“Washington doesn’t care about Syria,” Landis, News Round Up (Dec. 23, 2012)
Posted by Joshua on Sunday, December 23rd, 2012
Robert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, and Joshua Landis
- How Syria’s Alawites created their own worst enemy 7:06
- Is there a way out for the Assad regime? 5:09
- The anti-American perspective of a Syrian rebel 6:32
- Why a no-fly zone ain’t happening 5:28
- Joshua: Washington doesn’t care about Syria 5:28
- When Assad might use chemical weapons 1:34
In Ravaged Syria, Beach Town May Be Loyalists’ Last Resort
By an EMPLOYEE of THE NEW YORK TIMES in SYRIA and NEIL MacFARQUHAR
Published: December 22, 2012
There are no shellings or air raids to interrupt the daily calm. Families pack the cafes lining the town’s seaside corniche, usually abandoned in December to the salty winter winds. The real estate market is brisk. A small Russian naval base provides at least the impression that salvation, if needed, is near.
Many of the new residents are members of the Alawite minority, the same Shiite Muslim sect to which Mr. Assad belongs. The latest influx is fleeing from Damascus, people who have decided that summer villas, however chilly, are preferable to the looming battle for the capital.
“Going to Tartus is like going to a different country,” said a Syrian journalist who recently met residents there. “It feels totally unaffected and safe. The attitude is, ‘We are enjoying our lives while our army is fighting overseas.’ ”
Should Damascus fall to the opposition, Tartus could become the heart of an attempt to create a different country. Some expect Mr. Assad and the security elite will try to survive the collapse by establishing a rump Alawite state along the coast, with Tartus as their new capital.
There have been various signs of preparations.
This month, the governor of Tartus Province announced that experts were studying how to develop a tiny local airfield, now used mostly by crop-dusters, into a full-fledged civilian airport “to boost transportation, business, travel and tourism,” as the official Syrian news agency, SANA, reported…..
Azzam Dayoub, the head of the political office in Beirut, Lebanon, for the underground revolutionary council in Tartus, said there were at least 230,000 war refugees in the city. Others said the population of the entire province, once around 1.2 million, is now closer to two million. Most are Alawites, including countless government employees who have returned to their home province. But many are Sunnis, Christians or others close to the government who no longer felt safe elsewhere.
Mr. Dayoub said Alawites in the town have barred other minorities and members of Syria’s Sunni majority from entering their neighborhoods, and the two sides no longer frequent each other’s stores. The Sunni population has been collecting weapons to fight any future attempt to drive them out, he said…..
Privately, some Alawites dismiss the chances of having their own state. Abu Haidar, 55, the owner of a small import and export business in Tartus, said dreams were one thing, but reality was something else. “What do we have in Tartus Province that would aid us to stand alone as a state?” he asked. “We have neither the infrastructure, nor the resources. It is basically lemon and olive orchards along with a small city with simple services.”
But until the day of reckoning arrives, Tartus seems bent on blocking out the war raging over the horizon….
Air strike on Syria bakery ‘kills dozens‘ – al-Jazeera
At least 90 people queuing at a bakery in the town of Halfaya in Hama were killed in the attack, activists say.
Syria Rebels Threaten To Storm Christian Towns Of Mahrada, Sqailbiyeh
By BASSEM MROUE
Rebels have threated to storm two predominantly Christian towns in central Syria if residents do not “evict” government troops they say are using the towns as a base to attack nearby areas.
A video released by rebels showed Rashid Abul-Fidaa, who identified himself as the commander of the Ansar Brigade for Hama province, calling on locals in Mahrada and Sqailbiyeh to rise up against President Bashar Assad’s forces or prepare for an assault.
“Assad’s gangs in the cities are shelling our villages with mortars and rockets destroying our homes, killing our children and displacing our people,” said Abdul-Fidaa, who wore an Islamic headband and was surrounded by gunmen. “You should perform your duty by evicting Assad’s gangs,” he said. “Otherwise our warriors will storm the hideouts of the Assad gangs.”…
Ethnicity and Naming: Yamin writes
“The Salafi Emirate of Ras al-Ain” by independent journalist Jehad Saleh caught my attention. As a 5-8 year old child, I visited Ras al-Ayn (Ras al-Ein or Ras al-Ain) often before the Baath Party took power in Syria in 1963. My family, relatives, and friends are from Assyrian, Syriac, Armenian, Arab, and Kurd ancestry. I have always heard them saying “Ras al-Ayn”. The 1915-16 Armenian death camps were documented to be in “Ras al-Ayn”. I have never heard the ancient name of “Serekani” being used. Serekani was founded by the Assyrian and Syriac civilization thousands years ago. Now the Kurds want to spread this name which is fine but they should not claim it as a part of their history. This is annoying. It is Ras al-Ayn or the ancient Assyrian town of Serekani. It is Semite not Indo-European. The Arab Baath Party did not invent the name Ras al-Ayn.
At least 200 members of a Syrian regime force deployed to protect Damascus’ international airport have defected as clashes broke out near the presidential palace in the capital, a member of the opposition military told Al Arabiya channel yesterday.
Abu Ahmad (right, in civilian clothes)
In a December 15, 2012 article in The National, an English-language daily published in the UAE, journalist Balint Szlanko presents an interview with Sheikh Abu Ahmed, a high-ranking military commander of the jihad group Jabhat Al-Nusra in Syria. In the interview, Abu Ahmed describes his vision for a Syria ruled by Shari’a law.The following is the full text of the interview:“The man wearing the balaclava had eyes that never stopped smiling. Reclining on a pillow in an otherwise empty room, this burly, 41-year-old commander of Jabhat Al-Nusra – the most fearsome jihadi group in Syria – exuded an almost disturbing calm, in marked contrast to the loud, chatty air that often characterises more mainstream groups of the Free Syrian Army…”
An Al-Hayat report presents information on the Al-Qaeda-affiliated jihad group Jabhat Al-Nusra (JN), which is operating in Syria, based on interviews with its operatives and with field commanders in the Free Syrian Army (FSA). The following are the main points of the report.
On December 18, 2012, Khatab, a member of the leading jihadi forum Shumoukh Al-Islam, announced that Muhib Ru’yat Al-Rahman, a prominent writer on the major jihadi forums, had died in Syria. Khatab, described as a “student at Shumoukh’s College of Media,” provided no further details about the death of Muhib, whose last post was dated from two weeks ago, a day or two prior to the shutdown of all major jihadi forums.
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Tunisian fighter in Syria Claims that the Syrian Free Army Killed 124 Tunisian and Libyan Fighters in Homs – Arabic (Tunisian TV)
Rigorous new sanctions against Iran’s banking, shipping and industrial sectors took effect yesterday, as part of the European Union’s effort to force Tehran to scale back its nuclear programme….they include bans on financial transactions, sales to Iran of shipping equipment and steel, and imports of Iranian natural gas, adding to earlier bans, including on the Opec producer’s oil. They reflect heightened concern over Iran’s nuclear goals and Israeli threats to attack Iranian atomic installations if diplomacy and other measures fail to deliver a solution.
The Triumph and Irrelevance of Meta-Narratives Over Syria: “Rohna Dahiyyah”
Dec 17 2012
by Bassam Haddad
….The claims put forth by myself and the myriad of other Syrian analysts, including the “instant” and “sudden” analysts who keep popping up like popcorn from the oddest places (I found two in my bathroom closet), can be right or wrong, or conditionally so. But they might be on- or off-mark for the wrong reasons to the extent that one is divorced from the local context, and divorce comes in shades, from the cold calculating “methodist,” to the uninformed sympathizer, to gatekeepers of interests far removed from the well-being of Syria and Syrians. Yet, they all participate and play with equal enthusiasm. Syria is a game now, played by states, institutions, analysts, activists, journalists, bloggers, tweeters, and artists who are often only remotely connected to the real lives of real people enduring real conditions there. We produce snapshots of reality that are divorced from the cumulative history of pain and experience that have led to that reality…..Thanks to the armed groups who have now perfected—and sometimes surpassed on individual counts—the perennial brutality of the regime, one is hard-pressed in Syria to find a cause or a foreseeable scenario to cling to. Under such conditions, daily matters reign supreme over meta-narratives that are not necessarily unimportant, but have become thoroughly irrelevant for most Syrians. Hence, that smile that many local Syrians draw on their face in the face of meta-narratives spewed by all of us on the other side—to which people click “like,” or not.
Syria ‘secures chemical weapons stockpile’ – AL-jAZEERA
Russia says government in Damascus consolidated its chemical weapons in “one or two” locations amid rebel onslaught.
To Save Syria, We Need Russia
By DIMITRI K. SIMES and PAUL J. SAUNDERS NYtimes Op-Ed Contributors
Published: December 21, 2012
Letter from Europe
In Paris, Longing for Damascus
By CELESTINE BOHLEN
Published: December 21, 2012
PARIS — Maha Assabalani can’t get Damascus out of her mind.
A Yemeni citizen of Iranian origin and living in Paris, Ms. Assabalani, 27, spent just two years in the Syrian capital before she had to flee on a snowy day last February, crossing the border to Lebanon, with little idea of where to go next.
Yet Damascus has marked her forever. The day before she left, she watched in horror as Syrian security forces rounded up 15 friends and colleagues at the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression. Five are still in Syrian prisons, held without charge. ….. She was released and went first to a friend’s house, before returning home at midnight to face her father. “He wasn’t happy,” she said. Not only had she lied to him about her job, but she had crossed a forbidden line. “He never wanted any of us to be in politics, and he considers activism to be politics,” she said.
The next day, she left Syria, borrowing money from friends. Her father refused to help. To this day, he will not speak to her. …
Can Turkey’s ‘Soft’ Power Work in Syria?
Huffington Post 12/20/2012
Daniel Wagner and Giorgio Cafiero
Neo-Ottomanism and Kemalism are competing ideologies that have driven Turkey’s foreign policy for many years. Neo-Ottomanism is focused on promoting ‘soft power’- ensuring Turkey is well-placed diplomatically, politically and economically to take on a larger role in the Middle East and beyond. Kemalism seeks to preserve the secular legacy of Turkey’s founder (Atatürk), and is focused on the Kurdish nationalist threat to Turkey’s territorial integrity and regional security. Foreign relations have for years been conducted with the goal of minimizing this threat and preserving the secular foundation of the modern Turkish state…..Until the onset of the Spring, Turkey’s soft power engagement with the Middle East was reasonably successful.
Since that time, it has been as powerless to shape the course of events as virtually every other nation – and its zero problems foreign policy has become a foreign policy filled with problems, from the crisis in Syria to a resurgent Kurdish movement to ongoing tension with Israel. Ultimately, Turkey is now in the same boat as the majority of Western countries, and other countries in the region – it does not know how the evolving political change in the region will ultimately turn out, whether the ultimate successor regimes are likely to be pro-Western or Turkish, or what the impact on the regional power balance will be…..21 months into the Syrian uprising, the limits of Turkey’s capacity to influence the course of events inside Syria have been demonstrated.
If the Syrian crisis leads to the establishment of a semi-autonomous Kurdish state in northern Syria, whereby the Kurdistan Workers’ Party acquires a safe haven from where it may launch attacks against Turkey’s armed forces, the ongoing turmoil in southeastern Turkey could greatly expand. If a desperate Assad wages a chemical attack in Aleppo – prompting a NATO military operation in Syria – Turkey could find itself at war with forces supported by the countries Turkey depends on for natural gas imports – Russia and Iran. Furthermore, if radical Salafist factions (including Jabhat Al-Nusra, the Ahrar Al-Sham Brigades or the Suqur Al-Sham Division) were to acquire power within Syria, new security dilemmas will arise for all states in the region.
In sum, the Syrian crisis has pushed Turkey away from its idealistic “zero problems with neighbors” approach to foreign policy and more toward a pro-democracy, moderate, Sunni Islamist foreign policy….. Turkey is betting that Assad will fall, and it wants to be first in line to influence the successor government. There’s nothing ‘soft’ about that approach to foreign policy, nor is it likely to result in zero problems going forward. It may all backfire, depending on who takes control in Damascus.
Which Islamists?: Religion and the Syrian Civil War
Adnan Zulfiqar Interviewed by Haroon Moghul,December 19, 2012
Zulfiqar recently traveled to Turkey, meeting with Syrian opposition figures, religious scholars, rebel fighters, Turkish officials and Turkish think tanks, in an effort to get a handle on what’s happening in the Syrian civil war as it approaches the two-year mark.
How did Salafis come to take such a dominant role?
does the Syrian opposition in general want a more democratic Syria?
With the rebel push for Damascus, is Syria about to fall? Everyone is bracing for a prolonged fight. But Assad cannot hold power without Sunni support, so a seemingly intractable situation could change if the Sunnis of Damascus begin to openly abandon him.
Some fear that if the regime falls, there will be a repeat of Afghanistan, with competing militias and warlords. I think these are uninformed predictions.
When speaking of Islamists, for example, the first question should be “which ones?” There’s a fair amount of diversity among Islamists despite some ideological similarities.
Across the Middle East, people strongly identify with Islam and in many countries this identification has been suppressed in one way or another by authoritarian regimes. Having secured their freedom, it shouldn’t be surprising that the people, in places like Egypt and Tunisia, are strongly asserting their religious identity.
Syria’s Next Problem
By Adnan A. Zulfiqar, December 22, 2012, Diplomat
Sectarian conflict might dominate coverage of Syria today, but internal Sunni dynamics will define its tomorrow. Tensions between Alawis and Sunnis won’t be settled over night, but the demographics in Syria do not suggest a prolonged conflict similar to Iraq or Lebanon.
…An impending power vacuum is inevitable so focus must shift to the competitors aiming to fill that space. The common consensus is that the opposition’s political and military factions are poised to battle for authority. In reality, this competition highlights a more fundamental confrontation: traditionalist Sunnism versus its more puritanical Salafi strain. …Al-Khatib, a Sunni traditionalist, can counter the growing appeal of Salafism. Rebel militias are dominated by an ideological spectrum of Salafi fighters, but are united by both the cause and their interpretive approach to Islam’s foundational texts. Despite Salafism never having mass appeal in Syrian society, there is potential for that to change.
….. Salafis do dominate the fighting force, but revolutions only involve a fraction of the people; elections involve many more. As Egypt has taught us, people’s support for revolution is not always an endorsement of the revolutionaries. It is also true that Salafism has never had mass appeal in Syria and, more importantly, opposition to it has been rooted less in sensational caricatures than in its religious heterodoxy. Yet, prolonged conflict changes a society. Already support for Salafis appears to be far higher than before; people may not always reward revolutionaries, but they don’t often discard them either.
… The revolution is rebranding Syrian Salafis, even the extreme ones…..The United States’ recent labeling of Jabhat al-Nusra, the most prominent Salafi militia, as a terrorist group only bolstered its mass appeal. As the conflict prolongs, the Sunni balance of power will shift resulting in serious long-term consequences. A speedy end to the conflict must be the highest priority.
…First, we should increase our support for local councils in opposition-held northern Syria. Not only is the north a vital safe haven for Syrian civilians, but its security will contribute to Syria’s future stability.
Second, we must engage in symbolic acts of public diplomacy. High profile visits to refugee camps or inviting Mu’az al-Khatib to the White House…
Finally, a forward-located embassy near the Syrian border in Jordan or Turkey would not only demonstrate serious engagement,
Adnan A. Zulfiqar is a Fellow at the Truman National Security Project.
Syria bags Pyrrhus victory on the soccer pitch
By James M. Dorsey
Supporters of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad portrayed this weekend’s winning of the West Asian soccer championship by defeating Iraq as a unifying, national achievement against all odds. Yet, Syria’s success 22 months into an increasingly brutal civil war hardly constitutes the equivalent of Iraq’s winning of the Asian Cup in 2007 at the peak of that country’s sectarian violence.
Syrians turn to black humor amid misery
The letter from a Syrian child offers Santa Claus some advice for his visit this year. He should not come in his sleigh, because “not even a fly” can now survive the fight for the skies going on between President Bashar al-Assad’s government and rebel opponents. But most important of all, Santa must not wear his traditional outfit.
Can Lebanon Survive the Syrian Crisis?
Paul Salem Paper, December 2012, Carnegie Paper
From Bartolo’s excellent new blog: Syria News – Dec 23 (Take a look)
- Russia: Chemical weapons under control by the Syrian government – Yahoo! News
- Lavrov says neither side will win Syrian civil war, Russia would be unable to persuade Assad to quit if it tried – Yahoo! News
- Syria’s ‘No-Nonsense’ Air Defenses Praised by Russian General – RIA Novosti
- US – Russia reach agreement on al-Assad ouster: Opposition sources – Asharq Alawsat
- Execution of Ukrainian woman in Syria postponed until December 26: Voice of Russia
- Syrian TV cameraman assassinated outside Damascus by ‘armed groups’ — RT
- Car bomb kills five in Damascus: Syrian Observatory – Yahoo! News
- VIDEO: Islamist Insurgents Announce ‘Syrian Islamic Front’ – YouTube
- VIDEO: Turks in Antakya Protest Against Turkish Government Interference in Syria – YouTube
- Qatar Provides Syrian Terrorists with US-Made Stinger Missiles – abna.ir
Comments (490)
Johannes de Silentio said:
As I have been saying for months, the USA does not care about you. And why should we? For decades you Syrians have been a nasty pack of hostile bastards with respect to America. It would help if you could learn to be nice for a change. It takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown…
December 23rd, 2012, 10:07 pm
habib said:
Looool:
“Some fear that if the regime falls, there will be a repeat of Afghanistan, with competing militias and warlords. I think these are uninformed predictions.
When speaking of Islamists, for example, the first question should be “which ones?” There’s a fair amount of diversity among Islamists despite some ideological similarities.”
I’m sure they said that bout Afghanistan in the 80s too!
December 23rd, 2012, 10:14 pm
Syrian said:
“Washington dose’t care about Syria”
Oh well!.
That is a blessing in disguise, the revlution is doing just fine without them,after the eventual victory the new Syrian nation will not owe anything to the West,
Nor the east for that mater, only to turkey and Quter who are in the end our natural allies and sincere friends
December 23rd, 2012, 10:59 pm
Ghufran said:
“..turkey and Quter who are in the end our natural allies and sincere friends”
What is natural and sincere about the Ottomans and the Shiekhites?
It takes a fair degree of ignorance to expect that free help will come pouring in the aftermath especially from these two countries. Foreigners have no problem in spending money to destroy their ” enemies” but it is a different story when the issue is financial help especially when a regime change is achieved. Turks in particulate have been very good in ” buying” Aleppines factories and other goods,including wheat, for pennies on the dollar .
Why should we believe that humanitarian help will come later if very little is coming now?
Ask those hungry and cold children about how much help they received from our ” natural and sincere allies”.
Countries with similar problems were left in the cold after its people destroyed their country, any help that came afterwards was misused or stolen , it is just that the thieves and the bloody donors might be different from the Assad era.
You can not fix stupid.
December 23rd, 2012, 11:27 pm
AJ said:
The cult-worshipping menhebakjiyi`s celebration of the many massacres proves my point. The menhebakjiyi are not worthy of dialogue.
With regards to Assad opponents on this site, I am really saddened by some people who are blaming it all on Alawites, Christians and Shiites. If it weren`t for the Sunni boot licking uncle-toms, Assad would have been eliminated months ago.
December 24th, 2012, 12:01 am
Visitor said:
Zoo must soon come up with a reasonable spin tale in support of the Egyptian referendum because his Mullah-stan now says it was a good thing. But Zoo should have no problems with that. I just mentioned this as a watch warning in order to observe spinning wheels in action.
But apart from Zoo, I am very pleased with this post of Dr. Landis telling us America doesn’t care about Syria. What a relief?
Nevertheless, I would like the US to even go further than simply not caring about Syria. When will they (US admin) stop mentioning Syria altogether in their statements and press releases? Or even stop talking to other countries about Syria?
December 24th, 2012, 12:30 am
Syrian said:
i usually dont convers with an ideolog hater but this one time I will
Now that the country is already destroyed by your Bashar, Syrian will need help from anywhere it can get it, if I have to chose between your Bashar biggest supporter Iran, the US who doesn’t want to help or Turkey and Qatar, I will take the last 2 in a heart beat
Iran was already spreading Sheasim even before the revaluation started, if the Sunnis lose,Iran,Iraq and HA with help of the minorties will make sure that syria be under thier influence for ever
all Syrian Sunnies culture even food cuisine comes from Turkey, Arabic Qatar is a lot more natural to Syrian thant your beloved Iran.
Syrians will rebuilt what STUPID Bashar destroyed by the millions of honest emigrant Sunnies and with help or it is true friends
With your defeated attitude one can understand why Palestine is where it is now
December 24th, 2012, 12:31 am
Johannes de Silentio said:
3. SYRIAN
“The revlution is doing just fine without them. After the eventual victory, the new Syrian nation will not owe anything to the West”
You poor deluded fool. Yes, you can win without help, but after it’s over and you look around, there’ll be nothing left but the ashes of leveled buildings and the dead stinking corpses of humans and animals. That will be your precious revolution without the help of the West, idiot, because you Syrians are too stupid to do anything but destroy the infrastructure and kill everyone in sight.
If you want something left to rule over at the end, you’ll need the West’s help. But you have to ask nicely…which is difficult for a pack of assholes…
December 24th, 2012, 12:44 am
Juergen said:
Here in Germany we celebrate Christmas from today on.
To all who celebrate it, Merry Christmas. May this is the last christmas in which the killing of so many innocent is overshadowing the message of peace and our noble ability to endeavour peace.
I am not sure if this really has happened as it was colloborated, the famous Christmas Truce of 1914. At least for some hours the enemies have stopped being enemies to each other and were able to show their human face. One story goes that 1 German soldier went over to the British soldiers and brought with him an chocolate cake, which the English happily accepted. He asked for an truce because the Germans wanted to sing some Christmas carols. The English accepted. There was applause for the singing by the English. The Germans cheered the English to join in and sing with them. One soldier said, he rather die than to sing an song in german. The Germans replied, they would rather kill him if he dared to sing in German. Anyway, the most famous song “Stille Nacht- Silent night became after 1914 a well known hymn for peace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxrBhZvvSIQ
To my taste Bachs christmas oratorium is still the most beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWKJFogshwg
Fairuz Christmas songs
December 24th, 2012, 12:50 am
Syrian said:
7 JDS
You can stick your help where the sun don’t shine
Did not you your self say
Better to die standing on your feet than on your knees
Sunnies have money we don’t your help.
Just bug off
December 24th, 2012, 12:54 am
Ghufran said:
The mullahs,my friends, stole a revolution that was spearheaded by young Iranians,many were alcohol- drinking leftists, this scenario is being repeated in every Arab “revolution” and that is what our ” natural and sincere friends” are planning for Syria too. I agree that we should get help from any source but we need to help ourselves first. I maintained from the beginning that the Syrian regime has many enemies now but ,make no mistake about it,Syrians will have no friends if they end up with a destroyed and divided country. I have no love lost for Iran ,GCC or Turkey,among others,and I have lived enough and seen enough to conclude that states are after their interests not after love. Only an understanding between Russia and the US can end this war , a decisive victory by one side will definitely kill any possible deal, that deal will not bring those who died or rebuild what was destroyed, but it will reduce bloodshed and allow Syrians to figure out a way to live together, the era when one group is allowed to wipe out an entire sect or ethnic group is gone. I am for a fair trial for ALL of those who killed innocent syrians but justice can not be selective , thousands of POOR Syrians from all sects were killed unjustly to serve the interests of our thuggish regime and thuggish “natural and sincere friends”, while most of us,the e-warriors ,were busy making threats and giving lectures. What some of you want is a formula of winners and losers where losers pay for the sins of all Syrians ,and non Syrians, who took part in this bloody war , that formula,my friends, is dead on arrival.
December 24th, 2012, 12:57 am
Hanzala said:
I think the 124 Tunisians killed by the FSA is propaganda by the Tunisian government to discourage its youth to go to Syria.
We saw something similar done by Saudi Arabian television during the Iraq war where they would constantly discourage its nationals to go to Iraq. They would interview Saudis who were supposedly betrayed by the Iraqi insurgency and local scholars and imams would discourage Saudis to go to Iraq to fight the American forces saying it was against Islam and not a real “jihad”, which is far from the truth, but it is understandable why the Saudis would not want is nationals to be radicalized.
December 24th, 2012, 1:30 am
Juergen said:
Russian foreign minister has made the following remarks:
“I dont believe that Syria would use chemical weapons. It would be a political suicide to use them.”
“Listen, no one is going to win this war,” Lavrov told reporters at the weekend. “Assad is not going anywhere, no matter what anyone says, be it China or Russia.”
December 24th, 2012, 4:26 am
basel said:
Assad will gather up all islamists in Damascus before pushing the button.
By the time the Christ comes back there will be no Islamists, only the chosen ones who hold love and nothing but love will survive the ordeal.
December 24th, 2012, 5:03 am
basel said:
Th possibility of Assad losing this divine battle is as equal as to an islamist going back into his mother’s birth hole
December 24th, 2012, 5:06 am
basel said:
Assad till now goes for daily jogging in Almalki with no bodyguards, then he takes his daily dosage of morning coffee next to Jahiz garden.
Assad knows he’s protected by God and his angels.
December 24th, 2012, 5:12 am
Hanzala said:
Concerning what Landis says in the video about minorities seeking refuge in the mountains to escape the Sunni Muslims, this is not always the case. Jabal al Druze aka Jabal Hauran used to have a large Sunni population but they left their homes when the Druze moved in, who were fleeing from their war with the Christians in Lebanon.
Many of the people of Daraa today come from the mountain, like the big “Salkhadi” family in Daraa, who originate from the town of Salkhad in Jabal al Druze (Sweida).
December 24th, 2012, 5:16 am
MarigoldRan said:
Give the Sunnis 3-6 months and they will have driven the Alawites out of Hamas. First Idlib and Aleppo. That’s been accomplished. Now Hamas. Then Homs province.
One step at a time. It will be a long war, but the Alawites have no future in Damascus.
Syria no longer has a government. It no longer is a country. It is now Sunni vs. Alawite.
December 24th, 2012, 5:41 am
Observer said:
As I posted before that the West liked the idea of a double veto for it did not have the stomach to intervene in Syria and hiding behind the double vetoes was a nice way for them to take the moral high ground without having to do anything about it.
Now, the Russians have found themselves liking to hide behind the Prethident’s veto of not leaving Syria. Lavrov says that the Prethident will not leave even if Russia were to ask him to. Well someone should challenge the Russians and ask them to support a UNSC resolution forcing a dialogue and let us call their bluff.
The Russians are now in damage control mode to try to keep
1. A semblance of world power influence
2. A toe hold in the ME
3. A retreat with regard to the rebels winning the revolution so that they can negotiate with them
4. Possibly keep a rump state on the coast where they have a base there ( highly unlikely )
In all of this post, what is the little green man doing in Damascus? What are his proposals and what are the counter proposals. Today neither Cham Press nor Mayaddeen nor Manar had anything about the visit.
Remember the whole budget for 2013 is a mere 18 billion dollars. If this is not a disaster I do not know what is
December 24th, 2012, 7:44 am
Uzair8 said:
A revisit to the archives.
Sh. Yaqoubi tweeted on 22nd June the following (shared on SC at the time):
Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi ?@Shaykhabulhuda
When the Russians start evacuating their citizens from Syria, know that the deal is done and the regime has collapsed.
https://twitter.com/Shaykhabulhuda/status/216376163164106753
_______________________
From AJE Syria blog:
Russia says prepared for possibility of having to evacuate citizens from Syria
December 24, 2012 – 15:36
The Russian foreign ministry has issued a formal statement confirming that Russia was preparing for the possibility of an evacuation of its remaining citizens in Syria.
“If necessary, Russian citizens will be offered corresponding assistance and support, including in case of a decision to evacuate,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Russian news reports said the navy had earlier in the day ordered two amphibian landing ships to the region as part of a larger flotilla. Moscow continues to press for a diplomatic solution to the conflict despite few signs of any dialogue leading to progress on the ground.
[…]
[AFP]
http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syria/russia-says-prepared-possibility-having-evacuate-citizens-syria
December 24th, 2012, 8:23 am
Tara said:
I thought most Christians are with Batta? When is Makdisi going to come clean and announce his defection in public? What am embarrassment to thug one.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/dec/24/syria-conflict-brahimi-meets-assad-live#block-50d857b895cb94a7be21b418
Makdissi’s wherabouts
The Guardian’s Martin Chulov reports that Syria’s foreign ministry spokesman is in the US.
There has been no confirmation of Makdissi’s whereabouts since he was reported to have defected earlier this month.
Martin Chulov@martinchulov
#Syria mystery solved. Jihad Makdissi is in Washington and co-operating with #US intel, who helped him flee.
24 Dec 12
December 24th, 2012, 9:03 am
Tara said:
Syria: dozens killed in air strike on bakery
Activists said more than 1,000 people had been queuing at the bakery. Shortages of fuel and flour have made bread production erratic across the country, and people often wait for hours to buy bread.
Hamawi said: “We hadn’t received flour in around three days so everyone was going to the bakery today, and lots of them were women and children. I still don’t know yet if my relatives are among the dead.”
New York-based Human Rights Watch condemned army air strikes on bakeries earlier this year, arguing that in some incidents the military was not using enough precision to target rebel sites and in other instances may have intentionally hit civilians.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/23/syria-dozens-killed-air-strike-bakery
December 24th, 2012, 9:14 am
Ghat Al Bird said:
Wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as well as peace for all the people in Syria.
And would like to share with all the following:-
In October, 2007, Gen. Wesley Clark gave a speech to the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco (seven-minute excerpt in the video below) in which he denounced what he called “a policy coup” engineered by neocons in the wake of 9/11.
After recounting how a Pentagon source had told him weeks after 9/11 of the Pentagon’s plan to attack Iraq notwithstanding its non-involvement in 9/11, this is how Clark described the aspirations of the “coup” being plotted by Dick Cheney, Don Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz and what he called “a half dozen other collaborators from the Project for the New American Century”:
Six weeks later, I saw the same officer, and asked: “Why haven’t we attacked Iraq? Are we still going to attack Iraq?”
He said: “Sir, it’s worse than that. He said – he pulled up a piece of paper off his desk – he said: “I just got this memo from the Secretary of Defense’s office. It says we’re going to attack and destroy the governments in 7 countries in five years – we’re going to start with Iraq, and then we’re going to move to Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Iran.”
December 24th, 2012, 9:23 am
mjabali said:
“Syrian” comment # 7 said:
“all Syrian Sunnies culture even food cuisine comes from Turkey”
Syrian Sunnis are mostly Turks and Kurds as the days are showing us. They have little connection to Arabs. You are right in the first part of your statement.
The Arabs amongst the Syrian Sunnis them are really few (Bedoines and some tribes in the East) The Turks made sure Arabs have Zero influence, even existence in what is known today as Syria. The Turks were the sworn enemy of the Arabs.
AS for the Syrian food and the Turks: let me teach you something mr. “Syrian.”
Before you call yourself “Syrian” know the Syrian history. The Syrian food is Syrian and not Turkish. The Turks came from Central Asia mostly. They came to a place that had old civilizations. Actually they came to the oldest inhabited places on earth that had its cuisine and culture.
By the way how much do you know about the Persian influence into creating the Sunni sect?
December 24th, 2012, 9:44 am
mjabali said:
Another fake video that is pouring more gas on the sectarian fire that is raging these days.
Someone send the video of the dead people to me yesterday under the title: Alawi’s bomb a Sunni bakery line. Hatred is growing with stunts like this and of course with the unabated violence.
Syrian should know the danger of these games that are done for political ends.
The “bakery” video and “massacre” are most likely fake after all. Another media stunt.
http://www.syriatruth.org/news/tabid/93/Article/8848/Default.aspx
December 24th, 2012, 9:57 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Tara
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/12/24/256848.html
There is conflicting reports about Makdissi.if he has been in US for two weeks I would think it will be known publicly by now, he most likely is in Lebanon.
MJabali
“Syrian Sunnis are mostly Turks and Kurds” This prove that you know nothing about Syrian history,it is pure nonesense,your dog must have drunk your wine.
We know nothing about Ibrahimi plan, it is not public yet,but S N Council has not come with details,this tells me it is plan of US and Russia only,the Rebels will not lay down their weapons until this criminal dictator leaves,his behaviour so far makes it impossible to work with him.
December 24th, 2012, 10:12 am
Tara said:
Merry Christmas to all.
December 24th, 2012, 11:13 am
revenire said:
?????? – ??? ? ???: ??? ?????????? ?? “???” ??????
Looks like the only thing they were baking there was terrorists.
December 24th, 2012, 11:20 am
Sami said:
Only racists and morons wearing the biggest set of blinders would say “The Arabs amongst the Syrian Sunnis them are really few”
Not only can both sides of my family trace their roots to Dimashq for centuries but both sides are named after districts from the old town, and both sides are Sunni.
I don’t care what village, hamlet, or city you come from I can assure you it is not older than my city.
Oh before I forget do you get your historical facts watching the History Channel on cable? I hope you realize they are as fictitious as your “news sources” starting with SyriaTruth…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIfdO7yzKeM&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q06NYuF70Xw&feature=player_embedded
December 24th, 2012, 11:37 am
zoo said:
Visitor
Iran had broken its relationship with Egypt when Sadat signed the shameful peace agreement with Israel. Sadat and Mobarak were the puppets of the USA and brought their country to the highest level of corruption that Egypt ever had.
Iran’s policy has been clear since the 80’s. I always opposed to the US and its allies in the region. Mubarak was one of them.
For Iran, Morsi and the Moslem brotherhood is the best choice for Iran compared to Salafists or liberals suspiciously too close to the US.
The Moslem Brotherhood present many advantages:
– It is Islamic conservative, justs like Iran.
– Its relationship with the USA is not one of obediency despite the billions promised to the country. Egypt will never accept to have a military base like the GCC or Turkey did.
– Its relationship with Israel is in serious danger of collapse.
– It is disliked by KSA, the GCC and Jordan
– Both supports Hamas and the Palestinian cause.
– It could be a huge commercial partner
– Both are civilizations with a rich culture.
Therefore for Iran, it is the best opportunity to stop being isolated as it won’t be anymore the only country in the region with Islamic rules and where Al Azhar clerics, like Qom, will overlook the laws.. Egypt could be Iran’s best ally in the region..
As for Egypt, I think it is inevitable than it moves into a Islamic frame for a decade or two until there is a new educated generation that would gradually move it to a full democracy. Iran has been in the Islamic frame for more than 30 years and it is slowly coming to that.
It took Turkey 60 years to reach the stage they are in now.
Therefore, I am not suprised that Iran is glad to see Morsi instead of a Salafist or a US agent in charge of such an important country.
Its eventual alliance with such a big country like Egypt may have, on long term, an extraordinary positive impact on the region, politically, economically and socially. Iran will work on that.
December 24th, 2012, 11:42 am
Tara said:
Sami,
Hello. Long time no see. We miss you around.
“Oh before I forget do you get your historical facts watching the History Channel on cable? ”
They get it from the book of hatred passed from one generation to another.
December 24th, 2012, 11:48 am
Visitor said:
Zoo @30,
I think you don’t really know what you are talking about neither does your Mullah-stan. But as a spin tale, your last comment may do.
Anyway, we did not expect more from you. And for that matter, you never disappoint. You are as predictable as the Zoo.
December 24th, 2012, 11:50 am
Visitor said:
Can anyone, please, tell this Zabali thing to pack up and get the hell off to Mullah-stan before I do it myself?
