read.
the regime must go, for the benefit of all syrians,but a radical change by violent means is not a solution,it is a problem on its own. sadly,an orderly transfer of power and a thoughtful political reform seem more like a mirage than a real possibility.
I stand by my old idea that security and order need to be restored and reach an acceptable level before any political move can succeed,as for those barbaric sanctions that mostly hurt the poor,those sanctions show how much the average syrian is “loved” by the champions of democracy.
February 4th, 2012, 7:53 pm
Tara said:
http://news.yahoo.com/text-proposed-un-resolution-syria-180405940.html
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Text of the proposed U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria that was vetoed Saturday by Russia and China:
List of Co-Sponsors: Morocco, France, United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Portugal, Colombia, Togo, Libya, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Turkey.
The Security Council,
Recalling its presidential statement of 3 August 2011,
Recalling General Assembly resolution A/RES/66/176 of 19 December 2011, as well as Human Rights Council resolutions S/16-1, S/17-1 and S/18-1,
Noting the League of Arab States’ request in its decision of 22 January 2012,
Expressing grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in Syria, and profound concern at the death of thousands of people and calling for an immediate end to all violence,
Welcoming the League of Arab States’ Action Plan of 2 November 2011 and its subsequent decisions, including its decision of 22 January 2012, which aims to achieve a peaceful resolution of the crisis,
Noting the deployment of the League of Arab States’ observer mission, commending its efforts, regretting that, due to the escalation in violence, the observer mission was not in a position to monitor the full implementation of the League of Arab States’ Action Plan of 2 November 2011, and noting the subsequent decision of the League of Arab states to suspend the mission,
Underscoring the importance of ensuring the voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes in safety and with dignity,
Mindful that stability in Syria is key to peace and stability in the region,
Noting the announced commitments by the Syrian authorities to reform, and regretting the lack of progress in implementation,
Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, emphasizing its intention to resolve the current political crisis in Syria peacefully, and noting that nothing in this resolution authorizes measures under Article 42 of the Charter,
Welcoming the engagement of the Secretary-General and all diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the situation, and noting in this regard the offer of the Russian Federation to host a meeting in Moscow, in consultation with the League of Arab States,
1. Condemns the continued widespread and gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities, such as the use of force against civilians, arbitrary executions, killing and persecution of protestors and members of the media, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, interference with access to medical treatment, torture, sexual violence, and ill-treatment, including against children;
2. Demands that the Syrian government immediately put an end to all human rights violations and attacks against those exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, protect its population, fully comply with its obligations under applicable international law and fully implement the Human Rights Council resolutions S-16/1, S-17/1, S-18/1 and the General Assembly resolution A/RES/66/176;
3. Condemns all violence, irrespective of where it comes from, and in this regard demands that all parties in Syria, including armed groups, immediately stop all violence or reprisals, including attacks against State institutions, in accordance with the League of Arab States’ initiative;
4. Recalls that all those responsible for human rights violations, including acts of violence, must be held accountable;
5. Demands that the Syrian government, in accordance with the Plan of Action of the League of Arab States of 2 November 2011 and its decision of 22 January 2012, without delay:
(a) cease all violence and protect its population;
(b) release all persons detained arbitrarily due to the recent incidents;
(c) withdraw all Syrian military and armed forces from cities and towns, and return them to their original home barracks;
(d) guarantee the freedom of peaceful demonstrations;
(e) allow full and unhindered access and movement for all relevant League of Arab States’ institutions and Arab and international media in all parts of Syria to determine the truth about the situation on the ground and monitor the incidents taking place; and
(f) allow full and unhindered access to the League of Arab States’ observer mission;
6. Calls for an inclusive Syrian-led political process conducted in an environment free from violence, fear, intimidation and extremism, and aimed at effectively addressing the legitimate aspirations and concerns of Syria’s people, without prejudging the outcome;
7. Fully supports in this regard the League of Arab States’ 22 January 2012 decision to facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system, in which citizens are equal regardless of their affiliations or ethnicities or beliefs, including through commencing a serious political dialogue between the Syrian government and the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition under the League of Arab States’ auspices, in accordance with the timetable set out by the League of Arab States;
8. Encourages the League of Arab States to continue its efforts in cooperation with all Syrian stakeholders;
9. Calls upon the Syrian authorities, in the event of a resumption of the observer mission, to cooperate fully with the League of Arab States’ observer mission, in accordance with the League of Arabs States’ Protocol of 19 December 2011, including through granting full and unhindered access and freedom of movement to the observers, facilitating the entry of technical equipment necessary for the mission, guaranteeing the mission’s right to interview, freely or in private, any individual and guaranteeing also not to punish, harass, or retaliate against, any person who has cooperated with the mission;
10. Stresses the need for all to provide all necessary assistance to the mission in accordance with the League of Arab States’ Protocol of 19 December 2011 and its decision of 22 January 2012;
11. Demands that the Syrian authorities cooperate fully with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and with the Commission of Inquiry dispatched by the Human Rights Council, including by granting it full and unimpeded access to the country;
12. Calls upon the Syrian authorities to allow safe and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance in order to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to persons in need of assistance;
13. Welcomes the Secretary-General’s efforts to provide support to the League of Arab States, including its observer mission, in promoting a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis;
14. Requests the Secretary General to report on the implementation of this resolution, in consultation with the League of Arab States, within 21 days after its adoption and to report every 30 days thereafter;
15. Decides to review implementation of this resolution within 21 days and, in the event of non-compliance, to consider further measures;
16. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
February 4th, 2012, 8:08 pm
Norman said:
Ghufra,
It looks like Syria is being divided on the ground, GOD , I hate Qatar.
February 4th, 2012, 8:09 pm
ghufran said:
sandro,
I appreciate your wrath against a corrupt and brutal regime that ruled Syria since the 1970s but you do not have to make it look like everybody who oppose the regime is either raped,jailed or dead.
the biggest mistake of the opposition,some of it at least, was taking up arms,first they said it is for self defense,then they said they will use it to protect civilians,then they said they will use it against armed regome forces who attack civilians,then they said they will use it to attack regime forces no matter what,and now they are engaged in a war against everything and everybody that may have the slightest link to the regime.
Now,every violent action that may have been committed by common thugs is blamed on the political opposition,it is a self-made trap and they fell in it like dumb rabbits.
February 4th, 2012, 8:13 pm
ghufran said:
from a conference at the Kurdish Institute-France
أما رئيس هيئة التنسيق الوطنية السورية هيثم مناع فقد انتقد في مداخلة له ما أسماه “عسكرة الثورة” معتبرا أن “الحراك الداخلي صمد لأكثر من عشرة أشهر بفضل سلميته”.
ودعا المعارض السوري إلى تنظيم مرحلة انتقالية من عام أو عامين على الأكثر تدار البلاد أثناءها من قبل حكومة تضم المعارضة وموظفين من السلطة لم تتلطخ أياديهم بالدماء و لم يتورطوا في قمع المدنيين.
February 4th, 2012, 8:24 pm
Tara said:
Reading the text proposed by the UNSC, I think we are better off with the double vetoes. There is no mention for Bashar to step down or to transition power. I am not clear to what exactly the Russian concern with the text’s language.
I do not want to start thinking conspiracy theory but this veto appears almost agreed upon in advance. Hillary and Lavrov met in Munich. Hillary seemed relatively comfortable with how it proceeded but acted reserved,. Russia emerged threatening that if voting to take place on Saturday, it will certainly veto it, and despite that the SC meets early on Saturday and have a decision for us by noon. Lavrov and his chief intelligence officer announcing meeting with Bashar on Tuesday. Meeting about what exactly after blocking the resolution?
Is their a hidden plan agreed on by the US and Russia where the Russian regime can save face in front of it’s own people with the election coming yet stays in line with what the US wants.
February 4th, 2012, 8:33 pm
ghufran said:
taking the Syrian case to the UN before the AL was able to finish its mission,with a budget of less than $ 2 million,and before any indirect negotiations between the fighting parties take place was not a good move,it was meant to escalate not to mediate.
Articles 1,2,11,and 15,to name a few,have no actual purpose but to inflame the regime allies and ensure that the Syrian regime will ot abide by it. regardless of the PC talks,this resolution is intrusive and was a non starter,not because the regime is such a wonderful caring creature,but because efforts should focus on reaching a solution not scoring points or aggravating an already delicate situation.
February 4th, 2012, 8:35 pm
Syrialover said:
# 486. Antoine
I look at that video and I see healthy, normal, decent young men who have been tossed into a nightmare. Syrians’ sons, brothers, uncles, husbands, fathers, nephews, grandsons, friends, neighbours, colleagues. People of value with useful roles to play in life.
When I see a picture of Assad I see a bizarre-looking figure playing a fake unnatural role. Nothing there to value. A reminder that the game’s over in 2012 – humanity has evolved way beyond what he is and does.
February 4th, 2012, 8:38 pm
Syria no Kandahar said:
Terrorists supporters couldn’t get UNSC grapes,now they are saying we didn’t want it,it was sour.
February 4th, 2012, 8:43 pm
ghufran said:
conspiracy theorists insist that Russia and the US are almost in agreement about how to try to end the syrian crisis,and that Qatar et al are not in the “loop”. The story is that Bashar will either resign or remain in a mostly symbolic capacity while his deputy negotiate with the opposition and a unity government is formed and elections are planned.
I find it hard to believe that Qatar will act alone,and harder to believe that armed groups in the streets and militant factions in the opposition will accept anything short of a total regime change.Another twist is the whispers that a green light was given to the Syrian army to change the situation on the ground at any cost to convince others that the regime can not be toppled by force. I agree that a major declaration will come withing 3-5 days.
February 4th, 2012, 8:44 pm
Syria no Kandahar said:
FSA=Alqaeda
تحقيق عن مسلحي “الجيش الحر” في وادي خالد : 1 ـ أناشيد لـ”القاعدة” و ” شوارب محفوفة” ولعنات على رموز الشيعة، وأعلام ” تيار المستقبل”!؟
01 شباط 2012 03:02 عدد القراءات 1398
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وادي خالد قاعدة متقدمة لـ«الجيش الحر» [1/3]: كلاشنيكوف و«فال» وأحزمة نـاسفة في ليلة زرع الألغام
براحة تامة، يتحرك أفراد «الجيش السوري الحر» في منطقة وادي خالد، رغم عيون الاستخبارات المنتشرة في كل مكان. لهؤلاء مساجدهم التي يقصدونها وخطباؤهم الذين يعبّئونهم. يشاركون في تظاهرات، ويستخدمون سيارات ودراجات نارية وبيوتاً، و«يخترقون»، بسهولة، الحدود اللبنانية ــ السورية لتنفيذ عمليات زرع ألغام. الوادي الذي لطالما اعتمدت معيشة أهله على البلد الجار، يكاد يصبح إحدى القواعد المتقدمة لـ«الجيش الحرّ»
رضوان مرتضى
يأتي، عبر الهاتف، صوت أحدهم يبلغ بالموافقة على طلب لقاء مقاتلين في «الجيش السوري الحر» في لبنان. يُحدّد موعد اللقاء وزمانه في مكان ما في وادي خالد. يوصي المتصل بضرورة الانتباه الى «عقبة واحدة»: حاجز القوى الأمنية المشتركة من الجيش اللبناني وقوى الأمن الداخلي المعروف بحاجز شدرا. عناصره يضيّقون على الصحافيين، وفرضوا عليهم الحصول على تصريح دخول من قيادة الجيش. يوصي صاحب الصوت، ذي اللهجة السورية الواضحة، لتجنّب حاجز شدرا، بسلوك طريق ترابي يخترق الوادي قبل الحاجز بعشرات الأمتار.
يطمئن الرجل إلى أن الأمور ستسير على ما يرام. تبدأ الرحلة الطويلة التي تستغرق نحو أربع ساعات، كنا بعدها وجهاً لوجه مع صاحب الصوت الذي تبيّن أنه «ضابطٌ» يتولى مهمات تنسيقية في «الجيش». شاب ضخم في أواخر الثلاثينيات من العمر، يبدو تديّنه واضحاً من لحيته المطلقة وشاربيه المحفوفين.
البرد القارس يلقي بثقله. تتثاقل خطوات المارة. تتصاعد الأنفاس كبخار طالعٍ من فوّهة مدخنة. هكذا هي صباحات الشتاء في وادي خالد، الذي يقال إنه جدّ عشيرة عربية من عرب العنزة، فيما يُروى أنه سمي كذلك نسبة إلى خالد بن الوليد الذي مر في هذه المنطقة بعد معركة اليرموك، فسمّيت باسمه.
الحركة البطيئة في هذه القرى لا توحي بأنها تنطوي على ما أتينا من أجله. نقضي ساعات في أحد المنازل في احتساء أكواب الشاي. ومع كل كوب، يعلو صوت أحدهم: «دمعة»، تعبيراً عن صفاء الشاي. العبارة تخرق بين الحين والآخر النقاش حول الأوضاع في سوريا. يقطع صوت المؤذن النقاش، معلناً موعد أذان الظهر. يهم الحضور الذين ناهزوا العشرة أشخاص بالخروج الى الصلاة. ننحشر خمسة في سيارة وننطلق الى المسجد الذي يبعد نحو عشر دقائق. معظم رواد المسجد سوريون. الشيخ السوري عبد الرحمن العكاري يبدأ خطبته بعظة دينية، لا تلبث أن تتحول إلى حملة تحريض ضد «النظام الذي يقتل إخوتنا ويغتصب نساءنا». يشجّع الشيخ الموجودين على الثورة. يحثهم على عدم الخوف من الموت الآتي. ينجح في استثارة عواطف الحاضرين. يعم صراخ وعويل وتصدح الأصوات بهتافات «الله أكبر لسقوط طاغية الشام». يقول أحدهم إن «زوجة الشيخ استُشهدت أثناء محاولة دخولها لبنان خلسة». ويؤكد آخر أن جنود الجيش السوري قتلوها عمداً بعدما علموا أنها زوجة الشيخ.
بعد الصلاة، يخرج الحاضرون للمشاركة في تظاهرة ضد النظام. لافتات التظاهرة، الحاشدة نسبياً، ترفع شعارات بعضها خطّته أيدي خطّاطين، وأخرى كُتبت كيفما اتفق. شعارات تطالب بإسقاط «نظام الأسد»، وأخرى تتهم مراقبي الجامعة العربية بـ«التواطؤ لسفك دماء السوريين»، وثالثة تطالب بتدخل دولي «لوقف حمام الدم». لحزب الله حصته من الشعارات، ولـ«سيد الضاحية» نصيب الأسد من الهتافات المنددة. مكبّرات صوت تبث أجزاء اقتطعت بعناية من خطابات للأمين العام لحزب الله السيد حسن نصر الله بما يوحي كأنها موجّهة ضد الطائفة السنية. لقناتي المنار والجديد حصة من الشعارات المندّدة أيضاً. رُسم شعارا المحطتين إلى جانب شعاري التلفزيون الرسمي السوري وقناة الدنيا. يقول أحد المتظاهرين: «الإعلام يقتلنا مرتين. فليسقط المنار وليسقط الجديد، عملاء نظام القتل والتهديد». أعلام «سوريا الجديدة» حاضرة بكثرة، بعضها مرسوم بخط اليد، وتتخللها أعلام تركية. وبين هذه وتلك حضور لافت لأعلام تيار المستقبل الزرقاء.
وسط المتظاهرين جنود من «الجيش الحر» بملابس مدنية. ثلاثة منهم تحدثوا الى «الأخبار» سابقاً (5/12/2011). يطلبون عدم إبراز وجوههم في الصور. يخبرنا «مضيفنا» أن هناك «العشرات من عناصر الجيش هنا». تستمر التظاهرة قرابة ساعة، يلفت خلالها إصرار أحد «الهتّافين» على نفي تهم التعاطف مع تنظيم القاعدة. لحظات وتنطلق من مكبرات الصوت عبارة: «إصدارات الفجر تقدم …». المفارقة أن «الفجر» هو المركز الإعلامي المعتمد لترويج تسجيلات تنظيم القاعدة!
