the objective from the beginning was to destroy Syria and create a situation where Syria,as a state, has no influence in the region especially in regard to Lebanon and Palestine. The regime was instrumental in the destruction process because of its nature and the animalistic desire to dominate and crush any opposition, then came the violent rebels joined by Talibani islamists who have little interest in the health of the nation. Syrians are pressed between a rock and a hard place,some of you are born to be unable to comprehend, I can not blame those, but others know very well that the country is on the wrong track but they are still defending the indefensible, how can anybody defend this regime or the thugs using religion to justify murder and destruction?
Ali asked where I stand, the problem is that I have no floor to stand on,many Syrians feel like orphans with no hope of adoption, the country all of you claim to love is becoming like Somalia while you are busy finding ways to insult or hurt other Syrians.

19  20

ذكرت وكالة رويترز للأنباء أن المسلحوين السوريين أطلقوا قذائف الهاون على قصر الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد في دمشق إلا أنهم لم يصيبوه بأضرار. ويؤكد هذا القصف الالجرأة المتنامية للقوات التي تحارب من أجل الإطاحة بالنظام السوري وإنها حكم عائلة الأسد الذي امتد 42 عاما.
وقال شهود عيان لبي بي سي إن قذائف ثقيلة قد سقطت على حي المزة التي تضم الكثير من العلويين.
وقال مراسل بي بي سي العربية في دمشق، عساف عبود، إن 3 أشخاص قتلوا وأصيب ستة آخرون بجروح إثر قصف بقذائف الهاون استهدف حي مزة 86 وسط العاصمة السورية دمشق.
وقال شهود عيان إنهم شاهدوا أعمدة الدخان تتصاعد بعد سقوط نحو اثنتي عشرة قذيفة على الحي الذي تقطنه غالبية علوية.
وكان الحي قد شهد يوم الاثنين الماضي تفجير سيارة مفخخة ما أسفر عن مقتل 14 شخصا وإصابة نحو ستين آخرين بجروح.
where are the rebels supporters to help us understand how shelling a reseidential area will serve the country or the opposition cause?

18  15

Allah Hu Akbar alek ya Bashar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iw8PzaGt3gc#!
.

10  18

We’re getting an important clue that the people having egotistical tantrums and undermining efforts to create a united opposition are terminally UNFIT to be involved in any sort of public office.

Also on show is their emotional immaturity and paranoia in their inability to trust and work with others.

They should be cursed for their indifference to the future of Syria and what is happening to Syrians on the ground. They are too lost in fantasies of their own personal futures and defending their own irrelevant marginal patches of ground.

Syria does not need them. May they live the rest of their lives in disrespect and failure, exiled from anything that matters.

12  19

(Re-posted from end of last thread)

Great, a calm, intelligent comment on Islamist elements in the revolution. It should be compulsory reading for all the “informed” commentators on the Syrian situation.

By Qunfuz, worth reading:

http://qunfuz.com/2012/11/01/the-revolution-becomes-more-islamist/#more-2025

17  13

Ghufran,

I respect what you stated above, Syrians have been taken for a long ride using high speed rail leading directly to one station called “Somalia”.

The question is whether the slaves of (Gulf, NATO, Iran and Russia) are ready to stop this madness?

Wake up Syrians wake up!!

11  21

Visitor:

I hope you don’t mind taking our conversation to this thread.

Thanks for your answers in relation to FSA I find them quite helpful to understand this militant entity which every armed group uses it as a shelter to hide within.

“The non-Syrians joining the FSA based on Religous beliefs are welcome. We have no problem with that. They are our brothers in faith and are simply answering the call of duty.”

Does your support to Jihadists actions come from you being Jihadi (0r sharing the sect) yourself? Applying the same concept, does that mean you would understand why Shia of Hizboallah are coming to support Assad?

11  18

Cameron eager for reprise of Blair’s role, evidently. I guess he would find waging war in Syria much easier than trying to balance his own country’s budget.

9  11

Ali 7,

You are completely wrong and crossing all lines of reason when you disparage the FSA as a shelter that everyone hides in.

If you do not hold the FSA in the highest regard, then simply get out of this revolution. You have no business in it.

This simply exposes your apologetic tendencies. I am more convinced now than ever that you are closeted regime supporter.

Of course Hezbistan has no business whatsoever supporting this criminal thuggery of a regime and as such it should be treated as an arch-enemy of the Syrian people. I also have no qualms whatsoever labelling members of this criminal organization of Mullah-stan as the worst heretics that have no affinity whatsoevr with the Syrian people and its history. They should be routed out completely.

As for your Jihadi label, I simply find it laughbale, and as such, it deserves no consideration whatsoever.

I strongly second Amjad of Arabia in a comment he made in a previous thread when he stated that our Saudi, Pakistani and other fighters who came to join the revolution will be rewarded afterwards by the Syrians by housing them in the best seaside mansions in Qurdaha once we get rid of the abominable regime currently occupying Syria.

Our great leader is Muawiya Radiya’lahu 3nho and all his family and descendants and all of Umayya.

