Should the US Intervene? And Listener Responses – Positive and Negative

This hour, On Point: NPR – the U.S. and the red line. Should the US intervene?
Guests

Watch U.S. Must Weigh Risks of Involvement in Syria on PBS with Murhaf Jouejati and Joshua Landis. See more from PBS NewsHour.

How do the risks and interests of the United States intervening in the Syrian conflict balance with the risk of doing nothing? For two perspectives, Judy Woodruff talks with Murhaf Jouejati and Joshua Landis

Responses from Listeners

Positive

________________________________________

From: Brent Bruser
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 7:09 AM
To: Landis, Joshua M.
Subject: News Hour of 4/29/13
Dr Landis

I wish to thank you and applaud your brilliant, logical engagement in last night’s discussion concerning the USA’s role in Syria. It is hard for me to understand and accept the rising rhetoric for escalating  our involvement. Your observations were right on and should give all Americans pause. Our President needs support to show restraint. I do not understand the media’s role in the conversation and their apparent willingness to help march us into another terrible, terrible situation, even war.
Thank you!!!!!!!!

From: G.B. Smith
To: landia@ou.edu
Sent: Mon, April 29, 2013 6:22:47 PM
Subject: Comments on PBS 4/29/13
 
Thank you very much for your progressive, correct and bold comments on the Syrian civil war made on PBS Monday evening. Your insight is more than anything I would have expected from a fellow Oklahoman; a breath of fresh air seldom felt in our reddest of red states. Keep the faith and the rightness of your thinking.
Don Speicher, Pawnee, Oklahoma
 
From: Msheedy007@aol.com
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2013 9:40 PM
To: Landis, Joshua M.
Subject: NewsHour
 
Another great job on the NewsHour.  Thank God somebody is standing up to these Charge Card Imperialists like McCain and Graham who are insisting in getting us bogged down in another hopeless and stunningly expensive civil war in the Middle East. I thought it was apropros that after your segment, the lead story on the NewHours News Summary was the 5 car bombs in Iraq that left dozens dead.  Probably 2 Trillion in real dollars pissed away on that insane war and what did we get – 5,000 dead Americans, tens of thousands terribly wounded, 100,000+ dead Iraqis, 2 million displaced Iraqis, the Muslim world infuriated at us, our allies alienated and Iran sitting in the catbird seat.  Totally predictable and totally self destructive.  MJS

From: Christopher Brauchli [brauchli.56@post.harvard.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 10:45 AM
To: Landis, Joshua M.
Subject: Thanks

Hi Joshua:  As someone who grew up in Oklahoma City but left in 1952 after high school it’s refreshing to occasionally hear a voice of reason from that state. …Your comments on the News Hour were refreshing.  Some day perhaps we’ll quit thinking we can control what goes on all over the world.  Chris Brauchli

From: Barry Gardner
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 7:40 AM
To: Landis, Joshua M.
Subject: Nice job on the NewsHour

Thanks for your comments on the PBS NewsHour. You made so much sense. ….

From: Molly O’Neal [oneal@american.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 7:53 AM
To: Landis, Joshua M.
Subject: Good and timely points

Dear Prof Landis,

In the midst of a fever rising here to choose military means to fix another middle eastern crisis, I was so happy to hear you on PBS last night explain why this is a bad idea.
Also I was happy to hear you explain that the war is not between the syrian people and the regime but rather among two large camps of syrian people, one of which loyal to the regime and the other in revolt.

Also your point that with lots of men, money and effort, we have not fixed either Iraq or Afghanistan is a telling one…

 

From: James Becraft
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2013 9:15 PM
To: Landis, Joshua M.
Subject: News Hour Tonight
Josh,

Absolutely right you are. Hold the line. I like the vigor of your response.

US entering this would be a great big mistake.
I’m not sure what to do, but the complexities Syro-Lebanon are far too great to really win. Iraq and Afghanistan have shown the ineptitude of the US.

Negative

@newshouromg Joshua is advocating genocide

— rami kamal (@ke2233) April 30, 2013

 

.@joshua_landis infuriates me, as always. Solid argument posed by @mjouejati in response. #Syria #US @pbs @newshour youtube.com/watch?v=0zYjvr…

— Sumayya (@Sumayya92) April 30, 2013

 

@joshua_landis Sorry to tell you your knowledge is poor about syria.all what you said is incorrect.you need to go back to college to learn

— dr.Larry (@Larryj2121) April 29, 2013

Durry wrote: “While Joshua Landis was bringing Iraq and Afghanistan example repeatedly to remind the viewers of the high cost of the US involvement, I wish Murhaf Jouejati mentioned Libya’s example, that is the most likely scenario to what will happen in Syria. My dear freind Josh, your family affiliation has really clouded your objectivity in this conflict, I still respect you a lot, but I think you may need to leave the in-laws influence at home instead of bringing it on national TV.”

Bassel H. Atasi Your point of view is, sadly, very wrong, as professor Juijati said. That is a shame. You don’t have a good grasp on the reality of the situation in Syria, or Syrian history and culture. Syria and Afghanistan are 2 very different countries with different cultures and history.

You don’t have to look far to realize why @joshua_landis is a sectarian bigot.

— Tarik Al-Diery (@AlCazanova) April 30, 2013

The US has not been neutral in the Syrian revolution as @joshua_landis claiming , US allowed Russia complete control of situation

— اغين الزعبي (@agh_yan) April 30, 2013

From: Cool Iguana
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2013 8:14 PM
To: Landis, Joshua M.
Subject: Interview with PBS
 
Dear Josh,
Your interview was disappointing. You lacked credibility and kept repeating an “Iraq/Afghanistan” mantra that had nothing to do with Syria.
The longer it lasts, the longer the fallback.
At the end of the day, Syrians will die fighting Salafists the way they died fighting the Baathi dictatorship.
Jouiejati came across as the moderate he is. You came across as an apologist of the regime which you should not be.
Thank you.

News Round Up

In Poll, Public Opposes US Action in Syria and North Korea – NYTimes

Americans are exhibiting an isolationist streak, with majorities across party lines decidedly opposed to American intervention in North Korea or Syria right now as economic concerns continue to dwarf all other issues, according to the latest New York
   
       

WaSHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama cautioned against a rush to judgment on whether Syria used chemical weapons against its own people on Tuesday in a sign he is going to take a deliberate approach to a problem that could lead to U.S.

Links Between Alleged Chemical Attacks In Saraqeb, Idlib, and Sheikh Maghsoud, Aleppo – Brown Moses

Are Chemical Weapons A Game-Changer? – by Andrew Sullivan

U.S. Analysis of Syria’s Russian-Made Air Defenses
Wall Street Journal, April 28, 2013, —Adam Entous and Julian E. Barnes

WASHINGTON—Lawmakers pressed the Obama administration to intervene in Syria’s civil war, citing the regime’s alleged chemical-weapons use, as the White House weighed its response against a sobering fact: Damascus has developed a world class air-defense system.
That system, built, installed and maintained—largely in secret—by Russia’s military complex, presents a formidable deterrent as the White House draws up options for responding to a U.S. intelligence report released last week concluding that Damascus likely used chemical weapons on the battlefield.

Leading Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Sunday said they didn’t believe the U.S. should send American troops into Syria. They and the Obama administration are wary about U.S. involvement in another Middle East conflict after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But some called for a no-fly zone and more humanitarian aid.

Previously undisclosed details about Syria’s antiaircraft systems outline the evolution of one of the most advanced and concentrated barriers on the planet, developed to ward off U.S. and Israeli warplanes, say U.S. intelligence and defense officials. The Obama administration only sporadically intervened to try to stop its construction, the officials say.

In White House meetings about military options for Syria, Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, frequently singles out Mr. Assad’s air-defense prowess as the single biggest obstacle to U.S. intervention, according to current and former officials who participated in the briefings.

Advocates of military action believe the threat posed by Syria’s defenses is overstated by the Obama administration, in part to justify not taking action. Some have cited Israel’s successful bombing in January that targeted a suspected SA-17 antiaircraft missile shipment.
However, as Pentagon officials later learned, the Israeli planes never entered Syrian airspace.

Instead, the Israeli warplanes were flying over Lebanon when they executed what is called a “lofting” maneuver—using a sudden burst of speed and altitude to catapult a bomb across the border to the target about 10 miles inside Syria, according to a previously undisclosed U.S. account of the Israeli operation

.Israeli officials said the decision was made to bomb from nd tracked many of the upgraded systems during a period of rapid modernization after a 2007 Israeli airstrike on a suspected Syrian nuclear site. But the Americans rarely interfered, viewing Iran as the region’s larger threat and, under the Obama administration, initially pursuing improved ties with both Russia and Syria.

Obama administration officials say they raised their concerns with Moscow in their meetings even if they knew Russia was unlikely to respond.

Now, with evidence mounting that the Syrian regime has used at least small amounts of chemical weapons against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, the consequences of policy choices from a prior decade may limit the ability of the U.S. and its allies to respond today.
President Barack Obama has sethe relative safety of Lebanese airspace for diplomatic as well as security reasons. The Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment.

Gen. Dempsey has told the White House that stealth aircraft and ship-based, precision-guided missiles could destroy many Syrian air-defense sites relatively quickly. But he has warned policy makers that mobile launchers would be harder to find and destroy and that their location among population centers likely would mean civilian casualties.

Officials believe any operation would also be costly and dangerous to U.S. personnel.

On Sunday, Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.), a sharp critic of Mr. Obama’s Syria policy, didn’t discuss those risks in arguing that the U.S. should support a no-fly zone with unmanned aircraft to protect civilians and rebels. Other lawmakers called for more humanitarian aid. “We can get in and out. That’s not the issue,” said a senior U.S. official. “The issue is can you take out the entire air defense system and keep it down. That’s just completely a different kettle of fish.”

U.S. officials were aware of Russia’s involvement a

t the use of chemical weapons as a “red line” that could trigger U.S. military involvement. Reluctant to intervene, however, the White House has called for a deeper international investigation into evidence pointing to the likelihood that Syrian forces have gassed their opponents.

“We knew the Syrians were bolstering their air defense systems. We saw this as a Syrian effort to deter Israeli incursions,” said one of the senior U.S. officials who helped oversee those efforts during Mr. Obama’s first term. “But we [the U.S.] would pay attention to it sporadically. We had to pick and choose. The main focus was Iran.”

U.S. officials believe Russia’s goal in helping Mr. Assad was to deter the North Atlantic Treaty Organization from intervening in Syria as the alliance did in Libya in 2011 and in Serbia in 1998, operations Moscow opposed.

U.S. officials believe Russian technicians are on hand with many of the Syrian air-defense units, providing technical assistance. The Russians, many employees of Russian defense contractors, repair broken equipment with components imported from Russia, the officials said.

Officials at the Russian embassy in Washington said they don’t discuss military and technical cooperation with other countries. But Moscow has denied any special relationship with Mr. Assad, arguing that Russia is supporting the principle of nonintervention.
The first air-defense deals between Russia and Syria date back decades. But Russia in recent years has stepped up shipments to modernize Syria’s targeting systems and make the air defenses mobile, and therefore much more difficult for Israel—and the U.S.—to overcome.

The U.S. detected Mr. Assad was seeking major air defense expansions after a series of foreign incursions, including the 2007 Israeli bombing of a suspected nuclear site at al Kibar; the February 2008 assassination in Damascus of Imad Mugniyah, a high-ranking Hezbollah military commander; and a September 2008 car bombing that U.S. officials say targeted a Syrian military intelligence facility.
Embarrassed by Israel’s ease of access to his country, Mr. Assad plunged into an effort to procure batteries of Russian interceptors and early warning systems. He arrayed them in overlapping concentric circles in and around population centers.

According to an internal U.S. intelligence assessment, in August 2008, Russia began shipping SA-22 Pantsir-S1 units to Syria. The system, a combination surface-to-air missile and 30 mm antiaircraft gun, has a digital targeting system and is mounted on a combat vehicle, making it easy to move. Today, Syria has 36 of the vehicles, according to the U.S. assessment.

In 2009, the Russians started upgrading Syria’s outdated analog SA-3 surface-to-air missile systems, turning them into the SA-26 Pechora-2M system, which is mobile and digital, equipped with missiles with an operational range of 17 miles.

The U.S. is particularly worried about another modernized system provided by Moscow—the SA-5. With an operational range of 175 miles, SA-5 missiles could take out U.S. planes flying from Cyprus, a key NATO base that was used during Libya operations and would likely be vital in any Syrian operation.

Since March 2011, when the rebellion against Mr. Assad started, Russia has continued to support the air-defense system, providing key components and replacement parts, and sending technicians to test it, U.S. officials say.
Officials suspect one of the Pechoras shot down a Turkish reconnaissance plane last June, an incident closely studied by the U.S. and cited as evidence the system hasn’t been degraded by the conflict.

Last November, U.S. intelligence agencies learned that a flight from Russia to Syria was carrying components for the SA-17 Grizzly antiaircraft system, according to U.S. officials, who say resupply flights continue.

The Pentagon decided it could do little to stop the shipments, reflecting Washington’s shifting views of Damascus and a lack of U.S. influence with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“A major focus has been on offensive weapons, not defensive,” a senior Obama administration said of the U.S.’s approach under Mr. Obama toward arms transfers to Syria.

Defense officials worried that raising U.S.-Russian tensions over Syria could prompt Moscow to retaliate by making it harder for the U.S. to use needed air and ground routes though Russian territory to withdraw military supplies from Afghanistan.

Pentagon officials concluded it wasn’t realistic to try to block all sales of air-defense systems. Instead, they decided to target what officials called “game changers”—the systems that most threaten Israel and the U.S.

U.S. doubts on Syria lie in how sarin exposure occurred
By Paul Richter, Ken Dilanian and David S. Cloud, Los Angeles Times

Intelligence agencies are confident the poison gas was released but are less sure about whether Bashar Assad’s regime is responsible or even whether it was deliberate.

After weeks of skepticism about reports that chemical weapons had been used, the Obama administration announced Thursday that the agencies making up the intelligence community had concluded “with varying degrees of confidence” that the Syrian regime had used sarin on a “small scale.”

Before deciding on a response, the administration said, it wants definitive proof that the regime used the poison gas. It said it would work with the United Nations and allies such as France and Britain to find the answer.

Analysis: No good military options for U.S. in Syria
By Phil Stewart and Peter Apps,| Sat Apr 27, 2013

(Reuters) – Despite President Barack Obama’s pledge that Syria’s use of chemical weapons is a “game changer” for the United States, he is unlikely to turn to military options quickly and would want allies joining him in any intervention.

Possible military choices range from limited one-off missile strikes from ships – one of the less complicated scenarios – to bolder operations like carving out no-fly safe zones.

One of the most politically unpalatable possibilities envisions sending tens of thousands of U.S. forces to help secure Syrian chemical weapons…

“There’s a lot of analysis to be done before reaching any major decisions that would push U.S. policy more in the direction of military options,” a senior U.S. official told Reuters.

That caution is understandable, given the experience of Iraq ….

STRIKES, NO-FLY ZONE

One form of military intervention that could to some extent limit U.S. and allied involvement in Syria’s war would be one-off strikes on pro-Assad forces or infrastructure tied to chemical weapons use. Given Syria’s air defenses, planners may choose to fire missiles from ships at sea.

“The most proportional response (to limited chemical weapons use) would be a strike on the units responsible, whether artillery or airfields,” said Jeffrey White,…

Another option that the Pentagon has examined involves the creation, ostensibly in support of Turkey and Jordan, of humanitarian safe areas that would also be no-fly zones off limits to the Syrian air force – an option favored by lawmakers including Senator John McCain of Arizona.

This would involve taking down Syrian air defenses and destroying Syrian artillery from a certain distance beyond those zones, to protect them from incoming fire.

Advocates, including in Congress, say a safe zone inside Syria along the Turkish border, for example, would give needed space for rebels and allow the West to increase support for those anti-Assad forces it can vet.

Still, as officials, including Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, have warned, once established, a safe zone would tie the United States more closely to Syria’s messy conflict. Assad would almost certainly react.

“Once you set up a military no-fly zone or safe zone, you’re on a slippery slope, mission creep and before you know it, you have boots on the ground,” said Bruce Riedel, a former CIA analyst and Middle East expert at the Brookings Institution.

“Or you end up like Libya where you don’t really have a control mechanism for the end-game, should you end up with chaos.”

…. leaving weapons sites vulnerable to pillaging. The U.S. fears anti-Assad Islamist rebels affiliated to al Qaeda could grab the chemical weapons but a U.S. intervention into Syria to get the arms would require tens of thousands of American troops.

Asked if he was confident the U.S. military could secure Syria’s chemical weapons stock, Dempsey told Congress: “Not as I sit here today simply because they have been moving it and the number of sites is quite numerous.”…

The Economics of Civil War in Syria
Faysal Itani | April 18, 2013 – Atlantic Council

Without foreign military intervention or a substantial boost in military support for the rebels, the civil war in Syria will probably destroy its state and economy. This has spurred much discussion in policy circles about Syria’s postwar reconstruction and economic recovery, which could cost an estimated $80 billion. Much of it has rightly focused on reestablishing and strengthening trade, investment, and monetary stability. But focusing solely on key sectors and best practices of development neglects the role of wartime elites in postwar economies. Postwar reconstruction efforts that do not account for the economic logic of civil war and the interest groups it creates may well fail, and even lead to a resumption of fighting. Policymakers involved in building a new Syrian economy will therefore face fiendishly difficult choices.

Civil wars present unique challenges to rebuilding efforts, due to the destruction they inflict on state institutions and a country’s social fabric. Syria has already seen two years of fighting, and there is no indication of an end to the war. The collapse of government authority and services in much of the country has led to a proliferation of militias and the emergence of a war economy led by new elites. In addition to the current problems of inflation, soaring unemployment, a shortage of basic goods, and a weakening currency and financial system, economic reconstruction efforts will have to contend with troubling new realities: a vast informal economy and black market; the rise of militia leaders as business actors, rent-seekers and patronage distributors; unemployed fighters who will need to demobilize and rejoin civilian life; and rising sectarianism coloring many aspects of economic, political, and social life.

Lebanon faced many of the same challenges following the end of its own civil war (1975-1990). Fifteen years of fighting had essentially destroyed the state by the time a peace accord was signed, leading to near-total economic collapse. Significantly, the war began as a conflict between two broad political factions but, as in Syria, within a few years the number of factions and front lines multiplied exponentially. Rival militias carved out their geographic and economic spheres of influence, and many of their leaders grew exceedingly wealthy. Civil war took on an economic logic of its own.

Lebanon’s war was not fought over economic issues, but the deepening parochialism of the conflict and focus on war as a money-making enterprise certainly complicated peace efforts and postwar development. Something similar appears to be happening within the Syrian rebellion, with reports of looting by fighters. Some rebels treat private property in captured territory as spoils of war, and a mentality of plunder is taking root among militias (jihadist groups are reportedly more disciplined, but constitute a fraction of total fighters and, in any case, are not likely to play a significant role in post conflict development). Lebanon witnessed the same wartime phenomenon, and was only able to end its civil war and begin to recover economically by granting rival militia leaders a major stake in the postwar economy. This was seen as the only way to commit the civil war elites to peace and demobilization, and led to the emergence of postwar business elites closely connected to and sometimes overlapping with the political elite.

Syria’s dominance of postwar Lebanon allowed it to act as an arbiter and distributor of economic largesse to rival factions. Thus far, no one foreign actor appears ready to assume responsibility for postwar Syria. On the contrary, local militant groups fighting the same enemy (the regime) are backed by rival foreign powers, and increasingly fear and distrust one another. The absence of an overlord of sorts may complicate efforts to enforce a division of public services, jobs, and resources among militia members and supporters, and hinder economic recovery in general.

In addition to the rise of new elites from the ranks of militias, there is likely to be some continuity between pre and postwar power groups in Syria. This applies to the Sunni business class, which has been slow to turn against a regime that historically protected its commercial interests. Less obviously, it also applies to the Alawite elite: some analysts predict that a rebel victory would trigger an Alawite migration to a sectarian enclave in the northwest, leaving the cities and their lucrative economies to the Sunnis. This is one possibility of course, but not a very likely one. Elites, including or perhaps especially minority elites, seldom cede hard-won power and economic privileges easily. The Alawites share a vivid collective memory of their misery and crushing poverty in pre-Assad Syria. They will probably use any means to ensure they retain a stake in the postwar economy, in which they will almost certainly play some role. Whether this is a spoiler role—perhaps in the form of an insurgency—or a helpful one will depend on the postwar order’s ability to extend state patronage to Alawite groups….

Angry Arab interviews Thomas Pierret on Syria

…The only independent variable you need to understand the resilience of the Syrian regime is the kin-based and sectarian (Alawite) nature of its military. All other purported factors are in fact dependent variables. ….

Sectarianism is a powerful instrument to make sure that you can use the army’s full military might against the population. No military that is reasonably representative of the population could do what the Syrian army did over the last two years, i.e. destroying most of the country’s major cities, including large parts of the capital. You need a sectarian or ethnic divide that separates the core of the military from the target population. Algeria went through a nasty civil war in the 1990s, and Algerian generals are ruthless people, but I do not think that the Algerian military ever used heavy artillery against one of the country’s large cities. The fact that the best units in the Syrian military are largely manned with Alawite soldiers (in addition to members of some loyal Bedouin clans) has been key to explaining the level of violence we have seen over the last two years. Of course, the majority of Syrian soldiers are Sunnis, but it is striking that Asad did only use a minority of the army’s available units: according to some observers, only one third of the army was entrusted with combat missions since the start uprising. Seen from that angle, the purported “cohesion” of the Syrian army becomes much less puzzling: the risk of defections significantly decreases when two-third of the soldiers are in fact locked up in their barracks, or at least kept away from the battlefield.

Syrian Religious Leaders Commit to Establish
the Inter-religious Council of Syria—Religions for Peace
Istanbul, Turkey | 18-20 April 2013

A wide range of Syrian religious leaders convened in Istanbul to advance multi-religious cooperation for peace in Syria during a meeting, Syria for all Syrians. They committed themselves to the establishment of a Syrian Religions for Peace Council (RfP—Syria).
irst: Principles and Visions

A. That all religions renounce violence, corruption and the destruction of humanity and the environment. All religions advocate peace and love. All Syrians deserve to live a free, dignified and virtuous life.

B. Preserving the unity of Syria, land and people, is a national duty.

C. Syria is for all Syrians regardless of their affiliations. Syrians are united in citizenship regardless of their religion, creed, ethnicity, gender and regionalism.

D. Our commitment to moderation compels us to reject all kinds of violations, particularly those instigated by fanaticism and hatred.

E. Syria is a country of diversity. Cultural and civilizational diversity is the source of wealth for all.

F. Emphasize and nurture all commonalities in our religions that call for and nurture peaceful coexistence.

G. Valuating the role of Syrian women and actively calling to cease all forms of aggression and violence against them.

H. We condemn the crimes against the Syrian people, support the UN resolutions condemning this violence and reject all efforts to provoke sectarian violence.

The One-Man Show – By James Traub | Foreign Policy

Secretary of State John Kerry thinks he can singlehandedly solve the world’s most intractable problems. But will President Obama even let him try?

Is the opposition ready to rule?
By Nuha Shabaan and Michael Pizzi

SAS news: As the National Coalition prepares to establish a representative presence in Syrian territories controlled by the Free Syrian Army (FSA), opposition and independent voices alike are expressing doubts about the interim government’s ability to manage the tumultuous security situation, and in particular, guard against the regime’s aerial attacks….

Concerns about the FSA’s ability to protect the interim government were raised over the weekend as regime forces killed hundreds of people in Jdeidat al-Fadl and Artouz in Outer Damascus province. Some activists are beginning to question not only the interim government’s appraisal of the security situation in Syria, but also the strategic competence of the FSA.

“The FSA was very wrong to enter the city of Jdeidat al-Fadl,” says Ayham al-Dimasqhi, a computer engineer who is currently living in Damascus. He believes that the FSA’s apparent presence in these towns provoked the regime to attack and massacre residents, who were defenseless because FSA soldiers had actually retreated prior to the attack. “The FSA cannot protect itself,” al-Dimashqi argues, adding that this does not bode well for its ability to protect an interim government.

Echoing al-Homsi and Farzat, al-Dimashqi cites the regime’s air raids, which he believes to be a consequence of the international community’s indifference toward Syrians, as the FSA’s primary weakness against the Syrian army.

“The reason behind their failure is the air attacks,” al-Dimashqi said…..

Questions over FSA Damascus strategy after govt. operation in southern suburbs leaves hundreds dead

SAS news: Syria’s Local Coordination Councils issued an impassioned statement calling on the FSA to protect civilians Monday after a government assault over the weekend in Jdeidat al-Fadl and Artouz which left up to 566 dead in the southern approaches to the capital.

Syrian rebel coalition leader lobbies U.S. to help overthrow Assad

GHASSAN HITTO: We are certain that this regime has used chemical weapons against the Syrian people. GHASSAN HITTO: What we need from the US is surgical strikes of all the launching pads of Scud missiles. These locations are known to the intelligence community. That’s one. We need the establishment of a no-fly zone. We need safe passages to be established so we can deliver aid to the Syrian people more effectively and more regularly. Holly Williams

Former Mossad head Dagan: Israel should do whatever it can to bring down Syria’s Assad

Removing Assad from power, he added, will be highly beneficial for Israel from a strategic point of view, weakening Hezbollah and Iran in the process. Dagan said that Israel should not be too concerned about the potential animosity a new regime in Damascus, saying that Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries will do their utmost to ensure that the successor regime is moderate.

Former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi told the conference that Israel can attack Iran – and will also be able to withstand the consequences of such an attack. “We cannot allow this regime to have the bomb,” Ashkenazi said.

Obama’s Syria Dilemma
Damned if he does; damned if he doesn’t.
BY AARON DAVID MILLER | APRIL 26, 2013 – FP

….. a red line has indeed been crossed — not only in terms of Syria’s use of chemical weapons, but also in the slippery slide toward American military involvement. What Obama needs to decide is whether such military action is designed to deter the use of chemical weapons or topple the Assad regime by giving the rebels the advantages they’ve long sought — weapons, a no-fly zone, or direct U.S. military strikes against regime targets.

There’s a lot that’s murky about Syria right now, but one thing is clear. For America, a messy situation is about to get a whole lot messier.

Interview with Dr. Sadiq Jalal Al-Azm: The Syrian Revolution and the Role of the Intellectual
Translated by Nader Atassi and Ziad Dallal
January 10th 2013

Doctor Sadiq Jalal al-Azm (born in 1934 in Damascus) is one of the most important Syrian intellectuals of the 20th and 21st centuries…..

The revolution is a Syrian settling of old accounts and an overdue payment of bills that were the result of Syrian silence and cowardice.

The popular Intifada in Syria seeks restoration of the republic through the toppling of the old hereditary regime that is worn-out in all its institutions, and to establish an alternative system of governance

Yes, I fear political Islam, before and after the fall of the regime.

In our culture and society there exists ample elements of authoritarianism, criminality, paternalism and vendetta, that make the reformulation of a despotic regime, in one form or another, a likely and formidable possibility, which calls for extreme caution and utter vigilance.

Syria’s “Wretched of the Earth” are participating in a revolution against a government, a party, and an authoritarian financial-military junta, and against a “nationalist” leadership of divine eternality.

If the revolution brings us somehow to the ballot boxes, then I will be a satisfied citizen.

Among the characteristics of secularism and democracy is that they provide a neutral ground for the meeting of the various religious doctrines and beliefs that are exclusionary by nature, allowing them to interact in the public space, the national arena, and the political landscape.

Syrian media-activists and comedians joined to produce a full length cinema film in English language – to be screened on Torronto Wold Film Festival September 2013 – a black comedy:
 

Comments (409)


 

Visitor said:

The question that should be asked about this post, which follows sidekick Barber post, is not about the NPR interview. The question should be why is Dr. Landis showing the positive/negative responses following the interview?

Dr. Landis is stirring a controversy which he helps to create in order to muddy the issues. The objective is to focus on the controversy rather than the issues.

Landis was and is a closet supporter of genocidal maniacs.

* Landis is playing the same time buying game which the maniacs mastered and taught him how to play it (see below **)

But Landis is NOT an inherently bad person.

** (See above *) Landis is trying hard to please in-laws which he cannot abandon while torn apart by a receding morality.

It is a price one has to pay for consorting with … see above.

————————–

And while at it, please restore the site format to left justify. It looks UGLY with the center format.