فيما التظاهرة مستمرة، يهمس المضيف بأن «علينا الرحيل بسرعة لأن جماعة المخابرات وصلوا». يحث الخطى، وبعد الابتعاد قليلاً، يشير إلى خمسة شبان يرتدون سترات جلدية. يؤكد أنهم من رجال الاستخبارات اللبنانية، «وكانوا سيوقفونك لو علموا أنك صحافي تقوم بالتصوير من دون تصريح». رجال الاستخبارات معروفون لدى معظم سكان الوادي. يشير أحدهم إلى سيارة رابيد حمراء. هي أيضاً لأحد المخبرين! فيما ننطلق بالسيارة في أزقة الوادي وشوارعه، يشير الرجل إلى المزيد من المخبرين. يذكر أسماء بعضهم واسم الضابط الذي يعملون لمصلحته. «الأمن مخروق وين ما كان». يقول، ويضحك الجميع.
تجتاز السيارة قرى تتشابه إلى حد التطابق. يعلن المضيف «أننا الآن في القرى الأخيرة لوادي خالد». تجتاز السيارة مفترق طرق، الأول يؤدي إلى قرية الكنيسة والثاني إلى قرية قرحة. هذه المنطقة تعرف بـ«الوعر». يمر بعض الوقت قبل أن يطلب الرجل ركن السيارة قرب أحد المنازل. يترجل الجميع. يجري المرافق اتصالاً من هاتفه. تمر دقائق قليلة، تأتي بعدها سيارة رباعية الدفع، ترافقها ثلاث دراجات نارية. يطلب سائق السيارة أن نصعد معه. تشق السيارة طريقها في أرض شديدة الوعورة. يقول المضيف إن «الطريق التي تمشي عليها لبنانية، أما تلك المحيطة بك فسورية». يومئ برأسه مشيراً إلى نقاط للجيش السوري. يخفف السائق من سرعة السيارة إلى أن تتوقف. يترجل الجميع. يطفئون محركات دراجاتهم النارية ويدخلون إلى أحد المنازل. ضوء النهار بدأ ينحسر لتحل مكانه ظلمة الليل.
الجلسة عربية. مدفأة حطب يتحلّق حولها ثلاثون شخصاً. الدار رحبة تتسع لعشرين آخرين. إبريق الشاي تتبعه فناجين القهوة. الضيافة لا تتوقف. يتولى المرافق تعريف الحاضرين بنا. يقول إن الحاضرين «ثلة من ضباط الجيش الحر». يشير الى من يقول إنه «ضابط برتبة رائد، وهو المسؤول بينهم». نتبادل والحاضرين أطراف الحديث. يبدو واضحاً أن الموجودين ليسوا سوريين كلهم. هناك لبنانيون، بينهم مهرّبون. يذكرون أن «قائد العمليات في بابا عمرو» كان موجوداً في لبنان «قبل يومين». يتحدثون عن «ذبائح نُحرت احتفاء بالضيف». يروي «الضباط» قصص «انشقاقهم». يبدون خيبتهم من «خذلان» الموقف الدولي لهم. يؤكد أحدهم أن الدعم «لم يتخطّ المواقف في الهواء». يتسلّم رجل خمسيني يلبس زياً بدوياً زمام الحديث. «الأمور سيئة، وعنف الضربات لم يزحزح النظام بعد»، يقول. يهز رأسه متابعاً: «المعركة طويلة جداً». يؤكّد، رغم ذلك، أن «الجيش الحرّ» يسيطر على ثمانين في المئة من حمص، ويشير الى «الانشقاقات في صفوف الجيش». إلا أن الجيش، بحسب الرجل نفسه، «لا يزال متماسكاً». يعلّق آمالاً كبيرة على «الحظر الجوي»، الذي «بمجرد فرضه ستحصل انشقاقات كبيرة».
لا ينفي أحد الموجودين تدفق السلاح إلى الداخل السوري عبر تركيا ولبنان، لكنه يلفت إلى أن وتيرته «خفّت في الآونة الأخيرة». ويتطرق الحاضرون إلى مقتل الشبان اللبنانيين الثلاثة برصاص الجيش السوري. يروي أحدهم أن مجموعة عناصر من الاستخبارات الجوية دخلت إلى الأراضي اللبنانية وكمنت للشبان الثلاثة، وهم: ماهر أبو زيد وأحمد حسين زيد وشقيقه كاسر. يتحدثون عن «خيانة». شاب من آل الأسود من قرية المشيرفة استدرج الشبان إلى كمين. يقر الحاضرون بأن الشبان الثلاثة «نقلوا سلاحاً الى الثوار، وقدموا الكثير للثورة السورية». يقول أحدهم إن الشباب رفضوا تسليم أنفسهم، رغم علمهم بأنهم وقعوا في الكمين. «واجهوا الرصاص بالرصاص». ينفجر أحد الحاضرين غضباً، ويصرخ مطالباً بـ«تصفية العميل» الذي أصيب في الاشتباك. يقول آخر إن زوجة «العميل» ووالدته زارتاه في المستشفى، فيرد الرجل الخمسيني بضرورة إرسال من يجهز عليه داخل المستشفى.
نخرج مع المرافق الى غرفة ثانية، حيث يعرّفنا إلى ضابط برتب ملازم أول قال إنه سيرافقنا في جولتنا. شاب ثلاثيني ملتحٍ. يطلعنا على «مسار العملية » التي ستبدأ بجولة استطلاع على الحدود. يشرح طريقة التحرك المطلوبة. ويطلب التقيّد بالتعليمات حرفياً. يحضر الشبان تباعاً. يفوق عددهم الـ 20، وكل منهم يحمل سلاحاً. تتنوّع الأسلحة بين رشاشات كلاشنيكوف وبنادق فال. يقول أحدهم إنه يحمل حزاماً ناسفاً. يرمقه «الضابط» بنظرة زاجرة، فيتراجع الشاب ليقول إنه كان يمزح. يرتدي الشبان ملابسهم العسكرية. يحملون سلاحهم ويضعون الأقنعة على وجوههم لإخفاء هويتهم تمهيداً للظهور في الصور.
يصل عدد المنضوين تحت «لواء الجيش السوري الحر»، الموجودين في شمال لبنان، الى مئتي مقاتل. عددهم ليس ثابتاً، يقل ويزيد تبعاً للعمليات التي يوكلون بها داخل الأراضي السورية. هيئاتهم العسكرية لا تظهر للعيان، ملابسهم مدنية توحي بأنهم مجرد نازحين. يتوزعون بين قرى وادي خالد شمالاً وبلدة عرسال بقاعاً. ينشطون في المنازل القريبة من الحدود. يلتبس عليك تحديد هويتهم أحياناً، والتمييز بينهم وبين المهرّبين.
الليل هنا لباس. يتحرّك رجال «الجيش الحرّ» بحرية بالغة. نخرج برفقة مجموعة قوامها تسعة رجال تقريباً. نركب خلف أحدهم على متن دراجة نارية، تنطلق مسرعة في الدرب الوعرة. شدة الصقيع تفقدك الشعور بأُذنيك وأنفك ويديك. يلتقي أفراد المجموعة عند نقطة متقدمة. يركنون الدراجات النارية ويترجلون مشياً على الأقدام. نسأل عن الألغام التي زرعها الجيش السوري، فيجيب أحدهم: «نظّفناها». يوضح آخر أنهم أزالوا قرابة مئتي لغم. لا نطمئن كثيراً. نتلو الشهادتين ونحاول أن نسير على خطاهم، حرفياً، خشية أن ندوس لغماً سقطت إزالته سهواً. نحو عشر دقائق من المسير. يعلن أحدهم «أننا في الأراضي السورية». يومئ مسؤول المجموعة الى موقع للجيش السوري لا يبعد أكثر من عشرات الأمتار. يقول: «نراقبهم عن كثب ونعرف أوقات تبديل الحراس، ونرصد دورياتهم العسكرية ونعلم توقيت تحركها وخط سيرها».
يستخدم أفراد «الجيش الحر» أجهزة الثريا للاتصال مع «القيادة» في الداخل السوري وتركيا. أما خلال العمليات في لبنان فيستخدمون أحياناً أجهزة اللاسلكي. لا تنتهي الرحلة عند هذا الحد. يبلغنا مسؤولهم بأن «الجيش الحر» سيخصنا بمفاجأة لنقلها إلى الرأي العام. يُحضر أحدهم لغماً مضاداً للدروع. ننتقل برفقة ثلاثة شبان إلى نقطة متقدمة، علمنا أنها ممر للآليات المدرعة. يبدأ أحدهم بالحفر، فيما يتولى الآخران الاستطلاع والمراقبة. الأرض تبدو صخرية للوهلة الأولى، لكنه يتمكن من إحداث حفرة فيها. يضع اللغم في وسطها، ثم يهيل التراب عليها قبل أن ينكفئ الشبان الثلاثة متراجعين، آملين أن تنفجر في «كتائب الأسد”.
“الأخبار”
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(*) ـ العنوان الخارجي للتحقيق من وضع “الحقيقة”، وهو مشتق من صلب التحقيق.
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شريطان خاصان بالتحقيق
February 4th, 2012, 8:45 pm
Syrialover said:
#501 Norman
Any annoyance with Iran too?
February 4th, 2012, 8:50 pm
Tara said:
Kandahar@507
You are wrong. Only girls behave like that, pretending they don’t want “a thing” when they can’t get it. We are interested in UNSC resoluition only if it calls to topple Bashar. You get it now?
February 4th, 2012, 9:06 pm
Uzair8 said:
Several days ago I read an excellent post on Shiachat and after initially intending to share it it elsewhere including here I decided not to. Partly lazy. I’m posting it now.
Reading half way thru the first page of the thread I was like ‘wow! I have to share this’. It is a good thread worth reading. Many on there are supporting Assad but one or two sensible voices exist (Qaim,Fink and Marbles). One Syrian on there made a great point on the Salafi thing which I have also wondered. Here is the thread. See post below:
http://www.shiachat.com/forum/index.php?/topic/234998256-arab-spring-is-wahhabi-revolution-author/
Post from Shiachat 01 Feb 2011
There are probably more Christians in the Syrian revolution than there are Salafis, and more Sufis than Christians. The only popular Syrian Salafis I’ve ever heard of were that kelb `Ar`ur, who lives in Saudi Arabia and has been there for decades, and Omar Bakri who is an outspoken supporter of Hezbollah in Lebanon. The idea that such a massive movement in over a hundred cities in towns consists of mainly Salafis is laughable to us. We didn’t know who the Salafis were until going to Saudi Arabia. There are a lot more Salafis in Palestine, Egypt, and Libya, and yet those revolts were encouraged by the Iranians (at least partially). If you want to talk about Salafis, talk about those three countries, not the 16 Salafis in Syria that are mostly sitting on their hands and measuring their beards. I’m frankly tired of hearing that it is a Salafi-majority movement which has almost 0 basis.
Syria’s Sunni population is much more like Turkey’s. If there are any extreme Salafi elements in Syria, they’d be in Damascus, which isn’t even a centre of protests right now, except for the outskirt areas. Are there Salafis in the protests? Maybe, it’s a country of 20+ million people so there are bound to be some Salafis here and there, but that would be putting a lot of emphasis on a group that does not represent even a quarter of the protesters. Same with the “foreign element” accusation – I haven’t heard of any foreigners going out in the protests, but if there were any, I’d be shocked if they were even 5%. In my opinion as a Syrian and probably the only Syrian to comment on this thread, the revolution consists mostly of students, young people, conservative Hanafi and Shafi`i Muslims, Sufi Shafi`is, almost every Syrian Kurd, many Christians, and perhaps most importantly, many thousands of military defectors. These are people who pray and fast, and that’s about it. Religiously, these are all common people with a common culture, as Syria is a country where Muslims and Christians have lived together and supported each other in their struggles. There are some sectarian frictions between some Sunnis and some Alawites yes, and some crimes that must be accounted for, but a few rabid dogs cannot taint a mass movement completely. If anyone’s sectarian, it’s the Ba`th, and it has been for 40 years both in Syria and Iraq, picking favoruties among minority groups and undermining the majority, unless you’ve got a portrait of Hafez and Bashar in your shop.
Anyhow, there’s more violence this very moment then at anytime during the 10 month revolt, because of the amount of military defectors especially in the last month. You don’t need to smuggle weapons into a police state when you’ve already got 10-30 thousand defectors taking their weapons and vehicles with them. There is at least some violence quite literally all over the country (including the Damascus outskirts and Aleppo), Homs and Rastan being the main battlegrounds at the moment. You know, all of this could have been avoided months ago. For the first 4 months of protests, there was no Free Syrian Army and the amount of shabeeha and military being targetted was minimal compared to now. But instead, our friends Bashar and Maher decided to stay on their high chair as long as possible. I was here posting almost 9 months ago saying Iran should facilitate a solution between the infant opposition and the regime, but instead it has fully taken one side and people here condemned the other as Salafis/Americans/Israelis/Saudis/Turks/Lebanese/al-Qaeda/Iraqis or all of the above. Of course, anything but Syrians, who absolutely adored 40 years of massacres of Syrians and Palestinians, leaving towns in ruin as a warning, prison sentences without trials, cult of personality, secular anti-Islamic policies, no speech freedoms, etc. And now that Arab League observers are out, they have presented another solution – Bashar leaves, a deputy unity government takes power and elections are held. I’m no fan of the Arab League, but this solution seems extremely reasonable to me. If you believe that the majority of Syrians absolutely adored the Ba`th, then what can you possibly be afraid of? If this were true, we’d vote the Ba`th back in right away. But deep inside you all know that this is not true, because Syrians don’t want secular dictatorships and Alawite supremacy, they want a Turkish-style democracy with Islamic, liberal, and socialist parties, just like Tunisia. That thought makes some people here want to pull out their hair, but most of these armchair jihadis are enjoying their freedoms, in the U.S or Britain or Lebanon or elsewhere, and want to deny others from doing the same. We’ve reached the point of no return – a compromise might be the best you get.
February 4th, 2012, 9:09 pm
Ghufran said:
Read this and tell me if things have really changed.
I think Muzaffar Alnawwab was right when he said:
(بما معناه)
يا علي لو رجعت إلينا لحاربك الداعون إليك و سموك شيوعيا
Mossadegh was a Persian nobleman, born towards the end of the 19th century, who, as prime minister of Iran in the early 1950s, nationalised the country’s oil. This brought him into conflict with the British government, led by Winston Churchill, which, just before the outbreak of the first world war, had bought a majority stake in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, with its concession in Iran. Churchill thought that if Mossadegh’s move was allowed to set a precedent, British imperial power would be under threat across the globe. At first the Americans were neutral, even inclining towards Mossadegh, but – in the Iranian version of events – the perfidious British persuaded them otherwise. Dwight Eisenhower, elected in 1953, feared that Mossadegh’s liberalism would lead to communism. The coup involved the dark arts in which the British and American secret services excelled: disinformation, unleashing agents provocateurs, paying thugs and politicians and forging documents. The tragedy is that it worked. The most enlightened Middle Eastern government of the age was overthrown, ushering in first the dictatorial regime of the Shah and then Ayatollah Khomeini’s Islamic Revolution.
February 4th, 2012, 9:21 pm
Ghufran said:
Did you know that there is a Ba’ath party in Tunisia?
في الردّ على قرار “طرد” السفير السوري في تونس.. بيان مهمّ لحركة البعث القطر التونسي
تونس..
فوجئ الرأي العام الوطني والقوى الوطنية في تونس والوطن العربي ببيان صادر عن رئيس الجمهورية المؤقت يقضي بالشروع في إجراءات طرد السفير السوري من تونس، بيان وصفه وزير الخارجية المؤقت بالطلائعي وبرره بأن تونس يجب أن تكون سباقة في هذا المجال…؟؟؟
ويهمنا في حركة البعث أن نؤكد على ما يلي:
• مساندتنا المبدئية لمطالب الشعب السوري وانتفاضته السلمية ضد الاستبداد والفساد. ونعبر عن رفضنا المطلق لعسكرة هذه الانتفاضة ومحاولة حرف مسارها وتحييدها عن أهدافها في الحرية والعزة والكرامة، وتأجيج الصراع بين أبناء الشعب السوري من طرف أنظمة عميلة ودوائر إستعمارية، لفائدة جماعات تابعة، متحفزة للانقضاض على السلطة وخدمة المشروع الأمريكي الصهيوني والرجعي في الوطن العربي.
• إدانتنا المطلقة لما يرتكبه النظام في سوريا من “عنف” للمتظاهرين العزل المطالبين بالحرية والكرامة، وتضامننا الكامل مع عوائل الشهداء والجرحى، ودعوتنا إلى وقف إطلاق النار فورا، والإسراع في حوار وطني شامل من أجل الحفاظ على وحدة سوريا شعبا وأرضا، ومن أجل إصلاح جذري للنظام السياسي بما يحمي للسوريين حريتهم وحقوقهم ويؤسس لنظام ديمقراطي تعددي، مقاوم للمشاريع الإمبريالية والصهيونية وعملائهم الرجعيين.
