{"id":8289,"date":"2011-02-05T01:20:52","date_gmt":"2011-02-05T06:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/?p=8289"},"modified":"2011-02-05T01:20:52","modified_gmt":"2011-02-05T06:20:52","slug":"%e2%80%98day-of-rage%e2%80%99-for-syrians-fails-to-draw-protesters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/%e2%80%98day-of-rage%e2%80%99-for-syrians-fails-to-draw-protesters\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Day of Rage\u2019 for Syrians Fails to Draw Protesters"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Day of Rage\u2019 for Syrians Fails to Draw Protesters<\/a>
\nBy THE NEW YORK TIMES
\nPublished: February 4, 2011<\/p>\n

DAMASCUS, Syria \u2014 In stark contrast to several other Arab capitals, where hundreds of thousands of people have demonstrated against their governments, a planned \u201cDay of Rage\u201d in Damascus on Friday failed to attract any protesters against President Bashar al-Assad, a sign that the opposition here remains too weak to challenge one of the region\u2019s most entrenched ruling parties. Campaigns on the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter called for Syrians to demonstrate Friday and Saturday in Damascus against the government of Mr. Assad, who inherited power in 2000 from his father, Hafez, who himself had ruled the country for nearly three decades with an iron fist.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

In this Jan. 29, 2011 file photo, Syrian protesters hold candles during a vigil for those killed in the Egyptian demonstrations, near the Egyptian embassy in Damascus, Syria. The Arabic placards read:' Yes for freedom', background, and 'No for killing the Egyptian youth', foreground. By early afternoon on Friday February 4, no protesters had gathered outside Syria's parliament, where they were supposed to gather for the "Day of Rage" demonstration. (AP Photo\/Muzaffar Salman)<\/p><\/div>\n

But Damascus was relatively quiet on Friday, save for a gentle rain that washed its streets. There was a heavy presence of security forces and police officers in front of Parliament, where the protesters were planning to stage their demonstration. Men in plain clothes and the black leather jackets popular among security forces here were scattered around the area. Others sat waiting in white vehicles.<\/p>\n

\u201cSyria is the last country where regime change will occur,\u201d said a political activist, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, like others interviewed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe culture of protesting is not present here. They oppressed it until they killed it,\u201d added another activist.<\/p>\n

The authorities are taking few chances. On Friday, security officials arrested Ghassan al-Najjar, an Islamist who leads the Islamic Democratic Current, a small opposition group based in Aleppo, rights activists said. Mr. Najjar, who is in his mid-70s, had called on Syrians in his city to demand more freedoms and bring about peaceful change.<\/p>\n

Aside from fearing the strong security apparatus, which has never been hesitant to use force to quiet dissidents, Mr. Assad had recently announced a 17 percent pay raise for the two million Syrians who work for the government, making them unlikely to participate in any protest, activists here said.<\/p>\n

In addition, they said, the opposition is not strong enough to lead a street movement capable of changing the government, and many here fear a situation in which the banned Muslim Brotherhood would take over if Mr. Assad were toppled.<\/p>\n

Human Rights Watch said in a statement on Friday that at least 10 people were summoned by the police in the previous 48 hours and pressed to not demonstrate. There were also reports that prominent opposition figures like Michel Kilo and Riad Turk, among others, many of whom spent years in jail for opposing the government, were also summoned.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, 3 Syrians were briefly detained and forced to sign pledges not to participate in future protests, after they protested, along with 12 others, against corruption and high cellphone costs.<\/p>\n

There are two cellphone companies in Syria, M.T.N. from South Africa, and Syriatel, which is owned by Rami Makhlouf, a wealthy businessman and relative of the president, who has been labeled as a beneficiary and facilitator of public corruption in Syria by the United States.<\/p>\n

At least 100 Syrians held a vigil in support of their Egyptian counterparts last Saturday near the Egyptian Embassy in Damascus, and quietly lit candles as police officers kept a watchful eye nearby.<\/p>\n

Eventually, witnesses said, one of them shouted: \u201cOh blow, winds of change. Yesterday Tunisia became green, tomorrow Egypt will be free. Oh, winds of change, blow and sweep away injustice and shame.\u201d As she finished, they said, officers quickly moved in, ordering them to leave immediately or else they would be detained.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is still soon for us,\u201d said a Syrian activist, also speaking on the condition of anonymity. \u201cWe have time. The street is definitely not ready yet.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Rand Paul on ABC news<\/a><\/p>\n

Paul defended his call to end to all foreign aid — including the $3 billion the U.S. gives to Israel every year.
\n“I’m not singling out Israel. I support Israel. I want to be known as a friend of Israel,” Paul said, “but not with money you don’t have. We can’t just borrow from our kids’ future and give it to countries even if they are our friends.”<\/p>\n

Paul has come under fire<\/a> from supporters of Israel, but said Israel has enough financial resources to fend for itself.
\n“I think they’re an important ally, but I also think that their per capita income is greater than probably three-fourths of the rest of the world,” Paul said. “Should we be giving free money or welfare to a wealthy nation? I don’t think so.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And military resources, as well. “I think they’re probably 10 years ahead of any neighboring country,” he said. “I think that their defense is very significant and probably well in advance of any of their particular enemies.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Israeli military maneuvers in Syrian Golan Heights, 2011-02-03<\/a><\/p>\n

DAMASCUS, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) — The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched wide-range military maneuvers in Syria’s occupied Golan Heights, the Damascus Press news website reported Thursday.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Joshua and Munif Atassi on The Take Away – NYCity’s NPR Radio today
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