April 30th, 2013, 4:16 pm

 

ghufran said:

I took the liberty of posting joshua’s interview last night, and I find that the negative response he received
from some readers was motivated by anger not logic. Joshua is right, Syria is in a civil war, and
the US should not put boots on the ground or attack the Syrian army because that will open the door for Nusra and other
terrorists to take over Syria, do not wait for the so-called FSA to be able,or even willing, to stop those terrorists.
Joshua gets two thumbs up from me for staying cool and making a solid argument, I am glad he changed his mind on the subject,
a lot of us did after realizing how dangerous Islamists and their allies are for the whole region and the world.

April 30th, 2013, 4:35 pm

 

ann said:

Dempsey: Syrian No-Fly Zone Wouldn’t Work – April 30, 2013

U.S. could easily defeat Syrian defenses, though outcome isn’t what lawmakers like John McCain would expect

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/04/30/dempsey-syrian-no-fly-zone-wouldnt-work

Syria’s air defenses can be defeated through direct military action, America’s top general said on Tuesday, though the outcome is unlikely to stabilize the Middle Eastern nation torn apart by more than two years of brutal civil war.

“Pilots are not going to fly into certain death. I don’t care how brave they are,” said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a former Navy pilot. “You shoot down one or two of them, and they’re not going to fly there again. They may like Bashar al-Assad, but they like to live a little more.”

Yet others have argued strenuously against military action – including a no-fly zone – because of Syria’s “advanced anti-air defenses.”

President Barack Obama said at a press conference on Tuesday that while he is considering military action, it “would be an escalation, in our view, of the threat to the security of the international community, our allies, and the U.S.”

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, who is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says sorties over Syria are a daunting but feasible prospect, and doubts the virtue of the likely outcome.

“The U.S. military has the capability to defeat that system, but it would be a greater challenge, and would take longer and require more resources” than in Libya, Dempsey said during a lunch meeting with reporters.

“The air defense picture in Libya is dramatically different than it is in Syria,” he said. “Syria has five times more air defense systems, some of which are high-end systems, that is to say higher altitude, longer range.”

These systems are primarily set up in the western third of the country, he said, and are much more dense and dislocated than those in Libya.

“That’s the reason I’ve been cautious about the application of a military-distributed power, because it’s not clear to me that it would produce that outcome,” he said. “Options are ready, and if it becomes clear to me or if I’m ordered to do so, we will act.

“At this point, that hasn’t occurred.”

There are roughly 1,500 troops currently in Jordan, Dempsey said Tuesday, though that number fluctuates. They largely operate a “command and control” and communications function, in addition to training Jordanian troops and logistics planning for a humanitarian operation.

[…]

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/04/30/dempsey-syrian-no-fly-zone-wouldnt-work

April 30th, 2013, 4:36 pm

 

Citizen said:

The blog is not work right ! some mistake are there !!1

April 30th, 2013, 4:59 pm

 

Citizen said:

The blog is not work right ! some mistakes are there !!1

April 30th, 2013, 5:00 pm

 

Observer said:

I would not debate the position of Dr. Landis. It is a distraction.
The problems are as follows
1. If the US talks red lines and does not follow through it becomes a US created problem.
2. The red line response should be in the interest of the US first and foremost and very closely after on moral grounds. If we intervene for the chemical weapons red line then we should do so at the UNSC and if that does not bring the regime to its senses then be ready to carry what is necessary in the interests of the US regardless of the Russian position.
3. If Landis is advocating non intervention then he should by the same token tell us when should we intervene. Being a civil war is not an absolute prohibition on interevention. What if a genocide of the Alawi community is taking place. Would we want to sit and watch? Likewise, the same argument can be made on the other side: is this not a genocide of the majority Syrian population in physical and economic terms by the minority Alawites?
4. On the other hand one could argue that leaving the place in turmoil is exactly what is needed to exhaust all the parties involved provided it is contained within Syria and not outside of it.
5. A cynic would argue for continued support of the rebels and continued conflict for a time as well. The latest pronouncements from Iran and HA are clear that they consider the loss of the regime in Syria a big blow to them therefore Mourhaf Jouejati is correct in estimating that the loss or the regime is a blow to the axis.
6. How to intervene or not to intervene are the questions that should be asked of the pro and anti intervention stance. If Landis does not want to intervene he should clearly state that we will not intervene even if the regime kills 500 000 by a massive chemical attack and come clearly against intervening in that scenario. If we are to intervene now then how do we do it. The WSJ had an article about Russians manning the AA defenses of Syria. I say that these can be taken out very easily without any issue if the US really wanted to do it. Then a no fly zone and constant surveillance a la Iraq before 2003 could be done to insure the airspace is tight.

In the final analysis the regime is failing.

Now here are some news from the ground: many regime soldiers are so ill paid that they are selling their weapons to the rebels who are awash with GCC money.
The areas in Idlib and Aleppo out of control have now a parallel economy and are doing brisk business with Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan.
Missiles captured yesterday in Deraa were shipped north to bomb Qurdaha therefore the lines of transfer are open.
The hatred of Alawis is so profound that massacres are likely
There is less troops willing to die for the mafia even amongst the sect.
All of the areas of Syria have Western intelligence agents monitoring events and groups.

The speech by HA leader was quite weak and sounded desperate and phony.

So the war continues.

Pray tell us where are your families now? Mine has left two years. This includes the moderator and the principal of this blog as well.

Cheers.

April 30th, 2013, 5:01 pm

 

ann said:

Obama Declines to Outline Plan for Syria in White House Press Conference – April 30, 2013

Domestic political pressure may be limiting the president’s options

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/04/30/obama-declines-to-outline-plan-for-syria-in-white-house-press-conference

“When I am making decisions about America’s national security and the potential for taking additional action in response to chemical weapon use, I’ve got to make sure I’ve got the facts,” Obama said

“I won’t go into the details of what those options might be, but clearly that would be an escalation in our view of the threat to the security of the international community, our allies and the United States,” he said. “And that means that there’s some options that we might not otherwise exercise that we would strongly consider.”

But Obama also faces domestic political realities that prevent him from pursuing a more aggressive role, experts say.

“Unless the president or someone else in American leadership gives a better narrative about what’s at stake for America or something happens that really clarifies that American interests are at stake, I think there’s going to be reticence,” says Blaise Misztal, associate director of foreign policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Mitsztal says humanitarian crises have rarely been enough to overcome popular political resistance in the past.

“So I don’t see public hue and cry about the humanitarian issue as forcing America’s hand,” he says.

Tamara Wittes, director of Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institute, says it’s clear Americans are war weary from prolonged engagements in Iraq, Afghanistan and even to some extent in Libya.

“The proportion of Americans polled who say it’s better for the United States to stay out of world affairs is higher now than it’s been at any point since 1992, after the Soviet Union fell apart,” she says. “That makes any international engagement a heavy lift for any president, but I think particularly for this president who has defined himself as the guy who’s getting us out of these engagements, it’s a real uphill climb.”

“What you’re seeing is that although everybody sort of wants a piece of the action regionally in Syria – everyone is scared about what’s happening there – [but] no one actually shares the same vision of what should happen; everybody is sort of working at cross-purposes,” says Misztal. He adds that the Obama administration’s negotiating power is limited because of it’s resistance to committing troops to the region.

“How much leverage can you have when you don’t have skin in the game? It’s hard to tell other countries what to do when we’re not willing to at least publicly and visibly engage,” Misztal says.

[…]

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/04/30/obama-declines-to-outline-plan-for-syria-in-white-house-press-conference

April 30th, 2013, 5:07 pm

 

ghufran said:

قال مدير مخيم الزعتري للاجئين السوريين العقيد زاهر ابو شهاب اليوم (الاثنين) إن مجموع اللاجئين السوريين الذين عادوا طواعية إلى بلادهم منذ افتتاح المخيم بلغ 45 الفا و865 لاجئا سوريا.
وأضاف إن هناك ما يتراوح بين 300 – 400 لاجئ يوميا يرغبون بالعودة إلى بلادهم طواعية، بعدما قامت الجهات القائمة على المخيم بتقديم المستلزمات المعيشية لهم خلال وجودهم في مخيم الزعتري بالأردن، مشيرا إلى أن عدد اللاجئين الذين تم تكفيلهم من المخيم بلغ 34467 لاجئا
Syrians do not belong in refugee camps, the fact that we have more than 1 million Syrians in tents and camps is a testimony
of how irresponsible and ungodly fighting parties in Syria have become.
on the issue of intervention, many Syrians have been begging the international community to do something constructive, instead what Syrians got was gymnastic diplomacy between Russia and the US and evil meddling by GCC and Turkey not to mention the negative influence of Iran on supporting hardliners in the regime instead of pushing for a compromise. So, we waited two years and when the West is “ready” to intervene it wants to occupy Syria or destroy the army ?
Jouijati is right in being angry and disgusted but he is dead wrong in expecting good results from destroying Syrian military installations and talking out the only body that is stopping Nusra from turning Syria into anther Afghanistan: the Syrian army, despite all of its ills

April 30th, 2013, 5:10 pm

 

Citizen said:

Mr. OBSERVER wants pushing the United States of Israel to quicksand swamp!!!
Cheers
Dear moderator! Fittest malfunctions in the site please!!!

April 30th, 2013, 5:14 pm

 

Citizen said:

Mr. Landis!Do you have academics-commentators in the political geography, political science, specialists in Russian affairs, Chinese, Israeli, etc.
Became necessary to refine tune the comments and make use of the view of specialists!

April 30th, 2013, 5:33 pm

 

Citizen said:

West’s WMD Lies Fray as Syrian Army Overruns Terrorist Proxies
http://www.activistpost.com/2013/04/wests-wmd-lies-fray-as-syrian-army.html
……..
US officials “sexed up” Mr Janabi’s drawings of mobile biological weapons labs to make them more presentable, admits Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, General Powell’s former chief of staff. “I brought the White House team in to do the graphics,” he says, adding how “intelligence was being worked to fit around the policy”.
How “intelligence was being worked to fit around the policy,” indeed is the most important aspect of the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq, and is without doubt what is being done in Washington, Doha, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv in regards to Syria now.

Those behind the current conspiracy against Syria hope that the public possesses no understanding whatsoever regarding chemical weapons and their true tactical utility as well as their many limitations. They hope that the public never fully realizes that “small scale” use is essentially an admission that the weapons were not used tactically, but at best, used to fabricate a pretext for war by the West and its terrorist proxies.

As the West realizes how politically unsustainable yet another war waged on a blatantly false pretense will be, it may turn to even uglier options in order to topple the Syrian government and to save face after a humiliating stand-down from their “red line.” The West’s legitimacy has long since been exhausted. Its reputation has been permanently disfigured by special interests that have commandeered and abused it.

While Syria and its allies continue to fight against this proxy-war of aggression, it is incumbent upon the rest of us to identify the corporate-financier special interests behind this war, boycott and permanently replace them with local solutions. If allowed to succeed in grave injustices against the Syrian people, these interests will be emboldened to abuse, exploit, and torment others, including those within their own borders.

April 30th, 2013, 5:49 pm

 

zoo said:

Nasrallah hints Assad’s allies could intervene

May 01, 2013 01:16 AM (Last updated: May 01, 2013 01:35 AM)
By Wassim Mroueh, Thomas El-Basha

..
BEIRUT: Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah hinted Tuesday that Syria’s allies Iran, Russia and “resistance groups” could intervene militarily to prevent the downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Nasrallah also said his fighters would continue to defend Lebanese in Syrian border villages from rebel attacks, arguing that the Lebanese state was unable to fulfill the task itself.

“Syria has real friends in the region and the world that will not let Syria fall at the hands of America, Israel or takfiri groups. They will not let this happen,” Nasrallah, Assad’s closest ally in Lebanon, said in a televised speech.

“How will this happen? Details will come later. I say this based on information … rather than wishful thinking.”

Nasrallah said judging by facts on the ground, Syrian rebels lacked the military capabilities to topple Assad, who is supported by Iran and Russia.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/May-01/215667-nasrallah-hints-assads-allies-could-intervene.ashx#ixzz2RzRQSJDy
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

April 30th, 2013, 6:53 pm

 

John.Frank said:

How is it in our (America’s) national security interest to become involved military in Syria?

Presuming that we do get involved militarily, some additional questions:

– How do we pay for any action taken, given the size of our national debt and the annual deficit?

– What is the military objective?

– What happens after we intervene?

– Will we be involved in national building?

IMHO This is not our fight. We should not get involved unless it can be shown that there is a direct threat to our national security interests. If that happens, our involvement should be fast, furious, focused and limited. Get in, win and get out.

April 30th, 2013, 6:55 pm

 

zoo said:

Syria: Chemical fantasies and grim realities

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syria-chemical-fantasies-and-grim-realities.aspx?pageID=238&nid=45949&NewsCatID=418

First of all, dismiss all those news stories saying that the Bashar al-Assad regime has started using chemical weapons against its own citizens, and that this has crossed a “red line” and will trigger foreign military intervention in Syria. It is conceivable, though highly unlikely, that al-Assad’s troops have used poison gas against the rebels. It is not credible that any foreign leader is going to order his troops to go into Syria and stop the war.

The “evidence” for the al-Assad regime’s use of sarin (nerve gas) is flimsy, and it’s easy to see why the opposition fighters might choose to fabricate it. Equally flimsy evidence about alleged “weapons of mass destruction” was used to justify the American invasion of Iraq. Why wouldn’t the Syrian rebels have a go at the same game?

Moreover, there is no plausible reason why the Syrian regime would use poison gas. It would confer no lasting military advantage on the government forces, and the political costs of being caught doing it would be significant. But even if the accusations were true, it would make no real difference.

No Western government – nor any Arab government, either – is willing to put soldiers on the ground in Syria. Meddling in a civil war is rarely a good idea, and the Baathist regime’s army could inflict very serious losses on an invader. Even imposing a no-fly zone would mean Western pilots dead or downed, because Syria’s air defenses are modern, competent and extensive.

So if there is not going to be any foreign military intervention, when is the Syrian civil war going to end? Not any time soon.

April 30th, 2013, 6:56 pm

 

zoo said:

Joshua Landis is totally right to the point while Shadi Hamid (in Doha) is just hysterical repeating the call we heard for the last two years from the Qatar backed SNC: Help the opposition to win a civil war they can’t win even it allows Al Nusra to take over the country.

The chemical weapon accusation is absurb and a waste of time and energy. Who wants more proofs that the opposition has hit the bottom of the pit?
It’s time we move on.

April 30th, 2013, 7:03 pm

 

Dolly Buster said:

 
So, we have come to a consensus that the inevitable outcome of the war is: the Gruesome Death of assad, and TOTAL defeat of russia.

I can think of 1 clear winner though, and that is Jabhat an Nusrah.

April 30th, 2013, 7:14 pm

 

ann said:

15. zoo said:

“”” the Qatar backed SNC “””

The Qatar fabricated SNC on behalf of `israel is more accurate ZOO

April 30th, 2013, 7:14 pm

 

Dolly Buster said:

There are around 45 countries in Europe, but several stick out as extremely poor.

Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Macedonia and Belarus are some of those names.

So you may be asking yourself, why is Third World Russia paying to support Shiite war crimes, when their own country is falling apart and people are dying in the streets.

April 30th, 2013, 7:17 pm

 

revenire said:

If it ever becomes necessary Hezbollah and Iran will send hundreds of thousands of soldiers to defend Syria from the conspiracy.

Nasrallah does not make empty boasts.

April 30th, 2013, 7:20 pm

 

Tara said:

If ever becomes necessary, Iran will not lift a finger for Batta. Make no mistake about it. The Iranians are pragmatic. They will sacrifice money, weapons and Shiaa Lebanese militia of HA and that is all. They will not risk their country for him. It is too stupid to fear otherwise.

April 30th, 2013, 7:26 pm

 

Dolly Buster said:

zoo said:
The chemical weapon accusation is absurb

 
Why is it “absurb” when they have blood results.

It makes sense that a Shiite government which buries children under rubble, is also capable of shooting chem missiles. If you go to MemriTV, some guy from Syrian military says he was ordered to use chemical weapons.

How is Qaddafi doing btw, ok?

I know you predicted his grand victory, shortly before he was located in a sewer pipe.

April 30th, 2013, 7:31 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

Every soldier the regime puts on the battlefield is another soldier Iran has to pay for.

Every year of war that passes is another year where Iran threw lots of money into a fire-pit for no real strategic reason.

The war continues.

April 30th, 2013, 7:36 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

What’s the point of saying “Hezbollah/Iran is against Israel” if it spends all of its time and effort fighting Sunnis?

April 30th, 2013, 7:40 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

The rebels have already defeated the regime. Without Iranian help, the Assadists would collapse.

Now they have to defeat Iran. And as long as the war continues, they will.

Since the Assadists are not making any money, it means the Iranians will have to pay for their war efforts. And they will most certainly pay.

April 30th, 2013, 7:43 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

After Israel left south Lebanon, Nus-lira has been gradually taking the form and function of a gas-bag capable only of poorly orchestrated Leninist/Khomeini style theatrics, along with a casual terrorist operations of assassinating rivals.

dog-poop athad lovers on this blog, in trying to protect the US and Israel from quick sand of Syria seem to stink of fear of an american intervention materializing even at a very small scale. Must be very very scared.

How similar are d-p athad lovers to their foolish nus-lira friend. Only a fool would declare a godly victory when much of its power base is lain to ruin and its enemy goes back with minimal casualties. But the cut and paste blood lust pornographers one encounters herein are even worse, they declare victory when the country they claim defending is destroyed by the hand of a dog-poop they worship.

April 30th, 2013, 7:45 pm

 

ann said:

62% of Americans are telling Obama to get out and stay out of SYRIA!

Capiche 😉

Poll: Americans against U.S. intervention in Syria, N. Korea – April 30, 2013

62% Americans continue to say that the U.S. does not have a responsibility to intervene in Syria and think that North Korea is a threat that can be contained for now, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57581989/poll-americans-against-u.s-intervention-in-syria-n-korea/

62% of Americans continue to say the United States does not have a responsibility to intervene in the fighting in Syria, while 24 percent of Americans think the United States does have a responsibility to do something about the fighting between government forces and anti-government groups there – a four point increase since last month.

Most Democrats, Republicans, and independents agree that the U.S. does not have a responsibility to get involved in the conflict in Syria.

Even as news of the possible use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government was announced by the Obama Administration, fewer Americans are paying attention to news about Syria than were doing so last month. In March, slightly more than half of all Americans were following news about Syria at least somewhat closely. Now, four in 10 say they are doing so, including just 10 percent who are following it very closely.

[…]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57581989/poll-americans-against-u.s-intervention-in-syria-n-korea/

CHEERS

April 30th, 2013, 7:46 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Hope & Regime Change

Should the US Intervene?

Answer: Yes. About 1.5 yrs ago.

Better late than never.

(Some questions are easy to answer.)

April 30th, 2013, 7:48 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

And that’s probably wise of the Americans.

The Iranians and Hezbollah on the other hand are too stupid to stay out. They’re being sucked into an endless religious war that will cost them billions of dollars and ruin whatever is left of their reputation in the Arabic world.

Is there any upside at all to the Iranians for helping the Assadists? Almost all the Sunnis in Syria and outside of Syria hate him, and want them gone. And they’ll hate Iran too for their support of Assad. Not only that, but the Iranians will have to pay and pay and pay to try to keep Assad in power. They may pay for 1 year or 2 years, but will they do it for five years, 10 years? More?

What’s the point of “being against Israel” if you spend all your time and energy fighting other Muslims?

April 30th, 2013, 7:50 pm

 

ann said:

*** WARNING ALERT ***

Any idea why the `israeli propagandists on this blog are padding the lame NO vote in the upper left hand corner of this blog?!

CHEERS

April 30th, 2013, 7:58 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

ANN, you’re being more idiotic than usual and that deserves mention:

What’s the point of being against Israel if you spend all your time and energy yelling against Muslims?

For that matter, why is Israel considered “bad” in the Middle East? The Assadists and their Iranian supporters behave worse.

April 30th, 2013, 8:00 pm

 

Ghufran said:

I do not believe the mb and the islamists ever wanted a dialogue or an inclusive government, that is why they from day one said that they will only negotiate how to dismantle the regime , not just assad gang,and take over the government !!
( nusra boy, how is this self fellatio of thumbs up on your posts that nobody reads working for you?)
Another problem is how they brought terrorists inside Syria and now they want weapons to protect Syria from the influence of alqaeda. If you believe anything that comes from the GCC pimps then you are either a fool or you are part of this lie that most people today are not willing to believe. Assad and his thugs are the biggest winners of this grand dirty game, the losers are most syrians who will be impoverished, unsecure and unemployed fir years to come. Another lie is the myth that finishing what is left of the Syrian army using NATO and delivering syria on a silver plate to Nusra thugs is good for Syria, the naivety, selfishness and utter stupidity of some syrians never ceased to amaze me, those idiots are the reason why the regime still has support in Syria today.

April 30th, 2013, 8:02 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

Regime supporters are spending their time trying to convince others that their enemies are “terrorists.’

But these efforts are futile, because whatever their enemies might be, the regime is worse. What’st the point of condemning terrorists if your side behaves worse than the “terrorists” they condemn?

The war continues.

April 30th, 2013, 8:19 pm

 

Tara said:

HA is more an enemy to Syrians than anyone else including Israel. Nasrallah lives now to kill Syrians. When HA is destroyed, no one in the Arab world would give a damn.

April 30th, 2013, 8:30 pm

 

revenire said:

Syrians love Hezbollah – they are allies.

Marigoldran has the CIA been involved in the war? I rely on your wisdom.

April 30th, 2013, 8:45 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

Retard,

You rely on no one’s wisdom, including your own, because you don’t have any.

April 30th, 2013, 8:47 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Most Americans,including dr landis and Obama , are not interested in another war that will backfire on Americans the same way the Iraq war did. Here is what a CNN reader wrote in response to a garbage quality article written by Danielle Pletka, a Jewish neocon who is still defending the invasion of Iraq:

James A Young
I do believe in such a thing as a “game changer.” The fact that Al Qaeda has now taken center stage in the rebel quest to overthrow Assad is a “game changer” too.
Anyone with any brains would change their mind about arming these rebels now that arming them is essentially the equivalent of handing terrorists weapons of mass destruction.
Apparently, the Republican idiots of this country want to help Al Qaeda take over Syria. If not, then they should shut-up and stop criticizing Obama for not rushing into a war that will only give Al Qaeda a military victory and a homeland.

April 27, 2013 at 8:40 pm |

April 30th, 2013, 8:48 pm

 

ann said:

READ IT AND WEEP 😀

CBS News/New York Times Poll For release: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 7:00 AM EDT

The Fighting in Syria and other Foreign Policy Issues: April 24-28, 2013

Though support for U.S. involvement in Syria has risen slightly, most Americans – 62% – continue to reject the idea that the U.S. has a responsibility to do something about the fighting there, and fewer Americans are paying attention to news about that country.

The Fighting in Syria

Most Americans continue to say the United States does not have a responsibility to intervene in the fighting in Syria. While 24% of Americans think the United States does have a responsibility to do something about the fighting between government forces and anti-government groups in Syria – a four point increase since last month — far more, 62%, reject this idea.

Does the U.S. Have a Responsibility in Syria?

……Now 3/2013 12/2012
Yes 24% _ 20% ___ 27%
.No 62% _ 69% ___ 62%

Most Democrats, Republicans, and independents agree that the U.S. does not have a responsibility to get involved in the conflict in Syria.Even as news of the possible use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government was announced by the Obama Administration, fewer Americans are paying attention to news about Syria than were doing so last month. In March, slightly more than half of all Americans were following news about Syria at least somewhat closely. Now, four in 10 say they are doing so,including just 10% who are following it very closely.

How Closely Have You Been Following News About Syria?

…………………………..Now _ 3/2013
Very closely………….10% __ 12%
Somewhat closely..29% __ 42%
Not too closely…….60% __ 44%

Still, those following the news about Syria very closely are far more likely to think the U.S. has a responsibility to get involved there. Nearly half (47%) of that group thinks the U.S. has a responsibility to get involved there — though about as many do not (48%).

Does the U.S. Have a Responsibility in Syria?

ALL Americans

Yes 24%
.No 62%

10% Of Americans Following News about Syria Very Closely

Yes 47%
.No 48%

Almost Forgot – CHEERS

April 30th, 2013, 8:52 pm

 

revenire said:

Marigoldran is the CIA involved or not?

April 30th, 2013, 8:55 pm

 

Dawoud said:

No, the United States should not intervene. However, the United States should encourage Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia to form an Arab League Deterrence force for the Syrian intervention. An Arab League intervention (similar to the 1976 Arab deterrence force, which was hijacked by the Syrian murderer Hafez) would be legal because Syria is an Arab country (Iran is NOT Arab and its ongoing intervention in Syria is both illegal and foreign). 100,000 Arab invasion force launched from Jordan and supported by air and tank attacks would-in addition to Syria domestic armed resistance- quickly defeat the Syrian regime and its sectarian shabiha from Iraq, Hizbas$, and Iran.

April 30th, 2013, 9:19 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Morsi is silent but for how long?
القاهرة ـ طهران ـ ا ش ا ـ رويترز: لندن ـ ‘القدس العربي’: تبنت مصر مشروعا لتوسيع مبادرتها لحل الازمة السورية لتشمل حوارا مباشرا بين ممثلين عن الحكومة والمعارضة الى جانب ممثلين عن منظمات دولية، فيما يعتبر تراجعا عن موقفها الذي اعلنه الرئيس محمد مرسي بمطالبته الرئيس السوري بالتنحي.
وحسب رئيس مكتب رعاية المصالح الإيرانية في القاهرة، مجتبى أمانس، فإن مسؤولين مصريين اثناء زيارتهم لطهران مؤخرا قدموا مشروعا يتم على أساسه توسيع دائرة الحوار لتضم 8 أطراف هي: إيران ومصر وتركيا ومندوب منظمة الأمم المتحدة ومندوب منظمة التعاون الإسلامي ومندوب جامعة الدول العربية، إضافة إلى مندوب عن الحكومة السورية وآخر عن المعارضة السورية.
Notice that Qatar is out.
Assad eventually has to step down, but unless he gets assassinated, he is now confident that the big players have accepted his request to remain as president until June, 2014, his supporters want him to run again in 2014 but that would be a big mistake, the honorable thing to do was to resign on March, 19,2011. He and his family are knee deep guilty and have no political future, what kept him in power is not the actions of his supporters as much as the mistakes of his opponents.

April 30th, 2013, 9:22 pm

 

revenire said:

Great idea Dawoud. I am sure “Tiny” Abdullah King of Jordan will be right on that.

Iran can intervene to support her ally all she likes. We welcome Iran.

You know, after we crush the rats, our government should rename a few Sunni towns Iranian names.

Just kidding.

🙂

April 30th, 2013, 9:23 pm

 

Observer said:

Cheerful news from Cham Press especially for the cut and paste d-p lovers about the value of the dollar to the syrian great currency of the great resistance Thouria

http://www.champress.net/index.php?q=ar/Article/view/19515

It is 129 to the dollar.

Cheers

I agree that if we are to intervene it should be for US interests and US interests alone. It is in the US interest to also intervene on behalf of freedom. We cannot determine the outcome and if we do so we should do it massively and lightning style.

Let it be a lesson to all the tin pot dictators

Cheers again.

The regime continues to lose and lose and lose.

I am buying Syrian Property today it is so damn cheap I will be making a bucket full

April 30th, 2013, 9:25 pm

 

revenire said:

Our hero…

April 30th, 2013, 9:31 pm

 

Dawoud said:

So now Hizbas$ terrorist, Hasan Nasra$, is admitting that his sectarian filthy Lebanese Shia militia/terrorist/animals are fighting in Syria in support of Bashar the dictator:
http://www.aljazeera.net/news/pages/59fe5577-0fc1-4e5f-a6df-c22b517fc4a8
نصر الله: لسوريا أصدقاء لن يسمحوا بسقوطها

April 30th, 2013, 9:31 pm

 

revenire said:

Observer yes, please invest in Syria. Please buy a home you will never be able to live in. We will let the families of our martyrs live in the homes you boy.

In fact, we will invited Iranians to come vacation there. Get one on the coast.

Cheers.

April 30th, 2013, 9:34 pm

 

Dawoud said:

Basically, the paper tiger Hasan Nasras$ (who in 2006 said that had he thought that Ehud Olmert would launch a large scale attack, he would not have authorized the abduction of 2 Israeli soldiers) is now scared that Israel might attack him over the latest drone. So, by claiming to be tough on Israel, Hasan Nasras$ is basically saying to Israel “please don’t attack us because we had nothing to do with the drone.” It looks like the Hizbistan terrorist Hasan Nasras$ is only tough on the Syrian poeple 🙂 Shame on his terrorist AS$ 🙂 He is a half-man or a half-terrorist indeed 🙂 The Syrian people’s justice will visit his terrorist as$ in the Dhahiya sooner or later!