• رفضنا المطلق لكل محاولات التدخل الأجنبي في الشأن السوري وإدانتنا لدور النظام الرسمي العربي في التمهيد وتيسير الظروف الملائمة بل والتشجيع على التدخل الأجنبي العسكري في سوريا أو أي قطر عربي آخر.
• شجبنا للقرار الذي اتخذه رئيس الجمهورية المؤقت والحكومة المؤقتة والذي لا يمكن فهمه إلا في سياق حشد الرأي العام العربي والدولي لتبرير وتهيئة التدخل العسكري الأجنبي في سورية، ومؤشرا على مزيد الانخراط في مخططات معادية للأمة العربية ومسيئة لسمعة بلادنا وشعبنا وثورته.
• ومن هذا المنطلق فإن حركة البعث القطر التونسي تدعو رئيس الجمهورية المؤقت (والحكومة المؤقتة) إلى التراجع فورا عن قرارهم اللاشعبي واللاوطني ذلك أن التسرع في أخذ القرار بصفة منفردة خاضعة للأهواء الشخصية أو للإملاءات الأجنبية من شأنه أن ينتج عنه كوارث في غاية الخطورة على الصعيد الوطني والقومي والدولي داعين في النهاية كلّ من يرى في نفسه حرصا على مصالح الأمة ومستقبلها أن ينأى عن الانخراط في مشروع صهيوني امبريالي مكشوف يستهدف الالتفاف على ثورة شعبنا العربي ومحاولة إجهاضها.
• ونهيب بأبناء شعبنا في تونس وكل قواه السياسية الوطنية للتحرك العاجل والمباشر والحازم لإيقاف هذا السلوك الغير مسؤول و الذي لا يعكس إلا مواقف الارتهان للأجنبي.
• عاشت الأمة العربية حرة مستقلة موحدة.
• المجد والخلود لكلّ من تصدى لمشاريع التفتيت والتقسيم .
• والخزي والعار لكلّ متحاذل متوطئ عميل.
February 4th, 2012, 9:26 pm
Norman said:
Syrialover,
I like the countries that support Syria, when Turkey was friend with Syria , I like Turkey and last year before this crises that killing Syrians i liked Qatar, but when Turkey and Qatar conspire to destroy Syria then they are my enemies, Iran is helping Syria getting the Golan heights by providing a balance to Israel strength, If the US helps Syria get the Golan and the rights of the Palestinians, Iran will feel the cold, Syria will never be like Iran, at least not if i have anything to do with that, Iran is a friend of necessity, you have to remember that when more than a million Iraqi came to Syria and Syria provided free health care and Education for them , non of these greedy Arab brothers like Saudi Arabia and Qatar did anything to help, they wanted to destroy Syria through the destruction of the economy, many things is going to change in Syria and Syria knows now who the the friends are and who are the enemies,
February 4th, 2012, 9:30 pm
Ghufran said:
I agree with Norman that Syria,somehow,had no choice but to ally itself with Iran,however,this marriage of necessity can end when there is no need for it,but unlike Ghalioun,responsible politicians will always make policies that are in the country’s national interest. Ghalioun’s position on Hizbullah and Iran was reactionary and narrow minded.
I understand many Syrians’ frustration with the support the regime receives from Tehran but that does not justify having a teenish attitude about foreign policy.
More on Iran:
By Geneive Abdo and Reza H. Akbari – Special to CNN
Will Iran retaliate if attacked? Israeli intelligence officials and neo-conservative pundits in the United States argue that Iran is bluffing – that it wouldn’t dare.
But on Tuesday, U.S. Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. powerfully rebutted this view. Clapper argued not only that Iran would retaliate, but that some Iranian officials are now even willing to carry out attacks on U.S. soil.
In his unclassified statement submitted to the U.S. Senate’s Select Committee on Intelligence, Clapper said: “Iran’s willingness to sponsor future attacks in the United States or against our interests abroad probably will be shaped by Tehran’s evaluation of the costs it bears for the plot…as well as Iranian leader’s perception of U.S. threats against the regime.”
The issue of survival is not taken lightly by the Iranian military and political establishments. According to an article published by the Guardian, an Iranian idiom is quite popular among military officials, “If we drown, we’ll drown everyone with us.” The Iranian regime is prepared to fight until the end.
Many foreign leaders, such as France’s Nicholas Sarkozy are also very worried about the implications of a potential military conflict with Iran. As reported by the German publication Spiegel, during his New Year’s address to diplomats in Paris, Sarkozy stated, “A military intervention [in Iran] would not solve the problem [of Iran’s nuclear program], but would trigger war and chaos in the Middle East and maybe the world.
Such conclusions are far more realistic than that of a retired Israeli official who told the New York Times: “I am not saying Iran will not react. But it will be nothing like London during World War II.”
In the eyes of the Iranian regime, this is a fight for survival far more threatening than the domestic challenge presented by the protest movement of millions of Iranian demonstrators in 2009.
February 4th, 2012, 9:46 pm
bronco said:
Tara #503
The point of contention with Russia is the following
“7. Fully supports in this regard the League of Arab States’ 22 January 2012 decision to facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system…”
It is unclear what the “decision of the 22 january 2012” really means.
The Russian say that it could be later interpreted as the “full support for the Arab League Plan” that requests Bashar to step down. They asked for the rewording to make it clearer, but it was rejected because Qatar and its allies were pressing for a hasty vote.
That is what a western official said before the vote that confirms what that clause meant for most countries:
“We have the text on the table. We’ve made considerable efforts to go to the Russia. No it’s over. This text is simple: We support the arab league peace plan, nothing more, nothing less. We are not going to move from that. we vote today.”
https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=13217&cp=all#comment-294251
February 4th, 2012, 10:03 pm
Ghufran said:
“true” who I believe used to blog here visited Syria at the end of December. His stories about the visit is published on hitaan blog which I read at times.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that going through his diary about that visit was a decent read,I hope some of you care to check it out.
Regardless of true’s political views and his clear bias against alawis,I commend him for his courage hoping that he did not do anything to support violent elements in the opposition.there is also a level of honesty in his report,that is commendable too.
I now have at least a dozen people I either know or pretend to know who checked things as they are and not as reported on aljazeera and similar outlets.
The conclusion is clear: Syria is divided,the regime can not be toppled by force and syrians should stop fighting and start talking to each other.
February 4th, 2012, 10:32 pm
bronco said:
Ghufran
“this marriage ( with Iran) of necessity can end when there is no need for it,”
I disagree with you. If you exclude the hardcore religious supporters of the regime, Iranians have a lot to offer in the area of sciences, arts and culture, much more than any Arab country and even more than Turkey who has ‘free morals’ that are not compatible with Syria’s mentality.
It may have started with a marriage of necessity, but it may turn out to be long term fruitful marriage.
February 4th, 2012, 10:38 pm
abbas said:
It’s unfortunate the revolution took the path of deceive and lies to further their cause, all they did is making people who like to see change and see Syria become a better place get disgusted and weary of them and what they would do if they hold power, most Syrians do not want to exchange the people at the helm, we need a real change in the thinking of people and to eliminate sectarianism and dehumanization of one another, most inhabitants of cities in Syria hate each others, Homsi hates Hamwi and Hamwi hates Halabi and all hates Shami, this is apparent in the jokes you hear about one another, last week I read a post on 7etan for someone who visited Syria and you can the feel the despise he holds for people of Damascus and how he felt mad because they did not hold his views.
It’s obvious that there were not 330 people killed, if there were we would have seen all of them displayed one after another, and the opposition if they want to fight the army they should not run crying when the army use real force on them, government did not use it’s heavy weapons or airforce yet, they are showing more restraint than the u s showed in baghded
February 4th, 2012, 10:41 pm
Ghufran said:
أعلن الجيش التركي أن مقاتلات تركية قصفت اليوم قواعد للأكراد شمال العراق الذي يشكل قاعدة خلفية لحزب العمال الكردستاني. وقالت هيئة أركان الجيش في بيان نشرته على موقعها الالكتروني “وجّهت مقاتلات من سلاح الجو التركي بنجاح ضربات طاولت ثلاثة أهداف للمنظمة الإرهابية الانفصالية في منطقة زاب”. وفي أربيل شمال العراق، قال المتحدث باسم حزب العمال الكردستاني بختيار دوغان إنه “منذ يوم أمس، تقوم طائرات تركية بين الحين والآخر بقصف منطقتي زاب وافاشين شمال شرق دهوك”، مضيفاً أنه “ليس لدينا حاليا أي معلومات عن سقوط ضحايا”. وتشنّ القوات التركية منذ أشهر سلسلة هجمات على معاقل حزب العمال الكردستاني الانفصالي في أقصى شمال العراق.
من جهة ثانية، أدّت معارك بين أكراد وقوات الأمن التركية اليوم جنوب شرق البلاد إلى مقتل خمسة أكراد. وقالت مصادر أمنية محلية إن الاشتباك وقع في منطقة ريفية قريبة من بلدة كوزلوك في محافظة بتمان بينما كانت قوات الأمن تقوم بحملة تمشيط. وجرت المواجهات التي استمرت تسعين دقيقة، بعدما ردّت مجموعة من متمردي حزب العمال الكردستاني على دعوات الى الإستسلام بإطلاق الرصاص.
ويواجه الجيش التركي منذ الصيف تصاعداً في أعمال العنف التي يقوم بها انفصاليو حزب العمال الكردستاني الذين يتخذون من شمال العراق المجاور قاعدة خلفية لهم لشنّ هجمات على أهداف في الأراضي التركية قرب الحدود. ويخوض حزب العمال الكردستاني الذي تعتبره عدة دول منظمة إرهابية، نزاعاً مسلحاً منذ العام 1984 دفاعاً عن حقوق أكراد تركيا. وأوقع النزاع حتى الآن ما لا يقل عن 45 ألف قتيل.
February 4th, 2012, 11:03 pm
Halabi said:
Just to remind the readers. Assad’s allies: Russia, Iran, Hezbollah and some groups in Lebanon, Sudan’s genocide generals, China, some factions in Iraq.
The enemies of Assad’s Syria: Turkey, the GCC, all Arab states who voted on Jan. 22 plan, Europe, the U.S., Canada, Australia, the 13 members of the Security Council who voted for the resolution today.
The battle in Syria has pitted the free world, where people aren’t killed with polonium or gunned down by soldiers in public squares, against the communist-lite dictatorships and genocidal tyrants.
Which side are you on?
So menhebaks, celebrate the vetoes just like many Israelis rejoice in U.S. backing for the occupation. And please enjoy all the freedoms of the West that you would never want for both your Syrian brothers nor your closest of allies in Russia, China and Iran.
February 4th, 2012, 11:23 pm
Shabbi7 said:
The question that should be asked is why did the West make so many concessions to Russia in just a few days of “negotiations” than it did in the few months before October? Why did they push for the vote knowing it was doomed? In my opinion, it was because Russia requested that Dabi attend a UNSC session to discuss the Arab Monitors’ report on Syria. They had to end this round early because if Dabi’s testimony were to become on the record in the UNSC, it would expose the fabrications of the AL and west and their media.
It was so bizarre how Arabi and Hamad kept yapping about the AL “efforts” for Syria, and at the same time, refusing to bring Dabi with them and not even providing the UNSC with the Arab Monitor Mission’s report. That was the bulk of AL action and it was not provided for debate, scratch that, it was not provided for simple viewing!! I think the real reason for suspending the monitor mission was just so that Dabi would not have an official platform from which to speak to the international community and media.
By the way, for those who are looking for the report (I’m not sure if it was already posted on here), here is an English version of it. http://www.innercitypress.com/LASomSyria.pdf Sorry that I couldn’t find the Arabic version. It is incredible how hard it is to find this stuff when the west doesn’t want the people to know the truth. Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch (I forgot which) were demanding that the Arab Monitor Mission’s report be made public and sent immediately to the UNSC, but then when the report actually came out, both of them acted as if the report did not exist. Monitor mission? What monitor mission?
PS: Anyone else notice how Dr. Landis’ testimony to CNN and other publications differ grossly from his blog postings? Good job Landis! I sincerely hope the money goes a long way to you achieving your life’s goals.
February 4th, 2012, 11:29 pm
zoo said:
Post NATO Libya
Militia tortures former Libyan diplomat to death: HRW
Published Friday, February 3, 2012
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/militia-tortures-former-libyan-diplomat-death-hrw
A former Libyan ambassador has been tortured to death within a day of being detained by a militia, Human Rights Watch said in a statement on Friday.
Omar Brebesh, who served as Libyan ambassador to France under Muammar Gaddafi, was detained in the capital Tripoli on January 19.
His body appeared in hospital the next day 100km southwest in Zintan, the town where Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam is currently being held, with multiple injuries and fractured ribs that indicated he had been tortured to death, the rights group’s report said.
“Human Rights Watch read a report by the judicial police in Tripoli, which said that Brebesh had died from torture and that an unnamed suspect had confessed to killing him,” the statement said, adding that photos of Brebesh’s body show welts, cuts, and the apparent removal of toenails.
…
February 4th, 2012, 11:30 pm
VOLK said:
> I am not clear to what exactly the Russian concern with the text’s language.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday explained why Russia had vetoed a resolution on Syria in the UN Security Council, saying that without Russia’s latest amendments, the draft would be unilateral and would harm Syria if adopted.
The Russian foreign minister said extremist groups that provoke violence in Syria should be assessed in a proper way, which has not been done. He said the resolution did not set enough demands on anti-government armed groups, and that Russia was concerned it could jeopardize Syria’s national political dialogue.
Besides, he said, the draft resolution contained a demand that all Assad’s forces should withdraw from cities and towns.
“This phrase, without being linked to a simultaneous termination of violence on the part of armed extremist groups, is absolutely provocative, as no president with self-respect, no matter how treated, will agree to surrender inhabited localities to armed extremists without resistance,” he said.
http://en.ria.ru/russia/20120205/171151527.html
February 5th, 2012, 12:12 am
Ghufran said:
This was reported on a pro regime website
ذكرت إذاعة ” موسكوفا اف ام” الروسية ان روسيا والصين قد قررا تجميد العلاقات الديبلوماسية مع تونس على خلفية قرار تونس طرد السفير السوري من تونس وايقاف جميع العلاقات مع سوريا.
وبحسب الاذاعة فإن قطع العلاقات سيتضمن تجميد كل المعونات والاستثمارات المقدمة لتونس.
I am not sure this piece of news is credible but in the spirit of sharing rumors I decided to post the news
February 5th, 2012, 12:27 am
Ghufran said:
استشهد أمس الطالب الجامعي “مناف طلاس” بعد أن تعرض لعيارات نارية من قبل مسلحين في حمص.
وفي التفاصيل أكدت مصادر متقاطعة أن الطالب “طلاس” أسعف إلى المشفى العسكري ولم يتأكد بعد ما قيل عن استشهاده.
وحصل لغو إعلامي كبير حول استشهاد الطالب “طلاس” حيث ذكرت مواقع عدة أن المستهدف هو العميد مناف طلاس الأمر الذي نفته مصادر مطلعة، وكانت صفحات على موقع “فيس بوك” أبرزها صفحة “الثورة السورية” التي قالت إن السلطات اغتالت العميد مناف طلاس ودفنته سراً في مقبرة الدحداح.
يذكر أن الطالب المستهدف “طلاس” هو طالب جامعي فيجامعة البعث وهو ابن نائب رئيس الأركان العماد طلال طلاس.
February 5th, 2012, 12:38 am
Revlon said:
502. Dear Tara:
The Russians wanted the SC to play a mere guest of honour signatory to the AL proposal that was originally, as per GCC officials, brokered with Russia’s agreement. Such will provide an international legitimacy to its outcome, without tthe SC having a say in it’s proceedings!
Other SC members probably view The AL proposal as so vague that, it can easily be interpreted and applied as is by The Russian axis, so as to maintain the status quo, with the “delusional hope’ that the regime eventually regains control of the street and forces Russian-Iranian-Assadian brand of reforms.
The resultant state would be a mutant form of Dictocracy, with a facade of Sunni Religious overtones a la Iran, 3alawi controlled Mukhabarat undertones a la Putin, and 3alawi controlled, brutal army a la Assad Syria!
