Alan is under 48 hour moderation, after repeated warnings to abide by Syria Comment Rules and Regulations on hateful language and fair use.

Did anybody expect Tlas to admit any wrong doing and repent?

The guy is speaking like a politician and his testimony means nothing to the families of those soldiers and security officers who were executed.

The policy of an eye for an eye is well and alive in Syria, and anybody who tries to saintify violence is only kidding himself.

هيثم مناع

للرد على سياسة السلطة في شيطنة الحركة الثورية السلمية باختزالها بالمؤامرة والسلفية والجهادية… الخ، دخلت بعض القوى والشخصيات السياسية المعارضة في لعبة التصعيد المفتوح في الخطاب مع كل ما هو غير مندمج عضويا في تجمع المصلحة الأمني العسكري المالي الحاكم، فصار بث الكراهية للجيش باعتباره جيش الأسد، وإباحة ضرب ما بني من دم الشعب وضرائب المواطن، والخلط بين تحطيم الدولة وتحطيم السلطة الدكتاتورية. ولم يخل ذلك من خطاب مزايدة في الأرقام والمعطيات كأننا في معركة مزايدة مفتوحة.. لكن الكلمات تقتل، وعندما يقال «الجيش الأسدي» عن كل مجند، يهجم جمع من المراهقين على حاجز لا أهمية له ولا تأثير لمن عليه فيقتل مجندا من هنا ورقيبا من هناك في عملية يسميها ثورية. ولا نجد سياسيا واحدا يملك الجرأة على القول هذه جريمة تعمم وتكرر جرائم القتل التي يقوم بها النظام.

[ + الحقيقة.. أكرم خلق ثوري
هيثم مناع – 07/04/2012 – 00:02:00
منذ أسابيع توقفت عن الكتابة. لم يكن السبب مقاطعة وسائل الإعلام المكتوبة أو السمعية البصرية وهي كثيرة (الجزيرة، العربية… وحتى روسيا اليوم التي يقول السيد فيصل القاسم انني أتحدّث عليها سبعين مرة في اليوم وأنا لم أتحدث مرة واحدة عليها في 2012). لم تكن المشكلة أبداً تغييباً إعلامياً.. فليس بالإمكان محاصرتي مهما دفع من مال أو مورس من ضغوط. لكن المشكلة تكمن في حالة الوجع، حتى لا أقول أكثر من ذلك، من الوضع الذي آلت إليه الأمور فيما أعطى الثورة المضادة مواقع متقدمة في محافل ومجالات كثيرة، باسم الثورة، وعلى حساب قيمها ومبادئها.

… ]

I second Ghufran

It is a joke to believe anything comes out of Syria.

it is too more complicated than believing such non sense.

FSA can’t denies that the bombings in Damascus and Aleppo to incite more violent is not financed and supported by the same parties who are paying the FSA salaries.

The west doesn’t want to admit that Russia said NO about Syria and still trying to manipulate the situation.

I said it before Syria is for Russia and USA has no say in the inside politics of Syria.

Otherwise, get ready for a larger war all over the ME.

Democracy, can’t come on a tank such case in Iraq and for sure won’t come to Syria in the hands of the dictators of GCC.

Democracy is born within and as someone said Arabs are not ready for true democracy and respect to minorities, women, others regardless of race, religion, ethnicity etc…

We the people = I am the next dictator that’s what is very every Arabic spring country, time will tell that this is true.

it took USA 200 years to emerge as a superpower it may take the Arabs another 1000 years to respect the others. Moderate and radical Arabs live in the west free, it could be the time to return the radicals back home to destroy the progress made in the last century.

as long as people are leached with backward ideas about life, sex, religion, democracy can’t be born.

Father, wife are not free therefore kids are not free result no democracy in the society.

Killing people based on sect, religion, ethnicity is well known practice all over the ME.

Let me understand this, JL was so busy when bombs went off in Damascus and Aleppo to even write ONE line about a week later, but he is not busy hurrying to publish this meaningless writing from an anonymous ‘German friend’ on a Sunday just to whitening a terrorist reputation?

Besides, when you have too many accounts from different sources in the media about the exact same systematic killing, one anonymous ‘German reporting’ can’t change a thing about reality, and to make it even worse, the reporter is asking the killer to deny his crimes, I’m not sure how is that even believable or worth a full post for it.

And the youtube have plenty of Civilians and Military men who were kidnapped to make a statement before they were killed but Tlass own groups, including the kidnapping of 7 Iranians engineers killing two of them before Turkey forcing this exact same killer to deliver them, should we also deny that?

Here is another account by a very respected German writer, (not anonymous) Jurgen Todenhofer, he is talking about fsa terrorists and how they were killing civilians, including women and children because of their sect:

https://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved&&note_id=10150662643600838&id=12084075837

Die Rebellen von Homs (erschienen in der F.A.Z. am 13.04.2012) Syrien im April. Omar ist Rebell der „Freien Syrischen Armee“ (FSA). Mein Sohn Frédéric und ich treffen ihn in Damaskus in einem dunklen Hinterzimmer. Am 27. Febru…
By: Jürgen Todenhöfer

In Alakhbar

في الأرض السائبة: السفّاحون ومجــرمو الحرب ضيوف الدولة
زياد الزعتري

كلامهم لا يخلو من «قطع رأس أو نحر رقبة». تسأل عن سبب اختيار الذبح وسيلة للقتل، فيأتيك الجواب بأن «الرصاصة خسارة في الكلاب الشاردة». هكذا هم دوماً، يتحدثون عن الآخر بشبق الدم. يفاخر أحدهم بذبح من هو من طائفة أخرى وعن غارات ليلية ينفّذونها دورياً للخطف، فضلاً عن الحواجز التي تفصل بين القرى لاصطياد «الدخيل».

في محلة أبو سمرا في طرابلس، ثمة مستشفى يشغله بأكمله جرحى سوريون، يُحضرون إلى لبنان بطرق غير شرعية. معظمهم مقاتلون أصيبوا في معارك مع الجيش السوري. يُنقلون إلى هنا حيث الأمن والأمان، فالمستشفى يحظى بحماية أمنية معلنة. يتولّاها أربعة مسلّحين، بورديتين صباحية ومسائية. لا يقاس الزمن بالأيام هنا، بل بأعداد الجرحى الذين يُدخَلون. لا يكاد يمر يوم من دون إدخال 4 أو 5 جرحى. أحياناً يصل الرقم إلى 25 جريحاً. المستشفى المذكور ليس الوحيد الذي يستقبل الجرحى السوريين، لكنه الوحيد الذي يحظى بـ«سيطرة» الجيش السوري الحر.
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/61641

“Tlass: We categorically reject such a form of killing. No executions are carried out on behalf of the FSA.”

Sure, they are all ‘Angels’
الارهابيون يجهزون سيارات مفخخة تسير بالتحكم عن بعد
http://youtu.be/qcF6F1xE6f0

What about fsa arming children and throw them in the battle field, to die so they can use them as propaganda?

Exclusive: Interviews With Wounded Teenage Free Syrian Army Fighters
http://www.policymic.com/articles/6975/exclusive-interviews-with-wounded-teenage-free-syrian-army-fighters

What a disgrace and shameful article this is. Not a single comment/video or article was posted out of the 10,000+ which proves the FSA are responsible for murder and executions. But one article written by an unkown is deemed to be significant enough to contradict the Spiegel online article on executions. This further proves JL has lost all credibility and has become another outlet for the media war propoganda.

Abdel Razzak Tlass is a terrorist, this is a public knowledge, and JL with his deep and broad scope on Syria knows that very well. We all know that Katebat Alfarook and FSA are criminals and the reports of burial brigade are very consistent with the nature of this terrorist Taliban style movement. JL watch what Tlass friends are doing in this clip with innocent kids and women, Tlass and FSA are Enemies of Syrians, all Syrians, with or against Bashar:

Obama’s Friday Afternoon Document Dump for this Week: US Begins Overt Aid to Syrian Death Squads After 13 Months of Covert Support

http://tarpley.net/2012/04/14/obamas-friday-afternoon-document-dump-for-this-week-us-begins-overt-aid-to-syrian-death-squads-after-13-months-of-covert-support/

Mr. Tlass can deny BUT there are many evidences of executions and behadings hanging of “shahiba” made by “Fsa”. Even the Bbc’s corresponsant from Homs Paul Wood was shown on a mobile phone some behading proudly carried on in the name of God. Read here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16984219:

The BBC’s Paul Wood has spent harrowing days under fire in the Baba Amr area of Homs and here reports on citizens subjected to a relentless artillery barrage by government troops.

Most of the people in the makeshift field hospital in Baba Amr did not want to be filmed.

They were too afraid of being arrested to show their faces. But not Abdel Nasr Zayed.

“I have lost 11 already and now I am willing to sacrifice everything for God,” he told me, a large, bearded man, his voice booming down the hospital corridor.

Of the 11 members of his extended family who had been killed – by shells or sniper fire – five were children under 14.

It was a typical story. Often people would tell you they had lost not one but many of their relatives

Why any news coming from the opposition is taken as true but when there is any bad news about the opposition’s acts, it has to be proven 100%?

Hans

I love it sometimes you have moments in which you reveal to us some genuine truth:

“It is a joke to believe anything comes out of Syria.”

I assume you include Sana, Al Dunia, and state TV right?

Everybody is allowed to play fool, but in the first place, the Spiegel-on-line article had gaps. I. e. can anyone imagine that suddenly on his hospital bed, a brainwashed butcher decides that he may soon meet his Creator and decide to speak, of all people, to a Western journalist?

