Moaz al-Khatib, Moderate Syrian Leader, Resigns, as Islamic Front and Nusra Move on Damascus. Will the US build a Counter-force?


In this interview with Al-Arabiya, Syrian opposition leader Michel Kilo accuses the Muslim Brotherhood and Mustafa Sabbagh’s Qatari-backed faction in the Syrian opposition of catapulting Ghassan Hitto to the Prime Ministership of the interim government in a non-consensual manner: “Qatar wanted Hitto…and the Qatari-backed group in the National Coalition agreed on Hitto and imposed Hitto without any political or consensual considerations that considers Syrian interests in terms of a national cause…” Kilo argues that the Hitto election sidelined Muaz al-Khatib and led to his resignation. Here is my article on these tensions.

This was particularly true after Qatar invited Hitto to represent Syria in the Arab Summit meeting to take place on Tuesday. Khatib was also invited, but he would be a third wheel. All eyes will be on Hitto, the newly elected Prime Minister, who is expected to form a government.

Liz Sly has a good article, “Syrian opposition in disarray as its leader resigns, The Syrian opposition is now leaderless at a time when the United States is stepping up its support. She quotes Amr al-Azm, who has great insight into the opposition.

“The coalition is on verge of disintegrating,” he said. “It’s a big mess.”

The trigger for Khatib’s departure was the selection last week of Ghassan Hitto, a relatively unknown Syrian-born U.S. citizen, to head a proposed interim government. Khatib and his supporters had opposed the creation of an interim government at this time, as had the United States, whose diplomats argued against the move on the grounds that it created an unnecessarily divisive distraction from the goal of bringing down Assad’s regime, according to Syrian opposition members.

While the pro-Western opposition leaders fiddle, Syria burns. The real story is being fought out on the ground by militia leaders who are becoming the real leaders of Syria.

The Islam Front and Jabhat al-Nusra are gaining strength. They are flexing their growing muscle after taking Raqqa and clearing out the Deir az-Zur region. Now they are headed down the Eastern highway toward Damascus. The forces around Aleppo and in the Northwest will have to come through Hama and Homs, which is impassable. Already al-Nusra has a strong foothold in the Damascus region in the Palestinian neighborhood of Yarmouk, around the Jabal Druze, and in the Daraya-Adhamiya region of Damascus.

The US and British are trying to build up forces around Damascus as well, in order to take the capital. They are working hand in glove with Saudis and particularly the Jordanians. Hence the many stories about US training missions in Jordan and cooperation with Jordanian  intelligence. Some believe that the US, British and French may be developing a strategy to spearhead a move on Damascus before the Islamic Front and al-Nusra can capture it for themselves. But it is not clear how committed the US and the West are to manning up the opposition in the South of Syria to gain the jump on the growing Islamic tide washing down from the North.

Many Damascenes are fearful of being overrun by the North. The time-honored divide between North and South Syria is again gaining relevance. There is precedence for war between north and south. In 1954, at the end of General Shishakli’s four year rule of Syria, which developed into the country’s first real dictatorship, Syria split in half. The north was the site of a military uprising that began with disgruntled Druze soldiers in Deir az-Zur teaming up with Baath Party leaders, opposition leaders in Homs that looked to Hashim al-Atassi, and Aleppo notables. Military units from the North began to descend on the South, where Shishakli remained ensconced. Civil War was avoided at the last minute because the US and Saudis were able to convince Shishakli to resign and fly off to exile in Saudi Arabia and eventually Brazil. See my article about this, here.

Today, Syria is not so lucky. North and South could be in for a real fight, dividing the country not only along geographic lines but also along ideological lines.

Ghassan Hitto, Syrian National Coalition PM, visits Aleppo north of Syria – Video

Daughter of Syria’s slain cleric Bouti speaks out to say that her father would never have contemplated changing his view that Muslims and Syrians should support Assad even if he were corrupt and bad. This conservative view follows the traditionalist line of thinking within Islam that even years of suffering under an oppressive and corrupt ruler are better than one moment of Fitna, or civil war.

A friend writes:

I just watched two of the worst videos I have seen so far.

1- a guy’s head was chopped off. I cannot imagine doing this to an animal. Yes, the guy’s crime was that he was a regime supporter.

2- Just watched a video of regime soldiers filming 16 bodies that they had killed moments earlier. As they record the gruesome bodies, one says to the other, “hopefully the “ameed” or general, will give us an “ijaze” (vacation) after he sees the video. The other guy says, “man there is so much meat lying around it must be falling in price “al lahm rakhsan”

3-There is no country called Syria any more.

4- Why do i watch this stuff? Because images like this speak volumes about the truth. And that truth is that killing and slaughter will rein supreme for years to come.

5- If interested in the videos, i will be glad to send. on second thoughts, may be i won’t

Comments (100)


ghufran said:

we have known since the beginning that both sides committed atrocities, that is why many of us were heart-broken when war erupted because war brings atrocities, remember any war and you will know what I am talking about. war divides people and destroys communities, I am indeed sick and tired of people posting videos of dead or tortured victims, what we should do is stop the war not just post every video we find about chopped heads and bleeding bodies. In the name of self-defense, rebels expanded their offensive war and attacked many towns,uninvited, then their supporters started complaining about the “destruction” !!
This is not the time to argue about who is at fault, we know that the regime carries most of the blame, this is the time to save what can be saved, tell that to those idiots who think that Syria will be better off with few more hundred of thousands of people dead than seeing any form of compromise. Moaz realized how dirty and stupid this war is, it is your time to do something about or at least stop pouring gas on the fire.

March 24th, 2013, 7:13 pm

 

ghufran said:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

شعبَ سورية الصابرَ المجاهد .. سلام الله عليكم وبعد ؛
فإننا نُذبح تحت سمع العالم وبصره منذ عامين ، من قِبل نظام متوحش غير مسبوق.
كثيرون هم من قدَّموا يدَ عون إنسانية صرفة ، ونشكرهم جميعاً.
إلا أن هناك واقعا مراً وهو ترويض الشعب السوري وحصارُ ثورته ومحاولة السيطرة عليها.
كل ما جرى للشعب السوري من تدمير في بنيته التحتية ، واعتقال عشرات الألوف من أبنائه ، وتهجير مئات الألوف ، والمآسي الأخرى ليس كافياً كي يُتخَذ قرارٌ دولي بالسماح للشعب أن يدافع عن نفسه.
من هو مستعد للطاعة فسوف يدعمونه ، ومن يأبَ فله التجويع والحصار. ونحن لن نتسوّل رضا أحد ، وإن كان هناك قرار بإعدامنا كسوريين فلنَمُت كما نريد نحن، وإن باب الحرية قد فُتح ولن يُغلق ، ليس في وجه السوريين فقط بل في وجه كل الشعوب.
لقد أضاع النظام برعونته أثمن الفرص من أجل مصالحة وطنية شاملة ، وحاولت العديدُ من الجهات الدولية والإقليمية جرَّ المركب السوري إلى طرفها.
رسالتنا إلى الجميع أن القرار السوري سوف يتخذه السوريون ، والسوريون وحدَهم.
وكنتُ قد وعدت أبناء شعبنا العظيم ، وعاهدت الله أنني سأستقيل إن وصلت الأمور إلى بعض الخطوط الحمراء ، وإنني أبَرُّ بوعدي اليوم وأعلن استقالتي من الائتلاف الوطني ؛ كي أستطيع العمل بحرية لا يمكن توفرها ضمن المؤسسات الرسمية. وإننا لَنفهمُ المناصب وسائلَ تخدم المقاصد النبيلة ، وليست أهدافا نسعى إليها أو نحافظ عليها.
سنتابع الطريق مع إخواننا الذين يهدفون إلى حرية شعبنا ، وستكون هناك رسائل وتفاهمات مع كل الأطراف التي تشاركنا الآلآم والآمال.
قليلاً من الصبر يا شعبنا .. أليس الصبح بقريب ..
والسلام عليكم ورحمة الله

أحمد معاذ الخطيب

March 24th, 2013, 7:39 pm

 

Dawoud said:

Hizbistan’s (Lebanon’s) PM Najib Miqati finally woke up and realized the sectarian destructiveness of Hizbistan and its demagogic cult-of-personality leader, Hasan Nasra*S!!! Iranian/Persian Wilayet al-Faqih influence is coming to an end in Syria (soon Bashar al-Arnab’s regime will fall), Iraq (Free Syria will liberate Iraq from al-Maliki), and Lebanon. Hizbistan will be crushed and Hasan Nasra** will be arrested on war crimes charges.