You said:
((Reading the text proposed by the UNSC, I think we are better off with the double vetoes. There is no mention for Bashar to step down or to transition power. I am not clear to what exactly the Russian concern with the text’s language)).
498. Tarasaid:
http://news.yahoo.com/text-proposed-un-resolution-syria-180405940.html))
Here is my own reading of Russia’s veto:
The Russians vetoed the resolution for two reasons:
FIRST, it authorises the SC to broker, monitor and facilitate the implementation of its items. Therefore, in case of non-compliance SC can set into motion additional measures to force its implementation without the need for another voting session! (Items: 11 to 16 in the resolution).
SECOND, It holds accountable those who were responsible for crimes against humanity. Such implies the probable accountability of regime elements for crimes against humanity and the prospect of dragging the Junta to the international courts of justice. (Item 4. Recalls that all those responsible for human rights violations, including acts of violence, must be held accountable).
Cheers
February 5th, 2012, 12:42 am
Ghufran said:
خرج المتحدث باسم الجيش الحر، النقيب المنشق عمار الواوي على قناة العربية فجر اليوم السبت، ليصرح بأقوى تصريح خرج من مسؤول بالجيش الحر منذ بداية تأسيسه ، وقال الواوي: سنضرب دمشق ونضرب أبنية الضباط حتى مخافر الشرطة وكل ماهو تابع للنظام، زمن السلمية أصبح من الماضي، من هذه الليلة سيكون الرصاص هو الحكم، ولن نسمح بحماة أخرى.
February 5th, 2012, 1:00 am
Halabi said:
The AL monitors report is an ok read. Most of it has been discussed and it’s very short on details of violence. There is a table on what kind of cars the mission has, and fun details like the Chinese embassy giving the mission ten two-way radios.
One thing that jumps out is that despite countless meetings with the opposition in dangerous neighborhoods, where terrorists have killed soldiers and protesters for almost a year, the only time that the observers were harmed was in Latakia by the pro-Assad crowd.
“In Latakia, thousands surrounded the Mission’s cars, chanting slogans in favour of the President and against the Mission. The situation became out of control and monitors were attacked. Two sustained light injuries and an armoured car was completely crushed.”
And here is the analysis of the armed opposition which Qatar and the Western world are allegedly trying to cover up.
“The Mission determined that there is an armed entity that is not mentioned in the protocol. This development on the ground can undoubtedly be attributed to the excessive use of force by Syrian Government forces in response to protests that occurred before the deployment of the Mission demanding the fall of the regime.”
“The Mission was informed by the opposition, particularly in Dar‘a, Homs, Hama and Idlib, that some of its members had taken up arms in response to the suffering of the Syrian people as a result of the regime’s oppression and tyranny; corruption, which affects all sectors of society; the use of torture by the security agencies; and human rights violations.”
February 5th, 2012, 1:02 am
Syrialover said:
# 513. Norman
Thank you for the thoughtful answer.
No arguments about the toxic addition Israel makes to the mix and the lack of assistance from the Gulf to refugee Iraqis. Instead, the Saudis poured massive funds into Iraq to support the Sunni insurgency, bribing tribes, buying up land, further distorting the economy and destabilising Iraq. All to keep Iran at bay.
The problem with the Iranian/Syrian alliance is that it is the ill-judged decision of the small groups running their regimes, not based on the best interests or wishes of the people in those countries. It is costing both countries a lot of global respect and support, inflicting economic isolation and security risks on their citizens, attracting mischief from others (note Saudi Arabia and Iraq above) and would probably be seen as pointless and reckless by many Iranians and Syrians.
Back in 2006 there was open unhappiness in Iran about the government rebuilding Shia areas in Lebanon when many things in their own country were neglected.
The Syrian and Iranian regimes are proving to be reckless posturers with stale expiry dates who are driving their countries over a cliff. The Syrian and Iranian people are not.
February 5th, 2012, 1:08 am
sf94123 said:
وزير الخارجية ومدير الاستخبارات الروسيان يزوران دمشق 7 فبراير للقاء مع الاسد
اعلن وزير الخارجية الروسي سيرغي لافروف للصحفيين يوم السبت 4 فبراير/شباط انه سيتوجه سوية مع ميخائيل فرادكوف مدير هيئة الاستخبارات الخارجية الروسية الى دمشق للقاء مع الرئيس السوري بشار الاسد الثلاثاء القادم.
وقال الوزير: “ساقوم سوية مع فرادكوف، وبتكليف من الرئيس الروسي، بزيارة دمشق 7 فبراير/شباط الجاري لنلتقي مع الرئيس السوري بشار الاسد”.
من جانبه كتب غينادي غاتيلوف نائب وزير الخارجية الروسي في مدونته على موقع “تويتر” للتواصل الاجتماعي تعليقا على الموضوع ان “زيارة وزير الخارجية الروسي سيرغي لافروف ومدير هيئة الاستخبارات الخارجية ميخائيل فرادكوف لدمشق يوم 7 فبراير/شباط تؤكد تصميم روسيا في سعيها الى التسوية السياسية للنزاع في سورية”.
المصدر: “ايتار – تاس”
February 5th, 2012, 1:27 am
Juergen said:
Here is a longer video of the berlin embassy attack. To my surprise the police was quite hesitative to act, this area where the embassy is is near the government quarter and many more embassies are near to them.
February 5th, 2012, 2:25 am
ann said:
Russian Amendments Condemn Armed Groups, Only “Take Into Account” AL
http://www.innercitypress.com/syria1rusam020412.html
UNITED NATIONS, February 4 — As UN Security Council ambassadors met behind closed doors on Saturday morning, Inner City Press obtained from diplomat sources amendments Russia proposed to the draft resolution already “in blue.”
Inner City Press is exclusively putting them online herebelow:
AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT OF 02.02.2012
OP 1. Line 2 to read: “…freedoms by the Syrian authorities, especially the use of force against civilians” (end text of OP 1).
OP 3. In line 2 after “immediately stop…” insert “violations of human rights,”.
Start line 3 with “including intimidation of civilians and attacks against State institutions…”
Add new OP 3 bis: “Calls for all sections of the Syrian opposition to dissociate themselves from armed groups engaged in acts of violence and urges member-states and all those in a position to do so to use their influence to prevent continued violence by such groups”;
Para 4 (c). Add at the end of subpara: “…in conjunction with the end of attacks by armed groups against state institutions and quarter of cities and towns”;
OP 7. Replace in lines 5-6 “in accordance with” by “taking into account”.
OP 6-7. Move the phrase “without prejudging the outcome” from the end of para 6 to the end of para 7.
OP 9. Delete from line 1 “in the event of a resumption of the observer mission”.
OP 10. Reformulate line 1 to read: “Stresses the need for armed groups not to obstruct the mission’s work and calls upon all to provide all necessary assistance to the mission in accordance…”
PP 11 bis (optional):
“Expressing support for the broad trend of political transition to democratic, plural political systems in the Middle East,
Russia is focused on attacks against state institutions by armed groups, that the Syrian opposition “dissociate themselves from armed groups,” and moving the concession it got on Paragraph 6 (“without prejudging the outcome”) over to Paragraph 7 about the Arab League plan.
Under the amendments, Assad would only have to pull out as the armed groups also do, and only “takes into account” the Arab League timeline. But it offers “optional” support of Arab Spring II.
On her way in to the Security Council, US Ambassador Susan Rice called the amendments “unacceptable.” French Ambassador Gerard Araud said that “some newspapers” already said it was watered down too much, and said there would be a vote Saturday.
February 5th, 2012, 2:31 am
ann said:
On Syria, Double Veto After Russian Amendments Leaked, Rejected
http://www.innercitypress.com/syria2vetorusam020412.html
UNITED NATIONS, February 4 — As the draft resolution on Syria came to a head in the UN Security Council, Russia’s Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called a closed door meeting Saturday morning on one page of amendments (which Inner City Press obtained and exclusively published, here.)
The consultations were limited to the Number One ambassador of which of the Council’s 15 members. They came out, and after a half hour lull, voted on the draft resolution without amendments. Russia vetoed, as did China.
US Ambassador Susan Rice called it “disgusting” and UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant was “appall[ed].”
Afterward, Inner City Press asked first Moroccan Ambassador Loulichki, then Rice, Lyall Grant, Germany’s Peter Wittig and finally Churkin himself about the rejected amendments.
Loulichki of Morocco, stated sponsor of the draft resolution, would not answer which of the amendments had been the deal break, telling Inner City Press to ask Vitaly Churkin. As he said this, Ambassador Rice to the side of the stakeout indicated that unlike Loulichki, she would answer this.
And Rice did, referring back to Inner City Press’ question and saying
“this is to answer your question, Matt: What was unacceptable, first and foremost, was the amendments that would have rewritten the Arab League plans, both Arab League plans-the one of November 2nd, which both parties have agreed to and committed to but the Syrian government hasn’t implemented but which indeed the Russian Federation has supported…. They were also not offered during the course of the week when we were engaged in meaningful efforts at negotiations but rather at the 11th hour with a request that the vote be delayed until some indefinite point next week.” [Video here, Min 18]
Russia’s proposed amendment to Operative Paragraph (OP) 7 was to “eplace in lines 5-6 ‘in accordance with’ by ‘taking into account.'”
UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, as transcribed by the UK Mission to the UN, said
“one of the amendments put forward by Russia this morning was to suggest watering down the demand that had been accepted by Assad three months ago to withdraw military forces from the cities on the very day when they [the Syrian regime] were using tanks and artillery to kill their people, I think was what persuaded most people that we could not wait any longer and we would have to go to a vote and that countries would have to stand and up and be counted.”
The problem is, the Russian amendment reads as follows:
Para 4 (c). Add at the end of subpara: “…in conjunction with the end of attacks by armed groups against state institutions and quarter of cities and towns”
At the stakeout, on UNTV, Inner City Press read out loud this language to Lyall Grant to get his reaction. Video here, Minute 27. But in the UK Mission transcript, the question is made vague:
“Q: What was specifically unacceptable about that Russian amendment?”
Perhaps there is some protocol of changing the questions that are asked. Or, in fairness, of only transcribing the answers, while approximating the question. It made a difference in this case; a subsequent speaker hearkened back to the question that was asked of Lyall Grant, but the UK put out a transcript without the question in it. The UK transcript has Lyall Grant answer the untranscribed question:
“The suggestion was to change the sequence. That somehow the armed groups would have to withdraw first, and then the regime forces.”
Inner City Press asked, not softly, doesn’t “in conjunction” mean at the same time? But that’s not in the UK transcript.
When Vitaly Churkin came to the stakeout, he zeroed in on this, citing Inner City Press’ question — left untranscribed by the UK Mission — and saying that Lyall Grant misquoted his amendment. Churkin said, video here from Minute 39:30:
“where we did say that the troops must pull out of the cities in conjunction, as Matthew correctly quoted from our amendment, with a pullout of the armed groups who were trying to take control of various cities and quarters in various cities. For some reason ambassador Lyall Grant chose to tell you there was a suggestion that they should be pulling first. I have no idea where he took that from. This is the problem we face, unfortunately, in the Council. Some colleagues dealing with the media choose to present a rather bizarre interpretation of proposals made by the Russian Federation.”
Then again, Churkin also said he was puzzled at Inner City Press’ read-out of his 11 bis, “optional” amendment, “Expressing support for the broad trend of political transition to democratic, plural political systems in the Middle East.”
Some saw that as a swipe at some of the resolution’s sponsors, perhaps the same ones of whom Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari, in the chamber, accused of not allowing women to attend soccer game. (One online pundit replied, “That would be Iran.” But there are others, including US allies.)
French Ambassador Gerard Araud did not take any questions about the amendments, but said on his own that he had been willing to show flexibility and insert the word “extremist groups” for “armed groups” as those to be dissociated with. Inner City Press was ready to ask further, but it did not happen.
But Inner City Press asked German Ambassador Wittig about what Araud had said, about flexibility. Wittig replied that “we would have been lenient on one or two things.” Which ones?
A cynic — or analyst — might describe Saturday’s proceedings as theater, with some countries try to show their home audience how hard they are pushing, despite knowing the resolution would be vetoed and that Russia and China cannot really be made to feel ashamed about it.
Click here for Russia’s “Philosophy of the Veto,” as Churkin expounded to Inner City Press last week, and here for what Li Baodong told Inner City Press on February 1 about language China would and would not accept — seemingly contrary to UK Ambassador Lyall Grant’s comment that China “did not express any particular concerns about the text over several days of negotiations.”
As to the 11th hour stridency of the sponsors, one real cynical said, “Once you’ve sold out 80%, why not go to 85% to avoid the veto?”
As many asked, what next? Pushing for the Saturday afternoon vote and getting the veto, it is hard to see what the sponsors of the resolution do next. We’ll be here
.
February 5th, 2012, 2:35 am
ann said:
Syria veto aimed at averting bloodshed – February 5, 2012
http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/12814750/syria-veto-aimed-at-averting-bloodshed-xinhua/
BEIJING (AFP) – China’s official Xinhua news agency said Beijing and Moscow’s veto of a UN Security Council resolution on Syria was designed to prevent more “turbulence and fatalities” in the violence-hit state.
Russia and China’s Saturday veto of a resolution condemning Syria’s crackdown on protests has sparked an international outcry, and came just hours after reports that troops in the city of Homs had killed hundreds of civilians.
Russia’s UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin justified the veto by saying the proposed resolution “sent an unbalanced signal to the Syrian parties”.
His Chinese counterpart Li Baodong said pushing through such “a vote when parties are still seriously divided … will not help maintain the unity and authority of the Security Council, or help resolve the issue.”
In a comment piece on Sunday, Xinhua said the veto — the second by the two countries since the start of violence in the Middle Eastern state a year ago — “was aimed at further seeking peaceful settlement of the chronic Syrian crisis.”
“With the veto, Russia and China believed more time and patience should be given to a political solution to the Syrian crisis, which would prevent the Syrian people from more turbulence and fatalities,” it said.
Russia and China — which both have veto power as two of the five permanent members of the Security Council — were the only countries to vote against the resolution.
The draft resolution was put forward by Morocco, and had called for an immediate end to all violence. It did not impose any sanctions, nor did it authorise military action.
Washington said it was “disgusted” with China and Russia’s rare double veto and France denounced the massacre in the city of Homs as a “crime against humanity.”
Russia — for whom Syria is its last remaining major ally in the Middle East — has announced that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will travel to Damascus on Tuesday to press President Bashar al-Assad to discuss a political solution.
.
February 5th, 2012, 2:43 am
ann said:
An interview with the Palestinian historian Salim Nazzal – February 5th, 2012
After one year of the Arab spring, how would you evaluate the Arab spring, and where do you think it would lead the Middle East?
Nazzal: Where this leads is a difficult question to answer. I have written in the third week of the Arab spring that the Middle East before the Arab revolution was not the same Middle East after the Arab revolution. At this stage I sensed that the impact of the movement of change is stronger than ever. Yet I must say that nobody at that time could predict that it would expand quickly to several Arab countries, which is very much like the 1848 revolution in Europe. Which has expanded to almost all Europe in short time. These revolutions are obviously emerging from decades of repression and it’s a clear message that it has become almost impossible to run a globalized Arab generation with old fashioned rules. But as the camel that can never see its hump, Arab regimes were the last to know that a major break with the past is taking place.
They failed to understand that the protests are far beyond small demands, but rather a sweeping radical change. Some call it political tsunami or political volcano, but regardless of name, these revolutions will definitely change the whole political scene in the region in the decades to come. And even if the winds of the revolution are limited to 6 Arab countries, I think no Arab country would escape this change. But I must note that the course of the change might vary from one country to other.
For the time being we see that the change in some countries are getting more and more complicated. In Tunis and Egypt the revolutions were quick and relatively peaceful and the causalities were very small. But this is not the case in Libya where around 60,000 were killed. That’s why, we see a growing concern about how things are developing, and this concern began with the revolution in Libya where the NATO helped the rebellions in Libya. Today the scene in Syria is even more complicated than in Libya. Many indications show that the course of change in Syria is taking a bloody course which may threaten the integrity of Syria and the region.
There are also some concerns about the Islamists who are the major winner in these revolutions. We need however to note that the Muslim brotherhood party established in 1928 has been oppressed by several Arab government and never allowed to operate legally. Moreover the Islamist discourse has been significantly modified in the last decade. They call for instance to a civil state and not religious state. This naturally has given them more credibility than ever. Yet time will tell what could be their position towards the question of democracy and power shift when they are in power. But for the time being it is very obvious that they gain much support from the masses.
