Ali Ferzat interview/video

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/06/21/syrian-cartoonist-ali-ferzat-video/?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook

Syrian prisoners left to die in military hospital ‘dark rooms’
Syrian prisoners were left to die in military hospital ‘dark rooms’, while others were drugged to stop them speaking with international observers, a defecting military doctor has told The Daily Telegraph.In his first media interview since he fled his position as head of the intensive care unit in an Aleppo military hospital, the doctor gave a chilling eyewitness account of secret wards where he said patients were tortured or sent to their death.
“Important arrested patients, those that had more information to reveal, had to be healed. Those that were useless to them were sent to a secret ward that we nicknamed “the dark room” where they were tortured, eliminated or left to die.”
The doctor, who for security reasons can only be identified as Ahmed, worked in military hospitals in Aleppo, Deraa and the suburbs of Damascus each of which had these wards.
The patients were kept in “dire” conditions with their hands and feet handcuffed to the beds and their eyes blindfolded in windowless wards, often in a basement.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9357559/Syrian-prisoners-left-to-die-in-military-hospital-dark-rooms.html#

the West try to intimidate more and more by the military solution,and Russia will supply more and more weapons to Syria!it is a conversation of the deaf!
Russia halts plans to supply S-300 missile system to Syria – reports
http://www.rt.com/news/russia-halts-syria-s300-contract-822/

“We are sending no battleships to Syria. We have been saying publicly that we have been implementing contracts under which we have to supply arms to Syria. These armaments are entirely defensive and they mostly consist of air defense systems, which cannot be used against the population and can only be used to respond to outside aggression,” Lavrov told RT.

a syrian activist pointed this out. today is anniversary of yet another tragedy.

The Tadmur (Palmyra) Prison Massacre on its 27th Anniversary…Still Awaiting for Justice

On 27th June 1980, the Syrian Regime’s death machine slaughtered approximately 1000 Islamic detainees as they sat defenceless within their cells in the desert prison of Tadmur. The machine used to carry out this operation was the Defence Brigades, headed and commanded directly by the president’s brother and vice-president for security issues, Rifat al-Asad. It released two battalions towards Tadmur Prison where they butchered the isolated detainees in cold blood whilst they were unaware of what was being prepared for them. The detainees had not been trialled, neither fairly or arbitrarily, and no decision or sentence had been passed against them, whether from a fair, exceptional, or even a field court.
…

The numbers of those who have been swallowed by Tadmur Prison and vanished therein have reached 17000, among them doctors and engineers, scholars and scientists, farmers and villagers, teachers and students, poets and men of letters, elderly and minors. The Syrian regime has not released the details of this file, which has been overwhelmed by the depths of darkness, leaving many members of the Syrian public patiently awaiting the return of their fathers, husbands, brothers and friends, disregarding and disbelieving the reports issued by many human rights organisations that the detainees of Tadmur prison have been killed and will not return to their loved families.

OBSERVER (@128 Previous post)

Syrian Hamster

Have you noticed how any comment diminishing the “aura” of the “dear leader” be it Fredo or Putin brings out the most defensive vehement response from the worshipers?

Yes my friend, I did a while ago. And it is very easy to rile them up on that. There are even a retro-voting campaigns, where comments are given red thumbs even days after having been written. The block votes seem to target specific comments and commentators.

What i have also noticed is how their language exposes their intellectual and historical bankruptcy. Notice their approach to those whom they think are enemies of the buffoon. What matters has nothing to do with the welfare of Syria and Syrians. What matters them is primarily for opponents of Alfredo the buffoon is to be “Humiliated”, “Swallow their tongue”, “embarrassed”, “drink the sea” and the suite of childish, negative, and fossilized values that have characterized the minds and discourse of the defunct buffoonish dictators (and their political parties and press) now being ejected by Arabs with far more superior understanding, language, and grasp of reality. Ignorance of changing realities, of the fact that no longer it is about fake and useless national pride, which actually caused these buffoons one defeat after another, and was primarily aimed at people who were kept ignorant or afraid, seems to characterize the persistent “half liner” comments with stupid “graphic smirks”. I find that most anti-intellectual and backward. The Arab reality is now about real dignity, equality, and the role and value of the individual as being far more important than totalitarian tribal concepts. An idea, that never occurs to “auto-pilot” reactionaries as it is beyond the scope of their prefabricated frames of reference.

May the germs overtake the rotten body.

Latin America: Is “Arab Spring” coming to town? (Op-Ed)
http://www.rt.com/news/latin-arab-spring-power-783/
…/../…
Seven Step Guide to country destruction
Writing in RT last year on the “Arab Spring”, we described a Seven Step process whereby the Western Powers can escalate turmoil into outright destruction.
Since clouds are gathering over Latin America and other regions, we would do well to review this process:
1. They begin by targeting a country ripe for “regime change”, often branding it a “Rogue State”; then…
2. They spread flagrant lies through their news media and paid journalists and call it the “International Community’s Concern”, then…
3. They finance and promote internal turmoil and strife, often escalating it to arming and training local terrorist groups by CIA, MI6, Mossad, Al-Qaeda and drug cartel recruits, and call them “Freedom Fighters”; then…
4. They try to stage mock UN Security Council Resolutions allowing NATO to rain death and destruction over millions of people, and call it “Sanctions to Protect Civilians”; then…
5. They invade and begin controlling the target country, and call it “Liberation”; then…
6. When the target country falls under their control, they fraudulently impose treacherous caretaker governments and call it “Democracy”, until finally…
7. They steal the victim country’s oil, mineral and agricultural wealth handing it over to the Corporate and Banking Overworld, also imposing unnecessary Sovereign Debts, and call it “Foreign Investment and Reconstruction”.
So, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia – even Argentina: open your eyes!
Learn to see through the violent use of force in private and hypocrisy in public by the Power Elite.
Because the day the Global Power Masters decide to come for you, they will say it’s all in the name of “freedom of speech”, “democracy”, “peace”, “human rights”, “non-discrimination” and other catch phrases.
Don’t fall for it!

White House Spokesman speak with supreme hubris:

White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Tuesday that Assad “has been slowly, too slowly, losing his grip over his country. The process, because of his refusal to step aside, has been horrific and has exacted a terrible toll on the Syrian people.”

Link to article

So Mr. Carney, the “process” whereby you are providing weapons and you are directly/indirectly responsible for transforming what was essentially a peaceful protest movement into a bloody sectarian war.

TRANSLATION: “I wish these drone targets would just do what we say and we wouldn’t have to kill so many of them.”

This is what i call hubris! But as we say the hubris comes before the fall.

The eyedoctor:

“Our whole policy, orders and inn all fields will be focused on winning this war”

“Apparently, the problem was with the West only, while the majority of the world want to build relations with us and with others, but throughout decades, we were seeking to boost our economic ties with those who colonized us directly or indirectly.. Syria seeks to build good relations with all world countries but we have to know where are our real interests.”

“When we communicate in a transparent, citizens will understand and support us.”

http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2012/06/27/427849.htm

Assad loyal tv station was stormed
3 employees got killed

al-Ikhbarija station was targeted, this tv station is just 20 km south of Damascus

http://translate.google.de/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spiegel.de%2Fpolitik%2Fausland%2Fsyrien-angreifer-stuermen-assad-treuen-fernsehsender-bei-damaskus-a-841186.html

8. JUERGEN
are you boast to show such terror?
or you reported how the implementation of the Western plan point by point ?
what do you tell if unknown persons will attack in the same way on the western media in Syria? it is crap!

Mina please respect the rules when it comes to offsite materials.

SC Moderator

“three employees got killed” Is that the sign of a smooth revolution, like in Lybia? http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/46297/World/Region/Breaking-Tunisian-consulate-in-Tripoli-bombed,-no-.aspx
“Unknown assailants threw a homemade bomb at the Tunisian consulate and home of the consul in the Libyan capital late Tuesday, causing some damage but no casualties, officials and witnesses said.

The Tunisian foreign ministry issued a statement saying a “homemade bomb exploded near the consulate causing minor material damage.”

A diplomat said Consul General Abdelhamid Errai was in the building at the time of the attack.

The blast chipped an outer wall of the complex, located in Tripoli’s Naufliyeen neighbourhood, and slightly damaged two nearby cars, an AFP journalist at the scene said.

A witness told AFP the attack occurred mid-afternoon when a white car sped past and someone hurled a “gelatina” bomb, a small improvised explosive device typical to Libya.

Guards said the incident was captured by security cameras in the premises.

Forces of the interior ministry’s Supreme Security Committee arrived at the site shortly after the blast and patrolled the area in search of the culprit, the AFP reporter said.

Still at the scene, the consul declined to comment on the attack. He later downplayed the incident in remarks to Tunisian TAP news agency, saying that “no damage” had been done.

The blast comes amid tensions between Tripoli and Tunis after a former premier of the late Libyan leader, Baghdadi al-Mahmudi was extradited to Libya on Sunday against the wishes of Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki.

[…]

Syria in the new Iraq and Lybia the new Afghanistan. The new talibans are in Northern Mali. Such a good script ought to be repeated ad nauseam.

Mouthpieces that have no shame

Wednesday, 27 June 2012

I used to think that the Lebanese and Syrian mouthpieces defending Bashar al-Assad and his regime’s crimes will have some shame and disappear,……… I was hoping to see these mouthpieces……… stay quiet, or abstain from issuing any talk and getting psychological treatment to cure their spite, instead of justifying the horrific crimes of the regime.

Last week, I watched a Syrian satellite channel……….The anchorwoman was smiling while asking questions to a lying evil Lebanese mouthpiece…………He abruptly decided that Syria will become a global superpower which – along with its allies – will control the region and Asia, based on scenarios that only he can see. This lunatic said that Russia, China, Iran and Syria will dominate the Asian continent, in the face of America’s and Europe’s hegemony over the African continent via an agreement between the superpowers. He indicated that Syria alone – under Al-Assad’s command – will become a strong Arab power in the region, taken into account by all, adding that the division of the Asian and African “pie” between the major states was being agreed on,…..