December 24th, 2012, 11:52 am
mjabali said:
Let me teach you a little about your Syrian History ya ????
Arabs amongst the Sunnis of Syria are not the majority.
If you add up the number of Turkmen, Kurds, Albanians, Daghistanis, Sharkas…etc you could easily find that the Ethnic Arabs are really few. Therefore Arabism was one of the biggest jokes in the history of Syria.
This is a fact, and no need to call names and crap like that to know this Ya ????
Damascus was speaking Turkish till World War ONE. The Sunnis of Damascus did not speak Arabic. The first president the French brought from the Sunnis did not even speak Arabic. At that moment the elite spoke Turkish and French. Arabs were no where to be found in Damascus. If you dared saying you are an Arab during the Ottoman days: you know what would happen to you.
The inhabitants of almost all Syrian Cities are this Ottoman mix (soup, ?????), the Ottomans/Turks/Mongols brought their own people and that is why you see the huge number of Turkmen villages. The Kurds did the same on a smaller scale. This is why you have Kurds and Turkmen on the Syrian Coast, for example.
If your last name comes after an area in Damascus that does not mean your family is originally from there.
Check the Ottoman records and tell me where you came from.
December 24th, 2012, 12:00 pm
annie said:
It is the tradition but there is not too much merriment for now.
Wishing you all a Merry Xmas 2013
December 24th, 2012, 12:04 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Mjabali
with statement like yours,you lost all,all credibilty.
December 24th, 2012, 12:07 pm
mjabali said:
The “Syrian” Turks went to Turkey the Other day: Ughlu told them that Syria is a part of Turkey. I did not know that Syria is situated in Central Asia?
During that meeting the “Syrian” Turks talked about their roots and how they are around 4 millions out of the Syrian population.
What do the Syrian on this board say to this? What about the myth of Arabness that some of you guys claim over here?
How many Turkman villages are around Damascus? anyone knows?
December 24th, 2012, 12:07 pm
mjabali said:
Majedkhaldoun:
A real understanding of the roots of the problem leads into a real solution.
History books in the Middle East teaches you a fake version of history written by whoever was in power. This is not a lie. This is the truth.
You, always say that the Alawis are Persians, so what is the problem if we speak here about the Ethnic composition of Syria? Let us talk where did all of those who claim they are Syrians came from because it is obvious they never came from the same place.
The hatred we see now is a hatred that been brewing for at least 1000 years. To cure your country from this hatred: your first step is knowing the TRUTH.
December 24th, 2012, 12:13 pm
zoo said:
As it seems there won’t be a No-fly zone to “protect” the rebels held areas, as food and services are degrading day by day, and bombing relentless, it is a matter of time that these areas fall.
Russian military presence in Syria poses challenge to US-led intervention
Advisers deployed with surface-to-air systems bolster President Assad’s defences and complicate outcome of any future strikes
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/23/syria-crisis-russian-military-presence
Russian military advisers are manning some of Syria’s more sophisticated air defences – something that would complicate any future US-led intervention, the Guardian has learned.
The advisers have been deployed with new surface-to-air systems and upgrades of old systems, which Moscow has supplied to the Assad regime since the Syrian revolution broke out 21 months ago.
The depth and complexity of Syria’s anti-aircraft defences mean that any direct western campaign, in support of a no-fly zone or in the form of punitive air strikes against the leadership, would be costly, protracted and risky. The possibility of Russian military casualties in such a campaign could have unpredictable geopolitical consequences.
December 24th, 2012, 12:15 pm
mjabali said:
Visitor the man with the meat grinder:
Do you know the importance of Iranians into establishing your sect?
Actually: the set of beliefs you follow is established by Iranians and enforced by Turks/Mongols. What do you say to that?
December 24th, 2012, 12:16 pm
Visitor said:
“Actually: the set of beliefs you follow is established by Iranians and enforced by Turks/Mongols. What do you say to that?”
I say you are a ???? who must not utter a word about anything and history in particular before getting approval from some ??? ????.
December 24th, 2012, 12:24 pm
mjabali said:
Sami said:
“I don’t care what village, hamlet, or city you come from I can assure you it is not older than my city.”
Wrong:
The Syrian coast contains settlements form the Paleolithic era some of the oldest in the world.
My Dog could run circles around you and your history channel when it comes to the history of the Middle East.
December 24th, 2012, 12:25 pm
mjabali said:
Visitor the man with the meat grinder:
Poor guy: you must have a huge internal problem: the Iranians established your sect and then now you hate them so much. It must be very hard to digest.
The Iranians like Ibn Hanbal and Nizam al-Mulk put down the foundation of your sect to the Turks who enforced it on the Middle East. Do you have any useful sentence to add to this important topic?
December 24th, 2012, 12:29 pm
Visitor said:
I must pre-emptively apologize to Daryll.
In my last comment, I ‘dishonored’ once again the donkeys species by inserting a member that doesn’t belong with such ‘honorable’ creatures.
December 24th, 2012, 12:32 pm
Johannes de Silentio said:
Merry Christmas, Bashar. You too, Revie
December 24th, 2012, 12:35 pm
mjabali said:
Tara the human closed said:
“They get it from the book of hatred passed from one generation to another.”
Tara is talking about her sect. Historical facts supports this. One generation of Sheikhs to the others, Tara’s sect have these hatred books. Thank you Tara the closet for this remark. Sometimes you say smart things without you knowing it.
Tara: by the way your sect ?????? in front of the modern world with your hatred.
????? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???????
December 24th, 2012, 12:38 pm
Tara said:
Hatred is becoming some Alawi speciality. Some were the traitors who begged the French to stay and to continue the colonization. It is probably one of your ancestors who signed the shameful letter to the French as you get too sensitive about it.
The book of hatred taught them to dominate the military. It made them shabeeha. It justifies for them killing children, burying people alive, setting then on fire, and massacring a bakery line. People can bark as much as they want but the facts are clear to everyone. I promise you in new Syria, we will look at your family curriculum of the teachings of hate and change it.
December 24th, 2012, 1:42 pm
Visitor said:
I am now going to propose a temporary solution to the bakeries war crimes conducted by the criminal regime. Needless to say, the objective of such crimes is well known. The intent is to drive the civilian population to despair and submission.
Every Syrian must participate in this war in order to achieve the ultimate objective of honor and dignity and the demolishing of the most abominable criminal regime in the history of mankind.
There should be no more lineups in front of bakeries in liberated areas from now on. Bread must be delivered by committes formed by the local communities. Designated people will collect the bread from bakeries and deliver it to homes on a daily basis. Organizational matters can be handled by trusted FSA members to ensure the population is treated fairly.
As I said this is a temporary solution. But we must take example from other peoples who experienced similar atrocities in history. One example comes to mind which is the aerial bombardment of London by similar nazi criminals during the second world war. Had the Londonners succumbed to the Nazi intentions, England may not exist today.
The sad event of 7Hilfaya and other similar events must inspire Syrians to come together in order to achieve the sacred objective.
December 24th, 2012, 1:44 pm
Jasmine said:
Destroying Syria is the route to the destruction of Iran,and the more obstruction and fences removed,will facilitate to Washington the mission of regime change in Iran,the idea is to maximize the controlled chaos in Syria and at the same time giving the impression that Syria is not USA’s problem.
Iran is a threat to Israel and Saudi Arabia,so let ‘s use the religion as a fuel for the power struggle and keep Israel safe and out of the fight,this is how they are killing 2 birds with one stone.
And I forgot to mention that they all care about the freedom and justice for Syrians!!!
December 24th, 2012, 1:52 pm
Visitor said:
And since when do we care if Iran gets destroyed?
Let it get destroyed!
December 24th, 2012, 2:13 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
The only reason major city,I mean Damascus and Hama, are not taken by the Rebels is the lack of anti aircraft missles, they want to protect those cities,we have seen Homs and Aleppo,they were destroyed by the regime,using aerial bombardment It is not because the regime is strong, infact it is weak, the regime could not take back Darayya,and keep on losing ground every where.Rural area around Hama are mostly taken by rebels.
Russia is sending ships to evacuate Russians,they must be pessimistic,and they may be afraid of Assad reprisal against Russians once they publically abandon Assad,
Ibrahimi is scheduled to visit Russia soon, which means Ibrahimi wants Russian support for UN force of 10,000 soldier in Syria,Assad is in no position to dictate conditions ,he is ready to grope down on his knees and ask for forgiveness , the plan to allow him to go with 142 supporters clearly means he is abandoning his sect leavibg them to face punishments by rebels,this sect protected Assad for two years, yet he does not care about their fate.he is coward and stupid.
There is nothing in the agreement about HA,they will be the second most losers.
December 24th, 2012, 2:15 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
??????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????
December 24th, 2012, 2:34 pm
zoo said:
The Islamization of Germany in 2012
by Soeren Kern
December 24, 2012 at 5:00 am
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/3512/germany-islamization
Opinion polls consistently show that growing numbers of ordinary German citizens are worried about the consequences of decades of multicultural policies, as well the emergence of a parallel legal system based on Islamic Sharia law.
Post-Christian Europe became noticeably more Islamized during 2012.
As the rapidly growing Muslim population makes its presence felt in towns and cities across the continent, Islam is transforming the European way of life in ways unimaginable only a few years ago.
Some of the more notable Islam-related controversies during 2012 occurred in Germany, where the Muslim population has jumped from around 50,000 in the early 1980s to more than 4.5 million today.
December 24th, 2012, 2:37 pm
Tara said:
Zoo,
I thought freedom of religion is a democratic principle, if so, why the worry about “the Islamization of Europe”? It seems to me when people discuss freedom of religion, in their mind, it applies to everyone except the Sunnis.
December 24th, 2012, 2:48 pm
Tara said:
Majed,
If true, al Buti should be excommunicated from the Muslim faith.
December 24th, 2012, 2:52 pm
ghufran said:
handle this with care,there is no confirmation yet:
??? ??? ????? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ? ???? ??? ??????.
? ????? ??????? ?? ??? “??????” ?? ???? ?? ????????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ? ?????? ???????? ? ??? ??? ????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???? .
???? ???? “??? ?????? ????” ???????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ? ??????? ? ? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ??????? ? ???? .
? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ??????.
? ??? ???????? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ??????
December 24th, 2012, 3:16 pm
AJ said:
If there’s one thing we and the Assad worshipping uncle toms have in common is our hatred towards Jihad Makdessi
December 24th, 2012, 3:26 pm
AJ said:
Another proof that Assad supporters are nothing more than a criminal cult lead by an imbecile with weapons. This needs to be eliminated from Syria like Nazism was eliminated from Europe
“16. BASEL said:
Assad till now goes for daily jogging in Almalki with no bodyguards, then he takes his daily dosage of morning coffee next to Jahiz garden.
Assad knows he’s protected by God and his angels.”
December 24th, 2012, 3:30 pm
Tara said:
Assad probably learned a lesson from Makdisi defection. Non-Alawi loyalty is a tradable item. All non-Alawi will sell him out for the right price. Makdisi sold him out for asylum in the US like any other Syrian Christian. Sunnis will easily sell him for a cheaper price too especially the business class. His sect will not sell him, thanks to the book of hatred they kept for generations. The sad thing is, in my opinion, it is him who will sell his sect for the right price. He has no honors. I know from a very reliable source that there is a plane with an on call crew somewhere in Damascus or Sabboura/Yaafour area ready to take off when the times come.
December 24th, 2012, 3:31 pm
Uzair8 said:
52. Majedkhaldoun
Can I have the source for that comment (Sh. Buti) please?
I want to share it elsewhere if it’s confirmed.
December 24th, 2012, 3:31 pm
MarigoldRan said:
With each bombing the Sunnis get more and more pissed, more and more angry.
Another Alawite village in Hama attacked. Most of it captured/destroyed. What comes around, goes around.
December 24th, 2012, 3:38 pm
ghufran said:
from what has been leaked about Assad-Librahimi talks, it does not look like there was any breakthrough,but diplomats are known to leak pieces of info only to surprise the media with different results, however, Assad reportedly refused to negotiate with the NC or send a team of negotiators to Geneva challenging the assumption that the NC represents all opposition and requesting that the MB accepts the principle of a secular state,etc. if these leaks are true and if it is true that the issue of Assad’s resignation never came up,you can assume that the regime is just buying time hoping for things to improve on the ground (I do not know how) or for a major crack in the anti regime coalition of nations (I do not know how either).
one interesting point was the issue of Syria’s borders with Israel (for the life of me I do not know what brought that subject up) where Assad supposedly refused the opposition proposed borders and insisted on June 4th borders. let us assume that a lot of what was leaked is not true but it does not seem like Russia applied any pressure on the regime.
December 24th, 2012, 3:47 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
December 24th, 2012, 3:48 pm
zoo said:
54. Tara said:
I have no idea, but I think that many Western countries are still deeply racist even if they claim the principle of ‘equality’.
Usually, it seems to become more apparent at time of economical hardship.
I am hearing the same coming from France.
Ask Juergen, he should know better.
December 24th, 2012, 3:49 pm
zoo said:
Ghufran
When you read the series of “rebel victories” and the doomed predictions about the regime that the media is making on a daily basis, it is surprising that Bashar Al Assad is still standing strong on his positions with the UN envoy and that Ibrahimi would say ‘he has the honor the meet the president’, when the media were reporting that Ibrahimi was going to give Bashar Al Assad ‘an ultimatum’ asking him to leave his job.
So either these news of “victories” are pure propaganda of a ‘desperate’ opposition in front of a regime that is still very strong and popular among the Syrians, or the UN, the US and Russia through Ibrahimi are just giving an hypocritical act while continue plotting in the back for the long time announced fall of the regime.
December 24th, 2012, 4:04 pm
zoo said:
56. ghufran
The FSA and their Al Nusra gladiators’s desperate propaganda is reaching new heights…
December 24th, 2012, 4:09 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Uzair8
December 24th, 2012, 4:17 pm
Observer said:
This is what ZOO wrote
“As it seems there won’t be a No-fly zone to “protect” the rebels held areas, as food and services are degrading day by day, and bombing relentless, it is a matter of time that these areas fall.”
He also tells us that Iran is happy with the MB in Egypt. This is because the Iranian regime is going to be marginalized. He is right about the MB being much more sympathetic to the Palestinian cause and he is right about the fact that the Palestinian cause will return to the fold of an Arab and Sunni natural place it should enjoy. Once that is done, there will be less need to rely on the good graces of Iran. Just as Israel on the long run is going to be the big loser Iran likewise will be the other loser especially if it continues to support the regime in Syria and continues to have HA remain above the state in Lebanon. It has been now 6 years since we have not seen a single shot fired across the northern border of Israel and even in the last fight with Hamas the venerable HA did not come to the rescue.
Now to go back on his statement above: while he is talking about the FSA losing I just finished watching the airbases of the regime fall one after the other to the FSA and the checkpoints and fortified positions of the regime crumble one after the other.
ZOO Lavrov himself said that the West does not want to intervene in Syria and in reality if the US wanted to take out the air defense system of Syria it could easily do so with less than a 100 cruise missiles and proper jamming. Remember my friend that 90% of all software in the world is made in the US. Remember also that the Chinese supercomputer has more than 90% of its chips made in the US. Remember that the value of Apple is more than 600 billion dollars whereas your Somaria Alathad has a mere budget of 18.44 billion dollars.
Lavrov has just sent two ships to evacuate Russians from Syria. They have given up on the Prethident and they are in damage control. On what planet do you live?
Australian Sun Stroke?
Tara,
please do not argue with the degree of hatred that the sect has. Their very identity is based on hatred of the Sunnis and their “oppression” of the other sects.
What defines an Alawi is deification of Ali and the head of the community and the first ones to introduce politics into religion and subvert it towards their power grab are Ali and Muwaya and both have done great harm to the religious message and this is coming from someone who does not think that God as man is giving Him/Her attributes exists. If he/she does exist, he certainly has nothing to do with the garbage that man has assigned to Him/Her.
As a community that lost power, it is only natural for them to keep the defining nature as one of hatred of the “oppressor”. Their clerics in Iraq have called on Najaf as the only part of the world that is pure and that will survive and have called the Kabba an impure place of worship. The prime minister of Iraq said that he is a Shia first and and Iraqi second and an Arab third. Commemoration of Ashura is nothing more than another pagan ritual of worship of a false deity and a redefining of the hatred of the so called “oppressor”.
What is my or your guilt if Yazzid was the Hafez Athad of his time?
I am also not sure what is the discourse that Majbali is trying to elicit by saying that in Syria the majority of Sunnis are not Arabs but Kurds and Turks. Who gives a hoot for at the end of the day the Sunnis are being killed and massacred and tortured and excluded and oppressed and marginalized and if they revolt so what. It is their right and let them revolt in their wide spectrum of diversity.
I also thought that Majbali’s tribe is Ilmani or secular so why does he bring ethnic groups and what have you to the mix is a puzzle to me
December 24th, 2012, 4:22 pm
zoo said:
Tara
“It seems to me when people discuss freedom of religion, in their mind, it applies to everyone except the Sunnis”
Don’t worry, it usually applies as well to Shia and to Jews….
In fact it applies to any ethnical or religious group whose presence is too ‘apparent’: kippas, disdasha, burka and hejabs and who are perceived as trying to impose their traditions and culture to the host country as a ‘right’
December 24th, 2012, 4:23 pm
zoo said:
Observer
Your naivety in front of what the media writes and how they interpret the events and officials’ declaration is touching.
The USS Washington with 2000 marines was supposed to invade Syria 2 weeks ago. It is now gone and the Russian destroyers are here to “evacuate the Russian citizens’ after Al Nusra kidnapped a Russian journalist and threatened to kidnap and kill more Russians.
Do you seriously believe that the Russians will be frightened by the threats of a bunch of dangerous lunatics. Do you really believe that Russia uses american made software in their satellite and missiles..?
How was Vietnam war lost by such a technological giant? How is it that until now primitive Talibans in Afghanistan are killing Americans daily. What can Apple on Wall street do about that when it is not doing anything to deal with the high level of children poverty in the USA, one of the highest in the industrialized world.
Keep living in your balloon.. and enjoy it.
Don’t miss Al Jazeera and al Arabya, they are the best in writing fairy tales
December 24th, 2012, 4:37 pm
Uzair8 said:
67. Majedkhaldoun
Thanks.
Is it correct to assume this is a recent speech and not an old one? The video was uploaded on 23rd December 2012.
Sorry, I don’t want to take more of your time.
December 24th, 2012, 4:37 pm
Observer said:
SANA says that the people killed in Halfaya are victims of the FSA massacring them. How does the pro regime who have celebrated the death of the so called FSA fighters a the bakery spin this news now?
Was it the SAA that dealt the a blow or was it the FSA that killed innocents at the bakery?
What a cruel joke the spinning has become
December 24th, 2012, 4:39 pm
Tara said:
Observer,
” The prime minister of Iraq said that he is a Shia first and and Iraqi second and an Arab third”
That astonishes me… Growing up, I have always defined myself as Arab first, Syrian second, and Muslim last. That was before we moved to the US. Then Arab American entered the above equation somewhere. I do embrace the American way of life and like it too. I don’t believe I can live in the ME anymore, free or not. I personally have used or heard the term Sunni on very limited occasions prior to the revolution. Now I can say, judging my upbringing and comparing it to the amount of hatred I encountered in SC from fellow Syrians, that Syrian Sunnis are extremely tolerant and nice people. No wonder foreigners fall easily in love with Syria…
I agree there is no point of arguing the amount of hatred some Alawis have towards us. It is not contestable. I still use the term “some” as I do not want to generalize. I know there are exception but in this case, they are either rare or silent.
December 24th, 2012, 4:45 pm
Majed97 said:
Ghufran,
“Assad reportedly refused to negotiate with the NC or send a team of negotiators to Geneva challenging the assumption that the NC represents all opposition and requesting that the MB accepts the principle of a secular state,etc.”
Why should he negotiate with representatives of the GCC about Syria’s future?!? That is a sure way for Syria to lose its sovereignty. He might as well negotiate directly with KSA and Qatar.
Insisting on keeping Syria secular is a key demand for most Syrians in order to prevent a new type of dictatorship, as is the case in Egypt. He deserves a lot of credits for negotiating to insure Syria’s future as a secular and democratic state, instead of his own future.
Happy Holidays to all!
December 24th, 2012, 4:46 pm
Observer said:
2000 Marines to invade Syria? are you kidding?
One aircraft carrier and 2000 Marines to invade a country?
First there is no intention on the part of any Western country to get involved in Syria. As a matter of fact they like it that way. Let them kill each other to the end of time they think in private.
Second there is no intention to put any troops on the ground anywhere in the ME these days. The administration and the people do not want to be entangled in a civil war.
Third in modern warfare the Russians do not stand a chance I can assure you. It is in asymmetrical warfare that the US has failed miserably.
Fourth what does the rate of poverty of the US has to do with the debate, it is irrelevant.
Fifth, the Russians may have developed a software for their equipment it is no match for any US based technology to take it out and outsmart it.
Sixth, the Russians are evacuating for they do not with to go down with the regime. All of this talk of Putin caring about the fate of Syrians and Lavrov worrying about stopping the bloodshed is as cynical if not more than that of the Western countries.
Seventh and most importantly my sources are from RT and Manar and Mayadden and Alalam and the Chinese news agency and Addounia and SANA BEFORE I even look at the BBC or any other source
Finally you have not addressed any of my points.
Spin doctor extraordinaire indeed.
Do you live in Syria?
December 24th, 2012, 4:49 pm
Observer said:
By the way ZOO did you know that RT comment section uses facebook exclusively. There is no way to post a comment without going on the US based Facebook.
Spin this one for me
December 24th, 2012, 4:54 pm
Tara said:
Zoo,
I envy you. Relaxing under the Australian sun while it feels so depressing here on the east coast. Please remember to wear sun screen..;)
—–
On more serious point, I do not like it to see burqa, dishdasha or the usual ethnic garbs of Indian, Sudanese, orthodox jews, you name it. I am ok with hijabs but prefer fashionable hijabs similar to what modern Iranians or Syrians wear. I don’t think I have an inferiority complex but I believe people should try to blend in, not to stick out. If they are not capable of blending in, they should then live in their own habitat. I know lots of eyebrows will be raised in response to my comment so I apologize in advance ..
December 24th, 2012, 4:59 pm
revenire said:
Of course Obama wants to invade Syria but, thus far, the Russian and Chinese UN vetoes have stopped him. The Russian bear said “nyet” to Barack – he has little choice in the matter (unless he wants wider war and that is something the US military does not want).
Without Western, and that of their corrupt GCC lackeys, support there would be no FSA.
December 24th, 2012, 5:00 pm
Hamoudeh al-Halabi said:
Shaykh al-Yaqoubi Visits Osmaniye Refugee Camp
http://freehalab.wordpress.com/2012/12/24/shaykh-al-yaqoubi-visits-osmaniye-refugee-camp/
December 24th, 2012, 5:02 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Uzair8
I think so
Why did US ships left?
1-US already reached agreement with Russia.
2- They delayed military action till later date.
3-they have different options.
Who is more terrorist,Jabhat Al Nusra,or Assad regime after what he did in Helfaya?
December 24th, 2012, 5:08 pm
revenire said:
FSA/Al-Nusra celebrating X-Mas early in Aleppo:
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/533492_464265173609270_1059035930_n.jpg
Aleppo – Sheikh Maksoud : A girl tied to a concrete column with a written note that said “Those who do not spit on me have no honor.”
The girl’s identity card was put at her feet so everyone would recognize her identity.
She was accused of distributing narcotic pills to young people. This barbaric act was been committed by the “Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Aleppo” which was founded by fundamentalist groups affiliated to the so-called FSA.
December 24th, 2012, 6:18 pm
Tara said:
That girl would be arrested in America for drug-dealing and will have to serve time in prison or whatever punishment.
December 24th, 2012, 6:33 pm
Majed97 said:
Yes, she would definitely be arrested in America, but she would also be given a fair trial; and her sentence, if found guilty, would be far more civilized/humane, especially after taking into consideration the harsh circumstances that may have led her to commit the crime. In order to survive in Syria nowadays, a lot of people are committing unthinkable crimes; thanks to the “revolution”.
What would any of us do to feed and shelter our families in such conditions?!?
December 24th, 2012, 7:01 pm
Tara said:
The unthinkable crimes were committed by Batta and his shabeehas. Has any unthinkable left after slitting the throat of children, burning people or burying them alive?
December 24th, 2012, 7:09 pm
MarigoldRan said:
The American carrier fleet showed up because Assad and his Alawite regime was making threats against Turkey and planning to use chemical weapons on the Sunnis.
Kind of like what Revenire was suggesting to do.
The sending of the carrier and the installment of Patriot missiles in Turkey is a very clear message: “Assad can do anything he wants inside the country, as long as he doesn’t use chemical weapons and as long as he does not involve Turkey or Israel.”
America is looking after its own interests and taking a realist position. It doesn’t care about Syria as long as it doesn’t harm America. This will not win them many friends in Syria, but one can hardly blame them given their past history with the Middle East.
December 24th, 2012, 7:11 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Thanks to the Alawite’s brutal response to the revolution, the situation in Syria has gotten worse. The FSA is not perfect, but the Alawite regime is corrupt and evil to the core.
Put blame where it belongs.
December 24th, 2012, 7:13 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
there are reports of american and french forces already inside Syria to neutralize chemical weapons,along with Israeli troops.this is how week Assad regime is, probably taking over Damascus by rebels may not be a difficult task.
December 24th, 2012, 7:16 pm
Citizen said:
Seems from previous comments that no one read The Guardian !
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/23/syria-crisis-russian-military-presence
December 24th, 2012, 7:16 pm
AJ said:
“86. MARIGOLDRAN said:
Thanks to the Alawite’s brutal response to the revolution, the situation in Syria has gotten worse. The FSA is not perfect, but the Alawite regime is corrupt and evil to the core.
Put blame where it belongs.”
The true criminals are the Assad supporters including many so-called Sunnis who worship him. When seeking justice, it’s unfair to point the finger at one individual religion/sect but the Assad supporters as a whole.
December 24th, 2012, 7:18 pm
MarigoldRan said:
EDITED:
Ok. Fair enough. But things should be called for what they are. Most regime supporters are Alawites and most Sunnis are against the regime.
December 24th, 2012, 7:20 pm
AJ said:
Here’s an idea on what should be done with Assad supporters once this regime falls: (just replace De-Nazification with De-Assadification)
“Denazification (German: Entnazifizierung) was an Allied initiative to rid German and Austrian society, culture, press, economy, judiciary, and politics of any remnants of the National Socialist ideology. It was carried out specifically by removing those involved from positions of influence and by disbanding or rendering impotent the organizations associated with it. The program of denazification was launched after the end of the Second World War and was solidified by the Potsdam Agreement.
Denazification in Germany was attempted through a series of directives issued by the Allied Control Council, seated in Berlin, beginning in January 1946. “Denazification directives” identified specific people and groups and outlined judicial procedures and guidelines for handling them. Though all the occupying forces had agreed on the initiative, the methods used for denazification and the intensity with which they were applied differed between the occupation zones.
Denazification also refers to the removal of the physical symbols of the Nazi regime. For example, in 1957 the German government re-issued World War II Iron Cross medals without the swastika in the center.
Many refugees from Nazism were Germans and Austrians, and some had fought for Britain in the Second World War. Many were transferred into the Intelligence Corps and sent back to Germany and Austria in British uniform. Their knowledge of the language became essential to the Allied Military Government. They were assigned to all aspects of military administration, the interrogation of POWs, collecting evidence for the War Crimes Investigation Unit and the search for war criminals.”
SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denazification
December 24th, 2012, 7:21 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@ AJ
It’s a nice idea, but it won’t work. At the end of the WWII, Germany was ethnically homogenous (all the other ethnic groups were deported or killed off). Also, Germany lost to foreign powers. It did not destroy itself in a civil war.
The best solution is Lebanon’s, I think. The hatred between Sunnis and Alawites runs too deep at this point to put the country together again. Best for everyone to live separately, instead of killing each other for the sake of a Syrian nation.
Regime supporters want a concept of a Syrian nation so that they can say, “I am fighting for Syria.” They bomb Sunni villages under the excuse, “we’re doing this for the sake of the nation.” The extremists on both sides want a Syrian nation so they can take the whole pie when they win.
Best for everyone to admit that the Syrian nation is dead and that the war right now is a war between sects. That way neither side can clothe their brutal actions in fancy nationalistic language.
December 24th, 2012, 7:27 pm
ghufran said:
It is a waste of time trying to find any useful reads in most of the Syrian press,pro and anti. Most pages are filled with garbage and news about who got killed by the “heroes” of either the army or the opposition, very little is being said about what to do with the human disaster that is shaping in front of our eyes. the amount of lies and hatred on the web is overwhelming and the content is nauseating, some of you expressed their pride for being the sons and daughters of this “revolution” or the “soldiers of Assad”,others keep thanking god for being Muslims,etc. the sad truth is that this is not a good time to be Syrian or a Muslim, the world sees us as a group of violent fanatics who hate each other and hate everybody else, every time a stranger finds out that you are an educated moderate middle eastern man or a liberated ME women he attributes that to your life in the West where western values took over your Bedouin roots.
The regime and its opponents do not think that 45,000 dead Syrians is good enough,and they may believe that not enough bridges, schools and homes have been destroyed for them to admit that enough is enough, our home grown and imported thugs ,call them what you want,keep going and going,like the Energizer Bunny.
December 24th, 2012, 7:30 pm
William Scott Scherk said:
Truth and Reconciliation
Tara intimates that our ZOO lives in a Western menagerie, perhaps Australia. It is too much to ask young Revenire what kind of society he resides in. Many very persistent voices here in commentary withhold truths about themselves. These small absences make themselves felt.
In dispute again today are events in Helfaya (and sure to be disputed are reports of another bakery queue mass-death eight hours ago, in Talbiseh)
There are five main stories offered for events in Helfaya yesterday.
The first is the ‘nothing happened’ story. This version of truth suggests that the events reported were ‘fake.’
Then comes the FSA did it explanation (offered by Syria Truth)
Another offering — that bodies were imported (again from Syria Truth), which almost matches the SANA version.
Another, and most popular story is that the Syrian Air Force landed some ordnance in the town, and manage to kill and maim a variety of citizens.
Mixed into the awful brew are speculations on the identities of the bloody macerated and pulped remains. One wag (at Syria Truth) suggested that since they pulled two ‘men without pants’ from the rubble, and since it is wintertime and no man would walk without pants … you guessed it … the men without pants were planted from FSA dead body storage facilities nearby.
The nutterzone SC commentator above suggests that dead were terrorists. Syria Truth says there were no women and children killed (except for the two bodies of a woman and child shown).
Syria Comment’s most prolific commentator takes the easy way out, full denial. Not only does ZOO pretend that no deaths occured of note whatsoever, but that anyone who believes in bakery bombings is at best a gullible fool.
ZOO indicates that multiple reports of deaths at bakeries are ‘suspicious.’
“Rebels” got in on their heads, he says.
It is this distance from deaths of Syrians that I find most chilling and horrifying. The inhumanity and dismissal, the setting aside of brute death as justified … is this because there is no empathy in his heart? Are these torn bodies meaningless to him?
In other news DPnews reports a new initiative by former Syria Comment contributor/editor/moderator Camille Otrakji:
Here is some real speculation on the source and composition of an ‘incapacitating’ chemical agent reportedly used on Syrians:
Finally, some blackened faces of Helfaya ‘terrorists’ for ANN.
ANN! Bonus Terrorist babies with heads blown off in Talbiseh! Snack bar for your fantasies.
December 24th, 2012, 7:32 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@Ghurfan
It’s like a bigger version of Lebanon. The two sides are unable to talk to one another, so they will fight it out.
How are the two sides supposed to talk to one another in a war like this? They can’t even agree on the most basic of facts! In fact, regime supporters can’t even talk about their opponents without using derogatory/de-humanizing language like “terrorists,” or “apes.”
December 24th, 2012, 7:36 pm
Syrian said:
@81 Reve
That is a six month old story
And it was the Syrian PPk who did this to that girl
The more I think you hit bottom the more ways you find to go lower
http://www.midyanews.com/Ar/Read/515.html
December 24th, 2012, 7:38 pm
AJ said:
MARIGOLDRAN, I hope you’re wrong about the Lebanon scenario. This would be a horrible outcome. On the other hand, I do understand you’re point about the damage done by these thugs might be more difficult to repair than the Nazis.
On another note, I would like you all to take note of this beautiful Facebook page dedicated to our Alawiite brothers and sisters who have risked their lives to reject Assad and his coward menhebakkjiyis.
https://www.facebook.com/AlawitesInTheSyrianRevolutionlwywnFyAlthwrtAlswryt
December 24th, 2012, 7:48 pm
Citizen said:
Russian ships with combat equipment on board off the coast of Syria – a source in the General Staff of the Russian Federation
December 24. Interfax-Russia.ru – Large Landing Ship (LST) “Azov” and “Nicholas Filchenkov” went from Novorossiysk to the Syrian port of Tartus with special forces marines and several pieces of equipment on board, “Interfax-AVN” on Monday in Russia General Staff.
“Large landing ship” Azov “and” Nicholas Filchenkov “, taking on the eve of Novorossiysk Marine special forces and a few pieces of equipment, off the coast of Syria,” – said the source.
According to him, “on the special forces tasked to ensure the security of ships while crossing the straits and in port.”
“BDK pass the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles on 26-27 December to December 28 to join the group in the Black Sea Fleet missile cruiser” Moskva “and frigate” Smetliviy “- said the source.
“These warships will accompany BDK” Azov “and” Nicholas Filchenkov “the transition to the Syrian port of Tartus, where is the point of logistics Navy. If the escalation of the conflict in Syria warships to evacuate Russian citizens of this country,” – informed the agency.
December 24th, 2012, 7:52 pm
AJ said:
WSS, This is the 100th time you exposed Zoo and the rest as being utterly stupid hypocrites and/or complete imbeciles. I think this proves yet again that these people (Assad supporters) are unworthy of an intelligent debate.
December 24th, 2012, 7:56 pm
Citizen said:
Russia to continue honouring arms supply contracts with Syria
MOSCOW, December 24 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia has always honoured and will continue to honour contracts on arms supplies to Syria, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov said on Monday, December 24.
“Russia has always been a reliable partner in fulfilling its obligations under contracts. We were fulfilling, we are fulfilling and we will fulfil our obligations in this field,” he said.
“As for Syria, no decisions have been adopted that would limit our arms supplies to that country,” Antonov said.
“Russia does not supply offensive weapons to Syria,” he said.
http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c154/608997.html
December 24th, 2012, 7:56 pm
zoo said:
Observer
Mounting Evidence of US Plans for Military Intervention against Syria
8dec2012
http://www.globalresearch.ca/mounting-evidence-of-us-plans-for-military-intervention-against-syria/5314765
As previously reported by the World Socialist Web Site, Washington has deployed a naval armada off Syria’s coast spearheaded by the USS Eisenhower carrier strike group and including an amphibious battle group consisting of the USS Iwo Jima, the USS New York and the USS Gunston Hall, which carry a contingent of 2,500 US Marines.
This brings 17 warships, 70 fighter-bombers and 10,000 military personnel within striking distance of Syria, in addition to the Air Force’s 39th Air Base Wing, stationed at the Incirlik base in Turkey, and tens of thousands of US ground troops deployed in Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
December 24th, 2012, 7:59 pm
zoo said:
WSS
I really appreciate your “moralizing” posts. They are touching.
I just wish you were as shocked by the bodies that car bombs set intentionally by the “Friends of the Noble Rebels” are putting to kill civilians and create an atmosphere of terror so they can fulfill their Islamic Caliphate ambitions.