Yet the question remains, are we heading towards democratic change or perhaps a chaotic situation, it is difficult to tell at this moment. Off coerce all of us are hoping of a transition towards democracy, but you know that constructing democratic regimes in an area which was governed by repressive regimes is not a one night work. This is a long process that might take a whole generation’s time. In addition to the fact that there are many local, regional, and international actors, all those actors will influence the current movements of change in the Middle East.
What is the impact of the Arab Spring on the Arab western relations?
Nazzal: Well, in the Middle East people there is a strong belief not without evidence that the west is mainly interested in the oil and in protecting the Zionist state.
The United States of America played a major role in supporting the oppressive Arab regimes in the past decades. But when the current revolution erupted we saw that the USA tried to portray itself as it is on the side of the revolution and not on the side of the regimes which it has been supporting.
This is obviously a political game and not a heart change. I doubt much that the USA is seriously interested in real democracy in the region simply because real Arab democracy will challenge the USA interests. And Israel is very much scared of any democratic change in the region and this is obvious from the Israeli concern about these revolutions. But we see now that the USA is trying to construct bridges with the Islamists in order to preserve its interest, and the USA interests are still the same, oil and Israel.
In the last months we saw several protests in the Arab oil countries and the USA shows no concern about these protests which reflects the real American position.
While the EU has shown more signs of supporting the change towards democracy. This does not equal to say that Europe is devoted to democracy in the Middle East, but I think Europe is much more rational than the United States in this question.
However we need not to forget that the current Arab Spring has an impact on the western traditional thinking which took for granted that Arabs are unable to struggle for freedom and for democracy. This explains in my view the attitude change which is taking place in the west towards Arabs. This change would not have happened without the Arab Spring and the sacrifices of Arab young men and woman. Therefore I tend to believe that Arab Spring governments will likely run an independent policy in its relationship with the west.
What is the impact of the Arab Spring on the Palestinian struggle for freedom?
Nazzal: Let me say in principle that the Palestinian struggle benefits from any change towards democracy in the Arab world. We know from past history that Arab oppressive regimes did not support Palestinians and in some cases like with Egypt it helped in besieging Palestinians.
In fact part of the western support to the state of Israel was because Israel marketed itself as the only democracy in the Middle East. Of course we know that this is another Zionist lie, but we cannot ignore the fact that it succeeded in this business for a few decades. The change towards democracy in the Arab region and the tendency towards the right wing in the state of Israel will gradually lead towards weakening the Zionist state and that naturally will aid the Palestinian struggle for freedom.
But I doubt there will be an immediate major impact on Palestine because these Arab countries will need time to reconstruct itself assuming that things go fine. The unemployment in most of these countries is over 30 percent, this means the new government needs a first aid economical policy to work out the immediate problems. But I have no doubt that Israel will be the major looser of a democratic Middle East and Palestine will be the winner.
Another impact on the Palestinian struggle is the fact that Palestine needs its own spring. For instance the Palestine national council needs to be elected and not appointed. The Palestinian legislative council needs to be more active in the Palestinian political life. These are just two examples of many things that must be worked out.
Therefore I think Palestinian leadership needs to review its policy following the Arab Spring. They need to think of a new struggle strategy on light of these developments.
February 5th, 2012, 2:59 am
ann said:
*** “FRIENDS OF THE SYRIAN PEOPLE GROUP” 8) ***
Syria crisis group planned – 04 February 2012
Sarkozy said on Saturday Paris was consulting with Arab and European countries to create a Syrian contact group to find a solution to the crisis after Russia and China vetoed a resolution at the U.N. Security Council.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Saturday Paris was consulting with Arab and European countries to create a Syrian contact group to find a solution to the crisis after Russia and China vetoed a resolution at the U.N. Security Council.
Sarkozy said in a statement, “It is consulting with its Arab and European partners to create a ‘Friends of the Syrian People Group’ with the goal of giving international support to implement the Arab League transition plan.”
February 5th, 2012, 3:06 am
ann said:
Lebanese Army Says it Prevented Islamist Infiltration
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/231230
The Lebanese Army over the weekend prevented infiltration of a group of radical Islamists who were attempting to enter Syria, report said. The report on Lebanese television said that the group had planned to enter Syria at an area where the Lebanon, Syria, and Israeli borders met.
The report said that the group had previously attempted to enter Syria by sailing from Cyprus, but had failed.
February 5th, 2012, 3:12 am
ann said:
Armed Groups Inside Syria: Prelude to a US-NATO Intervention?
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=29074
Russia and China have vetoed the UN Security Council draft resolution on Syria pointing to the existence of armed groups involved in the killing of civilians as well as terrorist acts.
These armed groups have been involved since the outset of the “protest movement” in Daraa, southern Syria, in March 2011.
The statement of Russia’s envoy to the UN Viktor Churkin does not mention who is behind these armed groups.
“Churkin said that resolution’s Western co-sponsors had not included key proposals such as isolating the Syrian opposition from violent extremist groups or a call to arms for other states to use their influence to prevent such alliances”. (Russia Today, February 4, 2012)
Ironically, Russia’s decision to veto the resolution is consistent with the report of the Arab League’s Observer Mission to Syria, which confirms the existence of an “Armed Entity”.
Unexpectedly, however, neither Washington nor the Arab League, which commissioned the Observer Mission to Syria in the first place, have accepted the interim report presented by the AL Mission.
Why? Because the Mission –integrated by independent observers from Arab League countries– provides a balanced and objective assessment of what is happening on the ground inside Syria. It does not serve as a mouthpiece for Washington and the governments of Arab states.
It points to the existence of an “Armed Entity”; it acknowledges that “armed opposition groups” including the Syria Free Army are involved in criminal and terrorist acts.
“In some zones, this armed entity reacted by attacking Syrian security forces and citizens, causing the Government to respond with further violence. In the end, innocent citizens pay the price for those actions with life and limb.
“In Homs, Idlib and Hama, the Observer Mission witnessed acts of violence being committed against Government forces and civilians that resulted in several deaths and injuries. Examples of those acts include the bombing of a civilian bus, killing eight persons and injuring others, including women and children, and the bombing of a train carrying diesel oil. In another incident in Homs, a police bus was blown up, killing two police officers. A fuel pipeline and some small bridges were also bombed. ”
“Such incidents include the bombing of buildings, trains carrying fuel, vehicles carrying diesel oil and explosions targeting the police, members of the media and fuel pipelines. Some of those attacks have been carried out by the Free Syrian Army and some by other armed opposition groups.”
While the Mission does not identify the foreign powers behind “the armed entity”, its report dispels the mainstream media lies and fabrications, used by Washington to push for “regime change” in Syria.
The AL Mission report also intimates that political pressure was exerted by government officials to unreservedly support Washington’s political stance.
Moreover, the Mission was also pressured into upholding the lies and fabrications of the mainstream media, which have been used to demonize the government of Bashar al Assad:
“Some observers reneged on their duties and broke the oath they had taken. They made contact with officials from their countries and gave them exaggerated accounts of events. Those officials consequently developed a bleak and unfounded picture of the situation.”
In recent development, the Arab League has announced that the Observer Mission will be withdrawn from Syria.
Armed Groups Inside Syria
There is ample evidence that the armed groups including Salafists, Al Qaeda affiliated militia as well as Muslim Brotherhood are covertly supported by Turkey, Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The insurgency in Syria has similar features to that of Libya, which was directly supported by British Special Forces operating out of Benghazi. According to former CIA official Philip Giraldi:
“NATO is already clandestinely engaged in the Syrian conflict, with Turkey taking the lead as U.S. proxy. Ankara’s foreign minister, Ahmet Davitoglu, has openly admitted that his country is prepared to invade as soon as there is agreement among the Western allies to do so. The intervention would be based on humanitarian principles, to defend the civilian population based on the “responsibility to protect” doctrine that was invoked to justify Libya. Turkish sources suggest that intervention would start with creation of a buffer zone along the Turkish-Syrian border and then be expanded. Aleppo, Syria’s largest and most cosmopolitan city, would be the crown jewel targeted by liberation forces.
Unmarked NATO warplanes are arriving at Turkish military bases close to Iskenderum on the Syrian border, delivering weapons from the late Muammar Gaddafi’s arsenals as well as volunteers from the Libyan Transitional National Council who are experienced in pitting local volunteers against trained soldiers, a skill they acquired confronting Gaddafi’s army. Iskenderum is also the seat of the Free Syrian Army, the armed wing of the Syrian National Council. French and British special forces trainers are on the ground, assisting the Syrian rebels while the CIA and U.S. Spec Ops are providing communications equipment and intelligence to assist the rebel cause, enabling the fighters to avoid concentrations of Syrian soldiers.
The Role of US Ambassador Robert Stephen Ford:
US Ambassador Robert Stephen Ford, who arrived in Damascus in January 2011, played a central role in setting the stage for an armed insurrection in Syria. As “Number Two” at the US embassy in Baghdad (2004-2005) under the helm of Ambassador John D. Negroponte, Ford played a key role in implementing the Pentagon’s “Iraq Salvador Option”. The latter consisted in supporting Iraqi death squadrons and paramilitary forces modelled on the experience of Central America in the early 1980s.
Ford’s mandate in Damascus is to replicate the “Salvador Option” in Syria, by promoting covertly the development of an armed insurrection.
Reports point to the development of a full-fledged and well organized armed insurgency supported, trained and equipped by NATO and Turkey’s High Command. According to Israeli intelligence sources:
NATO headquarters in Brussels and the Turkish high command are meanwhile drawing up plans for their first military step in Syria, which is to arm the rebels with weapons for combating the tanks and helicopters spearheading the Assad regime’s crackdown on dissent. Instead of repeating the Libyan model of air strikes, NATO strategists are thinking more in terms of pouring large quantities of anti-tank and anti-air rockets, mortars and heavy machine guns into the protest centers for beating back the government armored forces. (DEBKAfile, NATO to give rebels anti-tank weapons, August 14, 2011)
A US-NATO led intervention, which would inevitably involve Israel, is already on the drawing board of the Pentagon. According to military and intelligence sources, NATO, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have been discussing “the form this intervention [in Syria] would take” (Ibid).
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February 5th, 2012, 3:24 am
Syau said:
Tara,
I’m glad you’re feeling generous today, I too feel generous and sincerely hope you enjoyed the double veto.
February 5th, 2012, 4:10 am
Alan said:
The Jerusalem Post
05 Feb, 2012
Israel and Germany sign contract for sixth submarine
Israel and Germany signed a contract a few weeks ago finalizing the sale of a sixth Dolphin class submarine to the Israel Navy, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
The Defense Ministry initiated talks with Germany last year about buying a sixth submarine but Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government initially balked when Israel asked that it underwrite part of the cost. In late November, though, Germany announced that it had approved the deal and that it would pay for part of the vessel.
Christian Schmidt, secretary of state for defense, told the Post that the contract was signed a few weeks ago and that Germany had agreed to subsidize its cost. Calling Israel a “preferred customer,” Schmidt said the sale of the submarine was a demonstration of his country’s commitment to Israel’s security.
“The security of the State of Israel is a German concern and this will not change,” he said during a visit to Israel during which he met with Israeli diplomatic and defense officials and attended the Herzliya Conference.
============================================================
Anti-NATO radar demo held in Ankara
News | 05.02.2012 | 11:42
A group of Turkish activists has held a demonstration in Ankara to voice their opposition to the Turkish government’s decision to host a NATO radar system in the country.
In Saturday’s demo, the protesters chanted “We will not become a shield for imperialism” and “Murderer US, get out of our region.”
One of the protesters said, “The missile system established in our country has put it on the forefront of imperialism and made it an open target for war.”
Turkish activists have held many demonstrations across the country since Ankara expressed readiness to host the NATO missile system in the eastern province of Malatya in September.
Some leading Turkish politicians and lawmakers have warned that the system, which reportedly became operational earlier this year, will provide no benefit to Turkey but will only serve Israel’s interests.
==================================================================
Syrians Gather in front of Russian and Chinese Embassies in Damascus in Appreciation of Their Stances at Security Council
Feb 05, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – In a show of appreciation of Russia and China’s stances at the Security Council which rejected interference in Syria’s affairs and supported reform, scores of Syrians gathered in front of the two countries’ embassies and in Saba’a Bahrat Square in Damascus.
The gathering Syrians chanted slogans expressing thanks to Russia and China and adherence to independent national decision, affirming their rejection of foreign dictations and their commitment to confronting the conspiracy targeting Syria.
Patricians said that the Russian-Chinese veto affirms that the Syrians alone are capable of resolving their issues, thanking the two countries for standing by Syria in the face of the unprecedented political and media attack.
They also stressed the importance of national unity and reform, saluting the Syrian army and its sacrifices.
February 5th, 2012, 4:41 am
Alan said:
NATO War Games in the Mediterranean
According to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allied Command Operations Press Release, eleven NATO member states will be involved in naval exercises in the Mediterranean from the 14th to the 24th of February. The timing of these exercises coincide with the showdown with Syria.
The naval exercise is described as “NATO’s largest Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise”.
“The exercise will take place in the Ionian Sea to the southeast of Sicily. Forces are provided by Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Five submarines from France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey are scheduled to join the exercise.”
The MANTA Series Exercise is intended to provide “for operational experimentation with new technology and tactics,” in support of 21st Century warfighting capabilities.
February 5th, 2012, 4:48 am
Alan said:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/02/03/cynicism-around-syria/
Russia as Smokescreen
Cynicism Around Syria
by VIJAY PRASHAD
The US and Israel are currently hiding behind the Russians (and to some extent the Chinese) in the UN Security Council. None of them have any interest in the removal of al-Assad from power. To their minds, Syria should not have a Libyan solution but a Yemeni one: the violence will simmer, the opposition will tire, then al-Assad will be allowed to create a successor in name only who will retain the lineaments of the regime intact but will provide a new face for Syria. Just as the “new” Yemen cannot be allowed to be a threat to Saudi Arabia, the “new” Syria cannot be allowed to upset the Israeli applecart.
February 5th, 2012, 5:04 am
SANDRO LOEWE said:
HOW DESPOTISM SUCCEED IN SUBJUGATING SYRIA DURING THE HAFEZ AL ASSAD ERA.
http://english.the-syrian.com/2012/01/15/how-did-despotism-succeed-in-subjugating-syria-during-the-hafez-al-assad%E2%80%99s-era/
February 5th, 2012, 5:33 am
SANDRO LOEWE said:
ISRAEL´S ATTACK ON IRAN LIKELY TO SAVE BASHAR ASSAD´S CLAN
http://lebanoniznogood.blogspot.com/2012/02/glitch-or-goal-israeli-attack-on-iran.html
February 5th, 2012, 5:48 am
SANDRO LOEWE said:
Online Encyclopedia of Mass Violence
Case Study: Le Massacre de Hama
http://www.massviolence.org/le-massacre-de-hama-fevrier-1982?cs=print
February 5th, 2012, 5:52 am
Alan said:
‘Europe coughing up cash for US military gamble in Iran’
February 5th, 2012, 6:00 am
Syria no Kandahar said:
If true this is a stupid move by the regime.The regime is telling the west :we will feed you the same poison you have been feeding us,what the regime doesn’t get
Is that :Terrorism is the enemy of all human kinds and no one is immune to it.One of the things the regime is being punished for now is closing eyes on Wahhabis going to Iraq when US was syria’s neighbor ,The same thugs are fighting to destroy Syria now. The point is :if you let the monster out,it will hunt you one day.
ذكرت صحيفة “صنداي تلغراف” البريطانية أن السلطات السورية أطلقت سراح، أبو مصعب السوري، المتهم بأنه العقل المدبر لتفجيرات لندن قبل 7 سنوات.
ونقلت الصحيفة خبر الإفراج عن السوري، واسمه مصطفى ست مريم نصار، من معتقله في حلب، عن موقع إلكتروني للمعارضة السورية.
وكانت المخابرات الأمريكية اعتقلت أبو مصعب السوري في باكستان على ما يبدو عام 2005، وقامت بترحيله الى بلده الأصلي في إطار برنامج نقل السجناء خارج الولايات المتحدة.
وأبو مصعب السوري مطلوب أيضا لاتهامه بالمسؤولية عن تفجيرات قطارات مدريد عام 2004 التي أسفرت عن 191 قتيلا وتفجيرات مترو باريس عام 1995.
وكانت تفجيرات مترو أنفاق لندن في 7 يوليو/تموز 2005 قد أسفرت عن 52 قتيلا و700 مصاب.