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4374508,00.html
Nasrallah: Hezbollah didn’t launch drone

April 30th, 2013, 9:45 pm

 

Dawoud said:

A scared Hasan Nasras$ the filthy terrorist is telling Israel: “please don’t attack me because I had nothing to do with the drone. I only like to kill innocent Syrians!” Shame on this terrorist.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4374508,00.html

Nasrallah: Hezbollah didn’t launch drone

April 30th, 2013, 9:51 pm

 

ann said:

U.S. military intervention in Syria mostly off the table – April 30, 2013

NBC’s Chuck Todd examines the White House’s response to allegations that Syria is using chemical weapons

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/51724182/#51724182

April 30th, 2013, 9:55 pm

 

revenire said:

Marigoldran I thought you said a few months back that Idlib was 100% liberated?

This guy is not going to be around to see the SAA crush his rat friends is he?

Cheers.

April 30th, 2013, 9:57 pm

 

Dawoud said:

Thanks President Obama! I feel good that I voted for you twice!

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/world/middleeast/bomb-in-central-damascus.html?hp&_r=0

U.S. Considers Expanding Support for Syrian Rebels by Supplying Guns
WASHINGTON — The White House is now considering supplying weapons to Syria’s armed opposition, senior officials said Tuesday. Such a decision would be a policy shift for the Obama administration, which has stepped up its nonlethal aid but stopped short of lethal weaponry and has expressed reluctance about greater military entanglements in the Syrian civil war.
[…]

April 30th, 2013, 9:58 pm

 

revenire said:

The US has been defeated in Syria. All that money and all those dead rats… all for nothing. I heard Obama started crying after talking to Putin the other day. Is it true?

April 30th, 2013, 9:59 pm

 

Dawoud said:

I am optimistic that by next year and after the liberation of Damascus, the Syrian army will be executing an arrest warrant in Beirut’s southern Dhahiya against Hizbistan’s chief terrorist, Hasan Nasras$

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-preparing-to-send-lethal-arms-to-syrian-opposition-officials-say/2013/04/30/3084d0d4-b1a6-11e2-bbf2-a6f9e9d79e19_story.html?hpid=z1

Obama moving toward sending lethal arms to Syrian rebels, officials say

By Karen DeYoung,

Tuesday, April 30, 4:47 PM

President Obama is preparing to send lethal weaponry to the Syrian opposition and has taken steps to assert more aggressive U.S. leadership among allies and partners seeking the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, according to senior administration officials.

The officials emphasized that supplying arms is one of several options under consideration and that political negotiation remains the preferred option. To that end, the administration has launched an effort to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin that the probable use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government — and the more direct outside intervention that could provoke — should lead him to reconsider his support of Assad.
[..]

April 30th, 2013, 10:03 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

@ Retard

That’s because you can’t read.

April 30th, 2013, 10:09 pm

 

revenire said:

Marigoldran cat got your tongue? CIA involved or not?

Psst Dawoud Obama has already been sending weapons to the rats.

April 30th, 2013, 10:17 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

Why should we worry about what the CIA is doing? I don’t even know what you’re blabbing about.

The war is between Alawites and Sunnis. The Americans are playing a second-bit role in this war.

April 30th, 2013, 10:19 pm

 

Altair said:

In the PBS discussion with Profs. Jouejati and Landis, I don’t think either side makes a compelling argument, or at least I find flaws that weaken their arguments.

Jouejati’s flaw:

That it is in the US interest to break up the Syrian/Iranian/Hizbullah axis. This kind of argument provides fuel to regime supporters. Hizbullah and Iran, whatever your views about them, have opposed Israeli aggression in the region. Hizbullah has done so directly. Attacking the resistance gives credence that all this is a Western plot to create another Western puppet.

Syrians are not pro-Israel. They never have been, and save the treacherous types, never will be until it removes its Zionist component of domination and subjugation. Israel has always been out to destroy any independent minded rulers or countries in the “Greater Middle East”, as they like to call it.

The US doesn’t have credibility with Syrian patriots. I hate to say it, but it’s true. Having the support of the US in the Arab world is tantamount to having no credibility, or worse, being called a collaborator. The Asadists play both sides of this fence, but I can guarantee you, if the US intervenes, Asad will be immediately considered an anti-imperialist hero, as he already is by some supporters.

This is a very basic problem. US policy analysts, including Prof. Landis, surely must know this. They may not like to admit it in public however, so as not to go head on against the pro-Israel media and establishment (as Profs. Mearsheimer and Walt did). But even Jouejati, a Syrian-American, must be loath to say it, especially if he’s making the above-mentioned and flawed argument.

Landis’ flaw is comparing it to the Iraqi “intervention”. The problem is, it wasn’t an intervention at all. It was an invasion to take over Iraq, make an example of Saddam to teach other independent-minded Arabs a humiliating lesson (look at the way he was paraded when he was captured), and punish an Arab country that dared to challenge Israeli interests.

There was no uprising in Iraq in 2003. Iraq was actually remarkably stable under Saddam’s tyrannical rule, even after 12 years of starvation sanctions. There was one in 1991, and the US watched on the sidelines, probably because it didn’t want a popular uprising. It wanted a compliant Arab ruler in his place, dictator or not.

Why should US policy support a popular uprising (assuming its popularity) now? US policy since as far back as the Truman administration has been determined to subvert popular rule in the Arab world. And with this knowledge, and I would leave it as an open question to Dr. Jouejati, why would you want US intervention anyway? To create a pro-Israeli puppet state (which probably wouldn’t work anyway)?

So the stronger argument (esp. for Dr. Landis) is US credibility in the region, one that neither Jouejati nor Landis addressed.

Okay you say, should the US intervene to reestablish some credibility?

Well, there’s one very big problem. The US would have to make a total Middle East policy overhaul, namely, stop the blind support of a totally aggressive, colonialist Israeli polity that insists on dominating its neighbors and destroying Palestinian society wholesale, a polity that shows no signs at all of reconciling with its neighbors or the Palestinians ever since the first destruction of their homeland in 1947-48 and the gradual one of the remainder since 1967.

Now I realize some will now think this may sound pro-Asad to some (something Landis was unjustly accused of), but I would just refer them to my last post #327 in the previous thread. The truth is, it’s a problem difficult to the extreme.

April 30th, 2013, 10:22 pm

 

revenire said:

Marigoldran gee, can’t you answer with a simple yes or no? It is just a question. You have time to sit here all day but can’t give me your expert opinion whether the CIA is involved. C’mon just tell me if they’re in the game or sitting this one out? I really want to know what you think.

Is the CIA involved.

1. Yes
2. No

Take your pick.

April 30th, 2013, 10:25 pm

 

Dawoud said:

When Syrian MIGs begin falling and crashing, Hasan Nasras$, Iran (the non-Arab foreigner intervening in Arab Syria), and Bashar the dictator will know that these new American weapons can make a difference. Watch and see!

Free Syria, and soon it will!

April 30th, 2013, 10:25 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

North Korea is very stable too, I might add.

April 30th, 2013, 10:25 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

@ Retard

Of course they’re involved. Every major intelligence organization in the world is involved in Syria to one extent or another.

The issue is HOW involved. Regime supporters emphasize CIA involvement. Its opponents say “what CIA?” The truth is somewhere in the middle.

But the CIA is LESS involved in Syria than whatever the Iranians call their intelligence agencies.

What a retard.

April 30th, 2013, 10:27 pm

 

Dawoud said:

60. MARIGOLDRAN
I think that North Korea’s new kid (kim jong, or whatever the hell his name is) is way more stable and less delusional than Bashar al-Assad!

April 30th, 2013, 10:29 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

Living in North Korea is like living in hell.

Syria today is a better place to live in than in North Korea. So I guess there is one country that Syria is superior to today.

On the other hand, it’s better to live in PAKISTAN than in Syria right now. The Pakistanis at least understand that it’s a dumb idea to shoot poor people when they protest. And that says a lot about the Assadists’ mismanagement and why they don’t deserve to rule.

April 30th, 2013, 10:32 pm

 

Dawoud said:

….One of Hasan Nasra$s’ Lebanese propagandists told Aljazeera last week that North Korea’s new kid/dictator was “legitimate” because he obtained his legitimacy through his father and grandfather [sic] 🙂 No wonder Hasan Nasr$s and his propagandists on this blog think that Bashar al-Assad is legitimate 🙂

April 30th, 2013, 10:33 pm

 

revenire said:

Thank you.

April 30th, 2013, 10:34 pm

 

Marigoldran said:

He’s basically saying that Hezbollans and their supporters are stupid.

Glad that you agree. You are stupid.

April 30th, 2013, 10:35 pm

 

revenire said:

I meant thanks for answering me.

April 30th, 2013, 10:36 pm

 

Dawoud said:

66. MARIGOLDRAN

To call them just “stupid” is an insult to “stupid!” Hasan Nasra$s and his filthy Lebanese militia/shabiha are stupid TERRORISTS.

April 30th, 2013, 10:37 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

Guess you must like insults. You must have gotten used to them by now considering how frequently it happens to you.

Get a job.

April 30th, 2013, 10:38 pm

 

revenire said:

Mari Dawoud is just an American – they are not very “up” on the world but he is harmless ranting and raving about whatever he likes. I enjoy it.

April 30th, 2013, 10:38 pm

 

Dawoud said:

انا أمريكي وبعرف عربي. الله يلعن حسن نصر الشيطان وبشار الحمار

April 30th, 2013, 10:41 pm

 

revenire said:

Turkey afraid to use the Patriots? 🙂

Syria strike on Turkey border kills five
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syria-strike-on-turkey-border-kills-five.aspx?pageID=238&nID=45987&NewsCatID=352

“This is the closest air strike we have seen to the border. The crossing had been seen as a safe haven before.”

PS – Dawoud your mother called and told me your bath is ready and then to bed.

April 30th, 2013, 10:46 pm

 

Dawoud said:

أي بس استنى وشوف. صبر تركيا نفذ وأيام بشار معدوده

April 30th, 2013, 10:47 pm

 

Dawoud said:

ام بشار أنيسة مخلوف اتصلت مع حسن نصر الشيطان وطلبت منو انو يذكر بشار بميعاد النوم

THE TERRORIST Hasan Nasra$s supports Syria’s war criminal dictator:

April 30th, 2013, 10:54 pm

 

revenire said:

I will name my next son Nasrallah.

April 30th, 2013, 10:56 pm

 

Dawoud said:

….Please not Nasra$s, Abu Nasra$S أبو نصر أس 🙂

حرام عليك! بكونوا الاولاد يضحكوا عليه في المدرسه 🙂

April 30th, 2013, 11:00 pm

 

Dawoud said:

….أذا جاءتك بنت طفله سميها بشاره أو بثاره

April 30th, 2013, 11:07 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Syrian economy is deteriorating rapidly now, the longer the war the more destruction and more poverty in Syria,Syria will fail,the war is costing two billion dollar a month.
Assad has to increase the salaries to cover cost of living increase,, those goverment employees who live outside goverment control will continue to receive their salaries,even if they did nothing

US will not fix the problem in Syria by interfering, but the credibilty of Obama will go down if he does not do anything, Iran must be watching, Obama may not do anything if Iran developed nuclear bomb.

Observer,, I dont believe you are buying properties in Syria now,wait few more months you will buy it cheaper

April 30th, 2013, 11:42 pm

 

revenire said:

Gee, that’s brilliant – an economy fighting a war is contracting. What a revelation.

April 30th, 2013, 11:43 pm

 

Juergen said:

Majed

I am sure someone from the Assad clan is benefiting heavingly from this war. Its a proven fact that such wars have always economic winners. And usually those are from the lionking family.

April 30th, 2013, 11:52 pm

 

ghufran said:

SOHR and other anti government sources make it clear that the battle in Idleb is far from over, the latest battle took place just few miles from the Turkish borders, not a single shot was fired at Syrian jets, furthermore, despite Turkey’s heavy involvement in this war, Bashar admitted that his troops have not captured any Turkish soldiers, only Syrians and Takfiri Muslims are allowed to die defending Turkey’s interests. This is from SOHR, not SANA:

Activists say at least 15 opposition fighters have been killed in a battle with Syrian government troops for a military helicopter base in the country’s north.
The Britain-based Observatory for Human Rights says fighting between rebels and President Bashar Assad’s troops is raging around the Mannagh base in the northern province of Aleppo.
The activist group says the government deployed fighter jets to the area late on Monday, pounding rebel positions around the helicopter base, which is located near Syria’s border with Turkey.
The Observatory said Tuesday that at least 15 rebels have been killed in the fighting.

April 30th, 2013, 11:59 pm

 

Juergen said:

Aram Karabat an poet was detained in the notorious Palmyra prison in 1987 until his release in 2000. He has written a book about this ordeal.

He was interviewed by ARTE:

“The regime wll not fall beacuse of peaceful means or because the people revolt aginst them. The regime has no ethical values whatsoever. No civilised morals gives them credibility. It is not able to hold a dialogue. Its impossible for this regime to say: This is our people, we have to protect them. They are worst than occupiers.Worst than any form of regime the world has seen so far. I am not surprised that the people are now revolting against them. I am sure that we will not give up.

May 1st, 2013, 12:00 am

 

Juergen said:

strong report about the Palmyra prison by Hala Mohammed. She has travelled with three ex inmates to Palmyra

May 1st, 2013, 12:02 am

 

ann said:

The New York Times Goes Into Damage Control Mode 😀

Devastated By Their Own Poll Results After Two Years Of Cheering us To War With Syria is Now Labeling us Isolationist Because The American People Refused To Buy Their Flimsy Propaganda

How Unpredictable?! 😀 😀

Poll Shows Isolationist Streak in Americans – April 30, 2013

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/world/american-public-opposes-action-in-syria-and-north-korea.html?_r=0

Americans are exhibiting an isolationist streak, with majorities across party lines decidedly opposed to American intervention in North Korea or Syria, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

[…]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/world/american-public-opposes-action-in-syria-and-north-korea.html?_r=0

May 1st, 2013, 12:12 am

 

ghufran said:

I do not see the terrorist attack in Marja as a sign of strength, it is actually rather embarrassing to rebel supporters and it deepens public resentment against armed insurgents who were supposed to bring life and green freedom not death and agony to the people of Damascus. Another sad display of moral failure was the accusation by rebel media that Assad security forces is behind this attack and the one that targeted Halaqi, I yet have to see a single reputable media source that believes this garbage.
Marja is the site where Ottomans hanged Syrians who wanted independence from Turkey (on May,6,1916) !!

May 1st, 2013, 12:14 am

 

ann said:

79. revenire said:

Gee, that’s brilliant – an economy fighting a war is contracting. What a revelation.

😀 😀

May 1st, 2013, 12:16 am

 

ann said:

It’s The Economy and Jobs Jobs Jobs STUPID!!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/world/american-public-opposes-action-in-syria-and-north-korea.html?_r=0

Louis Brown, 50, a poll respondent from Springfield Township, Ohio, said, “We don’t need additional loss of American lives right now.”

In the poll, 4 in 10 Americans cited the economy and jobs as the country’s most important problems,

while only 1% named foreign policy.

[…]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/world/american-public-opposes-action-in-syria-and-north-korea.html?_r=0

May 1st, 2013, 12:29 am

 

ghufran said:

I do not want to burst anybody’s bubble on the issue of the US sending weapons to rebels but I need to repeat these facts:
1. US public opinion is decisively against deeper involvement in this war,and any war.
2. Obama indeed soften his language about chemical weapons, recent reports discredit claims that Sarin was used but other chemical agents were probably used on a limited scale by somebody in Syria (I do not know how chemical weapons and small-scale can exist in the same sentence)
3. only a large-scale foreign military attack will tip the balance of power in Syria. the US will not use the type of force required to disable SAF or military command.
4. small behind the scenes military measures that improve Obama’s position when he meets Putin in June are not the same thing as attacking and disabling the SA’s ability to attack its opponents.
5. the most likely scenario, in a typical Obama fashion, will be limited Israeli strikes against targets suspected of being instrumental in planning or carrying SSMs attacks, even that seems unlikely and it will not be enough to change the course of this war.
Conclusion: Syrians must unite against Nusra terrorists and their friends and find a better way to get rid of Assad thugs than destroying what is left of their country, if rebels and Hotel-type political leaders are waiting for Obama to arm rebels that his people and top advisors do not trust they have to be total morons.
Reminder to self: Syria must have had enough morons to get where it is today, on that note, I suspect that my post will only reach few.

May 1st, 2013, 1:13 am

 

ann said:

White House mulls aggression, caution on Syria – 4/30/13

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/white-house-syria-aggression-caution-90806.html

“Whether the military effect would produce the kind of outcome I think that not only members of Congress but all of us would desire — which is an end to the violence, some kind of political reconciliation among the parties and a stable Syria — that’s the reason I’ve been cautious about the application of the military instrument of power,” Dempsey said. “It’s not clear to me that it would produce that outcome.”

Not long after his and Obama’s warnings, however, “senior administration officials” told The Washington Post that Obama “is preparing to send lethal weaponry to the Syrian opposition and has taken steps to assert more aggressive U.S. leadership among allies and partners seeking the ouster of President Bashar Assad.” The White House did not confirm that report and the Pentagon denied it.

National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden told POLITICO that the administration would “continue to consider all other possible options that would accomplish our objective of hastening a political transition, but [we] have no new announcements at this time.”

Defense officials, meanwhile, told POLITICO that Obama had not requested weapons for Syria and that commanders are still planning for the options that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he would present Obama — such as a potential no-fly zone, air strikes or others — if the president decides to intervene.

The White House has said it is considering all possible options to handle Syria.

Hayden stressed that U.S. support for the Syrian rebels is “on an upward trajectory” and that it would soon “double” to the value of about $250 million. “The items to be supplied will be decided after consultations with the [Syrian opposition] Supreme Military Command, and additional communications equipment, armor, night vision goggles, and vehicles are among the items that are being discussed.”

[…]

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/white-house-syria-aggression-caution-90806.html

May 1st, 2013, 2:26 am

 

annie said:

Operation Syria
IT HAS STARTED – INTERNET CONNECTION IS BEGINNING TO GO OUT IN SYRIA!
The local news media in #Homs, Syria said it would happen and it has begun. Warn your Syrian friends to be prepared for the worst, and pray for the best. God Bless Syria!
URGENT: Please share with media and humanitarian organisations

May 1st, 2013, 2:29 am

 

ann said:

Mortar shell lands near Iraqi Embassy in Damascus – 2013-04-30

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-04/30/c_132351144.htm

DAMASCUS, April 30 (Xinhua) — A mortar shell struck on Tuesday the vicinity of the Iraqi Embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus, leaving material damages only, local media reported.

Activists’ Local Coordination Committees (LCC) said the rebels fired mortars at the Tishreen Presidential Palace near Abu- Rummaneh.

But witnesses denied the report, saying the shell missed its target and landed instead near the Iraqi embassy.

Earlier in the day, a deadly explosion occurred near the old headquarters of the Interior Ministry in Damascus, killing at least 14 people.

Also, two mortars landed near Damascus’ Free Zone in the Jamarek area, the pro-government Sham FM radio said.

Meanwhile, according to the LCC, mortar round landed near a church located between al-Jazmatieh and al-Ghawas lanes in the capital’s central district of al-Midan.

Explosions and mortar attacks have become increasingly common in Syria as the al-Qaida terror network has become active on Syrian soil, especially after aligning with the radical al-Nusra Front.

[…]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-04/30/c_132351144.htm

May 1st, 2013, 2:48 am

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

Jobs Jobs Jobs

We understand the urge to get a job, and the disappointment that no sane employer considers cess-pool propaganda conveyance with manic-obsessive cut and paste a worthy skill, and that no one but delusional d-p athad lovers think of anti-americanism as equivalent to a college degree, and that no decent employer offers slobs surfing the net 24/7 a job opportunity…..

We understand the frustration, but it ain’t Obama’s fault. One has to look inside first; but that is a reflection skill lacking among blood-lust pornographers so obsessed with videos of death and smileys.

Damn, it is a harsh reality outside d-p athad delusion bubble.

May 1st, 2013, 4:01 am

 

Dolly Buster said:

Proverb:
“Americans won’t kill you just because your name is Omar, but the Shia will.”

 

ghufran said: I need to repeat these facts:
1. US public opinion is decisively against deeper involvement in this war,and any war.

Yes but those lamebrains don’t make any decisions. We the ruling class make the informed choices, and the working-class peasantry has no say.

Imagine if you allowed those illiterate tea partiers who hold the misspelled sign “Uphole the constitition” to make life and death decisions on genocide in the world.

This is a job for the elite.

May 1st, 2013, 5:37 am

 

annie said:

In the PBS clip Murhaf Jouejati makes much more sense than Joshua. Syrians do not want costly boots on the ground (+memories of Abu Ghraib etc.) just weapons, so they can defend themselves against the murderous Prez.

BTW, seems like Mezze still has an internet connexion.

May 1st, 2013, 5:57 am

 

Dawoud said:

Mr. Fisk, NO atrocities are unexpected from Bashar al-Assad and his Lebanese ally Hizbas$s and Iran! In any case, a decision has been made in Washington to oust Bashar sooner rather than later. Funny to see Bashar’s supporters/commentators on SC NOW worrying about the U.S. economy!

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/robert-fisk-assad-sends-his-feared-militia-squads-to-the-battlefront-8595464.html

Robert Fisk: Assad sends his feared militia squads to the battlefront

Syria’s ‘ghost’ soldiers have been accused of torturing and killing civilians. Soon they will be controlling newly captured towns, reports our Middle East correspondent

In a decision that is certain to arouse fear among the regime’s enemies, the Syrian government has decreed that thousands of volunteers loyal to President Bashar al-Assad should be recruited into uniformed and armed units under Syrian army command to fight on the front lines against anti-Assad rebels, and to control newly “liberated” towns and villages. The “National Defence Forces” will, according to their commander – interviewed by The Independent in the fiercely loyalist city of Latakia – include tens of thousands of recruits, many of them from the same Alawite branch of the Shia Islam sect to which the President belongs.

In a decision that is certain to arouse fear among the regime’s enemies, the Syrian government has decreed that thousands of volunteers loyal to President Bashar al-Assad should be recruited into uniformed and armed units under Syrian army command to fight on the front lines against anti-Assad rebels, and to control newly “ liberated” towns and villages. The “National Defence Forces” will, according to their commander – interviewed by The Independent in the fiercely loyalist city of Latakia – include tens of thousands of recruits, many of them from the same Alawite branch of the Shia Islam sect to which the President belongs.

The Syrian opposition alrea
[…]

May 1st, 2013, 6:52 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

5 Dancing Islamists

What do all the actors in the Syrian civil war have in common?

None of them are free. Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and their protectors Russia and China

Hassan Nasrallah, the Iranian import who claims to be protecting Lebanon, admits to protecting the leader nextdoor: the self-appointed Poster Child.

What a loon! These self-destructive idiots feel as though they have to keep tyrants and despots in power, because THEY are despots and tyrants!

I’m optomistic. This lunacy can not survive.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22360351

Mr. Majedkhaldoun,

I saw your recent post showing the Tsarnaev bros terrorist bombing had nothing to do with Islam.

The latest news today shows that the Saudi Arabians “warned the US in writing about Boston bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev” and he was denied an entry visa into SA in December 2011.

I am not saying terrorism like this is “Islamic”, I’m sure it isn’t, however, we see many Islamists doing this sort of thing as part of their “interpretation” of Islam. Example: Osama bin Laden

Apparently the elder brother, Tamerlan, became “radicalized” to this sort of thing the last few years of his life. You know, the typical stuff: 9-11 “Truther”, America is awful and bad (despite taking them in providing over $100k in government benefits). The mother, aparently became radicalized too. That is what I have been reading.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2317493/Saudi-official-Kingdom-warned-United-States-IN-WRITING-Boston-Bomber-Tamerlan-Tsarnaev-2012-rejected-application-entry-visa-visit-Mecca-2011.html

May 1st, 2013, 7:05 am

 

Dawoud said:

Since Bashar the war criminal, the terrorist Hasan Nasra$s, and SC pro-Bashar commentators all seem to suffer from ADD, below is the key quote in WP article on the U.S. policy shift on Syria. Bashar will be outsted this year!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-preparing-to-send-lethal-arms-to-syrian-opposition-officials-say/2013/04/30/3084d0d4-b1a6-11e2-bbf2-a6f9e9d79e19_story.html

The WP quotes an administration official as saying:

“We’re clearly on an upward trajectory,” the senior official said. “We’ve moved over to assistance that has a direct military purpose

May 1st, 2013, 8:00 am

 

revenire said:

Bashar’s Special Forces now appear confident, ruthless, politically motivated, a danger to their enemies, their uniforms smart, their weapons clean. Syrians have long grown used to the claims by Israel – inevitably followed by the Washington echo machine – that chemical weapons have been used by Bashar’s forces; as an intelligence officer remarked caustically in Damascus: “Why should we use chemical weapons when our MiG aircraft and their bombs cause infinitely more destruction?”

May 1st, 2013, 8:58 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

Reverse,

Like Saddam, WMD is the “line in the sand”, the pre-text, or the “last straw”. I wouldn’t get “hung up” on it.

Whether or not WMD they are found, they alone are not the reason to conduct regime change. I repeat. WMD alone is not the reason to conduct regime change. These two dangerous and murderous Baathist “leaders”, who are both responsible for causing hundreds of thousands of deaths, are cause enough to intervene and toss them out on the arse.

One met his accusers, the other one is in line.

May 1st, 2013, 9:06 am

 

revenire said:

Shrug.

The US used white phosphorus in Iraq. Israel uses it in Palestine.

Akbar you want Assad gone – I say he will win. Time will tell who is right.

PS – “I’m optomistic. This lunacy can not survive.”

What is “optomistic”? I know it is nitpicking but that is how I am. Anyone can make a typo in a hurry but didn’t you claim to be educated?

May 1st, 2013, 9:18 am

 

revenire said:

Press TV is one of the most honest news media organs in the world.

Bravo.

May 1st, 2013, 9:24 am

 

revenire said:

Scared…

The US loves to attack weak countries like Libya but when they come up against a strong nation like Syria they are afraid to get their jets shot down and soldiers captured or killed.

The US is running out of Afghanistan defeated. Iraq was a fiasco – the Iraqi government is helping Syria now. Libya is in total chaos – Obama helped Al-Qaeda there too (what a schizo foreign policy). All those deaths for nothing.

Look how frightened the baby-killers are of Syria:

“Syria War Draws Caution From U.S. Joint Chiefs

“Syria has five times more air defense weapons, Dempsey said Tuesday. They include state-of-the-art Russian weapons such as the SA-5 Gammon, with a range of 175 miles, and the SA-2 Pantsir-S1, a mobile surface-to-air missile system.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/30/syria-war-us_n_3187453.html

May 1st, 2013, 9:26 am

 

revenire said:

BRINGING FREEDOM TO SYRIA

An Al-Nusra leader rapes Al Jazeera reporter

TEHRAN, Apr. 30 (MNA) – A female Al Jazeera reporter who was raped by an Al Nusra commander has been transferred to Qatar.

A female Al Jazeera correspondent, who is covering the terrorist activities from different cities in Syria for months, was quickly moved to Qatar, after one of the commanders of Al Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group, raped her in Aleppo. Egyptian daily Al-Nahar reported that Ghada Oweis, Al Jazeera correspondent, has long been working alongside terrorist groups opposed to Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo to send reports to Qatari
network.

A few days ago on the invitation of one of the commanders of this Salafist group, she went to his office. Surprisingly however, the Al-Nusra militias did not allow her camera crews to enter the office.

And they took Ms. Oweis by force and told the crews to come back for interview tomorrow.

Al Jazeera correspondent was rushed out of Syria via Turkey, when it was discovered she was raped by the commander of Al-Nusra Front in Aleppo. She was transferred to Qatar later, she is emotionally in shock.

Returning to Qatar, Ghada Oweis demanded justice and asked the senior leaders of Al-Nusra group to punish this commander. Reportedly Al Jazeera is trying to prevent the reporter from affirming the news by ways of pressure and payments of huge amount of money to maintain the good image of the terrorists fighting in Syria.

The terrorist militias in Syria have been committing numerous acts of violence and shameless atrocities against the civilians, by using a Fatwa; issued by one of the Muftis of Salafists, that militias fighting in Syria can force women to ‘Jihad al Nikah’ (Girls must participate in “marriage” to fulfill their Jihad obligations in Syria).