So obviously, the “confession” had to have followed another path. We’ll never know which, and it does not really matter because there are plenty of evidence. Basically the extremists are overwhelmingly occupying Youtube anf Gulf satellite channels so one has only to search to find.

Marcel Khalife

Sorry,
How can you recommend this pale remixed copy?
Always get the original!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZE5pPeZ0Po&feature=related
(Marcel Khalife)

Unwelcome to Palestine: Israel to bar entry to pro-Palestinian activists
http://rt.com/news/palestine-israel-activists-letter-081/

FSB charges top terrorist with conspiracy to kill Putin – report
http://rt.com/politics/fsb-kill-putin-report-957/

Saudi Arabia: Dancing To Israel’s Tune – OpEd
http://www.eurasiareview.com/14042012-saudi-arabia-dancing-to-israels-tune-oped/

Abdel Razzaq Tlass is very clever and diplomatic.

The world is taking notice of Bashar continued violence..until the cease fire is declared a failure. But, have they UNSC established how many dead per day before they call it a failure.  Bashar will take on the opportunity to continue low level killings under the disguise that “breaches of cease fire are not uncommon during the early days”.  The FSA therefore should reserve the right for self defense and respond to the regime in a similar fashion.  The SNC should highlight in an intense campaign the regime continued killings to discourage orders to kill.   

Opposition: Syrian forces pummel Homs from the sky
By the CNN Wire Staff
April 15, 2012 — Updated 0951 GMT (1751 HKT)

(CNN) — Government helicopters pounded the besieged city of Homs from the sky, opposition activists said Sunday, three days after a so-called cease-fire in Syria.

In addition, “one bomb is being shelled every 10 minutes from the military academy, aiming at al-Wair neighborhood in Homs,” said the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, a network of opposition activists.

At least nine people died across Syria on Sunday, including six in Homs, said the opposition Syrian Network for Human Rights. Two died in Aleppo a day after they were injured when regime forces opened fire at a funeral procession, the group said.
….
“There have been too many casualties, too much suffering to befall the Syrian people,” Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said.
He also said that his government has been discouraged by a lack of objective information and has called on Syria to allow in international journalists.
….
Rice, the current Security Council president, pointed to reports of ongoing violence, which are already “raising renewed doubts about the sincerity” of Syrian authorities to end hostilities.

Renewed shelling on Homs on Saturday “absolutely” constituted a violation of the current cease-fire, she said.

The UN has warned it will “consider further steps” against the Assad regime if Syria does not end the violence and comply with Annan’s ceasefire and six-point peace plan.

Syrian forces pound Homs as first UN monitors set to arrive
Sunday 15 April 2012 04.39 EDT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/15/syrian-forces-pound-homs-monitors

Syria’s four-day-old ceasefire was sorely tested on Sunday as the army repeatedly shelled the central city of Homs and rebels attacked a police station near Aleppo, compounding the job of a group of six UN observers en route for the country.

The advance party of a 30-strong mission of unarmed observers was set to arrive late on Sunday night and deploy on Monday. But William Hague, the foreign secretary, said there were limits to what the group could achieve given the fragility of the truce established last week.

“This number of people cannot possibly effectively monitor what is happening in the whole country,” Hague told Sky News. “The plan will be for a much larger [team], more in the hundreds, of monitors to follow them provided the [ceasefire] plan is being implemented by all concerned,” he said.

The observers will have much to inspect. In Homs on Sunday, Walid al-Fares, an activist living in Khalidiya, one of the neighbourhoods where mortar bombs have landed, said: “Early this morning we saw a helicopter and a spotter plane fly overhead. Ten minutes later, there was heavy shelling.”

Another resident said that government loyalists were using heavy machine guns to shoot into the area. Rami Abdelrahman, head of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said shells were being fired at a rate of one a minute.
(….)

I don’t like how Abdel Razaq Tlass looks with the beard. He looks better without it.

14. Mina

It is always the same story. Old revolutionaries like you that have become middle classes or maybe even high class but still use the same old years icons. Even to attack the revolution they use the revolution icons like Marcel Khalifa. Revolution is simply change. Revolution is not red or blue, not secular or anarchist, not east or west. Revolution is change and your old icons are not revolution anymore. You have lost contact with the revolution´s actors. Your have lost contact with those peasants in Homs, Al Badia, Hama, Maarra, etc who are the core of this revolution. And you have lost even contact with young revolutionaires in Damascus universities and suburbs.

They are the change. They are the future. Sorry Marcel, you played a role one day, now you are just a part of status quo culture.

Ulrike Pütz has published an article in DER SPIEGEL on the upcoming observer mission.
Interestingly the number of observers as proposed by Annan was 250, the regime has bargained it down to easy controlable
30 observers in the beginning, with 24 more to come.

“Although the government is Bashar al-Assad called the UN resolution to give the envoys of the United Nations “unrestricted freedom of movement and access,” however, it is entirely on the leadership in Damascus, if they keep to it. That the observer to “speak freely and without interference with individuals in Syria, without that person may be punished for their interaction with the mission”, as required by the resolution is wishful thinking.”

http://translate.google.at/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spiegel.de%2Fpolitik%2Fausland%2F0%2C1518%2C827637%2C00.html

funny picture from Facebook:

Annan and Ban spoke of relative calm in Syria. The reason is that Assad’s troops use silencer!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=408082025887618&set=a.201716413190848.57037.201686009860555&type=1&theater

1) The syrian tourism minister must be under immense pressure to address the tourism situation fearing calls for his/her resignation.

Do you think Assad accepted the previous and current monitor missions partially on the advice of the tourism ministry? The hotels will finally get some business.

[Edit: It took a while to write this comment and in the meantime Jeurgens comment (#19) has negated this humorous suggestion…LOL].

________________________________________________________________

2) It’s reassuring to see the Economy Minister on top of things. Naturaly one has sympathy for anyone faced with an unenviable task.

As Syrian forces destroy homes, minister builds luxury house
Sunday, 15 April 2012

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/04/15/207827.html

________________________________________________________________

3) Analysis: With echoes of Saddam, Syria’s Assad may endure

By Alistair Lyon
Fri Apr 13, 2012

(Reuters) – Having crushed a popular uprising, he rules by force over an Arab land shattered by conflict and sanctions, his people too exhausted and cowed to resist.

Is this the fate awaiting Syria under Bashar al-Assad?

Saddam Hussein lasted for 12 years after his defeat in the 1991 Gulf War until a U.S.-led invasion unleashed chaos and carnage from which Iraq, for all its oil, has yet to recover.

[…]

“But if Turkey launched some full-frontal assault using air power on Syrian military bases, Bashar might be concerned about his own military turning on him and saying, ‘We’re going to be destroyed by this, it’s time for you to go’,” Phillips said.

Read more:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/13/us-syria-assad-idUSBRE83C0VY20120413

__________________________________________________________________

4) Some comments on the Reuters article above.

There are differences between the Iraqi scenario and the potential syrian scenario. Saddam had oil wealth. Yes the Iraqi Shia, encouraged by Bush Senior, took a fatal gamble and rose up but had they really shaken off the cloud of fear like the Syrians have done?

About the unity and cohesiveness of the regime. Is it in essence a military dictatorship? The civilian front just a facade? Has the crisis forced it to reveal its true face? The primary and over-whelming response being military (security).

We are sometimes told that the majority of Syrians are opposed to arming the opposition.

So have the ‘silent majority’ finally broken their silence? Some may wonder why now?

Kidnapping and murder done by both sides, when done by the Sunni, they called the Alawat Shabiha, and when done by the Alawat they called the Sunni, peaceful demonstrators, shame on both, hate is hard to get rid of especially in our society,because it is a revenge driven society,

“I consider it unprofessional not to doubt any of the descriptions of her witness in Tripoli and to not even try to check these allegations with somebody in Homs.”

LOOOL!

Double standards?

A deal looming between USA and Iran, the USA presidential election on its way to high speed.

Syria is definitely put on the back burner therefore if a deal with Iran signed than Syria won and the terrorists will pay a heavy price at the end of the day.

the GCC will follow as someone said that earlier and I agree.

BTW JAD yes I second you JL is becoming more as a spokesman of the state department here, not as neutral he use to be at the beginning of the turmoil I won’t call it revolution bc it is acts of terrors against many of the innocent.

Annan’s plan will be difficult to implement because concerned parties are reluctant participants at best, especially those who feel cheated after they were made to accept the participation of the regime in any future settlement, this makes the goal of an immediate toppling of the regime unattainable for the time being. The regime is also uneasy about allowing demonstrations and free elections because this will undoubtedly means a regime change. However, this plan is by far the best solution to Syria’s crisis if the goal is preserving lives instead of preserving egos.

I do not take seriously any claims that the breaches of the cease fire are unilaterally done by the regime, assassinations of army officers and soldiers have not stopped since Thursday and are unlikely to stop, the regime also will be pressured to respond and has not stopped arrests and counter attacks, there is even reports of attacks on opposition forces that are also a violation of cease fire. However, the cease fire is still holding and the monitors will be in Syria today with more to come in the coming weeks.

Russia and China are also trying to reduce tension on the Iranian side to the dismay of war mongers. It is a race between advocates of violence and supporters of dialogue.

Related to Ghufran’s comment @28 the following is a Channel 4 video and text report. Fawaz Gerges gives his analysis.