وذكرت الصحيفة أن النظام السوري ربما أفرج عن أبو مصعب كرد فعل على الحملة الأمريكية والغربية ضد دمشق.
February 5th, 2012, 6:05 am
Syria no Kandahar said:
A friend of mine who just came back from kamishli told me about his (demonstration)experience:
He was invited by his friend to watch a weekly demonstration .it was consistant
Of about 150 people most of them poor Kurdish kids.They chanted :Almot wla almathala.As soon as the sherta came they ran away leaving their sandles.
When my friend came back home Alarabia was saying:
Syrian army is surrounding 5000demonstators in Alqamishli!!!
February 5th, 2012, 6:30 am
Syrialover said:
Here we are, China loves Qatar and mocks Russia on Syria:
From the Asia Times January 17 2012:
… China opposes the Western intervention in Libya and Syria. Yet, despite the Russia-China coordination in the United Nations Security Council over Libya and Syria, Beijing is hoping for an expansion of the energy partnership with Qatar.
This stands in sharp contrast with Russia’s ties with Qatar, which are in tatters today – ever since the Russian ambassador was manhandled a few weeks ago at Doha airport by the local security in what appeared to be a deliberate act of provocation or slight to Moscow. In sum, China is hedging. It hopes to be on the “right side of history” in the Persian Gulf.
Qatar would feel pleased by a Chinese People’s Daily commentary on Saturday, which gently mocked the recent visit of the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov to the Syrian port of Tartus.
The commentary debunked the prevailing impression regarding Russian support to Syria and insisted that, on the contrary, Russia acts in any given situation not out of friendly sentiments to another country but solely to protect its own strategic interests; and, its current “diplomatic posturing” over Syria essentially aims at “warning various political forces not to harm Russia’s interests”.
(Read in full: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/NA18Ad02.html)
February 5th, 2012, 6:37 am
SANDRO LOEWE said:
547. Syria no Kandahar
Yes, It is true, and It is a stupid move from the syrian government (if it can be called so), as you told.
February 5th, 2012, 6:40 am
Alan said:
549 SNK
551. S/L
How it is possible to trust liars all time ?
Western media lies on Syria revealed
http://robinwestenra.blogspot.com/2012/02/western-media-lies-on-syria-revealed.html
February 5th, 2012, 8:23 am
Thomas said:
“it is Western propaganda that keeps on saying that Iran is seeking a bomb, but it is not true.” -Ali Larijani, chairman of the Parliament of Iran.
“If Iran turns into a nuclear power, then no one dares to challenge it because they have to pay a heavy price.” -Ali Larijani, chairman of the Parliament of Iran.
There’s some lies for you.
February 5th, 2012, 8:30 am
Ghat Al Bird said:
[Edited for hateful comments, racist invective.
This account is permanently banned from Syria Comment.]
February 5th, 2012, 10:00 am
Tara said:
Dear Revlon,
Brilliant analysis! What that means in effect is Russia would have voted any resolution that would put any pressure on Bashar or would hold him accountable.
And the next step is? The General Assembly or full scale armed resistance supported and secretly funded by the AL, the US, and the EU.
February 5th, 2012, 10:14 am
Juergen said:
Syrialover
Here is the promised translation:
قفزة في العصر الجديد
كانت جامعة الدول العربية في الماضي نادي الحكام المستبدين. الآن تدعو لتغيير النظام في سوريا.
مايكل تومان
الجميع يكره جامعة الدول العربية. الحاكم في دمشق ، الرئيس السوري
بشار الاسداعتبر عمل الجامعة “تدخلا سافرا” في شؤون سوريا الداخلية. المعارضة السورية تتهمها
بالعمل مع نظام الأسد. ايران تتهمها بالعمالة للغرب. المملكة
العربية السعودية ترى الجامعة متساهلة للغاية مع الاسد.
ولكن عندما لا احد يحب جامعة الدول العربية فهذا مؤشر على أن الجامعة
تفعل شيئا صائبا : فهي تتدخل. حتى مع مشروعها الأخير في بداية
الأسبوع ،الذي يؤدي إلى انتقال سلمي للمرحلة ما بعد الاسد. تدخلات الجامعة توتر أعصاب النظام السوري
. الأسد يحتاج إلى الهدوء لمحاربة المعارضة. معارضيه يريدون تدخل الأمم المتحدة
في سورياتقوم جامعة الدول العربية بتجربة جديدة : اليوم تنتقد الجامعة لنشاطها ، وليس لاكتفائها بدور المتفرج وكانت في السابق نادي للطغاة22
دولة عربية من المغرب إلى جزر القمر بلا حراك . و لكن الثورات العربية ايقظتها من سباتها . بالضبط سنة واحدة بعد الثورة المصرية ، جامعةالدول العربية تدافع عن حقوق الانسان و تجرؤ على التدخل و اتخاذ لخطوات قد تفشل
جامعة الدول العربية تتغر لضرورات داخلية
وتحت ضغط
من الخارج. ماذا يعني هذا بالنسبة للعالم العربي؟
أبيض وغريبة ، مثل ثوب الزفاف على طرف القوطية ، البناية النظيفة في
ميدان التحرير ، القاهرة بين الثورية الميدان ونهر النيل. المباني المجاورة تقول
اكثر حول ما يحدث حاليا في القاهرة : فندق كبير أصبح موقع بناء دائم ،
المتحف المصري نهب ، و مقر الحزب السابق حسني مبارك حرق. فقط
جامعة الدول العربية بقيت بعيدا من دون وصمة عار. تأخذ مدخل جانبي من
ساحة التحرير ، حتى يدير الدرج كبيرة ، الى مزيد من الممرات الى غرفة من
عرفان علي. الأثاث الداكن ، وأريكة مريحة. الدبلوماسي المصري الأعلى ،
وهو مستشار للأمين العام لجامعة الدول العربية. وقال انه جاء مع رئيسه في
الصيف الماضي ، وهو مرتاح للدور الجامعة الجديد. “نحن مهتمون في قضايا حقوق
الإنسان” ، كما يقول عرفان. “لم يكن هذا من قبل موضوعا مهما” و جامعة الدول
العربية تتدخل بنشاط في الشؤون الداخلية لأعضائها ، “في وقت سابق” غير
وارد على الاطلاق. جرائم ضد حقوق الإنسان تنطبق في الآونة الأخيرة
باعتبارها تهديدا أمنيا. وذلك هو أيضا. “ولو أن الجامعة العربية في
الربيع ، وقفت بصمت على حافة” ، كما يقول عرفان “، كمن كان ميتا.” في
اللحظة التي يكتب فيها العرب تاريخ العالم ، وجدت جامعة الدول العربية نفسها امام خطر الاندثار لذلك كان عليهم التغيير ،للبقاء على قيد
الحياة.
الوضع في السابق كان مريحا اكثر
. تأسست الجامعة العربية في عام 1945 ، قبل بضعة
أشهر من الامم المتحدة. في ذلك الزمن وضع القادة المواضيع التي تناسبهم ، على جدول
الأعمال ، بحيث كان لهم دائما موقف ضد شيء ما : ضد
القوى الاستعمارية بريطانيا وفرنسا ، ضد قوة أمريكا ، ضد
إسرائيل. أحيانا ضد أعضائها. انتقلت جامعة الدول العربية في
عام 1979 عندما عقد المصريين الصلح مع إسرائيل ، الى تونس. قبل عودتها
الى القاهرة في عام 1989 عندما
غزا العراق الكويت في العام التالي انهارت الجامعة و لم تجتمع ، لنصف عقد من
الزمن .
يمكن أن يكون اتجاه الجامعة الجديد مناهضة ايران عوض مناهضة اسرائيل
اليوم ، لا يمكنك أن تكون فقط ضد شيء ما. أعضاء جامعة الدول العربية عليهم أن يقررو ما إذا كانوا يريدون دعم اللانتفاضة في العالم العربي. عرفان علي يرى أن دول
الجامعة تحت ضغط هائل. الامر لا يتعلق بالغضب غير المبرر ضد أميركا
وإسرائيل. بل بالعرب انفسهم ، حول الحرية ومستقبل العرب جميعا. وفجأة ،
يضطر معظم الحكومات إلى ما يلي : مساندة الثورة ( عند غيرهم)و من أجل إرساء
الديمقراطية طالما أنها تبقى غير خطرة على حكمهم.
وقد ظهرت جهات فاعلة جديدة على المسرح. المبنى من الدوري ،
وانتقال السلطة في العالم العربي غير مرئي للوهلة الأولى.
من بغداد ودمشق الى
القاهرة الى تونس والرباط.
في هذه المدن تم
تحديد خط جامعة الدول العربية . وهنا مراحل
تفكك وتحطم. هنا منذ الخمسينات ، استولى ضباط السلطة. ويمكن في أروقة
الجامعة العربية أن ينظر إليها على صور مؤطرة البيضاء : لجمال عبد الناصر
المصري ، حافظ الأسد في سورية ، والد بشار الأسد ، الرئيس العراقي السابق
صدام حسين وحامل السلاح في الصحراء الليبية ، العقيد معمر القذافي. سعى
العديد من معرض في الحرب الباردة الدعم في موسكو. قادوا حروب كبرى مع
اسرائيل. لا عجب أن انعكس ذلك الوقت في مبنى جامعة الدول العربية. لكن
هذا العالم من أمس.
القوى الجديدة المؤثرة في الجامعة، تطل على الخليج. هم حلفاء لأميركا.
خصوصا المملكة العربية السعودية ، وهي البلد الوحيد المؤثر في جامعة الدول العربية من السبعينات الى اليوم ، . ولكن الآن برزت
بجانبها الدول الصغيرة مثل قطر والامارات العربية المتحدة دول
تنمو فيها عائدات النفط والغاز ، وقطر مركز محطة الجزيرة ، الراعي الرئيسي
للثورة. وتنقل قناة الجزيرة الاخبار من القاهرة ، ومن ليبيا و الآن من سوريا.
دائما مع التعاطف مع المتمردين ، وأحيانا تقوم بتحريضهم. قطر ليست دولة
ديمقراطية. ولكن مواطنيها يتمتعون بأعلى معدل دخل الفرد في العالم ،
و أكبر مشاكلهم هم السكري وجارة صعبة. قد تخشى دول الخليج ان تمنع ايران تصدير نفطها عبر مضيق هرمز. يمكن للجامعة في المستقبل تكون أقل المناهضة لاسرائيل و اكثر مناهضة لايران استبعاد سوريا حليفة ايران من الجامعة
والطلب في مجال حقوق الإنسان يدل على ذلك.
ويمكن تحديد الخط جديد لجامعة الدول العربية من خلال الأسماء.
رئيس الوزراء القطري حمد بن جاسم بن جبر آل ثاني والأمين
العام في الجامعة نبيل العربي. الأول يعبر عن القوة و
السلطة الجديدة لقطر ،. و الاسم الثاني
لنمط جديد من التنظيم. رئيس الوزراء آل ثاني بالفعل توسط في النزاعات بين
اريتريا والسودان ولبنان واليمن قد بدأ بمبادرة
. مع منظمة والامم المتحدة للاجئين و رئيس الوزراء القطري لديه علاقات جيدة مع العربي ، وهو خريج من جامعة نيويورك ، و كان مفاوضا في كامب ديفيد في عام 1978
ثم دبلوماسي في الامم المتحدة في نيويورك.و كان العربي في لجنة الحكماء ،
أ في الثورة المصرية . بعد الاطاحة بنظام الرئيس مبارك
أصبح هو وزير الخارجية بناء على طلب من النشطاء. جنبا إلى جنب مع آل ثاني
، قام العام الماضي بوساطة من اجل المصالحة بين حركة فتح وحركة حماس
الفلسطينية. الشيخ والدبلوماسي ، وجوه الدور الجديد للجامعة.
ولكن
لماذا فشلت البعثة العربية لسورية؟ وقال علي عرفان ، ومستشار العربي على و
هذا النحو : “إن الجامعة العربية مثل سيارة ، بنيت في عام 1945 ، على
طريق سريع من القرن 21 “.
البعثة السورية تعطي المثال على اسباب الفشل الجامعة الدول العربية وضعت أهداف كبيرة
، لكنها لم تستطع الوفاء بها. عندما كان علي عرفان زيارة استطلاعية للبعثة
المراقبين في دمشق في كانون الأول ، وقال انه سمع على
قناة الجزيرة يومها ،ان المهمة فشلت. رغم “اننا لم نذهب” بصفة مراقب ،
. ولكنها جعلت لنفسها هدفا هو وضع حد للعنف. للمقارنة تقوم للامم
المتحدة بتقليل التوقعات قبل كل بعثة ، وارسال المئات من المراقبين ضاع العدد المحدود من اعضاء البعثة العربية يبن الوحداتقتالية السورية
و ذكر ر أنور مالك مبعوث الجامعة من الجزائر ان النظام السوري كان يرسلهم الى الأماكن الخاطئة ومتنكرين من رجال الشرطة في زي مدني يقدموا معلومات خاطئة
في مقر الامم المتحدة في نيويورك يسهر مئات من الموظفين في عشرات الادارات على مثل هذه البعثات و لكن الجامعة لم يكن لديها الا عدد صغير من الموظفين حول الأمين العام و رغم ان الجامعة لديها غرفة العمليات مجهزة تكنولوجيا المعلومات ولكنها ليست لديها الموظفين مدربين تدريبا كافيا لادارة مثل هذه البعثات.
الملوك يجلسون الآن بجانب القادة الثوريين
الاحداث تاتي
بسرعة كبيرة جدا لجهاز قديم يحتاج إلى للاصلاح. اليوم
، على جامعة الدول العربية، ربط جسر بين الشباب الثوري و الملكيات أكثر أو أقل استقرارا. . وكيف ينظر
لحقوق الإنسان في الجامعةيقول موظ في أنها. “سوف” توسع
. لكن النقر على الموقع الالكتروني للجامعة إلى لجنة حقوق الإنسان
، ستحصل على الرسالة : “” لا المحتوى.
ولكن يمكن لجامعة الدول العربية ان تنمو مع هذه التحديات. على الرغم من أن
ميثاقها لا تسمح بذلك ، وفرضت عليه عقوبات ضد سوريا. الآن وقد طلب رئيس
الوزراء آل ثاني نيابة عن جامعة الدول الاسد الى الاستقالة و انه يجب ان يمهد الطريق لتشكيل حكومة وحدة وطنية. الجامعة
تدعو إلى تغيير النظام.. و لكن لا ينبغي أن يكون هناك تدخل
عسكري ، يقول آل ثاني.
جامعة الدول العربية ليس لديها قوة تدخل و اعظائها لم يتوافقوا حتى الآن لا على الدعوة لتشكيل قوة الامم المتحدة او حتى على التدخل العربي
. ولكن علينا الانتظار. في هذه الأوقات ،
يبدو أن كل شيء ممكن .
February 5th, 2012, 10:26 am
Observer said:
RT is reporting that they are receiving a lot of protest mail. The Russians are under enormous pressure from around the world to deliver change in Syria now.
The AL and the US and EU are going to go to the General Assembly and there are moves to bypass the UN SC in the next actions.
Once again the boy president will have to deliver for even Russia cannot save him from his stupidity.
February 5th, 2012, 10:40 am
Ghufran said:
استنكر حزب تونسي قرار بلاده المتعلق بطرد السفير السوري، معتبرا أن قرار النظام التونسي ما هو إلا استجابة سريعة لإملاءات دولة قطر العميلة لأمريكا والصهيونية، كما أعلن أنه يستعد للتحول إلى حركة مقاومة تستجيب لمتطلبات المرحلة في مواجهة انحرافات النظام الحاكم في تونس.
وقال بيان لحزب الاتحاد الديمقراطي الوحدوي التونسي، حمل توقيع أمينه العام أحمد الإينوبلي، تلقت وكالة (يونايتد برس أنترناشونال) للأنباء الأميركية، يوم الأحد نسخة منه، إن “قرار طرد السفير السوري من تونس جائر، وخطوة متسرعة ومفاجئة للشعب التونسي”.
كما اعتبر أن “قرار النظام التونسي ما هو إلا استجابة سريعة لإملاءات دولة قطر العميلة لأمريكا و الصهيونية ، وهو ارتهان للقرار الوطني المستقل تحت تعليلات إنسانية كاذبة نفاها تقرير مراقبي الجامعة العربية”.