May 1st, 2013, 9:30 am

 

ann said:

No More Right Of Return

Arab League softens stance on Israel’s final borders – Apr.30, 2013

Speaking on behalf of an Arab League delegation to Washington, Qatari PM renews call for Mideast peace, citing for first time possibility of ‘comparable,’ mutually agreed and ‘minor’ land swaps

http://www.haaretz.com/polopoly_fs/1.518314.1367285184!/image/2349077637.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_640/2349077637.jpg

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/arab-league-softens-stance-on-israel-s-final-borders-1.518313

Arab countries endorsed a Mideast peace plan Monday that would allow for small shifts in Israel’s 1967 border, moving them closer to President Barack Obama’s two-state vision.

Speaking on behalf of an Arab League delegation to Washington, Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Al Thani called for an agreement between Israel and a future Palestine based on the Israel’s border before the 1967 Mideast War. But, unlike in previous such offers, he cited the possibility of “comparable,” mutually agreed and “minor” land swaps between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Al Thani spoke after his delegation met across the street from the White House with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry, who has been pushing Arab leaders to embrace a modified version of their decade-old “Arab Peace Initiative” as part of a new U.S.-led effort to corral Israel and the Palestinians back into direct peace talks.

Those negotiations have hardly occurred at all over the past 4 1/2 years amid deep disagreement over Israeli settlement construction in lands the Palestinians hope to include in their country.

“We’ve had a very positive, very constructive discussion over the course of the afternoon, with positive results,” Kerry said at Blair House, speaking with Al Thani at a podium beside him and senior officials from five other Arab governments behind them. He praised the Arab League for the “important role it is playing, and is determined to play, in bringing about a peace in the Middle East … and specifically by reaffirming the Arab Peace Initiative here this afternoon, with a view to ending the conflict.”

[…]

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/arab-league-softens-stance-on-israel-s-final-borders-1.518313

May 1st, 2013, 9:33 am

 

revenire said:

Has anyone else noticed how the holy warriors of Al-Qaeda/FSA/Nusra have never attacked Israel in all these years? I can’t remember one attack on any Israeli interest anyplace on the planet. Isn’t that funny?

But Al-Qaeda/FSA/Nusra does attack a country who has fought Israel… Syria and threatens the only force to have beaten Israel… Hezbollah. Isn’t that weird?

I just wanted to say that.

Cheers.

May 1st, 2013, 9:33 am

 
 

Dawoud said:

Since Bashar the war criminal, the terrorist Hasan Nasra$s, and SC pro-Bashar commentators all seem to suffer from ADD, below is the key quote in WP article on the U.S. policy shift on Syria. Bashar will be outsted this year!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-preparing-to-send-lethal-arms-to-syrian-opposition-officials-say/2013/04/30/3084d0d4-b1a6-11e2-bbf2-a6f9e9d79e19_story.html

The WP quotes an administration official as saying:

“We’re clearly on an upward trajectory,” the senior official said. “We’ve moved over to assistance that has a direct military purpose

P.S. (for the benefit of the regime dummies) ADD stands for Attention Deficit Disorder 🙂 Glen Beck crazy conspiracy theories are more credible than Iran’s propaganda outlets: al-Alam, Press TV, etc.

Free Syria, Free Palestine, Bahrain is Arab forever!

May 1st, 2013, 9:48 am

 

Dawoud said:

Tehran (IPO: Iran propaganda outlet):

A female journalist working for Hasan Nasra$s’ al-Manar TV was evacuated to Beirut’s southern Dhayiha after being repeatedly raped by a gang of pro-Bashar militia, or the Shabiha from Qardaha قرداحه! This is a game-changer that the filthy animals Bashar shabiha are raping their own supporters. Will Hizba$s leader Hasan Nasr$s continue his support to the Syrian regime after a gang of Bashar’s shabiha raped an al-Manar TV reporter? Time will tell!

May 1st, 2013, 9:58 am

 

zoo said:

Ghufran

Even if the US wants to deliver weapons I doubt Turkey will help. It does not want get involved deeper in arms deliveries to rebels as it did before and prefers to play a low key in the Syria issue.
It has too many national problems to deal with before next year.
It is up to its neck with the PKK issue, the endless bickering over the new constitution, the imminence of elections and social protests starting to become more apparent.

Police stage crackdown on May Day protesters in Istanbul

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Police began battling with crowds from early in the morning with water and tear gas in a bid to keep groups, which included trade union members, members of political parties and other groups, away from Taksim Square, which is off limits to May Day demonstrations

The police crackdown on demonstrators in Şişli is ongoing, with police intermittently using tear gas to disperse small groups attempting to reassemble. Citizens affected by the tear gas fled to apartments but the thick clouds of gas affected even those staying at home with windows closed.

A group of 30 feminists, waving violet flags and shouting “all together against fascism”, was pushed back by police firing tear gas.
..
These people did not deserve tear gas, they are the workers of this country, said DİSK head Kani Beko in front of the federation’s headquarters. “No other country threw tear gas on the workers, they celebrated the May Day in peace. Many of our friends have been hospitalized. I condemn this attack, this state terror against the workers. Please do not repeat what you have done so far against the people, Istanbul’s streets should be opened to our worker friends who will be returning to their homes,” Beko added.

May 1st, 2013, 10:04 am

 

Visitor said:

All Praise be to The Al-Mighty Allah for the Infinite Blessings He continues to shower upon His servants on this Earth of His, and for facilitating the transfer of additional Hizb-of-thuggery criminals to lowest Janhannam at the hands of our victorious holy warriors and associates,

http://www.alarabiya.net/ar/arab-and-world/syria/2013/05/01/وصول-3-جثث-لمقاتلين-في-حزب-الله-سقطو-في-سوريا-إلى-لبنان.html

May 1st, 2013, 10:59 am

 

ann said:

H.E.Bashar Ja’afari on the situation in Syria – Press Conference 30 Apr 2013

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=043_1367360654

His Excellency Bashar Ja’afari is the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations hold press conference regarding the alleged use of Chemical Weapons.

He also talks about the FSA terrorists real use of Chemical Weapons and the blatant lies and manipulations of the Western “leaders” and the Mainstream Media. And the false accusations and UN cover up of the investigation of supposed WMDs in Iraq.

Plus New evidence from yesterday of FSA Terrorist using Chemicals in powder form on Civilians and then, prearranged, rushing them to Turkey for treatment.* Stay tuned for more accusations against Syria and alleged “use of chemical weapons” in the press and from the western “leaders”.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=043_1367360654

May 1st, 2013, 11:04 am

 

Dawoud said:

http://m.aljazeera.net/news/pages/a22fc2c0-5a6b-4aae-a737-add94d2949f6

معارضتا لبنان وسوريا ترفضان تحذيرات نصر الله

رفضت المعارضتان اللبنانية والسورية تصريحات أمين عام حزب الله السيد حسن نصر الله بشأن مشاركة عناصره بالقتال في سوريا، واعتبرتاه “جرا للبنان إلى الخراب إرضاء لإيران والرئيس السوري بشار الأسد”، و”تهديدات تعودها السوريون من نظام الأسد”.
وكان نصر الله أقر الثلاثاء للمرة الأولى بمشاركة حزبه في القتال في منطقتي القصير الحدودية مع لبنان والسيدة زينب قرب دمشق إلى جانب الجيش السوري، ملمحا إلى إمكانية تدخل الحزب وإيران في المعارك بشكل أكبر في المستقبل لمنع “سقوط سوريا”.

ورأى الحريري الموجود خارج لبنان أن “أخطر ما ورد على لسان الأمين العام لحزب الله يتعلق بذلك الربط الانتحاري بين المسألة السورية وبين لبنان”.

وتابع أن نصر الله نصّب حزبه “بديلا للدولة ومؤسساتها الدستورية والأمنية والعسكرية. هو وحده على رأس حزب الله من يقرر عن كل اللبنانيين… من يصدر الأوامر بزج لبنان في الحروب الإقليمية والأهلية… من يجوز له إصدار الفتاوى في مقاتلة السوريين على أرضهم”.

واعتبر أن حسن نصر الله أعلن في خطابه أمس “قيام جيش الدفاع عن الشيعة اللبنانيين في المنطقة والعالم”، و”أعطى لنفسه الحق بتوسيع نطاق عمليات حزب الله من الجنوب اللبناني لتشمل القصير والسيدة زينب في سوريا”.

ورأى الحريري أن حزب الله يقود لبنان إلى “الخراب”، ويلعب منفردا بمصير لبنان، داعيا اللبنانيين بكل اتجاهاتهم إلى تحمل مسؤولياتهم التاريخية في مواجهة هذا المشروع والتعبير عن رفضه بكل الوسائل الديمقراطية.
[…]

May 1st, 2013, 11:22 am

 

Dawoud said:

http://www.arabnews.com/news/450012
Hezbollah puts its might behind the Syrian regime

KARIM ABU MERHI
Wednesday 1 May 2013
Last Update 1 May 2013 12:30 am
Hezbollah commander Hussein Habib’s family is still mourning his death in Syria, where he fought alongside regime soldiers. But they say they are ready to offer another son up as a “martyr”.
In their town of Baalbek and other strongholds of Shiite movement Hezbollah in eastern Lebanon, it’s no longer a secret that the group’s members are crossing the border to bolster the ranks of government troops battling fighters.
Supporters of the movement, a long-standing ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, proudly describe the guerilla they say are defending Shiite land and religious sites in Syria.
Habib, a Hezbollah field commander, was killed in the countryside around Qusayr in Syria’s central Homs province, according to his family. He died about two weeks ago, they say, but they are still waiting for his body to be returned. “We’re tortured by the fact that his body hasn’t been delivered and is with the gunmen (fighters),” says Fatima Habib, a cousin. She says Habib was born in a village in the Qusayr countryside in Syria, but lived in Baalbek.
“He went to defend his family and his home,” she says.
“We have lost someone dear to us and the situation is hard but if other people from the family were needed, it would be no problem for them to go and be martyred.” Habib, a married father of two, is known in the area as a senior fighter with Hezbollah, but his family insists he was killed fighting alongside the so-called Popular Committees — groups of local pro-regime militia in Syria.
A few kilometers from Baalbek is the entrance to the town of Qasr in the Hermel region, which has been targeted by Syrian opposition shelling. The sympathies of residents are clear: Posters of Assad hang in the streets and locals refer to opposition fighters as “terrorists,” just like Syrian state media.
“Terrorists were oppressing thousands of Lebanese in Syrian border villages and they asked the resistance (Hezbollah) to help defend their land and their honor,” says Abu Fadi Kanaan. As he speaks, he looks over from the roof of his house into Syria, where black smoke is rising from Qusayr in the aftermath of a regime air raid.
“We protect our homes in these villages,” he says. “Yes, we send our children to defend them and we are ready to fight the battle.”
[…]

May 1st, 2013, 11:36 am

 

Dawoud said:

Good Riddance to Hizba$s filthy Shia terrorists:
وصول 30 جثة من قتلى حزب الله في معارك سوريا إلى لبنان
مصادر لـ”العربية”: القيادي أبوعجيب قائد لواء القدس بين قتلى الحزب
http://www.alarabiya.net/ar/arab-and-world/syria/2013/04/29/%D9%88%D8%B5%D9%88%D9%84-30-%D8%AC%D8%AB%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AD%D8%B2%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%83-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86.html

May 1st, 2013, 11:40 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

The Lastest Fashion in Men’s Suits

Visitor,

Where is al-Nusra?:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4374917,00.html

May 1st, 2013, 11:57 am

 

Dolly Buster said:

Hezbollah used to be kinda cool, there was a song “3tini slahi ya emmi” that I played here and there.
But nowadays, Hezbosatan is in the business of killing Sunnis in Syria.
This sad old man Nasralat is making self-destructive moves because he fears the death of Shia Crescent.

Take it easy on the donuts, Santa, diabetes is just as bad as the ZOG !!!

May 1st, 2013, 11:58 am

 
 
 

5 dancing shlomos said:

if the nyt had 62% of americans against, add another 15% for accuracy.

npr and the majority of npr’s guests are apologists for zionism and imperialism.

red lines?

america and israel-the-abomination, shut the f–k up.

May 1st, 2013, 12:38 pm

 

ziad said:

Russia delivers new al-Qaida warning to U.S.

Jihadists reportedly being armed by Obama administration

TEL AVIV – Russia delivered to the Obama administration a list of the names of al-Qaida members among the Syrian rebels, who are receiving arms shipments coordinated by the U.S., according to informed Middle Eastern security officials.

The list, the officials added, demonstrates the U.S. is failing to vet the rebels being supported by the West for ties to al-Qaida and other jihad groups.

The information comes amid scores of news media reports that the Obama administration is aiding the rebels, including by coordinating Arab arms shipments.

The arming of Syrian rebels is considered highly controversial. A major issue is the inclusion of jihadists, including al-Qaida, among the ranks of the Free Syrian Army and other Syrian opposition groups.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/04/russia-delivers-new-al-qaida-warning-to-u-s/

May 1st, 2013, 12:43 pm

 

zoo said:

One says yes, the other say no, the third says maybe. Until they make their minds, the weaponless and desperate “good” rebels may be wiped out either by Al Nusra or by the Syrian Army. The problem will then be solved.

The Lesson of WMDs: Obama and US Military Divided Over Syria
Wednesday, 01 May 2013 11:54 By Shamus Cooke, Counterpunch |

Has Syria crossed the “red line” that warrants a U.S. military invasion? Has it not? The political establishment in the United States seems at odds over itself. Obama’s government cannot speak with one voice on the issue, and the U.S. media is likewise spewing from both sides of its mouth in an attempt to reconcile U.S. foreign policy with that most stubborn of annoyances, truth.

The New York Times reports:

“The White House said on Thursday that American intelligence agencies now believed, with “varying degrees of confidence,” that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons…”

Immediately afterwards, Obama’s Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, gave a blunt rebuke: “Suspicions are one thing; evidence is another.”

This disunity mirrored the recent disagreement that Chuck Hagel had with Obama’s Secretary of State, John Kerry, when both testified in front of Congress with nearly opposite versions of what was happening in Syria and how the U.S. should respond. Kerry was a cheerleader for intervention while Hagel — the military’s mouthpiece — advised caution.

May 1st, 2013, 12:46 pm

 

5 dancing shlomos said:

“with varying degrees of confidence”

this means from 0% to .2%.

.2% means that syrians do use soap and water unlike the parasites of the abomination.

the parasites spit and pollute.

May 1st, 2013, 12:53 pm

 

zoo said:

Ziad

That’s a smart move the Russians are making. They are quietly undermining any chance for the USA to arm the rebels.

Without the USA or EU weapons, Qatar and KSA must buy the weapons on the black market. There are not much large weaponry available and anyway, it is more difficult to smuggle them in. Jordan, Lebanon are taking their precaution to limit smuggling of weapons to the rebels from their territories after Syria threaten them of retaliation.

Turkey is the only possible outlet and here too, Turkey wants to distanctiate itself from the issue as it has to focus on its own internal problems.

Without a new arrival of weapons and ammunition, the rebels will find themselves in a very critical situation soon.
If things go as they are now, after having blamed the whole world for their inertia, it won’t be long before they call for a ceasefire.

May 1st, 2013, 1:00 pm

 

zoo said:

America doesn’t know its real enemies

Every country where the US has intervened has been worse off because of it.

In all the wars and ‘interventions’ since 9/11, the Americans and their allies have left every country they have targeted worse off than before, be it Afghanistan, Iraq or Libya. And little will change if they decide to indulge militarily in Syria. And in all these adventures, they have failed to realise that the biggest threat has come from al Qaeda fanatics, and those fanatics have had their bread and butter, and their arms, come from the Saudi establishment and its friends. Yet Washington continues to cajole Riyadh and its allies. It seems America does not understand who its real enemies are.

– See more at: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/05/01/comment/america-doesnt-know-its-real-enemies/#sthash.FEA6QLqm.dpuf

May 1st, 2013, 1:06 pm

 

zoo said:

More signs of the rebels desperation: Car bombs to kill civilians

Two bombs rock central Damascus
Wednesday, 1 May 2013

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/05/01/Syria-activists-say-rockets-hit-central-Damascus.html

May 1st, 2013, 1:13 pm

 

revenire said:

It’s all over for the rats.

We need to contact the doctors of any SC rat supporters – I fear deep depression will descend soon.

I heard Iran just sent 50 new fighter jets as an early birthday present for Bashar – just because they can.

US policy is embarrassing. Arming Al-Qaeda? Obama is what they said he is all along: a delusional narcissist.

May 1st, 2013, 1:24 pm

 

Visitor said:

“115. Akbar Palace said:

The Lastest Fashion in Men’s Suits

Visitor,

Where is al-Nusra?:”

Akbar,

As you may know, Nusra is now busy sorting out Hizbi thugs who are destined for final termination. Bashar’s turn will come in due time.

May 1st, 2013, 1:24 pm

 

Citizen said:

120-
Putin will change his stance on Syria only when pigs fly.
Putin is no fool: he understands quite clearly that regime change in Syria is merely a prelude to regime change in Iran, and he has warned President Obama not to do this.
No matter what Secretary of State Kerry tells Putin when he goes to visit him shortly, there will be no change in the Russia position here; and this, potentially, means war with Russia.

Russia ready for naval evacuation of nationals from Syria
http://english.ruvr.ru/2013_05_01/Russia-braced-for-naval-evacuation-of-nationals-from-Syria/

May 1st, 2013, 1:32 pm

 

5 dancing shlomos said:

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/

An FBI report shows that only a small percentage of terrorist attacks carried out on U.S. soil between 1980 and 2005 were perpetrated by Muslims.

Princeton University’s Loon Watch compiled the following chart from the FBI’s data:

Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Soil by Group, From 1980 to 2005, According to FBI Database

According to this data, there were more Jewish acts of terrorism within the United States than Islamic (7% vs 6%). These radical Jews committed acts of terrorism in the name of their religion. These were not terrorists who happened to be Jews; rather, they were extremist Jews who committed acts of terrorism based on their religious passions, just like Al-Qaeda and company.

(Loon Watch also notes that less than 1% of terror attacks in Europe were carried out by Muslims.)

also to note: the 6% in u.s. and 1% in euro were state agency stings, entrapments, setups, fabrications.

if u.s can lie and fabricate about countries: syria, iraq, libya, sudan, somalia, iran, why not about its own citizens?

May 1st, 2013, 1:32 pm

 

Citizen said:

What’s Ahead for Syria?
http://www.activistpost.com/2013/05/whats-ahead-for-syria.html

Syria’s being systematically destroyed. Washington planned doing so years ago. Sovereign independence isn’t tolerated. It’s longstanding US policy.

Numerous states learned the hard way. Syria is America’s latest victim. It’s falsely blamed for Washington’s war. The pattern by now is familiar…

May 1st, 2013, 1:33 pm

 

zoo said:

Is there a need for 21th century “Sharia user’s guide” to unify the Moslems?

Most Muslims want Sharia, split on interpretation: Study

Large majorities in the Muslim world want the sharia as the official law in their countries, but they split on it should be applied, a survey says

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/most-muslims-want-sharia-split-on-interpretation-study.aspx?pageID=238&nID=46047&NewsCatID=393


A solid majority, notably in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, were in favor of sharia, traditional Islamic law, being adopted as “the law of the land” in their countries, it found. Support for sharia as the official national law stood at 56 percent in Tunisia, 71 percent in Nigeria, 72 percent in Indonesia, 74 percent in Egypt, and 99 percent in Afghanistan.

Conversely, in some countries where Muslims make up more than 90 percent of the population, relatively few want their government to codify Islamic law. In Turkey 12 percent support sharia as the national law while in Tajikistan, Azerbaijan 27 percent and 8 percent support respectively.

“Sharia has different meanings, definitions and understandings, based on the actual experiences of countries with or without sharia,” she said. The study also revealed that many Muslims favor applying sharia in the private sphere to settle family or property disputes. However, in most countries, there was less support for severe punishments, such as cutting off the hands of thieves or executing people who convert from Islam to another faith. Unlike codified Western law, sharia is a loosely defined set of moral and legal guidelines based on the Quran, the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (hadith) and Muslim traditions.

May 1st, 2013, 1:41 pm

 

zoo said:

Syria is being destroyed while Assad displays remarkable staying power

Two years in, the president still has powerful foreign friends and significant defections from the Alawite hard core are still absent
Ian Black The Guardian, Wednesday 1 May 2013
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/01/syria-destroyed-assad-staying-power
….
Journalists and commentators have spent the past two years negotiating a landscape strewn with propaganda, illusions and substantial doses of wishful thinking, finally to grasp that he has real staying power.

The president still has loyal, powerful allies, as Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, made clear on Tuesday. Lebanon’s Shia militia, he pledged, would stand by its fellow stalwart of the “axis of resistance”. Russia and Iran – “real friends” – would not let Assad fall.

Foreign friends apart, regime resilience is still part of the big picture. Military gains have been made in counter-attacks near Idlib and Damascus and rebel supply lines hit hard. Academic Thomas Pierret emphasises the “kin-based/sectarian character of the military” and the absence, still, of significant defections from the Alawite hard core of the army and security forces.

Syrians point out that the Assad family prepared for this crisis for decades, internally and externally. The president and his men talk of fighting to save the country and of elections in May 2014: that’s another fearful year away with little prospect of immediate change and a reasonable expectation of still worse yet to come.

May 1st, 2013, 2:00 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

5 Dancing Racists,

Your “loonwatch” link didn’t have any good sources supporting their wacked-out claims. Further, the US gov’t does not like to identify attacks by religion, because it can be “embarrassing”.

But, I’m afraid only in your mind, there isn’t a problem with Islamist terrorism like the one we experienced in Boston a few weeks ago. The wonderful and appreciative Tsarnaev family (said sarcastically). The uncle from MD knew what these “losers” were up to.

It’s time to confront it. Islamist terrorists have been and are currently employed by Iran and Syria and now they’re paying for it. The world is paying for their terrorist habit as well.

http://www.danielpipes.org/12604/islam-role-terror

http://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/2012/pdf/bg2682.pdf

http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/index.html#Attacks

May 1st, 2013, 2:02 pm

 

Tara said:

Zainab shrine should be targeted by the rebels next after evacuating the people and be brought to rubble.  The massage to HA and Iran should be loud and clear.  They are the enemy and they should be treated as such. After all, it is just a building.

“He warned of “very serious repercussions” if rebels destroyed or damaged the shrine of Sayida Zeinab, a site near Damascus that is a revered pilgrimage site for many Muslims, especially Shiites. Such an attack would unleash an uncontrollable conflict, he said, invoking a fearsome precedent: the destruction of a Shiite shrine in Iraq in 2006 that contributed to years of sectarian bloodletting between Shiites and Sunni Muslims there.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/world/middleeast/nasrallah-warns-that-hezbollah-is-ready-to-come-to-syrias-aid.html?_r=0

May 1st, 2013, 2:19 pm

 

revenire said:

Lots of Syrian babies are being named after Nasrallah now.

May 1st, 2013, 2:34 pm

 

Citizen said:

The Usual Suspects v. Syria

But the allegation rings hollow … or at least hypocritical:

– The Israeli government openly used chemical weapons in the West Bank at least as recently as April 26.

– The French government gassed hundreds of protesters in Paris at least as recently as April 24.

– Chemical weapons are routinely used by US regime forces for purposes as unimportant as breaking up rowdy college parties. And if we want to expand our focus to more general weapons of mass destruction, the US remains the only country to ever use nuclear weapons on large civilian populations. I suppose we could also talk about white phosphorous and depleted uranium, but you get the picture.

– Both the US and the UK supply chemical weapons to repressive regimes around the world.

http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/05/01/the-usual-suspects-v-syri/

May 1st, 2013, 2:42 pm

 

Syrialover said:

Calm, intelligent observations on Syria (in Arabic):

https://twitter.com/ghaliounn

(Background to the writer Burhan Ghalioun – though he’s stepped down from office in the opposition since this bio appeared – http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/04/201241184026297247.html)

May 1st, 2013, 2:47 pm

 

Tara said:

Ok. Let the Christian supporters call their daughters “Nasralla”. What would be the Nick name, may I ask? Nunu?

I like Yara more.

May 1st, 2013, 2:50 pm

 

Citizen said:

The rally of solidarity with the people of Syria!

http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fanti-global.ru%2Fnashi-aktsii%2Fmiting-solidarnosti-s-narodam-sirii%2F%23
Distribute!

Dear Friends! Companions! Comrades!

May 5 on the area Krasnopresnenskoj outpost near the monument “Heroes of the Revolution” will be held a rally of solidarity with the people of Syria. Starts at 13:00. (Coordinated action)

The Syrian crisis has lasted for 2 years. Hundreds of thousands of people have been victims of anti-human military. Proved futile attempts by the West to implement in Syria, “the Libyan scenario.” Russia and China have the political will to preserve peace in the Middle East region. The fire of war is profitable only interested in the U.S. imperialists and the puppet monarchies of the Persian Gulf.
The war in Syria moved down the entire Wahhabi International, which threatens to become a global threat to sovereign countries. All terrorists are going through training camp before you get to the war. Unfortunately, the CAP and the war came from Russia, who then return home to continue their “good” cases. Recently, Russian civilian aircraft underwent treacherous attack by the Syrian terrorists who fired two missiles on it. Thanks to the professionalism of the pilots managed to prevent the tragedy that led to the death of our compatriots. Such provocations terrorists are trying to intimidate us and encourage us to stop helping the Syrian people.
We invite all Russian patriots to stand up for the brotherly people of Syria and to support our campaign! Now we have a chance to fight the destructive elements with the flag on the stocks, not with a machine gun in a trench to defend their native land!

May 1st, 2013, 2:53 pm

 

Syrialover said:

AKBAR PALACE #133

Regardless of whatver else you say, if you post links to Daniel Pipes you lose me.

He has made a career out of obsessively jeering and sneering at Arabs and Islam.

I’ve observed Pipes for many years and been astonished him being considered a serious objective commentator. But of course, he has his willing audiences.

There are plenty of far better informed, more objective and rational commentators on Islam and terrorism.

May 1st, 2013, 2:57 pm

 

Citizen said:

Israel Lobby shaping US of Israel policy!
http://alethonews.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/cynthia-mckinney-israel-lobby-shaping-us-policy/
By Cynthia McKinney | April 29, 2013

It is fitting that on the same day as this headline appeared, “Pro-Israeli US lawmakers urge bombing Syria air bases, arming militants, invasion” I delivered the following remarks to the United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine:

From Cynthia McKinney: Remarks at the UN International Meeting on Palestine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia………

May 1st, 2013, 3:12 pm

 

Citizen said:

take democracy from the Democrats!
In Damascus there was another bomb blast terrorists bike. Terrorist attack occurred in an area Mazze., where the day before yesterday was an attempt to assassinate Prime Minister SAR Wael Al-Khalq.
According to preliminary reports, the victims of the explosion were 2 people, more than 10 – were wounded.

May 1st, 2013, 3:28 pm

 

Dawoud said:

Tehran (IPO: Iran Propaganda outlet):

A female journalist working for Hasan Nasra$s’ al-Manar TV was evacuated to Beirut’s southern Dhayiha after being repeatedly raped by a gang of pro-Bashar militia, or the Shabiha from Qardaha قرداحه! This is a game-changer that the filthy animals Bashar shabiha are raping their own supporters. Will Hizba$s leader Hasan Nasr$s continue his support to the Syrian regime after a gang of Bashar’s shabiha raped an al-Manar TV reporter (al-Manar TV is Hizba$s’ propaganda machine)? Time will tell!

Update: the Hizba$s’ TV reporter (from al-Manar TV) who was raped by the Qardaha Shabiha (the pro-Assad Alawi thugs) turned out to be Hasan Nasra$s’ Zawaj al-Mout’ah partner (the legal Shia one-night stand). Will Hasan Nasra$s abandon Bashar Now?

May 1st, 2013, 3:32 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Turning the ME Around

Syrialover,

I’m sorry about the sensitivities regarding Daniel Pipes. I understand it, and you have a good point. He is biased like all of us are.

But, I think, if you read some of his other articles, you will see that he is not against religion. I am sure he is for freedom of religion. He is against the 800 lb gorilla: Militant Islam.

I don’t think we should ignore it. Do you think there is a problem with militant Islam? Seriously. If you don’t we’ll just have to agree to disagree.

Here are some words from Pipes about how to confront and solve militant Islam: moderate Islam:

This aggression results not from some perverse impulse to inflict damage for its own sake; nor does it flow from the religion of Islam, which just a generation ago did not inspire such murderousness. Rather, it results from political ideas.