In a few day’s the Free Syrian Army representative will be setting in Syria’s seat at the Arab League Summit! The Arab Spring is springing again!

Free Syria, Free Palestine, Bahrain is Arab FOREVER!

March 24th, 2013, 7:52 pm

 

ghufran said:

Moaz talking about his resignation:

قال رئيس “الائتلاف الوطني السوري” المعارض المستقيل احمد معاذ الخطيب, الاحد, ان هناك اسبابا داخلية وخارجية لاستقالته من منصبه, مشيرا الى انه لا يوجد ارتباط بين استقالته واختيار غسان هيتو رئيسا لحكومة مؤقتة كما يحاول البعض ان يصور ذلك, لافتا في الوقت نفسه ان السبب الاكثر اهمية لاستقالته هو الموقف الدولي مما يجري في سورية.
وقال الخطيب, في حديث لقناة الجزيرة الفضائية, ان “هناك اسابا داخلية وخارجية لاستقالتي”, مضيفا انه “بالنسبة للاسباب الداخلية, طبعا هي امور معتادة في كل الاجتماعات ومجالس التشاور بحث مثل هذا الامر, والاعلام يضخم الامور بطريقة لا اوافق عليها و كثير من الاخوة تحدثوا عن اسباب ومبررات ليست صحيحة…..”.
واشار الخطيب الى ان “من شهر يناير/ كانون الثاني قدمت عدة مطالب لتحسين اداء الائتلاف, من اول هذه المطالب توسيع القاعدة التي يضمها الائتلاف, عندنا قوى كثيرة غير موجودة, عندنا قوى اسلامية وطنية علمانية, وطلبت ان توجد داخل الائتلاف, على سبيل المثال, حتى القوى العسكرية الموجودة لماذا لا يكون لها مندوبين مدنيين داخل الائتلاف نحن ليس لدينا برلمان نحن حالة ثورية مثلا لواء الاسلام لواء التوحيد جبهة تحرير سورية شخصيات وطنية كثيرة حزب التنمية الوطني, يا اخوان نحن لا نستطيع ان نتحرك بدون هذه القاعدة الواسعة, وهذا الامر لم يلق استجاب
وردا على سؤال عن التوقيت الحرج الذي اختاره الخطيب لاعلان الاعتراضات في وقت يجري توريث المقعد السوري في الجامعة العربية للائتلاف, قال الخطيب “انا لا انطلق من الحرج الدولي او الحرج الاقليمي, انا انطلق من الحرج الذي يعيشه الشعب السوري في كل يوم, والدول لا تحس بالآم الشعب السوري, فانا اقول معاناة مواطن واحد اهم من كل الحرج الذي يشعر به العالم والشعب السوري يموت… البلدان الاخرى قد تتضايق من الامور البسيطة لكن الشعب السوري يعاني الكثير”.
وعن رفض الائتلاف استقالته وهل هناك امكانية لتراجعه عنها, قال الخطيب “انا الان مستقيل ولكن هذا يبت من الناحية القطعية في اول اجتماع للهيئة العامة انا حتى الان في هناك امور اجرائية ساتابعها لاني حريص على الائتلاف”, مضيفا “اود التنوية الى امر مهم حصل فيه لبس شديد وافتراء حتى, الاستاذ غسان هيتو لم يكن اي اشكال في العلاقة بيني وبينه ولم يكن الامر له علاقة بالاحتجاج عليه, هذا الامر فيه تباينات في وجهات النظر وعلى اساس برنامجه الانتخابي يعطى الثقة او لا يعطى”, مشيرا الى انه “لا ارتباط الذي حاول بعض المعارضين تصويره بطريقة لئيمة”.
وتابع الخطيب ان “السبب الاكثر اهمية موضوع الموقف الدولي مما يجري في سورية نحن لا نشهد الا مؤتمرات لا تخرج بشي الا بوعود والشعب السوري الان يمر بازمة غير مسبوقة هناك توجه لاضمحلال الدولة تفكك المجتمع دمار اجتماعي فاخر مؤتمر مؤتمر دبلن معقول شعب يذبح ولا نتخذ موقف واضح وانا قررت بصراحة مقاطعة الاجتماعات حتى يكون وضوح وهناك اصدقاء يفون بالتزامتهم”.

March 24th, 2013, 8:11 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Dawoud,

I’m not sure who is going to free Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, and a dozen other countries, but the only way to free Palestine is over the negotiating table.

Just MHO.

March 24th, 2013, 8:12 pm

 

Dawoud said:

4. GHUFRAN

Enough pro-dictator/pro-Wilayat al-faqih Iranian/Hizbistan SPAM and propaganda! Do you want this page all for yourself? Stop your SPAM and go to sleep or do some useful work! Good Night and good luck!

Free Syria, Free Palestine, Bahrain is Arab FOREVER!

March 24th, 2013, 8:16 pm

 

ghufran said:

Dr Landis on his view on how the world responded to Syria’s war:

JL: “I don’t know how History will judge the world’s response. The narrative of the Arab Spring is already being complicated by stagnating economies and turbulent politics in the region. This is certainly a failure of humans to sort out their affairs in a peaceful way. It is also a failure of world powers to solve the domestic problems of countries that slip into civil war. But it is important to remember that many countries have gone through civil wars on the road to nation building. The US did and American governments killed over 750,000 of their own people. Most Americans would probably say today that they are glad that Great Britain or other World Powers at the time did not intervene. In short, we don’t know how Syrians will look back on this period in their history after 100 years.”

March 24th, 2013, 8:20 pm

 

revenire said:

Dawoud start your own site – this one is for Assad.

March 24th, 2013, 8:22 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Ghufran,

Professor Josh is a professionally paid and tenured spectator. Anyone could do his job.

March 24th, 2013, 8:26 pm

 

Dawoud said:

5. AKBAR PALACE

….Netanyahu just established a government of racists and settlers (hi Mr. Bennett!). The rest of Palestine has been colonized (settlements) and there is no possibility for any contiguous or viable Palestinian state. Netanyahu’s vision of a Palestinian state, which he explained in his Bar Illan speech, basically sees a Palestinian entity that does not control its water, nor its airspace, nor can defend itself. Also, it would be a state that must have Israeli bases (Netanyahu talked about the presence of U.S. troops in Japan as an example!!!). In short, when the “negotiation table” should be discussing a one-state solution for ALL (Arabs, non-Arabs, Jews, Muslims, Christians, etc.). It would be a democratic and secular state, and the Palestinians who were ethnically-cleansed from Palestine since 1948 would be given the right of return. The idea of a state based on religion should be ended. No religion should automatically entitle one for automatic immigration and naturalization in this democratic bi/multi-national/religious state. Israelis and Palestinians would be equal to full rights and responsibilities! The Golan in its entirety should be returned to Free Syria unconditionally! You can’t accept that thieves put conditions before they return their stolen products!

Good night! I am going to sleep! My NCAA brackets are @@c@d up! Shalom, Salam!

March 24th, 2013, 8:29 pm

 

zoo said:

Al Khatib has denounced Qatar’s agenda in Syria. It appears that after buying the ownership of a Greek Island, Qatar fancies owning a country with a historical importance.