Read more:

http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2012/06/27/223040.html

Alan

Any news outlet who regards all human being opposing this regime as legitimite targets of the “brave and honorous Syrian army” is not sanctious. These channels who support the regime show constantly a brainwashed programme with verified lies. The English and Americans as well as the Russians had no problem to bomb the tv and radio station headed by Goebbels./ and many were relieved not to hear the terrible tirades of him again) I think such outlets who use their language to dehumanize people opposing the regime is more or less targetting itself and set the “moral” grounds for masscres and masskillings.

I know that Orient TV was targetted by the Mahloufclan, the owner resisted to “sell” a big share to the family and soon left the country to be able to work independently from Dubai.

AJE Live Syria blog:

5 hours ago:

Morad Al Shami, Local Coordination Committee spokesperson in Damascus and its suburbs have told AJA republican guards who defected today are the ones who attacked the headquarters of the Syrian TV station.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/topic/syria/lcc-says-defected-republican-guards-are-behind-syrian-tv-station-attack

Modern man to bunker man

Aaron David Miller of the Wilson Center giving his response to Assad’s comments. BBC World Service.

Before that there is a short account of the fighting in Damascus yesterday.

Miller from 2 min 15 sec. Less than 5 minutes long. [7 days left to listen]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00trr0z

Notice to the ‘democratic’ Gulf states: it’s coming

Egypt’s revolution will only be secured by spreading it

The first open election of an Arab president should boost the regional revolt. It needs to reach the Gulf heartlands of autocracy
Seumas Milne
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 26 June 2012 22.20 BST
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/26/egypt-revolution-secured-by-spreading
….
No doubt Washington hopes to see the emergence of a “moderate” pro-western Islamism as basis for the more stable regime in Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world – and Morsi has said he will maintain the “strategic partnership” with the US.

But attachment to the Palestinian cause and hostility to the west’s role in the region is deep in Egyptian society – and among Muslim Brotherhood supporters in particular. Morsi is anxious to reassure the west that there will be no major shifts in foreign policy, if and when he gets control of it. But unless, say, the blockade of Gaza is lifted soon, the Brotherhood could start to look like an Islamic face on the old order and lose the confidence of its base. Genuine democratisation in the Middle East is bound to lead to greater independence.

In the meantime, the first free election of an Egyptian president is likely to give renewed impetus to protest movements for democratic change across the region. The US is said to be particularly concerned about the autocratic pro-western Jordanian regime. Last week, the opposition-dominated parliament was dissolved in Kuwait; protests and strikes have led to arrests and trials in Oman.

The spread of revolt is essential if real change is to continue in the Arab world. The Saudi and other western-backed Gulf dictatorships have been central to the drive to suppress, derail or poison the uprisings of the past 18 months – the fulcrum of the regional counter-revolution. Only when they reach the heartlands of autocracy will the Arab revolution be secure.

Simon Assaf writes in the Socialist Worker:

Syrian rebels hold strong against Assad’s demoralised forces
Tue 26 Jun 2012

[…]

The revolution encompasses the daily mass demonstrations and strikes in Aleppo and Damascus. And last week rebel fighters slipped into Bab Amr, Homs, capturing three military positions that were overrun by regime forces last February.

Now the regime has lost control of Deir el-Zour in the east and the countryside around Aleppo in the north. Add to that the long-lost regions of Deraa in the south, as well as the central towns and villages around Homs and Hama.

A grim picture emerges for dictator Bashar al-Assad. The rebels are now better organised and are receiving ammunition and some weapons.

[…]

The frequent helicopter gunships are proving ineffective. This is leading many rebels to conclude that the pilots are deliberately missing their targets.

The balance of forces is now turning against the regime. Bashar Assad’s military solution, effective at first, has backfired. His army is in crisis and his base of support is shrinking.

[…]

‘The revolutionaries are our children’

Women in Zebdani, west of Damascus, who are at the forefront of the Syrian revolution, sent in this report to the Mena Solidarity Network

Read more:

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=28904

So many dreamers who give advices…

Leading article: An omen of how Syria’s conflict could spread

The downing of Turkey’s plane shows that regional security is balanced on a knife-edge

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-an-omen-of-how-syrias-conflict-could-spread-7888830.html

…
Russia is the key to unblocking the impasse. The West should concentrate now on providing Moscow with assurances that its geopolitical interests will be respected in Syria so long as it assists in a regime change which sees the back of the blood-stained President Assad.

Robert Fisk: Mohamed Morsi is no revolutionary and not much of a nationalist. The army elite has already laid traps for him

Zaghloul might be missed today, after an election in which the words ‘Islam’ and ‘security’ seemed like interchangeable platitudes

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-mohamed-morsi-is-no-revolutionary-and-not-much-of-a-nationalist-the-army-elite-has-already-laid-traps-for-him-7879773.html

Putin should listen to advices from good friends….

Putin must get tougher with Assad
We cannot ignore that Putin’s policy on Syria was buried beneath the visit’s festive atmosphere.
Haaretz Editorial | Jun.27, 2012 | 5:59 AM | 1

http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/putin-must-get-tougher-with-assad-1.444235

More and more the revolutionaries are getting closer to the target, that is why I predict a bad bad end to Assad and his family, Assad arrogance will kill him.

The Alawis would not support Alawi state,
1- their number will be less.
2- They have to share the area with the Christians.
3- They will have to abandon the Baath supporters,and other Sunni who are pro regime, who are the main reason the regime is staying in power up till now.
4- The geography and the economic factors will weaken them.
5- The Alawi mountain is not advanced area

After all the report that said Assad lost 60% of control of the Syrian land might be true or partially true.  How did Ghalioun enter Idleb and mingle with the FSA?  Ghalioun does look presidential.  I think he is far better looking than Bashar.

10.34am: Syria: Burhan Ghalioun, the former leader of Syria’s main opposition group, claims part of northern Syria has been liberated from the government’s control after he visited rebel fighters in the north-western province of Idlib.

AP reports:

Ghalioun told Al-Jazeera TV that the areas he visited in Idlib province are ruling themselves, without any regime presence.

Ghalioun, former head of the [Syrian] National Council, did not say when he entered or left Syria.

“I went to see the war that the Syrian regime is staging,” Ghalioun said. “The regime continues to shell and kill.” Ghalioun said he spoke with wounded Syrians including some who lost limbs and others who were paralyzed.

He added that he was able to drive about freely and that “part of the country is liberated.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/jun/27/syria-at-war-assad-live#block-9

Syria and Turkey officially at war

Bashar’s response to Erdogan declaration of war may change the whole mood of the conflict.
It is no more a question of genuine reform seekers who made the mistake of allying themselves with terrorists and the long term enemies of the country, namely the USA and Israel, but now it is a neighboring country Turkey with historical hegemonic ambition on Syria that now that admits it want to overthrow the legal government of Syria.

For many Syrians this is a direct attack on their identity and their nationalism. Turkey is known to Syrians. Its history is packed with crimes, exploitation and massacres. Its modern history is tainted with disguised religious extremism and economical opportunism.
The “revolution” may have turned into a pretext for Turkey to grab more of Syrian territories and for the USA and the EU to eliminate the only valid threat to Israel in the region.
One wonders if the ‘gimmick’ of Turkey snubbing Israel was not a trick to gain the trust of the Arab and weaken them from inside to facilitate Israel and the USA hegemony on the Arabs.
Turkey is suspected to be the “trojan horse’ of Israel in the Arab countries. Turkey is supposedly promoting a ‘moderate’ Islam through the Moslem Brotherhood. Yet they are so weak and powerless they would accept any compromise with Israel and be totally dependent from Qatar and set against Iran.
Overall Turkey’s actions and “inactions” are becoming increasingly suspicious to the average Syrian and the average Arab.
Erdogan’s declaration of an open war with Syria is a strategic mistake that Turkey and the opposition may soon regret as the Syrians may gradually regroup around their president to face the foreign enemy who now showed his real intentions.

#20 MajedAlkhaldoon

“that is why I predict a bad bad end to Assad and his family, Assad arrogance will kill him.”

I am so reassured by your “predictions” as most of your previous ones have failed to materialize…

11.01am: Syria: The UN’s commission of inquiry into who was to blame for last month’s Houla massacre is inconclusive, but it says government forces are most likely to be to blame.

The report [pdf] said the commission could not come to firm conclusions because it was prevented from visiting the site.

But it said:

The CoI is unable to determine the identity of the perpetrators at this time; nevertheless the CoI considers that forces loyal to the Government may have been responsible for many of the deaths. The investigation will continue until the end of the CoI mandate.

It found that access, by a “sizeable group”, to the area where most of the killings took place “would have been practically impossible, especially if they arrived in vehicles, without government forces being aware”.

The location of government check points near the scene also made it likely that government forces were aware.

It also said the timing of government shelling of the area pointed to complicity in the killings.

Government shelling will have caused a number of the deaths, and controlling the timing and location of the impact would also have made it easier to control access to the crime scenes. Finally, the manner in which these killings took place resembles those previously and repeatedly documented to have been committed by the government.

In its overall conclusions the report blamed both government and anti-government forces for human rights abuses.

The CoI considers it has reasonable grounds to believe that government forces and shabiha have perpetrated unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests and detention and torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Particularly affected are children who continue to suffer in the context of the on-going events in the Syrian Arab Republic. Despite, the difficulties in collecting evidence of sexual violence, interviews conducted by the Commission indicated that Government forces and shabiha have committed acts of sexual violence against men, women and children during the reporting period.