Ideas have no role in common criminality, which has purely selfish ends. But ideas, usually ones about radically changing the world, are central to terrorism. and especially to its suicidal variety. Unlike the rest of us, who generally accept life as it is, utopians insist on building a new and better order. To achieve this, they demand all powers for themselves, display a chilling contempt for human life, and harbor ambitions to spread their vision globally. Several utopian schemas exist, with fascism and communism historically the most consequential and each of them claiming tens of millions of casualties.

http://www.danielpipes.org/4174/how-to-end-terrorism-with-moderate-islam

I think the Arab Spring has increased the power of moderate muslims (like Tara and Majedkhaldoun for example) and I think this is very encouraging. I am hoping that the Muslim Brotherhood can be considered “moderate”.

May 1st, 2013, 3:34 pm

 

Tara said:

Dawoud,

Is the story true? Ref?

May 1st, 2013, 3:49 pm

 

Citizen said:

Iraq Is on the Brink of Collapse
http://www.journal-neo.com/node/120805
………
The hatred toward Iran felt in the Persian Gulf monarchies at the state level and by the Wahhabis towards Shiites on religious grounds have so blinded the ruling clans in Riyadh and Doha that they did not foresee that a Sunni-Shiite conflict in Iraq would only strengthen Kurdish separatism and result in Kurdistan withdrawing from the Arab state that Iraq still is. The Wahhabi analysts, if they can be called such, cannot think that after Iraqi Kurdistan declares independence it could be joined by the Kurdish regions of Syria and Turkey, and then a powerful Kurdish state with a population of almost 30 million would be hovering over northern Arabia. And that state would hardly have had friendly feelings towards Arabs, considering the bitter history of recent decades. But a powerful Kurdistan would clearly serve the interests of the United States, which would gain powerful leverage over the Persian Gulf Arabs, the main source of hydrocarbons for the world market. Israel would benefit from a weakening of the Arabs, also, as would Iran. An independent Kurdistan would make a strong ally against the Arabs.

However, things this obvious are unlikely to occur to the policy makers in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Otherwise, Riyadh and Doha would have understood that by undermining Syria they are simultaneously bringing about Iraq’s collapse. They are already taking steps of a financial and disruptive nature within Iraq that can only accelerate the process. Moreover, they are undiscriminating in their choice of allies within the country’s Sunni community — they include former Baathists, fighters belonging to al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia who are entrenched in Western Iraq’s Al Anbar province, and people on the fringes of tribes living off attacks on convoys carrying freight from Baghdad to Jordan and Syria. Still, it is obvious that the next target of the Qatari and Saudi Wahhabis after Syria will be Iraq, not Iran. Iran clearly follows Iraq on the list of the “revolution’s” objectives.

However, I do not want to attribute all of this solely to the incompetence of politicians in Riyadh and Doha عواصم دول البعير و السحالي. Behind everything is the precise and inconspicuous role played by Washington, which stays below the surface and gives its rich Arab allies in the region the dirtiest and costliest part of the job of redrawing the map of the Middle East. They pay for the wars and the conflicts, supply weapons to the opposition, hire the mercenaries and train the fighters, and pass the Arab League resolutions needed to give their actions the appearance of international legitimacy. But I can’t help wondering — can they really fail to see that the monarchies themselves will be the main ones to suffer the consequences of this shortsighted policy? The conflicts are happening not near the United States or the European Union, but right on the threshold of the Persian Gulf states. The flames of wars and revolutions will spread to them because the younger generation in those countries does not want to follow the tenets of Wahhabism. They want to live in a real, modern Western-style democracy that would simply have no place for the conservative regimes currently in place in Doha and Riyadh. And there simply is not enough money, oil or gas to avoid the turbulent events taking place in the region. That is especially true since, like Iraq, Saudi Arabia itself was formed artificially out of several parts 80 years ago, and it has its own Shiite problem. The legitimacy of the current Qatari Emir’s government is subject to challenge, considering that he seized control in a coup that removed his father from the throne in 1995, and especially since the entire Al Thani clan came to the Qatari peninsula from the sands of South Arabia only 200 years ago. As they say, what goes around comes around. Meanwhile, Doha and Riyadh are only sowing the seeds of war and revolution.

May 1st, 2013, 3:52 pm

 

zoo said:

134. Tara said:

“Zainab shrine should be targeted by the rebels next after evacuating the people and be brought to rubble.”

Are you blinded by rage and hatred? Nothing sacred anymore?

May 1st, 2013, 4:15 pm

 

ghufran said:

akbar,
I am not sure whether you are messing around or just ill-informed,
there are no moderate muslims in Syria today, even those with moderate views have been radicalized by the war, I hardly know any Syrian who does not have strong views on how this war should end, those views often include the use of violence.
Syrian expats have mostly played a cynical and negative role in this war inciting violence while enjoying a relaxed and pampered life in the West. If the war ,and troubles in other arab countries, proves anything it is that Arabs are not ready for democracy and they are not willing to share power with people they disagree with, another lesson is that Islam as a positive force only exists in text books today, this religion is mostly used to justify violence,oppression of women and hatred of others.
BTW, I have not read a single post by any israeli or jewish poster on this forum that was sincere or informative, but since Iran and Hizbullah took Israel’s place as the revolution most wanted enemy you may see a lot of flirtation between muslim thawrajiyyes and Jews today,enjoy.
(a number of news sites said that Librahimi has resigned)

May 1st, 2013, 4:16 pm

 

zoo said:

Tara

David ( alias Dawood), the foul mouth American who speaks arabic and hate Shias, always report true stories, although they smell a bit like him.

May 1st, 2013, 4:20 pm

 

revenire said:

“Syrian Perspective
Whoever said Moaz al-Khatib was a respected religious leader? He was beloved by the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood is detested in Syria. Most Syrian Sunnis do not like them. The MSM can stop lying about this scumbag. He consoled Muslim Brotherhood members after they were forced to give up their weapons. Yes, console the men who bombed schools filled with children and tell them how Allah will reward them in paradise for their service. It is interesting how he has profited off this conflict. He is currently enjoying the shores of southern Italy and its delicious seafood. Great man…
-Leith”

What a pig Khatib is.

May 1st, 2013, 4:26 pm

 

zoo said:

#148 Ghufran

Lakhdar Ibrahimi has lost his credibility months ago when he made a declaration implying that Bashar al Assad should resign. His title as a AL envoy is making him unwelcome in Syria.
He has been spending his days lamenting in the UN corridors while cashing his salary.
Syria clearly said that it will accept to see an envoy that does not represent the AL since the AL is not neutral as they have replaced the legal Syrian government by the opposition.

If Alkhdar renounces to represent the AL, the AL will feel humiliated and will boycott him.
Therefore, if Ban Ki Moon is not able to stand firm in front of Qatar’s lead AL, then Lakhdar Ibrahimi will have to resign and replaced by a UN envoy independent from the AL.

I think he will resign soon.

May 1st, 2013, 4:37 pm

 

zoo said:

Majed, do you remember july 2012…

106. majedkhaldoun said:

The Free Syrian Army declared that his forces are ready to take over Damascus,They have 30,000 soldiers, along with officers and soldiers who are ready to join,and most of Damascus residents, to do the job, The pro Assad troops must prepare themselves, their fate is coming soon, There will be surprises, Assad has to run away, probably outside Syria, but if he decided to stay, we will not bury him there, not in Damascus, not in Qurdaha either,Hopefully I will be there too, I am preparing to go back to Antakia next month,hopefully from there I will,get to Damascus.

DAMASCUS WE ARE READY TO DIE FOR YOU

https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=15332&cp=all#comment-317705
July 10th, 2012, 7:40 pm

May 1st, 2013, 4:43 pm

 

ghufran said:

The fact is, Obama has no good options. He’ll pick the least worst one, providing some kind of weapons to the rebels. That will make us feel better, neutralize the liberal interventionists and conservative Republicans who’ve been blasting him and respond to those who say he’s backing away from his red line.
It won’t turn the tide in Syria or necessarily prevent al-Assad from using chemical weapons. The other alternatives — do nothing or design a proactive and comprehensive military strategy to take out the al-Assads — aren’t in the cards.
But make no mistake: Sooner rather than later, the president will likely be faced with another decision point along the slippery slope of U.S. military intervention in Syria.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Aaron David Miller.

May 1st, 2013, 4:47 pm

 

Tara said:

Zoo,

In my opinion, human life is the only sacred entity. Buildings are only rocks and concrete. If Zainab shrine is the reason for Shiaa terrorists of HA to have contributed to killing 70.000, then bring it down. I am sure Sainab wouldn’t mind. Do not kill in her name.

It is only a building, remember?

And please do not name your daughter Nasrallah. Name her Reem, Camille, Fadwa, or Fawzia. I like them better.

May 1st, 2013, 4:51 pm

 

Tara said:

I once loved Nasrallah and everything Shiaa and everything Dahya for him. The fool I was..

May 1st, 2013, 4:54 pm

 

zoo said:

Ghufran

Danielle Pletka is another Zionist witch from the American Enterprise Institute, the once powerful neo-com thinktank that influenced Bush to attack Iraq.
Just read who are the members…

Jack Bolton, Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitch, Dick Cheney’s wife etc..

May 1st, 2013, 4:55 pm

 

zoo said:

#153 Tara

Do you think that the USA should have brought Makkah to rubble after 9/11 ?
Do you think that the Israelis should have brought the al Aqsa mosque down after Gaza war?

Many people think they should have.

May 1st, 2013, 5:00 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Ghufran said there is no moderate moslem in Syria now, they all radicalized.
I found it despicable and abhorent statement ,and I am not surprised that such statements come from Ghufran, who always spew hateful sectarian comments he is extremely radical dangerous and all what he says is poisonous
To him it is clear: justice to him is radicalization, he is against justice toward those who killed Syrians, who raped women ,who stole Syrian money just because they are his relatives , he is against taking power away from pro-Assad thugs even they have severely abused the power, and they were corrupt people, pro tyrany, they had no mercy toward the rest of Syrians when they ask for freedom and dignity, he wants to continue tyrany by his people, and if we ask for freedom and justice he called it radicalization,
What a shame to have someone like him spewing sectarianism,and lying calling freedom fighters as radicals

May 1st, 2013, 5:02 pm

 

zoo said:

#154 Tara

Coming after your heinous calls for destruction of the most sacred shrines of Islam, I think he is relieved that you don’t love him because it would certainly be reciprocal.

May 1st, 2013, 5:06 pm

 

Citizen said:

http://www.moonofalabama.org/2013/05/more-arms-for-destroying-syria.html#comments
More Arms For Destroying Syria
@dh # 32
“I think Putin has the power of the Russian people behind him. Obama has lost whatever popular power he had.”

Correct I guess , with Obama you have a ship without a captain , a lose canon so to say.

The ‘poor’ guy was a UNKNOWN before his presidency and he still is a UNKNOWN , never served in the army , never had a key postion etc.

Whereas Putin is a former KGB man , fluent in German language a ‘Busenfreund’ of Gerhard Schroeder , a man with clear a vision , a true Russian nationalist , even a distant comparision with Obama is misplaced.
I am not joking , but IMHO , Obama seems to be on drugs , like a ‘SHIREYEI’ ( someone who take higher degrees of derivates of opium ).
Reminds me of a persian joke:
“The Police raids a “Opium/Shireyei” den and the officers shout : Don’t you move !!!
One Opium/Shireyei addict ( Obamalike ) responds : ” Where do you see US move ??

May 1st, 2013, 5:07 pm

 

revenire said:

LATAKIA: JABHAT AL-NUSRA FINDS ITS NUMBERS DWINDLING AS THE SAA AND NDF WHITTLE DOWN THEIR RANKS. RUDDERLESS FOREIGNERS NOW DOMINATE THEIR ORGANIZATION.

At a military checkpoint at Khirbet Sulaas, all Jabhat Al-Nusra apes were killed including the SAUDI ARABIAN DUNG BEETLES:

MUHAMMAD MUSTAFA SHAAGHILI
MUSTAFA AL-HAWSHARI
Both belonged to the “QAWS AL-NASR BRIGADES”!! YAWN. It is a branch of “Liwaa’ Jund Allah”, double yawn.

Also joining these Saudi insects were:

‘Ammaar Qunayfadi
Mumtaaz Al-Hakeem
Saaber Sataa’eh
Muhammad Qanaatiri

TUNISIAN BARBARY APE CLIMBS THE LIANA DOWN TO HIS DEVIL MONKEY:

At Ghammaam, in Northern Latakia Governorate near Turkish Occupied Syria, a Tunisian kamikaze went to Tora Tora Tora Hell courtesy of the SAA:

‘UTHMAAN SHUHAYRI, Tunisian runt, pedophile and drug addict.
‘Abdul-‘Azeez Sumuw
Abdul-Hameed Biyaas
Saarem Abdul-Kareem Saaleh
Ismaa’eel Al-Shaykh-‘Ali
Mutawalli Al-Haaj Khamees
Mustafa Al-Haafez

May 1st, 2013, 5:13 pm

 

ghufran said:

I maintain my personal opinion that most of those who are killed in Syria are victims, the real culprits who are calling the shots are safe and at times live thousands of miles away. Religious leaders who are advocating violence are worse than those who fire their weapons at their country men, those leaders are now saying that since rebels enemies are heretics or non muslims they have no right to demand equal and humane treatment and their women can be taken as Sabaya.
What allowed Assad and his thugs to survive two years of a brutal warfare is the stupidity of his enemies and their alliance with international islamist terrorism which is still the West’s number one enemy,western governments think that other enemies, including iran and the Syrian regime, are not as dangerous to them.
ironically, many Syrians have reached the same conclusion !!

May 1st, 2013, 5:18 pm

 

Tara said:

Zoo,

The US should have brought down presidential palaces in all Arab countries including the KSA. This would have cured terrorism.

And what happened to “buildings are only buildings” when your regime brought down Al Omari mosque? Weren’t those your words? Or is it a short term memory loss? If memory becomes an issue, I will help you… Me and my good heart. I definitely do not want you to say “Tara who”? In few months

And I couldn’t care less for someone like Nasrallah to like me. I feel nauseous looking at him.

May 1st, 2013, 5:20 pm

 

zoo said:

The opposition is in a state of shock and disarray. Nasrallah answered to the opposition warnings with tough threats of escalation

Hezbollah, rebels trade barbs over Syrian war
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hezbollah-rebels-trade-barbs-over-syrian-war.aspx?pageID=238&nid=46056&NewsCatID=352

Hezbollah and the Syrian opposition trade barbs over Syria, with Nasrallah saying rebels will not able to bring the regime down by militarily
Syria’s opposition denounced yesterday what it called “threats” from the head of the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, and warned against any intervention by the movement or by Iran in the Syrian conflict.

“The Syrians and the Lebanese hoped … that the Hezbollah leadership would stop their attacks on Homs and Damascus and take into account the gravity of the situation in the region,” the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) said in a statement. “But they heard nothing but threats … and warnings against setting the region on fire and an admission of their interference in Syrian affairs,” the opposition grouping said.

“Syria’s allies in the region and the world would not allow it to fall “into the hands of Americans, Israel and extremists.”
The battle is long … We tell you [Syrian rebels] that you will not be able to bring this regime down through military means,”

May 1st, 2013, 5:20 pm

 

zoo said:

#163 Tara

I never called for the destruction of any religious symbols. Some mosques and churches were damaged and destroyed accidentally during fights.
But you seem to call for a premeditated destruction of sacred Shia shrine as a heinous act of revenge.

That’s the difference.

May 1st, 2013, 5:30 pm

 

Ameera said:

لما بسمع صوتك بنسى
كل اللي بدي قولوا
بدي قلك علي بقلبي
ويقولوا شو ما يقولوا

قلتلك بدي شوفك
ل إحكيلك عن همي
عن اللي شاغلي بالي
واللي عم يجري بدمي

بدي ابدا كيف ما بعرف
رتب كلمة على كلمة
خايف تتلخبط أفكاري
أو حتى انسى اسمي

جمالك شتت أفكاري
وسرقلي عقلي مني
ليلي عم بيسير نهاري
وهادا يلي محيرني
يا مين يرجعلي قلبي
من ايدك ويريحني
نيال اللي عايش فاضي
شو مرتاح و متهني

May 1st, 2013, 5:35 pm

 

Ameera said:

يا جماعة الخير لك شو صاير بأعلكن يعني لما امريكا تئصف الشام كل البيوت رح تهبط على صحابا و مارح يضل منون مخبر لك انتو بهاليل شي

May 1st, 2013, 5:39 pm

 

Dawoud said:

145. TARA

No Tara. It is obviously a cynical joke in response to the pro-dictator 103. REVENIRE, who claimed a fabricated/untrue story that Ghada Awais of Aljazeera was facing a similar fate. His source was an Iran-based news story with no links and any verification. It is typical of the regime and its supporters, including those commentators on this blog. Now, sister TARA, you should have known that it is a cynical joke by reading that I wrote: IPO: Iran Propaganda Outlet 🙂

No, I don’t wish any female, including those from Hizbistan, to be raped. All humans, including criminals, deserve to be treated fairly.

May 1st, 2013, 5:40 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Zoo
151
Please make your point,I don’t understand what are you trying to say.
I was right in predicting the battle for Damascus where it is going on now, you should praise me for making a prediction that came true.

Zoo #156
You twist fact and compare orange to apple
Neither mecca Kaabeh nor Aqsa mosque has a tomb in them, they are a place to worship God, where Zainab Mazar is a place where supposedly there is Zainab tomb, it is a place to worship a person.
Further I say supposedly because it is a lie , there, is not a place where Zainab was buried, it is empty tomb.

Saying that I disagree with Tara statement that we should level the Mazar, it should stay to point out always to the stupidity of those who worship empty tomb,to those who worship people rather than God

May 1st, 2013, 5:42 pm

 

Ameera said:

والله الناس تعبت و انتو بدكن ئتل و خراب لك روحو صلو وقولو الله يرجع السلم و الامان حاجة اعدين متل ديك الجن و غراب البين

May 1st, 2013, 5:43 pm

 

Tara said:

Zoo,

Yes. There exists a big difference. You approve massacres and you cheer the perpetrators. I don’t. Approving massacre is heinous and plain evil too.

May 1st, 2013, 5:44 pm

 

zoo said:

With Nasrallah calls for a war against extremists the long waited hopes of the USA is coming true:
The Hezbollah will fight to death against Al Qaeda. The weakened winner will be then be easily crushed by Israel or the USA.

The USA won’t send any weapons for fear of re-enforcing al Qaeda.
They just have to sit and watch the game and who cares if Syrians dies.

May 1st, 2013, 5:44 pm

 

Observer said:

I just listened to NPR and the debate between JL and Andrew Tabler. I must confess that I am a little surprised at the very defensive tone that JL exhibited especially as he came across as a regime supporter. I do not think he is a regime supporter but he clearly is concerned as I am at the fate of the minority in power.

When he says that Syrians should be left to sort it though I think he is most disingenuous for if he is asking for non intervention it should have included Russian and Iranian and HA intervention which is blatant and massive.

When he asks for non intervention he deliberately fails to mention SCUDS and air force use with cluster phosphorus concussion and explosive barrels on civilian populations. He fails to mention that close to 3 million structures have been damaged and 500 000 have been destroyed and certainly not by AK 47 but by inaccurate MRL.

It was important to mention his connection to the minority sect and therefore an added burden on him to convince the audience of his objectivity. It is only natural that one feels and cares for his/her genetic progeny.

In the meantime the fighting continues. I have it on more than one source that the HA fighters have to be payed to fight and that often they sell weapons to the FSA.

They are not willing to die for Athad. That is why the mention of shrines by their failed leader to bring them to the fight.

Meanwhile the boy has visited the electrical power plant to make sure electrocution of detainees is not interrupted I gather.

Repent the end is near.

Cheers

May 1st, 2013, 5:51 pm

 

Ameera said:

قبل ما نفسخ الخطبة خطيبي الله يهدو و لا يوجهلو الخير كان يحطلي هالغنية مشان نتصالح

زعلي طول أنا وياك و سنين بقيت
جرب فيهن أنا إنساك ما قدرت نسيت
لو جيت نهار عابيتي لقيت إنك حبيبي بغيابي جيت
بتشوف إن ما مرقوا إلا إيديك على هالبيت
كإنك حبيبي و أنت عينيك هلق فليت
يا ريتك هون حبيبي و ليل
و يكون نبيد و شمع الليل
و أكتبلك عا ورقة حتى ما قول ما بقدر قول
يا ريتك مش رايح يا ريت بتبقى عطول

May 1st, 2013, 5:53 pm

 

syrialover said:

AKBAR PALACE #144

What? What? OF COURSE I think there is a problem with militant Islam. I have frequently posted comments and links here condemning it.

And I didn’t say Daniel Pipes is against religion. I said he has an open contempt for Islam which has been a trademark of his for years. He has made a rich career of being a “specialist” who boasts he has studied Arabic and read the koran and spent time in Egypt and so on and so on.

Your quotes from him above are hardly an original analysis or description – he’s just jumped onto that bandwagon with gusto.

He is one person who should stay away from the subject of Islam. He exploits and sensationalizes it as a vehicle for his crude anti-Arab prejudices and to delight his equally prejudiced followers.

May 1st, 2013, 5:55 pm

 

Dawoud said:

149. ZOO

Shut your pro-dictator mouth! Obviously, I was making a joke in response to the fabricated story by REVENIRE about Aljazeer’s reporter. So it wasn’t true, dummy! It shows that anybody can make up stories, which is what you pro-dictator commentators and propagandists do all the time. REVENIRE false story was based on unverifiable Iranian propaganda source. Shame on you and him.
P.S. I don’t hate Shia or Shiite. I only hate pro-dictator people. Unfortunately, most of the pro-dictator people these days happen to be Shia or Shiite from Lebanon’s Hizbistan, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, etc. …They support the dictator for sectarian reasons because, although he is an S.O.B., he is their S.O.B.!

Attention Sister Tara:
Please read my above comment number 145, if you haven’t already done so. Thanks. We will have lunch in a free/liberated Damascus soon. Please, I will pay the bill! 🙂

May 1st, 2013, 5:57 pm

 

Ameera said:

شو يا داوود بدك تتغدى انت و تارة بالشام ايه لا تسن سنانك ابي لانو ما ضل في شام اصلا و اذا ضرب الامريكاني معناها العوض بسلامتك

بس والله كان احب على ألبي تيجو لعنا كلكم و ساويلكم حراء باصبعو و ابو شلهوب مع زبدية ششبرك

May 1st, 2013, 6:04 pm

 

Dawoud said:

177. AMEERA
سوف نعيد بناء الشمام. الله يخليلك اسنانك! أسناني بخير! اذا كنت بتكرهي بشار تعالي معي ومع تاره على المطعم

May 1st, 2013, 6:10 pm

 

Tara said:

Ameera

How do you like this ?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=WlOZoD0PYCg

Or even better, this:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=62AhXZ6aCFU

And some on SC claims there has been no Damascene cultural pedigree.

May 1st, 2013, 6:17 pm

 

Tara said:

Dawoud,

Sorry for being dull.

Ameera is lovely the way she is. Let us keep her beautiful and not involve her in politics. She is welcome to have lunch with us. I will pay for her. 😉

May 1st, 2013, 6:23 pm

 

Tara said:

,,,,

May 1st, 2013, 6:24 pm

 

Dawoud said:

180. TARA

Thanks Tara. بس ولله الاكك على حسابي

Now, that Hasan has admitted Hizbistan’s role in carrying war crimes in Syria, the day after Damascus is liberated the FSA should move to Beirut to arrest him. His own cult-of-personality speeches incriminates him!

May 1st, 2013, 6:27 pm

 

zoo said:

Tara

I never approved massacres and never called for more blood. I never expressed hatred. I kept saying that this war is a horror that brings the worst in people and that is has to stop through negotiations not through confrontations as it is the civilians and the country who are paying the heavy.

While you are the one who have filled hundred of posts with heinous calls for death, for more blood, for deliberate revenge, for destruction of holy sites and for a violent military victory at any cost.

Your posts and mine say it all.

May 1st, 2013, 6:29 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Ameera
You reminded me with shishbarak ششبرك

Do you fry the meat before you put it inside the dough,or you don’t

It reminds me with Labaniyyeh

May 1st, 2013, 6:31 pm

 

Dawoud said:

انت يا أخ ماجد معزوم معنا على مطعم في دمشق الحره.
shishbarak ششبرك لذيد
🙂

May 1st, 2013, 6:35 pm

 

zoo said:

#176 David (alias Dawood)

It seems that all your stories are made up and you admit it only when you are cornered by a naive commenter that trusts you.

Keep on the propaganda with more fake stories. You are as a joke as your own stories.
I think you better meet your friends for lunch in Tel Aviv because this is where you belong, if they still trust you.

May 1st, 2013, 6:37 pm

 

revenire said:

I can’t say I am shocked at seeing Tara yet again call for the mass murder of Shia.

I don’t know what happened to her in life that has brought out this ugly display but lately I’ve been skipping her posts. There was a time I felt Tara would come to her senses and realize Assad will never be beaten but I think the SAA victories have sent our Tara spiraling out of control.

All we can do is pray now.

May 1st, 2013, 6:40 pm

 

zoo said:

#169 majed

” The mazar should stay to point out always to the stupidity of those who worship empty tomb,to those who worship people rather than God”

What seems impossible to destroy is your own stupidity and your narrow views of religions.

You make Islam appear for it is not. You are a shame to all decent and respectful Moslems.

May 1st, 2013, 6:47 pm

 

Dawoud said:

186. ZOO

Again, you are a dummy! All my stories, unless they are clearly my own thoughts, have verifiable links. The story that you believed because you are intellectually-disadvantaged (and that’s why you support dictators) included: “IPO: Iran Propaganda Outlet!” Dummy 🙂

As to you calling me “David,” I have no problem with that. I have nothing against Jews, and some of my best college professors were Jewish. I had dated a Jewish woman in college (Now, I am a faithful married man الحمد لله الغفور الرحيم). I don’t criticize Judaism as a religion, I only oppose the Zionist ideology that promotes the oppression of the Palestinians and the colonization of their lands. Similarly, I don’t hate Shia or Shiite. I only hate pro-dictator people. Unfortunately, however, most of the pro-dictator people these days happen to be Shia or Shiite from Lebanon’s Hizbistan, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, etc. …They support the dictator for sectarian reasons because, although he is an S.O.B., he is their S.O.B.!

May 1st, 2013, 6:50 pm

 

zoo said:

Majed

The prediction of the imminent fall of Damas you made was in July 2012.
It came true? Really? I did not notice.
My dear, we are in may 2013, not in 2012 anymore. I guess Alzeimer has started in eating your sense of time in addition to giving you illusions of victories. Time to move to Antakya.

169. majedkhaldoun said:

Zoo
151
Please make your point,I don’t understand what are you trying to say.
I was right in predicting the battle for Damascus where it is going on now, you should praise me for making a prediction that came true.

May 1st, 2013, 6:59 pm

 

zoo said:

David

Your posts are full of “love”.
Your private life presents no interest whatsover.
You are just building it up to get more credibility as an pro-arab american who speaks arabic
You are fake to the bones.

May 1st, 2013, 7:02 pm

 

Tara said:

Zoo,

Please don’t kid yourself. Denying massacres is approving them. You denied massacres when committed using knives and cheered for them when they are inflicted via air bombardment.

You called for a dialogue of the hyena with its victims. You never called for a real dialogue.

You can label your emotions anyway you like. Labels do not matter.

May 1st, 2013, 7:04 pm

 

Dawoud said:

http://www.aljazeera.net/opinions/pages/c2882dad-9826-4ebc-bb10-1d70018d621b

جناية إيران على الشيعة العرب

لم يكن ربيع العرب غير ثورة ضد الديكتاتورية والفساد والتمييز بمختلف أشكاله، بما فيه التمييز على أسس عرقية وطائفية ومذهبية (التبعية للخارج تحضر أيضا)، لا سيما أن الأنظمة العربية في طبعتها البائسة الأخيرة لم تكن ذات هوية أيديولوجية أو عرقية أو طائفية أو مذهبية، بقدر ما كانت تعبيرا عن تحالف نخب السلطة والثروة وأجهزة الأمن، وهي نخب غالبا تكون عابرة للهويات بكل أشكالها، مع استثناء للأنظمة الوراثية.

ذهبت القيادة الإيرانية إلى وصف ما جرى في تونس ومصر بأنه “صحوة إسلامية”، حيث شملت بذلك البحرين بطبيعة الحال، لكنها ما لبثت أن نكصت على عقبها حين وصل الربيع إلى سوريا

من هنا، كان ربيع العرب مبشرا بإعادة الاعتبار للإنسان، بصرف النظر عن انتمائه ما دام مواطنا في البلد الذي يعيش فيه، وهو ما يعني شطبا للغة التمييز القديمة التي أصابت من ضمن ما أصابت الأقليات الشيعية في المنطقة، من دون أن تكون خيرا على الغالبية، إذ أفقرتها وقمعتها لحساب النخب إياها.
في البداية ذهبت القيادة الإيرانية إلى وصف ما جرى في تونس ومصر بأنه “صحوة إسلامية”، حيث شملت بذلك البحرين بطبيعة الحال، لكنها ما لبثت أن نكصت على عقبها حين وصل الربيع إلى سوريا.