March 24th, 2013, 8:30 pm

 

ALI said:

################## Riad Alassad DEAD ##################

R.I.P Sheik Buti

March 24th, 2013, 8:58 pm

 

ALI said:

Majed the Liar liar

Are you still pretending playing a God who knows everything

*** This is a confirmation of Riad Alassad’s death by your FSA commandment ***

to hell Riad Alassad

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
المنسق العام للجيش الحر المجلس العسكري سعد العقيدي

نزف لكم نبأ أستشهاد العقيد رياض الاسعد قائد الجيش الحر في المجلس العسكري
في مدينة المياذين في طريق عودة من بلدة الطيانة الى مدينة المياذين .. في تفجير أجرامي سافر .
وقد تبين أن المجرمين السفلة قاموا بوضع عبوة ناسفة أسفل مقعد السيارة التي أقلت العقيد الاسعد وقد أصيب في هذا الحادث الأجرامي رفيقه السيد بركات الحويش أبو رائد الذي أصيب في ساقية
رحم الله الشهيد البطل واسكنة فسيح جناته

March 24th, 2013, 8:59 pm

 

ALI said:

Muath al Khatib literally blew the Qatari plan of the unprecedented move handing a legitimate state seat to rebels and outlaw fighters.

This man amazes me in so different levels,

1- He emptied the “revolution” from all big words and turned it to a demand of passports renewal
2- He shook hands with the Iranian foreign minister and talked to him in private
3- He shook hands with the Russian foreign minister and talked to him in private
4- He refused to attend “friends of Syria” meetings
5- He opposed in public forming an opposition government
6- He was in favor to form a unity government with Damascus
7- He’s ready to drop weapons when national dialog kicks off

I don’t know what’s in his mind, but surely this guy is on Damascus payroll

March 24th, 2013, 9:00 pm

 

ALI said:

Where’s those rats supporters on this forum, you hiding from shame.

All of you will be squashed under the SAA military boot

Next is your American puppet Hitto el Kur

March 24th, 2013, 9:03 pm

 

revenire said:

HNN Homs News Network
GOD IS GREAT

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO CALLED “FSA” (FREE SATANS ARMY) HAVE ANNOUNCED THE DEATH OF THEIR COMMANDER THE TRAITOR TERRORIST COLONEL “RIAD AL-AS’AAD” !!!

AND THAT’S ALL IT TOOK IN THE END, TO HELL YOU FILTHY TRAITOR, DIE HOW YOU KILLED OTHERS YOU COWARD ..

CRASH AND BURN YOU ISRAELI SLAVES,,IT’S ALL OVER … – J

Source: Al-Mayadeen TV, via Syria 24 English

March 24th, 2013, 9:09 pm

 

revenire said:

TO HELL

March 24th, 2013, 9:10 pm

 

Tara said:

Allah yerhamu.

March 24th, 2013, 9:13 pm

 

ALI said:

They played you
They used you
They fkd you
They handed you
and
SAA killed you
Oh yeah, that’s how we rock and roll

He was in Mayadeen to get a down-payment on his monthly salary, because you know it’s tough to live in a tent and to wait for your meal while your opposition figures enjoying a fk & meal in 5 stars hotel

Wake up soldiers wake you, you’ve been taken for a long ride

March 24th, 2013, 9:14 pm

 

ALI said:

Tara

Allah ya5dek ma3o

March 24th, 2013, 9:16 pm

 

ALI said:

Where’s the rat “Amjad of Arabia”?

You rat always admired Riad’s mustache and the way he combs his hair, you always said that Riad will be the man in your new Syria.

Guess what? there’s no Riad and no new Syria

March 24th, 2013, 9:18 pm

 

ALI said:

Now your Qatari Summit is in total distraction, two good blows on the same day Muaz and Riad.

Still waiting for “freedom” bloggers to surface up

How about we smash your Idris next time?

March 24th, 2013, 9:22 pm

 

ALI said:

I’m happy to use the acronym FSA

“FSA” (FREE SH1T ARMY)

March 24th, 2013, 9:25 pm

 

revenire said:

Marigoldran > “THE WAR GOES ON” AND ASSAD IS WINNING YOU DOG EATING GIMP!

March 24th, 2013, 9:33 pm

 

ALI said:

Rev:

Where’s everybody? do you why they’re hiding?

March 24th, 2013, 9:36 pm

 

Ziad said:

NATO massive psy-ops about to be launched: “Bashar is dead, total chaos in Damascus” All Fake!

http://counterpsyops.com/2013/03/24/nato-massive-psy-ops-about-to-be-launched-bashar-is-dead-total-chaos-in-damascus-all-fake/

March 24th, 2013, 9:40 pm

 

revenire said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=taDDvnyJd1Y

Video of the dead traitor Riad’s car after our army killed him.

To Hell

March 24th, 2013, 9:44 pm

 

revenire said:

Another video of dead traitor Riad’s car

March 24th, 2013, 9:45 pm

 

revenire said:

LOL Moaz gone and one of the BIG RATS dead!

“Zaid Benjamin ‏@zaidbenjamin 40m
Video: The car Colonel Riad al-Asaad was using when he was in his way to al-Mayadeen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taDDvnyJd1Y&feature=youtu.be … #Syria #Assad”

March 24th, 2013, 9:49 pm

 

revenire said:

Ali got me. It looks like SC has been evacuated. Maybe Assad is firing Scuds at the place.

March 24th, 2013, 9:50 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

The news I got is Ryad Asaad is now in Turkey

March 24th, 2013, 9:56 pm

 

ghufran said:

The news about the killing of Riyad al-asaad seems credible this time,however, I see no reason to celebrate, we need to remember why Riyad defected in the first place and how we got to where we are now, and before all we need to stop this war.
I do not know why it is so hard for many of you to see the whole picture, you are stuck in your hatred, many are so attached to the illusion that a military victory is possible or is actually a victory even if half of Syria is destroyed and hundreds of thousands of syrians die.
you can not fix stupid
(one source said that riyad lost his leg and is severly wounded and was transferred to Turkey, another source said he has died, is it possible that the attack was an inside job? )

March 24th, 2013, 9:58 pm

 

ALI said:

Rev:

Yep indeed SC has been cleansed

I can’t believe how cowards they are, just for Riad’s death they all disappeared. I wounder when Bashar get reelected for another 7 years what will they do?

March 24th, 2013, 9:59 pm

 

ALI said:

The liar Majed comes again but now he claims that he has resurrected Riad in Turkey

Man honestly as I said earlier shut the fk up and chuck size 77 military boot in your mouth

March 24th, 2013, 10:03 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

It’s because other people have lives and things to do.

In the meantime the regime continues to lose. H

March 24th, 2013, 10:06 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

It’s because other people have lives and things to do.

In the meantime the regime continues to lose.

March 24th, 2013, 10:06 pm

 

ALI said:

32. ghufran:

” is it possible that the attack was an inside job”

Nusra front, Turkish intelligence, MB … etc

It does not matter as long he’s gone and all will follow

March 24th, 2013, 10:07 pm

 

Marigoldran said:

Also, there isn’t anything new to talk about anymore with regards to Syria. The war continues and the regime loses more ground with each passing week. Just look at the news reports.

March 24th, 2013, 10:09 pm

 

Observer said:

Well well, I am glad Khatib resigned. I am also glad some members were upset at the way that the opposition elected Hito. One of two things will happen, the opposition will have a hardened and semi dictatorial leadership that will force the issue or it will disintegrate further and remain irrelevant.

In the meantime, the ground offensive will continue.

The supporters of the opposition got tired of the bickering, they forced the issue. The bickering of the opposition came back to bite them. Still the seat of Syria is gone to the opposition.