No, I have no sympathy at all for kamikazes and terrorists. They are criminals and anyone who defend then or ally to then is a criminal too and deserves no pity.
By defending Al Nusra, the FSA and the NC have clearly chosen their side: They are accomplices to every single bomb that explodes and the death of every single Syrian that their refusal of a compromise is occasioning.
If they are using civilians as human shields in the areas they ‘liberated’ they are responsible for every single civilian death that occur there. If they can’t protect these civilians, one wonders what they are doing there. They should leave as they have from many areas that returned to normality.
Every single Syrian who dies, a civilian or a soldier is the proof that this absurd revolution failed lamentably and that a compromise is necessary to save Syrians lives at any cost.
December 24th, 2012, 8:20 pm
zoo said:
#68 Observer
“This is because the Iranian regime is going to be marginalized.”
When you refer to my posts, at least don’t distort what I said.
I said exactly the opposite: With Egypt controlled by the Moslem Brotherhood, the Iranian regime will cease to be isolated as it won’t be the only country ruled by a religious government where an religious establishment, Al Azhar like Qom will guide the rulers with the Sharia.
December 24th, 2012, 8:28 pm
zoo said:
Erdo?an congratulates Egypt’s Morsi on constitution victory
http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=302040
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has congratulated Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi as a constitution he backed received a “yes” majority in a final round of voting on a referendum that saw a low voter turnout.
Video
Watch the video by clicking here
Erdo?an told Morsi in a telephone conversation Sunday night that he hopes the constitution will bring benefits to an Egypt gripped by political turmoil since the ouster of former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak two years ago
December 24th, 2012, 8:39 pm
zoo said:
Doubts about the bakery massacre
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/dec/24/syria-conflict-brahimi-meets-assad-live
The BBC’s Beirut-based reporter Jim Muir cast doubt on activists claims that the attack hit a bakery queue by pointing out that the bodies in the video were all of fighting-aged men. Speaking on BBC radio, he said that if it was a bread queue that had been hit more women and children would have been among the dead.
This may be true, but many of the photographs of bread queues released before the incident have shown such queues tend to be dominated by men especially when there has been fighting in the area.
December 24th, 2012, 8:42 pm
zoo said:
Lavrov’s chilling Syrian prediction .. hard to swallow for Turkey
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/lavrovs-chilling-syrian-prediction.aspx?pageID=449&nID=37557&NewsCatID=416
Indicating that “al-Assad is not going anywhere, no matter what anyone says, be it China or Russia,” Lavrov was reported by Russian RT channel as adding prophetically that “no one is going to win this war.” That, however, is not what Prime Minister Erdo?an and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu want to hear.
Ankara has come around to accepting that elements of the regime will probably have to remain in place during a transition period in Syria. But to say that “al-Assad is not going anywhere,” and to suggest that “no one is going to win this war,” is hard to swallow given the strong position the Erdo?an government has committed itself to on Syria.
What complicates matters further for Ankara is that while the conflagration grows in Syria, the West’s reluctance to intervene is still discernible, a fact that Lavrov also alluded to. “No one has any appetite for intervention. Behind the scenes, I have a feeling they are praying that Russia and China go on blocking intervention, as sanctioning it would mean they must act – and they are not ready” Lavrov was quoted by RT as saying.
There are even diplomats in Ankara who argue that the deployment of Patriot missiles in Turkey is not an act of escalation by NATO vis-a-vis Syria, as Russia is claiming, but just the opposite. Through this deployment, they argue, NATO is saying that this is the most it will do in this crisis, namely meet a member’s minimum defensive requirements, but go no further.
While Erdo?an’s and Davuto?lu’s positions on Syria appear firm, Volkan Bozkir, a key deputy from the ruling party, and the head of Parliament’s Commission on Foreign Relations, is the only one close to the government arguing that any settlement to the Syrian crisis will have to satisfy Russia’s traditional interests in that country.
Far from supporting such a view, Prime Minister Erdo?an has strongly criticized Moscow for backing the Syrian regime. Admitting that Russian interests in Syria have to be acknowledged would be out of tune with his expectations for the “New Syria.”
What Moscow expects to happen in Syria, however, is in turn out of tune with what Erdo?an appears to be expecting, namely an administration dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood and which is dependent on Turkey.
Yet, what Lavrov is saying appears to be correct. It does look increasingly like there can be no winners in this sectarian war, which is only going to get messier with or without al-Assad. Closer cooperation, and not rivalry, between Ankara and Moscow would contribute to stability in a region of vital interest to both countries that is increasingly marked by chaos.
December/25/2012
December 24th, 2012, 8:51 pm
Citizen said:
106. ZOO
?????? ??? ????? !
December 24th, 2012, 8:54 pm
Citizen said:
Report: Al Qaeda emir’s hand in Egypt and Syria
http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2012/12/die_welt_al_qaeda_emirs_hand_i.php
December 24th, 2012, 9:01 pm
Ghufran said:
I did read about that girl in dispute few months ago, I think it was actually the Kurds who did that but I could be wrong, I do not doubt that there are Assad supporters on this blog who have one job: smear everybody other than ?????? ?????? , I did some of that with one big difference, I did my best to search the stories but I still made a number of mistakes, on the other side, anti regime posters took every opportunity to advance the opposition propaganda and went too far on many occasions. It is abundantly clear that Arab media is not a reliable source of information with few exceptions. Sites like aljazeera and alarabiya are now the Arab version of British yellow journalism,use it at your own peril, what is lost in the midth of all of this mess is the truth, poor and hungry Syrians have no voice.
December 24th, 2012, 9:07 pm
revenire said:
I don’t care when the woman was tied up or who claimed to do it. I blame the US puppets in the FSA.
December 24th, 2012, 9:10 pm
Citizen said:
http://youtu.be/wXP5bhIfagU?t=4m4s
December 24th, 2012, 9:12 pm
Observer said:
ZOO intervention is one thing and invasion is another. The intervention would have happened if this stupid fool would have used his chemical weapons or threatened any country that borders Syria.
Yes Iran is already marginalized and has no support except in the Shia areas of Lebanon and in Bahrain and in Iraq.
They have managed to alienate the majority of the Syrian people and of the majority of the Sunni population.
By the way, would you go live in glorious Iran today? Tell me where you live, you do not have to be specific, you can say in the southern hemisphere in one of the continents there or in North America or in South America or in the greater ME.
I hate hypocrisy when so called regime supporters on the one hand living in the West talk about its evils and I hate those fundamentalists that enjoy freedom of religion and freedom of speech to denounce the rule of law because it is man made and yet live in the society taking advantage of its liberal laws to spew hatred and discrimination.
TARA there is no Islamic dress code. The veil was a Byzantine custom to distinguish free from slave women and it was adopted by the invasion of Muslims as often happens when the invaders adopt the customs of the land.
If as the fundamentalists say the Book is the word of God and is eternal then it must be interpreted symbolically to remain relevant and if it is as I believe a historical document then it can be studied as history and used as one of many sources for the betterment of man.
The one slogan that no one truly understands in my opinion is God is Greater. He is greater than all of the human attributes and supplications and involvement that he gets into by the stupidity and wickedness of man on this earth.
There is no hell after life, it is right here on this earth perpetrated daily by untold cruelty and hatred and callousness and greed. Indeed man is not the lord on this earth but the abomination of it.
And yet hope springs from every tragedy, for if he exists and this is a big if, a drop of his divine nature may be in creation.
Cheers
December 24th, 2012, 9:17 pm
zoo said:
The NC chooses to be responsible for the continuation of the violence.
Moaz Al Khatib officially reject the UN-US-Russia plan while the Syrian government does not.
http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/politics/2012/12/24/Syria-Syrian-National-Coalition-nixes-Brahimi-proposal_7996795.html
(ANSAmed) – BEIRUT – Syrian National Coalition leader Ahmad Muaz al-Khatib on Monday rejected a proposal by UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to end the civil war, in which President Bashar al-Assad would remain in office until the end of his mandate in 2014.
”We told every official we have met with: Syrians reject the permanence of the regime and its leader, even if he stays in office with no prerogatives,” Khatib stated in a communique.
”I personally told Brahimi that we reject this solution. We reject any political solution which purports to salvage the regime. We reject any solution that does not contain Assad’s exit as the first condition.”
The Syrian National Coalition is the prime opposition platform abroad, and has been recognized by Western countries, Turkey, and the Arab Gulf nations.
Also on Monday, opposition leader Khatib implicitly criticized UN and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimì’s silence on the civilian massacre at the Halfaya bakery. “The Halfaya massacre was carried out not only by the Syrian regime, but also by whoever avoids talking about it. Whoever remains silent is an accomplice of those feeding on Syrian blood,” Khatimi said. The newly-formed SNC has been recognized by most Western countries, Turkey, and the Gulf Arab nations as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
December 24th, 2012, 9:37 pm
Citizen said:
What is important here is not Iran but these pendulous lips camels in the Gulf ! how to invest their money in more bloodshed by hysteria blowing fire! To go Wahhabis with Western friends to hell!
December 24th, 2012, 9:40 pm
zoo said:
The ‘desperate’ propaganda continues…
U.S. Officials Doubt Syrian Rebels’ Chemical Attack Claim
By Noah Shachtman and David Axe
12.24.12
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/12/did-syria-just-use-nerve-gas/
\
Al Jazeera posted two videos it said were obtained from “a field clinic in the city.” The graphic videos appear to depict gasping victims of what could be construed as a nerve agent attack. However, the origins and contents of these videos have yet to be verified by other sources.
U.S. officials note that several things about the video are inconsistent with a sarin strike. There are complaints of strong smells; sarin is odorless. There are reports that the victims inhaled large amounts of the chemical; a minuscule of amount of inhaled sarin can be fatal.
“It just doesn’t jive with chemical weapons,” one U.S. official tells Danger Room.
..
In fact, the symptoms shown in these videos might have been caused by other chemicals — possibly chlorine, phosgene, or cyanogen chloride, according to one independent review of the clips (.pdf). Or we might simply be seeing a severe asthma attack.
…
Now the question is: Has the regime actually taken that step? Are the rebels confused? Or is this an opposition effort to further discredit the regime?
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/12/did-syria-just-use-nerve-gas/
December 24th, 2012, 9:46 pm
zoo said:
#112 Observer
“this stupid fool would have used his chemical weapons”
I guess this is claimed today by the opposition unless like me, you think that the ‘smelly’ gas is one of these terrorists-rebels ‘desperate’ propaganda videos.
( they forgot to tell them that sarin is ‘odorless’)
Maybe the USS Washington should come back…
December 24th, 2012, 9:52 pm
zoo said:
No Easy Route if Assad Opts to Go, or to Stay, in Syria
By ANNE BARNARD and HWAIDA SAAD
Published: December 24, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/world/middleeast/no-easy-route-if-bashar-al-assad-opts-to-go-or-stay.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
How Mr. Assad might respond to Mr. Brahimi’s entreaty depends on his psychology, shaped by a strong sense of mission inherited from his iron-fisted father and predecessor, Hafez al-Assad; his closest advisers, whom supporters describe as a hard-line politburo of his father’s gray-haired security men; and Mr. Assad’s assessment, known only to himself, about what awaits him if he stays — victory, or death at the hands of his people.
December 24th, 2012, 10:18 pm
zoo said:
Iran lauds the Islamic Awakening in Egypt…
Mon Dec 24, 2012 7:16PM GMT
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/24/279958/egypt-vote-outcome-of-islamic-awakening/
An Iranian lawmaker has lauded the approval of Egypt’s new constitution in the recent referendum as an outcome of Islamic Awakening in the region.
“People’s vote to Egypt’s new constitution can be construed as their vote to Islam,” said Mehdi Sanaei, member of Iran Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee on Monday.
December 24th, 2012, 10:30 pm
zoo said:
On 5 december, on CNN, Moaz al Khatib announced a new government and a ‘military council’ in ‘a few weeks’ while praising Obama’s tears despite the USA’s refusal to recognize it as a government in exile.
http://www.islamicinvitationturkey.com/2012/12/05/video-lets-listen-the-moaz-al-khatibs-love-of-great-satan-u-s-from-his-own-voice/
December 24th, 2012, 10:41 pm
revenire said:
Most men would have caved in under the ferocious assault but Assad isn’t most men. He is a lion. He is fearless. He has become a folk hero worldwide. Women want him. Men admire him. Nations fear him.
The Turks fear Syria’s missiles so badly they needed NATO’s Patriots to defend them. The US fears an air campaign and has no taste for it, much less American troops. France and the UK strut and posture like preening roosters but can do nothing more than bark about their former empires. The FSA has been reduced to begging for intervention month after month as their men get mowed down by the brave Syrian Arab Army.
Victory for Assad is victory for Syria.
December 24th, 2012, 11:27 pm
Tara said:
Zoo,
I just came back from a party at a Persian friend’s house. You are right. They just party like Syrians. Sad that this “ism” is created by people in power to distract the public in order to keep the powerful holding onto the power. The ordinary people do not care about any “..ism”. A funny old man from Tehran insisted to talk to me all night long despite his very broken English just because I am Syrian and the nice Tara in me kept smiling, nodding her head attempting to interpret his non-verbal cues pretending she understood to not embarrass him. There was no Shiaa or Sunni and they were all sad for Syria and anti-Batta too. Just so you know..
December 24th, 2012, 11:34 pm
Tara said:
Just stumble into this:
“Women want him. Men admire him. Nations fear him.”. I can’t stop laughing…
Yuck!
December 24th, 2012, 11:36 pm
revenire said:
Comedian Moaz al Khatib said he would create a “government” in a few weeks. That video will come back to haunt him. He’s a pathetic beggar who hides his extremist agenda to beg Obama for weapons.
December 24th, 2012, 11:37 pm
Tara said:
Observer,
“If as the fundamentalists say the Book is the word of God and is eternal then it must be interpreted symbolically..”
Yes, that is how I believe in Islam and think of it as a great religion. That what I was taught and what I will teach.
December 25th, 2012, 12:09 am
Ghufran said:
Yara Saleh from alikhbariyya told BBC Arabic how her team was kidnapped by the rebels, how she was forced to wear alhijab and lie on tape about the whole affair,and how her alawi coworker ,Hatem, was taken out and , according to the driver, was shot to death by the rebels. Alikhbariyya is coming up with a 30 minutes film about that terrorist attack. Hatem’s body has not been found yet and his family refused to accept his death. I am sure BBC will get a lot of heat over the program ( still on the air as I write this post)
Alikhbariyya is a government tool but what the rebels did was unjustified and utterly deplorable, to suggest otherwise is an insult to justice and free speech, Hatem did not deserve to be killed, and his coworkers stayed alive only because they were traced and saved by the army,otherwise we would be talking about 4 more murders, the program did not ignore the death of anti regime journalists who paid a heavy price for having an opinion.
December 25th, 2012, 12:43 am
revenire said:
We will never forget that or Maya Naser.
December 25th, 2012, 1:03 am
Ghufran said:
Maqdisi is in the US according to the guardian :
The Syrian government’s former spokesman, Jihad Makdissi, is co-operating with US intelligence officials who helped him flee to Washington almost one month ago, the Guardian understands.
December 25th, 2012, 1:32 am
Visitor said:
Observer,
Many times you described yourself as an atheist. Why would you want the Qura’n to be interpreted in any way that you may choose?
Also, who do you think will listen to such nonesense coming from a declared atheist?
I usually read your comments and find some of them interesting, but not all. However, this time you blew it completely. I think it is better if you stick to subjects that you’re good at if you want to be taken setiously.
And obviosly, you haven’t read the Qura’n to know first hand that in fact there is something which you may call Islamic dress ‘code’ which is not Byzantine.
I find it most ridiculous when Syrians or others from that part of the world who lived for so long in the West wanting to impose their views on Muslims just by virtue of having lived among non-Muslims for a long time. To these so-called ‘enlightened liberals’, enlightenment and liberalism have become synonyms with how much alcohol one can consume!
But even early defectors from the Syrian army naively exhibited similar shallowness and thought they can lure non-interested parties to their side by displaying to them their empty cans of beer. Belive me, I am not kidding. It did happen. Now, these pathetic pretenders either were swept aside or learnt better and knew they can only fight a war by relying on one’s authentic and true beliefs and not by being a fake and shallow pretender – thanks to none but to Nusra and similar groups who showed them the way.
December 25th, 2012, 1:46 am
Ghufran said:
“The greatest challenge facing the rebels is providing the basic necessities of life to Syrians living in areas no longer controlled by the state,” says Joshua Landis, a Syria expert at the University of Oklahoma. “That’s why the regime is trying its best to disrupt food supplies in rebel-held areas. It needs them to fail, even to starve while they’re living under rebel control. The regime can’t allow the rebels to establish a workable alternative that pays salaries and is able to provide for those in its domain in the way that the state currently serves as the key provider to many millions of Syrians.”
December 25th, 2012, 1:46 am
Syria no kandahar said:
124
Why does any one needs to do commercials for his religion here? If he or she believes that
They have the perfect faith why to advertise? What kind of defense mechanism is that: suppression ?denial?repression or regression ?
And with all respect to the 3000 religions and faiths we have on this earth why are 99 % of
Terrorists we have on the face of this earth followers of certain branch of this suprem ultimate religion? Why out of 2 billion followers of this respected faith(like all the other3000
Respected faiths) you see only troubled nations needing hundred of years to be civilized?
Why would any fan of certain faith enjoy living between other faiths his faith calls monkeys
And pigs?.
How many faiths on the face of this earth promise killers with rewards?how many faiths on this earth use sex as a reward for killers?
What is happening in the middle east is showing the world the worst image of Islam over the last 1400 years,it is killing every thing good it has in it and promoting a very twisted( or may be the real form) of it.Many Moslems are falling in the trap and helping to destroy their
Religion and societies which is the actual goal of this very icy wahabi winter.
December 25th, 2012, 1:52 am
revenire said:
SYRIA NO KANDAHAR I believe one answer to that question might be “when all you have is a hammer everything looks like a nail.”
I have no sympathy for any supporter of this false revolution or for its supporters who murder people in the name of religion. It reminds me of the Crusades.
December 25th, 2012, 2:04 am
SYR.EXPAT said:
The FSA inside the home of Duraid Assad, son of war criminal and mass murderer Rifaat Assad, brother of mass-murderer-in-chief Hafez Assad. Nothing of major importance was found. However, it’s a message to the shabeehah and their supporters that the FSA is making progress with every passing day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jQQWqSfUr7Y
Note: One of the documents they found was Duraid’s 4th grade report cards.
A rebel group around Damascus captures the “Arab Syrian Army Base” and capture tons of communications equipment and vehicles.
December 25th, 2012, 2:07 am
Visitor said:
I found this comment made by an apparently first time poster which has just been released and thought it is worth reading,
https://joshualandis.com/blog/?p=17175&cp=all#comments
It is comment #17 under that post in case the link opens to something else.
December 25th, 2012, 3:08 am
Johannes de Silentio said:
130. SYRIA NO KANDAHAR
“Why out of 2 billion followers of this respected faith…”
There aren’t 2 Billion Muslims. It’s a lot less. The mistake you’re making is counting the gross populations of the “predominantly” Muslim countries in the world (and adding another 10% as a fudge factor) and assuming everyone therein is a Muslim. Ain’t necessarily so, Bubba.
What you also need to count are the ones who are “happily” Muslim. Like the Armenians in Iran who were forced to convert. The stories you would hear from those people about your fucking respected faith…
By the way, Merry Christmas, SNK!
December 25th, 2012, 3:09 am
revenire said:
Toro’s comments are what a rabid dog barks. This sectarian trash has no business being free to roam spreading its cancer anywhere but in prison, mental institution, or – if they take up a gun – a grave. Syria has all three waiting for the Salafist trash.
I have no respect for anyone who would follow this bearded clown Yacoubi. He’s a demented animal.
December 25th, 2012, 3:20 am
Visitor said:
Look who is doing the real fighting in this war. Nusra front just took over the town of ???? NW of 7Hama. The town is made up of 100% shabiha. Ten Nusra fighters were martyred while twenty one criminal shabih were sent straight to lowest ????.
December 25th, 2012, 4:48 am
MarigoldRan said:
Regime supporters, surprisingly, don’t like the sectarian angle either. They know that if it turns into a sectarian fight, they will lose. Still, the sectarianism is growing week by week. There are Alawites that support the FSA and Sunnis that support the regime, but both are in the minority and dwindling.
The Lebanese solution is probably the best that Syria can hope for. Neither the Alawites nor the Kurds will accept a strong Sunni central government. Nor will the Sunnis or the Kurds accept an Alawite regime. As long as both the regime and the FSA are fighting for the entire country, the fighting will go on forever until the Alawites are wiped out, which is unacceptable.
The talk of Syria as one nation is just an excuse for violence. The concept of Syria as one nation is dead. Best for everyone to move on.
December 25th, 2012, 4:54 am
MarigoldRan said:
I am surprised that regime supporters can’t see the writing on the wall. They’re losing now in Hama! And this is after their defeats in Idlib, Aleppo, and Deir Ezzor.
Assad was very kind in putting military bases all around the country. More targets for the FSA to capture.
December 25th, 2012, 4:57 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
Syria Comment=Sectarian Comment..
Almost all, with rare exception are rabid sectarians. Yes that includes you SNK and REVENIRE
?????? ??????? ???????? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????. ??? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ??????.
???? ?????
An anti sectarian position is one which first criticizes the sectarianism of one’s own sect, and then the sectarianism of others. As for one who is silent about the sectarianism of his own sect and drawls animosity towards other sects, thus calling himself a secular is merely a sectarian in a secular clothes.
Azmi Bisahara
December 25th, 2012, 7:36 am
Grant said:
Just a question about the alleged use of chemical weapons in Homs; while I don’t think we are seeing the regime using it yet, it does raise the possibility of small amounts being used tactically, while claiming plausible deniability, in order to force the u.s. et. al to more clearly define the red lines, while meanwhile increasing the intensity and frequency of their use. based on your talks with diplomats and military officials, is there a threshold of use of? chemical weapons that would result in intervention etc.? how would the u.s. respond to an attack that killed say, a dozen rebel soldiers storming an air base?
December 25th, 2012, 7:37 am
Syria no Kandahar said:
???? ?????? ???????
December 25th, 2012, 8:10 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
????? ???
?????? ??????
December 25th, 2012, 8:19 am
Syria no Kandahar said:
We all remember Azmi on Aljazera :
????? ?? ????? ???? ???????
How can any non-idiot believe such sharmoot.
December 25th, 2012, 8:29 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
??? ?????? ??????? … ????? ??????? ?????
???? ?????? … ???? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ???????
?????? ?? ????? ????
December 25th, 2012, 8:40 am
zoo said:
A Word Of Advice About The Middle East – We’ve Reached The ‘Tipping Point’ With Clichés
http://www.zcommunications.org/a-word-of-advice-about-the-middle-east-we-ve-reached-the-tipping-point-with-clich-s-by-robert-fisk
By the spring of last year, the Western commentariat was writing off Bashar al-Assad. He did not deserve “to live on this earth”, according to French Foreign Secretary Laurent Fabius. He must “step down”, “step aside”. His regime had only weeks to go, perhaps only days. This was the “tipping point”.
Then by summer, when the “tipping point” had come and gone, we were told that Assad was about to use gas “against his own people”. Or that his supplies of chemical weapons might “fall into the wrong hands” (the “right hands” still presumably being Assad’s).
Syria’s rebels were always “closing in” – on Homs, then Damascus, then Aleppo, then Damascus again. The West supported the rebels. Money and guns aplenty came from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, moral support from Obama, Clinton, the pathetic Hague, Hollande, the whole factory of goodness – until, inevitably, it turned out that the rebels contained rather a lot of Salafists, executioners, sectarian killers and, in one case, a teenage head-chopper who behaved rather like the ruthless regime they were fighting. The factory had to put some of its machinery into reverse. The US still supported the good, secular rebels but now regarded the horrible Salafist rebels as a “terrorist organisation”.
….
A word of advice, therefore, for Middle East potentates, dictators, Western poseurs, television presenters and journos. Do not use the following words or expressions in 2013: moderate, democracy, step down, step aside, tipping point, falling into the wrong hands, closing in, spilling over, options on the table or – terror, terror, terror, terror. Too much to hope for? You bet. We’ll even get another load of cliches from the goodness factory to replace those that have already served their purpose.
December 25th, 2012, 8:48 am
zoo said:
Maybe now , the world would know that the smelly “gas” is coming straight from Qatar’s propaganda behind…
Israel says has no proof poison gas used in Syria
http://en.trend.az/regions/met/israel/2102903.html
Israel voiced doubt on Tuesday about the accuracy of Syrian activists’ reports that chemical weapons had been used against rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad, Reuters reported.
“We have seen reports from the opposition. It is not the first time. The opposition has an interest in drawing in international military intervention,” Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Army Radio.
“As things stand now, we do not have any confirmation or proof that (chemical weapons) have already been used, but we are definitely following events with concern,” he said.
December 25th, 2012, 8:52 am
zoo said:
Gulf states call for rapid Syria political transition
25 Dec 2012
http://www.afp.com/en/news/topstories/gulf-states-call-rapid-syria-political-transition
Representatives of the six oil-rich Gulf Cooperation Council states called in a joint statement on Tuesday for a rapid political transition in war-torn Syria.
The GCC states expressed “deep sadness over the continued shedding of blood by the regime and the destruction of cities and infrastructure, making political transition a demand which must be rapidly implemented.”
They also urged the international community “to make a quick and serious move to end massacres” in Syria and provide humanitarian assistance to the people.
The six states voiced their support to the international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi’s mission in Syria, hoping it “will help achieve agreement within the (UN) Security Council.”
Brahimi, the UN and Arab League peace envoy to Syria, met with President Bashar al-Assad on Monday, describing their talks as “friendly and constructive.”
The GCC states, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, also affirmed their support to the newly-formed opposition National Coalition “as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.”
December 25th, 2012, 8:54 am
Citizen said:
?????? ??????? ???????? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ??????
??? ???? ! ????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?? ????? ? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ? ???? ??? ???? !
??? ????? ! ????? ???????? ? ????????? ????????? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ! ? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ? ??????? ??? ??????? !
December 25th, 2012, 8:57 am
zoo said:
Two predictions, one that gives hope to the Bashar-haters and another that will certainly depress the Syria-lovers.
Assad end may be near, but Syrian crises will continue
http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-syria-after-assad-20121224,0,6766392.story
Assad’s departure is likely only weeks away, a few months at the most, White predicted. Government forces have lost the ability to carry out major offensives and are sustaining at least 1,000 fatalities a month, he said.
In contrast, the rebels have rolled up territorial gains and steadily improved their combat capabilities, acquiring what White terms “psychological dominance” that has turned the course of the war in their favor even if they, too, are suffering more than 800 killed in action each month.
Andrew J. Tabler, a senior fellow in Arab politics at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, warned that the United States missed an opportunity to help shape post-Assad Syria by refusing to play a more active role in arming and advising the rebels in their quest to topple a brutal regime.
“In light of American inaction, the rebels are trending toward Islamism and anti-Western sentiment,” Tabler said.
December 25th, 2012, 9:00 am
Observer said:
Welcome back Syrian Hamster.
Visitor, I tried but like the uncle of the prophet I cannot find in me what you call faith in a deity. Therefore, I do not think or feel or vibrate that there is a God.
If there is one, he is certainly way beyond what humans have ascribed to him/her/it.
Having said that let me point out the following:
1. Fundamentalists think they have a monopoly on the truth and anyone who disagrees with the very premise of their belief is immediately labeled.
2. I do recognize that religion plays a role in people’s life and the broad outlines of the defining principles of the religion regarding justice and freedom and dignity can influence political thought and I welcome it.
3. The basis for any intellectual debate should not exclude any ideology even atheist ideology and even hateful ideology.
4. Hypocrites are those that take advantage of the freedoms in the West and in the name of freedom of expression deny others that same freedom. Salafists Sunnis are the main culprits of this hypocrisy.
5. The first Muslims were allowed to defend their faith when pagans were forcing them to renounce their faith. Therefore, defense against freedom of belief and thought and against oppression is my opinion the only time that active defense is allowed in Islam. All other actions and so called jihad are kufr in my opinion. And it is the duty of a Muslim to defend freedom of expression and belief even if that belief is not one in God.
6. Salafists and Mullah have robbed me and many fellow humans of the beauty of the faith that I see in many devout Muslims. I would urge you to read Mourad Hoffman and the Station of no Station by Bayman and to read excerpts of Nahj Al Balagah by Ali Ibn Abi Taleb to name a few to understand the beauty and serenity and peace that these people have achieved through their faith. I personally tried and could not find it in me to have this certainty that a God exists.
7. Reading Marcus Aurelius, the way of the Tao, and of course the four Gospels as well as the Sirra Nabaouia leaves me with an appreciation of the greatness of the human mind and spirit and also leaves despairing from the fanaticism that I see in Salafis, in Tea Party nut cases, in rabid Zionism, in neo Nazi ideology, in sectarian hatred.
ZOO
Haaretz believes that he used BZ gas according to the reported symptoms. There is no proof without chemical analysis but this may come later, and if you think that the rebels are fabricating all of these videos then you may join the great species of the large birds of Africa called Ostriches.
He tried it to see what the reaction would be and he will do so this week again in my estimation because the rest of the world is busy at other things.
Russia just shipped fuel for his crumbling system. Again, if I were a cynical Westerner I would say great news, let us pour more fuel on the fire and have Russia sucked in further.
December 25th, 2012, 9:05 am
zoo said:
Syrian Kurds demand Iraqi Kurdistan president to intervene to save them from “siege and….
December 25, 2012
http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/12/state6741.htm
QAMISHLI, Syrian Kurdistan,— The Syrian Kurds demanded on Tuesday, the President of Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani to opening the border between the region and Syria to facilitate the passage of fuel and goods to the Kurdish areas after the siege imposed by the Syrian government and the opposition, that wants to “limit the role of the Kurds.”
The presidency of Kurdistan region denied on Monday evening that it has closed the border with Syria to prevent reception of Syrians, noting that this news are untrue.
This request came through an open letter directed by the Kurds Youth Union, Yekîtiya Ciwanên, appealing Barzani to intervene to save the Kurds in Syria from the tragedies, pain, displacement, destruction, siege and slow death.”
The message explained that “what increases our suffering is the presence of those armed groups claiming its affiliation to the Syrian revolution,” asserting that “these groups surround the Kurdish areas intentionally and rob all kinds of goods that are transferred to the Western Kurdistan in order to weaken the presence of the Kurds through by displacing them and changing the course of a peaceful revolution in Western Kurdistan. ”
It is noted that many of the Kurdish-majority cities in the northern regions of Syria went out of the control as they are being managed by local committees,www.ekurd.net after the aggravation of the situation in Syria and the opposed insurgents to the regime of Bashar al-Assad controlled many areas.
December 25th, 2012, 9:06 am
zoo said:
Observer
Your candor and naivety have no limit. The earth is a cube.
December 25th, 2012, 9:10 am
zoo said:
Peace envoy pushes initiative to end Syrian conflict
http://mg.co.za/article/2012-12-25-peace-envoy-pushes-initiative-to-end-syrian-conflict
Brahimi, the UN-Arab League’s special envoy to Syria, held talks at his Damascus hotel with a delegation of six people led by Hassan Abdel Azim, head of the National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change (NCCDC), an opposition group tolerated by the regime.
NCCDC chief Hassan Abdel Azim said after the talks that Brahimi would stay in Syria until Sunday “to try to implement an international consensus to end the crisis.” His deputy Raja Nasser was more forthcoming.
“The only solution is a transitional government that holds all powers,” Nasser told reporters, adding that Brahimi was to hold further meetings with government officials. “A political solution is the only solution, and this means the establishment of a new democratic regime instead of the current regime,” he added.
The comments come in the wake of a report by a French daily of a supposed US-Russian initiative for a transition in Syria, which has caused rage among opponents who reject any compromise with the regime.
December 25th, 2012, 9:15 am
zoo said:
121. Tara
Thanks for reporting that. Glad you enjoyed the company. Try sometime a Turkish, Qatari or Saudi party and give me your observations.
December 25th, 2012, 9:24 am
Observer said:
ZOO you are of course a superior human being who is very sharp and discerning and wise in your view of the situation.
You must be as they say in French Extra Lucide
Do you wear Ray Ban glasses when you post here.
?????? ??????
December 25th, 2012, 9:31 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
?? ???? ???????? ?????????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?????? .. ??? ??? ?????? ????????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ??? ..
??? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? …
?? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?? ????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ????????? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ??? ????? …
????? ??? ????
????? ??? ?????
December 25th, 2012, 9:36 am
zoo said:
Moaz Al Khatib is angry at the West’s silence, but does not dare blame them as they just granted his group of expats led opposition the ‘title’ they have been begging for months in FOS meetings.
Al Khatib is looking increasingly constrained and powerless.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-302157-syrian-opposition-fully-takes-town-near-turkey.html
Syria’s opposition fumed at what it called silence over the unrelated killing of civilians by Assad’s forces. On Sunday, dozens were killed in Halfaya and many more wounded. Activists blamed an air strike on a bakery where a crowd was queuing in the town, which was seized by insurgents last week.
“Silence over the massacres committed against the Syrian people is blackmail and a means to pressure the people, their revolution, and their leaders,” said Moaz Alkhatib, who heads the opposition National Coalition.
However, Alkhatib did not accuse anybody directly for remaining mum over what would be one of the deadliest air strikes of the civil war.
December 25th, 2012, 9:37 am
zoo said:
#154 Observer
If these compliments were coming from someone else, they would have made me proud. Unfortunately coming from you, they mean absolutely nothing.
December 25th, 2012, 9:39 am
zoo said:
The UN-US-Russia plan moving on?
The Guardian: Jihad Makdissi is in the US.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-25/syria-death-toll-rises-as-kuwait-offers-to-host-donor-conference.html
Syria’s former Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi fled to the U.S. and was cooperating with American intelligence officials, the Guardian reported today. Makdissi provided information on the decision-making process in the top ranks of the Syrian regime, the U.K. newspaper said, adding that the U.S. had helped Makdissi escape to Washington.
December 25th, 2012, 9:44 am
Tara said:
Mjabali,
“?????? ??????? ???????? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????. ??? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ??????.
???? ?????”
That is you, and since day one I read you. You open my eyes of how much SOME Alawis hate. Therefore, I never bother. I never believed anything you said about secularism . Read your posts and reflect. Unfortunately, I know younwill never do that.
And now I am readying myself to a barrage of inults and so be it..
December 25th, 2012, 9:47 am
Tara said:
Someone needs to tell the Pope to please shut up. All his prior declarations have assisted in killing children, Go and fix children molestation in your church and save your prayer to yourself.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/25/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html?eref=rss_mostpopular
(CNN) — Deep sorrow over Syria echoed across the Vatican on Christmas Day as Pope Benedict XVI urged warring parties to end a 21-month-old civil war.
“May peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a conflict which does not spare even the defenseless and reaps innocent victims,” the pope said in his traditional Christmas message, delivered from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
“Once again, I appeal for an end to the bloodshed, easier access for the relief of refugees and the displaced, and dialogue in the pursuit of a political solution to the conflict.”
December 25th, 2012, 10:08 am
Tara said:
Zoo@153
But I still haven’t changed my mind with the widest exposure. Arabs are still more handsome/ prettier… Can you argue with that?
December 25th, 2012, 10:20 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
Being called a superior being is never meant as a compliment…no even from a friend.
December 25th, 2012, 10:30 am
majedkhaldoun said:
December 25th, 2012, 10:31 am
Visitor said:
Observer 149,
It seems that in your endless quest to fill up space for your comment(s), you end up in total irrelevance.