هذا الموقف غير الأخلاقي فُرض بسطوة القوة السياسية الناعمة، وبسطوة الدعم والاختراق على سائر الشيعة العرب، باستثناء قلة قليلة لا تكاد تذكر تمردت عليه، الأمر الذي أخذ ينتج بمرور الوقت فرزا مذهبيا بالغ الحدة في المنطقة، ليس في الدول التي تتوفر فيها أقليات شيعية كم هو حال بعض دول الخليج ولبنان، أو تفوق (نسبي) كما في العراق والبحرين (هناك جدل دائم بشأن النسب المئوية)، بل في معظم العالم العربي، وحتى الإسلامي، إذ لا يمكن النظر إلى ما يجري في باكستان من عنف مذهبي مثلا بمعزل عن هذه الأجواء البائسة.

في الأجواء السنيّة التي تشكل غالبية الأمة، ثمة أجواء حشد مذهبي ضد الشيعة لم يسبق لها مثيل في التاريخ الحديث (دعك من الموقف الحدي ضد إيران)، مع أن السنّة لم يُعرف عنهم شيء كهذا، إذ تعاملوا طوال الوقت بوصفهم الأمة التي تستوعب الأقليات التي تعيش في كنفها، بما فيها تلك التي لا تعترف بالإسلام دينا سماويا، أو تتبع مذاهب تصطدم كثيرا مع المبادئ السنّية المعروفة
[…]

May 1st, 2013, 7:13 pm

 

zoo said:

Tara

You are always finding a cheap twist to get out or a corner.

I think you would be in better company with Visitor, Majed and the brilliant David: they call you sister, and they are waiting for the day you’ll call them brothers.
Don’t let them wait, you share too much with them, you deserve them.

May 1st, 2013, 7:15 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Zoo
In response to your personal insult #190
When I pointed to the stupidity of the Shiaa ,who worship people instead of God that cause you to respond in an obnoxious way, It is clear you are ashamed of what Shiia stands for, this is admission by you that they are silly and tupid.
Shiaa are not Islam,they worship empty tombs and they worship persons, and now you worship Assad and that other criminal Hassan Nasrallah, obviously you can not discuss, you can not support your religion,and you have nothing to do with Quraan or true Islam.
You supported building a mosque to Abu Lu2lu2a even that he was never moslem.
What we need Zainab Mazar is to build around it a hospital for mentally sick people, so people know that the area is infested with mentally sick people there, and yes there where you belong

May 1st, 2013, 7:16 pm

 

Dawoud said:

195. majedkhaldoun

لا تتعب نفسك بالرد على حديقه الحيوانات. يعني بدها فصاحه انك تعرف انو مناصري بشار وحسن نصر الشيطان اغبياء؟

May 1st, 2013, 7:21 pm

 

zoo said:

Who wouldn’t cry? Karim Hamdane on the fate of Aleppo
4,461,97 visitors

May 1st, 2013, 7:22 pm

 

zoo said:

Majed

For your own sake, please stop! You are ridiculing yourself publicly with these sectarian and imbecile judgements on a sect you hardly understand and that you hate so much.
I repeat it: You are a shame to decent and respectful Moslems.

May 1st, 2013, 7:29 pm

 

Tara said:

Zoo,

It just occur to me..

Thinking of your feeling towards Majed, Tara, Aboud, Sami, Hamster, Visitor, Sheila, SL, Georges, and few others begs the question: Have you ever had any relationship with majority Syrians in real life? Have none of the generic us ever had an eye contact with you? Have we ever smiled at you and you smiled back? Has any of our girls given you a second look to check you out after the first incidental one? Do you know us at all?

Edit: i wrote above before reading your last 2 posts. And you deserve Ann and Asma too.

And I don’t think you ever cried. I sometimes don’t think you have a heart.

May 1st, 2013, 7:29 pm

 

Dawoud said:

199. TARA

أختار اسمه يكون “حديقه الحيوانات!” شو بتتوقعي منو أو منها؟

May 1st, 2013, 7:39 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Zoo
You are typical Shiaa,delusional, multiple personality, fabricaror, misinterpretor of things, you truely belong there

May 1st, 2013, 7:50 pm

 

Visitor said:

“….Nothing sacred anymore?”

Zoo the delusional retard,

As you well know by now, when I make a comment addressed to you, it is only meant to express contempt and scorn at your stupidity and ignorance.

I find the above nonesense uttered by your idiotic empty skull worthy of such contemptuous reply. What is sacred to your delusional empty skull?

And, in case you have forgotten, I always called for the destruction of this so-called shrine and for levelling it with the ground.

Our holy warriors of the Nusra Front and associates must make it a priority. It should be destroyed along with few other such sites in the eastern part of Syria (Iraq) where mullah-stan nurtures some stooges. That is why our holy warriors of the Iraq branch must make these tasks also priorities.

May Allah The All-Mighty have Infinite Mercy upon the soul of his eminence Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abd Al-Wahhab and grant him the highest place in His Paradise for making shirk clear for all Muslims to see.

May 1st, 2013, 7:59 pm

 

zoo said:

Syrian president showing renewed confidence
By ZEINA KARAM
Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 3:14 p.m.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20130501/API/1305010947?p=1&tc=pg
….
Abdulhamid said that if groups like al-Nusra increase their profile in Syria, there will be a greater willingness among some Western leaders to listen to Assad’s argument again.

“The mantra of `Either us or the extremists’ is slowly but surely regaining some of its popularity and relevance in decision-making circles in the West,” he said.

May 1st, 2013, 8:00 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Ameera:
ع راسي حارتك
Ameera summarizes the agony of most syrians, many expats especially those who have not lived in Syria for decades, like Hitto, are unable and unwilling to understand.
الاسد او نحرق البلد was an evil slogan, it only materialized when islamists joined Assad thugs in a war that destroyed the country. Two years ago, the wise ones among you,very few, warned that this war will only produce losers, most of you,including the hypocritical surgeon, laughed at the concept, now most syrians have lost the ability to smile.

May 1st, 2013, 8:00 pm

 

zoo said:

Visitor

Your writings brings shame on decent and respectful Moslems.

You prayers are as empty as your brain and your admiration for al Nusra holy warriors makes you a soul brother to the Chechens terrorists.
Enjoy your stay in the USA as long as it lasts.

May 1st, 2013, 8:06 pm

 

Dawoud said:

http://almesryoon.com/permalink/128471.html

الشبكة السورية: مقتل 94 شهيدًا برصاص قوات الأسد

May 1st, 2013, 8:08 pm

 

zoo said:

Majed

..and you have the symptoms of a typical Alzheimer patient close to dementia.

May 1st, 2013, 8:13 pm

 

Tara said:

I want to make one thing clear.  I do not condone leveling off religious shrines.  I don’t care what people worship or don’t worship.  It is their business.  I was just responding to Nasrallah’s warning of grave consequences if Zainab’ shrine is touched.  We have already seen it all from throat slitting to aerial bombardment to indiscriminate mortar shelling to chemical weapons.  There is nothing else this murderous children killer can do and therefore we may need to teach him and his followers a lesson that his rhetorics are as empty as what is inside his outfit.  That is all.   

May 1st, 2013, 8:14 pm

 

Ghufran said:

I do not know what the FSA is waiting for, they say that they are there to defend civilians, yet they allow nusra and other terrorists to shell residential areas and detonate car bombs, saying that the FSA is against terrorism is not good enough, most syrians and non syrians alike blame rebels, all rebels, for those types of attacks. Abdulhameed, whom I dislike, is right, nations of the world are now more suspicious of the rebels and will not put military pressure on the regime because they see the rebels as a bigger danger than Assad. Syrians are now wondering what did they gain from this revolution, they are terrified, unsecured, poorer and hopeless, all of that was supposed to be the ” price of freedom” but now they feel cheated: they paid the price but they are less free.
( more of my poisonous posts to come, khalloudeh)

May 1st, 2013, 8:21 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

175. syrialover said:

AKBAR PALACE #144

What? What? OF COURSE I think there is a problem with militant Islam. I have frequently posted comments and links here condemning it.

Syrialover,

OK. Great I believe you. So you and I and Dr. Pipes are on the same page as far as this is concerned.

So now that we agree on this, what do we do about it? How do we change it?

And I didn’t say Daniel Pipes is against religion. I said he has an open contempt for Islam which has been a trademark of his for years.

Syrialover,

As much as I respect you, this statement is negating itself. If Daniel Pipes isn’t against religion, he would not be perceived as having “contempt for Islam”.

Reading his articles (and as you know he has a lot of them), he seems to make a distinction between Islam the religion and “militant Islam”. Dr. Pipes believes (under the article topic “moderate muslims”) that moderate muslims can defeat the type of “militant Islam” that is consuming the ME.

His “solution” is Islam, “moderate Islam”. I think he makes a great point. As I wade through this website I read posts from moderates (who I can have a normal and respectful conversation with) and I read posts from people who consider me, my people, and my people’s homeland to be “a project”, sub-human, “criminal”, responsible for everything wrong in the world, and illegal.

So I’ve learned that one can be a muslim and also be moderate. The more powerful the moderates, the less powerful the rejectionists (aka militant Islamists).

http://www.danielpipes.org/4174/how-to-end-terrorism-with-moderate-islam

He has made a rich career of being a “specialist” who boasts he has studied Arabic and read the koran and spent time in Egypt and so on and so on.

Look, I understand. I always take “professors” and their accomplishments with a grain of salt. We all judge them by their opinions.

Your quotes from him above are hardly an original analysis or description – he’s just jumped onto that bandwagon with gusto.

How is his analysis of promoting “moderate islam” jumping onto a band wagon? Who else is promoting this?

He is one person who should stay away from the subject of Islam.

Why:

Pipes returned to Harvard in 1973 and obtained a Ph.D. in medieval Islamic history[7] in 1978. His Ph.D. dissertation eventually became his first book, Slave Soldiers and Islam, in 1981. He studied abroad for six years, three of which were spent in Egypt, where he wrote a book on colloquial Egyptian Arabic which was published in 1983. He switched his academic interest from medieval Islamic studies to modern Islam in the late 1970s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Pipes

I agree with you, having a muslim tell me about Judaism is odd and I would probably feel negative about it. The point I’m making is, I don’t think he hates the muslim religion, I think he has contempt for the militant form of Islam.

He exploits and sensationalizes it as a vehicle for his crude anti-Arab prejudices and to delight his equally prejudiced followers.

I can see where you may feel he is prejudiced. But I don’t think he exploits or sensationalizes. I think he just tell us where we are and what to expect. Like Assad and the (islamist) opposition. I think he dislikes both.

May 1st, 2013, 8:22 pm

 

Syrialover said:

OBSERVER, I appreciated your observations in #173.

Nasrullah has a very tough selling job getting his boys to become cannon fodder in Syria. Here’s one desperate and bizarre angle he’s trying, which I posted before:

“ Kanaan[Hizbollah spokesman] brushes aside critics who say Hizbullah has strayed from its stated focus of “resistance” to Israel.

“We’re keeping an eye on Israel… and these (rebels) are Zionists as well,” he says.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/81373

May 1st, 2013, 8:32 pm

 

ziad said:

Majed, Dawoud, Tara

I posted yesterday the prophet’s recommendations to the fighters of the battle of Mu’tah. I post it here again:

وصية الرسول (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)لأمراء الجيش
أمر الرسول على هذا البعث زيد بن حارثة، وقال‏:‏ ‏(‏إن قتل زيد فجعفر، وإن قتل جعفر فعبد الله بن رواحة‏)‏، وعقد لهم لواء أبيض، ودفعه إلى زيد بن حارثة‏.‏ وأوصاهم أن يأتوا مقتل الحارث بن عمير، وأن يدعوا مَنْ هناك إلى الإسلام، فإن أجابوا وإلا استعانوا بالله عليهم، وقاتلوهم، وقال لهم ‏:‏ ‏(‏اغزوا بسم الله، في سبيل الله، مَنْ كفر بالله، لا تغدروا، ولا تغلوا، ولا تقتلوا وليداً ولا امرأة، ولا كبيراً فانياً، ولا منعزلاً بصومعة، ولا تقطعوا نخلاً ولا شجرة، ولا تهدموا بناء‏)‏‏. وقد خرجت نساء المسلمين لتوديع ازواجهن وهن يقولون ((ردكم الله الينا صابرين)) فرد عبد الله بن رواحه وقال ((اما أنا فلا ردني الله))

To me, it states very clearly that in time of war, Muslims should not forget their humanity, and even more importantly, they should not forget their enemy’s humanity. It seems to me that you subscribe to the idea that in war every thing goes. Bombing mosques, and shrines, killing women and children, raping women in conquered place are all permissible as long as the victims are heretics in your eyes. These acts are committed every day in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Muslims are completely silent about it.

Unfortunately today there are two separate “Sunni” Islam. They only share the basic rites and nothing else. On the one hand there is a Sunni Islam that is rational, humane, tolerant, and peaceful. This Islam attracts more than 20,000 converts every year in the U.S. alone. On the other hand there is the Wahhabi/Salafi Islam, dogmatic, intolerant, angry, and violent. This Islam, if left unopposed by Muslims will cause many thousand Muslims to abandon their religion.

May 1st, 2013, 8:37 pm

 

mjabali said:

Tara:

Funny when Akbar Pizza is calling you a moderate Muslim, while you on the same thread call for the destruction of the Shia Shrine of Sitti Zaynab…The other day you called to operate on Mubarak without putting his to sleep… what a moderate?

As for your pedigree poet Nizar Qabbani: I say he is no more than an average poet. Remember he published his own poetry. Is there any pedigree who do anything like this? The word pedigree should be used less. Not any fool should be able to use this word especially when talking about something they do not know, like modern Arabic poetry.

To call someone a pedigree in poetry is a huge responsibility.

In modern Arabic Poetry Nizar Qabbani is a fraud. I never liked him and never will. He made his name with his poetry that put women down, or cursing at the Arabs. He was into self flogging or describing what he would do to women. What a poet! What a pedigree! Then he would go and publish his rants in small books and sell it for cheap. What a pedigree!…

If you want to talk pedigrees in Arabic Modern Poetry, in my humble opinion only Badr Shaker al-Sayyab of Iraq and Amal Dunqul of Egypt could come close.

The rest range from first class poets like al-Bayyati, Sa’adi Yusif, Nazek al-Mala’ikeh, al-Nawwab, Najm, ….etc to impostors that call themselves poets.

An example of al-Sayyab’s poetry:

فاجأ الجند حتى جراحي ودقات قلبي
فاجأوا كل ماليس موتاً وإن كان في مقبرة
فاجأوني كما فاجأ النخلة المثمرة
سرب جوعى من الطير في قرية مقفرة

May 1st, 2013, 8:46 pm

 

Dawoud said:

212. ZIAD

You say:
“It seems to me that you subscribe to the idea that in war every thing goes….”

NO, ZIAD, I do NOT subscribe to this inhumane idea. In fact, in an earlier comment I said that even criminals must be treated humanely. So, I don’t know why you say so about me. Maybe, you mistaken my harsh expose of the pro-dictator commentators’ stupidity as calling for criminality. For example, I call Lebanon’s Hizbistan leader “Hasan Nasra$s,” and that’s because I can’t see why a person who supports Bashar’s war crimes could have “allah” in his last name.

NO, one can’t fight war crimes with war crimes.

You seem to be a nice guy and we seem to have similar anti-dictator agreements. However, I DEMAND YOUR ABPOLOGY!

THANKS

May 1st, 2013, 8:47 pm

 

mjabali said:

The Lebanese Shia are protecting their villages from the International Salafi creeps. The Sunnis of that area made it obvious that they are intent on attacking the Shia villages. They did attack those villages on numerous occasions. Hizzballah’s involvement is expected from a while back, the question now are we going to witness any clashes in Lebanon itself?

al-Qusayer and its surroundings have witnessed nothing but sectarian attacks from day ONE.

May 1st, 2013, 8:51 pm

 

Dawoud said:

P.S., I am a moderate Sunni Muslim and my historical heroes include Omar Ibn al-Khatab because he was BOTH strong and just. He was afraid that even inadvertently committing justice against his enemies. Justice and humanity for him were raceless, colorless, and religiousless! I hope Shia stop insulting Sunnis by fabricating disrespectful stories about Omar and Abu Bakr!

May 1st, 2013, 8:52 pm

 

mjabali said:

Obama is showing that he is lost and has no policy for Syria. Why not push full force for the political solution. Mu’az al-Khatib was the only one so far that thought outside of the box and that is why he has wide support from pro and anti Assad groups alike. It shows that both parties are exhausted. the only ones calling for escalation are the sectarian religious international militant Jihadis and their backers.

May 1st, 2013, 8:54 pm

 

Tara said:

Ziad

With all due respect but seriously, Are you pretending mental retardation.?

You are like OBL coming on to the family of 9/11 victims and asking them why they approve bombing the WTC. I can try to explain the obvious but honestly can’t possibly respond to your post. It is your regime who committed war crimes against the Syrian people. You did not know that?

May 1st, 2013, 8:56 pm

 

Ameera said:

شو يا داوود يعني مو بإيدك لازم تحطني بعلبة و تحط عليها لزقة موندسة او شبيييحة؟ اي ما حزرت يابي لانو انتو الطرفين نسيتوا انو في ناس ما إلها لا هون ولا هون وبالعة الموس عالحدين يعني فينس سترز
شو بدي أول غير الله يرحم ايام زمان والناس الطيبة تبع زمان

May 1st, 2013, 9:00 pm

 

Ameera said:

شو الظاهر مدير المنتدى مو عاجبو كلامي

*Your comment is awaiting moderation.*

شو يا داوود يعني مو بإيدك لازم تحطني بعلبة و تحط عليها لزقة موندسة او شبيييحة؟ اي ما حزرت يابي لانو انتو الطرفين نسيتوا انو في ناس ما إلها لا هون ولا هون وبالعة الموس عالحدين يعني فينس سترز
شو بدي أول غير الله يرحم ايام زمان والناس الطيبة تبع زمان

May 1st, 2013, 9:04 pm

 

Dawoud said:

218. TARA

So, is Ziad a pro-Bashar commentator? If so, how could he have any credibility talking about Abu Baker’s humanity while supporting Bashar’s criminality?

May 1st, 2013, 9:05 pm

 

Ameera said:

تسلميلي يا تارا و الله انك بتنحبي و نجمك محبوب الهي يبعتلك نصيبك و ناكل ايمع بخطبتك و محلاية بعرسك وكرواية مع قلوبات بمباركتك
صدقني لو بعرفك ما بخليكي تروحي الا لأخي مازن

May 1st, 2013, 9:06 pm

 

Dawoud said:

219. AMEERA

الله يرحم أيام زمان

May 1st, 2013, 9:07 pm

 

Ameera said:

كيفك ابي ماجد بدك تحمر البصلة و اللحمة و حباشاتهم قبل ما ترص العجينة بس بعدين اهل جوبر وزملكا بحمروها شي انو قبل ما يصئطوها باللبن بس احنا الكفارسة بنطبخ العجين باللبن

خلص لما يروحوا ولاد الحرام من سورية بطبخلكم باشا و عساكر

May 1st, 2013, 9:07 pm

 

Ameera said:

اهلين اخي غفران لك اخ اخ يلي ايديه بالنار مو متل يلي بالحليب هلأ احنا عايشين بين بيروت و الشام و كل مرة بنزل على الشام بنطف ألبي نطف على هديك الايام لما كنا نطلع بعد نص الليل و نتمشى من كفرسوسة لاستراد المزة وناخد البزرات معانا وما حدا يئلك شي.

بس ابي هدا الكلام صعب ينفهم ازا ما عشتو و حسيتوا

May 1st, 2013, 9:09 pm

 

Dawoud said:

223. AMEERA

خلص لما يروحوا ولاد الحرام من سورية بطبخلكم باشا و عساكر

تسلمي, أي ولله تسلمي

May 1st, 2013, 9:09 pm

 

Tara said:

Mjabali,

I wish I have had a blood relation to Nizar and I wish he was my generation or I was his. Blood relation can keep the poetry genius in the family that will appear in the generations to come. He is related to my family through marriage so unfortunately, I can’t claim any pride.

Not to open a meaningless discussion to SC but in a nutshell, Nizar treated women as women and that is in my opinion the best thing about him. Al Ba’ath put them in military jumper and give them weapons to kill. The radicals put them in black burqas, cancel their existence, and denies their emotions and desires.

You keep your boring poets and I keep mine.

May 1st, 2013, 9:11 pm

 

ziad said:

Dawoud:

It was not my intention to insult any one. I said “it seems to me ….” You insulted me yesterday, so we are even. Yet I don’t remember any statement of disapproval to these acts in any of your comments.

May 1st, 2013, 9:11 pm

 

Dawoud said:

227. ZIAD

I don’t know what you are talking about! I never called for violence nor any destruction against any religious, sect, or ethnic group. Yes, I called for the dictator’s defeat, and for the defeat of his Lebanese ally Hasan Nasra$s. I don’t know how I insulted you when I don’t know on which side you are. However, I don’t keep score and I am not interested in keeping score with any of you. I am here to intellectually expose and criticize Syria’s murderous dictatorship.

May 1st, 2013, 9:17 pm

 

Visitor said:

Our holy warriors of the Northern Brigade have concluded, after conducting a thorough investigation, that the Lebanese prisoners are indeed criminal members of the terrorist thugs of Hizbistan. The holy warriors have conrrectly observed that Aazzaz is free of such abominations as so-called shrine to be visited for so-called pilgrimages of this or that wali of shirk (alhamdullillah).

We call upon the holy warriors to conclude this investigation by pronouncing the proper judgement befitting these criminals and to speedily carry out the much deayed punishment as a form of deterrence for those who dare to commit similar atrocities in Syria.

May 1st, 2013, 9:18 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

213. mjabali said:

Tara:

Funny when Akbar Pizza is calling you a moderate Muslim…

Mjabali,

The Syrian uprising started as a home grown, “grass roots” effort to effect change in Syria. The loonies and jihadists didn’t appear over-night. I would say it took at least 6 months to a year for the jihadists to respond. So it was a purely Syrian affair when it started.

NOW, the complexion of the war and the “opposition” has changed dramatically. It has now turned into a Shia/Sunni fight. This is real bad news for the region and for the whole ME. The destruction and atrocities are so bad people are not in a forgiving mood. You almost can’t blame people for showing disrespect for the opposing side. Right now, shiite Iran and Hezbollah are imposing their will on a mostly Sunni state.

I understand why sunnis are angry. But hey, if all else fails, just blame Israel, the US or the Zionist Lobby…

May 1st, 2013, 9:20 pm

 

zoo said:

#204 Tara

Thank God, you recanted your shameful call.
The King of Saudi Arabia would have made the same threats as Nasrallah if anyone would have threatened to target the holy places of Makkah under the pretext of punishing the Sunnis for worldwide islamists terrorist acts.
The message Nasrallah made was clear for the Islamists Sunni fighters:
Don’t ever threat or target religious shrines, they will defended with nails and teeth whatever are the consequences.
I wish I had heard the same for the holy places of Shia, Alawis, Christians, Jews and other religious minorities.
Nasrallah was justified to make that red line clear.

May 1st, 2013, 9:20 pm

 

ziad said:

TARA:

Did you read my message?I fail to see any relevance between your response and my message. You are angry and cant put an argument without name calling and insults.

May 1st, 2013, 9:20 pm

 

Syrialover said:

AKBAR PALACE #175

My belief that Daniel Pipes has little respect for Arabs and their religion does not come from simply reading him.

I formed this uneasy and shocked conclusion some years ago while attending an event where he was a panelist. I’ve since had this reinforced constantly by numerous TV and radio interviews.

He loves to punch away there, inferring the whole Middle East (with the shining exception of Israel) is a useless disaster zone because of its people, religion and culture.

Now Pipes has hit an ugly new attention-seeking low (but not unexpected) by calling for the west to support Assad. That’s the kind of dirty niche he has thrived in.

Yes, I am well aware of Pipes academic and publishing record. I say he should stay away from Islam because he is not objective and has chosen to use his “expertise” on modern Islam for ugly self-seeking political games.

On the subject of discussion of moderate Islam as a force against militant Islam, there has been an enormous amount of academic, media and community discussion on this generated in the wake of 9/11 and susbsequent al-qaeda linked terrorist incidents in several countries (Spain, UK, Indonesia etc).

You can see now that when someone like Moaz al-Khatib speaks out as a moderate voice against extremists, he is speaking in a well-tilled and very familiar field for both Arab and western audiences.

May 1st, 2013, 9:25 pm

 

Dawoud said:

232. ZIAD

Dude! You need help for real! You keep using “insult” while at the same time belittling others and misstating their positions!
What’s up Dude!
غوار الطوشه مشع عارف يفهمك

May 1st, 2013, 9:27 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Akbar Palace
Do you believe Assad used chemical weapons?
What do you expect Obama to do if the evidence was strong that Assad used chemical weapons?
Do you believe Obama trapped himself?

If Obama does nothing,then chemical weapons can be used,with no response by Obama, it is possible Assad will allow the rebels to get chemical weapons,so they use them ,then justify his use of chemical weapons
Assad can use chemical weapons against Israel and blame it on rebels.
It is important that all chemical weapons in Syria, are taken away,as soon as possible,that is the reason why Obama should do something soon,before ,it get out of control,and others get hurt.
In addition to the strategic importance of Syria, there is moral and humanitarian reason for interference, and US security interest is at stake.

May 1st, 2013, 9:35 pm

 

mjabali said:

Tara:

Stop and respect our brains. I grew up when people were buying Nizar Qabbani’s books and cassette tapes. They were big in my days. All of my friends bought them and listened to them. I listened but never liked him because he was not a good poet to begin with. As for his attitude towards women, and how he degraded them in a poem after a poem: that happened when other ideologies were speaking to women in a different tone. al-Baath (I hate saying this) offered a better text for women than Nizar Qabanni.

There is no comparison between al-Baath, and what they wrote to women, and Nizar Qabani, the man who is speaking to women as sexual subjects and places of his “conquests.” When many were buying Nizar Qabani’s tapes in my days they were doing this for the erotic touch he has in his poetry that many did not touch.
.
al-Baath spoke to women in a new language. This is not a secret. al-Baath put women in factories: Nizar Qabbani put them in his bed mostly and subjects to his perverted sexual fantasies. This is well recorded

He was like soft porn these days.

A sample of his sentences that all men from my generation remember of this fraud:

فصلت من جلد النساء عباءة
وبنيت هرما من الحلمات

On the other hand: when Amal Dunqul want to write a love poem he would come up with something like this

العينان الخضراوان
مروحتان
في أروقة الصيف الحران
أغنيتان مسافرتان
أبحرتا من نايات الرعيان
بعبير حنان
بعزاء من ألهة النور إلى مدن الاحزان
سنتان وأنا أبني زورق حب
يمتد عليه من الشوق شراعان
كي ابحر في العينين الصافيتين
إلى جزر المرجان
ماأحلى أن يضظرب الموج فينسدل الجفنان
وأنا أبحث عن مجداف
عن إيمان

May 1st, 2013, 9:42 pm

 

Juergen said:

Hmm, what do we make out of this story?

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Arrested – Source Update

“Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was arrested and held for seven hours Monday and warned to keep his mouth shut about matters detrimental to the Islamic regime before he was released, according to a source within the Revolutionary Guard’s intelligence unit.”

http://guardianlv.com/2013/04/iranian-president-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-arrested/

May 1st, 2013, 9:59 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

THe shrine I call for excavating and throw it in a no one knows where place is Hafiz Assad shrine

May 1st, 2013, 10:01 pm

 
 

revenire said:

“Syrialover” always promoting terrorism.

Assad will bury every piece of filth in Syria – nothing can stop him.

May 1st, 2013, 10:08 pm

 

mjabali said:

Akbar Palace:

What is your definition of a “moderate Muslim?”

It seems that your definition is contradictory to the main principles of “moderation.”
If someone who calls to destroy other people’s shrine is a “moderate” what can I say about your definition?

If someone who disregards all sects and religions other than his can you still call him a “moderate?”

Yes Iran and Hizballah are involved in Syria, so is USA, Qatar, Turkey, Russia, Saudia Arabia, so why you always single out Iran and Hizballah? Did you convert to Wahabism mr. Palace Allahu Akbar? should I start calling you Alalhu Akbar Palace?

May 1st, 2013, 10:10 pm

 

revenire said:

Juergen I am certain the Guardian Express of Nevada ( ! ) has contacts in the IRGC.