The CoI considers it has reasonable grounds to believe that anti-government armed groups have extra-judicially executed captured members of the government forces, shabiha, foreign fighters, supporters of the government, suspected informers and/or collaborators. The commission also found that anti-government armed groups have tortured captured members of the Syrian security forces and/or their alleged supporters and abducted civilians and members of government forces, usually to facilitate prisoner exchanges. The CoI is especially concerned by reports that anti-Government armed groups have been using children as medical porters, messengers and cooks, exposing them to risk of death and injury.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/jun/27/syria-at-war-assad-live#block-11

21. Tara

Is Idlib 60% of Syria?
Why is Ghaliun and not the new SNC “silent” leader who went to visit his ‘troops’ in Idlib? Is he trying to project an image of the next president. I think he should grow a short beard, like Morsi, that will give him more clout.
These days beards talk.
You seem to have fallen for it, so maybe it works.

Assad clan is not legal government of Syria, they came through military coup, and since then we never has free election, Assad has no legitimacy.

Right now the best friends of Syrian people are
1-Syrian themselves.
2- Hamad Bin Jasem,and Qatar Emir.and KSA.
3- Turkey Erdogan.
The worst enemies of Syrians are
1-Iran.
2-Russia and China.

UN mission “alarmed” by attacks on Syria TV – 2012-06-27

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-06/27/c_131680036.htm

DAMASCUS, June 27 (Xinhua) — The UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) said that it is “alarmed” by the recent attacks on the pro-government al-Ekhbariah TV that left seven people killed, calling on all parties to protect the journalists as noncombatants.

“The UN mission is alarmed at the attacks Wednesday on al- Ekhbariah TV,” Sausan Ghosheh, the mission spokeswoman told reporters following the incident.

“Attacks on journalists and media outlets are utmost concern of the UN mission,” said Ghosheh, urging all parties to protect and respect the freedom of expression, particularly the freedom of the press.

Armed groups attacked the headquarters of al- Ekhbariah TV in a suburban area of the Syrian capital of Damascus after daybreak Wednesday. The armed men fired RPGs on the security guards before making their way inside the station, witnesses told Xinhua, adding that after several gunshots inside, loud sound of explosion rattled the area.

The armed groups blasted the newsroom and broadcast station in an effort to paralyze the TV station.

After the blast, the gunmen brought the victims, tying their hands behind their backs, forcing them to get down on their knees facing the exterior walls of the building, before executing them.

Blood stains were seen splattered on the wall and the ground, where the execution took place, as the news and broadcasting rooms seemed reduced to rubles.

Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi condemned the attack and the attempts of outside parties trying to silence the voice of the Syrian media.

[…]

The next Syria president?

Lol..this tweet got me laughing:

AnonymousSyria
LOL, a rumor indicates that #FSA bought a checkpoint from a corrupted officer, they got all the weapons & conscripts defected in #Daraa!

9m

http://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/anonymoussyria-lol-a-rumor-indicates-that-fsa-bought/

#27 Ann

After the blast, the gunmen brought the victims, tying their hands behind their backs, forcing them to get down on their knees facing the exterior walls of the building, before executing them.

Is this the promised “freedom of expression” in the “new: Syria: Monstruous cold blooded murder.
Some zealous commenters will say that it is the making of the government “to make it look”.

I think a new wall of fear is being built, by the opposition this time: you’re with us or you’re dead.

#26 Majedalkhadoon

Right now the best friends of Syrian people are

Oh, you forgot Israel, Tunisia, France etc…

#24 Tara

It is “inconclusive” or not? what ‘may’ means, or ‘likely’?
.. what sort of professional investigation is that? If they have no conclusion, they should shut up.

is qatar counted as a country 8)

Iran, Saudi Arabia not invited to UN summit of world powers on Syria – 27 June, 2012

http://www.rt.com/news/summit-syria-un-iran-885/

Iran and Saudi Arabia have not been invited to UN summit of world powers on Syria as peace negotiator Kofi Annan convenes the meeting in Geneva the coming weekend.

“I have sent invitations to the Foreign Ministers of the five permanent members of the Security Council -China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America – and Turkey,” Kofi Annan has said in his statement.

[…]

Look at the pictures. I don’t see temporary trailers as the west propaganda media described it! I see beautiful buildings destroyed by those Blood Thirsty Terrorists, who call themselves rebels!

Syria: Attack on TV staff ‘worst massacre against journalism’ (PHOTOS) – 27 June, 2012

http://www.rt.com/news/syria-tv-massacre-sanctions-858/

Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zougbi put the responsibility for killing of seven TV staffers on the EU, Arab and International organizations. He called it “the worst massacre against journalism and the freedom of media.”

­Seven journalists and workers in the Syrian al-Ikhbaryia Satellite Channel were killed on Wednesday morning in an attack by an armed group targeting the headquarters of al-Ikhbaryia. The assault occurred some 20 kilometres south of the capital Damascus.

They planted explosive devices at the headquarters of al-Ikhbaryia following their ransacking, and destroying the Satellite Channel studios, including the newsroom.

[…]

28. IRRITATED
He is like a white crow among them without beard !

26. MAJEDKHALDOUN
submit on vacancy of the primary school teacher!

34. Alan said:

“He is like a white crow among them without beard !”

I think you are too kind…

bronco @25

I think I do…

Non-dyed.

38. ANN
I’m sorry it was then! and now they are the performers of the CIA in Syria !

37. Tara

Then you must like Morsi: died hair but white beard..

http://www.examiner.com/article/cia-feeding-intelligence-information-to-rebel-terrorists-syria
CIA feeding intelligence information to rebel terrorists in Syria
Robert Tilford
American spy satellites have been listening in on communications from Syrian government forces and passing the intelligence to rebels through spies on the ground, according to various British media reports.

The reports suggest that the American intelligence agencies has been vacuuming up large amounts of data through satellite eavesdropping, gone through and is then fed to Syrian rebels by agents of the spy agencies, MI6 and CIA, already deployed in Syria.

How extensive is the spying? Well, supposedly “Syrian generals giving orders(on the ground) can be -pinpointed within yards and identified by voice recognition techniques,” the Daily Star quoted a British defense source as saying. The Daily Star Sunday online magazine said the British and US ¬satellites pass on photos and plans of regular army movements to the Syrian opposition chiefs through the British foreign security apparatus (MI6) and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officers who have infiltrated Syria. They are working hand in hand with the rebels to overthrow the regime.

#38 Ann

They look like confused and excited kids playing macho to me…

Military Option in Syria, Blackwater Active in North Lebanon
Behind the scenes at politicians’ salons, talks about what the coming days will imply on events in Syria are on top of conversations. However, analyses are various and scenarios are multiple.

Some argue that the situation in Syria will continue until the regime and the army exhausted and weakened, while others talk about other features of civil war unfolded in the almost daily security incidents in Syria.

Apart from the two analyses, a significant talk is going on about a compromise in the kitchens of international politics, having the regime coherence and the people support of the army frustrated efforts to drain Syria and drag it into civil war.
http://www1.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=59389&cid=23&fromval=1&frid=23&seccatid=20&s1=1#.T-pfQiG5wlw.blogger

They look significantly more normal, less sinister and with an average IQ well above the Assad or We Burn the Country crews.

Just ordinary, decent, courageous Syrians.

bronco #40

No. Only a Parisian doctor.

Fate has it he is an eye doctor..

Tara #45

Ghaliun is Parisian and doctor too with an IQ that impresses you.
Maybe he’s been an eye doctor when he was Alawite in his previous life.
With a beard, he can become Syria’s Morsi.

#44 SyriaLover

They look significantly more normal, less sinister

The worst criminals and terrorists look ‘normal’

Do Netanyahu or Ben Laden look “sinister?

There is a flow of agitated comments here wishing the worst for Syrians. And they are freely using assertions and descriptions about Assad’s opponents which are identitical to what the world has been saying about the Assad regime for the last 16 months.

For example, Bronco says: “Is this the promised “freedom of expression” in the “new: Syria: Monstruous cold blooded murder….
I think a new wall of fear is being built, by the opposition this time: you’re with us or you’re dead.”

And Alan says: “having the regime coherence and the people support of the army frustrated efforts to drain Syria and drag it into civil war.”

Very ironic.

# 47 Irritated

My answer is yes, compared with those normal-looking guys in your video clip those two you name certainly do look sinister.

The former always looked spaced-out and the second aggressive and smug.

48. SYRIALOVER said:
And Alan says: “having the regime coherence and the people support of the army frustrated efforts to drain Syria and drag it into civil war.”
Give the LINK !

Syrian Hamster #4

I’m laughing. The 10-block spam voters rushed in and gave you and Juergen some instant red thumbs and Alan a boost of green thumbs. Just a quick burst of activity this time.

But they’ll be back.

They look significantly more normal, less sinister and with an average IQ , ordinary, decent, courageous Syrians.

They put their belts! Is it a weapon for hunting? Since they are respected !
And what about the rest of the respected people who has no hobby of hunting? Are they going to be hunted products

your comment was taken off temporarily for editing, please check before you accuse me of anything.

SC Moderator

Moderator,
You erased this article I refered to in my comment above, but why erasing the whole thing and not letting the link?

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/46297/World/Region/Breaking-Tunisian-consulate-in-Tripoli-bombed,-no-.aspx

Or is it forbidden to discuss the Arab Spring developments in their globality?

12. JUERGEN
You did not answer the question!
1- what do you tell if unknown persons will attack in the same way on the western media in Syria?
2- do you reported how the implementation of the Western plan is going point by point ? for since you are taking an active part !

#52 Alan said: “And what about the rest of the respected people who has no hobby of hunting? Are they going to be hunted products”

The Assad regime is treating significant sections of the Syrian population as a hunted product.

What are normal men meant to do in response to that when they and their families and neighbours are under threat of killing, shelling, prison and torture? Hide under the table and stay out of the way?

“Assad-and-we-burn-the-country has given the signal to “respected people with no hobby of hunting” that there is nothing left to lose and potentially a future to gain by fighting back.

Assad’s ability to deter defectors and opposition by threatening their families will be decreasing by the day.