First, no one asked you to believe in anything. And no one cares, at least as far as I am concerned, if you believe or do not believe. So what does Abd Al-Muttalib have to do with this?
The question(s) was simple. Being a declared atheist, who would want among Muslims to listen to your suggestion? Is that too complicated for you to answer? If so, then I will give you the answer: None.
I also find the term fundamental too broad and too misused, by you and almost everyone. But when you say fundamentalists believe they have monopoly over the truth, you are adding to your irrelevance. I will rephrase what you said for you to understand and not make the same error(s) again. Muslims, in general, believe they have monopoly over the tennets of their faith. Atheists by definition are declared opponents and have no room or opinion when it comes to discussing those tennets.
Until you read the Qura’n and at least find out first hand there is such thing as an Islamic dress ‘code’, then I may simply have to tell you that you are pretending to a knowledge that you do not possess.
December 25th, 2012, 10:35 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
Generally, a good indication of relevance is someone writing a page telling you you are irrelevant.
December 25th, 2012, 10:42 am
Visitor said:
???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???
????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ????? ???? ???
???? ??? ??? ???????? ??? ???? ?????
December 25th, 2012, 11:05 am
revenire said:
Observer correct: I believe none of the ‘rebel’ YouTube videos on their victories, SAA use of chemical weapons (and neither does Russia, Israel or the USA), etc. They are all staged. Recently there was a Scud video making the rounds and it turned out to be from SAA exercises not a recent attack. It is the same with videos showing helicopters and MIGs being downed. If we were to believe the FSA the entire Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) would have been destroyed several times over by now and we both know that’s silly. It is the same with claims of missile bases being overrun – Syria’s air defenses are almost all entirely mobile due to anticipated war with Israel. A group of Qatari and Saudi financed Salafist apes can’t do a thing about it without the help of NATO.
It seems obvious that the FSA wants to get NATO to intervene to save them so all of their propaganda is ordered around doing just that. The rest of their propaganda is to boost their flagging morale. We know from captured FSA fighters many are on narcotic drugs. Often firefights break out among FSA factions over the proceeds from a pharmacy they’ve robbed. This is well documented:
“A commander of a militant group in Syria has been killed in a bitter dispute over the distribution of property stolen during attacks in the northwestern city of Aleppo
“Khaled Oaso, the leader of Bani Zaid terrorist group, was killed in the Hreitan neighborhood of the city, located about 310 kilometers (193 miles) north of Damascus, on Sunday after members of two militant groups turned on each other and exchanged heavy gunfire, the official SANA news agency reported.”
Tara you’ve broadened your hatred toward the Pope. That makes sense. You’re one of the most hateful and sectarian posters here. Merry Christmas to you. Please enjoy your liberty in the United States. If you were in Syria you would be languishing in a prison cell and not at a party flirting with an elderly befuddled Iranian.
The ‘rebels’ are being used as pawns. In the end almost all of them will all die in Syria and the ones that escape will grow old wondering why they wasted their youth following evil men like the sectarian Sufi fanatic Yaqoubi.
It is easy to brainwash someone using sectarian religion and drugs. Most of the ‘rebels’ fall into these categories.
December 25th, 2012, 11:18 am
zoo said:
Tara
“Arabs are still more handsome/ prettier…”
Syrians, yes, Lebanese and Palestinians some, Moza and HBJ no!
December 25th, 2012, 11:18 am
zoo said:
Revenire
“It is easy to brainwash someone using sectarian religion and drugs”
Without forgetting a salary graciously offered by Qatar and KSA, when most of this young men were jobless.
December 25th, 2012, 11:22 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
???? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ???????? … ??? ?? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ?????.?? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ??????? ???? ?????. ??????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??????? .. ??? ?? ??? ???? ????? ?? ????????????? .. ?? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????????? ???????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ????.?????? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ????? … ??? ???? ????
?? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ????..?? ??? ??? ???? ????? ????
?????? ???? ????????
???? ???? ???? ?? ????? ???
December 25th, 2012, 11:25 am
zoo said:
162. SYRIAN HAMSTER
“Being called a superior being is never meant as a compliment…no even from a friend.”
From a friend, it’s an ironic and friendly tease. From an enemy, it’s a sarcasm hiding powerless and frustration.
December 25th, 2012, 11:34 am
annie said:
We are all Hamza Alkhateeb
?2011 passed,, 2012 passed,, and we are going into 2013.
But we are still here, never going to surrender,
We were slaughtered! We were murdered! We were tortured! We were sniped! We were shelled! We were dismembered! We got exploded! We died because of pain! We died because of cold! We died because of chemical weapons and gases!
We tried each way of death! But we didn’t die of fear!!
No fear after today from Assad!
Let him do what he wants! Let him kill us with any kind of weapon he wants!
With the world’s silence, and worldwide government impotence, we will remain standing tall with heads up high. Let the whole world know, from east to west, that we bow only to God and no one else. We shall and will be victorious.
Long Live Free Syria.
December 25th, 2012, 11:34 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
An ironic tease is not a compliment…
December 25th, 2012, 11:39 am
Tara said:
” If you were in Syria you would be languishing in a prison cell and not at a party flirting with..”
Funny. Sorry I am very well connected in Syria to your beloved Batta. I would be invited to all their parties.. It is the nature of your corrupt regime.
And no I do not flirt with anybody. With one exception.
December 25th, 2012, 11:41 am
zoo said:
Syrian Hamster
For me, it is better than a compliment.
In any case it is irrelevant as I got no friend in this Blog, just enemies.
December 25th, 2012, 11:49 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
Not to step on TARA’s territories..
Sad, and lonely, are we?
believe it or not, I felt sad reading your last comment.
December 25th, 2012, 11:58 am
Tara said:
Zoo,
I am very disappointed. I always thought of you as a close friend of mine. Yes with 180 degree opposite view but yet a kinda dear friend.. I am your enemy now?
December 25th, 2012, 12:02 pm
Jasmine said:
Washigton doesn’t care about Syria
The appropriate title would be “Syrians never cared about their country”and the few who cared were exiled,killed or end up in prison.
Have we loved enough our country,we would have stayed and helped and not commenting as powerless expat !
Have we cared about our Syrian brothers and sisters,we would have tried to help and not by exchanging insults in this blog.
Two years have uncovered the lies,hate and prejudice or were these two years a part of growing up as a nation?
Happy holiday season to all .
December 25th, 2012, 12:05 pm
zoo said:
A backlash to Turkey’s heavy flirt with Iraq-Kurdistan?
A Kurdish state is being established, and Baghdad may accept it
December 24, 2012 12:35 AM
By David Hirst
I was surprised last week to read an article in the Baghdad newspaper Al-Sabah, by its editor Abd al-Jabbar Shabbout, suggesting it was time to settle the “age-old problem” between Iraq’s Arabs and Kurds by establishing a “Kurdish state.” For never before had I heard so heretical a view so publicly expressed in any Arab quarter. And this was no ordinary quarter either. Sabah is the mouthpiece of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Shabbout went on to suggest a negotiated “ending of the Arab-Kurdish partnership in a peaceful way.”He called his proposal Plan-B – Plan-A being what was already in train: namely, a continuous “dialogue” between Iraq’s central government and the Kurdish regional government, conducted within the framework of the “new Iraq” – constitutionally defined as “federal, democratic and parliamentary” – that followed the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Commentary/2012/Dec-24/199715-a-kurdish-state-is-being-established-and-baghdad-may-accept-it.ashx#ixzz2G5HkONL0
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
December 25th, 2012, 12:06 pm
zoo said:
Tara
Sorry. The hatred, aggressivity and enemity on this Blog are so overwhelming that I forgot to add ‘except one’ ..
December 25th, 2012, 12:10 pm
zoo said:
Photos: Christmas Shopping in Tehran, The Islamic republic of Iran.
http://www.payvand.com/news/12/dec/1222.html
December 25th, 2012, 12:13 pm
zoo said:
Maybe Turkey will become a model for Arab Spring countries to finally regulate prostitution and benefit the country taxes.
Are there brothels in Istanbul,turkey?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Turkey
December 25th, 2012, 12:20 pm
revenire said:
Tara few people could ever respect a Syrian who has left their homeland to sit on a web forum all day spewing hatred and calling for sectarian warfare. The “rebels” have many such expat keyboard warriors.
December 25th, 2012, 12:26 pm
Tara said:
Reve,
Look in the mirror… Do you not read what you write?
December 25th, 2012, 12:28 pm
zoo said:
Aid is becoming urgent for the poor refugees trapped in camps.
Syrian refugees face harsh winter in desperate conditions
25/12/2012
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=32299
“The situation here is even worse than being at home,” said Waad Orfali, a 27-year-old woman, dressed in a pink headscarf, velvet pink gown and slippers, as rain pounded the camp.
“At least in the village there was a doctor,” said Orfali, who escaped from the northern village of Marea about two weeks ago after snipers and air strikes forced her and her family to relocate to the relative safety of the camp.
…
“I’m three months pregnant and I’ve been bleeding,” said Orfali, who suffered from mouth sores. She said her husband suffered from kidney stones, but that neither had been able to receive medical care at the camp.
“At home there’s no water or electricity and it’s the same thing here,” another woman chimed.
Tents reeked of damp as the rain seeped through, soaking blankets, clothes and rugs, and with no electricity in the camp, children, many wearing a single layer of clothing and slippers with no socks, shivered in the cold.
Mothers complained they received little food. By the afternoon, they said breakfast had not even been distributed. With no running water, lavatories near the mosque stank of rubbish and sewage.
..
“We don’t want money, food or water,” she said. “We just want the slaughter to stop. We dream of going back home.”
IHH, a Turkish relief group, is running the camp. Shawkat Gukman, the IHH coordinator at Bab al-Salameh, said the camp housed about 870 tents and 6,000 people with about 200 people streaming through each day.
Gukman said IHH had not been entirely in charge of running the camp until recently. He said some 5,000 pairs of children’s shoes had been given out.
Challenging conditions like a lack of water and electricity made food preparation and distribution particularly challenging, Gukman said.
“The crisis may last for years. It’s not clear but the war could last for a longer time.”
December 25th, 2012, 12:29 pm
Tara said:
Zoo@ 168
“Syrians, yes, Lebanese and Palestinians some, Moza and HBJ no!”
Ok. I will allow it…
Not everybody can see inner beauty. 😉
December 25th, 2012, 12:32 pm
revenire said:
Tara you will never see me calling for sectarian warfare. You never have and you never will.
December 25th, 2012, 12:38 pm
Tara said:
Reve,
Are you joking? Under the disguise of “terrorists”. you are calling all rebels and their supporters “rats”. and calling for their death using chemical weapons. You even offered me bakery products in reference to the bakery massacre and the blood-soaked pita bread pictured on YouTube. You do not need to specifically say Sunnis, Alawis, Christians etc to advocated ethnic cleansing. There are many many ways to say the same thing…
Do you guys ask yourself why someone like WSS, a Canadian atheist with no Syrian connections, call us out (including me) on all the bad things we say?
December 25th, 2012, 12:50 pm
Visitor said:
?? ??????
???? ?? ???? ????? ????
???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?? ?????
?????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ????
?? ??? ???
?? ??? ??? ???? ????
??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???
???? ??? ???
??? ?? ???? ??? ????????? ???? ????
???? ??? ?????
?? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ????????? ??????? ????? ???????
December 25th, 2012, 12:50 pm
Visitor said:
The highest ranking General defects,
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/12/25/257056.html
December 25th, 2012, 12:53 pm
revenire said:
(Notice the way the headline and story are concocted. It is actually quite funny.)
Syrian opposition fully controls part of Idlib city
Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 25 / Trend A.Tagiyeva /
The Syrian opposition announced full control over a part of Idlib city on Tuesday, the Turkish Anadolu agency reported.
Kharim, which is the largest area of Idlib city located close to the Turkish border moved under control of the opposition forces.
Anti-government protests have continued in Syria for a year and half.
According to UN, the total number of victims of the conflict in Syria is nearing 30,000. More than 230,000 have become refugees with around three million in need of humanitarian assistance. The Syrian authorities say they oppose the well-armed militants.
December 25th, 2012, 1:29 pm
MarigoldRan said:
The regime supporters ARE calling for sectarian warfare, with their proposals to gas “terrorists” hiding in Sunni villages and attacking Sunni areas with jet bombs and artillery shells. But they’re so blind that they don’t realize it.
Instead, their propaganda trumpets their actions as “protecting the nation against terrorists.” So they think that’s the truth. But in reality what they’re doing is sending Alawite soldiers and Alawite-controlled jets against a predominately Sunni FSA.
With each passing day, more leave the regime, exposing their lies.
December 25th, 2012, 1:33 pm
Citizen said:
Does anyone from geniuses candidates in tomorrow”s Syria have recipe to get rid on composite-identity-terrorism in Syria?
December 25th, 2012, 1:36 pm
revenire said:
In the cold streets of Damascus, at Christmas time, I stopped at a checkpoint for the Syrian Arab Army and there was a soldier – a man – a great Syrian standing with the full gear… sparkling green eyes, brown skin after a difficult hot summer and red cold hands in this tough December… he checked my ID, he looked at the trunk of the car and came to me asking with a tender smile on the face and very tired eyes, he said: you have to do two things for me to let you pass:
1.) Never drive without locking your car, for your safety.
2.) Go to Christmas Mass and pray for Syria.
All the world… all the words… meant nothing to me that second… I answered with a tear and a smile… I drove to the closest church and I lit a candle to him… then I went back home and read in my Qura’an for him… then I felt that he is all the world and he will own all my words…
Love and peace my unknown soldier ? ?
December 25th, 2012, 1:38 pm
zoo said:
Tara
The inner beauty of HBJ? A ruthless, arrogant and ambitious born-rich Qatari?
December 25th, 2012, 1:40 pm
Citizen said:
192. MARIGOLDRAN
Peasant woman Jaga frightening horror stories!exclude the subject from the head it will not be more !repeating the question over and over again is an indication of the intention to use by the the speaker!
December 25th, 2012, 1:45 pm
Ghufran said:
?????? ?????? ?????????? ?? ??? : 32% ?????? ?? ????????? ??? ???????
That says a lot about Egypt today and how the public reaction will be towards Islamists’ attempt to radicalize the Middle East . Morsi is a lame duck president only months after being elected by a razor-thin margin .
December 25th, 2012, 1:48 pm
zoo said:
Mabrook to lucky Egypt and welcome to the “exclusive” club of countries with a Sharia-based Constitution supervised by a religious establishment.
Al-Azhar New Battle Spot in Egypt
http://www.onislam.net/english/news/africa/460560-al-azhar-new-role-divides-egyptians.html
According to a new draft constitution, Al-Azhar would be in charge of interpreting Islamic Shari`ah.
The centuries-old institution would also be responsible for making sure that all laws are in line with the principles of Shari`ah.
But opponents say that the new powers will play into the hands of Islamist groups to take over the prestigious institution.
Abdel Dayem-Nossair said he believes the Salafis insisted on the provision because “they think they’ll take over Al-Azhar.”
Considered the most distinguished center of Sunni Islamic thought, which educates millions of students annually, Al-Azhar has played an important role in that debate for centuries.
…
Nader Bakar, a top official with the Salafi Nour Party, denied his group has sought greater influence over Al-Azhar.
“We are not interested in freeing Azhar just to take it over,” he said.
He also rejected claims that Salafis want Al-Azhar to have the definitive say in interpreting Islamic Shari`ah.
“Azhar is not like the Vatican,” he said.
“No one in Islam has the final point of view.
Al-Azhar, which means the “most flourishing and resplendent,” was named after Fatima Al-Zahraa, daughter of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him).
Note: As for the Iranian connection, Fatima Al Zahra is the mother of Imam Hossein
December 25th, 2012, 1:51 pm
Citizen said:
Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour has praised Russia’s position on Syria. In an interview with the “Voice of Russia” he said that Russia had a well-balance position aimed at peaceful settlement of the conflict in Syria. He said that the conflict could be resolved only through negotiations without use of weapons.
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_12_25/Lebans-FM-praises-Russia-s-position-on-Syria/
December 25th, 2012, 1:56 pm
Citizen said:
Chechen Islamists Sent to Syria via Britain and Turkey
http://www.syrianews.cc/chechen-islamists-sent-to-syria-via-britain-and-turkey/
Chechnya has declared autonomy although it is a part of the Russian territory and despite the opposition of the Russian government in Moscow. Chechnya has large amounts of dangerous Islamists on its soil.
There have been reports that some Chechen Islamists were fighting in Syria beside the ranks of the Western-backed “Free Syrian Army” (FSA) terrorists already months ago. As stated by some new reports, the so-called officials of the region have allegedly now the intention to attract the support and attention of some Western governments and they are aware of the stance of the Russian government towards the Syrian government in the capital Damascus, of course.
December 25th, 2012, 1:59 pm
revenire said:
The people of Aleppo demand that the Syrian army cleanse their city from the FSA terrorists who ruined their city.
December 25th, 2012, 1:59 pm
Tara said:
Zoo,
Born-rich? I am sure you were born-rich too.
In any case, I just happen to believe that HBJ is specifically motivated by his love to Syria and not by egotistical ambitious agenda nor by a sectarian hatred. He had financially supported the rebuild of al Dahya al Janoubia and celebrated the work of HA. He was taught by Baathist Syrian teacher ( I know that as a fact) and I believe he is an Arab nationalistic. That is where I see his inner beauty.
It may surprise you to know that I was and still an admirer of the Ba’ath ideology (in its original form) but sadly it turned out just that, an ideology. Not realistic or possible.
December 25th, 2012, 2:05 pm
revenire said:
The al-Nusra FSA terrorists attacked Maan village today and killed seven men, one woman and two children. The photo below is from their funeral in Salhab.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A–6C2DCEAArnn8.jpg
RIP
You will be avenged.
December 25th, 2012, 2:09 pm
Citizen said:
In the U.S., the film goes about killing bin Laden. But why should it be managed, if we again say that al-Qaida again as strong as ever?
December 25th, 2012, 2:43 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Ibrahimi plan calls for forming a goverment that has ALL authority,and has to be accepted by both loyalists and opposition,
Forming such goverment would be extremely difficult,if not impossible, Assad will not relinquish authority till such goverment exist,to guarantee the safty of opposition figures require 10,000 UN soldier,Assad has to agree to deploy such force, such force has to be authorized by UNSC,and should be able to protect itself,with weapons .
Who will get the interior ministry job, and defense ministry job, what will be the fate of FSA? the political prisoners?, who will be responsible for violations,
Ibrahimi plan will not last few hours,as Assad lied before and will lie again, he will not accept armed UN force
December 25th, 2012, 2:47 pm
revenire said:
It is very stupid for the terrorist FSA and their Qatari, Turkish and Saudi controllers to talk of bakery massacres when video exists that make them truly look like mindless apes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O246EoW7z08
Do you see dead women and children in the video uploaded by the FSA? I see men with guns and uniforms.
December 25th, 2012, 2:52 pm
revenire said:
???? ????? ???? “????? ???????” ?? ?????
???? ??????? ??????? ???? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ????? “?????? ???????” ????? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ??????? ?????????? ????? ?? ????????? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????????.
?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ??”???? ????????” ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?? ??? ?????? “?????????” ?? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ?? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? 14 ???? ?? ??????? ?? ???????? ????????.
????? ?????? ???? ???????? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ???????. ?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??13 ???? (8 ???? ??????) ?220 ?? ???????? ?????? ?????. ???? ????????? ???? ?? ???? ??? 16 ????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? “??????”? ???? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ???????? ????????
December 25th, 2012, 3:05 pm
revenire said:
Winner of 2012’s FSA Fake Video of the Year Award goes to this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=J1U5n8GZkbw
The Salafi apes are so stupid they want us to believe that Syria is being armed by Israel! Here they show a bomb with the Star of David on it and claim this is a “regime” bomb.
December 25th, 2012, 3:36 pm
Observer said:
TARA
ZOO wrote:”A ruthless, arrogant and ambitious born-rich” in reference to HBJ and yet one could substitute that for your Batta and it would fit perfectly except that your Batta is a million times worse and in the end showed himself as a representative of the mafia state he runs to be a stupid backward failed mafiosi boss that would have been declared a shame on the thugs if Cosa Nostra league of mafiosi men and women around the world.
By gosh even Putin is now looking embarrassed at the company he keeps. He is ashamed that Batta failed him in being an eminent member of the mafiosi clans of the World.
Cheers and Justice for Hamza
Syrian Hamster don’t bother with either ZOO or Visitor they are both sides of the same coin.
The coin of cultist hatred of the other.
By the way Visitor no one holds any thought and any idea over others. According to your faith, God gave me reason so that I can think and decide for myself and use my critical thinking and decide for myself.
FYI I read the Quran cover to cover every year. And each time I read it I find those that use its sayings for their worldly ends to be the ultimate Moushroukoun for they have associated God with their base human desires.
For the Shia to say the Ali is the rightful ruler or for the Sunnis to claim the true faith or for the Evangelicals to claim that God told them the earth is only 6000 years old and for the Zionists to claim that they are God’s chosen people is nothing less than Shirk. God is Greater than all of this garbage according to your faith and it is fanatics that deprive the rest of humanity of the beauty of all religions and thoughts and philosophies.
At a time when pursuing the truth was the most important aspect of the glorious Islamic times, the Arab and Muslim philosophers thought that Aristotle must have been a prophet and certainly was called the Grand Master.
Cheers and Justice for Hamza
December 25th, 2012, 4:25 pm
Basel said:
To: SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
?? ???? ???????? ?????????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?????? .. ”
We don’t worship Assad, God forbid. We know for fact he’s the disciple who will pave the way to the savior to come and free us. Assad is the hope of all mankind.
December 25th, 2012, 4:37 pm
Basel said:
To: OBSERVER
“Cheers and Justice for Hamza”
You keep mentioning Hamza, are you referring to that young man who was attacking the army residential units in Daraa hoping for some sex under the umbrella of ” ??? ???? ??????” ?
December 25th, 2012, 4:44 pm
Basel said:
To: Tara said:
“Someone needs to tell the Pope to please shut up. ….. Go and fix children molestation in your church and save your prayer to yourself.”
I though that children molestation is a trademark of Islamists of Sunni faith in Afghanistan “??? ???????”?
I agree Pope should support Assad unconditionally if he’s really a man of faith.
December 25th, 2012, 4:50 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
The head of the Military Police in Syria, Gen. Shallal defects. That’s a significant defection. Every passing day brings bad news for Batta and his shabeehah. Very soon, Allah willing, the FSA will knocking on their doors.
One of the achievements of Batta and his father is to dumb down the population. In his defection statement, this high-ranking general makes grammatical mistakes that no properly schooled 10-year old boy would make.
This is not an individual case, but it is widespread.
Any way, time is up for those barbarian savages ruling Syria. Allah willing, they will be uprooted and will be sent to history’s garbage bin, where they belong.
December 25th, 2012, 5:05 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Observer
you wrote
“For the Shia to say the Ali is the rightful ruler “,
we have no problem for such statement,this is political statement, it is not religious statement, our difference with Shiite,is that they consider Ali as WALI, and thus they worship him, and this is not acceptable in Islam,read the last verse in Israa sourah, and the first page in Zummer and many many other parts of Quraan.
It is violation of Islam(KUFR) to say God has Wali people should worship.
AS an atheist why do you read Quraan every year, you are most likely a good Musslem.
December 25th, 2012, 5:07 pm
revenire said:
To hear the apes speak the entire SAA defected and Assad is using Israelis to defeat the freedom loving Salafists.
LOL fail on Shallal.
December 25th, 2012, 5:30 pm
Basel said:
So did Assad fall yet?
December 25th, 2012, 5:38 pm
revenire said:
Ha ha later today – he’s out for a late night jog around Damascus now (without bodyguards).
🙂
December 25th, 2012, 6:01 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
As the year is drawing to a close, I would like to mention some of the biggest losers of the Syrian revolution/uprising.
I mentioned before that the Alawite community is one of those losers for standing with the Assads right or wrong. Had he prevailed, they would have reaped the fruits of their support. However, given that Assad’s demise is highly probable, the Alawite community will pay the price for supporting this barbaric regime. It is only fair. You can’t have it both ways. The price they’ll pay is the loss of trust of the Syrian people, which will translate to the loss of many of the privileges that they got under the Assads. The worst part for them is that they sold themselves to the Assad’s for very little. Most of them remained poor and many of their villages remained underdeveloped. Only a small percentage of them made it really big. However, as I said earlier, the Alawite community can turn things around by repenting and changing course. I hope they do so before it is too late.
Another big loser is Asma Al-Akhras. In just a few months, she turned from “A Rose In The Desert” and wife of a soft dictator who has the potential of being a reformer into a “Thorn” and wife of a barbaric mass murderer and war criminal. What a huge fall from grace.
High up on the list is HA and its leader HN. Between the year 2000 and 2010 (and especially after the war on Lebanon), HA and HN achieved what no highly-funded PR campaign run by the best in the field could have dreamt of accomplishing. However, due to sheer stupidity, HN turned from hero into a villain. I remember back in 2006 trying to caution some people who are Sunnis about HA and HN, but they were not willing to listen. They didn’t have sectarian filters, which is a good thing, but they refused to look at HA’s hidden agenda. Now, in the span of less than two years, all of that support among the Sunnis has pretty much evaporated. All HA and HN had to do is remain neutral, but they couldn’t. I must send them a thank you note (actually, I am not going to waste money and time doing so).
In addition to HA, Iran is also a big loser. They are seeing with horror all of their investments in Syria (monetary, economic, religious, and so on) evaporate. The Syrian people will never forget their support of Assad during this civil war. Their reputation in the Islamic world has plummeted and will pay dearly for their utter stupidity.
There are more big losers, but no time go through the list. I’ll let others
December 25th, 2012, 6:03 pm
revenire said:
Tara where did you say you lived? Support for Jabhat al-Nusra (FSA) in the United States is a federal crime. The FBI watches sites like this because many terrorist supporters and sympathizers congregate here to spread their hateful sectarianism.
18 USC § 2339B – Providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2339B
USC-prelim
US Code
Notes
Updates
Authorities (CFR)
USCPrelim is a preliminary release and may be subject to further revision before it is released again as a final version.
Current through Pub. L. 112-207. (See Public Laws for the current Congress.)
(a) Prohibited Activities.—
(1) Unlawful conduct.— Whoever knowingly provides material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization, or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both, and, if the death of any person results, shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life. To violate this paragraph, a person must have knowledge that the organization is a designated terrorist organization (as defined in subsection (g)(6)), that the organization has engaged or engages in terrorist activity (as defined in section 212(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act), or that the organization has engaged or engages in terrorism (as defined in section 140(d)(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989).
(2) Financial institutions.— Except as authorized by the Secretary, any financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of, or control over, any funds in which a foreign terrorist organization, or its agent, has an interest, shall—
(A) retain possession of, or maintain control over, such funds; and
(B) report to the Secretary the existence of such funds in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary.
(b) Civil Penalty.— Any financial institution that knowingly fails to comply with subsection (a)(2) shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount that is the greater of—
(A) $50,000 per violation; or
(B) twice the amount of which the financial institution was required under subsection (a)(2) to retain possession or control.
(c) Injunction.— Whenever it appears to the Secretary or the Attorney General that any person is engaged in, or is about to engage in, any act that constitutes, or would constitute, a violation of this section, the Attorney General may initiate civil action in a district court of the United States to enjoin such violation.
(d) Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.—
(1) In general.— There is jurisdiction over an offense under subsection (a) if—
(A) an offender is a national of the United States (as defined in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 (a)(22))) or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States (as defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 (a)(20)));
(B) an offender is a stateless person whose habitual residence is in the United States;
(C) after the conduct required for the offense occurs an offender is brought into or found in the United States, even if the conduct required for the offense occurs outside the United States;
(D) the offense occurs in whole or in part within the United States;
(E) the offense occurs in or affects interstate or foreign commerce; or
(F) an offender aids or abets any person over whom jurisdiction exists under this paragraph in committing an offense under subsection (a) or conspires with any person over whom jurisdiction exists under this paragraph to commit an offense under subsection (a).
(2) Extraterritorial jurisdiction.— There is extraterritorial Federal jurisdiction over an offense under this section.
(e) Investigations.—
(1) In general.— The Attorney General shall conduct any investigation of a possible violation of this section, or of any license, order, or regulation issued pursuant to this section.
(2) Coordination with the department of the treasury.— The Attorney General shall work in coordination with the Secretary in investigations relating to—
(A) the compliance or noncompliance by a financial institution with the requirements of subsection (a)(2); and
(B) civil penalty proceedings authorized under subsection (b).
(3) Referral.— Any evidence of a criminal violation of this section arising in the course of an investigation by the Secretary or any other Federal agency shall be referred immediately to the Attorney General for further investigation. The Attorney General shall timely notify the Secretary of any action taken on referrals from the Secretary, and may refer investigations to the Secretary for remedial licensing or civil penalty action.
(f) Classified Information in Civil Proceedings Brought by the United States.—
(1) Discovery of classified information by defendants.—
(A) Request by united states.— In any civil proceeding under this section, upon request made ex parte and in writing by the United States, a court, upon a sufficient showing, may authorize the United States to—
(i) redact specified items of classified information from documents to be introduced into evidence or made available to the defendant through discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure;
(ii) substitute a summary of the information for such classified documents; or
(iii) substitute a statement admitting relevant facts that the classified information would tend to prove.
(B) Order granting request.— If the court enters an order granting a request under this paragraph, the entire text of the documents to which the request relates shall be sealed and preserved in the records of the court to be made available to the appellate court in the event of an appeal.
(C) Denial of request.— If the court enters an order denying a request of the United States under this paragraph, the United States may take an immediate, interlocutory appeal in accordance with paragraph (5). For purposes of such an appeal, the entire text of the documents to which the request relates, together with any transcripts of arguments made ex parte to the court in connection therewith, shall be maintained under seal and delivered to the appellate court.
(2) Introduction of classified information; precautions by court.—
(A) Exhibits.— To prevent unnecessary or inadvertent disclosure of classified information in a civil proceeding brought by the United States under this section, the United States may petition the court ex parte to admit, in lieu of classified writings, recordings, or photographs, one or more of the following:
(i) Copies of items from which classified information has been redacted.
(ii) Stipulations admitting relevant facts that specific classified information would tend to prove.
(iii) A declassified summary of the specific classified information.
(B) Determination by court.— The court shall grant a request under this paragraph if the court finds that the redacted item, stipulation, or summary is sufficient to allow the defendant to prepare a defense.
(3) Taking of trial testimony.—
(A) Objection.— During the examination of a witness in any civil proceeding brought by the United States under this subsection, the United States may object to any question or line of inquiry that may require the witness to disclose classified information not previously found to be admissible.
(B) Action by court.— In determining whether a response is admissible, the court shall take precautions to guard against the compromise of any classified information, including—
(i) permitting the United States to provide the court, ex parte, with a proffer of the witness’s response to the question or line of inquiry; and
(ii) requiring the defendant to provide the court with a proffer of the nature of the information that the defendant seeks to elicit.
(C) Obligation of defendant.— In any civil proceeding under this section, it shall be the defendant’s obligation to establish the relevance and materiality of any classified information sought to be introduced.
(4) Appeal.— If the court enters an order denying a request of the United States under this subsection, the United States may take an immediate interlocutory appeal in accordance with paragraph (5).
(5) Interlocutory appeal.—
(A) Subject of appeal.— An interlocutory appeal by the United States shall lie to a court of appeals from a decision or order of a district court—
(i) authorizing the disclosure of classified information;
(ii) imposing sanctions for nondisclosure of classified information; or
(iii) refusing a protective order sought by the United States to prevent the disclosure of classified information.
(B) Expedited consideration.—
(i) In general.— An appeal taken pursuant to this paragraph, either before or during trial, shall be expedited by the court of appeals.
(ii) Appeals prior to trial.— If an appeal is of an order made prior to trial, an appeal shall be taken not later than 14 days after the decision or order appealed from, and the trial shall not commence until the appeal is resolved.
(iii) Appeals during trial.— If an appeal is taken during trial, the trial court shall adjourn the trial until the appeal is resolved, and the court of appeals—
(I) shall hear argument on such appeal not later than 4 days after the adjournment of the trial, excluding intermediate weekends and holidays;
(II) may dispense with written briefs other than the supporting materials previously submitted to the trial court;
(III) shall render its decision not later than 4 days after argument on appeal, excluding intermediate weekends and holidays; and
(IV) may dispense with the issuance of a written opinion in rendering its decision.
(C) Effect of ruling.— An interlocutory appeal and decision shall not affect the right of the defendant, in a subsequent appeal from a final judgment, to claim as error reversal by the trial court on remand of a ruling appealed from during trial.
(6) Construction.— Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the United States from seeking protective orders or asserting privileges ordinarily available to the United States to protect against the disclosure of classified information, including the invocation of the military and State secrets privilege.
(g) Definitions.— As used in this section—
(1) the term “classified information” has the meaning given that term in section 1(a) of the Classified Information Procedures Act (18 U.S.C. App.);
(2) the term “financial institution” has the same meaning as in section 5312 (a)(2) of title 31, United States Code;
(3) the term “funds” includes coin or currency of the United States or any other country, traveler’s checks, personal checks, bank checks, money orders, stocks, bonds, debentures, drafts, letters of credit, any other negotiable instrument, and any electronic representation of any of the foregoing;
(4) the term “material support or resources” has the same meaning given that term in section 2339A (including the definitions of “training” and “expert advice or assistance” in that section);
(5) the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Treasury; and
(6) the term “terrorist organization” means an organization designated as a terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
(h) Provision of Personnel.— No person may be prosecuted under this section in connection with the term “personnel” unless that person has knowingly provided, attempted to provide, or conspired to provide a foreign terrorist organization with 1 or more individuals (who may be or include himself) to work under that terrorist organization’s direction or control or to organize, manage, supervise, or otherwise direct the operation of that organization. Individuals who act entirely independently of the foreign terrorist organization to advance its goals or objectives shall not be considered to be working under the foreign terrorist organization’s direction and control.
(i) Rule of Construction.— Nothing in this section shall be construed or applied so as to abridge the exercise of rights guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
(j) Exception.— No person may be prosecuted under this section in connection with the term “personnel”, “training”, or “expert advice or assistance” if the provision of that material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization was approved by the Secretary of State with the concurrence of the Attorney General. The Secretary of State may not approve the provision of any material support that may be used to carry out terrorist activity (as defined in section 212(a)(3)(B)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
December 25th, 2012, 6:04 pm
Syrian said:
A note to all Assad supporters
If you were in Syria you would be languishing in a prison cell and not at SC making up fake news, and would be getting double the punishment of a Sunni if you are an Alawie
For not including his tittle “Mr prisedent” before his name Bashar or Alasad
Citizen,you would ve been safe, and probably they would have hired you to teach English at Damascus university
I expect all of you from now on to say Mr prisedent
December 25th, 2012, 7:50 pm
Basel said:
TO: revenire
“Ha ha later today – he’s out for a late night jog around Damascus now (without bodyguards)”.
As he does “???? ???? ?? ?????” as Damascenes say it.
I’ll die my head read and shave my eyebrows if Assad falls even from the couch.