Why Syria’s peace plan is destined to fail
Thursday 12 April 2012

The Kofi Annan-brokered ceasefire in Syria will fail because of irreconcilable ambitions within the country, regionally and internationally, Middle East and security experts tell Channel 4 News.

Read more:

http://www.channel4.com/news/why-kofi-annans-syrian-peace-plan-is-destined-to-fail

#28 Ghufran

“The regime is also uneasy about allowing demonstrations and free elections because this will undoubtedly means a regime change”

Demonstrations are of no threat anymore, “too little too late”.

If on a Friday, just after the UNSC vote, the number of protesters was a few thousands, it does not seem to present any serious threat in the near future. Where are the ‘million’Tahrir square predictions that the anti-regime and the Turkish media predicted?

It is obvious that with new Constitution the political system will change to be more open and democratic. If this what you call ‘regime change”?

Bronco

Why do you hold on every single hope to preserve the regime? Why does it hurt you too much when anyone mentions regime change?

A report from Trablos – Lebanon on Syrian children
http://www.syriandays.com/?page=show_det&select_page=73&id=31032

#19 Tara

Allow me to correct what you wrote:
(UN to) consider further steps” against the Assad regime

The resolution does not say ‘against Assad regime’ . This is what it says:

“12. Expresses its intention to assess the implementation of this resolution and to consider further steps as appropriate;”

“It is obvious that with new Constitution the political system will change to be more open and democratic. If this what you call ‘regime change”?”

–What is obvious is that until the regime is changed, the constitution of Syria means absolutely nothing. The mukhabarat and corrupt officials have always operated outside the constitution, and will continue to do so.

Bronco,

Demonstrations are still a threat to the regime, we both know why the number of demonstrators went down, however, I think the opposition should be more focused on the political track. Elections if held freely will ensure a regime change without blood shed but the best Syria can achieve is a relatively clean election process, both sides will use intimidation and political money to win, the GCC in particular will dump a huge amount of money in those elections, assuming that we will actually have elections.

31. Tara

Why hurt? I need clarification on terms used that seems to mean something different to each one.

Maybe you can clarify to me what is meant by ‘regime change’ now that a new political democratic system in the making.

Is it reduced to ‘Bashar al Assad resignation”? or what?

34-
the situation inside Syria is not siutable for any good working of new constitution ! it is dident take time to go up !

Bronco

I did not make it up. It is in the article.

Although Damascus and Aleppo haven’t risen up, with some suggesting this is because they are saturated with Mukhabarat/Shabeeha and also due to fear of repercussions, we are told the cities are, under the surface, boiling with anger.

Assuming we had free and fair elections, free from falsification of results, would this ‘anger’ translate into an anti-Assad vote?

Save the evil doers….C’mon Be a hero,Adopt one!

For $20 a month,your gift can go 4X as far…

http://youtu.be/HP9VrTuE7Sg

#35 Ghufran

We will see about demonstrations. My hunch is that the opposition is even more divided now as the UN has approved unanimously Annan Plan, sending the hardline inspired AL plan to the dustbin.

Now the hardliner Turkey and Qatar are been watched for any attempts to inflame the uprisings.

I really wonder what would be the slogan of the demonstrations now that the hopes of a quick regime change with the resignation of Bashar Al Assad have faded away. The Opposition, in my view, will start to move the streets on the political arena, if they are able to.

Do you think the elections in Egypt and Tunisia are immune from the money power of the GCC?

By disallowing religious parties, the Syrian election law is trying to limit such interference.

In any case all the money GCC poured into the SNC and the opposition failed to change the course of the Syrian government. Addtionally the GCC is itself divided, some favouring the Salafists, some the MBs, some are neutral.

Look how Egypt’s SCAF has simply kicked out the MB and the Salafi candidate, the GCC favorites, setting a precedent that Syria could use.

The struggle will be long, but the most difficult part is hopefully behind us.

Bronco

Yes, regime change means vanishing of Assad family and the inner circle with blood on their hands from the political process in Syria. Then, gradual process to full democracy, remnant of the “regime” and MB included.

That is at least what I would be happy with and what I perceive the SNC wants too.

37. Tara said:

“I did not make it up. It is in the article.”

A typical Western media subtle disinformation. You see now why you shouldn’t trust them blindly.

Bahrain Protestors Clash with Police at Citizen Journalists Funeral….Ismael rest in peace

http://youtu.be/P0OscofarlM

The New Power in the Middle East
Syria’s Fate Will Be Determined By Turkey

By Maximilian Popp
Syrian refugees in Turkey: Ankara is now defending European values.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,827480,00.html

Europe and the United States are delaying action in the Syria conflict — yielding the field to Turkey. Prime Minister Erdogan is presenting himself as a crisis manager, organizing aid for refugees and threatening to invoke NATO’s mutual defense clause. By doing so, Ankara is cementing its status as a major regional power in the Middle East.
…
After his election victory last June, his third in a row, Erdogan announced that it wasn’t just a victory for Istanbul and Ankara, but just as much so for Beirut and Damascus. In this crisis-riddled region, Erdogan, like a sultan, is increasingly setting the agenda.

Bronco

Misinformation or the writer’s interpretation of the text?

34. AMNESIA
according to you the newborn rises at once and goes independently without taken the time?
Q: tell me pls whether you that consider a mode in Saudi Arabia dictatorial and spoiled?

Studies a few years ago proposed that while Bashar’s policies succeeded in partially tackling lower-level corruption, his inner circle more than offset that with large monopolies on services, large bribes they demanded from businesses, and the siphoning off of some 85% of oil revenue according to some insiders.

From what I have seen, corruption on the lower levels may have actually gotten worse. In the 90s shadowy mukharabat type officers stamped my passport at the airport upon entering, without taking money. With Bashar in power, those officers in the airport were replaced with young soldiers whom openly request $10, and smiled and made sure you got through the next guarded doorway without being stopped only upon paying up.

Entering Syria through Jordan by road is an embarrassment. There is no clear system. One must go to four or five different lines, with no direction and guidance as to where one should go. Many take money from everybody, without posting the amount clearly. They are not operating transparently. The money they collect is a big collection for the higher-ups, and they do collect a lot. In my experience, the border with Syria is the most expensive, corrupt, disorganized, and time-consuming border in the middle east.

I am merely pointing out that despite high hopes for Bashar before the current crimes against humanity, he failed miserably at doing what he stated he wished to do upon taking power, on so many levels. Those that blindly support him have no argument whatsoever. Bashar needs to go, and may those that follow him always uphold transparency and rule of law.

Corruption is not a reason to burn a country. Many American embassies overseas would not look at an application without 100$ bill inside it. Did you ever hear about Madof who made many many Americans poor?

Syria accuses armed opposition of escalating assaults after cease- fire deadline – 2012-04-15

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-04/15/c_131528226.htm

DAMASCUS, April 15 (Xinhua) — Syria’s Ministry of Defense said Sunday that “armed terrorist groups” have ramped up assaults on government troops since the army observed the UN-backed cease-fire, and stressed that it will prevent those armed groups from carrying on with criminal acts.

Since the army declared the cease-fire last Thursday, the attacks by armed groups have ramped up, targeting civilians, army personnel as well as public and private properties, the defense ministry said in a statement carried by state-run SANA news agency.

The ministry said the assaults also coincided with the latest UN resolution to dispatch international observers to Syria to monitor the cease-fire, which was brokered by the UN-Arab League envoy to Syria Kofi Annan.

The attacks have marked numerous violations to the cease-fire truce, said the ministry, adding that it resulted in many human and material losses.

The ministry stressed that out of the government’s sense of responsibility toward protecting citizens and preserving the country’s security, it will stop “those terrorists from practicing more murders and sabotage acts.”

The Syrian official media has recently reported that since the UN-backed cease-fire deadline came into effect at 6 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) Thursday, a number of army officers were killed and some others were kidnapped in different parts of the country.

[…]

45. Amnesia

What you are trying to say is well-known to all of us! Syria with current regime is not \\\”utopia\\\” … neither better income Arab countries. However, although I join you with criticism of what you described especially at Syrian borders, but others found worse; having experienced with many friends other neighboring countries borders such as Saudi & Jordan.

We are not supporting blindly! we are not sure of changes to better if happened having assessed changes to worse situation if took over by this current \\\’what so called revelation and those current revolutionists\\\’ whom enjoy the killing and current chaos as long as they are paid by foreign countries.

With upcoming diff. gov. or regime; do you think we will be saints and Syria will be utopia?!

Just let us get out of this chaos w/others interference and hopefully Syrians only, will change step by step towards democracy and better life, maintaining dignity at all times.

Thx

UN observer mission is for Syria’s interest: official – 2012-04-15

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-04/15/c_131528285.htm

DAMASCUS, April 15 (Xinhua) — A Syrian presidential media advisor said Sunday that it is for Syria’s interest to have international observers on its territories because the observers will help in exposing the crimes committed by armed groups.

After the UN-brokered ceasefire went into effect in Syria on Thursday, the armed groups have carried out more than 60 attacks in several Syrian cities, targeting civilians and army and security personnel, the official, Buthiana Shabaan, told BBC Sunday.

She noted that these violations have been documented and sent to the UN envoy for Syria Kofi Annan.

According to Shabaan, the UN observers will carry out their mission in Syria in two stages. During the first stage, 30 observers will be sent to Syria to conclude and sign a protocol to regulate the work of another 250 observers.

The media advisor said during the negotiation on the protocol Syria has the right to agree or disagree with the nationalities of some observers.