(some people here can not understand the value of reporting,they would rather only read the “stuff” they like)
February 5th, 2012, 10:45 am
Ghufran said:
رأى قيادي في هيئة التنسيق الوطنية السورية المعارضة في المهجر أن الفيتو الروسي ـ الصيني كان متوقعاً، واعتبر أن جامعة الدول العربية تسرعت في نقل الملف السوري إلى مجلس الأمن الدولي.
وقال خلف داهود عضو المكتب التنفيذي للهيئة في مقابلة مع يونايتدبرس انترناشونال “نحن في هيئة التنسيق الوطنية وبكل أسف كنا متوقعين الفيتو الروسي ـ الصيني، وأرسلنا خطاباً واضحاً إلى الجامعة العربية عبر وسائل الإعلام وطرق أخرى نبّهنا فيه إلى ضرورة التوجه إلى موسكو قبل الذهاب بالملف إلى نيويورك، لأن هناك آلية دبلوماسية وسياسية لم تُؤخذ بعين الإعتبار من قبل هذه المؤسسة العربية”.
واضاف “كان من الصواب على الجامعة العربية التريث قليلاً والعمل على إقناع الروس من خلال إرسال وفود عربية رسمية للتأكيد على ضرورة “تخليهم” عن دعم النظام السوري والوقوف إلى جانب مطالب الشعب وثورته، وتوجه المعارضة أيضاً إلى موسكو لطمأنتها بشأن المحافظة على المصالح الإستراتيجية المشتركة بعد سقوط النظام”.
واشار إلى أنه كان للهيئة “الدور الأبرز بالضغط على الجامعة العربية لإستصدار قرار يلبي مطالب الشعب السوري وثورته بالإنتقال السلمي إلى نظام ديمقراطي برلماني تعددي مدني، واعربت من قبل عن إرتياحها للتدخل العربي لحل الآزمة في سوريا للحؤول دون تدويل الملف وإجازة التدخل العسكري الخارجي”.
وقال المعارض السوري “ما أحزننا حقيقة وخيّب آمالنا عدم رؤية إدانة واضحة في مجلس الأمن ضد النظام لإستمراره في “الجرائم ضد الإنسانية” ، وشهدنا أنه في السياسات والتوازنات الدولية لا تحرق المراحل وسياسة حصر الطرف لن تأتي بالمأمول، إنما يجب أن تصب جميع الجهود في الضغط على الجهة الداعمة للنظام ليحيد ويتخلى عنه”.
ورأى داهود أن هيئة التنسيق الوطنية “لن تكون ملزمة بأية تسوية أممية مستقبلية للأزمة السياسية في سوريا بعيدة عن مطالب الشعب و”ثورته”.
وكشف أن الهيئة “علّقت زيارة مرتقبة إلى موسكو بانتظار توضيح السلطات الروسية لغايتها من هذا اللقاء”، وقال “نحن في هيئة التنسيق الوطنية على أتم الاستعداد للقاء والتباحث في كيفية نقل السلطة بشكل سلمي لكوننا معارضة سيادية ولا نخضع لضغوطات أحد، وموقفنا واضح ونلتمس الرد الإيجابي من الروس حول سبب الدعوة”.
وسُئل عن امكانية توحيد المعارضة السورية بعد استخدام روسيا والصين الفيتو للمرة الثانية خلال الأشهر القليلة الماضية لعرقلة اصدار قرار من مجلس الأمن حول سوريا، فأجاب داهود “نحن في هيئة التنسيق سعينا منذ البداية إلى وحدة المعارضة من دون إقصاء لأية جهة، والمجال ما زال مفتوحاً أمامنا خصوصاً أن الجامعة العربية دعت إلى هذا الأمر أيضاً وهو دليل على صحة رؤيتنا، وندعو الجميع إلى وجوب التواصل والعمل للوصول إلى المؤتمر السوري المزمع عقده تحت مظلة الجامعة العربية”.
من جهته أدان مجلس اسطنبول ، في بيان اليوم، استخدام موسكو وبكين لحق النقض ضد مشروع قرار عربي – غربي بشأن سوريا، معتبراً أن هذا الموقف”رخصة للقتل بدون محاسبة” ، وأعلن أنه سيتوجه إلى الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة.
وقال “المجلس” إنه”يعبّر عن “إدانته البالغة” لقيام حكومتي موسكو وبكين بعرقلة مشروع القرار ويحمّلهما مسؤولية تصاعد “عمليات القتل والإبادة” ، ويرى أن الخطوة غير المسؤولة بمثابة رخصة للقتل من دون محاسبة”.
وأعلن البيان أن المجلس سيتوجه “نحو الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة لاستصدار قرار دولي إلى جانب العمل على إنشاء مجموعة اتصال دولية من الدول المساندة لنضال الشعب السوري بما يعزز عزل النظام وتقويضه”.
February 5th, 2012, 10:49 am
Freedom said:
The Syrian brutal regime has proven itself to be reckless and relentless once again … As the hypocrite Russians and Chinese vote in favor of the butcher also called الدكتور” بشار الأسد” …just watch these scenes from Bab Amr neighborhood in Homs
February 5th, 2012, 10:57 am
Ghufran said:
بيروت ـ (رويترز) – قالت قناة الدنيا التلفزيونية الموالية للحكومة السورية ان خدمة اخبار الدنيا عاجل على الهواتف المحمولة تعرضت للقرصنة الاحد واستخدمت لبث “اخبار كاذبة”.
وقالت عناوين رئيسية على التلفزيون “في اطار الحملة المغرضة من قبل جهات متعددة تهدف الى زعزعة امن واستقرار سوريا وسفك دماء شعبها وردت رسائل عن طريق خدمة الدنيا عاجل تطلب فيها اخلاء الساحات لما وصفتها بالاسباب الامنية”
زاضافت “ان ادارة خدمة الدنيا عاجل تلفت عناية المشتركين الى انها اوقفت مؤقتا ارسال الاخبار العاجلة حتى اشعار اخر ريثما تتم معالجة عملية الاختراق.”
وكانت محطة الدنيا هدفا لعقوبات الاتحاد الاوروبي التي فرضت على سوريا في سبتمبر ايلول الماضي ردا على حملة الرئيس السوري بشار الاسد الدموية في مواجهة الاحتجاجات الواسعة ضد حكمه.
February 5th, 2012, 10:59 am
Revlon said:
Assad Military security command center of Anadan fell in the hands of the Brigade of Free Aleppines!
Anadan, Aleppo
حلب:عندان:مفرزة الامن العسكري تحت سيطرةالجيش الحر 03/02/2012
February 5th, 2012, 11:00 am
Ghufran said:
ميونيخ- (د ب أ): قال رئيس وزراء تونس حمادي الجبالي الأحد إنه يجب إغلاق السفارات السورية في أنحاء العالم العربي احتجاجا على القمع الحكومي المستمر ضد المتظاهرين المؤيدين للديمقراطية.
وقال الجبالي، الذي طردت حكومته دبلوماسيين سوريين السبت، في مؤتمر ميونيخ للأمن بألمانيا إنه “يتعين علينا طرد السفراء السوريين من الدول العربية”.
وأضاف “لا يتوقع الشعب السوري منا بيانات طويلة وإدانات. يتوقع منا أفعالا”.
February 5th, 2012, 11:03 am
zoo said:
Egypt increased tensions with the US: bye bye the billion?
Egypt sends 43 NGO workers to trial over funds
By HAMZA HENDAWI and MAGGIE MICHAEL | Associated Press – 22 mins ago
CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian investigating judges on Sunday referred 43 NGO workers, including 19 Americans, to trial before a criminal court for allegedly being involved in banned activities and illegally receiving foreign funds, security officials said.
..
the campaign against the organizations has angered Washington, and jeopardized the more than $1 billion in annual aid Egypt receives from the U.S.
….
Those referred to trial included five Serbs, two Germans and three non-Egyptian Arab nationals, according to the security officials,
February 5th, 2012, 11:10 am
Norman said:
Ghufran,
Is that Tunisia that Syria sent teachers to after their independence to teach them Arabic?.
February 5th, 2012, 11:19 am
Hans said:
The American scandal in the UNSC is that the US refused to pressure the terrorists and armed group and the mercenaries to withdraw their weapons, arms and stop the attacks on the innocent civilians Syrians in return for the regime stopping any crack down on the terrorists.
That was the reason why China and Russia vetoed!
what is good for the goose is good for the gander.
hello USA you are not smarter than the rest of the world, especially when you have to barrow from China trillions of dollars yearly.
February 5th, 2012, 11:23 am
zoo said:
Russia Wants to Push Syria for Democratic Reform
http://en.ria.ru/russia/20120205/171158189.html
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Foreign Intelligence Service Chief Mikhail Fradkov intend to persuade Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to launch democratic reforms to stabilize the situation in the riot-hit Middle East country, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
The statement comes as Lavrov and Fradkov are setting for Damascus to hold talks with the Syrian president on February 7 after Russia and China blocked on Saturday the Morocco-proposed draft resolution on Syria that called on al-Assad to step down.
“Russia, including in interaction with other countries, is firmly set to seek the quickest stabilization of the situation in Syria along the paths of the quickest implementation of long-overdue democratic transformations,” the ministry said in a statement.
“For this purpose, on instruction of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Foreign Intelligence Service Chief Mikhail Fradkov will visit Damascus on February 7 to meet with President Bashar al-Assad.”
Moscow also hopes that the Arab League Council of Foreign Ministers will take a decision at its meeting to extend the mission of Arab observers in Syria, the statement said.
“We hope that during the expected discussion of the Syrian issue at a meeting of the League of Arab States Council of Foreign Ministers, a decision will be taken in the interests of the current moment to extend the mission of Arab observers, which has proved its efficiency as a factor of violence de-escalation,” the statement said.
….
February 5th, 2012, 11:32 am
Hans said:
very funny how the traitors the Arabs are so upset with the Chinese and Russian veto more than any previous American’s veto for the last century over angering Israel for attacking Arabs.
The world has another face but the American face get used to it.
the 20’s century was the american one it is no longer the american century wake up it is already the 21st.
in 50 years USA probably may not be the super power it claims to be.
viva Mexico, Voila’ Zionist Sarkosey, cheers China and Russia.
February 5th, 2012, 11:33 am
Revlon said:
Massive funeral procession for victims of Khaldiyeh Massacre that was perpetrated by outlawed Assad forces
شباب سوريا حمص الخالدية تشييع حاشد و مهيب لشهداء مجزرة الخالدية لبيك يا الله 4 2 2012
February 5th, 2012, 11:35 am
zoo said:
USA to arm the Syrian rebels?
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/officials-urge-diplomatic-break-with-syria/story-e6frf7jx-1226263275139
US independent Senator Joe Lieberman said that with their actions, China and Russia were “on the wrong side of history” and they could find themselves as isolated as Assad if they refused to budge.
The United States should look at providing weapons and other aid to Syrian rebels if Russia and China refuse to reconsider, said Lieberman.
“We have a range of support we can give them,” he told the panel.
“Some of it is non-lethal, including medical supplies … and then ultimately it is providing them with weapons,” said the senator
February 5th, 2012, 11:36 am
bronco said:
#565 Hans
“the 20′s century was the american one it is no longer the american”
Back to a bipolar word, Thank God..
February 5th, 2012, 11:38 am
Defender said:
A mistaken case for Syrian regime change
http://conflictsforum.org/2012/a-mistaken-case-for-syrian-regime-change/
Aisling Byrne
February 5th, 2012, 11:45 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Hans,
Simply admit this: You hate Amrica and the global Zionism more than you love the Syrian people.
.
February 5th, 2012, 11:45 am
Defender said:
Jews don’t want blacks in their cemetary
February 5th, 2012, 11:49 am
zoo said:
#562 Norman
Tunis does not need Arabic teachers anymore, they desperately need cash money and investments from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the GCC now. The economical situation is very bad with 18% unemployment, failing tourism and daily strikes.
Tunisia’s economy still awaits post-revolt bounce
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/01/tunisia-economy-idUSL5E8CO1XC20120201
* Slowdown after revolution worse than expected
* Protests, strikes hurting business
* Number of foreign firms leaving small, may rise
* Government says economic programmes disrupted
* May be bellwether for Arab Spring economies
By Tarek Amara
….
Thirteen months after the revolution, the economy continues to slump. Investment has slowed, tourism — a mainstay of the economy — is down, unemployment is rising and the government’s target of 4.5 percent economic growth this year is looking over-optimistic.
The problem, say businessmen and government officials, is that people exercising their newfound freedom to protest for better living conditions are bringing the economy to its knees by staging almost daily strikes and sit-ins.
…
Tunisia’s unemployment rate — one of the biggest grievances behind the revolution — has gone up to 18 percent from 13 percent a year ago, and is much higher among young people.
“The revolution has made some gains, including in freedom of expression, but the downturn continues,” said Tunisian economist Fathi Jerbi.
“The structure of the economy is still the same in all sectors…nothing has changed and the government is unable to cope with high prices and unemployment. This is a very serious indicator.”
….
His government is in a race against time. It needs to put a lid on the protests and strikes in time for this year’s tourist season, or face a second year of costly cancellations.
..
“Our patience has run out,” said Ahmed Ben Faraj, a young unemployed man in Makhtar. “We will not be intimidated by government threats to use force…We will continue to protest and we will lead a second revolution if we are not given the right to work.”
February 5th, 2012, 11:51 am
Defender said:
572. ZOO
أغلب الدول التي تستدين من صندوق النقد الدولي تدخل في الافلاس يليها فقدان السيادة و بدء الاملاءات الصين تنافس على اقراض هائل حاليا و من البديهي احتياج المال بعد اية ثورة . انها حفرة الاقتراض ! مرت كوريا الجنوبية وحيدة بدون افلاس من هذه التجربة.
February 5th, 2012, 12:01 pm
Norman said:
Bronco,
It is no more coalition world government , but a government and an opposition with veto power, i hope they go back to fighting for the love of the third world countries instead of conspiring against them ,
February 5th, 2012, 12:10 pm
Norman said:
Zoo,
Syria was doing better than Tunisia with all the military spending and the sanction she had, some people still do not give the government of Syria the credit that it deserve,
February 5th, 2012, 12:12 pm
syria no kandahar said:
The leader of demonstrations in kamishli is a kurdish guy named :Bru Arnu(Every one knows that in that city,including goverment,this is not what Rwvlon death list which he publishes here from time to time).This guy is an ex thieve,he used to work in Altahreeb all his life.He used to be in Mohammad Mansoura’s
Mokabarat branch every day when that croock was in charge ,he used to kiss his shoes day and night to get his business going.He also was invoved in prostitution business.He had 4 wifes and about 40 kids most of them helped him in his business,also selling sigarettes and gumes and stealing etc.Now he is in charge of gathering the lowest crap uneducated and has become a revolutionary full time leader.This is what syrians have to deal with.These are the kind of leaders they are asked to follow.This is one of hunderd other reasons why we Syrians hate what is happening in Syria now.This is why our appetite for revolutions have ben shut for hundred more years.
February 5th, 2012, 12:24 pm
Badr said:
Gloomy prospects for a diplomatic solution of the crisis in Syria.
Syria resolution: The diplomatic train-wreck
By Jonathan Marcus
BBC Diplomatic Correspondent
February 5th, 2012, 12:56 pm
Equus said:
Per CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/04/world/syria-embassy-protests/index.html?hpt=wo_c1
Per the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/04/syrian-embassy-london-protests
-12 people, mostly Syrians, accused of setting the first floor of the Syrian embassy in Cairo on fire,
-In London: five people were arrested after gaining entry to the building in the early hours Saturday. One person was arrested for assault on a police officer. (Does anyone know how many assaulted Syrian police?) (Of course, no one cares for reporting this information)
-In Berlin: BERLIN
Thirty-one people broke through the locked doors of the Syrian embassy in Berlin infiltrated the building, destroyed office furniture and displayed a flag out of an embassy’s office window. The intruders also spray-painted slogans on walls. Police arrived and detained all the men, who were later released.
What baffles me is Mrs Clinton and Mrs Rice keep labeling them peaceful protestors. Did the meaning of -Peaceful- change in Webster dictionary? Most people argue that it’s the Syrian Armed forces that resorted the peaceful protestors to use force to defend themselves. In all above countries, UK, Egypt, Berlin etc. No one initiated attack against these protestors. They just put building on fire, vandalism on an other…etc.It’s like saying they are using peaceful grenade. Hence, they are peaceful. How come CNN, Fox, MSNBC not magnifying the event ???