You want Hizbistan, go with them to the hell-hole of Qom in your Mullah-stan. I cannot make it any clearer to you.

20  17

Fouad H’maira ( a drama writer from the alawi sect):
وكتب حميرة : “أدين تفجيرات المزة التي وقعت بالأمس بأشد عبارات الإدانة والشجب، وهي عملية إجرامية”
ويتابع في انتقاده ازدواج المعايير لدى شبيحة النظام : “إذا كانت إنسانيتكم قد استفزت بسبب التفجير، فأين هي هذه الإنسانية حين يقصف الطيران ريف دمشق وإدلب وحلب وحماة وحمص؟ لماذا لم نقرأ لكم كلمة واحدة تدين قتل المدنيين في بابا عمرو والتريمسة ومئات المجازر؟، هل تعتبرون دمكم درجة أولى، ودمنا من الدرجة العاشرة ولا يستحق الإدانة؟ أم أن الإنسانية عندكم يقبل القسمة على اثنين وربما على عشرة ؟”.

5  12

Ali,

“3- Or does it mean i should applaud the FSA’s hiding in densely populated areas and then “tactically” withdrawing leaving widows and orphans stranded in streets?”

Interesting point and a topic of a significant discussion between my husband and I. I do not know what is right and what is wrong here. Honestly. Had my children or my parents being stranded in Bab Amro while the regime is shelling it in revenge for having the FSA amidst them, would I still support the FSA? I honestly do not know? I certainly would have hated the regime even more but not sure if I then would have approved the FSA tactic. Yet, at the same time, who am I to offer a critical opinion of those who are risking their own lives for our future? Had it not been to the FSA, Syrians would have remained slaves forever..

After all, my opinion is irrelevant…it is Syrians’ in Syria opinion that matters.

6  16

Visitor:

I’m doing my best to understand your position but sometimes I find it quite challenging to get it right especially when i feel people getting a bit angry, so apologies for driving you crazy and please stay patient with me.

The thing is that you’re explaining things as if we’re on the same page, while on reality we’re not. I’m genuinely struggling to understand how could anybody support killing especially for his own people, I was hoping your answers will help me so.

You jumped ahead and put me in a box and labelled it as an “apologist”! I find it quite weird how you jumped into this conclusion straight away without even asking me if I’m an apologist or not? is it the nature of my questions that made you think so? Did you feel challenged and deiced it’s the easiest way to accuse me of nonsense and not explaining what I’m after?

You keep saying the revolution does not need me, how did you know that? is there some criteria i need to meet in order to be accepted such as endorse nonsense killing?

What’s the logic behind rewarding Jihadists? I was under the impression that those people fight and expect no reward. Beside, what will you do with the people of Qurdaha? Are you planning to displace them in order to reward Jihadists?

Assad is an incompetent leader and he hardly could manage one household so definitely he should go home and brought to justice for all his inhumane action, but that does not justify favoring foreign Jihadists over our Syrian brothers.

15  15

Ghufran

With all due respect, And I do not mean you personally because you do not fit the group I am addressing this to. Alawis and Christians who never uttered a word criticizing the slaughter of the 30.000 Syrians murdered by the regime, should now shut up. Crying mezza 86 by them is as low as prostitution if not lower.

8  18

11. Tara said:

“”" After all, my opinion is irrelevant… “”"

You got that right 8)

9  20

Tara:

Thanks for your comment I find it quite sincere, and made me a bit confused of how a sensible person could support killing and make such comments at the same time.

You made a good point of saying who are we to decide what’s good and bad. However, we’re all Syrians and we know for fact that most of the times your simple flat is all what you own in this life. So if i may flip the question and ask who gave the right to armed groups to come and fortify within populated middle-poor class areas? who gave them the right to mandate on the vast majority of Syrians their actions and take them as human shields?

If FSA and OSA wanna play rough then they both should take somewhere outside instead of flexing muscles on poor people.

12  13

Tara,
Thousands of alawites were killed since March,2011, the popular belief that this is an alawi war against Sunnis is not supported by the facts, Syrians from all walks of lives are dying daily in Syria,only the rich and the connected are getting away, the rebels only manage to kill poor and ordinary Syrians with no hope in sight to end this bloody mess, the old slogan of protecting civilians and punishing regime thugs is only good for PR campaigns targetting people who either do not know or are too angry and miserable to think, this violent strategy endorsed by both sides is simply not working, the garbage coming from talibanis on this forum is only worthy of trash cans. Expats should focus on one thing: helping Syrians in need, that help is the least we can and should do. Assad, his thugs and all thugs have a short shelf life, the rest of the country should not be held hostage to opposing parties.

13  13

Western efforts on Syria shifting
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21946886/uk-talk-directly-syrias-rebel-fighters

7  13

Expanded Conflict in Syria Promised by Romney Will Proceed Under Obama
http://fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/expanded-conflict-in-syria-promised-by-romney-will-proceed-under-obama/25288/

6  13

NATO Terrorists Twisting in The Wind – Guess Those Stinger Missiles Did Change The Fate Of Those Cold Blooded Killers 8)

Battle for Maaret al Numan reveals Syrian rebels’ weak spots – November 7, 2012

http://www.adn.com/2012/11/07/2685384/battle-for-maaret-al-numan-reveals.html

MAARET AL NUMAN, Syria — The fight for the strategic city of Maaret al Numan on Syria’s main highway lays bare the challenges faced by the “rebels” who are fighting the Syrian government.