She said the timetable for the observer mission and the arrangements for their movement will be set in coordination with the Syrian government, “otherwise Syria can’t be responsible for the safety of those observers.”

She reiterated the Syrian troops’ commitment to the ceasefire, but reserved Syria’s right to repulse any attack and aggression by the armed rebels.

[…]

“….Don’t Drag our Revolution through the Mud!…”

How could you avoid that when Mud! driving the revolution.

51. Aldendeshe said:

“….Don’t Drag our Revolution through the Mud!…”

How could you avoid that when Mud! driving the revolution.
============
Hi Aldendeshe

what Revolution!? and what the heck is mud?

this chaos,is Zift X zift.

Isn’t Tar/ Zift is khaliji petroleum byproduct?
God doesn’t like ugly.

[ Alan is on moderation, Dale, not banned. Khalid Tlass is not banned. You are not banned. Did you have something to discuss? Your contempt for Syria and Syrians is again noted.

SCModerator@mail.com]

Alan booted out. He joins Tlass What’s-His-Name in SC Moderator’s outer darkness. And the list grows.

Has anyone noted what an anal retentive little putz the SC Moderator is? He’d make a great Syrian dictator. Open your mouth and practice free speech and SLAM! You’re in jail…

53. DALEANDERSEN
keep sleeping Strange man !!!!

News update on the german vessel which was headed for Tartous with arms shipments

The vessel has been tracked and its due to arrive tomorrow in the harbour of Iskanderun in Turkey.

No one can tell at the moment why the ship had the transponder signal turned off. I think 80 km off the Syrian coast, it would be possible for the Syrian navy or even the Russians to clear the shipments in due timing.

Nonevertheless the german government is investigating in this matter, even though in judicial terms not much can be done to prevent such activities.

http://translate.google.at/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spiegel.de%2Fpolitik%2Fdeutschland%2F0%2C1518%2C827640%2C00.html

Anyone who want to see the navy map of Cyprus, Turkey and Syria can do so on this site:

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?level0=100
There one can see the live transponder signals of all ships in the area and its speed.

The Atlantic cruiser seemed to have turned off its transponder signal ir is off the coverage…

Here is a picture of the vessel:

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=304216000

Anyway, interestingly you can find also the Pjtr Strelkov is in range of the Syrian coast with 8.4 knots the hour.

Sandro #21

“The revolution won’t be televised,”

I won’t shed a tear on “those peasants in Homs, Al Badia, Hama, Maarra” for whom revolution means that women have to go back home and cook, and never set up a foot in an office or an administration.

Low-education means manipulation. The best failure of the Assads is to watch that the education system has failed in all sense of the word and that you can find someone to kill anyone for 800 dollars and probably less. But that does not mean I can trust the leaders of the movement and their lies. The SNC are just good to accept bribes and invitations to 5 stars hotels. The real opposition is in Syria, and no way one can expect anything from the Beduins of Ma’arrat or the ultra Sunnis of Homs and Edleb.

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_04_15/71846430/

Advance UN team arrives in Syria

The first six United Nations peace monitors have arrived in Syria. According to Russian UN Ambassador Vilaty Churkin, they will be followed by another 25, who will include a Russian officer.

The office of the Syrian President said the observers cannot expect to work in safety unless they coordinate their action with the authorities. It also said the Syrian government reserves the right to modify the nationality make-up of observation teams.

Now that there is a video “it is a grave incident”. But Rachel Corrie is not.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/video-senior-idf-officer-beats-pro-palestinian-activist-with-rifle-1.424454

56 MINA

¨The best failure of the Assads is to watch that the education system has failed¨

You are the prototype of the Assad supporter. Even a failure is considered ¨the best¨ and not ¨the worse¨. This is in fact the worse failure. But the education system did not fail, but was simply destroyed by the Assad regime from it roots. Now we are facing the results of 40 years of civil society systematical destruction.

Even you are the typical kind of syrian (or not syrian) that leaves beduins (or arabs as they are usually called as if others were not arabs) aside. They have no rights and no representation. Just the elites can have a word in Syria´s future. I see how democratic is your view of future Syria. It is frankly disgusting.

We have had enough hypocresy. I think supporting the execution of shabihas is the less can be expected from syrian revolution members. Maybe we were supossed to ask Assad to fine them for killing and massacre demonstrators, and civil population as well as for raping, looting, etc?

Most syrians I know would love to make all shabbihas disappear, even before the revolution.

[ If you mean Alex Camille Otrakji, no, he is not active as moderator. RT is responsible for its misreporting, not Alex.]

Is the guy who said that the syrian dictator could win free elections doing the moderation now? He is the same person who is expressing pro-dictator views on RT. RT identifies him as one of SC editors. Shame on you for being pro-dictator and biased! I only “slurred” the sectarian Iranian goverment that is sending arms to the dictator, who is killing Sunnis in Homs and Derah.

Mina

Your comment in regard to not being able to shed tears on the people who died in Hama, Homs, Banias,  Bayda, Maara is a disgrace.  These people deserved to be killed because their women stay home and do not go to an office?  

This is a misanthropic comment and it is hateful and deplorable.   

Mina, can you share why you write on SC?  I can find in my heart a room to forgive fellow Syrians for whatever they have said.  I honestly have no forgiveness for a “self-proclaimed'” Syrian tourist (as you described yourself) who can’t shed a tear on a dead Syrian.  You’ve never said that you have affection to Syria.  Why are you here, Mina? Please go away.

Dear Moderator,

I am sorry.  I may have crossed a redline.  Feel free to trash my comment.  It just kills me when I interact with people who have no respect for the life of human being…  And the reason given that they are Bedouin and their women do not work…now if his is not pure evil, what is?  

Media Disinformation and the “Arab Spring” Color Revolutions
The Tainted Legacy of I.F. Stone
by Prof. James Tracy
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=30320

Engdahl: CIA plays ugly role, trains Syrian rebels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9U3Tf1ejLY
Researcher and author of Full Spectrum Dominance, F. William Engdahl talks to RT from across the Syrian border about his take on the latest developments in Syria and Turkey.

#46 Tara

“Misinformation or the writer’s interpretation of the text?”

Misinformation is a biased, deformed interpretation of the original text or declaration to mislead the reader.

We have seen that everyday in the Western media on the Syrian crisis.

Syria vows to fight escalated terrorist attacks ahead of UN observers’ arrival – 15 April, 2012

http://rt.com/news/un-observer-mission-syria-attacks-100/

The Syrian army pledged to continue fighting armed rebels in anticipation of the arrival of a team of UN observers, as armed terrorists have hysterically escalated their attacks following the official halt of all military operations.

The observers will be monitoring the shaky ceasefire that came into force on Thursday. Aggressions against civilians, army personnel, military checkpoints and private and public properties have all escalated since then, a Syrian military source says. The onslaught came “in conjunction with the UNSC resolution to send international observers to monitor the [ceasefire],” the official SANA news agency reported on Sunday.

“Out of their duty to protect the security of the homeland and citizens, the authorities will prevent these armed terrorist groups from continuing their criminal aggressions and acts of killings,” the source said.

Kamel Wazne, a political analyst in Beirut believes that the whole peace initiative is now under threat. And that is not because the Syrian authorities or the rebels oppose the peace, he said, but because Syria’s neighbors like Qatar and Saudi Arabia would very much like to see the bloodshed to continue.

“Probably, we have seen and witnessed, in the past couple days, a major unrest from other terrorist organizations entering from Arab countries into Syria and causing all this havoc against the stability of Syria,” he explained. “Today was a major escalation, an attack and a lot of assassinations by the opposition against civilians and Syrian officials, mostly military men. And this is happening more often now then before.”

[…]

من باريس إلى دمشق .. قافلة محبة للوطن

why arabs are angry all the time?

“Civilized society is perpetually menaced with disintegration through this primary hostility of men towards one another.”

Sigmund Freud.

so i decided it would be best to bring him back to sychoanalys arabs.
Hi Freud;wass up Afram.Qahwa Sada/coffee MR.Freud.later I have some,ok done
Hows the arab doin Afram?Angry,very angry
how come?
well,right now they are in a vicious cycle,they named it arab spring!!,who did?the yankees.

I said long time ago,America is a mistake,yes MR.Freud,Iknow you said that

tell me Afram about the arab culture stuff…ok
the head honcho/president insults the tribal chief

chief insults police man
police insults our fathers

fathers beat mothers
mothers hit their children

children abuse street stray dogs
dogs violently fights with cats

cats aggressively chase away songbirds

Afram,this is sad. you right on Freud

any remedy to our situatian,Freud?
No,you folks are hopeless case,your best diagnosis?yep,hopeless hopeless.

Free your women first..shed their shackles,then hope for freedom-democracy &stay away from Karl Marx opium//religion

can I have my Qahba,you mean QAHWA,MR.Sig?

70. ZOO

This video with people holding pictures of Assad is simply surrealist. Just a joke. Definetely the country needs to come back to ground zero before it is build again. With people like those appearing in the video who live in a mirage it is impossible to build anything.

You are a sister no longer.

The poster that illustrates Syria’s anger
A poster of Asma al-Assad by an anonymous writer expresses her and her country’s disgust

How can a London-based writer of Middle Eastern origin protest against the violence in Syria? Here’s one way: enlisting the help of a graphic artist, Shahrazad (a pseudonym) designed this poster expressing her disgust at Syrian first lady Asma al-Assad’s silence.