There is as noted above a race between those on the ground that are gaining strength and are not in the control of anyone, the Jihadi elements.

There is clearly a change in the South of the country with new weapons liberating many areas.

Haaretz quotes Israeli officials that the flow of arms to HA from Syria has accelerated and that two army units are now training for Lebanese theatre rather than the Syrian one.

There is no stopping the spiral down.

Now, as I watch the bickering of Syrians about their fate and that of the country, I keep reminding myself how Jumblatt positioned his sect and his political faction as a king maker in Lebanese politics.

It is possible that an Alawi faction would become like the Druze in Lebanon king makers of the ever fractious Syrians.

TARA I also have to remind you and others on this forum that all humans have a choice and right for a better life. It is racist to think that we have to settle between Wahabi or Baathi exclusivist racist takfiri mirror images.

Who cares if Athad was shot or Asaad was killed. You cannot stop this revolution.

It is the regime that will be extracted fully.

I wonder what Iran is saying and how is it that the bodyguard from Iran shot him if true?

Did they fight or was it an inside job?

March 24th, 2013, 10:18 pm

 

Marigoldran said:

Central authority has all but disappeared in 80% of the country, and 80% of Damascus.

The remaining regime hold-outs in Daraa, Aleppo, and Raqqa are under siege. With most of the regime’s helicopters shot down, it’s just a matter of time.

March 24th, 2013, 10:21 pm

 

Visitor said:

According to the news Colonel Ass’ad is injured. May Allah protect him and give him health again. One of his guards is killed. He is a martyr no-doubt, and we should read Al-Fatiha for his soul,
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ 2 الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ 3 مَـلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ 4 إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ 5
اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ 6 صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ

Every FSA member and every Syrian owes his honor to the Colonel who was the first founder of the ever great, ever heroic, ever victorious FSA of the revolution.

We know that our fallen are not fallen but are martyrs in the upper stratosphere of paradise. That is the greatest of all prizes. While criminal thugs of Evil-possessed Assad are in the lowest depth of the raging inferno of Jahannam abiding therein hopelessly for ever and ever. That is the greatest of all losses.

March 24th, 2013, 10:40 pm

 

Johannes de Silentio said:

9. AKBARIO PALAZZO

“Professor Josh is a professionally paid and tenured spectator. Anyone could do his job”

That was a remarkably stupid comment, JewBoy.

Landis’ website is the number one English language information clearing house on the Syrian civil war. Syrian political figures and academics of all political stripes visit here. Moreover, Landis is in demand by news media the world over.

This didn’t happen overnight. It came through years of hard work and lots of trust-building. If you think it’s easy, start your own. The only visitors you’ll get will be Mossie and Ali and they’ll come just to flame you.

March 24th, 2013, 10:41 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Dawoud,

We’ve heard all the f lowery adjectives from here to China and back again: “ethnically-cleansed”, “apartheid-state”, “racist”, “thievery”, etc, etc.

Continue spinning your stories if that is what you enjoy hearing. I hope you won’t mind my counter-arguments in that case. Namely, Palestine was intended to be split into a Jewish state and an Arab state. That the fledgling Palestinian state will not guarantee the safety of jews living under their rule, yet arabs are guaranteed all the safety and rights under Israeli rule.

In short, Israel is the freest, and most democratic of all the arab states in the region. So naturally there is a huge disconnect between two narratives. For an “ethnically-cleansed” population, they make up at least 20% of the population.

Lastly, the Camp David accords differed by a few square miles of the WB and a few square meters of the Old City. Of all the arab worlds problems, habb, this one is the EASIEST to fix!

Good luck with ur brackets,

AP

March 24th, 2013, 10:49 pm

 

Atassi said:

revenire and ALI.. Your Assad is a dead man walking so be it..
in Homsi We say Telhass MalHass..

March 24th, 2013, 10:52 pm

 

ALI said:

42. Akbar Palace:

shut the fk up you filthy Zionist

March 24th, 2013, 10:52 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Johannes, you poor goy!

Do you really believe what ur saying? Most of he visitors who visit this website are sectarian thugs with an IQ between 20 and 40.

Landis is in demand by the news media because he knows Syria and arabic. In this regard, almost anyone hete could replace him. Other people who are “in demand”: Fareed Zakaria, Pat Buchanan, Bill Maher, and Hilary Clinton. I’m not very impressed.

Professor Josh was an Assad apologist for years. This should immediately disqualify him from being in demand from anyone.

March 24th, 2013, 11:03 pm

 

revenire said:

Marigoldran you’re a singularly stupid person. You think no one else has a life but a childish idiot like you?

The news? You mean news you like to believe except that isn’t reality and never was.

You’re a fool and will fade away as the gains the SAA has made become evident to all. You’ve been humiliated and beaten. Slink off like the rat-lover you are.

I could have saved you some time if you had simply listened to reality instead of the idiots you get “news” from.

Assad won.

These clowns here, the same few each day – none of which live in Syria, were always wrong about the situation on the ground. They get their news from Twitter “activists” and repeat is as Truth.

Pathetic.

March 24th, 2013, 11:54 pm

 

Johannes de Silentio said:

45. AKBARIO PALAZZO

“Visitors to Landis’ website are sectarian thugs with an IQ between 20 and 40”

Of course you’re including yourself in this. Otherwise, what are you doing here?

March 25th, 2013, 12:07 am

 

revenire said:

I hope the rumors of even more SNC rats being killed are true. FSA is clueless and releasing pictures of the body, then saying no.

I would imagine weakling Kerry will be on the phone trying to get the failure Moaz to recant.

Maybe by summer our boys can wrap this up.

March 25th, 2013, 12:07 am

 

Observer said:

“Maybe by summer our boys can wrap this up”

hahahahaha when you could not wrap it up in a few days in Dara’a against 13 year old boys and when your army left Lebanon in disgrace with trucks filled to the brim with stolen goods including the bathroom fixtures and you think you can end it up in the summer

Please never stop posting you and ALI on this blog. It is most entertaining

March 25th, 2013, 12:16 am

 

ghufran said:

قال المعارض فواز تللو إن «قطر وجماعة الإخوان بشكل أساسي دفعتا الخطيب للاستقالة»، مشيراً إلى «أنهما وجدتا في الخطيب شخصية تكتسب شعبية داخل سوريا لكنه يعمل بشكل أكثر استقلالية عن رؤيتهما». وتابع إن «قطر والإخوان المسلمين دفعتا بهيتو فأصبح موقع الخطيب كقائد لا معنى له».
take this:
HBJ still wants Hitto to represent Syria even after Moaz resignation and the FSA’s refusal to recognize Hitto. That what happens when you,HBJ, have a lot of money, no competition and a bunch of citizens who are well fed and not interested in politics.

March 25th, 2013, 12:54 am

 

Juergen said:

Mortars have a range of 6-8 km. That means the FSA operates mow within central Damascus. They tried to hit the Syrian State TV heaquarters, missed them only by some meters. A german journalist witnessed an mortar attack on the Sheraton, 4 mortars hit the hotel, no casua
lty was reported.

March 25th, 2013, 1:57 am

 

ALI said:

Here again

I told you Hafez never dies, here he appears in a vision to Bouthaina Shaaban commanding her to write some of his secrets in here new book

“Damascus Diary: An Inside Account of Hafez al-Assad’s Peace Diplomacy, 1990-2000″

ثينة شعبان تقول في مقدّمة كتابها الجديد ‘مفكرة دمشق: عرض من الداخل لدبلوماسية حافظ الأسد حول السلام، 1990 ـ 2000′، الذي صدر مؤخراً

الأسد زار شعبان في المنام، بعد عام على وفاته، في حزيران (يونيو) سنة 2000؛ وسألها: ‘بثينة، لِمَ لم تكتبي، بعدُ، عن فترة عملك معي؟’، التي تمتدّ على عقد من الزمان، كما تُعْلمنا شعبان، بين 1991 وحتى ساعة الوفاة.