Hobbled by a lack of supplies and a confused chain of command, rebels here said Wednesday that they feared they might lose the city without reinforcements and ammunition.

That’s a reversal from a month ago, when at least five groups of fighters coordinated to attack this city from three sides and clear it of army and security forces. They also laid siege to Wadi al Deif, a nearby military base, driving government forces to the eastern side of the highway that runs from Aleppo, the country’s largest city, to Damascus, Syria’s capital.

According to “rebel fighters”, the operation took less than 24 hours and was followed by a successful attack on a convoy that was approaching the city to resupply the besieged forces.

“At first we were successful, but then some of the groups left,” a “rebel fighter”, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, said Wednesday. “Some of the groups that were fighting left because they said it was too costly. Others just didn’t have enough ammunition.”

The fighting has indeed been costly. The government’s air force has targeted not just Maaret al Numan but also nearby cities that rebels used as staging grounds. DOZENS, if not HUNDREDS, of fighters and civilians have been killed, and the population of the city, about 150,000, has largely fled under the onslaught. Entire districts lie in rubble, and bodies remain underneath. Cleanup is possible only after dark, when the airstrikes stop.

The rebel ran for cover a few minutes later as a jet flew low overhead and fired at a building a few streets away.

Fighter jets flew regular sorties over the city Wednesday morning and into the early afternoon as tanks and artillery on the eastern side of the highway lobbed shells.

Rebel fighters said the shelling was heavier than usual and that it coincided with an advance by government troops, who were attempting to cross back to the western side of the highway.

“If we could keep them from resupplying the base for even two days, they would give up,” the fighter said. “But they have been able to keep it supplied.”

He lamented the lack of rebel supplies coming in from outside Syria, despite what he described as rebel commanders’ frequent trips there.

“We may have to consider withdrawing,” he said.

Haithem Afisi, a defected army colonel who leads a local battalion of fighters who were using a museum in the city as a base, said his group was officially part of the Free Syrian Army, a rebel group headquartered in Syria. He answers to the Idlib military council, which directs Free Syrian Army operations in Idlib province, where Maaret al Numan is.

Two other groups that were key to the rebels’ taking of Maaret al Numan fall outside the Free Syrian Army – the Syrian Martyrs Brigade and The Hawks of Damascus Brigade – and coordination with them can be spotty.

Many Free Syrian Army fighters also have been forced to use the meager salary they received for the first time this month – about $150 each – to buy ammunition.

[...]

http://www.adn.com/2012/11/07/2685384/battle-for-maaret-al-numan-reveals.html

6  15

Ali,

May I ask where do you really stand? You made your views in regard to the armed struggle clear but missed to elaborate on your feelings in regard to the criminal behavior of Batta and company. Tell us how you feel in regard to the last 40 years of Syrians’ lives..

7  20

How US Ambassador Chris Stevens May Have Been Linked To Jihadist Rebels In Syria

http://www.businessinsider.com/us-syria-heavy-weapons-jihadists-2012-10#ixzz2AR6J4HxM

8  14

11. TARA said:

” Had it not been to the FSA, Syrians would have remained slaves forever..”

Well technically Syrians will always be slaves as Allah said in His book, Surat Al-Towbah verse 111. We Christians were elevated by the Messiah as it it is written in Allah’s book Surat Al-Imran verse 55.

Then we were falsely dragged to be slaves again as Allah did not realize what He did when He finalized His revelation in Surat Al-Towbah.

6  14

Obama would make his first foreign visit to Turkey
The US Ambassador to Turkey said on Wednesday that US President Barack Obama who was re-elected on Tuesday for second term would make his first foreign visit to Turkey.
Turkish media outlets reported that Francis J. Ricciardone stated that Turkey would be the country for Obama’s first foreign visit after US presidential elections.

This came as Turkey has stepped up its diplomatic efforts to convince its Western allies to take bolder action in order to bring an end to the bloodshed in Syria.

If Obama visits Turkey, dealing with the festering Syrian conflict would be the main topic in his agenda.

US and Turkey both are critical opponents of the Beshar al-Assad regime and push Syrian opposition to broaden its coalition to appear as a cohesive and inclusive organization in 19-month-old uprising.
http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=297516

4  14

Tara:

I respect your conversing skills, you do know how to dodge a question by another one shifting the topic from A -> Z. Actually I admire that and hope Bouthaina Shaaban could learn a bit of you.

I fully condemn all atrocities committed by Shabeeha & armed groups, and anybody who committed inhumane sectarian actions against civilians.

I fully hold the government responsible for not taking actions to help Syrian refugees abroad and displaced poor people within Syria.

I fully hold Assad and opposition leaders responsible for every drop of Syrian blood.

I fully hold Gulf sates, NATO states, Russia and Iran responsible for fueling the civil war in Syria.