The poster is free; you can get your copy by emailing Shahrazad at iamnotlikeyou@safe-mail.net. It was first distributed two weekends ago at a protest in London and has been picking up steam ever since: the British Solidarity for Syria campaign took 500 posters, and more will be heading north to Edinburgh with the organisers of Reel Syria 2012. “At first, some Syrians were put off by the image of Asma on the poster,” says Shahrazad. “You might think the photo is glamorous, but if you examine it closely she looks perturbed.” She hopes it will be displayed all over the world.

Shahrazad once saw al-Assad up close when she joined her in a women’s bike ride for peace several years ago and had hoped it was the beginning of a new era in Syria. “We could have been more than friends; we could have been sisters,” she has written on the poster. “But you are a sister no longer, and each and every one of us feels played like a sucker.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/shortcuts/2012/apr/15/poster-syrias-anger?newsfeed=true

Bronco

FYI,  jut so your “admiration” is informed.

Shahrazad Jaafari

The daughter of Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, Shahrazad, forwarded an email to Assad on December 7 last year, which she apparently received from someone called “Hazem”, with an attachment ready to be signed by President Assad. The attachment refers to a legal amendment in the judiciary body related to the retirement motives of judges. The sender asks Shahrazad to inform the Syrian President about the content of the message the soonest in order to take the necessary measures next month.

In another letter, Shahrazad al-Jaafari refers to herself as the Public Relations and International Communication manager of the Syrian presidency and asks the President to grant her powers that will enable her to impose her decisions in the palace.

Shahrazad wanted to have the legitimacy to judge what is right and wrong in dealing with visiting delegations and activities related to public relations.
In the email she complains about three specific people in the presidential palace:

Muhyiddin: who works at the presidential palace 

Luna al-Chabel: media and communication manager 

Buthaina Shaaban: the president’s political advisor.

Shahrazaad said that she used all her skills in public relations to be able to contain Chabel’s rude behavior but that she failed, and makes it clear that the former TV anchor is an obstacle to her performance

http://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/bashar-al-assads-influences-include-many-leading-ladies-417576

ground zero

The origins of the term ground zero began with the Manhattan Project and the bombing of Japan. The Strategic Bombing Survey of the atomic attacks, released in June 1946, used the term liberally, defining it as: “For convenience, the term ‘ground zero’ will be used to designate the point on the ground directly beneath the point of detonation, or ‘air zero.'”[4] William Laurence, an embedded reporter with the Manhattan Project, reported that “Zero” was “the code name given to the spot chosen for the atomic bomb test” in 1945

The term ground zero (sometimes also known as surface zero[1] as distinguished from zero point[2]) describes the point on the Earth’s surface closest to a detonation. (…) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_zero

I think the Turkish public opinion is ready to follow Erdogan in regard to Syria (excluding of course, the Alevi opposition party)

Iran is not doing Turkey a favor

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad adopted the stance of not taking the nuclear talks to Istanbul as if to punish Turkey on the subject of Syria. The person interfering with that policy was religious leader Khamenei’s. 

After that, Ahmadinejad demonstrated an attitude as if he had involuntarily carried the nuclear talks to Istanbul. To balance the harsh statements about Syria, they tried to give the impression that the gesture was being done for Ankara. 

…From Turkey’s point of view, the nuclear talks are important, but the situation in Syria is a higher priority. It does not bring any more prestige that these talks are held in Istanbul. On the contrary, it is generating an unnecessary risk. It does not serve Turkey’s purpose to be seen on the camp with an Iran that is dragging its feet. The Syrian front is gaining more significance. In short, Iran’s stance is making it lose.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/iran-is-not-doing-turkey-a-favor.aspx?pageID=449&nID=18393&NewsCatID=405

Despite the Ceasefire Agreement, Assassinations and Kidnappings Continue in Obama’s Syrian Destabilization Campaign

The last thing Hillary Clinton and her NATO co-conspirators want is to see a legitimate election take place in Syria in the next few weeks. It would make it nearly impossible for them afterward to claim the government of the country is illegitimate. So the endgame here is to make sure that election doesn’t take place and if it does, they need to make sure that it is as flawed as possible.

One way to do that is to make sure candidates back out of the election before it takes place due to fear of being killed for participating in it. As long as the media ignores the REASON they don’t participate, the regime change advocates like Clinton can then blame the Assad regime even though it is clearly her “activists” who are behind the killings and kidnappings.
[…]
After all, Tarek Mehanna was just sentenced to 17 years in prison in a Boston courtroom for “supporting al Qaeda” and all he did was translate some of their writings on his website and publicly ponder the idea that perhaps an indigenous population has the right to defend their country from an occupying force.

Is Mehanna’s “aid and comfort” all that more useful to al Qaeda than what the Obama administration just agreed to give them? That’s to say nothing of the paychecks the other “Friends of Syria” will be giving them.
[…]
Yet, Obama is disappointed that the Syrian army hasn’t withdrawn from several Syrian towns including Homs where the foreign terrorists have set up shop.

The citizens of Homs have stated that if the government forces pull out of the city leaving them to the mercy of the mercenaries, they too will pull out before they are slaughtered like the pro-government Libyans in the wake of our “democratic victory” in that country.

Imagine if Cuba had provided aid and support to a bunch of Canadians posing as U.S. army “defectors” and Putin had the gall to demand Obama pull his forces out of Michigan leaving it defenseless. This is exactly what is happening.
[…]
Imagine if Hugo were paying “activists” to kidnap and murder people like Ron Paul or Mitt Romney just prior to the upcoming election. This is exactly what is happening in Syria only it’s the U.S. and the precious Peace Prize President doing it rather than some “evil dictator” who stole his country back from our glorious corporations and banks.

http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2012/04/15/dispite-the-ceasefire-agreement-assassinations-and-kidnappings-continue-in-obamas-syrian-destabilization-campaign/

The last thing Hillary Clinton and her NATO co-conspirators want is to see a legitimate election take place in Syria in the next few weeks…..
________________________________________________________________

LEGITIMATE!!!!! in Baathist Syria? Yeah I guess, as in Presidential decree released criminal Mohammad Nazir Khoudr runnning on slogan “Tartous First”

Syrian Kurds Unsure on Uprisings and Turkey’s Role – April 16, 2012

http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2012/04/16/syrian-kurds-unsure-on-uprisings-and-turkeys-role/

Last week, Kurdish opposition bloc has walked away from the SNC meeting in Istanbul, exposing deep and problematic rifts within the umbrella opposition group just days after the international leaders granted the body extra recognition after attempts to unify.

The move disappointed the Ankara officials.

Meanwhile, Godgas adds, “youth groups don’t side with the Syrian Free Army or the SNC. Some do with the Kurdish National Council and others prefer to maintain their relation with the youth revolutionary comities across the country; the latter been considered by those Kurdish youth groups as the only meaningful revolutionary movement”.

Like many Syrian groups, he adds, Kurds in Syria are reluctant to accept any foreign intervention from a neighboring country.

[…]

Prof. Landis in the news

Analysts warn of mission creep in buffer zone plan – 15 April 2012

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-277476-analysts-warn-of-mission-creep-in-buffer-zone-plan.html

As Ankara revisits the idea of a humanitarian zone in Syria amid worsening violence along the Syrian border, analysts warned this week that even a limited intervention may rapidly escalate, leading Turkey into unforeseen commitments and a prolonged military engagement.

“If the zone is kept small, maybe it won’t be seen as a major provocation. But it is hard to see how [Syria] would not regard it as a pretty serious infringement of sovereignty and feel forced to respond. Things could get out of hand very rapidly,” said David Hartwell, a Middle East Analyst at the defense think tank IHS Jane’s told Sunday’s Zaman on Thursday.

But Orhan and other analysts acknowledge that the “middle road” description of a humanitarian zone may not hold up in reality — whatever the justification for entering Syria, Damascus is most likely to interpret even a narrowly limited military mission as a declaration of war. “Syria is going to see this as war. Even if you try to limit the mission, it won’t happen without a major military confrontation,” says Orhan.

“It’s hard to imagine a situation where escalation doesn’t occur relatively rapidly,” says defense analyst Hartwell. “If the zone is small, perhaps 10 kilometers within Syrian territory, maybe Turkey can reason that it won’t be seen as a major provocation. … But ultimately Syria has to fight this — they would interpret the move as an invasion or a plot to undermine the state by creating a safe haven for the opposition inside Syria.”

Even if the Syrian military, which is bogged down by a 13 month-long civil conflict, decides not to confront a Turkish intervention, Hartwell says that “a long list of unknowns” could pull Turkey deeper into Syria’s widening conflict. Chief among these would be the temptation to expand operations and attack the Syrian camps of the separatist Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), which would likely take advantage of an intervention to attack Turkey’s military in Syria and step up attacks inside southwestern Turkey.

Hartwell also says the humanitarian situation could test the mandate. “What if the Turks establish a safe zone, but Syrian soldiers start killing refugees who are fleeing to the zone it is protecting? It would be hard for Turkey to stand by and refuse to expand its protection, and the mandate might grow very rapidly,” argues Hartwell.

“And what if Turkey does limit its mission to a protecting a small humanitarian zone,” asks Joshua Landis, a long-time Syria commentator and director of the University of Oklahoma’s Middle East Studies Department. “What will Turkey do if a million or more Syrian refugees arrive in the safe zone, and the conflict drags on for years? Intervening has tremendous costs; it means committing yourself for the long term,” he writes in correspondence to Sunday’s Zaman.