‘أجبتُ قائلة: لأنني لم أعرف من أين أبدأ، وأي نوع من الكتب ينبغي أن أكتب. هل يتوجب أن أكتب عن طفولتك، عن شبابك، عن عائلتك، عن مسارك المهني؟’؛ تقول شعبان، ثمّ تتابع ما أوصاه بها الأسد في الحلم: ‘كلا، كلا. ليس مطلوباً منك أن تكتبي عن هذا كلّه. أربعة فصول سوف تكفي. شرح لي أنّ تلك الفصول ينبغي أن تركّز على سورية والغرب، وعلاقته بالغرب، ودوره في عملية السلام، وأخيراً: حافظ الأسد وبيل كلنتون. فهمت أنه يريدني أن أكتب الحقيقة عنه، وأن أبدّد نقاط سوء الفهم الهائلة التي سادت في الغرب حول سمعته ودوره في عملية السلام، وكذلك سوء الفهم حول دور بيل كلنتون، الذي كان الأسد قد منحه ثقة تامة’…

I urge all Syrians to buy this valuable book it’s only $55 and you can order it from

http://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Diary-al-Assads-Diplomacy-1990-2000/dp/1588268632

March 25th, 2013, 2:02 am

 

annie said:

Ali and Rev, coming to the comment section is like taking a dive in a septic tank.

March 25th, 2013, 3:29 am

 

Juergen said:

Again, a good account what happend to Richard Engel in the hands of the shabiha

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2013/04/richard-engel-kidnapping-syria

some poetry for this morning

March 25th, 2013, 3:33 am

 

Syrialover said:

Relief! Here’s an intelligent and sane comment as an antidote to the childish ugliness and emptiness of most of the current posts here. It’s by Syrian blogger Maysaloon.

“Al-Khatib’s resignation and the post-Assad opposition movement”

EXCERPT:

Mr Khatib should firstly realise that gaining a place in the early post-Assad Syrian governments is a political MacGuffin. The reality is that none of these governments will last very long or be successful. In a country that has not had a functioning state with institutions in over forty years, it will be inevitable that the first attempts at putting this together will be smashed to pieces owing to the immense challenges the country faces.

It is far more effective for Mr al Khatib, and others who share his views, to start forming a viable and vocal Syrian opposition for the post-Assad era. This does not mean that Mr Khatib needs to surrender power to the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and the Qatari backers, far from it. The creation of a credible and well organized Syrian opposition for the post-Assad Syria is something that has, until now, been the domain of the movements and figures that are said to be sponsored by the regime, such as the Building the Syrian State movement led by Louay Hussein, and Haitham Manaa.
….

In short, Mr Khatib should not be trying to influence the shape of a post-Assad government which will inevitably fail and provoke ire from Syrians tired of war and oppression. That is a losing battle. Instead what he must try to do is to create the real Syrian opposition movements that will take power and salvage the first attempts at governance in Syria. This will require foresight and patience and it is easier said than done, but an accurate assessment of the situation that Syria is in today will show that this is the only realistic option he has. And he should take advantage of it.

http://www.maysaloon.org/

Definition of a McGuffin: “A device that helps propel the plot in a story but is of little importance in itself.”

March 25th, 2013, 3:39 am

 

Syrialover said:

Another thoughtful piece on the resignation of Moaz al-Khatib.

EXCERPT:

Since the beginning of the uprising, the Assad regime and its apologists all over the world have claimed that the entire Syrian opposition (outside and on the ground) is a group of Qatari-backed Muslim Brotherhood supporters who don’t represent Syrians. This characteristic lack of nuance on the part of the Assadist camp is now crumbling upon these latest events as the tension between the Qatari-backed camp and the rest of the Syrian opposition becomes more evident. So yes, it is true that Qatar is trying to impose its influence on the Syrian opposition. What is untrue is that they have totally succeeded in doing so and that the entire Syrian opposition has happily accepted it. To simply write off the entire Syrian opposition as a Qatari/Muslim Brotherhood front is reductive and ignores the tension and power struggle within the Syrian opposition. It also undermines and renders invisible all those in the Syrian opposition who are actively resisting Qatari influence on decision-making.

Many have claimed that Khatib’s resignation is a result of Khatib’s frustration with the international community in failing to support the Syrian opposition. Yet, the resignation clearly shows the fault lines within the official Syrian opposition. There are those Qatari-backed forces who are motivated primarily by self-interest. They are strong, cohesive, and act in concert. They don’t care about achieving consensus, nor do they care about electing figures with charisma or legitimacy. The primary motivation for their political maneuvers is simply to control as much as they can. Once Khatib challenged that control, it became evident that he was not part of this camp. So, in turn, the camp decided to challenge his authority with someone who, no matter how pure his intentions, was unknown and had relatively little legitimacy with Syrians.

http://darthnader.net/2013/03/24/some-thoughts-on-muaz-al-khatibs-resignation/

March 25th, 2013, 4:12 am

 

Syrialover said:

Translation of al-Khatib’s resignation statement:

Concluding words:

“Our message to everyone is that Syrians decisions will be taken by Syrians, and Syrians only.

“I had promised our people, and vowed to God on that, to resign if the situation reaches certain red lines. Today, I honour my promise and I resign from the National Coalition to be able to work with freedom not available through official institutions. We understand that official posts are means to serve noble ends, not goals to be sought or for us to maintain.

“I will continue to work with my colleagues, those who seek the freedom for our people. And I will reach understanding and [deliver] messages with all sides that share our pains and hopes.

“A little bit of patience, our people. Isn’t the morning near?

Salam.”

http://www.facebook.com/hassansquared/posts/10152674740640537

March 25th, 2013, 4:26 am

 

apple_mini said:

The spin show has begun about Al-Kahtib’s resignation. Kerry says, “It shows the opposition is getting bigger and not about one person”. You gotta admire those politicians being masters of manipulating words against facts. And opposition members, regardless they are MB, Islamic or moderates all paint the event as some kind of positive and natural evolution of their beloved political entity which is in fact disintegrating.

Just the same way they cover up and lie about the true radicalism of the rebel fighters.

I had been hoping to see a real opposition with progressive ideology and maturity, carrying strong independence and nationalism. That would be much more powerful than guns and bombs that their rebel brethren are indulging. Also one of the most important elements Syria needs for future rebuilding process.

Unfortunately, I only see disappointment and worse, signs of much bigger disasters.

March 25th, 2013, 5:44 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

The opera house has been hit,Amawiyyeen square is under attack by FSA,the ministry of high education was hit,these are central Damascus areas.
Mr. Miqdad said there will be good news in the next few days,what is that mean,nobody knows
The Assad thugs are retreating in the southern governate of Deraa

March 25th, 2013, 6:55 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

Excusing the Assad Family Since 1972

Johannes said,

Of course you’re including yourself in this. Otherwise, what are you doing here?

Johannes,

I noticed that you’re here to post anti-Assad cartoons, which is fine by me, however, I noticed you don’t enter many 2-way discussions.

The fact you are anti-Assad is good enough for me.

But I’m not sure why to have come to Professor Josh’s defense, since he and his side-kick Alex were the main apologists of Assad leading up the demonstrations.

March 25th, 2013, 7:24 am

 

Tara said:

Asaad transferred to Turkey

Free Syrian Army founder Riad al-Asaad survived the attempt on his life, and is being treated in Turkey, Reuters reports citing Turkish officials.

One of Asaad’s legs was severed as a result of the blast but his injuries were not life threatening, the official told Reuters.

Syrian opposition sources said Asaad had been hit by a car bomb in Mayadeen, south of Deir al-Zor in eastern Syria.

One of Asaad’s relatives told AFP that he had been transferred to Turkey for treatment after the blast.