Also with the alleged 60% of the territory in rebel hands surely it is time for people to squeeze the regime economically and finish it off quickly?

Those in the 60% rebel held areas along with sympathizers in regime held areas (if possible) should stop paying taxes (and bills). Why should the people continue to pay for a regime and military who are killing syrians and destroying the country?

Alan

1. Didnt that already happend in Homs and at the lebanese border? ( even with loyal regime reporters)
2. I know only of one plan, the UN plan to implement cease fire in Syria, obviously the regime has no interest whatsoever to help implement this plan. To the contrary they increased the possibility for an allied intervention.

Iran resorts to inventing friendships?

The office of Egypt’s president-elect Mohammed Mursi is to take legal action against the Iranian Fars news agency for fabricating an interview with him.

Fars said that Mr Mursi had “underlined his enthusiasm for the further expansion of ties with Iran, and said relations between Tehran and Cairo will create a strategic balance in the region”.

Mr Mursi’s spokesman, Yasir Ali, said the interview was entirely made up.

Story: Egypt ‘to sue’ Iran’s Fars news agency over Mursi report
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18614699

A tactic that could have saved Assad but he was too stupid to use it (Bahrain story below).

What is happening now in Syria is the law of nature taking its course.

Three Bahrain policemen face murder trial
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18606537

Egypt.

Hysterical Shafiq supporters chanting against SCAF and Tantawi in Cairo.

This is crazy! Looks like it was when the results were announced. (?)
I do feel for them. They are gutted. The chants (from 1:04) seem half-hearted as they struggle to hold back their tears/emotions.

57. JUERGEN
Your fellow countryman doesn’t share with you in opinion! I consider it competent and I don’t know you!
Kriegslügen über Syrien – Christoph Hörstel bei Russia Today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdIv_U1l0nw
He talked abou 3 agenda !he spoke about the scenario about game under a table and about deception ! Is he blind politischer Analyst ?

Bronco @46

Sorry. Batta does not measure up to the Parisian doctor’s…toe, in my eyes. When unrefined meets charm and sophistication….

Anyhow, I would have liked your weakness directed at someone other than Barta..he is not worth it. I have told you once, my professional opinion is very well respected.

After furious threatening, the sultan is backing off: “No, no no…no war with Syria”.
Bashar replies: It’s too late, war is on.

Turkey has no intention of attacking Syria: Erdogan AFP – 10 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/turkey-no-intention-attacking-syria-erdogan-115829182.html

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday his country has no intention of attacking Syria over its recent downing of a Turkish fighter-jet, a media …
…
“As Turkey, the Turkish nation, we have no intention of attacking” Syria, Erdogan said during a military ceremony in Ankara.

“We don’t have any hostile intent towards any country,” added Erdogan.

Turkey branded its former ally Syria “a clear and imminent threat” on Tuesday as Erdogan vented his fury over last week’s downing of the Turkish jet over the eastern Mediterranean

abuhatem:
Every single day I post protests by Druze, Christians, Kurds, and Ismailis in Syria but Western analysts will still call it Islamist revolt.

bbc

How vital is Syria’s Tartus port to Russia?

Mention is frequently made of Russia’s Mediterranean naval facility at the Syrian port of Tartus which, along with multi-billion-dollar arms sales to Damascus, runs the argument, is why Russia will never abandon the Assad government.

Not so, says a respected Moscow military think tank.

“Tartus is not a real naval base,” says Ruslan Aliev, the head of information at the well-connected Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST) in Moscow.

He told the BBC: “It is just a point on the map to replenish food and water and carry out some occasional repairs. There are a maximum of 50 Russian sailors and specialist technicians there.

“It is just a symbolic place after the collapse of the Soviet Union (in 1991), showing we still have somewhere to send our ships. From a strategic point of view [Tartus] is insignificant.”

This view contrasts sharply with the widely-held belief that Moscow will do all it can to hold on to its only foothold in the Mediterranean.

if something were to happen to tartus, putin could alway build a new base on cyprus. aje did a profile of the island. the place is like little russia.

Finally Besho the Butcher admits that Syria is in a state of war, a bit late considering that it is a war he himself started and has been waging on the Syrian People for 15 months. I wonder when BtB and his murderous AsMAA (that’s Assadist Mafiosi and Associates, for those of you who can’t work it out, and not his wife, though she is pretty tainted and nearly up to her ears in crime too), I wonder when they will start using napalm bombs against the rebellious towns and cities. Perhaps the new/refurbished Russian hellis that are going to be transported by express air-freight will come with a nice little present from Putin and Lavrov for BtB: a shipment of good ol’ Russian napalm incendiary bombs to help his valiant Shabbiha really and truly put the finishing touches to their “Assad’s Syria or we burn it down”?

P.S. I presume they are using cluster-bombs already, no?

Syrialover
They lie,fabricate,Iran government should never be trusted,they call it dissimulation.they also suffer delusions and they accuse with false accusation, they are disgusting

From the RULES of the site, things that are not tolerated:

*Racist, sexist, obscene, or otherwise discriminatory or hateful language;

Comments that violate these rules and guidelines may be edited or deleted at the discretion of the moderating team. Furthermore, commentators who repeatedly violate the site regulations may be warned, temporarily suspended from posting, limited to a set quantity of daily posts, or permanently banned. The moderators reserve the right to ban anyone who annoys or badgers them excessively.

SC Moderator

34. Alan said:

28. IRRITATED
He is like a white crow among them without beard !

[Edited by Moderator]

DO NOT delete my comment about characters on a U-Tube video not posters on this blog. You have no reason protecting unknown monster characters from a U-Tube video unless you feel the urge to take sides with these monsters!

Deleting posts is not Prof. Landis Idea of running this blog.

Moderation policy should include a warning not to disrespect or harass the moderator, otherwise risking banning or chronic moderation. It gets pretty annoying reading posts addressed to the moderator. Please show some respect, otherwise find yourself a different blog.

NATO Attempts to Use Own Act of War to Justify Escalation
Tony Cartalucci
Prison Planet.com
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
http://www.prisonplanet.com/nato-attempts-to-use-own-act-of-war-to-justify-escalation.html

…/../…
Irony
Turkey has been fighting its own internal war against its population – one that has stretched from 1984 and has cost over 40,000 lives – dwarfing UN estimates based solely on activist hearsay. Turkey’s campaign against its own Kurdish minority has involved rolling armored columns over them, strafing them from the air with warplanes, and even chasing them into Iraqi territory with partial invasions and bombing campaigns sanctioned by the then occupying US military.
Turkey – a NATO member since 1952 – is a serial violator of human rights within its own borders and a violator of the sovereignty of its regional neighbors. For it and its NATO collaborators to pose as the rational forces of stability in the region is a true spectacle of Orwellian absurdity.
../../..

NATO Provokes Syria to War

Nothing safe, nothing sacred: Syrian rebels desecrate Christian churches (PHOTOS) – 27 June, 2012

http://www.rt.com/news/syrian-rebels-desecrate-christian-churches-897/

Shocking images have surfaced, revealing the desecration of Christian churches in Syria by Western-backed rebels. The pictures, taken by local Christians outraged at the violence, were published by PrisonPlanet.com.

In the photos, members of the Free Syrian Army, portrayed by the West as innocents fighting against tyranny and oppression, pose in stolen priest robes while brandishing looted crosses in one hand and machine guns in the other.

The photos were taken by a Christian woman in Homs, one of the cities most devastated by continued violent clashes between rebels and government forces.

“Everyone knows simply removing these garments from the church is a sin. The priest is the only one who wears them. They even pray before putting them on,” the woman told PrisonPlanet.com.

She added that after the rebels tore the church apart, they went inside to document their violence.

Images show church pews broken apart, with pieces strewn all over the nave. The floor is covered with rubble, and even the altar looks like it has been desecrated.

Christian minorities are facing a growing threat and thousands are being forced to flee their homes as they face harassment and discrimination from opposition radical Islamist factions. At least 9,000 Christians from the western Syrian city of Qusayr were forced to seek refuge after an ultimatum from a local military chief from the armed opposition, the Vatican’s Fides news agency said.

[…]

Congradulations to all pro-democracy Opposition thinkers here the blessed attack
On Alakbaria Alsouria.This is democracy and freedom of speech in the futur Syria .killing TV workers at gon point with hands tied ….This is the most inspiring revolution in history.long live Alaaroor and his worshippers.

On Syria Meeting, “Hillary Blocked Iran,” Sources Say, Pillay to July 2

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

http://www.innercitypress.com/syria1hillary062712.html

UNITED NATIONS, June 27 — After Kofi Annan’s invitation to meeting on Syria in Geneva on June 30 did not include Iran, Inner City Press asked a range of Security Council Ambassadors why not.

A well placed non-Western Council diplomat said the US made clear that “if Iran goes, the Madame will not,” referring to Hillary Clinton. Then, he said, “Saudi Arabia was also blocked, some sort of linkage.”

But given Annan deputy Al Kidwa’s “ultimatum” on June 26, first reported by Inner City Press, that if Annan might stop unless there is a meaningful outcome, what can come out of the Geneva meeting?

The non-Western diplomat laughed and said, “Any written outcome is meaningful to us.”

[…]

Meanwhile, both Annan and his erstwhile successor Ban Ki-moon had publicly said that Iran should participate. How will they explain getting vetoed, in essence, by Hillary Clinton?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK1EhI1dYuY
Celente: The 2nd American Revolution STARTS NOW!

Ann said
both Annan and his erstwhile successor Ban Ki-moon

Ann
Ban came after not before Annan, Erstwhile means before, successor means after.

Iran says ready to help solve Syria crisis – Wed, 27 Jun 2012

http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/iran-says-ready-to-help-solve-syria-crisis

UNITED NATIONS, June 27 (Reuters) – Iran is ready to help international envoy Kofi Annan’s bid to bring peace to Syria, but if some countries do not want Tehran at a meeting of global powers then “that’s their problem,” Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee said on Wednesday.