Such near inevitable complications, the Syria expert says, are reasons to believe Ankara will refrain from even the most limited military mission in the foreseeable future. “Should Ankara invade, it would not be able to extract itself from Syria until the Syrian regime was toppled, Alawite power destroyed, and a substitute government put in place. That is a very tall order,” writes Landis.

Defense analyst Hartwell shared similar views, saying that before it enters Syria, Ankara at the very least needs to recruit strong international partners and possess a clear set of priorities for intervention. As the outlook for the conflict continues to darken, both may prove harder than ever to find.

[…]

Are Turkey and NATO contemplating a military intervention against Syria ahead of the Chicago summit? – April 15, 2012

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=30328

India Endorses Sino-Russian Stance At Trilateral Moscow Meeting – 4/16/2012

India endorsed a communique that should please Moscow and Beijing.at a foreign ministers’ meeting in Moscow.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/154767

On both the issues of North Korea and Iran, they asserted that a solution had to be reached via peaceful means without outside interference, and in accordance with UN principles (meaning without resort to force of arms).

This was true also in the case of Syria, where Syrian sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity had to be respected and violence had to be renounced by all sides and not just by the Syrian government.

The 3 countries called for shifting economic governance from the G8 to the G 20, as this would ensure a more equitable distribution of voting power between developed and developing countries. Russia is expected to assume the leadership of the G 20 in 2013.

Aside from the communique, India also pleased Russia and China by declaring its readiness for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, even though full membership for India will probably be balanced by full membership for Pakistan.

This organization is dominated by China and Russia. Some strategists view it as a counterweight to NATO and a land bridge between Europe and the Pacific via Central Asia.

[…]

Re: Joshua Landis’ contention about complications of a perceived Turkish intervention.

I read this blog often but I do not comment as I am not interested. This time I found Hartwell’s and Landis’ contentions about perceived complications of a possible Turkish intervention in Syria preposterous, particularly because such contentions are expressed under the guise of supposed punditry of Syria and the region.

I am sorry Dr. Landis and also Mr. Hartwell. You are both wrong and I believe that you both know that you are wrong. I can even contend that the only reason that you two are putting forward such contentions is nothing but an attempt to pre-empt such possibility of a Turkish incursion into Syria under the guise of so-called punditry as I said already.

Here’s what you two have overlooked. The moment the Turkish army steps into Syrian territory a domino effect will take place within the Syrian military establishment. Within less than a week 90% of Syria’s military will defect to the Turkish side. Only the Alawite battalions MAY be left in the battlefield and many may also defect. I foresee a Turkish takeover of Aleppo that will be a walkover with no resistance whatsoever. A chain reaction will then be unleashed resulting in total collapse of the Syrian military by switching sides. In addition, huge popular demonstrations will engulf major cities and the regime will have to withdraw to the mountains hoping to find loyal support.

In this case, Dr. Landis and Mr. Hartwell, the only challenge confronting Turkey in case it intervenes will be to manage the defecting Syrian Army. In fact, Turkish intervention may be the answer to bypass the stalemate gripping the Security Council.

Thank you. And I will not contribute further.

This is a very very very unusual program coming from Aljazeera talking about the fake rebel propaganda and the bias of the western journalists and TV channels in their coverage of Syrian crisis, I wonder why?

Navigating Syria’s slippery narratives

“The authenticity of this footage cannot be independently verified.” This has become the familiar caveat used to frame news reports on Syria. Until recently, those shaky images filmed by activists on the ground have provided the foreign media, themselves unable to get into the country, with the raw material they need to build their story.

But as the violence intensifies, so too does the Western media’s scepticism about who and how much to trust, with activists accused of tailoring material to suit their own political agendas. In this week’s News Divide: social media in Syria under the spotlight.

Quick hits from media world: the phone hacking scandal that has hit Rupert Murdoch’s British print arm spreads to another part of his empire; the battle between al-Shabaab and the Somali government claims the life of yet another journalist: the fourth this year; a Greek journalist is hospitalised after a policeman attacks him while he covers protests against government cuts; and US network NBC gets into trouble for its coverage of the Trayvon Martin story.

Ali Ferzat is one of the best-known cartoonists in the Arab world. Born and raised in Syria, he built his career caricaturing the political elite. In 2000, during a period of relative freedom of the press, Ferzat launched the satirical magazine al-Domari (The Lampalighter), the first independent publication in Syria since 1963. But Ferzat’s references to Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, always remained within the realms of the allegorical.

Until last year that is, when he broke the law that prohibits caricatures of the country’s leader. But in August 2011, Ferzat was kidnapped by Syrian security forces. He was later found on the roadside, head bleeding, hands broken: images which spread online, gaining global attention and artists’ solidarity. In the second half of the show, we sit down with Ali Ferzat.
{…}

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2012/04/2012413143613618722.html

To Ann post 81:

According to the Zaman newspaper, Prime Minister Erdoğan also warned: “Turkey has a unique attitude; history is evidence of this. Turkey will at least take the position other countries would take in a similar situation. Syria should put itself in order. If Syria continues its violence, then, Syria should be ready to pay the consequences of this violence”

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=30328

Erdoğan is right! “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it ”Safar Barlik and the Arminian genocide are evidence of the ruthlessness of the Ottoman Empire. Say no more Erdoğan!

83. Visitor said:

“..Thank you. And I will not contribute further…””

______________________________________________________

You welcome. And please keep your promise not to contribute further. Leave this for the experts.

$15-20 per gallon at the pump (if you can find it) and Bio-Chem survival rate and side effects on Arabs and Turkmen alike, are just few reasons for not pulling stupid dog tricks on Syria. Iran and Russia support for prolonged insurgency could drain Turkey and Arabia out of cash in couple of years. That is probably what are people like you hiding as “VISITOR” booting for as an end-game plan or target-goal.

Tara

thank you for posting sherazads work, i think if there is some justice in this world Asmaa will go from semper aparatus( always ready) into semper in metu .( always in fear)

86. Syrian Nationalist Party said:
“……”

If Iran and Assad try to play dog tricks on Arabs and Turkmen, they will merely have to finish the unfinished work left by Sultan Abdul Hamid II and Mouawiya ibn Abi Sufyan.

86. Syrian Nationalist Party said: “……..”

If Safavids and Russia try any “insurgency” on Arabs and Turkmen, they will merely have to finish the unfinished work of Sultan Abdul Hamid II and Caliph Mouawiya to snuff out the substance of the “insurgency”

SANDRO,

Why do you think Raqqah is not joining the revolt in large numbers ?

MAWALI 95,

Since you are an expert on searching for analyzing various revolts, can you do this job for me :

Can you find me one video each of pro-regime rallies in the towns of Kubaybat and al-Saan in Hama Governorate ?

Syria War 2012

mock up of the regimes PR

tara this song I found for our dear Batta

In reply to Post # 83:

Your joking, right?! you seriously believe the Syrian Army will “defect” to the Turkish side in the event of an ill-conceived intervention. Sorry my friend the real world does not work like that, if with all the media and political pressure put on Syria today we have not seen unit level defections, it will not happen with a Turkish invasion. Even the Iraqi Army did not “defect” in either war, they either dissolved or they fought and died where they were (more of the former). Your confidence is misplaced and I certainly hope your views are not what is being discussed among the Turks.

Simply put, if the Turks go in, they have to be willing to invade all the way to Damascus and they have to be willing to stay there until the SNC gets its act together and they have to be willing to fight an expanded PKK campaign as well as a Syrian insurgency. or at least to consider both possibilities before going in. I don’t think Mr Erdogan is as stupid as Mr. GW Bush, not to at least consider what will happen after such a dramatic and dangerous step.

Turkey would be wise to try to take advantage of the situation to improve its influence, but not at the expense of its economy, no matter how much the GCC is willing to pay.

Somehow I don’t think this is on the cards, your thinking is clearly limited to dreams.

I think you need to contribute more – not less, your ideas need more work and fine tuning.

There is a facebook webcampaign to influence the shipowner and the chartercompany to reveal the truth of the vessels freight and its destination.

You can send an email to these two addresses:

info@webo-ship.de (Shipping company Bockstiegel, Emden)
chartering@ceg-bulk.de (C.E.G. Bulk Chartering GmbH, Hamburg)

This could be the text of such an plea:

Dear Mr. Lüddeke,
Dear Mr Bockstiegel,
dear whom it may concern,

with great dismay and disappointment, we have been following the events of the cargo ship “Atlantic cruiser.”

We encourage you to explain to the public why the cargo ship with the destination port of Tartous was loaded with weapons from Iran, but was disguised as a supply of pumps and spare parts. After it became public the destination port changed suddenly (Iskenderun) and then for about 24 hours, the detection signals were shut down. The shutdown of the transponder can be done by boat owner only , and it is a very rare event in the shipping industry, unfortunately, it gives the most negative speculations some credibility.

There are obligations for shipowners to investigate these events and to publicly express their opinion. If the weapons were delivered in the meantime to the port of Tartous to the Syrian regime, you are complicit in the killing of the Syrian people and have also violated the arms embargo.

Be assured that we will not rest longer before we have an answer.