From the Guardian

March 25th, 2013, 7:46 am

 

revenire said:

LOL

March 25th, 2013, 8:04 am

 

Dawoud said:

The courageous Ri’ad al-As’ad is has been injured like thousands of innocent Syrians. The struggle will go on until Syria is liberated from the yoke and tyranny of Bashar and the Iranian Wilyat al-Faqih influence.

Now, regarding regime propagandists/commentators on this blog talking about al-Khatibe’s resignation and Qatari influence, al-Khatib is going to Qatar to attend the Arab League summit. He, like most Syrians, appreciate what Qatar has done to help Syrians and to free it from its dictatorship. Please see this post in Arabic about al-Khatib’s trip to Qatar:

http://www.aljazeera.net/news/pages/5a74943b-a0bf-4b9f-9feb-e5e24e43e0b6?GoogleStatID=1

الخطيب يخاطب القمة وترحيب بمقعد الائتلاف

قال رئيس الائتلاف الوطني السوري معاذ الخطيب المعارض المستقيل إنه سيلقي كلمة باسم الشعب السوري في القمة العربية التي تستضيفها قطر غدا الثلاثاء، بعد نفيه في وقت سابق الربط بين استقالته واختيار غسان هيتو لرئاسة الحكومة المؤقتة.
وأضاف الخطيب على حسابه الخاص بموقع تويتر أن هذا الأمر لا علاقة له باستقالته والتي قال إنها ستناقش في وقت لاحق.

وكان الخطيب نفي في وقت سابق الربط بين تقديم استقالته وبين اختيار غسان هيتو رئيساً للحكومة المؤقتة. وأرجع في مقابلة سابقة مع الجزيرة السبب الرئيس لاستقالته إلى تقاعس المجتمع الدولي عن ما يجري في سوريا.

وانتقد الخطيب -في تصريحات للجزيرة عبر الهاتف من القاهرة- الموقف الدولي مما يجري في سوريا، وقال “كل ما هو حاصل عبارة عن مؤتمرات ووعود، والمجتمع الدولي يتفرج على شعب يذبح يوميا ولا يتخذ موقفا من ذلك”.

واستغرب الخطيب عدم صدور قرار من المجتمع الدولي يسمح للشعب السوري بالدفاع عن نفسه، وقال “هناك من يريد محاولة حصار الثورة والسيطرة عليها”. وأضاف “من هو مستعد لطاعة بعض الجهات الدولية سوف يدعمونه، ومن يأبى فله التجويع والحصار”.

لا ارتباط
ونفى الخطيب وجود أي خلافات على الإطلاق بينه وبين رئيس الحكومة السورية المؤقتة غسان هيتو. كما نفى أي علاقة لاختيار هيتو لرئاسة الحكومة المؤقتة باستقالته، وقال “ليس هناك أي ارتباط، ومن روج لذلك هم بعض المعارضين، وقد روجوا لذلك بطريقة لئيمة”.

وأوضح أنه سيتابع الأمور الإجرائية في الائتلاف، مشيرا إلى أن موضوع البت في استقالت
[…]

March 25th, 2013, 8:36 am

 

revenire said:

Dawoud I won’t warn you again: this blog is for Assad.

Assad is Syria. No Assad = no Syria.

March 25th, 2013, 8:49 am

 
 

Dawoud said:

To # 64. (Assad’s propagandist) REVENIRE

f@@k Assad! Do you think that this blog is controlled by Assad’s ministry of information for you to warn me! f@@k you and your warnings! Go do something useful. I am going to work now!

March 25th, 2013, 9:00 am

 

Citizen said:

من الضروري على سورية بالاشتراك مع الدول الحليفة اعادة النظر في برنامج صد عدوان حرب قريبة ! و أعتقد أن الشهر القادم سيحوي ساعة الصفر !
Necessary to Syria in conjunction with allied countries to reconsider the program to repel the aggression war nearby! I think the next month will contain zero hour!

March 25th, 2013, 9:12 am

 

zoo said:

As expected, Al Nusra and Islamists are gradually eliminating the secular FSA leaders. Mayadeen in under control of the rebels and Asaad is known to disagree with the Islamists. Car bombs are signed al Nusra. Another self-inflicted blow to the opposition

Syrian opposition sources said Asaad had been hit by a car bomb in the city of al-Mayadin, south of Deir al-Zor in eastern Syria. Al-Mayadin is controlled by several rebel groups, not all of them under the FSA umbrella group.

A bomb was placed under the car, directly below Asaad’s seat, and that he also sustained wounds to his face, Kurdi said.

Asaad was excluded from a Western-backed command of the FSA formed last year. Since his defection he has mostly lived with his family in a camp in Turkey along the Syrian borde

“The attempt to assassinate Colonel Riad al-Asaad in Deir al-Zor is part of an attempt to assassinate the free leaders of Syria,” said Moaz al-Khatib, who resigned on Sunday as the head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition.

March 25th, 2013, 9:16 am

 

revenire said:

Dawoud remember your place next time. Assad or nothing.

March 25th, 2013, 9:24 am

 

zoo said:

As expected, Al Nusra and Islamists are gradually eliminating the secular FSA leaders. Mayadeen in under control of the rebels and Asaad is known to disagree with the Islamists. Car bombs are signed al Nusra. Another self-inflicted blow to the opposition

Syrian opposition sources said Asaad had been hit by a car bomb in the city of al-Mayadin, south of Deir al-Zor in eastern Syria. Al-Mayadin is controlled by several rebel groups, not all of them under the FSA umbrella group.

A bomb was placed under the car, directly below Asaad’s seat, and that he also sustained wounds to his face, Kurdi said.

Asaad was excluded from a Western-backed command of the FSA formed last year. Since his defection he has mostly lived with his family in a camp in Turkey along the Syrian borde

“The attempt to assassinate Colonel Riad al-Asaad in Deir al-Zor is part of an attempt to assassinate the free leaders of Syria,” said Moaz al-Khatib, who resigned on Sunday as the head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition.

March 25th, 2013, 9:29 am

 

zoo said:

Qatar’s response to the multiple lost chess moves in the last week.

It insists that the crippled SNC, severed from its president and its arm wing and with its US controversial PM should still represent Syria at the Arab League.

Qatar’s plan is to use the Arab League ( supposedly representing all the Arabs) to officially ask the UNSC for a no-fly zone as it did for Libya.
Qatar is thinking that Russia and China will bow, or that France and UK, promised billions of dollars to rescue their ailing economy, will go alone if Russia will put is veto.

What is sad is to see how most arab countries are manipulated by Qatar and KSA and brought into disastrous situation that sooner o later will affect their own population.

March 25th, 2013, 9:41 am

 

Sami said:

Syrian opposition Alawites call for rebellion in army

Opposition activists from Syrian’s President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite sect called for his overthrow on Sunday and urged their co-religionists in the army to rebel.

In the first meeting of its kind by Alawites who support the revolt, delegates distanced themselves from Assad’s crackdown against an uprising in which 70,000 people have been killed.

“We call on our brothers in the Syrian army, specifically members of our sect, not to take up arms against their people and to refuse to join the army,” the delegates said in a statement after two days of meeting in the Egyptian capital.

Alawite domination of the officer army corp is one of the pillars of Assad’s control.

“The Syrian regime is not an Alawite sectarian regime … the Alawite sect was and is being held hostage by the regime,” said the statement, which was read out by Alawite activist Tawfiq Dunia.

“One of the goals of the Syrian revolution is to restore the national identity and free the Alawite sect from the family of the ruling regime,” the statement said.

A government crackdown has sparked a mostly Sunni Islamist insurgency that is leading some Alawites to fear they have no future without Assad. Alawites are an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam that make up about 10 percent of Syria’s population.

Assad has said he is fighting a foreign-backed conspiracy to divide Syria, describing the rebels as Islamist terrorists.