This tops your 300-person circulation story Juergen.

May 1st, 2013, 10:12 pm

 

revenire said:

Akbar Israel uses white phosphorus on Palestinians – that is one chemical weapons story that’s been proven.

US used it in Iraq too.

May 1st, 2013, 10:14 pm

 

Tara said:

Mjabali,

I find it funny to have a man telling me when to feel “degraded”.  Who said a woman feels degraded being an object of desire of a man she loves?  Did any woman tell you so?   One may argue it is rather exalting.

How is imposing “feeling degraded”  by reading Nizar’s love poetry is different than a Taliban imposing on women “feeling degraded” if they are to be seen without a burqa or by al Ba’ath imposing “exaltation”  by turning them into shabeehas to defend Batta.      

The poem you posted with all due respect and I know it is a matter of taste does not convey even a single interesting image that captivate one’s imagination. The poetry genius is simply not there.

May 1st, 2013, 10:29 pm

 

Syria no Kandahar said:

SAA over the last month have killed thousands of virgin seekers and they are waiting on line in hell to be placed on big kazooks .Game has changed significantly and the picture
To US and Europe has become very clear:The wahabi devil is worse than any other devils.
The only real player in Syria now is Alqaeda and JAN , Giving Syria to them will never
Ever happen.Chemical weapons noise is just empty, even pres Obama tated that he doesn’t know who,when and how it was used if it was ever used!! FSA is turning into
An empty crap both militarily and in term of street support.SAA can finish up FSA and
JAN in weeks if it was not concerned about civilians life’s .
The bottom line is that it has become very clear to most of Syrians even the ones against
The regime that in their life span life will not be better for them with or without the regime,They know for sure that syria with any kind of opposition on the menu today will
Be an Islamic state,they can see that practically in Alraqa,Halab(infected one),Deralzoor,
Alhassaka..etc.This revolution is just a vomitus material and feacal debris of Islamists wahabist which closed Syrian appetites to any revolutions for hundred years to come,
If Syria is able to survive this nightmare intact and alive it may get stronger,I am so
Afraid that it will not and it will die,if it already hasn’t .

May 1st, 2013, 11:15 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Syrialover,

Thanks for the reply. I am not going to disagree with you because you told me how you feel and you were being honest. I disagree with his stance on keeping both sides in balance. But I agree with him that militant islam as well as the lack of freedom is ruining the ME.

Please link more articles from moderates that you recommend.

Mjabali,

What is a moderate (arab/muslim)? That’s easy. Someone who doesn’t blame everything on jews, Israel, the US, and the “Zionist lobby”. Someone that can live with Israel and who rejects resistance because the resistance hurts more than it helps. Someone who doesnt find a conspiracy under every stone.

Feel free to provide ur definition.

May 1st, 2013, 11:31 pm

 

Ameera said:

سورية مو كندهار

انت عم تئول انو الجيش أتلهم بس عم تنسى البشر يلي راحو بين الرجلين بتفجير المزة و المرجة و البرامكة لانو بالشام هوني مو رايحة غير على جماعة ماشي الحيط الحيط و يا ربي السترة
لك الله لا يوفق ولادين الحرام أل شو يا أتل يا مئتول

والله تعبنا

May 1st, 2013, 11:47 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Mr. Majedkhaldoun,

It seems the regime used chemical weapons. I have no proof. The scale does not seem to be anything like Saddams Halabja case.

Obama has boxed himself in not only in terms of a handful of people who may have been killed by chemical weapons, but the death of over 80000 people due to conventional weapons. He claimed we needed to help Libya to stop the slaughter of innocent people. And Syria?

Maybe the US is afraid of Iran and the islamists. Maybe the US doesn’t know who their friends are? Maybe the US wants to stay out and not repeat earlierfailures. No good deed goes unpunished. The arab and muslim world should beg the US to intervene, otherwise we won’t feel confident about another ME mission.

May 1st, 2013, 11:48 pm

 

Syria no Kandahar said:

Amera
والله شكلك ما عم تفهمي إنكليزي
والله يمكن اريح

May 1st, 2013, 11:50 pm

 

ghufran said:

unless rebels strike a miracle or receive foreign help, the meeting between Putin and Obama next month will not be helpful for anybody who was expecting the collapse of the regime or at least big concessions from Assad, the reason is simple: rebels are on the defense in a number of areas (Homs, Damascus, and Reef Latakia), have not made any advances in Aleppo, and are still being attacked in Idleb.
On the political front, the opposition does not have a leader or a reliable body that can replace the current government and it could not even secure the support of islamist rebels who made it clear that they do not trust the expat leadership and still want to fight til the end, that end may be years or decades depending on how much support armed islamist terrorists receive from Syrians who are not likely to tolerate Nusra thugs much longer and may be receptive to efforts to end the home grown insurgency by peaceful means if they find a welcoming hand on the other side. Terrorists will be terrorists and thugs will be thugs, the rest are good Syrians who rightfully revolted against a brutal and corrupt regime and they may be willing to change course, it is clear now that there are no winners in this war.
(mjabali, Nizar is a brilliant poet, his writings on women when he was young do not change that fact, I love Nizar’s language especially his beautiful poems about Damascus and his harsh attacks on Arab rulers and islamists, Nusra will call him a Faseq and a heretic if he was alive)

May 1st, 2013, 11:51 pm

 

Syria no kandahar said:

Post Arabic spring:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKWseYfQX58&sns=em

Pre-Arabic spring:

May 1st, 2013, 11:55 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

Actually, the rebels are attacking Hama.

They also have to consolidate all of their gains recently in Deir El Ezzor, Raqqa, and Daraa. Everywhere else is in stalemate.

The Assadists have pulled out of 2/3’s of Syria to concentrate on the central provinces. They’ve given up ruling the country and instead are focusing almost entirely on Damascus. It’ll make it harder for the rebels to make progress there, but that’s already a huge victory for them.

These wars take a long time, but the loss of Raqqa and Deir El Ezzor means the regime now relies entirely on Iran for economic support.

At this point the Assadists are an Iranian puppet.

May 2nd, 2013, 12:09 am

 

Ameera said:

اي لا تواخزني انا يا دوب بفهم انكليزي و منكم نستفيد تاج راسي
يبعتلك حمى شو غليظ

May 2nd, 2013, 12:12 am

 

Darryl said:

Can someone explain please,

Some talk about moderate Muslims, true Muslims and extremist Muslims. Have the moderate Muslims abrogated all the hate and violence from the Quraan? Do they only use the Surat from Mekkah and discard Medina? Or have they invented a new style of Islam so that they dis-associate themselves from true Islam, like Tara’s Louis Vuitton Islam?

Unfortunately there is only one Islam and that is Visitor’s Islam. Keep up the good work Visitor!

Gufran, you deserve a standing ovation!

May 2nd, 2013, 12:17 am

 

Syrian said:

Watch the sectarian Shia call to war agianset the Syrian Sunnis
They are claming in this vedio that the fire has got out from Daraa,the Anti Mahdi has showed up in the town of Harasta out side Damascus،and they are now waiting for the sign

حيدر العطار
جدح من درعا الشرر
وخصم مهدينا ظهر
من حرستا ننتضر اول علامة
http://youtu.be/jlmps-XqOJg
http://youtu.be/jlmps-XqOJg

May 2nd, 2013, 12:29 am

 

mjabali said:

Tara:

Poetry is a matter of taste. You are free into liking whoever makes you feel good. If you do not like Amal Dunqul that is your decision. He does not need validation from you for sure. He is simply one of the greatest modern Egyptian poets, and you are Tara, who did not write one poem in her life of value.

I gave you an example about his tone when he talks about women. I was not trying to convert you into liking him.

But, no one on earth can deny how degrading to women some of Nizar Qabbani’s poems are. Nizar Qabbani made a fortune from stroking the sexual fantasies of Arab men.

His poetry were a new type of porno for my generation. I was there Tara when your relative Nizar Qabanni was printing a book after another of his soft porn. Some of these books would reach the 25th edition. He took advantage of the sexual frustration of the masses. Women were the tool he used, and the way he talked and presented women in his poetry is a testament into how he looked down on them.

May 2nd, 2013, 12:31 am

 

mjabali said:

Akbar Palace:

Your réponse is very chaotic. It mixes concepts together. I was able to understand that you think the following:

You think being a moderate Arab or Muslim: one should accept the state of Israel, and forsake the “resistance” politics. Also one should not believe in the “conspiracy” theory and not blame Zionism for everything.

My response is:

1- We are talking about “Moderate Muslims” and not “Moderate Arabs.” You are mixing things together.

2- We are talking about the Muslims vs the World, and you base your judgment on Muslims vs Israel. Do not limit the scope of the concept.

3- Anyone could see that Muslims today are busy with each other: Shia vs Sunnis and they care less about Zionism and Israel. It seems that Israel and for the first time do not have a hand in what is going on. This is a sign of weakness and not the usual strength we had seen from Israel over the years.

4- As for my definition of moderate Islam: I say it in a very simple manner: a moderate Muslim would not call for any type of violence, and would be able to live with others.

May 2nd, 2013, 12:51 am

 

Sami said:

PG Rated so MJabali won’t get too excited…

هذه دمشق

هذي دمشقُ.. وهذي الكأسُ والرّاحُ
إنّـي أحـبُّ… وبعـضُ الحـبِّ ذبّــاحُ

أنا الدمشقيُّ.. لو شرحتمُ جسدي
لسـالَ مــــنهُ عناقيـدٌ…. وتفـّاحُ

و لــو فتحـتُم شــرايينـي بمـديتكـم
سمعتمُ في دمي أصواتَ من راحوا

زراعةُ القلبِ.. تشفي بعضَ من عشقوا
ومــــا لقلــبي –إذا أحببـــتُ- جـرّاحُ

مآذنُ الشّـامِ تبكـي إذ تعانقـني
و للمـآذنِ.. كالأشجارِ.. أرواحُ

للياسمـينِ حقـوقٌ في منازلنـا..
وقطّةُ البيتِ تغفو حيثُ ترتـاحُ

طاحونةُ البنِّ جزءٌ من طفولتنـا
فكيفَ أنسى؟ وعطرُ الهيلِ فوّاحُ

هذا مكانُ “أبي المعتزِّ”.. منتظرٌ
ووجــهُ “فــائــزةٍ” حلــوٌ و لمـاحُ

هنا جــــذوري.. هنا قلبـــــي… هنا لغـتي
فكيفَ أوضـحُ؟ هل في العشقِ إيضـاحُ؟

خمسونَ عاماً.. وأجزائي مبعثرةٌ..
فوقَ المحيطِ.. وما في الأفقِ مصباحُ

تقاذفتني بحـارٌ لا ضفـافَ لها..
وطاردتني شيـاطينٌ وأشبـاحُ

أقاتلُ القبحَ في شعري وفي أدبي
حتـــى يفتّـحَ نــــــوّارٌ… وقـدّاحُ

ما للعروبـةِ تبدو مثلَ أرملةٍ؟
أليسَ في كتبِ التاريخِ أفراحُ؟

والشعرُ.. ماذا سيبقى من أصالتهِ؟
إذا تولاهُ نصَّـابٌ … ومـدّاحُ؟

وكيفَ نكتبُ والأقفالُ في فمنا؟
وكـــلُّ ثانيـةٍ يأتيـــــك سـفّاحُ؟

حملت شعري على ظهري فأتعبني
ماذا من الشعرِ يبقى حينَ يرتاحُ؟

May 2nd, 2013, 12:56 am

 

Syria no Kandahar said:

Micro-brained SYRIAN is sucked into the SUNNI-SHII stupidity race,Who has the RIGHT
Religion?Punch yourself stupid ,your apple device is not SUNNI no SHII.. you are in the 21
Century ya ahbal.

May 2nd, 2013, 12:57 am

 

ghufran said:

since I managed to make a number of you angry over my views of Islam,let me add this piece about Alawites, I am not saying this to offend anybody, this forum needs a certain level of intellectual honesty, that does not mean that honest opinions are necessarily right.
Most Alawites are not orthodox Muslims , some are not Muslims period,except in the eyes of non muslims and a small community of alawites who are closer to shia than alawites. It is a common knowledge among people who visited alawite villages that alawites there often refer to sunnis as Muslims and to alawites as alawites. Only a small fraction of alawites perform the ritual Salaat that sunnis do, large portion of alawites do not fast in Ramadan and most are not interested in Al-Hajj, on top of that, many alawites will die before learning the secret Batiniyya teachings and they show little interest in their religion. That made many Sunnis consider alawites as Kuffar or Heretics, also some sunnis used to call them “the Germans” -alalaman because many of them have white skin, blond hair or blue-green eyes.
Alawites did suffer from maltreatment and discrimination for centuries, and their kids either did not go to school or were beaten up regularly by other kids because they were different, that started to change in the 1940s and definitely in the 1950s after Syria earned independence form the Ottomans, it says a lot about Ottoman-type Islam when the French treated alawites better than the Turks did, but that is a subject for another post.
The army and security service were the natural choices for most young poor alawites, and that was encouraged by the French then by alawite leaders who also used albaath as a vehicle to ascend the social ladder. One of Assads biggest mistakes was allowing a class of less educated alawites to be the face of alawism instead of promoting educated alawites who in return disliked Assad and his new class of military-mukhabarati hit men whom they considered as unfit to lead and unworthy to represent the alawite community.
After Assad effectively hijacked the alawite identity and forced alawite dissidents into exile or jail it became easier for wahabbi sunnis in syria to target this sect and label all of its members as Assadist criminals, even educated sunnis have adopted this line of thinking. It is not just the sunnis who need to renounce their current sunnism, the alawites need a new beginning and new answers to old questions, this religion-Islam, is in the intensive care, and Arabs in particular are the ones who need the most help.

May 2nd, 2013, 1:41 am

 

Syrian said:

SNK
مو بس غليظ وحمار كمان
Idiot, what does the video of the Shia calling for war and going to Damascus to get their “rights”back had to do with my Apple device
You understand Arabic, did you not listen to the call for war,
The wanted a sectarian war, it was the Athad how pushed for it and left no choice for the Sunnis other than to fight back,
It is your regime that wanted to inflamed the sectarian hatered,to preserve itself.
When your hero Hasen nislira shout about a shrine and doesn’t mention the destroyed Aleppo Omyyad masjed or the Omary masjed ,is not that a call for sectarian war….
It is your hero who are living in the dark ages, idiot!.

May 2nd, 2013, 1:57 am

 

Visitor said:

“260. GHUFRAN said:

since I managed to make a number of you angry over my views of Islam….”

In case you missed it يا حمار

You did NOT make anyone angry.

You made me, in particular, express my contempt and scorn at your idiocy.

But definitely, I was never angry. You cannot evoke such thing no matter what you say.

May 2nd, 2013, 2:24 am

 

Visitor said:

Syrian @1:57AM

SNK is by far the most ‘decorated’ idiot on this blog.

May 2nd, 2013, 2:27 am

 

Syria no Kandahar said:

Visitor and Syrian are typical JN slaves,Alqaeda and wahabism runs in their blood,
Hate and violence darkens their hearts,blood and dirt fill their hands,Takferism and paranoid Sunni wahabist superiority and dementia infests their brain.In future sunnistan
JN will have a statue of Visitor and Syrian and write underneath :
مجاهدي جبهة النصره في سيريا كمنت
فيزيتر وسيريان السنيان الوهابييان
الليثان الالكترونيان جاهدا الجهاد الحسن
رغم تخلفهما العقلي والزمني
فيزيتر وسيريان بجانب شهدا جبهة النصره
قاطعي رؤوس الكفار الشيعه
ومفجري السيرات الملغمه
في جنة الخلد بجانب القرضاوي والعرعور في متعة ابديه

May 2nd, 2013, 3:02 am

 

Dolly Buster said:

260. ghufran said: Only a small fraction of alawites perform the ritual Salaat that sunnis do

Bashar sometimes prays on TV, to send the message that he is competent to run an important islamic country.
This strikes me as dishonest posturing by a politician.

Alawites may not be muslims, but their deification of Ahl al Bayt makes them Shiites.
So they can be lumped together with Nouri al Maliki, and other forces of evil.

May 2nd, 2013, 3:18 am

 

Dolly Buster said:

And what is wrong with Wahhabism, it is the best faith.

As opposed to Christianity, which is a joke. Person XYZ is his own son. Yea right.

See if you add 2 gods, then each has 50% of power.
If you add 4 gods, then each is running on 25% of power.

May 2nd, 2013, 4:56 am

 
 

Syria no kandahar said:

Wahabism is good faith for animals like you .Christianity can’t be taken by animals
It is above your level ya hmar.

May 2nd, 2013, 6:29 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

257. mjabali said:

Akbar Palace:

Your réponse is very chaotic. It mixes concepts together.

Mjabali,

I’m not sure why you had trouble with my response. It was very short and concise. Cultural differences perhaps?

I was able to understand that you think the following:

You think being a moderate Arab or Muslim: one should accept the state of Israel, and forsake the “resistance” politics.

Yes, I think so. I pointed to a few thing in my post. I’ll summerize again:

1.) Someone who doesn’t blame everything on jews, Israel, the US, and the “Zionist lobby”.

2.) Someone that can live with Israel…

3.) and who rejects resistance because the resistance hurts more than it helps.

4.) Someone who doesnt find a conspiracy under every stone.

Does a “moderate muslim” believe in all 4 concepts? Not necessarily, but perhaps 3 out of 4. It isn’t black or white. From reading this forum, for example, I have noticed arabs and muslims tend to get that way with respect to religion. The sunni/shia rift is a great example: “Islam is my way or the highway”. IOW, my brand of Islam is the only true islam. And then people die over it.

Also one should not believe in the “conspiracy” theory and not blame Zionism for everything.

Yup.

My response is:

1- We are talking about “Moderate Muslims” and not “Moderate Arabs.” You are mixing things together.

I never made that distinction. My 4 points would apply to anyone. And of course it would apply to Arab christians and even Jews like Norman Finkelstein. I’m open-minded habibi!

2- We are talking about the Muslims vs the World, and you base your judgment on Muslims vs Israel. Do not limit the scope of the concept.

A “moderate muslim” IMHO would meet those 4 points. So would a “moderate arab”, a “moderate Christian”, etc.

3- Anyone could see that Muslims today are busy with each other: Shia vs Sunnis and they care less about Zionism and Israel.

This is why AIG applauds the greatest Zionist of the decade: Bashar Assad. Perhaps his likeness will be put on an Israeli stamp in the future!

It seems that Israel and for the first time do not have a hand in what is going on.

Others on this forum would disagree with you. You’re “different” Mjabali! And since you aren’t blaming Israel for “what is going on”, you meet one of the criteria (MY criteria).

This is a sign of weakness and not the usual strength we had seen from Israel over the years.

Believe it or not, Israel is not omnipotent. Israel doesn’t control most things. And if Israel can’t defend herself, she will perish.

4- As for my definition of moderate Islam: I say it in a very simple manner: a moderate Muslim would not call for any type of violence, and would be able to live with others.

Does “others” include a Jewish State? If so, I agree with you. My 4 points tend to weed out what would seem to be an otherwise normal tolerant muslim. When the topic of Israel comes up, people start to get “weird”;)

Have a good day,

AP

May 2nd, 2013, 6:56 am

 

Tara said:

Mjabali,

The crux of your argument is that Nizar degraded women by invoking them as a man’s object of desire.  You keep repeating that it is “on record” that Nizar degraded women.  Being on record does not give it any validity.  And Recorded by whom may I ask?  By conservative religious people whose feelings were hurt by a poet stroking sexual fantasies of his audience?  Well that is the conservatives job.  Their job is to protect the society from a perceived “vice” and to encourage a perceived virtue.  Don’t you think you are being herded and are repeating part of an ideology you may disagree with.  

Did women object assuming the primary role in Nizar’s love poem?  I yet have to see a woman that does not love everything Nizar.  Nizar may have stroked fantasies of his male audience but I argue of his female audience too.  I have few paintings of semi nude women in semi provocative positions by an Italian artist called Pino.  I enjoy looking at them all the time and discussing them while entertaining guests.  Am I supposed to feel “degraded” enjoying them?  I am sorry but I simply don’t.  How are they different from Nizar’s images?  Poetry is supposed to make you live images you may never experienced or you want to experience and that where his genius comes to play.  
  

      

May 2nd, 2013, 7:37 am

 

zoo said:

That’s a such a comedy!
Visitor fulminates, spits his insults in bold and uppercase and say “I am not angry”…
What would it be if he was!

The guy is getting close to “Islamist dementia” because his Holy hamsters poops of Al Nusra are getting a good lesson from the ‘heretics’, the tomb’s adorators and the cross adorators.

His furious anger will not bring him to Paradise where the houries may have calmed him down, he’ll probably end up with the Spanish inquisitors and the Nazis. He can then boast his Islamist hamsters poops as he is doing it on SC but no one will even care.

May 2nd, 2013, 7:44 am

 

zoo said:

Tara

“I have few paintings of semi nude women in semi provocative positions by an Italian artist called Pino”

Don’t forget to offer one to Majed, Visitor and Dawood when you will meet them for lunch. I am sure they will appreciate them as much as you do. Aside from Alzeimer dementia, these persons are a good company to you: some much good feelings to share

May 2nd, 2013, 7:50 am

 

Syrialover said:

Those children of Kanfranbel again. Some beautiful little angels.

http://shabab.ayyam.org/en/story/kids-kafranbel-protest-against-assad-regime

May 2nd, 2013, 7:56 am

 

Tara said:

Zoo,

How about you? Do you like Nizar?

May 2nd, 2013, 8:10 am

 

zoo said:

Nizar Kabbani’s life has been full of personal tragedies. It is reflected in his poetry and it makes them very moving and dreamlike. I do enjoy some that were put into songs. Beside his works, the guy has a very interesting personality. He was quite progressist on women rights and I am not sure you can share his poems during your lunch with Visitor and Majed.
I am also not aware of a film made about his life and his works. Is there one?

As I don’t know the poets Mjabali has suggested , I’ll look into them too.

May 2nd, 2013, 8:34 am

 

revenire said:

“273. SYRIALOVER said:
Those children of Kanfranbel again. Some beautiful little angels.
http://shabab.ayyam.org/en/story/kids-kafranbel-protest-against-assad-regime

It’s shameful to use children for war. How sick.

May 2nd, 2013, 8:48 am

 

zoo said:

Are we seeing a change in Turkey’s policy over the smugglers into Syria?
Rebels allies wound 5 Turkish soldiers who were trying to prevent them from crossing to Syria

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/05/02/Seven-wounded-by-Syrian-fire-at-Turkish-border-say-officials.html

Five Turkish security officers and two civilians were wounded on Thursday after Syrians trying to cross over into Turkey randomly opened fired in a border buffer-zone, officials said.

“It started as a minor stone-and-stick clash when our security forces warned Syrians,” who were trying to cross the common border in large numbers, said Abdulhakim Ayhan, mayor of the border town of Akcakale.

“One police officer is severely injured and the other six were mildly hurt,” the mayor added.

The group believed to be smugglers clashed with the Turkish police at the buffer-zone, and the bullets fired by the Syrians ricocheted into the Turkish side, another Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.

May 2nd, 2013, 8:49 am

 

zoo said:

Syrian troops advance in Homs

May 02, 2013 03:37 PM By Olivia Alabaster

Regime forces made a new concerted push on Homs Thursday, in an effort to rout rebel strongholds in the city, activists said.

The old neighborhood of the city is now almost completely surrounded by army forces, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist network, said, after regime troops took over large parts of the Wadi al-Sayeh neighborhood.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/May-02/215787-syrian-troops-advance-in-homs.ashx#ixzz2S8gwfpuK
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

May 2nd, 2013, 8:51 am

 

Visitor said:

Akbar Palace,

You should not overlook in your discussion about so-called non-existent Islamic extremeism the evil role played by several US administations since the beginning of the twenty first century.

There is incredible amount of evidence, as I proved recently, that points to the fact that US admin staged the 9/11 events for its own evil designs.

There is no such thing as Islamic extremism.

On the other hand, I find some of Pipes writings acceptable.

The America public has the horrendous task of reclaiming its administration from the claws of EVIL. The alternative is a doomed US.

May 2nd, 2013, 8:51 am

 

zoo said:

Visitor

“There is no such thing as Islamic extremism.”

You are the perfect sample of someone so infected by that virus that he can’t but deny its mere existence.

May 2nd, 2013, 8:57 am

 

revenire said:

Syrian TV showed Assad, looking confident and wearing a dark business suit, chatting with workers and shaking their hands on May Day.

“They want to scare us, we will not be scared. … They want us to live underground, we will not live underground,” Assad was shown telling a group of workers gathered around him in a garden.

May 2nd, 2013, 8:58 am

 

revenire said:

“Revolution” supporters not in Syria should be sent to Syria to put their money where their mouths are and fight for their revolution.

When the army kills them the government should bury them in unmarked graves with no one to remember how they died in shame for the cause of terrorism.

May 2nd, 2013, 9:01 am

 

zoo said:

The USA worried by the possibilities Syria would become an Islamist state or a failed state should Bashar al Assad goes, is trying to lure reluctant Turkey in taking a leading role in post-Assad to ensure the protection of Israel and Jordan.
A task force mostly of pro-Israel personalities has been setup with that goal.
What do they mean by “Decent” ?

Bipartisan Policy Center to Announce New Task Force on Turkey; Co-Chaired by Former U.S. Ambassadors Mort Abramowitz and Eric Edelman
Task Force to Release White Paper on the Critical Need for U.S.-Turkish Cooperation toward a Stable and Decent Post-Assad Syria

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bipartisan-policy-center-to-announce-new-task-force-on-turkey-co-chaired-by-former-us-ambassadors-mort-abramowitz-and-eric-edelman-205758691.html
…..
“The removal of Assad—an important ally of Iran and supporter of Hezbollah—would represent an indispensable step forward for the Syrian people and the United States,” said former Ambassador Abramowitz. “But that achievement could prove short-lived if Assad’s repressive rule is replaced with Islamist oppression or if Syria collapses into prolonged conflict or a failed state.”

Expelling Assad from Syria has been the goal of the United States for almost two years. Turkey—a U.S. ally with keen interests in Syria—will be an important partner in shaping a post- Assad Syria . However, cooperation with Turkey poses a challenge for policymakers.

“Turkey has as much at stake in Syria’s future as the United States, but a more granular understanding of events and greater leverage there,” said former Ambassador Edelman. “However, disagreements between Turkey and the United States over which elements of Syria’s opposition to support suggest that that the two countries have divergent visions of what a post- Assad Syria should look like and how to get there.”

The task force paper emphasizes the critical need for the United States to begin immediately planning for a stable and pluralist post-Assad Syrian government, and to take an energetic role in persuading Turkey to join and support that effort.

May 2nd, 2013, 9:04 am

 

revenire said:

I believe if either Matt “doesn’t do well with dictators but lives under the thumb of Wall St. austerity with no problem” Barber, or Josh “Assad lives on a Russian ship” Landis, lived in Damascus now they’d be supporting the government and would probably both join the army to defend their country against Al-Qaeda.

Barber would not answer the simple question: should Assad have surrendered to Al-Qaeda (present from the very first in Daraa shooting soldiers and civilians and then blaming the government). He won’t answer because the answer is obvious: no government on Earth would give in to terrorism.

Syria is 100% justified in their fight.

May 2nd, 2013, 9:08 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

Brainwashed by Fox NewZ NewZ

You should not overlook in your discussion about so-called non-existent Islamic extremeism the evil role played by several US administations since the beginning of the twenty first century.

Visitor,

I don’t know what “so-called non-existent Islamic extremism” is. If it isn’t “extreme” how is it evil?

There is incredible amount of evidence, as I proved recently, that points to the fact that US admin staged the 9/11 events for its own evil designs.

Sorry, I categorically do not believe this at all. IMHO, it was a OBL/KSM operation conducted quite successfully by a couple dozen Saudi Islamists.

There is no such thing as Islamic extremism.

I suppose, then, there is no such thing as Jewish extremism. I’m relieved!

On the other hand, I find some of Pipes writings acceptable.

He knows more than I do. And he makes sense 80% of the time.

The America public has the horrendous task of reclaiming its administration from the claws of EVIL. The alternative is a doomed US.

Visitor,

It’s the F’ing liberals!

May 2nd, 2013, 9:30 am

 

ziad said:

Thick Red Line

There are some people who wish the United States would intervene in Syria. For these people, any scrap of evidence will do. Chemical weapons use is convenient because it supports a pre-existing policy preference — much as Paul Wolfowitz explained that, of the many reasons members of the Bush administration had for wanting to invade Iraq, “we settled on the one issue that everyone could agree on, which was weapons of mass destruction.”