February 5th, 2012, 12:59 pm
Halabi said:
Here are the results of the surgical strikes on Homs. I can’t wait for the propaganda on this – here’s some help from the electronic army out there.
In this video, the little girl can’t be explained as an FSA fighter. Maybe a hostage that Hamad personally killed because he was angry with the double veto.
http://youtu.be/_KkWJv1B1CA
The victims here are also children, but males. The doctor said the younger kid, who lost one leg and may lose another, was calling for freedom, which we all know is a euphemism for sectarian violence and an Islamic state.
http://youtu.be/WBmk_DV-XSc
February 5th, 2012, 1:12 pm
Antoine said:
486. IRRITATED said :
“I enjoy how you associate Iran to Khomeini to Islamists. What is your opinion about Hezbollah then?”
Unfortunatley, Iran after 1979 is a totally difefernt thing. After 1979 a whole culture was wiped out from Iran. Iran is Khomeini in the same way for many ppl, Syria is Assad.
Hezbollah is a terrorist State within a State and they should be disarmed and kicked out of Lebanon.
February 5th, 2012, 1:23 pm
Antoine said:
Ghufran,
I am not from Turkey, but I felt it necessary to fight some of the things said about that nation, especially with the intention of uncovering its “underbelly”, as a means to juxtapose human rights inn Turkey with its position on Syria.
And if you can criticise Turlish hypocrisy, then you should also think about the fact that, many of the kids on SC repetitively posting anti-Turkish stuff, like Irritated and Jad and Ann, simply WOULD NOT have done it had Turkey taken a different position on the Assad regime. They would have praised Turkey and Qatar sky-high if they would have stood beside Assad in the same way as Russia and China.Certain people are criticising Tukrey and Qatar SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR POSITION ON SYRIA. If Russia wuld have pused for a UN Resolution, you would have seen these people 9 jad, Irritated, Ann etc) posting stuff about Russian war crimes in Chehcnya and suppression of ethnic-linguistic minorities in Russia. This is human nature.
Do you agree Ghufran ?
February 5th, 2012, 1:30 pm
Antoine said:
Lastly, these surgical strikes are a joke. they never succeed in causing any harm to the FSA, they end up killing civilans.
Ghufran, you posted something about the Army being ordered to launch an all-out attack and put an end to the FSA, but trust me, that is simply not possible, the FSA and other anti-regime armed groups are so stealthy and masters of subterfuge that it is very difficult to go after them and finish them. All the Army can do is launch full scale Artillery bombardment, plus caroet bombing, of trouble spots like Idlib, Rural Damascus, Homs, etc. that will yield a casualty of 10,000 civilans but FSA will still be active and within a few eeks you’ll be hearing of more attacks by armed groups.
I agree that the US too wishes to have a negotiated settlement and in all probablity, they too have given the green light for a final campaign against the FSA, even Qatar and the A.L., have previously used this tactic, trust me , no country wants a violent end to the regime and every country wants an end to the armed insurgency, but they have been waiting for 6 months and till date the regime has not been able to win any significant victory against the FSA rather it has lost more ground.
As early as November, if you remember, when the Army was launching a heavy attack against Baba Amr, there were signs that Qatar and the A.L. were willing to give the regime time to finish the armed groups, but somehow they just could not achieve it, and after 2 weeks the result was that the armed groups in Homs became even more stronger and entrenched and Baba Amr again became a war zone with the FSA fully entrenched.
The fact that the regime has not been able to make any significant military progress in 6 months against the armed groups is what propelled the A.L. to take the decision.
What is your assessment Ghufran ?
February 5th, 2012, 1:41 pm
Equus said:
Lies and Double Standards: Crimes against Humanity: Syria or the US?
Russia and China Veto Syria Resolution
by Stephen Lendman
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=29080
February 5th, 2012, 1:51 pm
Alan said:
Such America must be respected! Good fellows!
February 5th, 2012, 1:52 pm
Alan said:
549 SNK
551. S/L
The lie industry
Syria: With the observers gone, the lie industry is back in full swing
Voltaire Network | 5 February 2012
On 4 February 2012, the media organizations of the War Party unanimously announced more than 200 deaths in Homs – a city “bleeding“ -, the torture of children and “relentless” bombing. We are supposed to be witnessing the “most terrifying massacre” since the beginning of the “revolt“. Spontaneously, attacks were triggered during the night against the Syrian embassies in Washington, Cairo, Kuwait and London.
In fact, to increase pressure on the UN Security Council and public opinion, the imperial communication apparatus has resumed services after a brief lull.
The advocates of intervention in Syria made a mistake by sending an observer mission. The 160 observers from the 22 Arab League countries were able to establish the discrepancy between the version of events put forward by the West and the reality on the ground. For this reason, their report was smothered by the Presidency of the Arab League, and has not been presented to the Security Council, when it was supposed to constitute the very basis for the new deliberations on Syria.
The problem is that the report would bring to light several points wholly at variance with the current Atlanticist version, when the laws of war propaganda aim to silence all dissenting voices in order to impose its own views.
Since they refuse to endorse NATO’s storytelling, the observers have become embarrassing witnesses. Although the extension of their mission had received 4 votes in favor and 1 against (that of Qatar) by the Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee of the Arab League, they must leave Syria due to “security” reasons, after the Gulf observers were called back and Saudi Arabia issued a call from Al-sheik Aroor for their assassination.
Although he is depicted as a radical Muslim, Sheik Adnan Al Aroor is a former Syrian officer arrested and sentenced to 70 years for raping several conscripts under his command. Exiled in Saudi Arabia, he created his own sect and became one of the leading Takfirist preachers, the guru of the insurgents.
Now that Syria is again the only one in a position to provide another version of events, the lie industry set up for this operation is back in full gear. Once again the sole source recognized by the West and the Gulf is the self-proclaimed Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, based in London and led by the Muslim Brotherhood. No evidence is submitted; a few blurred photos, the juxtaposition of images showing demonstrations and explosions, and some anonymous testimonials will do: the “information” is instantly relayed, with no verification, by hundreds of media across the world.
While they are accused of defending cynical interests, the Russians and Chinese are essentially the last members of the Security Council to elevate the facts above communication strategies and international law above the lies.
February 5th, 2012, 1:57 pm
Syrialover said:
#554. Juergen
Thank you very much for the Arabic version of that excellent perspective on the Arab League by that German analyst.
For those who missed it in English, here is the link in SC to where Juergen posted his German/English translation: https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=13243&cp=5#comments
You’ll find it in comment #224 (on the 26/1 thread)
February 5th, 2012, 2:02 pm
Alan said:
‘Israeli attack on Iran will pull US into massive battle’
February 5th, 2012, 2:04 pm
MK JCNJ said:
Re: #552
Ghat Al Bird
Sounds like a Zionist troll with the anti-Jewish references that could have been made either by the Tsar or Joseph Goebbels. From Morocco to Syria to Iran – most people now – in 2012 – know the difference between Jewish and Zionist.
Not all Jews are Zionist. Most Zionists are not Jewish. And many Jews oppose U.S./NATO intervention anywhere – including Syria!
The comments made by #552 are meant to divide and confuse.
[NB from the Moderation team: the language of hate and racism is not tolerated at Syria Comment. The poster above has been permanently banned.
Similar racist invective will lead to a similar immediate and permanent ban. Again we urge commentators to read and understand the rules of engagement here.]
February 5th, 2012, 2:22 pm
Syrialover said:
# 580. Equus
I followed that article link you posted and read:
“Throughout the conflict, Assad was blamed for Western-backed externally generated violence. In fact, he’s more victim than villain, but don’t expect media scoundrels to explain.”
There’s an entrant for the most hilarious comment of the month. If it wasn’t so insulting and patronising to the brave Syrian people who are fighting and dying for their right to a better future.
February 5th, 2012, 2:27 pm
Ghufran said:
حجة الوداع
( أيها الناس إن دماءكم وأموالكم حرام عليكم كحرمة يومكم هذا في بلدكم هذا في شهركم هذا إلى يوم القيامة فلا ترجعن بعدي كفاراً يضرب بعضكم رقاب بعض )”.
February 5th, 2012, 3:23 pm
jna said:
1.
586. Syrialoversaid:
Syrialover, at the bottom of each comment there is a HTML link that shows the date and time. If you copy and paste that in you message then you can direct link to the comment you refer to.
https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=13243&cp=5#comment-293067
2.
Syrian Strongman’s Family
As the conflict in Syria reaches a critical phase, TIME looks at some of the regime’s key figures.
http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2012/01/31/meet-the-assads-a-look-at-the-syrian-strongmans-family/#meet-the-assads-2
February 5th, 2012, 3:49 pm
irritated said:
581. Antoine said:
“Hezbollah is a terrorist State within a State and they should be disarmed and kicked out of Lebanon.”
Great idea! I guess that’s how the FSA should be treated too. Disarmed and kicked out of Syria.
You have very creative solution to propose, go on…
“After 1979 a whole culture was wiped out from Iran.”
You mean that you regret the culture of the Shah of Iran, the puppet of the USA and totally corrupted society?
Good for you..,
February 5th, 2012, 3:53 pm
Norman said:
It is interesting how Iranians who hate their government in the US go out to prevent a war on Iran while Syrians and Arabs in the US go out to push for an invasion of their country, The re must be something wrong with our genes,
February 5th, 2012, 3:58 pm
abraham said:
Show of hands, please: who here still doesn’t understand that the CIA is basically orchestrating the “uprising” in Syria?
Come on, now, be honest. Get them way up there. Let’s see who hasn’t been doing their own thinking for themselves.
February 5th, 2012, 3:59 pm
Antoine said:
NORMAN, the Iranian Government does not use mortars, artillery and snipers against their own people so indiscriminately. C’mon man, for the past 11 months the country has been in an upheaval and killings every day, this tyoe of situation has no precedent in known history.
February 5th, 2012, 4:08 pm
Antoine said:
NORMAN you heroes may succeed in killing 500,000 Syrians but ultimately you will lose.
February 5th, 2012, 4:13 pm
bronco said:
#594 Norman
The Iranians know what a war is , they had one for 8 years with hundred of thousands dead and cities totally destroyed. Some Syrians are so full of hatred and revenge that they think a war will only affect their enemies. If a war happens, they will understand why the Iranians who hate their government prefer to cope with it than to enter into another devastating war.
February 5th, 2012, 4:15 pm
irritated said:
Antoine
“you will lose”
Who will lose? lose what?
February 5th, 2012, 4:17 pm
irritated said:
Antoine
this tyoe of situation has no precedent in known history.”
Of course, no time in modern history, a ‘supposed’ revolution was started by a divided and incoherent opposition begging for outside help to cover up their failure to unite after 11 months.
February 5th, 2012, 4:20 pm
zoo said:
The Opposition criticized for condoning violence are coming back to peaceful methods: Another call for strike, Sunday and Monday..
Opposition group calls for strike as Syrian violence grows
By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 4:01 PM EST, Sun February 5, 2012
The Arab League said Sunday it would continue to work with the Syrian government and opposition to stop the killing despite the Security Council vote, and it urged the government to \”heed the people\’s demands.\”
…
The Local Coordination Committees announced plans for a two-day civil strike starting Sunday as a way to mount more pressure on President Bashar al-Assad\’s government.
…..
February 5th, 2012, 4:29 pm
zoo said:
Not so peaceful attacks on Syrian Embassies triggered by violence news (not independently confirmed) broadcasted on Al Jazeera and other satellites.
Seven Syrian embassies attacked by anti-Assad protesters
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0205/Seven-Syrian-embassies-attacked-by-anti-Assad-protesters
From London to Australia, mobs attacked Syrian embassies to protest the reported killing of civilians in Homs by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.
…
Australian police said the mob smashed into the embassy in a diplomatic precinct of Canberra, the capital, on Saturday night, causing extensive damage to the ground floor of the two-story building.
Syrian Charge d’Affaires Jawdat Ali told the Associated Press that 50 men smashed through the front door, destroyed furniture and stole computers. He said the damage bill had yet to be calculated.
….
February 5th, 2012, 4:37 pm
Tara said:
Bronco
Were the Iranians ever exposed to their children tortured, their genitals cut off, and their nails pulled? Were the Iranian ever exposed to fathers being sodomised and raped in front of their teenage children? Did the Iranian women dig their own children’s graves because their men banned from cemeteries? Did the Iranian government targeted 4 years old girls? Did any family in Iran after the revolution stayed in power for 40 years? Has the
Iranian regime forced people to worship ayatollah rohallah…? Have you ever heard an Iranian being forced to kiss the shoes of a … ?
February 5th, 2012, 4:45 pm
jna said:
596. Antoinesaid:
NORMAN you heroes may succeed in killing 500,000 Syrians but ultimately you will lose.
Antoine, but wouldn’t it be 1000% better to stop the killing now, hold internationally monitored elections and spare 495,000 Syrians their lives. We know Assad will be deposed one way or another at some point. The issue is when and how, and what happens to the Syrian people between now and then.
February 5th, 2012, 6:28 pm
Norman said:
JNA,
That would be smart, we do not have smart people in Syria.
and this way we don’t destroy Syria, how dare you suggest that.
February 5th, 2012, 6:34 pm
bronco said:
#602 Tara
You obviousky know very little of what Iranians went through during the war Iraq staged against Iran.
Irak was supported, armed and funded by the western countries and ALL Arab countries (except Syria) for 8 years.
Just the use of the mustard gas has thousands of people still suffering and dying slowly after 20 years. These poisonous gas were provided to Irak by European companies some were said to be German. Hundred of thousand of orphans, widows, children and adults crippled for life.
Almost a million died during this war and some cities like Khoramshar and Abadan were almost totally destroyed with hundred thousands displaced.
The western media avoid talking about these horrors the same way NATO now refuses to talk about the human casualties and abuses of the war in Libya. They bear a large responsibility, who will judge them for war crimes?
The Iranians do not constantly expose the injustice done to them by the western countries, the rapes, the tortures, and they don’t call for vengeance and retaliation. They’ve learn to be strong, self-sufficient and not to trust western countries anymore.
Civil war in Lebanon had very similar horrors as Syria is living now, rapes, tortures etc… When the factions could not accept to compromise it became so violent that Beirut was destroyed and it became a full scale war with thousands of death for 15 years. Who won? and who has been judged and convincted? nobody.
Wars are to avoid at any costs. Ghandi and Mandela are examples of popular revolution that tried to avoid blood, even if they were attacked. It took years but they finally succeeded without external help.
The Syrian revolution turned to a disaster because the opposition had overestimated its capability to rally the majority of Syrians.
When they realized it failed, they resorted to violent retaliation and created a spiral of crimes by unleashing the worst in the human being, revenge, cruelty, sectarianism, hatred.
Then they started to ask foreign countries, traditionally enemies of the Arabs and Syria to rescue them. When this also failed, they ask the most authoritarians regime in the area, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to use their power to bring in an UN intervention like Libya.
This failed too, now the country is in blood and the blame falls on the Syrian government.
Sorry, the opposition share the blame and increasingly so.
Now they call for a NATO war.. no thanks. I’ll tell them, stop the rantings, go home, prepare an intelligent strategy with intelligent people to bring in all the Syrians on your side, and when you are ready, then you can make a proposal to the Syrians.
Otherwise just admit you failed and try to find a compromise.
War should be out of the question.
February 5th, 2012, 7:01 pm
Tara said:
Bronco,
Can you generalize above logic to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Can you preach the Palestinians during Gaza war about Mandell and Ghandi? Why not endorsing HA to drop it’s weapons and sit down with other Lebanese and with the Israeli?
Sorry to use a graphic example but you must realize that asking the opposition to sit down and negotiate while Bashar is in power, is not different than asking a parent of a molested, murdered child to sleep with the enemy. It is just UNDOABLE. All parties MUST understand that. Bashar must go. It is above and beyond our capability of humans to negotiate while he is in power. Desecration of the sanctity of human life occurred under his watch and he carries full accountability. He leaves then we sit and negotiate.
And by the way I am not sure that the atrocities Iranian exposed to from warring with foreign countries are comparable to the atrocities Syrian exposed to by their own. Ours are much much bitter!
February 5th, 2012, 8:32 pm
Antoine said:
603. JNA said :
“Antoine, but wouldn’t it be 1000% better to stop the killing now, hold internationally monitored elections and spare 495,000 Syrians their lives. We know Assad will be deposed one way or another at some point. The issue is when and how, and what happens to the Syrian people between now and then.”
Would the Syrian President allow internationally monitored elections ?
February 6th, 2012, 3:32 am
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