The Cairo meeting, which called for a democratic Syria representing all political groups and sects, was also attended by Sunni and other opposition activists.

[…]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/24/us-syria-meeting-alawites-idUKBRE92N0EI20130324

Members of Syrian leader’s sect backing rebels

Dozens of people from Syrian President Bashar Assad’s own minority sect met in Cairo on Sunday to send an unusual message to their fellow Alawites back home: Join the opposition before it is too late.

The Alawites have long been seen as a backbone of the Assad regime, and a decision to support the rebel force in Syria is complicated by the fact that many see their own futures interlocked with Assad’s survival.

The pressure on Alawites who dare oppose Assad comes not only from the regime, but also from within their own families. Nearly all of the 50 Alawites at the opposition conference have been arrested, abused or threatened for their political views. One participant said he received an email threatening his life if he attended the conference.

The Alawites, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, are a tiny sect, representing roughly 12 percent of Syria’s population. Many live in towns and villages along the mountainous Mediterranean coast. Most have either rallied behind Assad or stayed quietly on the sidelines of the 2-year-old civil war, which has killed more than 70,000 people.

The opposition meeting — the first of its kind for Alawite Syrians since the war began — reflects fears that they would fall victim to revenge killings and assassinations should Assad’s regime fall. Some are particularly worried about the influx of foreign jihadist fighters into Syria who view Shiites as heretics.

Many minority Alawites see the war in Syria as a fight for survival against the Sunni majority. Alawites hold key posts in the army alongside some Sunnis and members of other groups that have been given top government and military positions to foster loyalty to the regime.
A statement by the Alawite opposition group said “the Syrian regime has no identity except that of tyranny.”

[…]

http://news.yahoo.com/members-syrian-leaders-sect-backing-rebels-220201294.html

March 25th, 2013, 9:45 am

 

zoo said:

After luring the SNC with financial promises, Qatar tried to buy out Al Khatib to rescind his resignation.
Qatar is pure filth

http://gulfnews.com/news/region/syria/syria-opposition-in-disarray-after-syrian-national-coalition-president-muath-al-khatib-resignation-1.1162580

Many speculated that his decision to throw in the towel had a lot to do with Hitto’s appointment as well as Qatar’s influence in Syria’s affairs. Observers believed that Qatar was trying guide the direction of the opposition through its substantial financial investments in the coalition. Caught off-guard, Qatari Prime Minister Shaikh Hamad Bin Jasem Al Thani, asked Al Khatib to reconsider and invited him to sit at the vacant Syria seat at the Arab League. Furthermore, observers say that another point of contention was Hitto’s pro-Muslim Brotherhood stances and a general dominance by the Brotherhood in the National Coalition.

March 25th, 2013, 9:49 am

 

Ziad said:

West Drops Syria WMD Narrative As Evidence Points to Western-Armed Terrorists

http://landdestroyer.blogspot.mx/2013/03/west-drops-syria-wmd-narrative-as.html

March 25th, 2013, 9:57 am

 

revenire said:

“So the Arab League is transferring Syria’s seat to the opposition. Apparently, the most reactionary, repressive and corrupt regimes on earth, which rule over subjects rather than citizens, and which view their entire countries as personal family assets, have decided that the Syrian government does not meet their democratic criteria for League membership.

“Still reeling from Bashar’s infamous ‘half men’ accusation in 2006, Arab leaders have announced that when Assad joins them in becoming half man, half (insert your preferred animal here), who is ruled by his genitalia and drools in sufficiently profuse quantities after his American-Zionist owners, they will reconsider their decision. True story.”

http://resistance-episteme.tumblr.com/post/46243754193/so-the-arab-league-is-transferring-syrias-seat-to

March 25th, 2013, 10:03 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Zoo
Your informations are totally wrong,and so your analysis is wrong,

Those who think they are very smart are usually stupid

March 25th, 2013, 10:23 am

 

revenire said:

Majed I heard Moaz is rejoining the government. It is only a rumor.

I am happy he was able to get the passports for Syrians. I am open to people surrendering and standing trial for their crimes (if they are Syrian – the Libyan rats will all have to die).

March 25th, 2013, 10:32 am

 

Ziad said:

Great Syrian movie will not be shown at Dubai film festival because the director is pro-syrian gov.

Directed by: Basil Alkhatib
Cast: Solaf Fawakhrji, Mayssoun Abou Assad and Assaad Feddah

Synopsis: The destiny of three women during war time, each one of them is called Mariam and lives in a different times facing the war in its moral, social and brutal aspects. Yet none of them would ever loss what life has given them; the right to choose and the willing to sacrifice. The Arab Women’s Film Festival 2013 will be hosting Mariam’s world premiere.

March 25th, 2013, 10:33 am

 

Tara said:

Zoo,

I love it that Alkhatib was first accused to be a Brotherhood enthusiast/member then the 180 degree change in direction that al Khatib resigned because of the Brotherhood influence on Hitto. Which one should we believe? Is Al Khatib brotherhood or not?

March 25th, 2013, 10:37 am

 

Ziad said:

Arab Student Explains Why He Heckled Obama in Jerusalem

I was listening to the speech of Obama and he said a lot of things that made me upset so I just stood up and shouted. He was talking about democracy and justice and at the same time he said he supports Israel as a Jewish country. So, from my perspective and that of a lot of people, Arab people, Palestinians who were in the building listening to the speech … the Arabs, the minority in Israel are also against a Jewish country because it’s not a democratic country. It’s against us, so how can Mr. Obama be democratic and in the same time support an ethnic country?

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/22/arab-student-explains-why-he-heckled-obama-in-jerusalem/?smid=tw-share

March 25th, 2013, 10:46 am

 

zoo said:

Syria’s Alkhatib to address Doha meeting despite quitting
March 25, 2013 11:26 AM

CAIRO: Syrian opposition figure Moaz Alkhatib said he would address an Arab League meeting in Qatar this week, a day after he announced his resignation as head of the Syrian National Coalition.

The Arab summit takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Arab foreign ministers met in Doha on Sunday to prepare for the meeting. Alkhatib did not say when he would speak.

“I have decided to give a speech in the name of the Syrian people at the Doha conference,” he wrote on his Twitter account.

“This is a matter that has nothing to do with the resignation, which will be discussed later,” he said.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Mar-25/211392-syrias-alkhatib-to-address-doha-meeting-despite-quitting.ashx#ixzz2OYyAZVFH
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

March 25th, 2013, 10:51 am

 

revenire said:

Tara one could say that YES the humiliated Moaz is Muslim Brotherhood but not Muslim Brotherhood enough for the rats.

Make sense? Good.

March 25th, 2013, 11:10 am

 

zoo said:

#79 Tara

Al Khatib has been very secret about his sympathies at start. He only declared he was ready to dialog with Bashar as his priority is to save Syrian lives. As Erdogan seemed to condone him and he was elected as president of the SNC, known to be dominated by the Moslem Brotherhood, it was assumed he was on the same wave length as them.

Nevertheless after a while, and as he was scolded by the SNC on his declaration about the dialog with the regime, he started to discover who was pulling the strings. He saw clearly the vicious influence of Qatar in the SNC, the monopole the Moslem Brotherohood was working on and the indifference to the Syrian suffering manifested by the SNC.
Yet, he is a unsavvy politician, he has let himself pressured by Qatar who wanted to satisfy France’s conditions for supplying weapons, to enter into the election of an interim PM without consulting the forces in the ground or setting credible rules.

While he was uncomfortable with the Hitto election, it is when the FSA officially rejected it as non consensual that he realized it was his mistake not to have set the proper rules ahead of the election. Obviously he has no one to advise him. He then decided to make a move of protest by resigning to protect his reputation vis a vis the FSA and most of the Syrians who disapprove Qatar’s private agenda of owning post-Assad Syria.
Now he is under heavy pressure to rescind his decision that has been a blow to Qatar who thought he was an obedient puppet.
Let’ see is he will show guts and expose Qatar’s dubious interference at he Arab League, or if, like the meeting with the FOS, he will change his mind again.