“Tara where did you say you lived? Support for Jabhat al-Nusra (FSA) in the United States is a federal crime. ”
Surely FBI will appreciate an email highlighting this fact, let me do the honor brother. Enjoy the black list Tara
December 25th, 2012, 8:01 pm
Basel said:
To: Syrian
“For not including his tittle “Mr prisedent” before his name Bashar or Alasad”
You mean Assad Peace Be Upon Him
December 25th, 2012, 8:03 pm
Syrian said:
A new konkurs Russain made missile is being used in Allepo today
http://youtu.be/BP9Q_hX0gLo
December 25th, 2012, 8:04 pm
Syrian said:
222
In your case you can say the Bashar the Almighty, but just in case you should still say Mr president Bashar and add the Almighty
Some Shabih might not understand your extra devotion and might mistake you as being sarcastic.
December 25th, 2012, 8:14 pm
Basel said:
Best quote of 2012
“???? ????? ????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????????
?????? ??????? ??? ????? ????????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ????????? ???????? ??? ?????? ???? ????????? ?? ??????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ????. ??????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ???????? ??????? ????????”
December 25th, 2012, 8:14 pm
Ghufran said:
This “plan” leaked to Italian press, no confirmation from lobrahimi or the involved parties:
??? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ????? ??? ???????? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ???????? ??? ?? ????? ????? ????????? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????? ?? ????????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ????? (?????? ?????? ????) ????? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ???????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ??????????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ???????”.
I remain skeptical for a number of reasons but I hope we will open a new chapter by the spring-summer of next year., most people are not that optimistic, I hope they are wrong, it is time for the war to end and for Syrians to elect a new government.
December 25th, 2012, 8:28 pm
Tara said:
Majedkhaldoon,
Syria’s Nadine Fahad named Miss Arab World 2012
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/12/25/257067.html
The contest sought to highlight the “ideal Arab girl” that best represents her country based on traditional Arab values of modesty and culture,” according to http://www.missarabworld.org, the website of the event.
December 25th, 2012, 8:45 pm
Johannes de Silentio said:
Revenire and Basel out and about in beautiful downtown Aleppo
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3537/3333948306_edccec9c35_o.jpg
December 25th, 2012, 8:50 pm
Johannes de Silentio said:
222. BASEL
“You mean Assad Peace Be Upon Him”
He’s not dead yet, you dunce. You only say PBUH to dead men.
December 25th, 2012, 8:56 pm
Visitor said:
“Syrian Hamster don’t bother with either ZOO or Visitor they are both sides of the same coin.
The coin of cultist hatred of the other.”
you realize Observer, that as a coin you’re worth less than a penny.
Disregarding the cheap swipe, the obove becomes the most significant you said, since you’re in fact telling the so-called Hamster to buzz off which is the right thing for you to do, since his interjection is nothing but a cheap patronizing to you first as if he is telling You I know better than you how to answer this guy. I would have done the same if I were in your situation, and it is always my policy. I do not tolerate interjectors. I made it clear many times I prefer one to one conversations and do not feel need for extensions – which once they become attached to someone they serve only the role of hounding dogs.
The rest of your comment is meaningless. No one is trying to rob you from your use of your reasoning powers which according to you were earned by your birthright which you consider as a completely natural process just like any other species of animals produce their offspring with no role to A Creator in the process whatsoever. You see there is no need to ascribe to my beliefs any role in your naturally acquired reasoning ‘prowesses’. There is no better way than saying things the way one believes in without need to refer to others’ beliefs whether out of respect or otherwise. It would even make you feel better and more authentic. Hell, you wouldeven convince me, unlike Majed, that you are an authentic atheist and not a fake one!
Reading the Qura’n once every year and not discovering that it does speak of what would be considered an Islamic dress ‘code’ is a real cause for concern with regards to the level of mental absorption on the part of the reader.
And with regards to Aristotle, you may want to know beore it is too late that the world has gone far beyond him some one thousand years ago by none other than believing Muslims. And just in case you missed it the so-called second master (al-Farabi) had an opinion to voice just towards the end of his life. He had a saying in which he said: I regret every moment I spent pursuing this subject of Philosophy.
December 25th, 2012, 8:58 pm
Tara said:
Gulf states call for action to end Syria conflict
http://www.dw.de/gulf-states-call-for-action-to-end-syria-conflict/a-16478790
A group of six Gulf Arab states has wrapped up a two-day summit with an appeal to the international community to end the bloodshed in Syria. They also called on Iran to butt out of the affairs of its Arab neighbors.
December 25th, 2012, 9:06 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Tara 227
I guess I am extremely lucky
December 25th, 2012, 9:35 pm
William Scott Scherk said:
Some unpleasant reports circulating today:
From Syria Truth we learn of a rebel/terrorist chemical arms attack, resulting in regime deaths:
From the website of AlKhabar, a story about the formation of irregular militias attached to the Syrian Arab Army.
Here is a photo of one all-female formation, present location unknown. Stern but non-hijab ladies with a desire to defend their nation from terrorists.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A-_uiTKCIAAqv1r.jpg
The militia formation includes the all-important training. Read and weep:
The always daring SANA blows the lid off the Brahimi/NCB meeting:
All4Syria notes an AFP story in which the FSA has taken control of Alawite and Christian areas, including in the town of Ma’an:
December 25th, 2012, 9:55 pm
William Scott Scherk said:
Ghufran copypastes a remnant from a story going around today that puts a bit of spin on what we imagine was the function of the Brahimi meeting: to present a united US/Soviet offer to Assad. The details of the offer comprise, we have learned from various sources, two different exit plans.
The griping points are many, but the worst aspect from the point of view of the opposition would be the care and feeding of Assad’s vanity as head of state; according to the story going the rounds (here at al-Mustaqbal) Assad would retain the ceremonial kingship (although no powers) while the two-thirds opposition ‘unity government’ did its thing.
The quid pro quo for this hanging around on the throne eating sandwiches and picking bugs out of his hair? Well, according to one speculative version, if Assad agrees to go, he and the famous ‘elect’ of 144 perfect insiders and criminals will be provided an airlift.
We will one day know just what was said (between the lines) in all these full and frank discussions in Geneva, Dublin and Damascus.
For the non Arabic-speaking, a machine translation of the salient details on offer as told by the unspecified sources at al-Mustaqbal:
December 25th, 2012, 10:13 pm
Syrian said:
In the main time
The FSA have liberated Harem and rounded up hundreds of the Assad’s Shabihs from the mountains after running away
http://youtu.be/JqzT0q65b-I
December 25th, 2012, 10:26 pm
ghufran said:
Aleppo (feel free to refute the story if you have better information):
???? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ???????? ????? ?????? ????? ????????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????????
???? ???? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? «???? ??????» ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ???? ? ????? ????
???? ??? ???? ?? ??????: «??? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ???????? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???????? ??????? ???????? ??? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ???????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????».
???? ??? ?? ?? ??????? ??? ?? ???????? ????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ??? ?????? ???? ????????? ??? ??????? «??? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ????????? ?????? ?? ????????? ???????? ??? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???????? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ????????? ???????? ????? ???????? ????? ???? (????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ???????) ?????: (????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ????????) ?? ?????????? ?? ???? ??????».
what will be the reaction of the NC if Jabhat Al-Nusra refuses to leave “liberated” areas or allow the NC,or any new government, to take charge of security?
Do you honestly believe that Islamist fighters (being polite here) will just leave when asked to?
the level of naivety that some people have here is astounding.
December 25th, 2012, 10:30 pm
ghufran said:
Part of a letter sent by Christian Solidarity International-USA (csi-usa.org)to president Obama:
“At the Holocaust Museum, Mr. President, you repeated a truth of which American policy-makers must never lose sight: “Preventing mass atrocities and genocide is a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility of the United State of America.”
This Christmas Eve, CSI urges you to serve the United States’ interests and fulfill her moral responsibilities by making a firm commitment to prevent the religious cleansing of Christians and other religious minorities from the Middle East”.
Respectfully,
Dr. John Eibner
(If islamists take over and Obama sees this as a potential threat to Israel and US interests, he may use ethnic and sectarian cleansing as
one selling point to justify intervention)
December 25th, 2012, 10:41 pm
Syrian said:
Any story that comes from Rami Makhlof newspapers in pure garbage
???? ????? ????? ??????? ?? “???? ??????” ??????? ?????? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?……..,
http://www.champress.net/index.php?q=ar/Article/view/12452
December 25th, 2012, 10:43 pm
Syrian said:
Any story that comes from Rami Makhlof’s newspaper is pure garbage
???? ????? ????? ??????? ?? “???? ??????” ??????? ?????? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?……..,
http://www.champress.net/index.php?q=ar/Article/view/12452
December 25th, 2012, 10:44 pm
norman said:
Joshua said that The US does not care about Syria, but it should, the fall of the secular government in Syria is going to lead to the fall of the US allied government of Iraq to the Islamists that are going to take over Syria, What would the US do at that time?.
December 25th, 2012, 10:47 pm
ghufran said:
I disagree with the notion that anything that comes from regime media is “pure garbage”. People who seek the truth shall look for it everywhere. Remember that regime media,as bad as it is, still speaks for many Syrians who may not necessarily like it but they certainly do not trust aljazeera and alarabiya.
The story seems credible to me and it cross matches similar stories posted by western press (is that pure garbage too?)
Here is another victim of the rebels who have returned to Alyarmouk few days after “agreeing” to leave it alone:
?????? ????? ????????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ???????. ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ??????? ?????? «?????? ????» ?????? ???.
do not wait for opposition media (supposidly of a mixed but not pure garbage quality) to say anything about islamist thugs,
“dood alkhall minno wfeeh”
December 25th, 2012, 11:08 pm
ghufran said:
???? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ???? “???? ?????? ???????” ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????? ??? ??? 2009 ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ????????? ??????.
December 25th, 2012, 11:33 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
????? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??? ???
Hmar is a person who is stupid.
Jahsh is Hmar and aggressive
Arnab is a coward.
Khanzeer is a mean hated person.
kalb is insult to someone you can not trust
Baghel is a dum person hard to move.
baqqa is someone stick to something and hard to get rid of.
Hayawan is someone needs to be kicked to move
Tha3lab is a tricky person
Herbayeh and sernow is a person sneak his way through.
hayyeh is a person who surprise you with things hurt you.
Farah is a small woman hard to catch.
Duze is
December 25th, 2012, 11:37 pm
zoo said:
Interview with a Newly Designated Terrorist: Syria’s Jabhat Al-Nusra
By Rania Abouzeid / Outside AleppoDec. 25, 2012
….
Jabhat al-Nusra is headed by a man who uses the nom de guerre of Abu Mohammad al-Golani (Golani is a reference to Syria’s Golan Heights, occupied by Israel). The U.S. Treasury Department has also slapped financial sanctions against two men it believes are senior leaders in the militia group: Maysar Ali Musa Abdallah al-Juburi and Anas Hasan Khattab. Recent media reports also mention one Mustafa Abdel-Latif, also known as Abu Anas al-Sahaba, as the new “emir” or leader of Jabhat al-Nusra. A Jordanian national, al-Sahaba is the brother-in-law of the late al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Abu Adnan would not disclose any information about the men named by the Treasury Department and said al-Golani remained the Jabhat’s leader. Al-Golani’s real identity remains a well-kept secret, even to the leaders of other similar Islamist militant groups in Syria. At a recent meeting of the leaders of the Salafi groups Ahrar al-Sham, Suqoor al-Sham, Liwa al-Islam, Jabhat al-Nusra and several other units to discuss the creation of a Syria-wide pan-Islamist coalition, al-Golani kept his face covered throughout the proceedings, according to a participant. He was introduced by the Jabhat leaders in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo, who vouched for his identity, but al-Golani offered no information about himself. “He knew everything about each one of us,” the participant said, “how long we’d been in the fight, our personal backgrounds, how long we’d spent in prison [before the revolution], everything.”
….
At the same time as announcing plans for an Islamic state in Aleppo, the Jabhat has begun undertaking relief efforts in the neighborhoods of the city it is based in, seeking a stronger foothold in the local community, even though paradoxically like many rebel groups operating in Aleppo, its fighters are largely not from the city. It has distributed much-needed supplies of petrol, diesel, and flour to bakeries. “We are keeping the price of bread at 15 lira [about 21 U.S. cents], which was its true price,” Abu Adnan said, adding that transgressors would be punished according to Shari‘a. (The Jabhat has also thus far avoided indiscriminate civilian casualties.)
Read more: http://world.time.com/2012/12/25/interview-with-a-newly-designated-terrorist-syrias-jabhat-al-nusra/#ixzz2G8LRuHhq
December 26th, 2012, 12:42 am
zoo said:
#205 Majed
what will be the fate of FSA?
Dismissed just like the SNC…. It’s too polluted and discredited to have any role in the future of Syria.
We’ve been saying that for long..
December 26th, 2012, 12:56 am
Syrian said:
@241
The opposition media are too busy counting it daily avarage of 150 fallen at bakery lines massacrs or at check points to talk about some B actor who may or may not have been killed in the cross fire
December 26th, 2012, 12:56 am
revenire said:
The FSA and Jabhat al-Nusra make Assad look like Santa Claus.
December 26th, 2012, 1:02 am
zoo said:
Tara
Keep your illusions about that man… Sooner or later you’ll find out who he really is. In South Lebanon he is hated, in Tunisia he is a persona non grata, he will never dare to set a foot in Syria ever.
I also admire the Baathist ideology. I just wished it did not get corrupted but after all, all ideologies end up this way when they get the full power. Let’s see what the MB will become in a few years.
December 26th, 2012, 1:03 am
Hassan said:
SYRIAN COMMANDOS WILL DESTROY THESE COWARDS.
WE ARE ASSAD’S SOLDIERS AND WE RAPED YOUR MOTHERS, SISTERS, DAUGHTERS AND WIVES, WE DESTROYED HAMA AND WE DESTROYED HOMS.
YOUR END IS COMING BLOODY SUNNITES.
WITH LOVE, SYRIAN SPECIAL FORCES .
December 26th, 2012, 2:01 am
Hassan said:
Syrian Special Forces T-72 Tanks in offensive formations, just beautiful , these are our guys :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEYYa0JmeFI
Saraya Difaa all the way.
December 26th, 2012, 2:05 am
Hassan said:
Assad’s Commandos and Special Forces will just exterminate, annihilate all these cowards FSA suporters and bloody Sunnite traitors.
WE ARE ASSAD’S SOLDIERS AND WE RAPED YOUR MOTHERS, SISTERS, DAUGHTERS AND WIVES, WE DESTROYED HAMA AND WE DESTROYED HOMS.
WE ARE KILLING YOU EVERY MINUTE AND WE WILL GENOCIDE YOU. WE ARE MAN-EATERS.
YOUR END IS COMING BLOODY SUNNITES.
With Love, Syrian Special Forces and paratroopers, students of Hafez al Assad, Rifaat al Assad and Bassel al Assad,
Admirers of Der Fuehrer, Slobodan Milosevic and Roadovan Karadzic.
They showed us the way how to treat bloody Jews and Sunnites.
THE TRUE HUMANS- CHRISTIANS, ALAWITES AND SHII’ITES OF SYRIA AND LEBANON.
December 26th, 2012, 2:10 am
Hassan said:
Syrian Special Forces T-72 Tanks in offensive operations, just beautiful , these are our guys :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEYYa0JmeFI
Saraya Difaa all the way.
I was with them from 1977 till 1991.
December 26th, 2012, 2:12 am
Hassan said:
Sieg Heil to Hitler, Milosevic and Putin.
Exterminate the bad blood – Jews and Sunnite Moslems.
We are the true humans superior races – Alawites, Christians and Shi’tes of the Levant. Descendants of the Phoenicians, Canaanites,Aramaeans, Romans and Greeks, who did not convert to Islam and mingle with the bad blood of the Arabs.
We raped your women and destroyed your cities and continue to do so, we take a knife to your pregnant women and you know what…
Get ready to leave SYRIA bloody Sunnites and Jews. We will give you a taste of Bosnia and Aushwitz.
December 26th, 2012, 2:16 am
Hassan said:
Dear President Assad, please deploy the Missile Command against rebel held areas and give full saturation bombing using Missiles, then please deploy 35,000 Airborne troops backed up by 3,000 Tanks to take back the whole of Northern and Eastern Syria, we your soldiers and man-eaters are awaiting your command with our parachutes, helmets, mortars, Tanks, rifles and bayonets, and gas masks ready.
We need a true mass blitzkrieg operation combining the German(Nazi) and Soviet doctrines to destroy all opposition within 1 week.
Total War + Blitzkrieg.
December 26th, 2012, 2:22 am
Hassan said:
For almost 50 years I have been a staunch and core believer in Baathism and Arab Nationalism with Gamal Abdel Nasser as my inspiration, but now recently I have lost faith in Arabism and Baathism as I realzied it isn’t possible for non-Sunnis to live together with Sunnis.
So now I’m a total believer in Syrianism ( which holds that Syrian Sunnis are not Syrians, only Alawites, Christians and Shi’ites are ). You can call it Assadism, many of us minorties are now into this ideology. We are very hostile to Sunni Islam and Judaism.
We are so sad to abandon Baathism, but I guess when the great Russian and Serbian peoples abandoned Communism, they took all the good things about Communism with them and combined it with their new-found nationalism which made them even more stronger and superior and enabled them to crush the Moslem peoples living around them. So we think it will be the same for us Alawites, Christians and Shi’ites of Greater Syria. So we will retain many of the old things of Baathism and use ti for the benefit of the new Syrianism/Assadism.
Tartous is our heart-throb but let us first finish destroying the Sunnite citiies of Hama, Homs and Aleppo.
Heil Milosevic and Karadzic.
December 26th, 2012, 2:34 am
Basel said:
TO: Hassan
“I’m a total believer in Syrianism ( which holds that Syrian Sunnis are not Syrians, only Alawites, Christians and Shi’ites are ). You can call it Assadism, many of us minorties are now into this ideology”
“?? ?????? ??? ????
?? ???? ?? ????? ?????
?? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??? ?????
?? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???”
December 26th, 2012, 2:49 am
Hassan said:
Syrian Republican Guard and Special Forces doing their patriotic duty :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y32SoI04BkI&bpctr=1356509515
Superior Alawite, Christian, Assyrian soldiers, indigenous peoples of Syria giving these infiltrators whats coming to them. These are Assad’s soldiers.
December 26th, 2012, 2:55 am
Hassan said:
Basel, the Serbian people should be our inspiration.
December 26th, 2012, 2:57 am
Basel said:
The Assadism ideology is what our nation was waiting for hundreds of years, Assad made us humans, Assad elevated us, Assad fed us and Assad will save us.
This SC should be only for Assad believers and all those online terrorists to be swept out like dust
“???? ???????? ? ???? ???????? ???????”
December 26th, 2012, 2:57 am
Basel said:
To: Hassan
Serbia excellent example, give us more of those, send fear across their bones “?? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ????”
“?? ???? ???? ?????
????? ???? ?????
???? ????? ? ???? ????? ? ???? ??? ????
??????? ???? ?????? ?? ????”
December 26th, 2012, 3:02 am
Hassan said:
I should add that the Palestinian Christians as well as Egyptian Copts are also among our people. We should start a movement to expel all Sunnite Moslems and Jews from the ancient civilization lands like Syria, Leb, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq.
The Palestinian Christians are living under double oppression, of their fellow Palestinian Sunnite Islamists, as well as the oppression of Judaism and Israel, who are enemies of God an d who use the blood of Christian children.
December 26th, 2012, 3:04 am
Hassan said:
Basel, we should not forget our duty to our Christian and Shi’ite brethren in Lebanon, Occupied Palestine, Egypt and Iraq.
I hope after cleaning the filth in Syria-Lebanon, Assad wil turn his attention to Israel so as to liberate that Christian land from Jewish-Muslim control, as well as to Iraq, to put the Sunnites and Kurds in their place and put the great Shia and Assyrian people to rule supremely over Babylon-Mesopotamia. Then will come Egypt’s turn.
I should add that any Sunnite who renounces his faith and shows us proof of his pure blood will be among us.
December 26th, 2012, 3:09 am
Basel said:
You forgot Ahmed Jibril and PFLP – GC heroes
December 26th, 2012, 3:12 am
Basel said:
Bringing back the glory of Babylon and destroying Damascus is a destined prophecy by Assad.
It’s all happening, it’s all coming together very soon the flames of Damascus will be seen from Babylon and Rome.
All that will happen while we’re enjoying “??? ???” at “???? ?????? ???????” in Tartous
December 26th, 2012, 3:18 am
Hassan said:
Is Ahmed Jibril a Christian ?
I know George Habash and Nawaf Hawatmeh were Palestinian Christians and both were dead loyal to Hafez al Assad. They always sided with Hafez against the maniac Christian-killer and Shia-killer, the Sunnite terrorist Yasser Arafat.
It seems Sunnites cannot be trusted, whether Arafat, or Khaled Meshaal / Haniyeh.
December 26th, 2012, 3:21 am
Hassan said:
Basel, do you rememeber how the so-called Arab Nationalist, Sunnites, Yasser Arafat, Gaddafi, and Saddam Hussein, conspired against Syria and conspired to genocide the Shia people of Lebanon and Iraq ?
They even killed Musa al-Sadr and targetted the entire Sadr family, the same Sadrs who kicked Americans out of Iraq.
Arabism and Baathism has no future for minorities anymore.
December 26th, 2012, 3:25 am
Basel said:
He sided by Hafez in his war against Palestinians in Lebanon
“He formed the separate pro-Syrian PFLP-General Command. Jibril has not wavered in his support of Syria, and his group remains based in Damascus.”
Jibril is Sunni and holds a Syrian citizenship as a gift from Hafez for his loyalty.
December 26th, 2012, 3:29 am
Basel said:
“Arabism and Baathism has no future for minorities anymore.”
There’s only ASSADISM
“WE ARE ASSAD’S SOLDIERS AND WE RAPED YOUR MOTHERS, SISTERS, DAUGHTERS AND WIVES, WE DESTROYED HAMA AND WE DESTROYED HOMS.
WE ARE KILLING YOU EVERY MINUTE AND WE WILL GENOCIDE YOU. WE ARE MAN-EATERS.
YOUR END IS COMING BLOODY SUNNITES.”
Do you know how they chant it in Arabic?
December 26th, 2012, 3:33 am
Juergen said:
Zoo Its funny to see that you represent thé extrême Right position, i assume that who is taking RT seriously,will generously believe such nonsense.I suggest that you study the History of Immigration of the US, the accusations of an Alien Religion,of an extinction of the civilization is the same as ist was when the Irish or the East European Jews settled in America. Thank God our constitutions arent as biased as some of the citizens.
Basel Did you forget to take your medicine?
December 26th, 2012, 4:02 am
Hanzala said:
Very interesting, FSA purposely stopped trying to take the other half of Aleppo city, and are now focused on fully clearing the countryside. Probably to avoid seeing it burn to the ground, or to avoid a costly urban battle, Assads men in the city are surrounded. Taking the city fully would add to prestige but I don’t think it has too much military value.
December 26th, 2012, 5:46 am
Citizen said:
Did the time comes to advise decision-makers in America to launch the political process in Syria or that more weapons and blood are still in interest of US ?
December 26th, 2012, 6:22 am
Citizen said:
???? ????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ????? ???????
http://www.znobia.com/index.php?page=show_det&id=16070
??????? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ????????? ?? ?????? ???
http://www.jpnews-sy.com/ar/news.php?id=49925
December 26th, 2012, 6:50 am
Citizen said:
rebels want to substitute the use of Libyan chemical weapons
http://translate.google.at/translate?hl=de&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nr2.ru%2Finworld%2F418123.html%3Futm_source%3Dtwitterfeed
December 26th, 2012, 7:05 am
Citizen said:
“Al-Qaeda” wants to create in the Islamic Emirate of Aleppo, Syria – media
http://translate.google.at/translate?hl=de&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fria.ru/arab_sy/20121226/916285647.html
December 26th, 2012, 7:10 am
Uzair8 said:
Looks like Assad has emptied the mental asylums on condition the inhabitants agree to support the regime’s cause online.
Will also free up money and manpower (guards) for elsewhere.
December 26th, 2012, 7:40 am
Uzair8 said:
Last night I read through a twitter conversation between Dr Makdissi and an activist on ?@AlexanderPageSY twitter page.
I believe Foreign Policy website has done an article on it but it requires signing in. (?)
1- https://twitter.com/AlexanderPageSY/status/283414841438396416
2- https://twitter.com/AlexanderPageSY/status/283414778918092800
3- https://twitter.com/AlexanderPageSY/status/283414830310887425
4- https://twitter.com/AlexanderPageSY/status/283415052311220224
5- https://twitter.com/AlexanderPageSY/status/283415250794061824
6- https://twitter.com/AlexanderPageSY/status/283415448152858627
7- https://twitter.com/AlexanderPageSY/status/283415665698803713
8- https://twitter.com/AlexanderPageSY/status/283416517880725504
December 26th, 2012, 8:05 am
Akbar Palace said:
Professor Josh and his new theme about “caring” for Syria
Professor Josh,
Thank you for informing us that “Washington doesn’t care about Syria”.
I suppose you are mentioning this because you prefer the opposite? As if the Syrian government gave a hoot about the US?
And BTW, what countries DO care about Syria? Name them.
Lastly, did you ever care about Syria Professor Josh when you excused the Assad regime for years while they stifled basic human rights there for over a geneeration??
December 26th, 2012, 9:19 am
Tara said:
Majedkhaldoun
One can say anything in too many ways. Your answer was pretty smart.
December 26th, 2012, 9:27 am
Akbar Palace said:
Hassan’s Madrassa Lesson of the Day
Hassan said:
The Palestinian Christians are living under double oppression, of their fellow Palestinian Sunnite Islamists, as well as the oppression of Judaism and Israel, who are enemies of God an d who use the blood of Christian children.
Hassan,
I see your anti-semitic blood libel education has paid off. Good show.
I’m glad you have first hand knowledge of the “blood of Christian children” lie. Feel free to post the latest info on this and the other blood libels like the bloodly “purim cookies” and “matza” ingredients we’ve heard so much about from the anti-jew websites you frequent.
But if you REALLY are interested in the blood of children, you may want to arrange a meeting with that freedom lover Assad and his late Baathist friend Saddam.
BTW – Arab-Israelis, both Muslim and Christian, are treated BETTER in Israel than in any Arab country in the ME. I hope you aren’t surprised.
Here’s a non-madrassa funded website for your learning pleasure…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_citizens_of_Israel
December 26th, 2012, 9:33 am
revenire said:
“Arab-Israelis, both Muslim and Christian, are treated BETTER in Israel than in any Arab country in the ME. I hope you aren’t surprised.”
Ha ha I see some have started drinking for New Year’s early!
December 26th, 2012, 10:15 am
zoo said:
Is Erdogan going to have colon polyps relapse over the UN-US-Russia plan for Syria?
He got his NATO Patriot, what does he want more from the West?.
Turkey objects to transition with Assad
Write Comment
26 December 2012 / TODAY’S ZAMANI, ANKARA ,
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-302291-turkey-objects-to-transition-with-assad.html
Ankara believes that joint United Nations-Arab League envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi’s US-Russian initiative for a transition in Syria with President Bashar al-Assad is not possible as the Syrian opposition rejects any compromise with the regime.
December 26th, 2012, 10:30 am
zoo said:
Another late comer heading straight to Bakkourland or to the Hatay Bunkers Resort to join Al Assaad and Sheikh?
Another high level official in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government appears to have joined forces with the opposition.
A video published on a social media website appears to show the general who heads Syria’s military police .
In the video, the man says he has “defected” because Syrian military police have strayed from their primary mission.
“In the name of God E., I am General Abdul Aziz Jassem al-Shallal, head of the military police,” he announced. “I have defected because of the deviation of the army from its primary duty of protecting the country and its transformation into gangs of killing and destruction, the destruction of cities and villages and committing massacres against our unarmed people who went out to demand liberty. Long live Syria free and strong.”
December 26th, 2012, 10:40 am
Juergen said:
The end gets nearer and nearer, an other rat has left the sinking boat…
Abdelasis al Schalal, general and head to the military police forces has defected and fled the country in his statement he said:
“I have defected because the army has departed from their primary duty to defend the country,and has turned into a gang of murderers and destroyers. The army has destroyed towns and villages and committed massacres against the unarmed population, which has gone to the street to demand freedom.”
December 26th, 2012, 10:49 am
Juergen said:
Apparently for some folks there is a second world to live in, for this Mas’du Dschaza’iri vice commander of the Iranian army there is no such thing as the FSA.
http://www.balladnews.com/?p=19460
Dylan Connors new song: Blood like Fire
Santa Claus
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=522332044457420&set=a.284317054925588.75494.283927114964582&type=1&theater
December 26th, 2012, 10:57 am
Juergen said:
Dylan Connor new song:
Blood like fire
December 26th, 2012, 11:00 am
zoo said:
Damascus Palestinian camp hit by fresh fighting: NGO
http://www.timeslive.co.za/world/2012/12/26/damascus-palestinian-camp-hit-by-fresh-fighting-ngo
Abdel Rahman said a reported agreement between rebels and pro-regime militia to withdraw all fighters “has not succeeded”.
“Clashes near the camp have not stopped in recent days, nor have snipers withdrawn or stopped shooting and killing people in Yarmuk.”
Abdel Rahman also said he was “fearful of a plot to keep Yarmuk within the Syrian conflict” despite many Palestinians’ wish to remain neutral in the fighting.
December 26th, 2012, 11:01 am
zoo said:
Not making the AlJazeera news
In the province of Hama (centre), the army has taken back three alawite villages Ma’an, Zehbé et Talayssié from the rebels
http://www.lorientlejour.com/category/%C3%80+La+Une/article/793779/Syrie_%3A_plus_de_45.000_morts_deja.html
December 26th, 2012, 11:04 am
Syrian said:
282 Zoo
Better late than never,he knows a lot of the inner working of the regime, and must have witnessed lots of the atrocities,most likely will not be included in the future Syria,from his postion he saw the writing on the wall and wanted to buy himself a new lease on life
December 26th, 2012, 11:09 am
zoo said:
Al Qaeeda and other islamists are present in the UAE now…
UAE security forces arrest cell planning terror attacks
Reuters
Dec 26, 2012
DUBAI // Security forces in the UAE have arrested a cell of Emirati and Saudi Arabian citizens which was planning to carry out attacks in both countries and other states, the official news agency WAM reported today.
The group had acquired materials and equipment for use in such actions, WAM reported.
“The security authorities in the UAE, in coordination with the related security parties in Saudi Arabia, announced the arrest of an organised cell from the deviant group that was planning to carry out actions against national security of both countries and some sisterly states,” WAM said.
The phrase “the deviant group” is often used by authorities in Saudi Arabia to describe Al Qaeda members.
The UAE has detained more than 60 resident Islamists this year.
Those detainees, who belong to an Islamist group called Al Islah, have confessed to setting up a secret organisation with an armed force whose aim was to take power and establish an Islamic state.
Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/uae-security-forces-arrest-cell-planning-terror-attacks#ixzz2GAuBPudl
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook
December 26th, 2012, 11:10 am
Juergen said:
Al Wahash xmas gift: bombs!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=438064146248521&set=a.177018882353050.47869.175539832500955&type=1&theater
December 26th, 2012, 11:13 am
Syrian said:
Happening now
A huge offensive on the huge base in wadi aldeef in Morat Aln’aman in Edlb
http://www.aksalser.com/?page=view_articles&id=02e404e6135c2cb562c7f93bb2d496fc&ar=461479485
December 26th, 2012, 11:14 am
revenire said:
Head of the MPs? Yes, this is going to hasten the collapse of the regime. Has Assad fallen yet? Is Damascus free?
Traitor Al-Shallal had only one month left to retire and is an inveterate gambler. His pension was a paltry £S 16,000 (16,000.00 SYP = 225.354 USD give or take). He was offered a few dollars and took them while he could. For such a man the price is often cheap.
It is of no consequence.
December 26th, 2012, 11:20 am
revenire said:
“Syrian” let us know when victory is achieved. We are still tired from eating Turkey yesterday.
🙂
December 26th, 2012, 11:22 am
Uzair8 said:
284. Juergen
Thanks for the song.
It brings tears to the eyes as buried painful memories of the horrors and sacrifices from earlier in the uprising are evoked.
The regime is finished. This regime was finished the day the first Hafez Assad statue was toppled.
December 26th, 2012, 11:28 am
majedkhaldoun said:
miqdad in Moscow,Ibrahimi in Damascus waiting, Assad asked Moscow for guarantees ,or verifications,Hasan Abdulazim said Russia and US has to decide Syrian fate, SC Khatib does not know the details,GCC said quick political solution is a must. Syrian do not know anything, what kind of agreement will we see?, I am pessimistic
December 26th, 2012, 11:40 am
Syrian said:
Reve
“For such a man the price is often cheap.”
He is the typical type of your leasership ,all very cheap they are just looking for the right moment to sell out on the cheap.
Victory has already been achieved, as Uzair8 said “the day the first Hafez Assad statue was toppled.”
December 26th, 2012, 11:45 am
Visitor said:
There are vey good news today. Most important piece of news is the return of several thousand Syrian refugees of fighting age from Jordan to Syria in order to join the war. These refugees went back after the FSA issued a call for them to return to fight. Jordanian officials today announced he sudden departure of 8000 refugees from Mafraq and adjoining camps. The refugees who were in Turkey already joined the fight. Refugees in Lebanon are prevented from going back by hizbistani thugs. Perhaps, they should open the front wherever they are by fighting these hizbistani thugs. They will definitely benefit the FSA in Syria by keeping the Iranian agents engaged and prevent them instead from joining Assad thugs.
But the best one, I kept for last. Miqdad flew to Moscow today…..from Beirut airport!!
December 26th, 2012, 12:00 pm
revenire said:
Yes, I’ve heard victory is near from the Israelis and the United States for over a year. Assad will fall “soon” (and soon can mean today, ten years from now, or never depending on who you talk to).
The MP boss was retiring in a month and added some $$$$ to his pension. Big deal.
He spent his entire career serving Bashar. Who knows if the FSA threatened to murder his family and behead his wife or children. Maybe he just wants to go to Miami and sit on the beach. Can you blame him?
Do you have any idea how many US soldiers ran to Canada during the Vietnam war? Suicide kills more US troops than the Taliban.
This happens in war.
War is decided on the battlefield and not on Syria Comment, Twitter or YouTube.
🙂
December 26th, 2012, 12:14 pm
Tara said:
Let them live in fear. They deserve it for what they had done.
Syria minister leaves Beirut for fear of arrest
Associated Press –
http://news.yahoo.com/syria-minister-leaves-beirut-fear-arrest-175402230.html
BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s wounded interior minister rushed home from a Beirut hospital on Wednesday for fear he would be arrested after some Lebanese called to put him on trial for his role in a 1986 crackdown by Syrian troops in Lebanon.
December 26th, 2012, 1:02 pm
revenire said:
Tara I suggest coffee to stimulate your mental powers – such as they are.
If the Lebanese authorities wanted to arrest him why not do it while he was in the hospital? Maybe he was just better and left the hospital? That seems the most likely explanation.
This report doesn’t even mention the fears of arrest:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Dec-26/199906-syrian-minister-heads-home-after-treatment-in-beirut.ashx#axzz2GBRsNXX2
And this one makes a mockery of the entire affair:
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/66015-syrian-interior-minister-leaves-beirut-after-one-week-medical-treatment
Neither paper is a friend of Syria.
December 26th, 2012, 1:28 pm
Tara said:
I am happy for the Lebanese people. Enough intimidation by the Syrian regime. Lebanon was enslaved almost as long as Syria was. HA despite currently being the dominant political power is much weaker and the Lebanese are no longer afraid. I hope justice get served in Harriri case and those who committed all the assassinations in Lebnan get exposed.
What is happening with Samaha? Is he going to rot in jail? Would he feel better if Buthains joins him?
December 26th, 2012, 1:46 pm
Syrian said:
Reve.