Tara #65
Twisting comments is not answering comments.
I didn’t say I don’t shed a tear on the dead. I say I don’t shed a tear on the violent protestors of these areas (see the video called “a letter from ma’arrat al Nu’man to the president” posted last year in April 2011 on a Thursday, to give the tone of what was expected in the demos), if their dream (sold by Gulf TVs) does not concretize.
The secular Syrian system have achieved one thing: a better equality of women (even though this is still not true is the areas mainly Beduin, such as Deir al Zur).
The fact there are some extremists in Homs and Edleb I know by experience: a Syrian deacon from Aleppo was once telling me that Edleb is the only city where he cannot go around in his black dress.
As for Homs, i personally know in France people who got their jobs and visa through their Salafis connections and are from Homs.

tara, in a democray, everybody has the right to have a view on a issue. Be it the Ethiopian maid, the tourist, or the foreign wife.
Many in the Middle East still need to learn and accept that, even among the US expats.

The humor dies at last:

Dear UN observers! Why did you come? In order to ensure that no ketchup, but blood flows?

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=265658256859719&set=a.118419314916948.23580.100002466401660&type=1&theater

92. JUERGEN
There is a facebook webcampaign to influence the shipowner and the chartercompany to reveal the truth of the vessels freight and its destination.

I am not surprised by your unilaterality!give more panoramic of a searchlight we will direct! dig in the German-Israeli suitcase! there is a lot of interesting to readers!

92. JUERGEN
be exact when you speak about embargo against Syria! also specify that this Western embargo which didn’t oblige another! also there is the Iranian embargo against some countries of EU ! Russia can make embargo then Berlin will precisely freeze 🙂 !”

88. ANTOINE,

Raqqa is not a large city, you can find most of the population in Raqqa region widespread around main road linking Aleppo and Deir. So there is not a large urban centre that eases anonymous masive popular demostrations.

Also should we consider the fact that Raqqa is the only city in Al Jazeera Region where a considerable minority of shias live. Lately a very large persian style brand new mosque was built near Bagdad Door.

Also we could consider the fact that specially in the area between Al Bab – Menbij – Raqqa most young men and young fathers are working in Gulf countries, Jordan and Lebanon which leaves most inhabitants being children, women, and old people.

Tuk Tuk ! Salute Jad ! weher are you ?

Sandro

Isnt the fact that the Assad dam is there justify the regimes need of loyal residents? Whenever i visited the dam it seemed like everyone who lived there was with the government.

Hajji Juergen:

please do not translate, you are butchering the real text.

the text in the link you posted says:

عزيزي العالم

إنو المراقبين مشان شو
مشان تتأكد إنو إلى عم تشوفو
دم مو كتشب مثلاً…!!!؟؟؟

أحرار طيبة الامام.

It translates to:

My Dear the World

Why the observers?

So they/you make sure that what they/You see is blood and not ketchup for example…!!!???

The free ones from Taybbat al-Imam

Note: “They/You”: means you could uses either and the translation would be considered accurate. To be more exact: the verb تتأكد (translated to:”make sure”) could mean: the world needs to make sure, or the observers need to make sure.

Thank you Muallim Mjabali!

95. Juergen

Of course most villagers of Tabqa City are state workers so it makes more difficult to oppose the regime. I do not think it is the strategical importance of the Dam in itself but one or some of the factor I metioned before. I think the most important point is the lack of a urban centre as well as the lack of a rural recently urbanized class.

Most people from Raqqa area who fled the area after the agriculture crisis (2006-2011) drove to Aleppo suburbs and Damascus perimeter but not to Raqqa city. Some of them even took their khaimas with them.

Once again the Syrian news on Russia Today are number four or five and they are talking about internal opposition coming to talk. They can talk all they want, it is the ordinary Syrians that will call the shots. They want an end to violence to despotism to corruption and to lies.

Let the people decide their fate. No one should claim to have a monopoly on the right to govern or to decide what fate Syrians want for themselves.

Someone posted here that they are with the regime because the alternative is worse be it Salafist Pro West Anti this or Pro that. This is besides the point. We need the PEOPLE to decide what they want.

Baath MB Leftists Rightists Communists Opportunists move over the people want to rule themselves.

Reading the following books these last two weeks was inspiring and illuminating

I hope that many of you order it. I would recommend that it be bought on iTunes and downloaded on the iPad of the people in power.

The Invisible Arab by Marwan Bishara
and
Why Nations Fail; forgot the authors names.

The slogan
The Rats of Libya Salute the Germs of Syria

Bronco,
It’s a bit confusing what’s going on, Is the ottomans backing off now, realizing that Annan won or just another game?

غول: لضرورة إلقاء السلاح ووقف إطلاق النار في سوريا تنفيذا لخطة أنان

أكد الرئيس التركي عبد الله غول أن “تركيا تعتبر خطة مبعوث الأمم المتحدة والجامعة العربية إلى سوريا كوفي أنان تمثل الفرصة الأخيرة لدمشق، مجدداً التشديد على ضرورة تنفيذها”.

ونقلت وكالة أنباء “الأناضول” التركية عن غول تشديده على ضرورة إلقاء السلاح، وضمان وقف إطلاق النار، وعلى من يريد التعبير عن آرائه بسلام القيام بذلك بحريّة”.

وأضاف “إن ضمان مثل هذا الجو، وإجراء انتخابات عادلة تحت رعاية المجتمع الدولي، ستمكن من حل المشكلة من دون المزيد من
سفك الدماء ومن دون تأزيم الوضع أكثر في سوريا

http://www.elnashra.com/news/show/462835/غول-لضرورة-إلقا-السلاح-ووقف-إطلاق-النار-سوريا-تنفي

Mjabali

From the previous thread.

I agree. I think Sunnis and Alawis need to do more in term of coexistence in the future. I would like to see influential enlightened Sunni sheikhs in Syria discuss Ibn Taimieh “edict” and put it into it’s historical perspective and considered it void and null. This is what Hafiz and son should have worked on over the last 40 years, rather than behaving like Sunnis wanna be while constructing Alawi based sheild. Just marrying Sunni women won’t do it. And if invalidating iIbn Taymieh fatwa causes an uproar by demented sheiks across the universe, so be it. They will first reject it then will eventually conform to it. Syria is a unique country and Syrians should have unique approach living with each other. Differences should be celebrated instead of suppressed and this need to be introduced into childhood education.

fsa ‘angels’ killed 2 kids and continue with their attacks:

اعتداءات إرهابية بالجملة في حماه و حمص.. واستشهاد طفلين في حي الزهراء

قال مراسل شوكوماكو في حمص أن “طفلين من آل عليان استشهدا في حي الزهراء في قصف بقذائف الهاون من الجماعات المسلحة، وأصيب 11 آخرين، بين المصابين 3 أطفال أحدهم عمره سنة ونصف”، ولفت المراسل إلى سقوط عدد كبير من قذائف الهاون على “أحياء كرم اللوز وعكرمة والخضر والسبيل والعباسية، وقتصرت الأضرار على الماديات، فيما أصيب مواطنين برصاص قناص في حي الزهراء”.

وفي سياق متصل اختطفت جماعة مسلحة باص تابع لمعمل البطانيات وبداخله 4 عمال قرب قرية العامرية، واختطف العمال لبضعة ساعات وأفرج عنهم قبل نصف ساعة من الآن، والعمال بحالة صحية جيدة، فيما اقتيد الباص لجهة مجهولة.

وفتح المسلحون في قرية العامرية النار على المارة والسيارات، ما أسفر عن إصابة سائق بجروح، علماً أنه تكرر قطع هذا الطريق من قبل المسلحين لعدة مرات خلال اليومين الماضيين.

فيما تدور اشتباكات عنيفة واعتداءات بالجملة على جواجز حفظ النظام في الحميدية وباب هود وباب السباع والقرابيص وباب تدمر والقصور، ما أدى لإصابة سبعة عناصر من حفظ النظام حتى هذه اللحظة.

واعتدت جماعات مسلحة على حاجز لحفظ النظام في البياضة بمختلف أنواع الأسلحة الرشاشة والقذائف الصاروخية، ما أدى لاستشهاد عنصر من حفظ النظام و إصابة ثمانية آخرين.

وفي وادي السايح هاجمت جماعة مسلحة حاجز حفظ النظام، ما أدى لاستشهاد عنصر وإصابة آخر، واستشهد عنصر وأصيب عنصرين آخرين في منطقة السلطانية في اعتداء على حواجز حفظ النظام.

وحتى الآن تنتشر الجماعات المسلحة بشكل كثيف في قرى آبل والمباركية ومزارعهما.

أما في محافظة حماه، قال مراسل شوكوماكو أن المدينة عاشت ليلة أمس “أحداث متوترة جداً”، سجل فيها العديد من الخروقات لبنود الهدنة، حيث هاجمت جماعة مسلحة حواجز حفظ النظام على طريق حلب وبالقرب من مدرسة ناصح علواني ومن النصب التذكاري وحاجز البحرة.

وأضاف”وحصلت اشتباكات عنيفة أدت لمقتل عدد من المسلحين وإلقاء القبض على آخرين ومصادرة مابحوزتهم من معدات اتصال متطورة وسلاح وذخيرة”.

وفي سياق متصل “فتح مسلحون نيرانهم بالقرب من مشفى الحوراني ودوار بلال، وأطلقت جماعة مسلحة النار بكثافة من داخل أحد الأحياء الشعبية في محيط جنوب الملعب باتجاه عناصر حفظ النظام دون وقوع اية إصابة تذكر بين العناصر”.

فيما أكد المراسل أن “حي الشيخ عنبر شهد الاشتباكات الأعنف من نوعها إثر مهاجمة جماعات مسلحة كبيرة العدد لأحد حواجز حفظ النظام من عدة محاور أبرزها “الجلاء، نزلة السوق، مدرسة المرأة العربية”، مستخدمين كافة أنواع الأسلحة الرشاشة والقذائف الصاروخية وسيارات الدفع الرباعي، وبعد أن هدأ الاشتباكات لفترة وجيزة، عاودت الجماعة مهاجمة الحاجز بإطلاق قذيفتي “آر بي جي”، دون إصابة الحاجز، وهرب أفراد المجموعة مطلقين النار بكثافة أثناء هروبهم”.