I hope for an icebreaker in the current situation allowing a new school of though to emerge which believes in stopping killing and allowing dialog to end up this bloodshed

Where do you stand?

10  18

Ali

Where do I stand?

I stand with the downtrodden and the underdogs whatever their colour is. It is the Sunnis this time around and might become the Alawis later on.

8  15

“Ambassador Ford told Syrian Opposition leaders that the international community will NOT create a “no fly zone” over Syria and will NOT support the Free Syrian Army militarily.”

No. Not. Forget it.

No one in the West wants any part of the Syrian train wreck. Israel and Turkey are on their own on this. Saudi Arabia, the West’s other good friend, is far enough away from Syria that it won’t be affected by any spillover from the violence.

This is what you get for 40 years of nastiness and hostility toward the West. Next time, after you clean up this mess and start over, try to be nice to other countries…at least occasionally. It doesn’t hurt to smile, even if you don’t mean it.

2  18

Tara:

Nicely said.

I’m happy to hear that you have no problem in supporting Alawis if they go under oppression.

My views that both Sunnis and Alawis will fight together for their lives against Jihadists when we reach phase 2 of destroying Syria.

10  15

4. Syrialover

“We’re getting an important clue that people having egotistical tantrums are UNFIT to be involved in any sort of public office.”

Are you referring to Richard Nixon?

5  13

Syria’s main opposition bloc fails to elect women to leadership team – November 07, 2012

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/11/07/syria-main-opposition-bloc-electing-new-leaders-under-international-pressure-to/

DOHA, Qatar – Syria’s main opposition bloc elected an all-male leadership team early Thursday, undermining its own bid to showcase itself as a more diverse group that can represent all those trying to oust President Bashar Assad.

“This is a big problem,” Rima Fleihan, a Syrian writer and women’s activists, said of the marginal role of women in the political opposition in exile.

SNC spokesman George Sabra said he believes the U.S. and Qatar support a new opposition leadership along those lines, even if the final details still need to be sorted out. He said the opposition is under intense pressure to conclude a deal before leaving Doha.

SNC leaders met Tuesday with U.S. diplomats on the sidelines of the Doha conference, said Sabra, who attended the discussions.

The diplomats, including the U.S. ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, told the SNC that Washington wants to see a unified opposition negotiate a political transition with members of the Syrian regime who don’t have blood on their hands, said Sabra and another participant, SNC political strategist Louay Safi.

The U.S. diplomats reiterated that the Washington would not intervene militarily, either by sending weapons or enforcing a no-fly zone to assist the rebels, said Safi and Sabra. Assad and members of his inner circle would have to leave before such talks can begin, they said of the U.S. position.

[...]

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/11/07/syria-main-opposition-bloc-electing-new-leaders-under-international-pressure-to/

4  13

Dear Ali,
Please forgive my silence. I did not ignore your invitation to talk. I had just left my computer and did not read your comment.
When I bring about what you call “history” , I am actually describing the background of the Syrian life that directly lead to the disaster that we are facing today. Years of injustice that left many people with nothing to lose. I am always astounded by how otherwise seemingly smart and sensitive people like you and Ghufran, can so nonchalantly equate the regime with the rebels. The situation in Syria, as complicated as it is, really boils down to the simple truth that this regime is comprised of thugs who are willing to do anything to stay in power. There is nothing that they have not tried so far: they opened direct fire on unarmed demonstrators, they detained children, they kidnapped intellectuals, they tortured anyone they could, they raped women, they slaughtered people in their homes, they bombed cities, they destroyed historical monuments, they burnt valuable forests….. Need I continue? We all watched and lived the horror “movie”. These thugs are organized in a so called army, have control and command structures and communication abilities. The FSA on the other hand is the quintessential reactionary counter-balance mechanism of the Syrian people in an effort to try to defend themselves against this barrage of attacks by land and air. This is a group that consists of mostly army defectors, some civilians and very few foreigners. They have limited weapons, although this is changing by the day, chaotic command and control and no communication channels to speak of. No reasonable peson can hold such group to the same standards as an official army. As for the claim that the FSA should not enter the cities and bring destruction, I ask you: where else can this weak group fight the army? Go to the open desert where they can be prime targets? This is the signature move of any revolution. Nothing new there, but what is new is the willingness of our regime to bomb densely populated cities with war jets to get the rebels. What is destroying the cities is not the existence of the FSA, rather the criminality of this regime.
I can go on forever, but the bottom line here is very simple the violence was started by the regime and the people were left with no choice but to defend themselves. As we say in Arabic لولا هالغيم ما أجا هالمطر.
As for a political solution to the Syrian disaster, I say it is an inevitable next step, but can only start after the murderer-in-chief is gone.

12  10

“Syria rebels” appear to be shifting strategy in Damascus – November 7, 2012

Bombings and assassinations seem to be less about holding territory than making guerrilla-style strikes, some of which have caused civilian casualties.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria-damascus-20121108,0,618701.story

The new rebel strategy appears to be less about holding territory than conducting something closer to guerrilla-style strikes, including powerful car bombings that have caused civilian casualties.