March 25th, 2013, 11:20 am

 

Visitor said:

While the Evil-Possessed Assad the criminal commits one more of his heinous crimes by using chemical weapons again against 3Adra, The Holy Warriors of the FSA send another warplane down to kiss the dust near Ghouta.

March 25th, 2013, 11:23 am

 

revenire said:

BREAKING
THIS JUST IN

Syrian Perspective
https://www.facebook.com/SyrianPerspective

Emir Khunzeer of Qatar has announced his intention to auction himself off to the highest bidder. All proceeds will go to Jihadists in Syria…I mean…to the Palestinian children.

The Emir will be sporting his Gucci speedo. His profile reads: “Ladies get your niqabs and dollars ready. I plan to take you on a tour of the Al-Jazeera Headquarters and to a foreign restaurant (McDonalds).”

**Warning** In accordance with Qatari law, it is our duty to notify you that the winner of this auction must be aware of the following details: if you deny the Emir’s attempts to bite you -you will be imprisoned; the Emir does not wear deodorant because it’s not halal; the Emir prefers you sit at least 20 ft behind him; and finally, the Emir expects you to marry him.

March 25th, 2013, 11:25 am

 

revenire said:

Geez Tara for someone who claims to be Syrian and on a first name basis with Asma’s cousins you sure don’t know a lot about the country or its people:

Al-Khatib is a supporter of Qatar-based Egyptian Sunni Muslim cleric and preacher Yusuf al-Qaradawi. He even placed al-Qaradawi on equal footing with the Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi, whose self-immolation marked beginning of the Arab Spring. He referred to al-Qaradawi as “our great Imam”. Khatib has also referred to Shia Muslims as “rejectionists” and stated that the Shi’ites “establish lies and follow them”, on occasions when he spoke to an Arab public.

Al-Qaradawi has published more than 120 books, including The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam and Islam: The Future Civilization. He has also received eight international prizes for his contributions to Islamic scholarship, and is considered one of the most influential such scholars living today. Al-Qaradawi has long had a prominent role within the intellectual leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood.

March 25th, 2013, 11:28 am

 

Visitor said:

…..

March 25th, 2013, 11:43 am

 

Visitor said:

“He referred to al-Qaradawi as “our great Imam”. Khatib has also referred to Shia Muslims as “rejectionists” and stated that the Shi’ites “establish lies and follow them”, on occasions when he spoke to an Arab public.”

Every TRUE Muslim knows all of the above.

But I also think Qardawi erred earlier by believing that so-called Shiites can be made close to Muslims, when he believed the fallacy of ‘taqrib’. All Muslims are glad that Qardawi realized his errors and repented.

March 25th, 2013, 11:44 am

 
 

revenire said:

HNN Homs News Network
JORDAN CLOSES BORDER WITH SYRIA !!!

Sky news Channel has reported that Jordan has now closed its borders with Syria, following an escalation of internal clashes between the Jordanian Army and Militants from the so-called “fsa”.

HOW MANY MORE SIGNS DOES JORDAN NEED, BEFORE THEY REALISE THEY ARE NEXT, AND THEY NEED TO FIX THEIR WRONGS NOW !!! … – J

Source: Scnn
https://www.facebook.com/homs.news.network.english

March 25th, 2013, 12:12 pm

 
 

zoo said:

He should wonder whose acts are triggering these ‘disease’ ?

Two-thirds of humanity suffers from ‘Islamophobia disease’: Turkey’s religious head

İZMİR – Anatolia News Agency
Fear of Islam has spread into the hearts of nearly two-thirds of humanity through global political actors, Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate head Mehmet Görmez said today.

“Islamophobia has become an illness in the hearts of two-thirds of humanity. We are facing different kinds of challenges against Islam,” Görmez said in a meeting with religious officials in the western province of İzmir.

March 25th, 2013, 12:18 pm

 

zoo said:

I doubt many will be back home
Saudi official warns against fighting in Syria
Associated Press – 6 hrs ago

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman has warned Saudis fighting in Syria they will be arrested when they return home.

Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki says “involvement in the Syrian crisis is against Saudi laws.”

March 25th, 2013, 12:28 pm

 

zoo said:

Jordanian border near Daraa closed…

AMMAN (Reuters) – Jordan closed its main border crossing with Syria on Monday after two days of fighting there between Syrian troops and rebel fighters, Jordan’s information minister said.

Border traders said passengers were turned back at the Jordanian border crossing of Jaber and prevented from entering in the first such closure of the crossing since the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad’s rule started two years ago.

“The border post is effectively closed because there have been clashes since yesterday and they are continuing,” minister Samih Maaytah told Reuters.

The crossing is a thoroughfare for passengers and was transit route before the Syria conflict for hundreds of trucks daily carrying goods to Turkey from the Gulf and vice versa.

March 25th, 2013, 1:08 pm

 

zoo said:

Arab summit may struggle to paper over Syria opposition rifts

Regan Doherty and Khaled Yacoub Oweis Reuters

12:34 p.m. EDT, March 25, 2013

DOHA/AMMAN (Reuters) – An Arab Summit intended to showcase the unity of the Syrian opposition threatens to veer wildly off script and expose deepening factionalism, potentially hurting Western and Arab efforts to end the war.

Opposition ranks plunged into disarray on Sunday when one of their most popular figures, Moaz Alkhatib, resigned as head of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, undermining its claim to provide a coherent alternative to President Bashar al-Assad.

The summit’s Arab League organizers and Qatari hosts will have to display deft diplomatic footwork to suppress a sense of disarray and disappointment in opposition ranks.

“(The resignation) has been brewing for some time, but the manner in which he did it – with summit host country having given so much support to the opposition – surely has not been well-received,” said Salman Shaikh, director of the Brookings Doha Center think tank.

“We cannot paper over the cracks in the opposition, and indeed in the Arab League itself,” he said.

Even if the summit is able to produce a credible and powerful statement, the opposition would still be in genuine disarray and need to become diverse and representative, he said.

“If it doesn’t, I believe this particular coalition’s days are numbered.”

March 25th, 2013, 1:14 pm

 

Citizen said:

possible next war will take place in the enemies territories with increasing intensity on the principle tooth for a tooth, an eye for a two eyes, etc…

March 25th, 2013, 1:21 pm

 

revenire said:

Hasbara commenters at SC to follow suit?

Mossad agent hanged self in suicide-proof cell after passing intel to Hezbollah

“In the process he came in contact with Hezbollah supporters, Spiegel said, and while trying to convince them to work for Mossad, disastrously spilled highly sensitive information.

“This included the names of Lebanese nationals Ziad al-Homsi and Mustafa Ali Awadeh, who were arrested in May 2009 on charges of spying for Israel and later sentenced to several years of hard labour.

“The report said Israeli security authorities had told Zygier after his arrest that they wanted to make an example of him and demanded a prison sentence of at least 10 years.”

http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2013/03/mossad-agent-hanged-self-in-suicide.html

March 25th, 2013, 2:43 pm

 

Iran War Weekly | Eslkevin's Blog said:

[…] in the South of Syria to gain the jump on the growing Islamic tide washing down from the North. https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=18297   The Case for Restraint: Syria and the International Criminal Court By Betcy […]

March 26th, 2013, 1:55 am

 

Syria Media Roundup (March 28) | YALLA SOURIYA said:

[…] Moaz al-Khatib, Moderate Syrian Leader, Resigns, as Islamic Front and Nusra Move on Damascus Joshua Landis’ take on the latest developments that catapulted Ghassan Hitto as interim Prime Minister […]

March 29th, 2013, 10:04 am

 

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