[…]

“A very important fact that cannot be ignored by anybody is the influence and constructive role that the Islamic Republic of Iran has in the region,” Khazaee told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York.

“If some powers do not want to benefit from this influence and constructive role, that’s their problem and this is another indication of actually neglecting the realities on the ground,” he said. “The solution … is the cooperation among everybody.”

[…]

re the regime station attack.
confirmed yet?

nyt

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Syria said Wednesday that rebels stormed a pro-government television station in a Damascus suburb, killing employees and blowing up the station in an audacious predawn assault, but rebels said the attackers were defectors from the elite Republican Guard, considered to be the most loyal core defenders of President Bashar al-Assad.

If the rebel claim is confirmed, the attack would constitute a significant breach of security for the inner circle of Mr. Assad, who said on Tuesday that Syria was now in a state of war — a markedly different description of a conflict he had previously characterized as a crime wave by foreign-backed terrorists. The attack on the television station also came against the backdrop of increasingly bold and organized rebel assaults in the Damascus area and an increased pace of high-level military defections.

what does this mean when the “most loyal” are jumping ship?

Clinton criticizes Russia’s Syrian posture – June 27, 2012

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/06/27/Clinton-criticizes-Russias-Syrian-posture/UPI-59151340827848/

HELSINKI, Finland, June 27 (UPI) — Russia’s failure to support U.S. and European actions in Syria could be a barrier to regime change, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday.

[…]

UN mission “alarmed” by attacks on Syria TV, superpowers to meet on Syria soon
???? ?? ??? ?? (Xinhua):)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-06/27/c_123339373.htm

Majed Khaldoun,

What do you think about President of Egypt Dr. Mohammed Morsi ?

hahaha
Russian Destroyer Shot Down Turkish Airplane, Turkey’s Politician Says
Northern Fleet (NF) destroyer Admiral Chabanenko allegedly shot down Turkish reconnaissance airplane RF-4E taken off airbase Erhach on June 22 and disappeared fr om radars over the Mediterranean Sea next to Syria 1.5 hours later, says Masum Turker, leader of Turkey’s Democratic Left Party. That was reported by Latest UK News referring to the politician’s statement in the interview to TV8 Channel. However, Central Navy Portal asked Russia’s Northern Fleet Press Service to comment the situation; the Navy says Admiral Chabanenko was not deployed off Syria at all.
http://rusnavy.com/news/newsofday/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=15441

from article above about elite republican guard:

The roadblocks were manned by Shiites who apparently support Mr. Assad and who were angry over the arrest of a Shiite man suspected of firebombing and shooting into the offices of New TV, a Lebanon broadcaster that had criticized the Syrian government.

two tv stations attacked? separated by how many hours?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyQ2E3cquwo
‘Trained in terror to take advantage of US-created chaos in Muslim world’
The UK’s top spy agency believes new terror training camps in Arab Spring countries could pose a major threat. The head of MI5 said the uprisings, which NATO and its allies have supported, allowed Al Qaeda to move in. Up to 200 extremists from the UK are thought to have joined heavily armed groups abroad. RT talks to retired lieutenant-colonel Tony Shay-fer from the Center for Advanced Defence Studies.
—————————————
Ron Paul Floor Speech on Syria June 27, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvA_sQHqIzE
Congressman Ron Paul continues to speak out against potential U.S. involvement in Syria.

So the declaration is that “we are in a war”

Who is “we”? I think this is a speech to his loyal supporters and to the inner circle essentially telling them the “survival of the regime is at stake now”.

“we will use all resources to be victorious” which means that “we” have to stick together and “we” will sacrifice all of the resources available for this one and only one objective

“who” is the enemy in this? Fredo did not mention it.

“what” will victory look like? He does not mention it. It is survival of the regime in my opinion not the survival of Syria or the Syrian people. Clearly the level of desctruction of Homs, the use of heavy weapons where foot soldiere cannot go in any longer, and the constant deployment of troops around the country with dispatch from one area to the other is secondary to this primary goal of regime survival.

“to whom is the message sent” as well as the base? To Putin first and foremost that with or without your support “war” is what we will wage. To the meeting on Sunday second, “war” is what you will get and “the region will go up in flames” and “earthquakes” will happen.

Does this sound like a winning regime?

Predictions of its rapid demise were premature I admit, nevertheless trying to turn the clock back as the regime is expecting to do is complete folly and delusion. The regime is finished and the speech is truly an indication of that siege mentality. It is a matter of time and time is not on the side of the regime. The continued resistance of the majority of Syrians to this brutality is the one persistent and perservering card that no one has predicted and everyone from regional and world powers never imagined that it would survive for so long. It is truly the effort of the Syrian people that has set the agenda from the very beginning including the fact that the initiative is not in the regime’s hand despite every effort Putin has made to correct this situation to the favor of the regime.

Birds of feathes stick together. Vlad and Fredo on to North Korea.

Antoine
I don’t know Mr. Mursi before,I don’t know enough about him,I doubt he is a match for the military junta, but the economy must get better, and he should establish presidential council,that include Hamadain Sabahi,and I like,Mohammad Baradei to be prime minister,his relation with Israel must slowly and gradually deteriorate, and he should have good relations with KSA,but should be much better relations with Libya and Tunisia.
As far as Syria,he should support the Syrian people

Military leader of Hamas in Damascus arrested by shabbiha members.

http://youkal.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55616%3A2012-06-27-20-48-11&catid=54%3A2011-04-29-12-25-44&Itemid=126

Video of Largest anti-Assad rally in Sweida until today:

http://youkal.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55611%3A2012-06-27-19-29-54&catid=54%3A2011-04-29-12-25-44&Itemid=126

What do we know about Tadmor-Palmyra prison?

http://youkal.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55568%3A2012-06-27-11-55-04&catid=54%3A2011-04-29-12-25-44&Itemid=126

Bashar should not be killed with a bullet.  He should end up like Mouamar.  An eye for an eye..

Medics found tortured and killed in Syria
7:00AM BST 27 Jun 2012

All three men were students at Aleppo University – Basel Aslan and Musab Barad were fourth-year medical students and Hazem Batikh was a second-year English literature student and a first-aid medic, said the London-based rights group.

“The discovery of the charred and mutilated bodies of three young medical workers a week after their arrest in Aleppo city is yet further evidence of the Syrian government forces’ appalling disregard for the sanctity of the role of medical workers,” it said.
The three “were part of a team of doctors, nurses and first-aiders who have been providing life-saving medical treatment in makeshift ‘field hospitals’ set up to treat demonstrators shot by security forces”.

The three medics had been detained by Air Force Intelligence since their arrest in the city on June 17.
“The brutal killing of these young medics who took great personal risk to rescue and treat injured protesters is yet more evidence that Syrian government forces are prepared to commit unspeakable crimes to silence dissent,” said Donatella Rovera, Amnesty International’s senior crisis response adviser.

Ms Rovera recently returned from several weeks in Syria.
…
Shortly after the three students were arrested, one of their parents called their son’s mobile phone and an unidentified man reportedly answered, saying: “You don’t know how to raise your son. We will teach him how to behave”, said Amnesty.

More..
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9358232/Medics-found-tortured-and-killed-in-Syria.html

Fadi Salem?: “How much did Assad score politically among Syrian Kurds? That’s a question that we should ask on downing Turkish jet by Syria”

http://twitter.com/FadiSalem/status/217640594716110849

Interesting thought.

Four bloody months are likely to dominate the Syrian scene. Each party will try to win as much ground as possible before November. It is not a fight about Bashar anymore,even his closest friends are willing to put him on the bargaining table to save what can be saved,but the agreesive stance most of the opposition took against the army and the alawi sect played in the hands of the regime, that and the infusion of islamist terrorists have sealed the deal for at least 20% of the population,if not more,and made whatever left of secular intellectuals and a skeptical West uneasy to say the least.
Anybody who tries to convince you that alawites and Christians can trust the FSA and the SNC is lying to you or to himself,the lack of trust is mutual but those fighting parties will eventually have to talk to each other.
I as a Syrian support NOT giving the islamists in Egypt,or anywhere, a free hand in ruling Muslim countries,even if they win presidential elections,like in Egypt. Those Islamists have to share power and be under the microscope,syrians did not lose thousands of loved ones to replace Assad-Ba’ath regime with another regime installed by the GCC-Harirites.INC.

a pundit noted when israel violated syrian air space to bomb a nuclear site, israeli jets were not fired upon.

maybe loyalists can explain why.

Regime supporters support the regime but they wouldn’t want a similar regime to replace this one ?!?#

Lol.

19 minutes ago:

“The Reuters news agency, citing sources, reports that Joint UN-Arab League Envoy Kofi Annan’s transition peace plan for Syria involves the formation of a national unity government. It says that the cabinet could include members of the opposition and the current government.”

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/topic/syria/annan-syria-plan-calls-transition-government-reuters

****************************************************************************

Whatever the Syrian opposition think is best. A complete removal of the regime would be preferreable but if it saves lives……

I’m assuming Assad will move aside.

What about Maher Assad and other key figures and also the 4th Brigade and similar?

Can you imagine the simmering hatred and tensions in the background?

It would be very dangerous for opposition members in the cabinet with the risk of assasination by some lone die-hard Assadist or Ultra-Nationalists.

Has Erdogan lost face or was his cautious reaction typical of a serious state?

Turkish commentators have stressed, with unconvincing vehemence, that despite eschewing a direct military response and seeking help from the western powers instead, Erdogan has not “lost face”. Mehmet Ali Birand, writing in Hurriyet, said the prime minister’s cautious reaction befitted a “serious” state. “Now it is Syria who should be thinking ahead because from now on life will be more difficult … Up to now, a verbal dispute was being experienced. Now it is two enemy nations openly confronting each other.”