The rebel tactics could complicate efforts to build international support at a time when Western governments are worried about an influx of militants. Car bombs and sectarian-tinged attacks appear to many outsiders as the domain of extremists, not democracy-seeking revolutionaries.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton last week urged the opposition leadership to be “on record strongly resisting the efforts by extremists to hijack the Syrian revolution.”

On Wednesday, a leading pro-Assad Palestinian faction, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, issued a statement saying “armed gangs” had waged a “vicious attack” on refugee settlements in the Yarmouk area on the capital’s outskirts. The group said it repulsed the assailants, resulting in scores of mortar shells being fired in retribution. There were no confirmed reports of casualties.

Along with bombings, targeted killings of government figures and supporters also appear to be on the upswing in the capital.

On Wednesday, the state news agency reported that “an armed terrorist group” assassinated a judge, Abad Nadweh, using an explosive attached to his car.

The judge’s killing came a day after the brother of the speaker of parliament was shot to death in his car in Damascus as he headed to work, according to official accounts.

Last weekend, rebels in Damascus abducted and executed a well-known Palestinian Syrian television actor, Mohamed Rafeh. Rebels accused Rafeh of being a government informant and enforcer. Friends and family say the actor was killed in retribution for his outspoken support of Assad.

[...]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria-damascus-20121108,0,618701.story

5  13

The Syrian opposition is stuck in their dead end narrative

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/how-can-turkey-buy-into-the-federal-syria-idea.aspx?pageID=449&nID=34184&NewsCatID=419

The opposition groups in Syria are still in disarray. Since most of the political and military organizations are “fabricated,” there is no prospect for a united political-military front. They have no capacity to carry the “revolution” to the next phase.

Moreover, this incapacity is damaging not only the “future of the revolution,” but also the “ideology of democracy and freedom” and its allies. As armed groups commit “war crimes,” both the legitimacy of the struggle and the regional faith in “democracy” are being questioned. Let’s not forget the jihadists who are taking root in the region by systematically using violence which, in civil war, forces everyone to join a group.

These concerns are definitely shared by the politicians of the United States and the United Kingdom. They feel the need to intervene more decisively to end political and military polarization, prevent the war crimes of the opposition groups and end the jihadist presence. Of course, as demonstrated by Hillary Clinton’s recent remarks, their ultimate aim is to save the reputation of those countries who supported this “dead-end revolution.”

Moving the debate from Istanbul to Qatar and opening criticism toward the Syrian National Council, which is supported by Turkey, brings forth the question of Turkey’s future role. Managing badly what comes after the meeting could lead to crisis and tension among allies.

Turkey has acted in close cooperation with the U.S. and the U.K. since the beginning of the Syrian crisis. It played a central role in pressuring and delegitimizing the regime, providing aid for the refugees and armed movements, all of which resulted in high economic, diplomatic and political costs in both the domestic and international arenas. It is now obvious that the limit of the contribution Turkey could make to the political and military developments in Syria has been reached. This limit was defined by the passage of time, Turkey’s ethnic and sectarian structure and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s resilience.

Uniting the opposition is only possible through the formulation of a clear political objective. It is no secret that the political objective that can satisfy all the ethnic, religious and sectarian groups in post-al-Assad Syria is regarded as federalism and that this idea, though not clearly formulated, has strong supporters. It is also known that the Turkish government is not very eager to see Kurds and Alawites acquire federal rights in Syria.

On the other hand, any progress in Syria will depend on increasing the military capacity of the armed opposition. This means more powerful weapons and more functional organization. Who will get the weapons and how, and who will control this process – these questions remain.

The meaning of the Qatar meeting for Turkey depends on the answers given to these questions. Let’s wait and see.

November/08/2012

8  13

Sheila:

Thanks for your reply, I was really looking to your reply and I feel quite satisfied that I’ve received a good one.

The emotions are pouring out of your reply and I must appreciate that, seeing your and our mother “Syria” sinking in this moving sand called civil war is surely heart breaking.

I was watching closely SyriaComment for a decent period of time till I decided to post yesterday. The generic theme of this blog is the “blame game” where bloggers support blindly and unconditionally there respective parties while pointing the faulty finger to others, pretty much everybody is a master in playing this game.

I have no intention of blaming the oppositions nor I’m planning to equate prisoner with the jailor neither the victim with the executioner. I did declare loud and clear that Assad is responsible, however, at the same time I’m afraid that we’ve gone so far and grown another monster called militant groups including Jihadists which we will fight next undoubtedly.

You can tell yourself all sorts of reasons and excuses to justify your stand which is quite understandable as a human nature, but for me I can’t see any hope of prevailing unless we go back to our conscious realizing how far we’ve gone on the road to Somalia.

I decided to start with myself and look for those who condemn the killing machine in Syria as a foundation for a dialog which might lead to nowhere but might also lead to convert at least on Syrian individual back to our original nature away from the path of death and hatred.

10  14

From the FSA fantasy world: The regime sacrifices its own members.