Who care what the Mossad or the CIA says, we the Syrian people know a lot more about our country than thier best spies,
The moment the wall of fear was down the rest was a matter of time, what the regime and its supporters have faild to realize was the amount of resentment and despise the majority of the country have towered the regime and its supporters,even the treators of the Sunnies elite that support him are in it for the money and not out of love or convictions, Bashar can keep them and pack them with Asma if he ever got out alive to his exile with Hugo Chavez as the news reports are comming out today.
I know about the those who ran off to Canada, they were all civilians draftee who did not believe in a FAR AWAY war,none of them were a professional Major General head of a main branch of the army like your own Shalal with a war right at his boss’ s doorsteps
War is decided on the battle field, and all the financial support it can get off the field
Did you send you support today?:)
December 26th, 2012, 1:47 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Another big defection.
Fighting has spread to Raqqa.
December 26th, 2012, 2:00 pm
zoo said:
Would have Syrian revolution succeeded with a non-violent strategy?
“it is critical to not allow the understandably strong emotional reaction to the ongoing horror or a romanticized attachment to armed revolution serve as a substitute for strategic thinking”
Supporting Non-Violence in Syria
Wednesday, 26 December 2012 11:38 By Stephen Zunes, Foreign Policy | News Analysis
http://truth-out.org/news/item/13548-supporting-non-violence-in-syria
The Assad regime proved itself to be utterly ruthless in its suppression of the nonviolent pro-democracy struggle in 2011. However, it is important to stress that this ruthlessness was not the primary reason the movement failed to generate sufficient momentum to oust Bashar al-Assad.
From apartheid South Africa to Suharto’s Indonesia to Pinochet’s Chile, extremely repressive regimes have been brought down through largely nonviolent civil insurrections. In some cases, as with Marcos in the Philippines, Honnecker in East Germany, and Ben Ali in Tunisia, dictators have ordered their troops to fire into crowds of many thousands of people, only to have their soldiers refuse. In some other countries, such as Iran under the Shah and Mali under General Toure, many hundreds of nonviolent protesters were gunned down, but rather than cower the opposition into submission, they returned in even larger numbers and eventually forced these dictators to step down.
Historically, when a nonviolent movement shifts to violence, it is a result of frustration, anger, or the feeling of hopelessness. Rarely is it done as a clear strategic choice. Indeed, if the opposition movement were organizing its resistance in a strategic way, with a logical sequencing of tactics and a familiarity with the history and dynamics of popular unarmed civil insurrection, they would recognize that it is usually a devastating mistake to shift to violence. Rather than hasten the downfall of the dictator, successful armed revolutions have historically taken more than eight years to defeat a regime, while unarmed civil insurrections have averaged around two years before victory. Unfortunately, the fragmentation of Syrian civil society combined with the hardness of the security apparatus has made it challenging to maintain a resilient movement. Whether a movement is violent or nonviolent, improvisation is not enough when dealing with a regime that readily instills fears as in Syria.
….
In sum, opposition to U.S. support for the armed resistance in Syria has nothing to do with indifference, isolationism, or pacifism. Nor is it indicative of being any less horrified by the suffering of the Syrian people or any less desirous of the overthrow of Assad’s brutal regime. With so much at stake, however, it is critical to not allow the understandably strong emotional reaction to the ongoing horror or a romanticized attachment to armed revolution serve as a substitute for strategic thinking in our support for and solidarity with the Syrian struggle for freedom.
December 26th, 2012, 2:07 pm
Syrian said:
Following Guffran advice. Here some news from the the regime side
An Assad support site is talking about the disappearance of the Syrian Amasoder to Iraq possible defection to Kurdestan
And the killing of an Alawite pilot
http://dampress.net/?page=show_det&select_page=6&id=21431
December 26th, 2012, 2:11 pm
zoo said:
#297 Visitor
Good news? yes, indeed. It looks like the rebels are running out of fighters. They lost a lot in the last weeks.
” The return of several thousand Syrian refugees of fighting age
12 years old, you mean? Any women?
December 26th, 2012, 2:12 pm
zoo said:
#288 Syrian
“a new lease on life”
If he gets out of the Hatay Bunker Resort and appears publicly, his lease could be extremely short: He is considered a traitor by both sides.
Like all the other defectors, Bakkour, Ryad Al Asaad, Tlass, Sheikh, Ryad Hijab… he will chose to disappear into oblivion…
The Syrian military police chief who has defected from the regime of Bashar al-Assad is reportedly now in Turkey..
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1723104/Syrias-defected-general-in-Turkey
The “high ranking General”‘s job:
“Shallal, whose functions are limited to disciplining soldiers, is not a well-known figure”
December 26th, 2012, 2:31 pm
MarigoldRan said:
I don’t know Zoo. Spin it all you want but when TWO ambassadors to Iraq AND the military police chief AND Syria’s UN spokesperson AND Assad’s best buddy in college defects, most people would assume the regime is in trouble.
The “…” at the end of your last comment signifies a lot. That defection list of yours is getting mighty long.
December 26th, 2012, 2:34 pm
Tara said:
Zoo,
Stephen Zunes’ analysis is utterly stupid. From his window making an analogy where perhaps he has never set a foot in Syria. The brutality of Barta is unprecedented. All the countries he referred to where non-violent movements succeeded were different than Syria. And the fundemrntal difference is that Syria is a country that is built on hate. Hatred and historical grievances is what led to the regime in its current shape. Alawis would not have chosen the military path and would not have participated in the crimes had they not harbored these deep seated feelings. Burning people or burying them alive requires visceral hatred. The sunnis are now developing a visceral hatred towards the Alawis too. Let us face the real problem if we want to find a real solution.
December 26th, 2012, 2:34 pm
zoo said:
Maridoldran
When all these ‘important’ defectors end up in Bakkourland or in the Hatay Bunker Resort, most people would assume that the rebels are in a worst trouble
December 26th, 2012, 2:51 pm
zoo said:
#309
I have no doubt that you are a war-monger, looking for a violent ending to this crisis. Then I guess you are having a real kick now as violence and hatred are growing and may end up in the big bloodbath you are fantasizing about, together with many on this blog.
Of course the average syrians living in Syria are part of your sinister and romantic endgame. It’s allright if they die, they are noble “martyrs” and will wept upon and remembered dearly. You would have done your duty as a citizen protected by thousands of miles…
I guess you are willingly joining al Khatib and the other expats in rejecting a peace plan than may save thousand of lives but that would not fulfill your frustrated desire of revenge and would hurt your ego. Totally logical.
December 26th, 2012, 3:05 pm
zoo said:
Will the GCC microcephales follow Erdogan or their master the USA ?
Turkey opposed US-approved al-Assad transition in Syria
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-opposed-us-approved-al-assad-transition-in-syria-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=37678&NewsCatID=338
Turkey opposed a U.S.-Russia joint plan overseeing a possible transition process with Bashar al-Assad in charge, according to daily Hürriyet.
Peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi recently proposed a plan jointly prepared by Russian and U.S. officials with two options, one of which outlined a transition process to democratic elections with al-Assad in charge. The option, however, requires al-Assad not to run as a candidate in the elections.
The second option called for al-Assad to leave the country and allow a mixed opposition-government team to lead the country to the next election.
Al-Assad’s response to such plans remains unknown, but Turkish sources have told daily Hürriyet that no such plans would receive Turkey’s approval.
Turkey believes a transition process with al-Assad is no longer possible, diplomatic sources said.
December 26th, 2012, 3:10 pm
zoo said:
Christmas, New Year is pagan and capitalist, says Turkey’s top cleric
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/christmas-new-year-is-pagan-and-capitalist-says-turkeys-top-cleric.aspx?pageID=238&nID=37691&NewsCatID=393
Christmas and New Year celebrations are events where both pagan rituals and capitalist drives are intertwined, the head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate Mehmet Görmez said in a statement released Dec.26.
Görmez warned people against what he called the “cultural and identity erosion” that the “Christmas economy” can inspire in children through movies, marketing and products.
December 26th, 2012, 3:14 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
The story about Syrian came back from Jordan is unusual,8000,of them, I wonder if they have american weapons with them,they can liberate Horan governate,Jordan must have learned about it,this is a change of Jordanian policy, Assad now in a corner,he is not able to put conditions, may be was given an ultimatum,Damascus airport runway sustained fire damage,it showed on video,massive assault on Wadi AlDhaif,and on Menneg .
December 26th, 2012, 3:18 pm
zoo said:
Kerry will take risks
Posted By Blake Hounshell Tuesday, December 25, 2012 – 12:01 AM
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/12/25/kerry_will_take_risks
The more I think about it, the more I think John Kerry was a great choice for Obama’s second-term secretary of state. Granted, he wasn’t the president’s first choice. But Obama may have stumbled into a pretty good decision.
The main reason is that Obama’s second term is going to involve a number of lines of sensitive, patient diplomacy that could be politically unpopular at home, or at least easy to attack. Let’s take them one by one.
….
Fourth, Syria. If the administration is serious about brokering some kind of negotiated solution (and it’s far from clear this is the case), it will require some pretty deft multidimensional diplomacy with the regime, various factions of rebels, the neighbors, the Europeans, the Iranians, and the Russians. File this one under “mission impossible.” But Kerry has been out ahead of the administration on Syria, at least. Maybe he’ll be able to make the case for a more less terrible strategy.
…
Kerry is of course also a pol, but he has nothing left to lose. He’s already run for presidency and lost. He seems at peace with himself. He’ll shrug off personal attacks. Yes, he can be pompous and long-winded at times. But I think he’s going to throw himself into this task, and the arc of his career shows a man willing to take risks when the moment demands it. And the moment certainly demands it now.
December 26th, 2012, 3:23 pm
revenire said:
The ‘new’ story is that Bashar is going to Venezuela? Again? Are you sure it a vacation for Asma and the kids?
😉
December 26th, 2012, 3:29 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
A video showing the savagery of Assad’s Alawite thugs. This is why there is a revolution in Syria and this is why some of the rebels respond with equal savagery. However, those rebels are responding to savagery as opposed being the initiators of it.
Hopefully, the FSA will catch up with the terrorist shown in the video and will give him a fair trial.
December 26th, 2012, 4:05 pm
Visitor said:
Zoo @305,
What is the matter? You don’t think 8000 additional FSA fighters is good news?
I think it is great. I have been calling for this for long long time. There should be no refugees whatsoever. They should all go back and become FSA fighters, especially now because much of Syra is getting liberated. I just finished talking to an Aleppan who is planning a trip to France with family. He told me FSA now numbers more than 150000. The Nusra front is no more than 5000 according to him.
I think another 50000 to 100000 new fighters from among refugees will turn the FSA into a formidable force. Could you also imagine if the refugees in Lebanon opened a front and kept the Iranian thugs enaged on their home turf? O’man Assadistan would be over in a less than a month!
And by the way are you talking to yourself in 310 and 309?
December 26th, 2012, 4:10 pm
revenire said:
@SYR.EXPAT those boys are just letting off steam. Cut them some slack.
@VISITOR: “Starvation breeds mass unrest, disorder and violence,” Gen. MacArthur cabled Washington. “Give me bread or give me bullets.”
FSA numbers 150k? I heard it was 250k and they are each armed with sophisticated laser beam weapons invented by Sufi nutcase Yaqoubi.
It is only a matter of hours before Assad falls.
December 26th, 2012, 4:39 pm
Visitor said:
“It is only a matter of hours before Assad falls.”
Branch 225 Ali,
Thanks for the heads up man.
I’ll stay tuned in.
December 26th, 2012, 4:46 pm
Syrian said:
#306 Zoo
I did not say the good life,but a new life none the less
It is a dilemma for those who sold thier soul to the devil,there is no real redemption for them, they will live in fear for the rest of their lives,then they will answer to a higher authority,karma,or what ever
December 26th, 2012, 4:49 pm
Tara said:
Visitor@317
“Are you by the way talking to yourself”
No Visitor. He is not talking to himself. He is talking to me.
Since I no longer fit an Islamist’s profile, I must be fitted in a villain profile to explain why I am anti-Batta. You are either with the regime or you are a damn Islamist, or a damn hate-filled monster in his view. And with this thinking, Batta should not stop at any redline. Whatever he chooses to do. It is morally justified..
December 26th, 2012, 5:05 pm
Citizen said:
Russia tells U.S. back the hell off of syria now
http://youtu.be/qSp1KDvs3NU?t=3m39s
December 26th, 2012, 6:12 pm
zoo said:
Tara
Count the number of times you use the word ‘hate’. You talk about Syria being built on hatred, the Alawites hating the Sunni, the christians hating the Sunnis, you hating Bashar al Assad.
You whole discourse is based on hatred and the need of a revenge that you feel self-righteous in calling it “justice”.
Once you get rid of your self-centered hatred, then you may have time to think about the syrians dying for the last 21 month with no outcome then destruction and then decide if it is not time to stop even you did not reach your private revengeful and romantic goal?
December 26th, 2012, 6:14 pm
Uzair8 said:
A twitter conversation between Dr Makdissi and Edward Dark.
Edward Dark is an activist in Aleppo. Previously a revolutionary and now, much to the annoyance of many, very critical of the revolution.
________________________
edward dark ?@edwardedark
well now that it’s open season on @Makdissi ‘s defection I’m gonna
release some of my private messages with him: (cont) http://tl.gd/kgcehn
https://twitter.com/edwardedark/status/284026870008258560
Conversation:
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/kgcehn
December 26th, 2012, 6:16 pm
Citizen said:
The film crew of “Russia 24” presented awards to
Michael Witkin, assistant director Evgeny Lebedev and reporter Anastasiya Popova.
http://youtu.be/YtaQkjSO_B0?t=45s
December 26th, 2012, 6:29 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Zoo,
Anyone who supports the regime is a person who supports hatred, brutality, and violence. You support evil. At this point there is no compromise with the regime. When are you going to realize that the regime is a dead man walking?
The war continues until the regime is dead. The FSA can always draw on more fighters from the refugee camps. They are a well-spring of support and manpower.
What the regime does not understand is that criticism of the revolution DOES NOT mean support of the regime. Many people are critical of both, but they hate the regime more.
December 26th, 2012, 6:29 pm
MarigoldRan said:
As I’ve said before, the regime can hold Damascus for 6 months. Maybe a year. Maybe even a little longer. The regime still has some fighting power left, and the Alawite soldiers will probably not defect.
But can they hold it for two years? Five years? Because the FSA is not going to stop until the regime is dead. This is only the FIRST year of potentially many years of war.
Syria as a nation is already dead. Explaining Assad’s brutality “for the sake of the nation” is no longer a valid argument. When Assad launches an airstrike, it should be called for what it is: an Alawite-flown jet attacking a Sunni village.
December 26th, 2012, 6:38 pm
zoo said:
Marigoldran
Could you please provide your predictions of number of dead Syrians and displaced to complete your romantic and sinister picture of the FSA’s victories in Syria in the next few years…
As you are Pakistani, I am not surprised that you are indifferent to the death of Syrians in both sides of the fights. It’s only a video game for you.
December 26th, 2012, 6:43 pm
MarigoldRan said:
If the FSA wins: 100,000 dead in total.
If the regime wins: 10,000,000 dead in total. For the regime to win, they’ll have to kill half the Sunnis in the country.
If a tie: 100,000 dead in total with another civil war 30 years in the future that will kill 100,000 more.
No options are good. But option #1 is the best. As I’ve said before, there are no good options now. Only bad options, and worse options.
By the way, I am NOT Pakistan. What I was trying to say was that even PAKISTAN, the country of bad government, has a better government than Syria’s. I was using Pakistan as an example of just how awful the Syrian government was.
December 26th, 2012, 6:46 pm
Citizen said:
Original Syrian political opposition driven out by mercenaries – General
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_12_26/Original-Syrian-political-opposition-driven-out-by-mercenaries-General/
The Syrian political opposition that was formed following the outbreak of the conflict has since been driven out by mercenaries who are fighting for money and for the pledges that they will get power. This came in a statement in an interview with the Voice of Russia by the president of Academy of Geopolitical Problems, General Leonid Ivashov.
He pointed out that it is the armed opposition that stands to gain by killing civilians.
This is what they are told to do by their western sponsors, while a number of Persian Gulf countries are involved are trying to prove the Bashar al-Assad regime’s cruelty by continually raising the civilian death toll, Ivashov said.
He feels that the rebels are thus seeking to discredit al-Assad and make him look repelling to the population.
December 26th, 2012, 6:47 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@Citizen
Of course the rebels are seeking to discredit Assad and make him repellant to the population. Based on the results, I’d say the rebels have been successful.
I find Assad to be repulsive and evil. Many others would agree, inside the country and outside.
December 26th, 2012, 6:50 pm
zoo said:
#330 Marogoldran
Thanks for these “encouraging” figures, very useful, indeed.
I wonder why you don’t join Al Jazeera, if you haven’t already.
December 26th, 2012, 6:53 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@ Zoo
You’re welcome. Better to be honest than to lie to yourself, which is what you do.
There are no encouraging figures from Syria. It’s the truth. There are only bad figures, or worse figures.
EDIT: You consider Al Jazeera to be false and an insult. But Al Jazeera is better than your regime propaganda, and more accurate too. Most people would consider joining Al Jazeera a wonderful thing.
The country is dying thanks to the brutal actions of Assad and his cronies. In fact, I say it’s already dead.
December 26th, 2012, 6:54 pm
Citizen said:
331. MARIGOLDRAN
You are the largest source of evil in the world!
December 26th, 2012, 7:09 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@Citizen
Hahahahaha. Really? What have I done to deserve the title of “largest source of evil in the world?” That’s hilarious.
Do you even know who I am?
Personally I think Assad’s actions have killed many many more people than mine. Don’t you agree? If I am “the largest source of evil,” what does this make Assad?
December 26th, 2012, 7:14 pm
Citizen said:
335. MARIGOLDRAN
Naive boy! I did not mean you personally! but the mode where you belong
December 26th, 2012, 7:23 pm
Citizen said:
http://youtu.be/Ovl3f9MWmWQ?t=21s
December 26th, 2012, 7:29 pm
Citizen said:
???? “?????”:????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?????”???? ????????”????????????? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ?????????? ???????
http://www.syriatruth.org/news/tabid/93/Article/8857/Default.aspx
????? ? ??????? (??? ?? : ???? ??????): ???? ????”?????” ????????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ? ????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????????? ???????. ????? ??????? ? ??? ????? ????????? ???? ?? “???? ?????” ?????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ???? ? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?????”???????” ?????? 22 ???? / ????? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? “???? ?????” ?????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????????? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ? ???? ?? ???? “?????? ??????? ?? ???”? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? “???????”. ???? ??? ??? ???????? ????? ?????? ???????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?????????? ? ?? ????? ?????????? ?? ???? ?????????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????????? ?? ?????.
December 26th, 2012, 7:57 pm
Citizen said:
Netanyahu, Jordan’s Abdullah discuss Syria chemical arms
Wed Dec 26, 2012
For information, the Syrian chemical weapons fully under Russian control and responsibility!
This means they are talking about another chemical weapons known by both sides!
December 26th, 2012, 8:20 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Zoo
Please be kind and tell us how long the regime can last?,would the regime be able to take back Aleppo?and when?
????? ???? ???? 7 ?????? ?????
?????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????
??????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????
??????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ???????
… ??????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ???? ???????
???? ?????? ????? ? ?? ?? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ?????
soon the regime will have no fighting planes,120 has been destroyed out of 600,in the last six months
December 26th, 2012, 8:26 pm
revenire said:
Tara you’ve literally spent months at this site. One can go back months and review you making dozens of posts per week. This is an obsession. You admit living in the States so you’re not involved in Syria really. If you really are from Syria the reason you left is anyone’s guess but maybe your family was thrown out by the government for some criminal reason? Prostitution? Drugs? Terrorism? We will never know.
December 26th, 2012, 8:36 pm
zoo said:
MajedAlKhaldoon
What’s the point of asking questions when you reply yourself.
In my view,the FSA and the rebels will never win, they will never reach Damascus and will never be able to remove Bashar Al Assad by force as you and your kind are fantasizing..
In addition they will be totally dismantled once a political agreement is reached, the same way the militias were dismantled in Libya.
It may take a long time to get there, but it will happen.
December 26th, 2012, 8:36 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
December 26th, 2012, 8:43 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Zoo
Do you have an idea how many of Assad soldier died?so far.
I believe this war will be hated by your kind we are not enjoying it, we are forced to fight it,if we quit it, revenge by your kind will kill million of us, I posted a demonstration in Ramadi Iraq,where they say,Yel3an rouhak ya bashar and ya maliki,US will regret not ending this war sooner, it seems this war is spreading to Iraq, and will spread to Jordan, and as I said this will help the Syrian revolution, Bashar and his family will be killed and history will curse him and your kind,this is black period in Syria history
December 26th, 2012, 9:03 pm
revenire said:
MAJEDKHALDOUN no one cares about some crappy little demo of 100 people. Iraq was destroyed by American attacks and later by Al-Qaeda (allies of the FSA).
December 26th, 2012, 9:03 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
rev
You call this 100 people ?
December 26th, 2012, 9:09 pm
revenire said:
Okay I’ll bite: How many is it? 200? 300? 1000? Who cares.
Is this another “Arab Spring” revolt? Does this mean free pizza on Mondays? Zzzz
Is Assad in Venezuela yet?
December 26th, 2012, 9:27 pm
zoo said:
Turkey Struggles to Contain Fallout of Syrian Conflict
By Henry Ridgwell, VOA
LONDON – As the Syria conflict grinds on, neighboring Turkey is struggling to deal with the multiple threats of a refugee crisis and a resurgence in Kurdish militant activity sparked by the Syrian uprising.
….
Fadi Hakura, a Turkey expert at Chatham House in London, says Ankara has overplayed its diplomatic hand. “It exaggerated its influence vis-?-vis Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria. The Turkish leadership also assumed that Bashar al Assad will collapse quickly and that did not happen,” he said. “So what we see now in Syria is a protracted sectarian civil war, very destructive, and that’s a scenario that Turkey did not plan for.”
The consequences of that destruction are spilling into Turkey; the daily flow of refugees has on occasion exceeded 2,000. Most are housed in sprawling camps where the tough conditions are made worse with the onset of winter.
Ankara has called for the international community to do more to help.
“At the present time it might be even 150,000 or approaching 200,000 refugees. And Turkey is not in a position to establish a buffer zone on the Syrian side of the border without the approval and coordination of Washington,” stated Hakura.
Meanwhile the Syrian conflict has re-ignited Turkey’s long-standing battle with Kurdish militants, known as the PKK.
Syrian Kurds now control a larger swathe of northern Syria after government forces withdrew.
Robert Lowe is manager of the Middle East Center at the London School of Economics. “For the Turkish state, the development of what is becoming an autonomous region for Kurds in northern Syria is very troubling. It’s deeply unwelcome to them and I don’t think they’ve been terribly sure how to respond. And they are very worried that that will strengthen the PKK in its fight against the Turkish state,” he noted.
Lowe says the Syrian civil war is not only dragging in Turkey but also neighboring Lebanon — which has witnessed an upsurge in violence along sectarian lines — and regional powers Iraq, Iran and the Gulf states.
“For Syrians the huge worry is that outside powers become even more involved and their own struggles are played out on Syrian soil,” said Lowe.
While Syrian rebels appear to be making gains in some areas, analysts say neither side appears strong enough to tip the balance of the conflict. They predict events in 2013 are likely to take a growing toll on the Syrian people.
December 26th, 2012, 9:45 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@ Citizen
You said “you.” You is a pronoun that refers to “you” or in your example, “me.” Next time say “your group is evil.” That makes much more sense. When you say “you”, people are going to think you’re referring to “them.” So watch your pronouns.
@ Revenire
No, I agree. Assad’s probably going to die in Syria. Though not in the way he wants (it’ll probably involve a lot of screaming, shooting, and unpleasantness).
@ Everyone
Recent defection was a Sunni general. Sunnis continue to abandon the Alawite regime en masse. The sectarian nature of the war is becoming clearer.
December 26th, 2012, 9:48 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
The FSA has received a lead regarding the identity of the Shabeeh/terrorist who was seen on video desecrating and burning the dead body of an alleged opposition member. If this Shabeeh/terrorist is your relative, let him know that the FSA is closing in on him and are coming after him with a vengeance.
December 26th, 2012, 9:49 pm
zoo said:
Qom in Iran, Al Azhar in Egypt.
Welcome to the Islamic Republic of Egypt
Al Azhar rises in new Egypt
Bradley Hope
Dec 27, 2012
http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/al-azhar-rises-in-new-egypt
CAIRO // Egypt’s new constitution has been called the beginning of a repressive Islamist state, the greatest constitution in the country’s history and a middling document unworthy of the uprising that unseated Hosni Mubarak.
It may turn out to be none of these things, but it does set the outlines for the power and legal struggles to come as Egypt forges a new democratic path.
Enshrining in the legal system a role for Al Azhar, the 1,000-year-old mosque and university and Sunni Islam’s highest authority, could be the most important change of all.
Judges and politicians – and before them, kings and rulers – have sought the advice of Al Azhar’s scholars for centuries, but the new constitution lays out changes to the institution in the greatest detail yet. It both guarantees Al Azhar independence over its affairs and gives it a consultative role in
Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/al-azhar-rises-in-new-egypt#ixzz2GDUyKMJw
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook
December 26th, 2012, 9:50 pm
zoo said:
SYR-XPAT
Of course we will pass the message.
Thanks for the tip.
December 26th, 2012, 9:54 pm
Ghufran said:
The filth coming from two new toilet posters in support of the regime does not represent Syrians or speaks for alawites,most of whom were not served well by an incompetent president residing over a corrupt regime that treated Syria as a family -owned farm. Yes, many innocent alawites will be slaughtered and alawites in new Syria will suffer tremendously regardless of the outcome of this war but only thugs ask for random violence and indiscriminate killings, we should not forget that most of what we see tody became possible almost 50 years of Baathist and Assadist rule that laid the foundation for civil war,unfortunately , many Sunnis were too quick to respond and gave their support to Takfiri groups, I see no bright spots ahead, my advice to every Christian and alawite is to lobby foreign governments to accept as many refugees as possible, there will be revenge killings, looting and massive destruction against alawi interests and alawi citizens regardless if they were guilty or not, that is why it is called Fitnah.
December 26th, 2012, 9:55 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@Ghurfan
Yup. The options in Syria for the future can be summarized as either:
1. Bad
2. Worse
December 26th, 2012, 10:03 pm
zoo said:
How Syria is Being Ripped Apart by Foreign Meddling and Sectarian War
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/617515563?-20865:11558
One can no longer say that Syria is a moderate, pragmatic, stabilizing and secular regional centre keeping extremism at bay.
December 20, 2012 |
Everything about Syria is steeped in miasma: is this conflict politically and sociologically definable as a civil war? Has it become a sectarian war? How strong and widespread is the Salafist (and global Jihadi) presence? Was militarization wise or did the opposition have no choice in this regard? Are the armed groups able to defeat the regime’s forces or will there be a perpetual, bloody stalemate whose only certainty is Syria’s complete physical destruction and long-term division? Is a negotiated outcome, that is, a political solution the only possibility, or is it uninformed to speak of political solutions at this stage of the conflict?
Despite this fog, there are, in my mind, several certainties. One, Syria is not a clear-cut case of bad regime versus good society, for that society is not at one regarding the violent overthrow of the state. This is not a mass, democratic revolution but a Sunni rebellion. Any spontaneity to its genesis, including the goal of non-violent resistance, came to a speedy end, provided with a significant impetus by the flow of foreign arms, money, and intelligence, including from the US. A substantial ‘silent’ majority desperately wishes to avoid Syria’s disintegration because they simply love their country, not the regime or armed rebels, and prefer reform and a negotiated settlement.
December 26th, 2012, 10:06 pm
Ghufran said:
Aktham Sulaiman ( a loyal aljazeera rep in Germany who resigned recently):
“In Syria, society is divided. You have the pro-Assad people, and those who are against him. However, when you make one side out to be mass murderers and turn the others into saints you’re fueling the conflict, not presenting the situation in an appropriate and balanced way. There are murders, injustices and good things on both sides. But you don’t see that on Al Jazeera. My problem is and was: When I see Al Jazeera’s Syrian coverage, I don’t really understand what’s going on there. And that’s the first thing I expect from journalism.”
December 26th, 2012, 10:12 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Sure, Zoo. I’ll agree to a certain extent. Things are complicated. The FSA has bad elements. It’s Sunni vs Alawite. Etc. etc.
But one thing is very clear: the regime is evil. Its brutal actions caused this whole mess. It must be destroyed, or there will never be peace.
The regime did not want to negotiate or compromise at the beginning. Now that the regime is losing, why should its enemies compromise or negotiate with it? What comes around, goes around.
If the regime resorts to violence, why should it be surprised if its enemies resort to violence too? Once again, what comes around, goes around.
December 26th, 2012, 10:14 pm
MarigoldRan said:
You can argue that violence from both sides is wrong. Fine. I don’t agree, but it’s a valid argument.
But you CANNOT argue that violence by one side is legitimate, but violence from the other side is illegitimate. This argument has no validity.
If Alawites attack Sunnis, don’t the Sunnis deserve the right to defend themselves? If the government attacks defenseless villages, don’t the villagers deserve the right to welcome anyone who is willing to help them?
Violence from the government will be met by violence from the people. That is the nature of the Middle East. If the government declares war on the people, then the people will declare war on the government.
December 26th, 2012, 10:28 pm
William Scott Scherk said:
@ 102, the mysterious entity ZOO said:
Car-bombs set intentionally by ‘FNR’? This does not make sense. I condemn the bombs of any formation or group that targets non-combatants and results in civilian casualties.
What you call moralizing are attempts to open your eyes to the ‘bombs’ you cannot see, ZOO. At no time have you acknowledged the human cost of regime atrocities. This is unsettling and confusing. It is as if you have some skin in the game, some persistent attachment to the dictatorship (nothwithstanding your revulsion for Al-Nusra and the other straight-up Islamist authoritarians).
Incidentally, I notice you are quite free with assigning a nationality to commentators. You have (mistakenly) named Marigoldran as Pakistani.
MARIGOLDRAN, no one knows what kind of life ZOO has had, where he is from, where educated, and where he resides.
Can you not let the rest of us know a bit about your formation, yourself? One day all will be able to be honest and forthcoming about their affiliations.
ZOO continues his tirade:
I think we share the same revulsion for kamikaze (suicide) attacks and for acts that sow terror and fear in civilian populations. I am willing and able to discuss the crimes against humanity performed by those whom you call ‘criminals.’ The point being, you do not show a similar inclination to admit regime crimes, let alone discuss them. Your latest expostulation shows this:
ZOO, not to put too fine a point on it, but this is unwarranted reasoning. Even though your cognitive landscape has a certain coherence — in that everyone is a terrorist/criminal/accomplice to evil who does not stand with the Assad dictatorship — part of the apparent coherence depends on averting your attention from any ‘bad act’ on the regime side, or by blaming all bad actions against a huge net comprising “Them.”
But by spreading your net so wide, by including everyone in the same sinister register of evil, you lose the ability to discriminate between crimes.
If it is a crime to attack civilians in war, you ignore the regime attacks and lay the blame for destruction on only one actor.
In the end, all your analyses fail because of this blindness to the crimes of the regime. It is very sad. It baffles your non-enemy TARA, and it baffles me.
You say if, I see. This is good. If ‘they’ use civilians as human shields. If.
Another example of cognitive error. A ‘human shield’ is of course a common trope (used in war and armed stand-offs). In the narrowest meaning, it is commonly illustrated on crime shows: A gunmen or knife-wielding bad guy clenches a hostage in front of him, with gun or knife pressed against the hostage, often with other trapped civilians cowering under the control of the bad guy or guys. The police or other responders confront the situation with several options.
The Assad option, or the ZOO option, is to open fire indiscriminately, killing the hostage[s] (and any other person in the vicinity) and maybe not any of the bad guys, and leaving the aftermath to investigators.
Well, ZOO, this easy judgement is based on error, gross and persistent error in your evaluations.
“One wonders what they are doing there”?
This is mind-bogglingly obtuse. If we put flesh on the bones of your contentions, what does your war vision produce?
Well, let’s look at the disputed events in Helfaya. The town was overrun by rebels. The rebels took control and killed or expelled the militia and SAA forces who had occupied Helfaya.
The rebels are in a war, ZOO. They wish to defeat the armed forces of the Syrian Arab Republic (among other things) and stop the destruction from the state. They are against the present dictatorship leading Syria.
Now, then what, ZOO?
If we follow your tunnel-vision, we see what? We see from your perspective a town that has some (let’s say) 10,000 ‘hostages’ … if we use your eyes, we see bloodthirsty terrorists seize a peaceful town and place its inhabitants under some kind of incipient reign of terror (unspecified).
Okay, then what?
Well, it seems that your preferred response is to use airpower to ‘get’ the ‘terrorists.’ This requires, um, force. Careful force, as in any hostage situation.
The ZOO force decides to attack with bombs from the air. This kills some ‘hostages’ and presumably that is the end of it, for you.
What’s missing, ZOO. What is your pleasure?
Well, since your forces have yet to kill all the hostages (and terrorists) in Helfaya, I don’t know what the Assadist dream is.
The wisest thing you say is that a ‘compromise is necessary’ to save Syrian lives.
I hope you can lay out a new vision for the compromise your side is or would be willing to make.
As far as we can tell, there is no compromise even considered in the Damascus power centres. There will be war, total war until the ‘terrorists’ are vanquished. There will be continued bombings by the Syrian Air Force, including incendiary cluster bombs used against ‘hostages.’ There will continue to be mass detentions, and prosecution of dissent in the Terrorist Court.
No one yet sees any sign of compromise on a ‘national unity government.’ No one sees the official organs discussing the Geneva agreements. No one sees a sign even of discussion of the details of the Geneva documents in the official Syrian media.
Speaking of appreciation, I do (sincerely) appreciate your efforts to plumb below the level of secrecy surrounding Brahimi’s mission. It is very difficult to sift and sort the reporting of what Brahimi has in mind — and what might be the specifics of a presumed US/Soviet entente on Syria. I support and encourage your attempts to dig up any and all versions of these hidden discussions (among the players). We do all hope for some movement from the Palace, for some word, for some statement, for some discussion, something.
I am sure you are personally-distressed by needless civilian deaths, by all deaths, by all the heightened hate and blame and dehumanization.
By my “moral” posts, I hope to tease out from you some authentic feeling for the other ‘side’ to you. You are not a crazy nutter like Revenire, nor a probable spoof/imposture like HASSAN.
Anyhow, there is the challenge (for anyone allied with the regime): what compromise can we expect from the dictatorship?
What would be a sketch of the mutual compromises supported by ZOO?
No need to answer these inquiries, ZOO. Your silence will be just as instructive.
December 26th, 2012, 10:32 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Zoo is one of those people that says violence by Sunnis against the regime is bad, but violence by the mostly Alawite regime against Sunnis is ok.
He supports the Alawites in this war. Die-hard regime supporters have no humanity. They’re only capable of chanting slogans.
December 26th, 2012, 10:35 pm
William Scott Scherk said:
Here is the link to the story quoted by Ghufran, who sometimes forgets to provide URLs:
http://www.dw.de/suliman-al-jazeera-plays-the-piper-but-qatar-calls-the-tune/a-16477490
December 26th, 2012, 10:41 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@ William
Meh. No one likes to share personal info on a blog like this. Especially on a blog about Syria. Potentially dangerous.
But I can tell everyone this: whatever sect you think I am, I am not that.