Turkey learns who its real friends are – so much for ‘strategic realignment’
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/27/turkey-real-friends-strategic-realignment-syria

Funny how times change. When the Bush administration sought permission to transit its Iraq invasion troops through Turkish territory in early 2003, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ankara’s soon-to-be installed prime minister and his Justice and Development party (AKP) bluntly refused. Their bold defiance of America’s will won plaudits around the Arab world, not least from Syria.
…
But Erdogan’s vow to target Syrian military formations should they approach their shared border, support opposition forces “at any cost”, and do all he can to bring down the Assad dynasty, barely disguises the weakness of Turkey’s position. Ankara’s twin priorities are both domestic in nature: modernisation and economic growth. Turkey does not want, and cannot afford, a war along its southern border that would jeopardise these aims, further destabilise the Kurdish regions, and seriously compromise its broader regional interests. Assad, presumably, knows this well.

Of the three, Davutoglu is the brains. A former professor of international relations dubbed the “Turkish Kissinger” (the nickname is intended as a compliment), Davutoglu coined the AKP’s trademark policy of “zero problems with neighbours”. In short, Turkey would strengthen its ties with the Arab countries it formerly colonised, act as a good faith conduit to Iran, and maintain a pragmatically positive relationship with Israel. In theory, all this would strengthen Turkey’s position as a burgeoning regional power and a hub where the west met the near east.
..
Some called the policy re-Ottomanisation. And for a while it seemed to be working, as Davutoglu argued in a Guardian interview in 2010. Regarding Syria in particular, old arguments about shared water resources, the disputed border province of Hatay, and Syria’s support for anti-Turkish Kurdish militants were set aside. Instead, in 2004, a free trade agreement was signed, visa-free travel was proposed, Gul and Erdogan made high-profile visits, and in 2009 the two countries held joint military exercises. Syrian commanders were invited to inspect Turkish border defences. This open-handedness appears unfortunate now.
……
Read more

The blog has been updated and there is more on the story in #96:

8 minutes ago

‘Russia and other world powers have agreed to Kofi Annan’s plan for the formation of a national unity government, Reuters news agency reports, citing diplomatic sources.’

Read more:

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/topic/syria/russia-other-world-powers-agree-annan-transition-plan

“94. omen said: a pundit noted when israel violated syrian air space to bomb a nuclear site, israeli jets were not fired upon.”

I wasn’t aware one way or the other whether the Israeli jets were fired at. Do you know for a fact? I remember at the time there was talk of Israeli plane defense measures which neutralized Syrian air defenses.

Somebody said :

An insurgency never won a conflict against a sitting government without outside intervention, Is that right.?, what is the expectation of the opposition, I wonder,

#97 Tara

Thanks, that article confirms everything I said about Turkey and how it is not cornered and paralyzed.

Turkey’s foreign policy vis a vis Syria is a disaster and it is starting to destroy Erdogan’s reputation. Most Arabs saw him as bold and courageous during the Mavi MarMara event against Israel, and now they see him confused, trying to find excuses for Turkey’s inaction and begging NATO to show off and scold Syria.
Turks have to make up their mind. If they want zero problems with their neighbors and continue to have a good economy and internal stability, they should not interfere in the neighbors internal affairs as neighbors do not interfere in Turkey internal affairs.
If they want to play the regional police or Robin Hood with the neighbors then they are bound to pay a price.
I think they are just realizing the the price tag is getting out of control and threatening their assets.

Maybe it’s time for a gradual return to zero-problems with neighbors.

If Hezbollah gets really involved actively in Syria, how long would the FSA survive?

Free Syria Army: Hezbollah present on the battlefield
June 27, 2012 01:35 AM (Last updated: June 27, 2012 01:51 PM)
By Misbah al-Ali

BUKHSHIN, Turkey: Hezbollah fighters are on the ground in Syria, according to Riad al-Asaad, the commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army, who also told The Daily Star that the option of establishing a buffer zone on the Syrian borders is off the table. Asaad spoke to The Daily Star from a heavily secured Turkish refugee camp, known as the Officers’ Camp, where much of the FSA’s leadership is now based. In a wide-ranging interview, the former Syrian Air Force Colonel discussed both the situation of his troops and that of the regime of embattled President Bashar Assad.

Given Hezbollah’s rhetorical support for the Syrian regime, it has long been speculated that the party might also be providing backup on the battlefield. Asaad said that “as for the involvement of Hezbollah fighters, we have confirmed that it is involved in events inside Syria, especially in Talkalakh and Homs. We have seen heavily armed [Hezbollah] convoys and several buses.”

He added that the FSA had been remiss in not highlighting this in the media earlier.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Jun-27/178378-free-syria-army-hezbollah-present-on-the-battlefield.ashx#ixzz1z2wwceIg
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

The crisis is in favor of al-Assad

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/the-crisis-is-in-favor-of-al-assad-.aspx?pageID=449&nID=24231&NewsCatID=405

Bashar al-Assad took a significant step the other evening. After Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an’s speech at the parliamentary group meeting, he convened his Cabinet and declared that Syria is in a “state of war.”

This sentence should be highlighted. It means this: When it is a state of war, then it is beyond normal conditions. Everybody has to act accordingly. Al-Assad will have a free hand from now on.

Domestically, there will not be any room for any uprising or criticism. As a matter of fact, nobody was able to open their mouths previously anyway, but from now on the situation will get more serious. More precisely, al-Assad will be able to associate each of the steps he will take in the next term with the justification that “they are in a state of war.”

Declaration of martial law in Syria might be in question. This, of course, will increase the domestic tension.

It means that, from now on, Turkey-Syria relations will be navigated at the level of “war.” Even the slightest accident may confront the two countries. A clash may erupt for no reason.

We are now in a process when utmost attention is needed.

Turkey is big and mighty. Its army is extremely capable, but Syria also should be paid attention to. Let’s not forget, a little stone can upset a large cart.

Bronco #101

I thought reading through the first half that your name was Simon Tisdal. I in general like people who stand by noble principals. You only can find those in Disney.. they just do not exist.

Erdogan trying to boost an image of strength and victory…

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/images/news/201206/n_24255_1.jpg

Is Russia open to abandon Bashar if her interests remained preserved through a national unity cabinet?  Would the Syrian people agree to such cabinet after all the sacrifices?

Russia ‘would support a Syrian national unity cabinet’

“It could comprise present government members, opposition and others, but would need to exclude those whose continued participation or presence would jeopardise the transition’s credibility, or harm prospects for reconciliation and stability,” a diplomat said, summarising Annan’s proposal.

The diplomat added that the idea of excluding certain people was clearly referring to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, though Annan’s proposal does not explicitly say Assad could not serve in a national unity government.
More..
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/28/russia-syrian-national-unity-cabinet

Morsi: Two of the 6 VPs will be a woman and a Coptic christian

Egypt set for woman, Coptic VPs

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/egypt-set-for-woman-coptic-vps.aspx?PageID=238&NID=24200&NewsCatID=352

Egypt’s president-elect, Mohamed Morsi, will appoint a woman and a Coptic Christian as his vice president, according to a policy adviser. If the appointments go through, it will be the first time in Egypt’s history that either a woman or a Christian has occupied such an empowered position in the executive branch

Newly elected Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is set to make history in the country by appointing a woman as one of his vice presidents and a Christian as another, his policy adviser said.

“For the first time in Egyptian history, not just modern but in all Egyptian history, a woman will take that position,” Ahmed Deif told CNN. “And it’s not just a vice president who will represent a certain agenda and sect, but a vice president who is powerful and empowered and will be taking care of critical advising within the presidential Cabinet.” Morsi will appoint six vice presidents.

If Turkey’s Erdogan wants to stand by his noble principals, he must abandon his Zero problem policy and continue to support the FSA. Is Erdogan going to do that or was he taught a different lesson already? Time will tell.

#106 Tara

The diplomat added that the idea of excluding certain people was clearly referring to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad,

Of course Bashar Al Assad will not be part of this new government for the good reason that he will remain the president controlling this ‘unity government’ until there are new presidential elections.

That diplomat should stay unknown.

108. Tara

Turks care about business and money. Ideology and pride come after.

If supporting the war effort against Syria will trigger loss of businesses and loss of tourism revenues, Erdogan will back off.

The question is what would Bashar al Assad do to make this happen.

I don’t think it is hard to imagine. Any unrest close to touristic locations will trigger cancellation of travel agents. Border problems will hamper the passage of merchandise.
That would create protests within the Turkish population and chain reactions.
It’s a war for the smartest now. I think Syrians have an upper hand in that.

This reaction to the WSJ piece on establishing a lobby for the FSA in the US is more important than the story itself:
William Church Wrote:
“The United States is creating a future disaster in Syria. It is pumping weapons covertly into Syria and this will end badly. As former intelligence community member and UN consultant l, I must stress the Golden Rules: “Weapons are not bio-degradable.” What fueled Africa’s wars was not Victor Bout, who took the fall, but the millions of weapons dumped their during the Cold War by Russia and US. The US as usual is either misguided or purposefully acting against international law”

For Turkey to have zero problems with its neighbours,Turkey must get rid of Assad.and his regime.

Would Russia accept Syrian national unity government,as transitional government?This mean Russia is abandoning Assad,

HA troops they are less than 10,000, most of them are needed in South Lebanon,the few that will come to fight in Syria,stand no chance fighting FSA,

Ghaliun disguised as a pious moslem to get in and out of Syria.
The new president of Syria?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFNXoejZ0VU&feature=relmfu

“Kurds Stop Free Syrian Army from Entering Kurdish Areas”
…
“Col. Asaad confirmed that thousands of PKK guerillas have been mobilized to the Efrin region, near the Turkish border. “The PKK guerillas are hindering the movement of our armed forces in these regions,” he said.”