FSA denies assassinating al-Assad loyalists, accuses regime

07/11/2012
By Caroline Akoum
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=31727
…
For his part, Rami Abdul-Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, announced that he had received information from Syrian activists that the forthcoming days will see more Syrian regime figures being targeted.

Speaking exclusively to Asharq Al-Awsat, Free Syrian Army [FSA] Chief of Staff, Colonel Ahmad Hijazi, strongly denied that the FSA was responsible for this assassination campaign. He stressed that “the FSA is not responsible for these assassinations and does not depend on this policy in its military strategy.”

8  12

It’s refreshing to read the truth in the LA Times for change!

In Syria, small-town rebels are stuck in big-city Aleppo – November 5, 2012

The OUTSIDERS, who entered Aleppo in July, have fought to a deadlock with government forces. MANY RESIDENTS of the once-prosperous city [ALEPPO] RESENT the fighters’ PRESENCE.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria-aleppo-20121106,0,3747163.story

ALEPPO, Syria — They are this ancient city’s bedraggled warriors: plowmen and laborers, mechanics and carpenters who came from the countryside this summer to “liberate” this formerly freewheeling town attuned to the rhythms of commerce.

Now they’re stuck here.

Bogged down by a relentless urban combat they’re ill-equipped to fight, the rebels daily endure both government bombardment and thinly veiled hostility from the resentful residents of a mercantile hub turned dystopia.

These rebels who entered Aleppo from semirural, tradition-bound suburbs and agricultural areas found no spontaneous outpouring of support, no waves of sleeper cells yearning to join the revolution. Many shopkeepers in the historic Old City seem to avoid eye contact with the scruffy legions strutting along the cobblestoned streets of this former Silk Road terminus.

A reporter escorted by rebels on a recent visit couldn’t escape the sensation of accompanying an occupying force.

The widely divergent backgrounds of fighters and Aleppo residents underscore a continuing tension that probably contributed to the stalling of the rebel advance.

Some rebel commanders openly regret the decision made in mid-July to attack the city directly. Filled with false confidence after chasing government troops from nearby districts, rebels eschewed a more classic guerrilla strategy of gradual advance via strikes on police stations, military posts and other security targets.

“We gave the regime an excuse to attack civilians,” laments Ahmed Obeid, who heads the Amr ibn al-As Division, one of perhaps 10 major rebel groupings fighting here. “We are not military men. We have made mistakes.”

Despite their initial miscalculation of swift victory, Obeid and other insurgent commanders now insist retreat is impossible.

“If we pull out, any civilian who gave as much as a glass of water to one of our men will face execution,” says the soft-spoken Obeid, known as “the Teacher” because of more than 20 years spent as a high school math instructor in the agricultural town of Azaz, 30 miles to the northwest, a major feeder zone for insurgent forces.

Many combatants say without hesitation that they don’t expect to survive this battle. Religious belief seems to sustain them.

On the serpentine streets of the Old City, traversed by generations of invaders, adventurers and traders, many residents hardly hide their disdain for the disheveled legions who have come to occupy their previously prosperous town. The district is home to many Christian and Sunni merchants, whose clientele included middle- and upper-class Syrians and foreign visitors.

Here, many applauded government economic initiatives that benefited Aleppo’s urban commercial class but further marginalized the rural poor, creating fertile ground for revolt in the countryside.

[...]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria-aleppo-20121106,0,3747163.story

6  15

“….Emphasizing the wild reaction of the Hebrew media and Israel’s upper echelon of politicians to Obama’s victory, Mossad opened on the same day a recruiting campaign over the internet. Its ads appeared next to pictures illustrating the victory, creating an eerie image. Is Mossad about to gear up sinister old plans for a presidential assassination? Beginning this article in such a fashion is justifiable due to the violent reactions voiced in Israel. One of the softest belonged to Yedioth Aharonot—Israel’s largest newspaper—which read “An Ugly Victory.” The most quoted reaction belonged to Likud Knesset Member Danny Danon, who said “the State of Israel will not surrender to Obama. We have no one to rely on but ourselves….”

__________________________________________________________________

Read more:
http://www.roitov.com/articles/obama2.htm

3  6

‘Flexibility’ With Russia Might Not Come Easy for Obama in 2nd Term – 08/11/2012

http://en.rian.ru/world/20121108/177282904.html

WASHINGTON, November 8 (By Carl Schreck for RIA Novosti) – US President Barack Obama famously told the Kremlin earlier this year that he’d have more “flexibility” dealing with Russia should he win a second term and be freed from the constraints of reelection concerns.

With Obama’s victory in Tuesday’s US presidential election, the next four years will show whether the American president can make good on this assertion.

The ongoing civil war in Syria, for example, has sharply divided the two countries, with the United States insisting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad step down and Russia warning that Assad’s ouster by armed opposition groups could plunge the country—and the region—into further chaos.

“It’s not clear what either side thinks the appropriate outcome in Syria is,” said James Collins, a former US ambassador to Russia under President Bill Clinton and director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Institute for International Peace in Washington.