لافتا إلى أن المدينة تعيش اليوم هدوء حذراً وتكاد تكون الحركة معدومة نسبياً في عدد من الأحياء.
http://www.shukumaku.com/Content.php?id=45143

The lies of the armed terrorists in Syria continues.
They claimed that the Syrian Army is destroying building in Rastan when the reality is that they did the destruction and bombing themselves:

الدمار الكبير في مدينة الرستن الله اكبر اغيثونا
http://youtu.be/j25wjYH62j0

“مازال مسلسل الكذب والفجور الذي يتحفنا به ما يسمى بالجحيش الكر ومراسليهم ومصوريهم مستمر لغاية الان في محاولة تصوير ان الجيش السوري قد خرق الهدنة داعيا لدخول قوات دولية لاحتلال سوريا …. ومهما حاولت هذه القذارة تلفيق الفيدوهات الكاذبة المعتادة الا ان الله فضحهم بلسانهم وبصورتهم وبافعالهم
الا تخجلون ايها الماكرون من انفسكم عندما سيألكم رب العباد عن افعالكم في حياتكم الدنيا؟؟؟
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ
صدق الله العظيم اتحاد القنوات السورية على اليوتيوب”

Even Schools are on their list of destruction, who do that to school but terrorists and illiterate ignorant:
حمص -حتى المدارس لم تسلم من ارهابهم
http://youtu.be/gDVbjHtXHYg

#74 Tara

Sorry, I don’t sneak in anybody’s emails. What people want to show in public and what they show in private is the essence of diplomacy.
Publishing the private emails of Hillary, Ghalioun or Basma Qodmani could be more devastating that Asma’s.
Tabloids and small talk about people just do not interest me.

Is Iran’s warning a token reminder to the GCC about Iran’s military supremacy in the region?

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/iran-warns-gulf-states-not-to-complicate-islands-row/articleshow/12691074.cms

TEHRAN: Tehran on Monday warned Arab states in the Gulf that things could become “very complicated” if they do not act cautiously over a simmering islands dispute between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi made the declaration to Iran’s ISNA news agency on the eve of talks in Doha between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states over three tiny islands in the Gulf and claimed by both Iran and the UAE.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad infuriated the UAE by visiting one of them, Abu Musa, on April 11 and asserting in a speech that historical records proved “the Persian Gulf is Persian,” as state media called his trip a purely “domestic issue.”

Abu Dhabi recalled its ambassador to Tehran and lodged a protest to the United Nations over the visit, stressing that the decades-old territorial dispute should be resolved in negotiations or at the International Court of Justice.

On Monday, it also summoned Iran’s ambassador in Abu Dhabi to complain.
(..)

(Reuters) – A handful of soldiers in blue caps put a tentative United Nations presence at the heart of the Syrian crisis on Monday, predicting success for their mission to stabilize a shaky four-day-old ceasefire even as shells continued to fall.

Charged with overseeing an end to 13 months of violence, the unarmed multinational squad of six professed their optimism.

“We are going to organize ourselves in order to be ready to do our task as soon as possible,” the leader of the advance guard, Colonel Ahmed Himmiche of Morocco, told reporters at a Damascus hotel before meeting Syrian officials in the capital.

“All peacekeepers are optimistic,” he added when asked if he was hopeful an observer mission that will be expanded to 250 could cement a truce marked by persistent, sporadic violence.
..
The advance mission will “try to make concrete proposals by the 18th of April for an official observer mission”, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told U.N. radio in Geneva.
…
Saturday’s Security Council resolution condemned the “widespread violations of human rights by the Syrian authorities, as well as any human rights abuses by armed groups”.

The text included a vague warning to Damascus, saying the council would “assess the implementation of this resolution and to consider further steps as appropriate”.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/16/us-syria-idUSBRE83E0KP20120416

Syrian media is unreliable and deceptive. Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem, a.k.a. Mou3allek, was burned by the mukhabarati press using videos from other countries to bolster the regime’s argument that it’s facing armed terrorist groups. Now Bashar Al Jaafari suffered the same fate, citing the confessions of Saria Hassoun’s killers which aired recently on Syrian TV as an example of the violence the country is experiencing.

Of course the mukhabarat already had a confession for the crime that aired in December.

http://youtu.be/sEhvn3TPSXQ

So who killed Saria? And more than ten thousand other Syrians? (It was Hamad and Bandar…)

After killing Ali Shaaban, the regime is doing all it can to claim him as their martyr. As with Saria and all the other victims of murder since March 18, 2011, the Syrian government doesn’t have to investigate the crime before making up stories or parading “confessions” for its corrupt media. Al Jadeed channel is having none of it and is calling Syria out using Addunya production tactics.

http://youtu.be/wenOtgQJh1s

This is the Syria that the pro-Assad crowd wants: a government that kills friends and foes, and covers up its crimes, all for the sake of stability and avoiding the “unknown.” Most Syrians reject that and deserve better, even men7ebaks, and the revolution’s aim is to achieve that freedom.

Ottomans haven’t been in power since 1922.

Another resignation from Aljazeera because of its propaganda campaign against Syria:
AlJazeera Producer Resigns Over Syria
http://youtu.be/IgajGl1zZHE

Interesting interview with Assange:
Assange: I’ll be called a traitor, interviewing radicals
http://rt.com/news/rt-assange-show-wikileaks-125/

We already knew that ksa and israel are best friends:

For Saudi Arabia, Israel is turning from foe to friend
Dialogue between Riyadh and Jeursalem will help both countries and promote a diplomatic agreement in the region.

Saudi Defense Minister, Prince Salman, was the guest last week of his American counterpart Leon Panetta and, in an unusual step, was also hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama. On the agenda: Iran and the unrest in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia’s neighbor and the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, the American naval power in the Persian Gulf.

The number 3 man in the Saudi ruling house could soon move to the top. He is young and healthy – everything is relative – compared to his half-brother, King Abdullah, 89, and Crown Prince Nayef, 79. The Americans have been working hard for many years to foster ties with the Saudi security forces. The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, headed from 2001 to 2003 a delegation of advisors to the Saudi National Guard.

A thin veneer of stability purchased with oil money covers a well that threatens to swallow a thousand wealthy princes. In a population of 27 million people, 5.5 million do not have Saudi citizenship. The unemployment rate among young people in the kingdom is 30 percent and the literacy rate is only 80 percent.
{…}
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/for-saudi-arabia-israel-is-turning-from-foe-to-friend-1.424278

#100 Jad

As I mentioned before, Turkey’s priorities seem to have changed. They have realized that they have been too hasty in thinking that Bashar’ power will be crushed by massive defections or by an UN lead military operation.

They admit it was premature to open Turkey to the FSA defectors, to nurture the SNC and to welcome so warmly the refugees. It was part of their bad calculations that it would be for a short time.

Unfortunately, it is lasting and they see no end to it. The Turks are overwhelmed with refugees, stuck with armed gangs that are so uncontrollable that they could create a casus belli with Syria and the SNC is a disaster.

Qatar and KSA’s promises of providing funds have not been taken seriously as they will make Turkey’s dependent on unreliable partners. For Turkey, the only serious partners are the USA and the EU, no one else and these are not supporting the warmongering stances of the GCC.

The Turks have realized they are isolated and cornered so they want to reverse that as quickly as possible, even at the cost of swallowing their pride and accepting Bashar for one or two more years in power.

The Annan plan could be the way to reestablish security near the borders so all the 25,000 refugees can go back home and the FSA could quietly be dismembered. Trading could restart.

Annan is already pressuring the Syrian government to make official calls for refugees to come back and we have seen such calls in the Syrian press. In exchange Turkey is quietly collaborating with the plan by restraining even further the FSA and the movements of weapons to Syria.

Overall, Turkey, who has much to loose if the plan fails, is now actively working to give it the higher chance to succeed.

If it fails, despite their efforts, then they’ll need to reassess their position.

News on the german vessel currently in Turkish waters, here is a press release by the shipping company.

http://www.reederei-bockstiegel.de/

99. Observer said:
Baath MB Leftists Rightists Communists Opportunists move over the people want to rule themselves.

Reading the following books
The Invisible Arab by Marwan Bishara
and
Why Nations Fail; forgot the authors names
======================
Ok Observer/all the above ideologies has been a major failure.
you say:”move over the people want to rule themselves.”
how? the western way?all the third world countries are under the thumb of the New World Order-Globalization,pressing question?

tell us how your goldfish gonna compete in this world,s most infested shark waters?any information?

are you counting on the religious establishment,to direct your path haphazardly with their flimsy “gyroscope”?

1-Why Nations Fail?ask the somalis,they know…ask the sudanese,why their country DISINTEGRATED into north and south?

2-The Invisible Arab?since when the arabs has been visible on the world map?

take their oil away,you end up with ZIFT.

Marwan Bishara&brother Azmi are third rate Elitists(….)

ask them,why Zionism prevailed and Arabism failed?
tell them Sykes-Picot& Balfour are already dead and Israel is alive!!

here is a slogan for you all:
‘Out of the frying pan,into the fire’

The FSA denial of executions and sectarian killings is as surreal as Goebbels talking about Katyn.