“According to Col. Asaad, the number of Kurdish soldiers in the FSA does not exceed 25.”
[…]

http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/4882.html

Thank you M. Ghaliun and M. Al Assaad. That’s how to win the Syrian Christians heart and mind?

http://www.rt.com/files/news/syrian-rebels-desecrate-christian-churches-897/ic43c6b66fe2079f28d815458963d8860_syria-rebel-main.n.jpg

http://www.rt.com/files/news/syrian-rebels-desecrate-christian-churches-897/i12a98377b535ec42b074e9c3bef295aa_syria-rebels.jpg

http://www.rt.com/files/news/syrian-rebels-desecrate-christian-churches-897/id4b9d4e438868d2e4147a4f15d459b1b_syria-rebels-1.jpg

And if it happens without Russia dropping Bashar? The US officials would have expressed empty threats or the media were lying… again.

Russia Must Drop Assad Before Talks, U.S. Official Says
By Flavia Krause-Jackson and Indira A.R. Lakshmanan – Jun 26, 2012 7:36 PM ET

A meeting of world powers to discuss ending the conflict in Syria won’t happen unless Russia first agrees that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must be replaced, a U.S. State Department official said.
…….

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-26/russia-must-drop-assad-before-talks-u-s-official-says.html

RESPECT is the anti-spam word 🙂

US Condemns Attack on Pro-Assad Syrian TV Station – June 27, 2012

http://www.voanews.com/content/syria-tv-station-attack/1263021.html

he United States has condemned a deadly attack by gunmen on a Syrian pro-government television station and said it hopes an upcoming meeting of world powers in Geneva will be a turning point in resolving Syria’s 15-month conflict.

[…]

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Wednesday that Washington “condemns all acts of violence including those targeting pro-regime elements.” He called on all parties in the conflict to “cease acts of hostility.”

[…]

Worrying news from inside Aleppo – rockets, smoke and gunfire exchanges now visible and closer to suburbs.

Egypt’s generals eye Turkish model (The unstable 1980 model)

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA and MAGGIE MICHAEL | Associated Press – 7
CAIRO (AP) — Now that Egypt has its first freely elected president, Egypt’s powerful generals appear headed toward copying the Turkish model from decades past — retaining overwhelming powers while allowing a civilian regime complete with the trappings of democracy to emerge.

It is not the model that many in today’s Turkey boast about, but rather one dating back to the 1980s and 1990s when civilians ran Turkey’s day-to-day affairs under the watchful eyes of the military.

http://news.yahoo.com/egypts-generals-eye-turkish-model-203500484.html

Time to go home…

Egyptian president’s son is Saudi-based urologist

http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=30113

#113 Zoo

It’s reassuring and inspiring to see the opposition so relaxed, in good spirits and at ease inside Syria.

Thanks for posting it. It’s a surprise to get good news from you.

‘Russia backs Annan idea of Syria unity govt’ – United Nations, June 28, 2012

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/NorthAmerica/Russia-backs-Annan-idea-of-Syria-unity-govt/Article1-879958.aspx

Russia and other big powers have told mediator Kofi Annan that they support his idea of a Syrian national unity cabinet that could include government and opposition members but would exclude those whose participation would undermine it, envoys said on Wednesday.

[…]

# 120. Zoo said: “Egyptian president’s son is Saudi-based urologist”

More good news from you.

He’s out there as a hardworking professional, earning a clean independent living with no sleaze, corruption or political interference tendencies like the Mubarak boys.

Syrian government condemns TV channel attack – 2012-06-28

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/video/2012-06/28/c_131681415.htm

[…]

The government is blaming the EU, the UN, and the Arab League for “ignoring the aggression exercised on Syria.” The channel is continuing to broadcast, airing footage of a pro-government rally in the capital just hours after the attack.

Alan # 62

See you will always find people like Hoerstel, who will defend dictators. He is not known to many, and his influence is marginal in the press. Of course he will think that the government has en eye on him and does not want that he is getting offers to write his view. The problem is that apart from smaller regional newspapers the journalists are aware that he is by far not so independant as he claims he is. This weekend he will be a guest on a panel conference in Bonn, organized by the german syrian society in the old embassy of Syria.( this organization is funded by the regime)For me he is in line with other “quality” journalists like Katrin Leukefeld, Jürgen Todenhöfer and Peter Scholl Latour.

Syria’s Tadmor Prison Massacre: Reliving Horrors of 32 Years Past

Read more at Middle East Voices: http://www.middleeastvoices.com/2012/06/syrias-tadmor-prison-massacre-reliving-horrors-of-32-years-past-81070/#ixzz1z3r0Zwdu

http://www.middleeastvoices.com/2012/06/syrias-tadmor-prison-massacre-reliving-horrors-of-32-years-past-81070/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+middleeastvoices%2Ffullfeed+%28Middle+East+Voices+-+Full+Feed%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Inside #Syria: There’s no place like Homs

http://www.inourheart.org/3/post/2012/06/inside-syria-theres-no-place-like-homs.html

Zoo @115 ,are you syrian ?
You would understand how perfidious are the russian media in their support to assad narrative ,look at the big holes that damaged the ceiling ,is that not result of assad militia bombing with what they got from Russia ?

And ask yourself ,Why shall the homsis bomb themselves ?

who built these churches ? were they built by bani qiqi shabiha ?

Zoo ,this is what we inherited from our parents and ancestors !

The hideous shabiha sister Agnes Marie of the cross and its team are not representative of the syrian christianity at all and they shall pay for their treachery in Den Haag with Bashar and co.

Syria no Kandahar ,moukhbirin and shabiha(torturers,spies) are legitimate targets.
Why shall our people obliged to accept many decades of humiliation ?

this is a natural dynamic of history SNK,when you face an ila al abadist regime.

And why are you silent when the best and innocent christian civilians are targeted by the assadist people and those crimes were clear and obvious to all and did not begin today ?you are instead looking for the dubious and unclear narrative influenced by your islamophob stance ,it appears as if your fate is the fate of a doomed ila al abadist regime ,it should not be as such !

“a transitional national unity government…would need to exclude those whose continued participation or presence would jeopardise the transition’s credibility, or harm prospects for reconciliation and stability.”

Translation: a proposal “dead on arrival”

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Albert Einstein

Several destroyed dababat and military equipment of the Syrian army. Looks as if the FSA is better equipped then previously thought.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=00f_1340865568

The FSA captures a shabbiha weapons convoy
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=079_1340850896

(Claimed) Shabbiha ambushed. Massacred. [graphic]
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4fc_1340832992
.

add links for offsite material

SC Moderator

130 And Daoud !
Mental assassination in Israel.
In Syria, killed one of the leaders of the “Hamas”: he had been tortured before death

A senior activist of the Palestinian movement “Hamas” Kamal Husni Ranadzha, also known as Abu Nizar Mujahid, was killed in his apartment in Damascus. According to some reports, before the death of a member of the “Hamas” tortured. It is also reported that unknown killers set fire to his apartment, reports NEWSru Israel.
According to the radio station Kol Israel, Ranadzha was killed June 26, but his body was discovered only the next day. In fact the incident under investigation.

The “Hamas” suggest that the murder of one of their leaders may be agents of Israeli intelligence service “Mossad.” At the same time is not ruled out any involvement in the incident, the Syrian government headed by President Bashar Assad. The government of Israel does not comment on the murder.

In early 2012, most leaders of the “Hamas” had left Syria for fear of reprisals from the authorities. Prior to “evacuate” the leadership “of the Islamic resistance movement” is not acted openly on the side of the opponents of the Assad regime. However, once the headquarters of the Politburo, “Hamas” was actually transferred from Syria to Qatar, the organization has ceased to conceal their sympathy for the Syrian radical opposition.

It is noteworthy that the Lebanese “Hezbollah”, by contrast, has consistently supported the regime of Bashar al-Assad. In this case the main sponsor and “Hezbollah” and “Hamas” is today Iran.

Kamal Husni Ranadzha was one of the leaders of the combat wing of the “Hamas”, one of the leading organizations in Syria. Prior to 2010 – was an aide to Mahmoud al-Mabhouh responsible for the supply of arms and liquidated in Dubai, the UAE government as stated, Israeli intelligence agents. Abu Mujahid itself could be an organizer of arms into Gaza.

Note that this is not the first murder of the leader of the Islamists in Syria. In 2004 Damascus was destroyed by the leader of the “Hamas”, Sheikh Subhi al-Izaddin Khalil. In 2008 – the head of intelligence, “Hezbollah,” Imad Mughni. Murderers have used low-power bombs being laid in the car.

Breaking news !
Loud blast rocks central Damascus close to Palace of Justice
———————
Rebels behind Hama killing: Syrian family slain by rebels (GRAPHIC VIDEO)
http://www.rt.com/news/syrian-family-massacre-rebels-936/
Footage showing the results of an alleged massacre in the Syrian city of Hama in April has been obtained by RT. In the video, family members claim opposition rebels committed the atrocity.
The video shows the bloodstained bodies of four victims lying on body-bags on the floor of a morgue. It then goes on to show a number of bodies, including those of women and children in a house that looks to have been attacked. The victims’ bodies display evidence of severe trauma, bullet wounds and burns.
At the beginning of the video three children are shown in tears, the older girl demands to be allowed to go to the hospital to see her mother. ../../…

Turkish military convoy heads for Syrian border

urkish troops and military vehicles have been deployed towards the border with Syria as a precaution after Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan gave orders to react to any Syrian threat approaching the frontier.

Erdogan, who has given shelter in the border area to rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, announced the new rules of engagement for Turkish troops on the border after Syrian air defences shot down a Turkish warplane last Friday.

“I can confirm there are troops being deployed along the border in Hatay province. Turkey is taking precautions after its jet was shot down,” a Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/7190086/Turkish-military-convoy-heads-for-Syrian-border/

Alan,

How many Muslims (Islamist militants and civilians) did Russia slaughter in Afghanistan, Chechnya and elsewhere? How many Russian civilians had to pay with their lives for Putin’s decision not to give in to Islamists’ blackmail? (in Beslan, the theater in Moscow and more?)

Don’t throw stones if you live in a house made of glass.
.