[...]

http://en.rian.ru/world/20121108/177282904.html

5  13

Syria Pledges No Use of Chemical Weapons – Russia – 06/11/2012

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20121106/177226774.html

AMMAN, November 6 (RIA Novosti) – The Syrian authorities have assured Moscow that there will be no use of chemical weapons against rebel forces, Russia’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.

“I rule out the use by the [Syrian] regime of chemical weapons,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists. “We have received the appropriate assurances.”

Lavrov said Russia had also asked Syria to make a similar pledge to Western powers.

Lavrov accused unnamed Western countries on Tuesday of sending weapons, including Stinger ground-to-air missiles, to Syrian rebels. “There are some 50 Stingers on Syrian territory,” he said.

Russia’s top diplomat also called for the return of UN observers to Syria, where tens of thousands of people have died since the onset of a civil war 18 months ago.

“Part of our position is that the UN observers should return to Syria, and in largest numbers,” Lavrov said.

[...]

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20121106/177226774.html

5  13

Ali 12,

I put you in a box?
Really?
And you don’t think we’re on the same page? What a surprise? Neither do I!!

Well, here it is in a nutshell. I do not need to ask you if you are an apologist. This is not something that can be answered by you. It can only be inferred from your narrative by me. Does that help you? Simply speaking, you narrative sucks.

You contradict yourself in one and the same paragraph. Here

”
The thing is that you’re explaining things as if we’re on the same page, while on reality we’re not. I’m genuinely struggling to understand how could anybody support killing especially for his own people, I was hoping your answers will help me so.”

You do not ask this question to imply spreading blame, a technique well known to have been employed by the killing machine regime from day one.

You want to come and pretend concern for human life. Well kiss my behind first. All your comments smack with hypocrisy. There is one and only one killing machine in Syria. It the regime of thugs that needs to be destroyed. If you speak outside these parameters you are a fake and a cheap apologist. Period.

If you do not treat the FSA as real heroes of this Revolution by your words and deeds, you are also fake and do not belong n the revolution, period.

And no there is no such thing as Jihadists. And no, Syrians will not fight these brothers of ours who came to our help in times of need. Your Alawite thugs have by in large been silent on the massacres and quite often active participants. Rest assured there will be accountability in due time.

You may think I am angry, but sorry again to deflate your cockiness and larger than necessary ego.

This is my style. Put up or shut up.

17  15

Visitor:

Now I’m quite convinced that you’ve lost it. Only a couple of questions made you scrambling like a slaughtered chicken showing all your impressive civilized manners and a stark reflection of your up bringing.

I have no doubt that you’re a disturbed soul looking for an identity to cover your insecurity, unfortunately you did find some of your wet dreams coming through while enjoying the scene of our Syrian fellows getting slaughtered by your foreign brothers in faith “Jihadists”.

I find your attitude of “I’m always right and you’re a piece of sh1t” quite funny and actually it reminds me of somebody who was labelled as a dictator mmmmmmm, ah true reminds me of Assad and his Shebeeha. Now, in case you still wondering why you have not won the majority of Syrians, just look at the mirror and open your mouth.

I wounder if your faith allows you to be rude to people,? I’m sure not, but I do hope that you don’t treat your family members in such bad manners.

Apologies if I pushed the wrong button Mr. Brother in Faith with Jihadists.

11  11

So far the debate on this forum has shifted considerably.

1. Among regime apologists there is now a clear recognition that a quick solution as the regime touted is not in the offing.

2. There is also a shift whereby even regime supporters have recognized the illegitimate use of force.

3. There is also recognition that the so called reforms are no longer capable of even be used as a starting point of negotiations.

4. The Iran Russia strategy is now in my opinion an effort to rescue whatever is left of the regime structure for the day after its demise.

5. The support that the regime getting is clearly finite, for the decision by Russia to give a 5 billion loan is an indication that the Iranian cannot give more and certainly not on any sustainable basis

6. A loan means that there is no more money and this evidenced even further by the break down of law and order as the regime is no longer capable of paying salaries of the thugs.

7. The military is spread too thin to create a continuity of coastal areas that are contiguous enough to be together, to receive maritime shipments and to be connected to the Hermel region of Lebanon to insure continuity with HA fighters.

8. The SNC is dead and these professors can go back to their cafes to pontificate again and they should elect Man’aa as the head butler in my opinion for their meetings.

Now, the country will disintegrate and maps will be redrawn and forces on the ground will force a new modus vivendi.

The supremacy of the Alawite community is over, the Christian community will be marginalized at best, and in this the regime was able to link its political and now physical survival to theirs.

Russia is left with a garbage can filled with stinking rotting corpses called Somaria Alathad. Turkey has effectively carried out a buffer zone in the north. Once Aleppo falls the business will start again.

It has allies that will counter balance the kurds and will continue to favor Barzani over Iraq and can forget about the rest of Syria.

Jordan will find itself squeezed and Lebanon will remain on a knife’s edge for some time.

I am cynical, but this is a golden opportunity to give pay back to Iran and Russia.

6  13

ALI you are coming across as a spectator at a sporting event.

You are having a nice debate about the competitors, but coolly detached and unconcerned about the human element, which is what the Syrian conflict is really all about.