December 26th, 2012, 10:42 pm
William Scott Scherk said:
@ 360. MarigoldRan said:
I strongly object to your persistent simplification of the Syria crisis to mere Alawite/Sunni war.
Can you please explain to us your personal affiliation, if any? It is repulsive to see the grosser Alawi/Sunni hatred expressed (which you do not personally resort to) by the nutterzone of Revenire and fake account HASSAN, but you only encourage deeper sectarian mistrust and loathing when you repeat and repeat buzzwords that dehumanize and make this a ‘race’ war. If you are Syrian, you should be ashamed of amplifying this division without carefully considering the facts outside your reckoning — it is by no means an Alawi/Sunni war in essence, and it disvalues history and humanity to pretend it to be so.
Consider that we agree on a few actual events occuring in recent days. In the past forty-eight hours villages and towns with large Alawite populations have fallen to FSA forces. What has happened in these towns? What is happening in Ma’an?
To follow your essentializing of the conflicts in Syria to Alawi/Sunni race war, we should be receiving reports of slaughter from all these places, reprisal killings, enormous inter-sect bloodshed, as the religious roots of the conflict bear fruit. We should hear of Sunni villages not merely bombed or displaced of population, but truly ‘cleansed’ a la Bosnia.
This is not happening, as yet, and we all hope, never. That is the final precipice beyond which no one but the Nutterzone wishes Syria to fall.
With each temptation to draw the military conflict as reduced to Alawite/Sunni race war, Marigoldran, please — if you must draw it this way, consider what percolates beneath the surface of your remarks by implication. It would seem you might condone ethnic massacre. It seems you would make of an accident of birth a precursor to understandable death.
This is only a few yards away from applauding death by recourse to “they were Alawites. What do you expect?”
And a death by assassination of, say, Arif Dalila? Nadwa Suleiman … (insert name of a thousand Syrian Alawites who reject Assadism)? Would you not grieve, and grieve deeply for their deaths? Would you not have a heavy, heavy heart for the children of Syria forced to live through the grief that would follow a full ‘cleansing’?
Look at these photos, from Assad rallies in the Alawite hinterland, look in their faces, and tell me that you would not grieve should they die in a terrible crime.
http://english.the-syrian.com/2011/11/19/glorious-rallies-pictures-from-sana-zoomed/
Please be careful in your language and its implications for condoning ethnic slaughter. Don’t join the Nutterzone.
December 26th, 2012, 11:05 pm
Johannes de Silentio said:
355. ZOO
“One can no longer say Syria is a moderate, pragmatic, stabilizing regional centre”
It never was, idiot. Ever since its inception as a so-called modern state, Syria has been the regional asshole. And that’s the main reason that no one cares what happens to Syria.
PS: In the last two years on SC, I’ve not seen one of you “Syrians” suggesting, “You know, maybe we ought to try being nice to people.” Not one of you. But you’re all very experienced at hurling curses at your enemies, both real and imagined. Mostly imagined. It’s an indication of how you’ve been brought up. I’m glad I’m not one of you…
December 26th, 2012, 11:09 pm
ghufran said:
it is hard to refute the fact that Arabic Spring was a free gift to Israel regardless if you believe it was a genuine democracy movement or not:
??? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ????? ??”??????” ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ???? ????.
???? ????? ?? ??? ????????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ???.
???? ????? “????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ????????? ??? ??? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?????”.
?????: “???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ??????????? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???????”.
???? ????? ?? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????? ??? ???????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????.
????: “??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??????”.
?????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ?????: ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ???????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ??????????? ?????????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ???????? ?????????? ????? ???.
curiously enough, corrupt and autocratic regimes in the GCC, for example, are still living in their long cozy winter.
December 26th, 2012, 11:09 pm
William Scott Scherk said:
@ 362. MarigoldRan said:
There is a vast difference between sharing personal information that could compromise personal security, and revealing one’s stakes in Syria discussion.
No one need name or locate themselves in space, able to be forked up by intelligence for observation or worse, and of course no one demands information that would render anyone personally identifiable. But plenty of folks here forthrightly state their allegiances, citizenship(s) and social formation.
Even those with most to risk at home and abroad (like here SAMI, previously posting as Son of Damascus) speak frankly about ‘what’ they are, not ‘who’ they are.
TARA, OTW, Some Guy in Damascus, Ghufran, MINA, Norman, Majedkhaldoun, Adendeshe, and innumerable others are frank about their relations to Syria, and often spelt out the length of time they have been away (or their last visit). Others from the west without Syrian roots, like Juergen for example, explain their attachments and interest (while being accused of NAZI/Mossad ID by idiots like ANN and Citizen/Allan). Even the bitter and nasty Silentio/D.a.l.e let out that his grandfather was Syrian. It’s about roots and heart and orientation, not getting fingered for further investigation by parties unknown.
One of the side-effects of being forthcoming is a lesser breed of ANN/Mossad hobby horses. Several times even such moral paragon as our ZOO have held up a presumed nationality (PAKI) to attempt to degrade discussion by poisoning the well — as you have just discovered. But having been noted by the nutterzone as a major source of evil on Earth, you should not expect any more potent reactions to self-unveiling. If you are Bulgarian, ZOO might make a few sneers … but that’s always a risk.
The strange thing about those who do not reveal anything at all of their roots or heart is that they all are from the hardline regimist corps here past and present: ZOO, ANN, Allan/Citizen/Revenire/assorted whackjobs departed.
December 26th, 2012, 11:26 pm
William Scott Scherk said:
Link to go with Ghufran’s post at 365:
http://gate.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentPrint/13/71/288109.aspx
GoogleTrans:
December 26th, 2012, 11:34 pm
Johannes de Silentio said:
366. Well said, William.
By the way, the English translation in 367 is horrible…
December 26th, 2012, 11:36 pm
Tara said:
To Majedkhaldoun, Tara, and “their kind”, and to William, Silentio, Juegren, Amir, and many others.
A wedding in a city of “our kind”
http://www.m5zn.com/image.php?&img=b45cdfd85ecbb81.jpg
December 26th, 2012, 11:57 pm
Ghufran said:
Aleppo today:
“On some days, we don’t eat at all,” said Nadia Labhan, 25, whose husband, a brickmaker, was killed two months ago by a sniper on his way home from buying bread, leaving her with no means to support her two children, Baraa, 7, and Fatme, 5. She has joined the growing number of beggars on the street. “It is so difficult,” she said, hugging her flimsy robe against the driving wind and rain.
December 27th, 2012, 12:10 am
Ghufran said:
More from Aleppo ( source : Washington Post):
Even the uprising’s staunchest protagonists are beginning to despair. Teacher Amal Ulabi, 35, joined the earliest protests, and her husband volunteered for the Free Syrian Army as soon as the rebellion reached the city. A month later he was dead, killed fighting on the front line. Her home in the embattled Old City was hit by artillery fire, and she has moved to her parents’ house with her five children. They suffer from asthma, and all have respiratory infections, but there is no medicine available to treat them.
“The revolution was the right thing to do, but the timing was wrong,” Ulabi said at a clinic established by a group called People in Need, sighing as she waited for a nurse to check on her 18-month-old son. “We should have started gradually, asking about corruption and other issues like that, because the regime couldn’t accept that we suddenly wanted freedom, and they shot at us.
“The regime will fall, but I fear it will take time,” she added. “At least as long as we have endured already. I see no hope of anything good.”
December 27th, 2012, 12:18 am
revenire said:
Again – most of the SAA is Sunni. Why would they bomb their own villages? They wouldn’t and don’t. The overwhelming majority of the SAA has not defected.
The leadership of the government is made up of all sects in Syria. It isn’t an “Alawite” regime.
December 27th, 2012, 12:26 am
Hopeful said:
#365 Ghufran
History shows that democracies seldom fight wars with each other, mainly because the majority of people, no matter to which race, religion, ideology, etc., they belong, always prefer peace and prosperity to ideological wars. I believe that, in the long run, the Arab spring will be a good thing for the region, Israel included, and Palestine too. The problem is, the “long run” is going to be very long, rocky and bloody. But the region has no better alternative than to go though it, as most nations around the world have done over the past centuries and decades.
December 27th, 2012, 12:30 am
revenire said:
If you want to know how the citizens of Aleppo feel about the FSA go on Twitter and see dozens of them denounce the FSA for its crimes.
Many of these people were opposition supporters.
Edward Dark sure doesn’t support the Syrian government but given the choice between the FSA and the SAA he would pick the SAA. Edward used to be one of the biggest supporters on the “revolution” on Twitter. People are angry at him for telling the truth too.
“Syrian Expat” I am sure the man you’re hunting reads this site. You are an expat why I wonder? I feel if you felt so strongly about the situation you’d be there instead of here.
There is a reason the ribbons are yellow.
December 27th, 2012, 12:32 am
revenire said:
WILLIAM SCOTT SCHERK it is none of your business whether I am Sunni, Shia, Alawite, Druze, Christian, etc or where I am. You post here but you don’t run the place and if you did so what? All you could do is ban me because of my posts and that would be admitting they frighten you.
Is Assad gone yet? Has the FSA taken ANY city or town? Even to the border? No, I think not.
December 27th, 2012, 12:37 am
Juergen said:
Last night I called up some christian friends in Damascus. They updated me what is happening to them these last weeks. One relative of them was present when an car bomb exploded, his left eye got severly wounded, they tried to save it but by now he is blind on that eye. Bombs go off randomly now, there was a bomb detonating two alleys from their house. They heard airplane sounds so they assumed it was a bomb thrown by the air force. Two houses were hit and destroyed, the mazoot got on fire inflamming the whole alley. They told me this time they got really scared. They did not put up an x-mas tree, even though their son protested, for him it would have been an distraction from all this.
Defecting Syrian Official ‘Inad Abbas Sheds Tear on TV: The Syrian People Should Not Forgive Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=prpaW6d-xa4#!
Tara
amazing pic, thank you for sharing!
December 27th, 2012, 12:37 am
Johannes de Silentio said:
375. REVENIRE
“WILLIAM SCOTT SCHERK it is none of your business whether I bla bla bla bla”
Stick it up your ass, Revie…
December 27th, 2012, 1:23 am
revenire said:
Johan sure thing but promise you won’t behead me for the revo okay?
December 27th, 2012, 1:30 am
MarigoldRan said:
Most of the soldiers that are actively fighting and taking part in offensives for the regime are NOT Sunni.
On average, most Sunni conscripts in the SAA are left to guard checkpoints. The important ones, like ones protecting Tartous or the ones near the presidential palace in Damascus are invariably protected by Alawite soldiers.
Also, most of the pilots participating in the bombing missions are Alawite or Iranian. Sunni pilots on average are not trusted. Similarly, Sunni soldiers are increasingly viewed as potential defectors. There was another high-level defection recently and as expected, a Sunni.
The sectarian division is here and real. Best to lay it out on the table than to keep it hidden. The regime’s tactics are increasing the sectarian dimension, unintentional or otherwise. Their stupid collective punishment bombings (invariably on Sunni villages, and invariably piloted by Alawites) are INCREASING the sectarian hatred. Alawite villages captured by the FSA are NOT treated with gentleness, as recent events showed.
What I’m trying to say is that if the regime continues its brutal tactics, it will lose almost ALL Sunni support. Sunni defections continue both at the top and the bottom of the military chain. The sectarian dimension grows with each passing week. The war is NOT completely sectarian yet. But with current trends, it WILL become sectarian. Mathematically, as Sunnis defect and Alawites remain, this is a given.
December 27th, 2012, 2:00 am
Visitor said:
O’ Tara @321,
Long time no see.
Thanks for letting me know the guy is still sane.
I was so worried about him, I slept only half night last night. Too bad he thinks he has no friends or who his REAL friend is.
December 27th, 2012, 2:04 am
MarigoldRan said:
@Revenire
I don’t know what news you’re reading, but the FSA has control of hundreds of towns and villages around the country. They control half of Aleppo, a quarter of Damascus, most of Idlib bits and pieces of Homs and Hama, and half again of Deir El Ezzor. If anything, the FSA controls more of the country than the regime.
The reason for the recent FSA offensives in CENTRAL Hamas province is because they’ve secured the roads and the towns in Aleppo/Idlib province. The FSA can re-supply their troops in Hamas from TURKEY, which means they have control of most of the northern provinces. Regime propaganda as usual will not admit these defeats. But the regime has already lost almost all of its northern provinces (except Lattakia), along with most of the Eastern provinces too.
The only place the war has not touched is Tartorous. But it too will feel the fires conflict soon enough, as Damascus and Aleppo has.
December 27th, 2012, 2:07 am
MarigoldRan said:
Furthermore, the fact that the FSA is able to sustain an offensive in Damascus is evidence of the fact that they control several border posts to Jordan.
Jordan is finally allowing refugees to return to Syria to fight the regime. Which they’re doing with zeal and alacrity. The refugee camps are a potent source of manpower and support for the FSA.
****************************************************************
EDIT: What regime propagandists do NOT understand is that dislike of the FSA DOES NOT translate into support of the regime. As I’ve said earlier, there is no possible defense of the regime by reasonable people. Aleppines may not like the pre-dominantely rural FSA, but they’re not going to fight the FSA on behalf of the regime either.
They’re kind of like one of the posters here who complains about the violence committed by both sides, but also admits the brutality and the vileness of the regime. The FSA do not need them. It can draw its support from the rural areas and from the refugee camps in Jordan and Turkey.
December 27th, 2012, 2:11 am
MarigoldRan said:
The events in Syria in some ways are similar to the Turkish civil war after WWI.
The minority Armenians, and Greeks, under the misguided notion they had the support of the Allies, short-sightedly began massacring and attacking majority Turkish villages after the conclusion of WWI, not realizing the sectarian rage they were about to unleash.
When Kemal Ataturk (father of the TURKS- note the distinction here) defeated the Greek army in central Anatolia, the victorious Turkish soldiers literally massacred and drove the hated minority Greek and Armenian villagers into the sea.
The Turkish-Greek war ended with the forced emigration and exchange of population between Greece and Turkey. Greek communities, which had existed in Asia Minor since the times of Herodotus, disappeared off the map. Now most of Turkey is, well, Turkish, with the exception of the Kurdish areas.
What is likely to happen as the war continues is that the Alawites are going to be kicked out of central Syria, and into Lattakia. Regardless of how people feel about it, the process has already begun.
December 27th, 2012, 2:39 am
Citizen said:
365. GHUFRAN
?? ???? ????? ? ???? ???? ????? ????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ???????? ????????? !??? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? !
December 27th, 2012, 3:17 am
Visitor said:
MK @343 & 346,
That’s great news man. Everyone thinks it is about time for our Iraqi brothers to rise and teach those Iranian agents the lesson of their life.
Iraqi patriots: welcome to the great revolution of your Syrian brothers.
December 27th, 2012, 3:19 am
Visitor said:
More from Iraq for MK and others,
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/12/27/257307.html
December 27th, 2012, 3:23 am
Syria no Kandahar said:
The alliance with Hamas/HA/Iran which is what Syria is punished for today should be terminated,It was wrong from day one.No difference between Hamas bombing
A pitza restaurant in Telaviv and Jabhat Alnusra exploding cars in Jaramana.HA
Is another Hamas brother,No difference.Syrian lives are way more important than
Iran or HA interests.Iran is a state ruled by Alaaroor likes and Syrians deserve much better model friend.
The allaince with Turkey over the last decade and the disasters it caused to Syria
On all aspects should also be brought into accountability in any future political system.The fatal mistakes and leadership wrong judgement in giving Turkey such
A huge control over Syria since 2000 should be investigated.
Also the support ignorance about terrorism(so called resistance) in Iraq and the
Rule that is playing in Syria today is another matter which should be put in prospective of the over all misjudgements which helped make Syrian national
Interests so volnurable.Syria should have never helped or caused any loss
Of lives to any Allaince soldiers in Iraq.
For all the above Syria needs a completely new blood which will prevent correct
Such tragic errors.If the choice for Syrians is between Arabs or Iran let it be Arabs
Or else why have we been told for half a century:
??? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?????
December 27th, 2012, 3:40 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Ya3qoobieh is controled by FSA,
December 27th, 2012, 4:42 am
Citizen said:
‘Gangs destruct Syria on behalf of Israel’
The infrastructure of Syria is facing dangerous levels and the fighting between the Syrian army and the armed groups is spreading to other cities as well.
an interview with Kevin Barrett, author and Islamic studies expert,
http://youtu.be/S1MP7HzUdbs?t=2m1s
December 27th, 2012, 4:50 am
Uzair8 said:
Maarat Al Nouman based activist Syrian Smurf has been tweeting since yesterday about the rebel assault on nearby Wadi Aldayf base.
_____________________
Abdullah ?@SyrianSmurf
#AlbunyanAlmarsoos Defected soldiers from Wadi Aldayf inform the FSA that there are many Iranian soldiers inside the base. #Idlib #Syria
https://twitter.com/SyrianSmurf/status/284057313306882048
December 27th, 2012, 5:01 am
Uzair8 said:
Oh no. Guess who’s back?
I was wondering why Syrian Smurf was apparently responding to him. I thought he closed his account possibly permanently.
http://it.twitter.com/syriancommando
December 27th, 2012, 5:06 am
Juergen said:
More on the defection of General Al-Shallal
Syrian General Whose Task Was Halting Defections Flees
“Syria’s government suffered an embarrassing new setback as the top general responsible for preventing defections within the military became a defector himself, making what insurgents described on Wednesday as a daring back-roads escape by motorcycle across the border into Turkey.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/27/world/middleeast/syrian-general-defects-in-a-public-broadcast.html
December 27th, 2012, 5:22 am
Juergen said:
UN humanitarian report on the humanitarian situation
SYRIA: Nowhere to run
http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97126/SYRIA-Nowhere-to-run
No asylum for Assad and his henchmen in Israel
Israel builds new fence along Syria border
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/israel-builds-new-fence-along-syria-border/story-e6freoo6-1226544016836
December 27th, 2012, 5:26 am
majedkhaldoun said:
????? ?????????? -?????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??????- ?????? ????? ???????? ?? ????? ????? ???????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ???????? ?????? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ?? ???? “??????”.
???? “??? ????? ????? ????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ???????”? ????? ??? ?? ????? ???? “????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????????” ???? ??? ?? ????? ????????? “??? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ??? ???? ???????”.
???? ?????????? ?? “??????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??? ???????? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??????”.
Finally Ibrahimi talked
December 27th, 2012, 5:29 am
Citizen said:
???? ?? ?? ????? ?????????? :
?????????? ? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ????? ?? ????? ? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????! ??? ??? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? !
December 27th, 2012, 6:11 am
Juergen said:
DIE WELT just published the news that Iraels PM Netanjahu has arrived in Amann for secret talks with the jordanian King. These talks should foucus on the situation in Syria, especially Israels concern over the handling of the chemical weaponry once the Assad reign is over. Israel seems willingly to openly attack the storage facilities before rebel forces would be able to seize such weapons.
According to russian sources( Stimme Russlands) :
A group of Russian ships of the Black Sea Fleet will take part in the “anti-terror exercises” on the Syrian coast.
On Thursday the group has crossed the Strait of Bospheros. Of the Black Sea Fleet the “Nikolaj Filtschenkow” and “Azov” are expected to be involved in the “excercise” Shortly they will join the Russian ship group which consists of the missile cruiser “Moskva”, the guard ship “Smetliwij”, the tanker “Ivan Bubnov”.
December 27th, 2012, 6:19 am
Juergen said:
Brahimi urges “real” change in Syria
“We need to form a government with all powers… which assumes power during a period of transition. That transition period will end with elections,”
“Certainly it was clear in Geneva, and it’s even clearer now that the change which is needed is not cosmetic or superficial”
“He did not say what role President Bashar Assad might play in any new government.”
http://www.dw.de/brahimi-urges-real-change-in-syria/a-16480742
December 27th, 2012, 6:26 am
Uzair8 said:
Off-topic: A Christmassy story.
BBC North West Tonight Xmas Special 2012
Published on 24 Dec 2012
Nazia Mogra reports on…how Food Banks are helping people all over the North West, including Blackburn, where an estimated nine thousand children are living in poverty. When Blackburn’s Muslim community became aware some non-Muslims in the town didn’t have enough to eat they decided to act. They donated money and food and took it to a local foodbank run by Christians. The Blackburn Food Bank (Christian run) has been open since August.
Video (2min 48sec long)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ur9zQbMtmps
______________________________________________________
Another video from August. About 2 min long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frxMjZiUvwQ
Preston feeds the homeless
.
December 27th, 2012, 7:02 am
Observer said:
Ghufran said:” The filth coming from two new toilet posters in support of the regime does not represent Syrians or speaks for alawites,most of whom were not served well by an incompetent president residing over a corrupt regime that treated Syria as a family -owned farm. Yes, many innocent alawites will be slaughtered and alawites in new Syria will suffer tremendously regardless of the outcome of this war but only thugs ask for random violence and indiscriminate killings, we should not forget that most of what we see tody became possible almost 50 years of Baathist and Assadist rule that laid the foundation for civil war,unfortunately , many Sunnis were too quick to respond and gave their support to Takfiri groups, I see no bright spots ahead, my advice to every Christian and alawite is to lobby foreign governments to accept as many refugees as possible, there will be revenge killings, looting and massive destruction against alawi interests and alawi citizens regardless if they were guilty or not, that is why it is called Fitnah.”
Ghufran does this mean that you expect the collapse of the regime? Does this mean that the 130 000 or so loyal troops will collapse?
What do you think and where are your sources please? I think real information is needed.
Thank you in advance
December 27th, 2012, 8:13 am
Observer said:
Lakhadar is in the process of saving face for the Prethident.
As this stupid Prethident took the Alawi sect hostage to his and his mafia’s survival, now he is blackmailing the world with the taking of Damascus as hostage otherwise he will destroy it before he would step down.
This is from someone who commented on the fate of the Prethident as the Syrians see it
??? ?? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ???????
the fact that Lakhdar has already gotten the concession of the regime to a national unity government is an indication that the military solution is no longer possible and this is from the highest level of the regime.
Now, the pro regime groups are going to see that the mafia is preparing its safe exit and they will be left holding the bag; I wonder how many will scramble to quit as Makdisi did recently.
Cheers
December 27th, 2012, 8:37 am
zoo said:
The US-UN-Russia plan close to Stage 4?
The pressure will probably now grow on the NC to accept the deal that may probably be sealed by an UNSC abiding resolution, if the microcephale Qatar will not dump more billions to kill it.
On a positive note, the GCC made clear that it want a quick political solution to Syria’s crisis without putting conditions, except asking Iran to lay off its hand from Bahrain and the Shia in KSA in exchange of their compliance with the UN plan.
Qatar is happy, it got finally Egypt under its umbrella, after failing in Tunisia and Libya. Maybe its hegemonic appetite is satisfied for the time and it will let Syria go.
This plan is not to save the “face of Bashar Al Assad” but to save what is left of Syria, its institutions and its people since Bashar al Assad is still a rassembling symbol to more than 50% of the Syrians and to the 400,000 army, badly needed to bring back the security now totally out of hand with the criminals and terrorists who rode on the militarized and chaotic rebels war.
A light of hope for the suffering Syrians ?
December 27th, 2012, 9:07 am
zoo said:
Ghufran
Words of reality:
“We should have started gradually, asking about corruption and other issues like that, because the regime couldn’t accept that we suddenly wanted freedom, and they shot at us.
December 27th, 2012, 9:12 am
Citizen said:
Three provocation for the visit of Al-Ibrahimi in Syria
http://translate.google.at/translate?hl=de&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Ftopwar.ru%2F22547-tri-provokacii-k-vizitu-al-ibragimi-v-siriyu.html
December 27th, 2012, 9:13 am
zoo said:
396. Juergen
The USS Washington and its thousands of Marines just left two weeks ago the Syrian Coast and now the Russia Armada is coming.
Any conclusions?
Are the US letting the Russia take over the game in Syria after some secret arrangements?
December 27th, 2012, 9:17 am
zoo said:
Lakhdar spells out the blue print of the UN-US-RUSSIA plan based on the Geneva agreement ( that the AL and all Western countries accepted) .
Any reaction so far from the NC., Qatar, the AL, France?
U.N. Envoy Calls for a Transitional Government in Syria
By ELLEN BARRY and KAREEM FAHIM
Published: December 27, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/28/world/middleeast/syria-conflict-developments.html?_r=1&
MOSCOW — The international envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, on a mission to Damascus seeking an end to the escalating civil conflict in Syria, said Thursday that a transitional government should be granted full executive powers until President Bashar al-Assad’s term ends in 2014.
Mr. Brahimi’s remarks to journalists, reported by news agencies, follow intensive talks this week with Mr. Assad and a range of opposition figures.
Over the past month, Mr. Brahimi, as special representative from the United Nations and Arab League, has consulted extensively with both the United States and Russia in hopes of fulfilling of an accord reached in Geneva this summer calling for dialogue between Syria’s government and the opposition.
“The Syrian people seek genuine change,” he said. He emphasized the importance of preserving state institutions and warned that military intervention would “lead to the destruction of the Syrian state” according to Russia’s ITAR-TASS news service.
“There will be no victor in this war,” he said.
As a Syrian government delegation met with Russia’s top diplomats in Moscow, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Aleksandr K. Lukashevich, said there was no specific plan under discussion that would envisage a transitional government. Opposition figures have suggested that Mr. Brahimi presented Mr. Assad with offers either to cede some of his authority or to leave the country, but Mr. Lukashevich denied that. “There was and is no plan, it is not being discussed with Mr. Brahimi or with American colleagues,” he said.
Russia, a key ally of the government in Damascus, has long pointed to the Geneva agreement, which calls for negotiation between the government and the opposition, as the only acceptable basis for resolving the conflict.
But the agreement requires both Mr. Assad’s allies and Syrian opposition forces to agree to negotiate — a long shot, said Dmitri V. Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center.
December 27th, 2012, 9:25 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Assad support is less than 20%,if Zoo believe it is more than 50% why is he afraid of fair election?.
Zoo still call the revolution “criminal and terrorist”,while the FSA are ANGELS sent by God to free Syria from Bashar and his family who are actually sent by Devil and they are criminal themselves.
December 27th, 2012, 9:32 am
Juergen said:
Zoo
I wouldnt be surprised if there will be an gentlemenagreement for the regime leaders at the end. I always concluded that the West just wasnt ready to pay the price Russia and China were asking for in return.
December 27th, 2012, 9:43 am
zoo said:
MajedAlKhaldoon
“why is he afraid of fair election?.”
I am not and I have never been. It’s the opposition who prefer a violent coup d’etat to a dialog as they know they will loose if there are elections…
By the way, “50%” is not my invention, it was an estimation given by a french well known researcher reporting in the popular political magazine Le Point.
http://www.lepoint.fr/monde/syrie-les-medias-sont-ils-partiaux-20-12-2012-1604323_24.php
“For Fabrice Balanche, Syria remains now divided into three areas: half the country in the hands of Bashar al-Assad, an area in rebel hands, and another disputed.” In terms of population, this translates 50% for the regime, 15 to 20% for the rebels and 25% for the disputed areas, as we should not forget that the 8% of the Syrian population in the hands of Kurdish militias in the north, says the researcher .”
December 27th, 2012, 9:55 am
zoo said:
Majedalkhaldoon
It’s the USA that says that a significant part of the rebels are outlawed terrorists… Call you MP now!
December 27th, 2012, 9:58 am
majedkhaldoun said:
“significant”, is that mean less than 5%?
Is US saying Bashar is not Tyrant criminal murdering his people?
December 27th, 2012, 10:08 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Menneg airport has been over-run by FSA
December 27th, 2012, 10:27 am
Citizen said:
Any statistics how many Syrians who are against freedom of destruction and freedom of vandalism and freedom of beheadings and freedom of violation neighborhoods housing Christians and Kurds, Palestinians, and Druze and the Sunni traders, intellectuals and who is serving in the army , and who are abducted thier children and burned their boutique etc..In addition to all of the economic conditions deteriorated and cut off electricity, water and telecommunications and disrupted his studies at school and university and is no longer able to engage in work due to permanent disabilities? No ! nobody can suspend all revolutionary crimes commenting on the peg of others!
December 27th, 2012, 1:27 pm
Uzair8 said:
Abdullah@SyrianSmurf
The FSA liberate the Yaqoobiya checkpoint in #JisrAlshughoor. The checkpoint was shelling a Christian village, Jdeedeh, on Christmas. #Idlib
https://twitter.com/SyrianSmurf/status/284367855418474497
Great news!
FSA heroes protecting the Christian community over the festive period from Scrooge McDuck (Assad).
December 27th, 2012, 1:52 pm
Uzair8 said:
A message to Scrooge McDuck.
Listen to him!
Don’t ignore the ‘Ghost of Xmas Future’ like you did it’s predecessors (Xmas Past & Present).
There is still hope of changing the “shadows of what may be.”
Quack, quack…I mean quick. Hurry! There’s little time. The festive period is your last chance! A season of goodwill.
December 27th, 2012, 2:09 pm
Visitor said:
To those discussing Ibrahimi: Time to put him behind your backs. His mission is over.
Time to concentrate on new missile systems worth $400 million bought by Qatar from US destined to FSA.
HBJ 4ever!!
December 27th, 2012, 2:12 pm
Uzair8 said:
412. Citizen said:
‘Any statistics how many Syrians…’
From a reliable source. Tweeted a few hours ago:
_____________________________________
? Syrian Commando ? ?@syriancommando
The bulk of the #Syria-n people have proven to be as lazy, cowardly and treacherous as the Palestinians were and so, face the same fate.
https://twitter.com/syriancommando/status/284288820088803329
December 27th, 2012, 2:40 pm
revenire said:
“The checkpoint was shelling a Christian village, Jdeedeh, on Christmas.” Please, I’ll have some of what you’re drinking. Tweets from pro-terrorist Tweeps are not reliable sources of news.
December 27th, 2012, 2:52 pm
zoo said:
Who killed the rebel commander Abu Jameel? His own people
The rebels real victory: Looting and killings for suff their stole from the people they are supposed to protect:
Syrian rebels sidetracked by scramble for spoils of war
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/27/syrian-rebels-scramble-spoils-war
Looting, feuds and divided loyalties threaten to destroy unity of fighters as war enters new phase
Ghaith Abdul-Ahad in Aleppo
The Guardian, Thursday 27 December 2012 19.33 GMT
..
It wasn’t the government that killed the Syrian rebel commander Abu Jameel. It was the fight for his loot. The motive for his murder lay in a great warehouse in Aleppo which his unit had captured a week before. The building had been full of rolled steel, which was seized by the fighters as spoils of war.
But squabbling developed over who would take the greater share of the loot and a feud developed between commanders. Threats and counter-threats ensued over the following days.
Abu Jameel survived one assassination attempt when his car was fired on. A few days later his enemies attacked again, and this time they were successful. His bullet-riddled body was found, handcuffed, in an alley in the town of al-Bab.
December 27th, 2012, 2:55 pm
zoo said:
Then who is behind Lakhdar Ibrahimi? Ban-God-Moon?
Moscow shoots-down rumors of Russia-U.S. collaboration to solve Syria conflict
http://www.albawaba.com/news/russia-usa-syria-plan-459785
Published December 27th, 2012 – 19:22 GMT via SyndiGate.info
The Foreign Ministry on Thursday denied it has made a joint plan with the United States to solve the Syrian crisis.
Moscow strictly followed the Geneva agreements and was not coordinating with the U.S. to settle the crisis in Syria, ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said at a news conference.
December 27th, 2012, 2:57 pm
zoo said:
Russia: Assad’s exit can’t be precondition for talks
http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2012/12/27/russia-assads-exit-cant-be-precondition-for-talks/
MOSCOW: Russia will host Syria peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi this week after Syrian officials held talks in Moscow yesterday as part of a diplomatic drive to try to agree a plan to end the 21- month-old conflict, Russia’s foreign ministry said.
…
Lukashevich said Russia continued to believe there was “no alternative” to the Geneva Declaration and repeated accusations that the United States has reneged on it. “Our American colleagues and some others … have turned sharply from this position, by 180 degrees, supporting the opposition and conducting no dialogue with the government – putting the opposition in the mood for no dialogue with the authorities but for overthrowing the authorities,” he said. “The biggest disagreement… is that one side thinks Assad should leave at the start of the process – that is the US position, and the other thinks his departure should be a result of the process – that would be the Russian position,” Dmitry Trenin, an analyst at the Moscow Carnegie Center, told Reuters. But Trenin said battlefield gains made by the Syrian rebels were narrowing the gap between Moscow and Washington. Tomorrow, Lavrov said that neither side would win Syria’s civil war and that Assad would not quit even if Russia or China told him to.
December 27th, 2012, 3:02 pm
zoo said:
Becoming rich on the misery of the people as the rebels are buying the latest BMW to ‘carry rebels in Edlib”.
Cars, fuel, cigarettes: black market thriving in Syria
December 27, 2012 01:36 PM (Last updated: December 27, 2012 04:07 PM)
AAZAZ, Syria: Endless supplies of cigarettes, a BMW or Mercedes for between $4,000 and $6,000 but fuel at vastly inflated prices — the black market is thriving on the Syria-Turkey border.
“It is all legal,” insists Abu Ahmad, once a grocer in Syria’s war-ravaged city of Aleppo who is now dealing in motor vehicles in the rebel-held town of Aazaz near the frontier.
“The vehicles come from Switzerland, where my brother is a second hand car dealer,” Abu Ahmad says.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Dec-27/200033-cars-fuel-cigarettes-black-market-thriving-in-syria.ashx#ixzz2GHhnjYnq
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
December 27th, 2012, 3:07 pm
zoo said:
Al-Assad duped us into sectarian war – Alawite cleric
27/12/2012
Asharq Al-Awsat
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat – Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the condition of anonymity, an opposition Alawite religious cleric who recently fled to the Turkish town of Antakya revealed that “the Alawite community is living in a state of great fear, after we have become aware that the collapse of the al-Assad regime is imminent, which will place us at the mercy of fierce reprisals from the Sunni majority.”
He added “many Alawite families have already fled their homes in Damascus and returned to their villages in the Lattakia countryside.”
The cleric also revealed that he, along with a number of other Alawite activists, have worked hard to convince many Alawite youth not to join Syria’s military reserves or heed military summons, calling on the Alawite community “not be become embroiled in killing their Syrian brothers.”
He added “the regime has embroiled us in a sectarian war against the Sunnis, and if the Alawites had participated in the revolution since the beginning the regime would have been toppled, whilst the Alawite community would have no reason to fear. However after all this bloodshed, it is very difficult.”
The cleric, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from the al-Assad regime, also called on the Sunni community “to extend their hand to the remaining Alawite community following the ouster of the regime so that we can make peace and build a free, just and democratic Syria.”
As for the role played by religious figures – on both sides – regarding what is happening in Syria, and whether they are taking any positive action to end this, he said “it is very difficult for us to play any role so long as the regime remains” adding “we may play a role after its ouster to put an end to the expected violence.”
The cleric also criticized the Syrian opposition and its organizations, including the Syrian National Council and Syrian National Coalition, saying “the opposition has failed to put forward practical steps to reassure the Alawite community and convince them to abandon the al-Assad family. On the contrary, they have done nothing but talk and rely on unpopular Alawite figures.”
December 27th, 2012, 3:09 pm
revenire said:
Pro-terrorists: How is the attack on Damascus going? What about Homs? Aleppo? Hama? Iblib?
December 27th, 2012, 3:12 pm
revenire said:
Asharq Al-Awsat is an odd little publication.
December 27th, 2012, 3:16 pm
MarigoldRan said:
There really is no possible discussion with the regime or regime supporters. They don’t even follow the same news and cannot agree on the most basic of facts.
War it is. Let the outcome on the battlefields determine who is right.