Turkish military convoy heads for Syrian border

Turkish troops and military vehicles have been deployed towards the border with Syria as a precaution after Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan gave orders to react to any Syrian threat approaching the frontier.

Erdogan, who has given shelter in the border area to rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, announced the new rules of engagement for Turkish troops on the border after Syrian air defences shot down a Turkish warplane last Friday.

“I can confirm there are troops being deployed along the border in Hatay province. Turkey is taking precautions after its jet was shot down,” a Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/7190086/Turkish-military-convoy-heads-for-Syrian-border/

Zoo @113

Thank you for posting the link to Ghalioun’s visit with the FSA. I am so proud of this young men of the FSA and of Ghalioun who I like to see running for presidency. What a nice wayvto start my day.

morning.

100. NORMAN said: Somebody said :
An insurgency never won a conflict against a sitting government without outside intervention, Is that right.?, what is the expectation of the opposition, I wonder

i don’t know if the old models hold. i’ve never heard of an insurgency before being armed by the regime it was fighting!

99. JNA said: I wasn’t aware one way or the other whether the Israeli jets were fired at. Do you know for a fact? I remember at the time there was talk of Israeli plane defense measures which neutralized Syrian air defenses.

no, i don’t know. this was somebody i heard on rt but didn’t catch his name. “defense measures” sounds plausible. if israel could fly in country, then there isn’t a valid excuse for nato or any other western powers not to do the same and execute a limited air strike. if it wanted to.

here it is. found it. you were right. the israeli mission was called operation orchard:

The Israelis destroyed a Syrian radar site in Tall al-Abuad with conventional precision bombs, electronic attack, and jamming.[36]

the set up and intel gathered, in preparation before the strike, is also an interesting read.

:

No Iran and no KSA to Geneva conference.  Who are the three Arab states? Egypt? Qatar? Jordan? 

This is from the Guardian blog.

• Annan invited the five permanent members of the UN security council with Turkey and three Arab states to the Geneva conference, but excluded Iran and Saudi Arabia to secure the participation of the US and Russia, writes Ian Black.

The novelty of this event will be participation by Russia and China, which have vetoed action against Assad at the UN and shunned the western-Arab Friends of Syria grouping on the grounds that it is working against the Assad regime.

• Nobody is expecting the meeting of Annan’s action group to make much difference, according to Tony Karon in Time magazine.

The parties that will meet with Assad in Geneva have different ideas on resolving the crisis, but none appears to have decisive leverage to bring to bear in order to shape its preferred outcome. The US insists that the conflict can’t be resolved while Assad remains in power; the Russians point out that Washington has no credible plan for dealing with the fallout that would follow the regime’s precipitous collapse. For much of the past year, officials in Washington have speculated that Russia might break with Assad, but the passage of time has made those claims look Pollyannaish.

….
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/27/syrian-violence-escalates-un-conference

Amir in TLV : Nice performance Israel supplied ATGMs have it seems, after this little Zionist trick of “Arab Spring” is over, Israel will be the next venue of a “Spring”.

Remember people, there are only 2 genuine Revolutions in the Arab World : The Glorious July 22 Egyptian Revolution of 1952, and the Syrian Revolution of March 8, 1963.

As for Israel, they can start prepearing for the thousands of Scuds, Grad rockets, chemical warheads, Tochka missiles being aimed their way as we speak on the Golan and in Jabal Amel.

Then next they can contend with hundreds of thousands of trained, tough Syrian, Iraqi, and Egyptian soldiers, sailors, and airmen, fighting in close formation Soviet style supported by the latest Russian combined arms tactics and doctrines with thousadns of T-72s thrown into the battlefield in the Negev and the Galilee.

Long Live the Revolution !!!

related to norman’s question about outside intervention, somebody connects the dots:

Less than a weak after ?Syria? downed a Turkish jet, ?FSA? captured a base with radars, I’m sure they’re receiving intel. [w/ video]

from that cia article earlier in the week:

American officials and retired C.I.A. officials said the administration was also weighing additional assistance to rebels, like providing satellite imagery and other detailed intelligence on Syrian troop locations and movements. The administration is also considering whether to help the opposition set up a rudimentary intelligence service.

Turkey on the hot seat: No dictatorship but authoritarian

The Turkish Paradox
How the AKP Simultaneously Embraces and Abuses Democracy
Michael J. Koplow and Steven A. Cook
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/137754/michael-j-koplow-and-steven-a-cook/the-turkish-paradox?page=2

Under the AKP, then, Turkish citizens have enjoyed far higher levels of participation. But their power to contest the government has come under attack. Over the last five years, Erdogan and the AKP have proved relentless in their targeting of anyone perceived to contest their power or be a threat to their dominance.

The campaign of repression began with the press. The AKP has subjected journalists and editors to intimidation and quasi-legal detentions for advocating on behalf of Kurds or even merely criticizing the government. More than 90 journalists are now sitting in Turkish prisons — more than in any other country in the world — and the state has over 4,000 lawsuits pending against members of the press. Many of these reporters are stuck in a legal limbo, as Turkey’s laws allow imprisonment of journalists for up to three years without trial. In 2011, Reporters Without Borders ranked Turkey 148th out of 178 countries in its annual index of press freedom.
…
Turkey will not likely revert to full-blown authoritarianism. But an autocratic slide will undermine its international standing, built largely on its democratization. Should Turkey’s liberalization falter, the country may quickly lose that influence — suggesting that there are consequences to having it both ways.

Iraq: A Democratic Beacon in the Fractious Arab World
AMIR TAHERI
July/August 2012

…..
Elsewhere in the Arab world, however, people still think of revolution, coups, armed struggle and dynastic change as the only ways of changing governments. The future of countries that have experienced the Arab Spring revolts is too difficult to predict at this point. They may, as we all hope, seize the opportunity to move towards democratisation. However, they may also relapse into despotism either in the name of Islam or that of law and order. Thus Iraq remains the best hope for democratisation in the Middle East.

http://standpointmag.co.uk/features-july-august-12-a-democratic-beacon-in-the-fractious-arab-world-amir-taheri-iraq-saddam-hussein-george-w-bush-basra-naja?page=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C6

Getting closer to the Geneva meeting….

An attack like this right in the heart of the capital during working hours, though militarily insignificant, clearly has a psychological effect.

Together with the storming of a pro-government television station in the suburbs just the day before, it reinforces the impression that the conflict is moving ever closer to the centre of state power

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18622140

Al eyes turned to the Geneva meeting for a political settlement as the Turkish plane incident is seen as a ‘warning’ of an imminent regional escalation.

NATO vows no action on Syria pending political fix
AFP – 14 mins ago

http://news.yahoo.com/nato-vows-no-action-syria-pending-political-fix-145238595.html

A top NATO general on Thursday said the alliance would take no military action in either Syria or Iran until all political means to find a solution were exhausted.

The comment by General Knud Bartels, chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, comes almost a week after Syria downed a military jet belonging to alliance member Turkey.

Reports said Thursday Ankara had sent missile batteries, tanks and troops to the border with Syria as a “security corridor.”

“No military actions by NATO will be taken, neither in Syria or Iran, until all political means to achieve a political solution are used,” General Bartels told reporters in Estonia’s capital Tallinn.

“And it is up to all 28 member states of NATO to decide what the steps by NATO will be,” Bartels said, in response to a question about the downed Turkish aircraft.

“I’m very happy to see at the moment that there seems to be in the coming days an opening of dialogue by the United Nations to find a political solution with Syria,” Bartels added.

“The shooting down of a Turkish plane … without any warning has highlighted the crisis again,” he noted.

Turning to Russia, Bartels said he believed in a strategic partnership between NATO and Moscow.

“I am a convinced believer of dialogue and Russia is a strategic partner of NATO,” Bartels said. “NATO in no way wants to threaten Russia, and NATO’s ballistic defence system is also not meant in any way to threaten Russia,” he stressed.

Russia rejects ‘external solution’ for Syria
By Stuart Williams | AFP – 3 hrs ago

http://news.yahoo.com/russia-says-syrians-must-decide-assads-fate-110027138.html

Russia Thursday dampened hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough in efforts to end the Syria conflict, saying it opposed solutions from the outside and Syrians should decide the fate of President Bashar al-Assad.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said world powers had yet to agree any final resolution based on new proposals from UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan for an international conference on Saturday in Geneva.

He did not say if Moscow supported the new proposals laid out by Annan, which diplomats said involved setting up a Syrian transitional government that could include followers of Assad and opposition members.

Lavrov also said it was a mistake to exclude Syria’s ally Iran from Saturday’s crunch meeting of world and regional powers aimed at ending violence that has now left over 15,000 dead.

Assad’s fate “must be decided within the framework of a Syrian dialogue by the Syrian people themselves,” Lavrov told a news conference with his Tunisian counterpart.

“Foreign players should not be dictating their solutions to the Syrians. We do not and cannot support any intervention or solutions dictated from abroad,” he said.

Diplomats at the United Nations in New York had said that world powers generally back Annan’s plan to set up a Syrian transitional government in a bid to end the country’s 16-month conflict

But Lavrov was more cautious: “There are no agreed drafts. Work on a possible final document continues,” he said.

He also complained bitterly that “individual working formulas” had been leaked to the press by diplomats overnight. “I view this as a manifestation of an unfair approach to diplomacy.”

Lavrov agreed that changes and reforms were much needed in Syria, saying: “We support changes which work towards national agreement on all questions of overdue reform”.

He said that a transitional period for these changes was clearly necessary but did not go into detail about what this might involve.

“It is clearly the case that a transitional period is required to overcome the Syrian crisis and finally establish stable, generally-accepted rules and norms that suit all groups of the Syrian population,” he said.

I wish I could read the thaughts of Michel Kilo during the meeting in Brussels.

https://joshualandis.com/blog/?p=15145

I guess he is saying to himself “What a Chaos-Orchester I am in”