And you are getting a very fair run with TARA, SHIELA and VISITOR, all of whom are genuinely engaged and affected by what is happening to Syrians and their country.

They are giving honest responses, not just striking debating postures; and showing intellectual substance as well as the “emotion” you dismiss*. You are not matching it.

Before you make any more sweeping comments about Jihadists in Syria, I recommend you read the thoughtful piece by Robin Yassin-Kassab on his Qunfuz blog I mentioned in #5 above. (http://qunfuz.com/2012/11/01/the-revolution-becomes-more-islamist/#more-2025)

*That was true of Visitor in his response to you in the previous thread. But you just went on and on pushing his pro-FSA buttons (which are good buttons and I have them myself) until he lost his cool then you started insulting him.

5  14

The regime and its thugs only understand force. So force should be applied to them, to their families, their livelihoods, and to their children. Maybe after they’ve suffered enough, they’ll learn to behave better in the future.

Every destroyed house and family by a regime plane or shell is another potential suicide bomber. Call down the thunder, and reap the whirlwind.

With each passing day, more Sunnis leave the regime. Assad wanted a sectarian war. He shall get it.

The death of innocents is always unfortunate, but a war is a war. And in this war, except for little children, there are no innocents.

8  11

The sidelining of Riad Seif is very disappointing and shames those responsible.

Let’s have a look at the faces and cvs of those who couldn’t respect and cooperate with him. He is someone who would have better credentials and be more worthy of respect than a roomful of them put together.

He has also been physically engaged in the revolution, made sacrifices, actually took on jobs and paid a high price for his intellectual integrity, courage and persistence over many years.

Riad Seif made it clear he wasn’t interested in future power because of his age and health – all he was aiming for was to lead the process of working on a solution to the present impasse.

And for those who snipe at US representative Ford, he is a person who while living in Syria demonstrated infinitely more concern for Syrians and care about the country than Bashar Assad ever did!

10  10

Syrialover:

Thanks for dropping by and sharing your thoughts.

I’m still unable to understand why it’s so sensitive to talk about Jihadists on this blog? I like to call a spade a spade that’s all.

Could you help me and explain why it’s a “red-line” to criticize FSA? Isn’t it exactly what apologists and Shabeeha do with Assad?

However, I do believe that emotionally driven thinking could lead you nowhere. You need to bite on your wound and sit with your foes in order to save something more important called Syria.

12  11

Observer:

Very good observations.

I wonder how you could not observe the high speed rail towards Somalia?

9  13

41. OBSERVER

Apart from your usual efforts at creative analysis, let’s consider the following statements:

“Russia is left with a garbage can filled with stinking rotting corpses called Somaria Alathad. Turkey has effectively carried out a buffer zone in the north. Once Aleppo falls the business will start again.

It has allies that will counter balance the kurds and will continue to favor Barzani over Iraq and can forget about the rest of Syria.

Jordan will find itself squeezed and Lebanon will remain on a knife’s edge for some time.

I am cynical, but this is a golden opportunity to give pay back to Iran and Russia.”

_______

When you finally realize that the “garbage can filled with rotten corpses” primarily affects Turkey, not Russia or Iran, you may start to have a better understanding of the situation. You acknowledged that the country is disintegrating, and this my friend, is nightmare scenario for Turkey, not a win by any stretch of the imagination.

If you searched about Turkey’s demographics, you’d find that ethnic statistics are a state secret. No reliable figures are available, and the practice reminds us of a country where such issues have long been extremely sensitive: Lebanon. And that clearly stinks for Turkey. There is no question that in a future Kurdish Spring, Turkey will be much more affected than Syria, Iraq or Iran.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/08/31/turkey_s_silent_crisis

And resuming business with Aleppo? As if the city was really productive by world standards, its only real strength was its commercial position, and commerce isn’t the forte of fragmented, warring regions. And it’s not like Turkey has an interest in encouraging any Syrian particularism, for the reasons mentioned above. This is why they are trapped.

5  12

Let’s hope Clinton finally gives up on social engineering and accepts the fact that Assad represents a significant segment of the Syrian population and that no manipulation on her part will change that.

Maybe she can then finally start to support honest negotiations about Syria’s future in which the fear of both sides are addressed.

10  10

ALI,

It’s the lightweight and ill-informed way you talk about Jihadists. If you’ve bothered to read the article I recommended, you’ll notice how closely you are mimicking the Assad line.

And your comments on the FSA make it look like your knowledge is limited to headlines in SANA and the Russian stories provided by “ANN” and Citizen.

There’s no excuse, because VISITOR took the time to give detailed and reasonable answers to your questions on the FSA, which you seem to have ignored: http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=16658&cp=all#comment-333942.

Tell me, what do you think of closet shabeeha sitting on the fence whilst pointing the finger at the victims? Do you disapprove of them?

You are up on a very high horse there.

8  11

VISITOR,

You said all that needs to be said with the words:

“If you do not hold the FSA in the highest regard, then simply get out of this revolution. You have no business in it.”

I am very proud of them.

8  13