December 27th, 2012, 3:27 pm
5 dancing shlomos said:
vote for the assad govt or vote for criminals controlled by the jewish west.
president assad: 99% of votes
rapists, thieves: 0%
cackling witch overheard as state dept door knocks her ass down steps,
“i’m outta here before i have to surrender to syria.”
December 27th, 2012, 3:37 pm
zoo said:
Syria to mull Brahimi peace plan with Russia
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/617646059?-20865:11558
However, a Lebanese official close to Damascus said Makdad had been sent to seek Russian advice on a possible agreement. He said Syrian officials were upbeat after talks with Brahimi, the UN-Arab League envoy, who met Foreign Minister Walid Moualem on Tuesday a day after his session with Assad, but who has not outlined his ideas in public.
“There is a new mood now and something good is happening,” the official said, asking not to be named. He gave no details. Russia, which has given Assad diplomatic and military aid to help him weather the 21-month-old uprising, has said it is not protecting him, but has fiercely criticized any foreign backing for rebels and, with China, has blocked U.N. Security Council action on Syria.
A Russian Foreign Ministry source said Makdad and an aide would meet Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Mikhail Bogdanov, the Kremlin’s special envoy for Middle East affairs, on Thursday, but did not disclose the nature of the talks. On Saturday, Lavrov said Syria’s civil war had reached a stalemate, saying international efforts to get Assad to quit would fail. Bogdanov had earlier acknowledged that Syrian rebels were gaining ground and might win.
Given the scale of the bloodshed and destruction, Assad’s opponents insist the Syrian president must go. Moaz Alkhatib, head of the internationally-recognized Syrian National Coalition opposition, has criticized any notion of a transitional government in which Assad would stay on as a figurehead president stripped of real powers. Comments on Alkhatib’s Facebook page on Monday suggested that the opposition believed this was one of Brahimi’s ideas.
“The government and its president cannot stay in power, with or without their powers,” Alkhatib wrote, saying his Coalition had told Brahimi it rejected any such solution. While Brahimi was working to bridge the vast gaps between Assad and his foes, fighting raged across the country and a senior Syrian military officer defected to the rebels.
December 27th, 2012, 5:07 pm
zoo said:
link
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/617646059?-20865:11558
December 27th, 2012, 5:08 pm
Citizen said:
Time to concentrate on new missile systems worth $400 million bought by Qatar from US destined to FSA.
Qatar and the United States can enter into the mud!
Naive to believe that the actions of Qatar could continue unpunished indefinitely!
http://youtu.be/iE7GKG-yIMg?t=23s
December 27th, 2012, 5:38 pm
Ghufran said:
“History shows that democracies seldom fight wars with each other, mainly because the majority of people, no matter to which race, religion, ideology, etc., they belong, always prefer peace and prosperity to ideological wars”
I am not accusing hopeful of anything,but what he wrote came from BB niten yaho and the Neocons, the truth is that Hitler was elected by the Germans and that most western democracies and Israel used the banner of democracy to justify aggression and invasions,I do not believe for one minute that thugs with guns want democracy or that they will allow free elections or respect ballot boxes.
A solution in Syria faces many hurdles, two of them are evident: armed gangs and Assad.
The third hurdle is players like Turkey,Qatar and France who will only sign on a deal that isolate Iran and install a puppet government in Syria. A fourth hurdle is hundred of thousands of army / security personnel and armed civilians who want assurances that they and their families will not be the subject of a violent campaign and witch hunt in the name of justice.
Observer, it will take a foreign invasion to finish the Syrian army, losing control over half or two thirds of Syria will not lead to the end of this war even if there is a new government in Damascus, if you think that 45,000 victims is too much,what about a destroyed Damascus and a new battle front in the coastal areas?
War mongers will not stop unless they are faced with a formidable peace keeping force that nobody seems to be willing to pay for,or a comprehensive settlement that is sponsored by the US and Russia, that settlement is reportedly being defatted but there is already a number of objections to it from both sides. Assad in my judgement is not ready to quit because the people around him do not trust Islamists and the US,they are asking for guarantees which are not available today, we just have to wait few more weeks,the rebels are in a race to tip the scale to a point where the regime supporters will be in a much weaker situation,the regime knows that and we may see another wave of violence or a dramatic incident that brings us closer to an end, many people here are too excited over nothing, the control of Syria is beyond the ability of the army or the rebels at this point, those who have declared that Iran and Russia will sit down and watch GCC pimps take Syria over are watching too much TV.
December 27th, 2012, 5:42 pm
revenire said:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A_JNxhGCcAE5cr2.jpg
Aleppo Security Map: yellow for secure areas, green for areas of conflict and red for areas where the FSA exists (for now).
December 27th, 2012, 5:45 pm
Tara said:
“Syrian officials were upbeat after talks with Brahimi”
Real reform means surrender of power of the Mafia regime in Damascus. How can those thugs be upbeat about Brahimi’s plan if it to means real reform? It just does not add up.
December 27th, 2012, 6:08 pm
Ghufran said:
Life in ” liberated” Aleppo ( The Guardian):
Abu Ismael, a young lieutenant from a wealthy family, who ran a successful business before joining the fight against Bashar al-Assad:
“Many of the battalions that entered the city in the summer of this year came from the countryside, he said. They were poor peasants who carried with them centuries-old grudges towards the wealthier Aleppans.
There was also a lingering feeling that the city – where businesses had been exploiting cheap peasant labour for several decades – had not risen up quickly enough against the Assads. “The rebels wanted to take revenge on the people of Aleppo because they felt that we had betrayed them, but they forgot that most of the people of Aleppo are merchants and traders and a merchant will pay money to get rid of his problem,” Abu Ismael said. “Even as the rest of Syria was gripped by revolution, the Aleppans said, why should we destroy our business and waste our money?”
When the rebels entered the city and started looting the factories, a source of money dried up.
“In the first month and a half the rebels were really a united revolutionary group,” Abu Ismael said. “But now they are different. There are those who are here only to loot and make money, and some still fight.” Did Abu Ismael’s unit loot? “Of course. How do you think we feed the men? Where do you think we get all our sugar, for example?”
December 27th, 2012, 6:19 pm
revenire said:
Any negotiated political deal will keep Assad as president until the 2014 elections (and he will be a candidate in those elections). It will also keep the SAA, as well as the security forces, intact.
This was Assad’s plan all along.
December 27th, 2012, 6:21 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Most of Russia’s and Brahimi’s peace proposals involve talking to Russia, Iran, and the regime.
I’m glad those three countries can agree. But what’s the point of talking peace only among countries all on the same side?
@Revenire
If anything, the regime is slowly being driven out of Aleppo. The regime can no longer reinforce their positions in the city from the ground and rely almost entirely on the military airport.
Which is being besieged by the FSA.
EDIT: Only problem: no one’s negotiating with Assad and no one will. In the meantime the regime’s losing more and more of the country.
December 27th, 2012, 6:22 pm
Citizen said:
Russian warships are in Syria for chemical weapons
Take out the Russian chemical weapons from Syria – that Israel did not get
http://postskriptum.me/2012/12/27/wmd-2/
The Syrian press reported that the purpose of the voyage is not possible evacuation of Russian citizens, but also to transport collected from various military bases throughout Syria’s chemical and biological weapons. According to the Syrian press, “the military two countries came to the conclusion that there is a serious danger that the arsenal of chemical and biological weapons to Syria could fall into the hands of terrorist groups or be destroyed hostile act the U.S. or Israel.”
December 27th, 2012, 6:25 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@Citizen
If so, that would be very good news for everyone involved.
December 27th, 2012, 6:29 pm
Citizen said:
Syria was the victim of an unprecedented in scope and ferocity of the plot – a French journalist
http://www.sana-syria.com/rus/326/2012/12/27/459260.htm
French journalist Alain Jules on its internet site published an article alleging that Syria was the victim of an unprecedented in scope and ferocity of conspiracy organized extremists and supporters of Western democracy.
Loyalty to the country’s people and its army of existing authorities did not allow to carry out his plan, despite all attempts to enter with false information campaign to mislead the international community and to intimidate the real friends of the Syrian people, the author writes.
December 27th, 2012, 6:30 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Ibrahimi plan is non starter,Assad must be brought to justice
December 27th, 2012, 6:33 pm
Citizen said:
the invention of chemical weapons since the First World War, Syria is not needed! Russia will dispose of them!
December 27th, 2012, 6:35 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@Citizen
Except that the institutions are being destroyed by both sides and the Sunnis are defecting. The only group that remain consistently loyal to the regime are Alawites.
The nationalistic slogans aren’t going to work. No one except a couple of deluded regime supporters believe in the concept of Syria as a nation anymore.
December 27th, 2012, 6:37 pm
Citizen said:
440. MARIGOLDRAN enough of empty words!
For 5 years, Syria will have the most modern and high-tech weapons of Russian production value of 50 billion U.S. dollars
December 27th, 2012, 6:45 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@ Citizen
Like most regime supporters, you can’t handle the truth, can you?
Instead you lie to yourselves, deluding yourself with dreams and fake news.
The regime doesn’t have money to buy advanced weapons from anyone. Soon they won’t have enough money to pay their soldiers anymore!
December 27th, 2012, 6:47 pm
Citizen said:
suppose you do not care! Russians know how to get free money from Syria !
By the way Syria is adopted in the Customs Union
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customs_Union_of_Belarus, _Kazakhstan_and_Russia
December 27th, 2012, 6:59 pm
Ghufran said:
??????? : ????? ???? ????? ??? ???? “???” ???? ?????.. ????? ??? ???? ????
Losing Aleppo will be a game changer, I hate to call this bloody war a game, but Akidi may be too optimistic, we just have to watch and see.
AA Khayyer was arrested because he was a figure acceptable to alawites and many in the opposition,however, if rebels capture Aleppo and Damascus you can say goodbye to any hope of an inclusive government but instead get ready for a new chapter in Syria’s civil war where the next target will be the coastal region. There will be a time when many of you look back at what was said and done and realize that we probably do not deserve to be a nation under one flag, if Syria is lost to the Talibans and the armed gangs nobody,including anti regime advocates ,will be interested in visiting a place ruled by thugs who answer to nobody, a deal that removes Assad should be accepted by all of those who say they love Syria, insisting on a take all solution is not a solution,it is a form of theft,stealing the future of Syrian kids is what those people want.
December 27th, 2012, 7:00 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@ Citizen
So you’re saying that the regime has to rely almost entirely on foreign support from Russia to survive?
Are you saying that you’re happy that your regime has become a Russian puppet? Like Kazakhstan?
I find that kind of funny, considering that it’s always regime supporters complaining about foreign interference in Syria’s affairs.
December 27th, 2012, 7:10 pm
Citizen said:
not only Russia ! China, too, would like to invest $ 100 billion on infrastructure rise! it’s true!
December 27th, 2012, 7:14 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@Citizen
Oh, so now you want to be both a Chinese AND a Russian puppet.
Is their any other foreign countries you would like to sell out your country to?
December 27th, 2012, 7:17 pm
revenire said:
Russia, China, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela and many others are the true friends of Syria and will help rebuild her when the FSA apes have been cleansed.
December 27th, 2012, 7:30 pm
Citizen said:
447. young boy ! Play in the virtual world such as Don Quixote and Grinder !
December 27th, 2012, 7:30 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Isn’t that foreign interference in the internal affairs of Syria?
Aren’t you people the ones who argue against foreign interference?
EDIT: And now you say you welcome foreign support? I don’t get it. I thought you wanted NO foreign interference in the internal affairs of Syria.
December 27th, 2012, 7:32 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Once again, you said you wanted Russia, Iran, and other FOREIGN countries to help you.
Isn’t that foreign interference in the internal affairs of Syria?
Aren’t you people the ones who argue against foreign interference?
EDIT: And now you say you welcome foreign support? I don’t get it. I thought you wanted NO foreign interference in the internal affairs of Syria.
December 27th, 2012, 7:41 pm
zoo said:
Who asked them to be have a role? It’s all about the Basharphobia, not the regime…
Syrian fighters reject Assad role in interim govt
Friday 28 December 2012
Last Update 27 December 2012 11:04 pm
http://arabnews.com/syrian-fighters-reject-assad-role-interim-govt
ISTANBUL: Syria’s opposition National Coalition said it would agree to any solution for a political transition as long as it excludes President Bashar Assad and his family.
“We will accept any political solution that does not include the Assad family nor those who harmed the Syrian people,” Coalition spokesman Walid Al-Bunni told a press conference in Istanbul.
“Our first condition for them is to leave the country,” Bunni said in remarks translated from Arabic, referring to the Assad family and the regime’s inner circle.
The opposition said Assad’s forces had killed too many people for him to play a role in any solution.
In Paris, French Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Vincent Floreani said Assad should not have any role in Syria’s political transition as he had too much blood on his hands.
December 27th, 2012, 7:43 pm
zoo said:
The ‘desperate’ coalition said it is ready to accept any political solution without Bashar and are coming with “serious” and “creative’ ideas to encourage high level defections.
Why defecting if the regime is to stay in place?
SNC to support, coordinate political defections
December 28, 2012 12:37 AM
The Daily Star
Syrian dissident Riad Seif attends a meeting of the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces, formed after the Syrian National Council (SNC) agreed to the new group, in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal)
Syrian dissident Riad Seif attends a meeting of the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces, formed after the Syrian National Council (SNC) agreed to the new group, in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal)
A+ A-
BEIRUT: The just internationally recognized opposition Syrian National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces announced the formation of a new body Thursday aimed at coordinating efforts of political defectors from Syria.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Dec-28/200120-snc-to-support-coordinate-political-defections.ashx#ixzz2GIr2yPeI
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
December 27th, 2012, 7:49 pm
zoo said:
“The rape of Syria””
The Top Geopolitical Tragedy of This Year: The Syrian Bloodbath
In all likelihood, it will be next year’s tragedy as well.
December 27, 2012 |
By Pepe Escobar
??The top geopolitical tragedy in 2012 is bound to remain the top geopolitical tragedy in 2013: the rape of Syria.
http://www.alternet.org/world/top-geopolitical-tragedy-year-syrian-bloodbath
…
The Salafis and Salafi-jihadis of the al-Nusrah Front – 7th century fanatics, beheading enthusiasts and car-bombing operatives who do the bulk of the fighting – were not invited. After all, the al-Nusrah Front has been branded a “terrorist organization” by Washington.
??Now check the reaction of a Muslim Brotherhood (MB) bigwig, Hama-born deputy comptroller general Mohammed Farouk Tayfour; he said the decision was “too hasty”. And check the reaction of the new Syrian opposition leader, Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, at a “Friends of Syria” meeting in Morocco; the decision must be “reexamined”. Virtually all “rebel” outfits publicly declared their undying love for the hardcore al-Nusrah. ??
So with the al-Nusrah fanatics probably disguising their Islamically correct beards under a prosaic hoodie, expect plenty more “rebel” advances on Damascus – despite two major beatings (last July and then this month), courtesy of Syrian government counter-offensives. After all, that lavish training by US, British and Jordanian Special Forces has got to yield some results, not to mention the loads of extra lethal weapons provided by those paragons of democracy in the Persian Gulf. By the way, the al-Nusrah Front controls sections of devastated Aleppo.
??Sectarian hatred rules ?Then there’s the Orwellian, brand new National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces – a Washington-Doha co-production. Meet the new boss, same as the old (lousy) boss, which was the Syrian National Council (SNC). It’s just rhetoric; the only thing that matters for the “National Coalition” is to get more lethal weapons. And they love al-Nusrah, even if Washington doesn’t. ??
Qatar unloaded tons of weapons “like candy” (according to a US arms dealer) in “liberated” Libya. Only after the Benghazi blowback did the Pentagon and the State Department wake up to the fact that weaponizing the Syrian rebels may be, well, the road to more blowback. Translation: Qatar will keep unloading tons of weapons in Syria. The US will keep “leading from behind”. ?? ??
December 27th, 2012, 7:59 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Right. And I guess the random artillery shelling and bombing of Sunni villages by Alawite-piloted jets had nothing to do with the sectarian hatred in the country. After all, the regime was fighting ‘terrorists’, right?
[SARCASM INTENDED].
December 27th, 2012, 8:07 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
In the last two days 13 plane has been destroyed, In Menneg airport there is 25 aeroplane, Assad so far lost 145 plane.
!!!!
????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ????????? ????? – ?????
????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???????? ???? – ?????
????? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ??? – ?????
… ????? ???? ???? 3 ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ???
????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ???? ???? – ???
????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ????????? ????? – ???
????? ????? ????? ???????? ???? – ???
????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ???? – ???
???? ?????? ????? ? ?? ?? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ..See More
.
December 27th, 2012, 8:19 pm
William Scott Scherk said:
Longtime Syria Comment contributor, editor and moderator Camille Alexandre Otrakji has published some results of a new initiative: “The Syrian Dialogue Project” (first link to the Arabic, English here). Here are a few paragraphs from the Creative Syria ‘dialogue’ site, which is large:
More from the press release of December 23:
December 27th, 2012, 8:22 pm
Tara said:
The US should provide the FSA with reconnaissance info about the private airport where a private jet is on call to carry the thug family out when the time comes.. The plane is loaded with cash for immediate use . The airport
is said to be in Yaafour area.
Where is Ali? He may be able to fill us in.
December 27th, 2012, 8:27 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ3N2KucjIY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaiQj9CdwSM&feature=pla
two good songs of the revolution
December 27th, 2012, 8:43 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@ William
All this talk is nice, but there’s a war to fight. The regime needs to be punished and Assad needs to go before any negotiations. They have too much blood on their hands for the opposition to even BEGIN negotiations.
Otherwise, it’ll just result in another civil war 30 years from now. This is NOT the first time the regime has done something like this. It is the SECOND time. The regime and their supporters obviously cannot coexist with the majority of Syrians and so the regime must be destroyed for any hope of lasting peace.
December 27th, 2012, 8:45 pm
Tara said:
Syria’s War Leaves Its Scars On The Children
by DEBORAH AMOS
December 26, 201212:54 PM
…
Khamis recalls a boy who enrolled within days of fleeing the northern city of Aleppo after a bomb exploded in front of his house.
“He can’t speak any word for three days,” she says.
And so the teachers encouraged the silent boy to draw.
“He draws only windows –- closed windows –- and then he opened the window. Why? We don’t know. We asked him, ‘What do you mean by the open window?’ He can’t speak,” Khamis says.
…
Rahaf Tinowi, who is only 20, works as the school councilor. She says the children have been damaged by the war.
They often dream about killing Syria’s president, Bashar Assad, she says.
“Not all the families, but a lot of them, are always teaching the children, ‘We have to kill them, to kill, kill, kill, all the family of Bashar,’ ” she says. “So that’s our job. We have to change these views.”
And it is a very hard job to change those views, she says quietly, after all that these children have witnessed.
http://www.npr.org/2012/12/26/167568231/syrias-war-leaves-its-scars-on-the-children
December 27th, 2012, 8:54 pm
revenire said:
Tara you left parts of the story out: teachers who were part of Aleppo’s professional class that were driven out by fighting the FSA brought to the city. The FSA terrorist apes were very angry Aleppo didn’t join the “revolution” and now it has but not as the FSA wanted.
December 27th, 2012, 10:05 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Mmmm. Revenire, you’re in no position to criticize anyone about leaving “parts of the story” out.
December 27th, 2012, 10:09 pm
William Scott Scherk said:
??? ???????? for the absent ANN, from her friends. Another ‘terrorist’ group mutilating two bloody dead bodies of the enemy in Aleppo. In this case, the ear-lopping gusto of the youth is remarkable. They are, sadly, the party of ZOO, the Assadists:
ANN, you may also enjoy this video of presumed Shabiha disembowelling and burning the body of a presumed ‘terrorist’ — including sloshes of fuel and maniacal laughter. Funny how these atrocities pile up while you get fitted for your new hood.
While we watch the rustlings of the curtain behind which the mute Syrian government sits and scuffles, it reminded me that we haven’t lately looked at the Geneva ‘accords’ [PDF] that Brahimi has presented at the Palace.
First, though, from the state information factory, parse these SANA stories:
President al-Assad Issues Decree Naming Winners to Fill Vacant Seats at the People’s Assembly
— keeping to the usual high standards, SANA gamely reports that the President named the ‘Winners’, but oh well, was not able to actually provide those names …
Source at al-Baath Party : Reports on Regional Leadership Meeting to Discuss Brahimi Initiative Baseless
— hard to believe, but the Baath regional command will not meet to discuss the initiative.
Brahimi: Geneva Agreement Includes Enough Ideas to Resolve Crisis in Syria, No Need to Add Any New Points
— no new points, hmmm?
Here’s the “Enough Ideas” deal that was put on the table at the grim-faced palace photo shoot we saw featured at SANA:
Of course, looming behind this is the agreement of the Syrian government with the six points of the plan that undergirds the Geneva document. There are many issues that the Syrian government has not responded to coherently …
Now we know why everyone looked so grim and hopeless in the photos. None of this is something whomever runs Syria is prepared to answer in detail, not with a counter-offer, not with an official statement. We shall look vainly for the Syrian government to actually speak the words “transitional government with full powers.”
Here is the most recent words from the envoy himself, in case the grim-faced Baathists are in doubt of what is on the table:
December 27th, 2012, 10:40 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Considering the amount of support the regime receives from foreign sources like Iran and Russia, you’d think the regime would be more grateful.
And yet in their propaganda and on TV, they continue to trumpet “no foreign interference in Syria’s future!” Either the regime are ungrateful wretches, or they don’t consider Russians and Iranians to be foreigners in Syria.
Which is rather odd, because most people would consider Russians and Iranians to be foreigners if they were in any country other than Russia or Iran.
December 27th, 2012, 10:55 pm
revenire said:
William calm down big fella – we’re on the Internet not at the UN.
The government of Syria will decide on the best course of action and when they do you will be informed via SANA or another such reliable news source.
It sounds to me like you could be a nice chap if you just stopped hanging out with those guys with the funny beards who like to decapitate people.
December 27th, 2012, 10:59 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Ah, the troll speaks.
Your last comment was not worded well. You’re trying too hard.
Don’t say “reliable news source,” because when you say that, you’re implying to everyone that it’s NOT a reliable news source, but you’re trying to pretend otherwise.
One of the best ways to catch trolls is that trolls try too hard.
December 27th, 2012, 11:02 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@Revenire
Also, regime supporters, the authentic ones, are UNABLE to learn from their mistakes. They tend to spew the same nonsense over and over again, mindlessly. It’s a product of their dictatorial system.
You on the other hand adjust your statements based on effect. This shows that you ARE able to adjust to circumstances. Which means that you can’t be an authentic regime supporter.
December 27th, 2012, 11:09 pm
revenire said:
SANA is certainly more reliable than the Saudi new organ, or the Qatari one, or the BBC, or CNN etc. When I wake in the morning i get coffee and enjoy reading news at SANA. Try it with a coffee and some bakery and you will see what I mean.
I support Assad. I supported his father. Hafez did a good job in Hama but perhaps was not as thorough as he could have been – if you catch my meaning friend.
December 27th, 2012, 11:10 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Edited: Hahahhahahaha.
December 27th, 2012, 11:13 pm
Visitor said:
Iraq on the way of the Syrian Revolution,
http://www.aljazeera.net/news/pages/1926101d-acca-4270-a220-ea363f401009?GoogleStatID=1
Wasn’t the first Friday of the Syrian Revolution also called ??? ??????
December 27th, 2012, 11:45 pm
Hopeful said:
429 Ghufran
Ghufran, I always find your writings on this board to be intelligent and informative. I do not agree with many who criticized you of being a closet regime supporter. I think you care deeply about Syria and, like many of us, want an outcome that saves it from the hell it finds itself in right now. I do agree though that you have a more pressemistic outlook than many here. Perhaps you’ve lived longer than us and have witnessed more.
I do not like the neocons either, but that does not mean to dismiss all their ideas and thoughts. I am a believer that the top two problems in Arab countries are NOT Israel and western imperialism, but 1) lack of democracy and 2) religious radicalism. And by “religious radicalism” I do not just mean the violent Alqaeda types. Our societies are dominated by extreme religious thoughts and ideologies, and all this talk about religious “tolerance” is nonsense. Egypt has just started down the democracy path, and now it’s society has to deal with the religion issue. It will take time.
I am also terrified of the thought of Islamists taking over Syria, but I do blame the current regime for how we ended up here. It is corrupt and utterly incompetent. I also believe that no solution is possible if the regime stays in power. That does not mean that a solution IS possible if it leaves, but at least there will be hope of one. I have many Christian and Alawii friends in Syria and I am very worried about their well-being, but I believe that the regime is doing them more harm than good.
What Syrians need now is a little hope. Any political breakthrough will give them that. Any more military wins will only bring hope to some, and more desperation to others.
December 28th, 2012, 12:21 am
Juergen said:
Great article:
Taking Syria back from the extremists
“The U.S. commitment to aiding the Syrian opposition against the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad has been one of many words and few deeds. ”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/taking-syria-back-from-the-extremists/2012/12/27/2b6ce1a6-3d96-11e2-ae43-cf491b837f7b_story.html
December 28th, 2012, 2:15 am
Juergen said:
Manila port operator pulls out of Syria
“TICT was left with no choice but to issue the notice of termination when Syria plunged into a state of full-fledged civil war, which exposed everyone—combatants and civilians alike—to increasing threat of death and destruction on a daily basis,” ICTSI told the local bourse.”
http://business.inquirer.net/100013/manila-port-operator-pulls-out-of-syria
December 28th, 2012, 3:09 am
Citizen said:
asymmetric war in Syria
http://youtu.be/3tzl_bx7PNw?t=7m24s
“Unseen Enemy”
http://translate.google.at/translate?hl=de&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fvz.ru%2Fopinions%2F2012%2F12%2F27%2F613948.html
December 28th, 2012, 3:22 am
Visitor said:
Here’s an account of an encounter I had recently with another Alepine who introduced himself to me as Abu el-Meesh, or as many Arabphones would immediately recognize as the term of endearment for Michel.
Abu el-Meesh is a Syriac, who would like his community which he thinks is caught between a rock and a hard place, to maintain neutrality in this war that he sees as a cause of destruction to his beloved Aleppo and he doesn’t hide his bitterness about and lays the blame mostly on revolutioaries. He does distinguish between so-called extremists and mainstream FSA, but at the end of the end of the day they are all the same for him.
Abu el-Meesh opened up to me when he knew that I have relatives in Aleppo that he recognized. He mentioned that the Armenian community is leaving Aeppo in droves, a sad event we both expressed sorrow to its occurence. It is not clear at this point in time whether this exodus will become permanent or if it may reverse sometime in the future. We both surmised that it will all depend upon the length of time the events will take, as we both concurred that the Armenians are an industrialist community with skilled tradespeople who contributed tremendously to the city of Aleppo and beyond. It was clear from his revelation, that the Armenians are leaving strictly because of economic reasons.
Abu el-Meesh recognizes that a change in Syria is a certainty and an absolute necessity. However, when I tried to coax him into admitting that the next logical move for his community would be to come out in the open in support of the revolution in order to guarantee a role in the outcome, his answer revealed a typical mercantile and machiavellian attitude characteristic of Syrian bourgoisie. According to him whoever takes his mom wil become his uncle: ???? ????? ??? ???? ???.
This is his attitude despite his bitter feelings about so-called extremists and the possibility of ending up with the often talked about Islamic Emirate, imposed by so-called Islamistz, who he said are robbing him of a country that bears the name of his community. El-Meesh did however make a clear dstinction between Abu Dhar Al-Ghafari and the present day Islamists indicating that the difference between the two is like night and day. He would have no problem with Abu Dhar’s type of an Islamic Emirate.
El-Meesh also exhibited a tendency to be apologetic towards the regime denying many of the atrocities that we talk about here such as the use of air force to bomb civilian targets, and even the well documented bakery line-up war crimes similar to the one we recently witnessed in 7Hilfaya. I did swallow his apologetic behaviour for the sake of further revelation, and also due to the fact that he feels sandwiched between a rock and a hard place.
Al-Meesh does reognize that the last 50 years were the worst for Syria in general and for his community in particular. He also doesn’t buy the rubbish that Assadistan is a protector of minorities in Syria. In fact, he recognizes that Christians in Syria lost in the last 50 years in ways they never lost throughout their history. However, there is no way you can convince him or perhaps anyone from within his community of the benefits of taking a stand out in the open with the revolution. The overriding principle is as he concisely put it: ???? ????? ??? ???? ???.
December 28th, 2012, 3:50 am
MarigoldRan said:
But the Aleppines have always been like this. What do you expect?
In the end, the revolution came from the countryside. Even many of the original protesters in the cities were originally from the countryside, looking for work in the cities.
Now one of the greatest source of manpower for the FSA are from the refugee camps. Aleppines like him are not necessary for the revolution. They never cared for the poor, so why should the poor care for them?
EDIT: This war is not just of sect. It is also of poor vs rich.
December 28th, 2012, 3:58 am
Juergen said:
Zine el-Abidine and Leilas possessions on auction in Tunis
So soon we will see the big Asmaa shoe sale or shall we bet on an copy of the Marcos shoe museum in Damascus?
The dictator and his Lamborghini
Fast cars, fancy houses, expensive jewelry: The Ben Ali clan in Tunisia it can go well for decades – at the expense of the population. Now, the transitional government auctioned the riches. It is the biggest auction, which existed in Tunisia ever. Unimaginable to see what comes to light and under the hammer.
http://translate.google.de/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tagesschau.de%2Fausland%2Ftunesien620.html
here is the site of the auction
http://www.confiscation.tn/foire/fr/index.html
December 28th, 2012, 4:19 am
Visitor said:
MGR @477,
The comment is not meant to label the Aleppines in general. It is meant is to reveal that the lov-u-gang claim to regime support from among minority communities is nothing but crap, rubbish, bull, and delusional.
December 28th, 2012, 5:56 am
Citizen said:
U.S. destroyer sent to the coast of Syria
http://translate.google.at/translate?hl=de&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Frus.ruvr.ru%2F2012_12_28%2FSSHA-napravljajut-k-Sirii-jesminec-protivoraketnoj-oboroni%2F
The ship is able to track and shoot down ballistic missiles ( and also go to the bottom and rest there In case of aggression ) !
December 28th, 2012, 7:14 am
zoo said:
473. Juergen said:
“Great article: “Taking Syria back from the extremists”
I am surprised you find this article great. It is highly critical of the opposition intimate relation with extremists.
The only solution it proposes is to have the US help the ‘good’ rebels in administering the ‘liberated’ areas as as to make the ‘bad’ rebels less attractive to the desperate young rebels.
This is a very far fetched solution and infantile ( like most of the USA ‘solutions’ in the region).
The ‘good’ rebels are weak and divided and badly need the ‘bad’ ones to achieve military victories, without which despair will destroy them.
The FSA should have avoided the ‘bad’ rebels at start, now it is far too late. They are intrinsincally ‘married’. The eventual fall of the ‘bad’ rebels will be the fall of the whole FSA and they know it.
The only solution that could have save the ‘good’ rebels was a no-fly zone and it did not happen because of the cowardice and the absence of commitment from the international community.
Unless a political solution is found, the fate of the FSA and the northern region is just a matter of time before it collapses, despite the ‘humanitarian’ aid that the Kuwaiti are initiating by end january for a conference on ‘donors’.
December 28th, 2012, 9:27 am
Juergen said:
Russia ‘ready for Syria opposition talks’
Lavrov:
“We are consistently working with the regime and all the opposition groups without exception,” Mr Lavrov said.
“We are telling them the same thing: ‘You have to think of your people, of your country. You should agree on a ceasefire. Sit down at the negotiating table.'”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20856646
December 28th, 2012, 9:33 am
zoo said:
Al Khatib, acting like the leader representing “All Syrians” is flexing his muscles with Russia.
Syria opposition leader rejects Moscow invitation to talks
Friday December 28 2012
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/syria-opposition-leader-rejects-moscow-invitation-to-talks-3338136.html
SYRIA’S opposition leader has rejected an invitation from Russia for peace talks, dealing another blow to international hopes that diplomacy can be resurrected to end a 21-month civil war.
Russia, President Bashar al-Assad’s main international protector, said on Friday it had sent an invitation for a visit to Moaz Alkhatib, whose six-week-old National Coalition opposition group has been recognised by most Western and Arab states as the legitimate voice of the Syrian people.
But in an interview on Al Jazeera television, Alkhatib said he had already ruled out such a trip and wanted an apology from Moscow for its support for Assad.
“We have clearly said we will not go to Moscow. We could meet in an Arab country if there was a clear agenda,” he said.
“Now we also want an apology from (Russian Foreign Minister Sergei) Lavrov because all this time he said that the people will decide their destiny, without foreign intervention. Russia is intervening and meanwhile all these massacres of the Syrian people have happened, treated as if they were a picnic.”
“If we don’t represent the Syrian people, why do they invite us?” Alkhatib said. “And if we do represent the Syrian people why doesn’t Russia respond and issue a clear condemnation of the barbarity of the regime and make a clear call for Assad to step down? This is the basic condition for any negotiations.”
December 28th, 2012, 9:52 am
zoo said:
A Turkish-Islamist inspired Syrian batallion is born: It was overdue, money will flow….
Syrian rebels name batallion after former Turkish (Islamist) PM Erbakan
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syrian-rebels-name-batallion-after-former-turkish-pm-erbakan.aspx?pageID=238&nid=37863&NewsCatID=352
A group of Syrian dissidents have declared themselves as students of Turkey’s first Islamist prime minister, the late Necmettin Erbakan, while publishing a video online calling for jihad, daily Hürriyet has reported.
The dissidents read passages of the Quran and called on other Syrians to join the holy fight.
December 28th, 2012, 9:56 am
zoo said:
When one read the news, one wonders what is making Lakhdar Ibrahimi still hopeful? Who is behind him?
As Syria suffering spirals, envoy hopes for political transition
By Joe Sterling, Saad Abedine and Holly Yan, CNN
December 28, 2012 — Updated 1043 GMT (1843 HKT)
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/27/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html?hpt=wo_bn12
December 28th, 2012, 10:00 am
zoo said:
Seismic events will shape the Middle East
December 27, 2012 8:26 pm
By David Gardner
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d0c3bc32-4a17-11e2-a7b1-00144feab49a.html#ixzz2GMLNwIGN
..
It was the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq, a rash roll of the regional dice, that reignited the historic battle between Sunni and Shia Islam. Syria and, potentially, Lebanon are currently the main frontline of this corrosive contest.
..
Conversely, the west’s decision to stand back from Sunni majority Syria’s attempt to break free from the Assad regime in effect leaves the provision of aid and arms to the rebels to the Gulf monarchies, led by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In Libya, the US chose to “lead from behind”. In Syria, America and its European allies have chosen to subcontract to the Sunni supremacists of the Gulf. That has consequences. It has turned Syria into a magnet for jihadi extremists and enhanced the influence of local Islamist radicals beyond what Syria’s plural mosaic society would normally engender.
Something similar happened while the west dithered over Bosnia, creating an opening for veterans of the western-backed jihad against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. The consequences then were limited. The Wahhabis, as the Bosniaks called them, moved on to Chechnya. This time the jihadis are unlikely to give up a strategic position in the Levant, especially after they squandered the opportunity given them by the US-led occupation of Iraq, where they alienated the Sunni tribes and launched a self-defeating campaign of terror against the Shia majority.
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December 28th, 2012, 10:07 am
Hopeful said:
How did the Syrians lose their humanity?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AuWDgxwBq4
It is difficult to have any hope after seeing such callous cruelty!
December 28th, 2012, 10:10 am
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