That’s all well and good if you are already itching to lead the paratroops into Damascus, but what about those of us who don’t want to get involved in this mess unless we have no choice?

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/05/01/thick_red_line_chemical_weapons_evidence

May 2nd, 2013, 9:56 am

 

Visitor said:

Well Akbar Palace, besides the fact that you claim to be a structural engineer, you need to learn how to read.

How do you read this quote in your last comment?

“You should not overlook in your discussion about so-called non-existent Islamic extremeism the evil role played by several US administations since the beginning of the twenty first century.”

Reading your commentary on the above quote, you obviously confuse EVIL with so-called non-existent Islamic extremism. Evil is referring here to the US admin, as in saying the evil role played by several US administrations since the beginning of the twenty first century.

You may deny the evidence. But that is not going to change the facts uncovered by the hundreds of dedicated experts who ALL concluded the 9/11 events were staged by a governmental agency. That is why the US administration is EVIL. The dozen Saudi mules who were on the planes were simply doped by the CIA to conduct the evil plan of the US admin.

But I do not know who you’re referring to by these acronyms KSM. care to elaborate?

Akbar, living in denial of evidence and facts does not bode well for America and its people. That is particularly true for a person of your credentials. I mean the evidence was talking to people like you. The American people must do something to reclaim their administration out of Evil-Land. remember cognitive dissonance is a widely spread phenomenon in the US right now.

Otherwise, the US is doomed.

As for Pipes, I wouldn’t put his score at 80%. I would say it is more like 5% or less. I was referring to some material he wrote about the history of the Assads and clan. He was correct in that. That is about it. Other than that he is not worth the time.

May 2nd, 2013, 10:09 am

 

ziad said:

حمص المحاصرة انذار أخير كلمة من أبو الحارث أمام الثوار الأحرار رسالة للقيادة العليا بالجيش الحر ور

May 2nd, 2013, 10:13 am

 

revenire said:

10 Characteristics of Syrian Terrorists:

1) Voluntary Unemployment: They choose to watch porn and religious videos on You Tube all day. They also collect government checks.

2) Horrible Hygiene: They refuse to brush their teeth or shower. Hair lice and gingivitis is prevalent with many of these terrorists; that explains why they choose death over capture. They can’t take the itchiness anymore.

3) Peculiar Diets: They eat anything that smells like a bathroom recently used by Emir Hamad, but tastes like lamb kabob.

4) Allah wu Akbar: They recite “Allah wu Akbar” thousands of times until they get their voice correct for their future appearance on Al-Jazeera. They have said it so many times, they have forgotten their vernacular.

5) Weird Underwear: They like to wear children’s underwear with Mickey Mouse’s face on it.

6) Military Training: If you see them hunting little animals in your neighborhood with rocks – call your local police authorities right away. The animal is bound to snap and counter-attack the creep.

7) Musical Taste: If you hear them blaring Mariah Carey and Celine Dion – they’re definitely on the verge of Jihading.

8) Prevalence at Strip Clubs: They prefer to be experienced with women before they get their 72 virgins.

9) Facebook: They log onto Facebook pages and start claiming they’re going to destroy the Syrian government. They also like pages with Victoria Secret models.

10) Genetic Deficiencies: They’re missing both X and Y chromosomes… They magically birthed a Z chromosome…

Dr. Phillip Betikhaa
https://www.facebook.com/SyrianPerspective
Syrian Perspective

May 2nd, 2013, 10:16 am

 

ann said:

289. revenire

11) Some alleged women on this blog are dying to bare their children

😀 😀 😀

May 2nd, 2013, 10:35 am

 

ziad said:

Why are Buddhist monks attacking Muslims?

The result can seem ironic. If you have a strong sense of the overriding moral superiority of your worldview, then the need to protect and advance it can seem the most important duty of all.

Christian crusaders, Islamist militants, or the leaders of “freedom-loving nations”, all justify what they see as necessary violence in the name of a higher good. Buddhist rulers and monks have been no exception.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22356306

May 2nd, 2013, 10:42 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

Reading your commentary on the above quote, you obviously confuse EVIL with so-called non-existent Islamic extremism. Evil is referring here to the US admin, as in saying the evil role played by several US administrations since the beginning of the twenty first century.

Visitor,

I understand what you were saying now, please excuse me. You are saying the US role in the WTC bombings was evil. If the US in any way was involved in the WTC bombings, it would be evil. I just have NO evidence the US was involved in this. No blast caps, no wiring, nothing. No telephone calls, no meetings, no tape recordings, no informers, no names named.

You may deny the evidence.

There is no evidence to deny.

But that is not going to change the facts uncovered by the hundreds of dedicated experts who ALL concluded the 9/11 events were staged by a governmental agency.

We will have to respectfully agree to disagree.

That is why the US administration is EVIL.

OK. Was the US administration EVIL before 9-11?

The dozen Saudi mules who were on the planes were simply doped by the CIA to conduct the evil plan of the US admin.

How do you they were “doped”?

But I do not know who you’re referring to by these acronyms KSM. care to elaborate?

KSM:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalid_Sheikh_Mohammed

According to his testimonies and admissions, he was the mastermind of 9-11 and several other terrorist acts. To me, THIS is evil.

Akbar, living in denial of evidence and facts does not bode well for America and its people.

Americans are in denial of our spending habits and entitlements. We are also in denial with our immigration policies. We are also in denial with respect to the ME, thinking that peace is attainable in the near future.

That is particularly true for a person of your credentials.

My credentials are conservative, jewish American. I don’t represent the majority.

I mean the evidence was talking to people like you. The American people must do something to reclaim their administration out of Evil-Land.

Hopefully we’ll have a republican president next time.

remember cognitive dissonance is a widely spread phenomenon in the US right now.

I’m in denial. And I the water is cool and refreshing.

Otherwise, the US is doomed.

Right now, I think the ME is in more trouble. Everything is relative.

As for Pipes, I wouldn’t put his score at 80%. I would say it is more like 5% or less. I was referring to some material he wrote about the history of the Assads and clan. He was correct in that. That is about it. Other than that he is not worth the time.

OK.

May 2nd, 2013, 10:43 am

 

Citizen said:

Americans want U.S. to keep out of Syria conflict
Most Americans do not want the United States to intervene in Syria’s civil war even if the government there uses chemical weapons
http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=107936

Which is why the US has now shifted to the Syrian “nuclear threat!”
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/04/30/state_department_syria_must_answer_questions_about_secret_nuclear_program

May 2nd, 2013, 11:45 am

 
 
 
 

Citizen said:

The Syria-Iran red line show

This eminently Bushist Obama “red line” business, applied to Syria, Iran or both, is becoming a tad ridiculous.

Take Pentagon head Chuck Hagel’s tour of Israel and the “friendly” GCC (the de facto Gulf Counter-revolution Club) last week. US defense contractors had the Moet flowing as Hagel merrily congregated with that prodigy of democracy – United Arab Emirates (UAE) Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed – to celebrate the sale of 25 F-16 fighter jets.

There’s more on the way; 48 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD missile interceptors, at a cool US$1 billion. The

Pentagon is sending one of its only two of such systems to Guam this month to counter that other threat – missiles from North Korea.

The weaponizing free fest to Israel and the Gulf petro-monarchies – missile defense, fighter jets, mega-bombs – could not but be duly hailed as the proverbial “message” to “counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions”, or “the air and missile threat posed by Iran”, or the general “worry about Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon” or “Washington’s determination to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.”

There’s no “red line” here; just hardcore weaponizing of Israel and the GCC. Any doubts, blame it on Iran. And this while Saudi-controlled media in the Middle East – roughly everything except al-Jazeera – was breathlessly spinning that Tel Aviv is pursuing a deal to use Turkish soil for an attack on Iran.

Wait; there’s more weaponizing on the way – bound to neighboring latitudes. Kraus-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) from Germany closed another $2.48 billion deal with Qatar – five years in the making – to deliver 62 Leopard 2 tanks and 24 self-propelled howitzers. Qatar is not exactly using them for the 2022 FIFA World Cup; they are bound to “friendly groups in other countries” – as in Syria’s “rebels”, via Turkey.

Ask the Nenets
Now take the Syria chemical weapons charade. The White House now seems to be convinced that the CIA believes, with “varying degrees of confidence”, that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons. Secretary of State John Kerry – an “intervention” cheerleader posing as a dove – was already convinced.

But then Hagel said, “Suspicions are one thing; evidence is another.” Just to flip-flop a little while later, during his visit to Israel, he became convinced Bashar al-Assad was using sarin gas. Of course; after all, Hagel finally had unimpeded access to Israeli – not US – intel.

And now for the beauty of Hagel’s marketing; what about embarking as a traveling salesman to “our bastards” with a sales pitch of ” Look, Iran and Syria are both crazy, you might consider stacking up on this, this and this.”

The Nenets of Siberia – crossing the Ob river to enter the Arctic Circle – could teach a thing or two about real strategy to those limping armchair warriors in US Think Tankland. Even the Nenets would know that the current chemical weapons hysteria is a total fabrication by the CIA, MI6 and Israeli intelligence – corroborated by zero evidence. Still, the prevailing Washington “wisdom” is that a “red line” must be enforced over Syria so a “red line” must be enforced on Iran.

The fact is that the al-Assad government initially accused the “rebels” of using chemical weapons – and asked the United Nations for an official investigation.

Even the New York Times was forced, grudgingly, to admit the “rebels” acknowledged an attack happened in territory controlled by the government, with 16 Syrian Army dead, plus 10 civilians and over a hundred injured. But then the “rebels” changed the narrative, blaming Damascus of bombing their own soldiers. It was Moscow that introduced a measure of reality, detailing how Washington was stalling the UN investigation.

Our Nenets of Siberia would also know there’s hardly anything secular leading the “rebels” in Syria; it’s a motley crew of varying degrees of fanaticism. Once again, the Nenets would not need to freeze to death reading the New York Times to find out that the CIA is “secretly” funneling a free for all weaponizing to the “rebels” via Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Still the Obama administration peddles the fiction that Washington only supplies “non lethal” aid as Capitol Hill nutters keep insisting that Obama install a “no fly zone” over Syria – as in Libya-style NATO war remix.

Follow-on strike package, anyone?
US Think Tankland nonetheless is ecstatic that the GCC petro-monarchies now have access to precision-guided munitions to “strike Iranian targets”.

But nothing compares to the cheerleading of Israel’s new access to KC-135 aerial refueling tankers – or Stratotankers. Then there’s the imminent transfer of anti-radiation missiles as well – advanced versions of the AGM-88 HARM missiles. These toys will “reduce the threat to Israel’s follow-on strike package.”

No, this is not exactly about “US circumspection”, or “US resolve in the campaign against Iranian nuclear weapons”; it’s unqualified Dog of War barking.

Meanwhile, that police state run by King Playstation, also known as Jordan, has opened its airspace to Israeli drones now engaged in “monitoring” Syria.

As Asia Times Online has repeatedly warned, Obama in Syria is fast becoming a remix of Reagan in 1980s Afghanistan. We all know what came out of those “freedom fighters” afterwards. In this context, Robert Ford, Obama’s alleged Syria expert, telling the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that it’s important for Washington to “weigh in” to affect “the internal balance of power in Syria” qualifies as a joke line, not a red line.

There’s wild speculation that after the Boston bombing Obama and Russia’s Vladimir Putin made a deal; Washington lets Moscow do whatever it wants in Chechnya like, forever, but gets a nod to install a “no-fly zone” and further mayhem in Syria. There’s no evidence to that. What a geopolitically savvy Putin wants to know is what does he get out of Syria in practical terms (and Obama does not have a clue). Crumbs from a NATO banquet don’t apply.

As for allowing Syria to become a “Western-friendly” Wahhabi emirate or yet another failed Muslim Brotherhood fiefdom, one needs to go no further than Hezbollah’s Sheikh Nasrallah … “the goal of anyone standing behind the war in Syria, is destroying Syria so that a strong, centralized state would not be established in it, and so that it would become too weak to take decisions related to its oil, sea, or borders.”

Now that’s what a red line is all about.

May 2nd, 2013, 12:15 pm

 

Citizen said:

Obama dropping missile defence for cooperation from Russia on Iran attack ?
The timing of this announcement is certainly interesting. The US seems to be gunning for a war with Iran to distract from pressing domestic issues. Is this a concession to Russia?

Obama to Scrap European Missile Shield Plan

The headline is misleading, because the plan is not being scrapped entirely, just altered.

President Obama said Thursday that he is abandoning Bush-era plans for a land based/ long-range missile defense system based in Poland and the Czech Republic

Opting instead for shorter range land- and sea-based system of sensors and interceptors.

They are most definitely not scrapping missile defence, as made clear by Robert Gates in this statement-

“Those who say we are scrapping missile defense in Europe are either misinformed or misrepresenting the reality of what we are doing,” Gates said. “The security of Europe has been a vital national interest of the United States for my entire career. The circumstances, borders and threats may have changed, but that commitment continues.”

http://pennyforyourthoughts2.blogspot.ca/2009/09/obama-dropping-missile-defence-for.html

May 2nd, 2013, 12:53 pm

 

Citizen said:

Barak cited the Egyptian Revolution as proof of the limits of US unilateralism, while lamenting the loss of Mubarak and citing the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood-led government in Egypt as a source of regional instability. HaHaHaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!
http://news.antiwar.com/2013/01/24/israeli-dm-lack-of-syria-invasion-a-lesson-to-israel/

May 2nd, 2013, 1:09 pm

 

Hopeful said:

It looks like the US may extend its TPS (Temporary Protection Status) for Syrians beyond September 2013 and may grant the status to Syrians who have recently entered the US. ADC has filed a request last month. Good work.

http://www.adc.org/fileadmin/ADC/ADC_TPS_Redesignation_Request.pdf

This status allows Syrians to live and work legally in the US and even be eligible for residence tuition at universities. I have two nephews who are taking advantage of that. I can only imagine what their situation would have been had they stayed in Syria.

May 2nd, 2013, 1:15 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

Heck, even the second Bush was a better president than Assad. At least he didn’t embroil his OWN COUNTRY in a civil war.

May 2nd, 2013, 1:20 pm

 

annie said:

http://wewritewhatwelike.com/2013/05/02/what-are-syrian-refugees-telling-those-who-assist-them/
“I had a long discussion today with a Syrian refugee family (extended). I asked many questions – about what they had experienced, witnessed, and wanted for their country. Some of the more interesting points are that they say that there are entire brigades of Alawites who are fighting with the FSA and that, as in Iraq, sectarianism does not exist at all to the degree the media is painting it as being. That this is propaganda being put out by Assad’s gov to negate the genuine revolution.”

May 2nd, 2013, 1:38 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

When they learn about your deeds, your grandchildren will spit on your graves.

This will be the inheritance of hate you will pass to your descendants.

Curse you the will, for you have earned the contempt of generations to come.

May 2nd, 2013, 1:38 pm

 

revenire said:

Take a nap HAMSTER… you sound cranky.

May 2nd, 2013, 1:53 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

It disgusting when someone whose English, or its* Arabic, isn’t any better than that of the well known canine; owned by Mjabali, takes a swipe at a refugee’s language skill.

* Clarification: The dog is not the subject of the possessive adjective.

May 2nd, 2013, 2:02 pm

 

Visitor said:

It is imperative that the Assads along with Nus-lira and his thugs like Qawooq, Qasem, Safei-Deen, etc… be hanged in the Marjeh Square in Damascus.

Syrian people must do all that is in their powers to make sure these thugs do not live any more day(s) to wreck havoc on Syria.

May 2nd, 2013, 2:22 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Heck, even the second Bush was a better president than Assad.

And better than Obama and better than Carter.

May 2nd, 2013, 2:32 pm

 

revenire said:

A few rats were killed on the Turkish border I see. I am laughing.

May 2nd, 2013, 2:44 pm

 

5 dancing shlomos said:

an offer from giver of freedoms (mostly from happiness and life),

i/we burn down your house then, maybe, offer temporary refuge in my basement.

rodents have priority.

this offer is good only as long as you lie about and abuse, even murder, the decent members of your family.

welcome to amurderka, the hypocrite.

May God Bless and always be with Nusrullah.

May 2nd, 2013, 2:44 pm

 

revenire said:

Rats desecrating graves to bring the Syrian people freedom

“Reports from Syria say Wahhabi extremists have desecrated the grave of an ancient Muslim figure near the capital, Damascus.

“The militants have reportedly attacked the mausoleum and exhumed the grave of Hujr ibn Adi in the Damascus suburb of Adra, and took his remains to an unknown location.

“Hujr – a close companion of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and a staunch supporter of the first Shia Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (PBUH) – led the army of Muslims to victory in several crucial battles.”

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/05/02/301464/syria-militants-desecrate-holy-site/

May 2nd, 2013, 2:50 pm

 

Visitor said:

“308. Akbar Palace said:

…………………………………

And better than Obama and better than Carter.

Akbar,

You asked me in your previous comment about when the US admin became evil. The answer is right after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Clinton tried to fix the problem but he failed because he was promiscuous. But he was good in economics. So no one felt the problem during his eight years in power. Right after the end of the last century, the evil turned into an epidemic. GWB II was a consenting and willing tool in the claws of evil. No wonder 9/11 took place during his presidency.

May 2nd, 2013, 2:52 pm

 

Badr said:

Ghufran,

Can you make up your mind about whether the majority of Syrians are categorized by this:

“What allowed Assad and his thugs to survive two years of a brutal warfare is the stupidity of his enemies and their alliance with international islamist terrorism . . . ironically, many Syrians have reached the same conclusion !!

Ameera summarizes the agony of most syrians

Syrians are now wondering what did they gain from this revolution, they are terrified, unsecured, poorer and hopeless”

or by that:

“there are no moderate muslims in Syria today, even those with moderate views have been radicalized by the war, I hardly know any Syrian who does not have strong views on how this war should end, those views often include the use of violence”?

May 2nd, 2013, 2:58 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

Reverse-flow sewer-pipes will never stop gulping sewage from propaganda cesspools. After all, by confession, they seem to attach degrees of reverence to poop bet it athad, nus-qirsh, ar ahmaqi-nakad.

Disclaimer. Other sites,especially the “directional-challenged lefties” sites also deserve dishonorable mention. To see the list, follow …..cuts and pastes.

May 2nd, 2013, 3:12 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Good news to Revenir,Zoo and Ghufran
US is seriously considering arming the rebels

May 2nd, 2013, 3:17 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Terrorist Methods of Communication

No wonder 9/11 took place during his presidency.

Visitor,

9-11 occurred 9 months into GWB’s presidency. I was planned well before that, during Clinton’s term in office. Al-Queda could not have predicted who would be president and I doubt they cared. To al-Queda, all American administrations are the same.

As you recall, Clinton went further with the Palestinians than any other president in Camp David 2000 and Taba. Because all the work ended in a stalemate, GWB’s policy was to STAY AWAY.

Obama’s presidency is a similar “hands-off” policy, as much as possible. Syria begs him to return.

9-11 was an al-Queda gesture to get GWB to “re-engage” with the ME.

Terrorists don’t like to be ignored. Like Gazan rockets, the telephone is always ringing off the receiver…

This is just MHO.

May 2nd, 2013, 3:18 pm

 

Citizen said:

314. BADR
The war can end by opening a larger war = Bernard Lewis + John McCain + Benjamin Netanyahu!

May 2nd, 2013, 3:26 pm

 

revenire said:

Brother Majed the US is arming them now.

Calm yourself brother – the rats are being killed in great numbers. We thank God for the Syrian army and our president – Dr. Assad.

Perhaps it is time to leave the comforts of Colorado for the battle?

May 2nd, 2013, 3:40 pm

 

zoo said:

Majed

That’s an excellent news for the holy hamster poops of Al Nusra.
They were starting to lack the ammunition necessary to exterminate the FSA rebels who don’t shout Allah u Akbar 25 times a day.
The question is which neighboring country will allow the weapons in?

“Good news to Revenir,Zoo and Ghufran US is seriously considering arming the rebels”

May 2nd, 2013, 3:40 pm

 

zoo said:

Emboldened by military gains, Assad regime shows resilience

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2013/0502/Emboldened-by-military-gains-Assad-regime-shows-resilience

Syrian President Assad has frustrated predictions of his imminent downfall for more than two years. A string of recent Army successes has rolled back some rebel gains and disrupted rebel plans.

Sweeping success
In western Syria, the Syrian military, accompanied by Hezbollah fighters, has launched an offensive to retake a string of rebel-held villages just west of Qusayr, a town lying between the border with north Lebanon and Homs, Syria’s third-largest city. The capture of the villages leaves the Syrian Army well placed to mount an attack against Qusayr itself, a mainly Sunni town of some 30,000 residents that has been in rebel hands since February 2012.

Qusayr lies beside the main highway that links Damascus to Homs and on to the port of Tartous on the Mediterranean and the mountainous hinterland that is home to the bulk of Syria’s Alawite community. If Qusayr is recaptured by the regime, the military will be in a strong position to seize the last two quarters of Homs that lie in rebel hands.

Opposition activists said Thursday that the Syrian Army had seized Wadi al-Sayeh in central Homs, effectively cutting off the rebel-held districts of Khaldiyah and the Old City from each other. If Homs falls under regime control once more, the Syrian Army could then focus on regaining control over a stretch of highway between Damascus and Homs where rebels have a strong presence.

In the northern Idlib Province, the Syrian Army recently broke a months-long siege of the Wadi Deif military base outside the town of Maarrat al-Numan by outflanking rebel factions.

Still, neither side is strong enough to decisively overcome the other, analysts say. The Assad regime has bought itself time by rolling back some rebel gains and demonstrated a determination to prevail. But the international outcry over alleged chemical weapons use and the related mounting pressure on the Obama administration to intervene more forcefully suggest that the Assad regime could face tougher challenges in the months ahead.

“He has no choice but to keep fighting,” says Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma and author of the influential Syria Comment blog. “This is the unfortunate dilemma. For both sides, this is a zero-sum conflict.”

May 2nd, 2013, 3:46 pm

 

revenire said:

HNN Homs News Network
THIS IS WHAT WE THINK OF YOUR NATO PATRIOTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Terrorists infested at the “Bab Al-Hawa” Turkish Border crossing are still reeling from the daring air raid the Syrian Eagles suddenly conducted on their Headquarters, the Terrorists thinking that was their safe zone are still counting their losses from the surprise lightning strikes that killed or wounded all within the building …

NOTHING WILL STOP OUR ARMY FROM CLEANING YOU ALL OUT, INSHALLAH ..

HOW MANY LIKES FOR THE MOST MAGNIFICENT AND MOST BRAVE AIR FORCE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD ?????????????????
… – J

Image of the”Surprise” bombing on Bab Al-Hawa Terrorist Headquarters.

May 2nd, 2013, 3:49 pm

 

revenire said:

Many reports coming in today of the rats falling on each other and killing each other. This is good.

May 2nd, 2013, 3:51 pm

 

revenire said:

ARMY ON THE MOVE!!

Whenever you hear of a massacre in the Western press it means the SAA has gained against the rats and killed great numbers of them. I have heard that upwards of 200 rats were sent to Hell today.

God bless our army. Kill them all.

=====

Activists: Syrian regime troops kill dozens in Sunni village near Mediterranean coast
By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, May 2, 2:35 PM

BEIRUT — Syrian activists say regime troops backed by pro-government gunmen have killed dozens of people, including women and children, in a village near the Mediterranean coast.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says forces loyal to President Bashar Assad took over the predominantly Sunni Muslim village of Bayda outside the city of Banias on Thursday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/activists-syrian-troops-advance-in-regimes-push-to-oust-rebels-from-central-city-of-homs/2013/05/02/11fa82d6-b2fe-11e2-9fb1-62de9581c946_story.html

May 2nd, 2013, 3:53 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

The reasons US decided to ARM the moderate opposition,are Assad use of chemical weapons, the toll of death exceeded 120,000,Hassan Nasrallah direct interfering inside Syria, Iran preparations to send troops to Syria.
There is a real need for ending the war in Syria, The fight against Iran is going to start.
Hassan Nasrallah made a major mistake, and Assad life now depends solely on Obama decision

May 2nd, 2013, 4:00 pm

 

ann said:

Emboldened by military gains, Assad regime shows resilience – May 2, 2013

Syrian President Assad has frustrated predictions of his imminent downfall for more than two years. A string of recent Army successes has rolled back some rebel gains and disrupted rebel plans

“We have a problem with Jabhat al-Nusra because some of them used to be killers and thieves and then suddenly they became [religious] fanatics overnight because they get weapons and money [from foreign sponsors],” says Abu Assy, a Syrian opposition activist living in hiding in Lebanon.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2013/0502/Emboldened-by-military-gains-Assad-regime-shows-resilience

During more than two years of a debilitating civil war, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has consistently defied predictions of an imminent downfall, and his regime is showing remarkable resilience.

The Syrian Army has scored tactical successes against rebel forces across the north, west, and south of the country, dismaying the opposition and possibly postponing a planned rebel “spring offensive” to storm the regime stronghold of central Damascus.

“Syria has real friends in the region and the world who will not allow Syria to fall into the hands of America or Israel or the Takfiris,” Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah warned the Syrian opposition in a televised speech this week. Takfiris is a name given to some extremist Sunni Muslim jihadists who treat other religions as apostate.

Meanwhile, the bickering political opposition still has not managed to form a united and coherent front able to win over fence-sitting Syrians and inspire the full commitment of the international community. The dozens of armed opposition groups, while motivated in their struggle, remain generally ill-equipped and increasingly split along ideological lines and rivals for funds and weapons.

“We have a problem with Jabhat al-Nusra because some of them used to be killers and thieves and then suddenly they became [religious] fanatics overnight because they get weapons and money [from foreign sponsors],” says Abu Assy, a Syrian opposition activist living in hiding in Lebanon.

THE COMPLICATED ROAD TO DAMASCUS

A diplomatic report prepared in early April for a European government noted that the Assad regime had conducted a counteroffensive in the Damascus area to prevent rebel forces from reaching positions from which they could launch a final push on the city center.

“According to regime reports, the Syrian Army have achieved such progress that the rebel forces cannot launch an attack on the city center, but other observations do not support that the tactical situation has changed,” the report says.

However, since the diplomatic cable was written, government forces have seized the town of Utaibe, east of Damascus, severing a key weapons supply line from Jordan to rebel groups deployed around the southern and eastern edges of the city. The Syrian Army also seized the town of Jdeidet al-Fadel, southwest of Damascus, that sits on the highway linking the Syrian capital to the Golan Heights.

The capture of the town, in which up to 100 people were reportedly killed, appears to have frustrated the rebels’ plan to drive northeast from the town of Quneitra on the Golan Heights toward Damascus in an attempt to get in position for a final push on the city center.

SWEEPING SUCCESS

Opposition activists said Thursday that the Syrian Army had seized Wadi al-Sayeh in central Homs, effectively cutting off the rebel-held districts of Khaldiyah and the Old City from each other. If Homs falls under regime control once more, the Syrian Army could then focus on regaining control over a stretch of highway between Damascus and Homs where rebels have a strong presence.

In the northern Idlib Province, the Syrian Army recently broke a months-long siege of the Wadi Deif military base outside the town of Maarrat al-Numan by outflanking rebel factions.

[…]

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2013/0502/Emboldened-by-military-gains-Assad-regime-shows-resilience

May 2nd, 2013, 4:13 pm

 
 

ann said:

319. zoo

LOL ZOO, looks like you beat me to this one 😉

May 2nd, 2013, 4:19 pm

 

revenire said:

Brother Majed our boys are itching to kill rats today:

Al-Qaysaa: The last little morsel squirreled away by the NATO rodents on the Damascus-Airport Highway was broomed up by the SAA and NDF yesterday. The East Ghouta is now completely under the SAA control. The last safe house operated by the Jabhat Al-Nusra went “Kaboom!!” last night when unwanted visitors from the Syrian government arrived with weapons and put all rats to death. Al-Qaysaa is west of Al-‘Utayba and represents a massive disaster for the enemies of progress. Besides the 11 rats exterminated in the operation, Prince Fatso’s largesse was on display as our army took away about $50,000.00 worth of weapons and ordnance and delivered it all to the NDF.

May 2nd, 2013, 4:19 pm

 

revenire said:

As a matter of fact BROTHER MAJED one could make the argument Obama is arming the Syrian government with all the nice things we’ve captured lately.

Cheers.

May 2nd, 2013, 4:21 pm

 

zoo said:

Syrian money smuggled from Turkey to Germany? Money laundering?

Security guard at Atatürk Airport steals sacks containing millions of Syrian pounds

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/security-guard-at-ataturk-airport-steals-sacks-containing-millions-of-syrian-pounds.aspx?pageID=238&nID=46146&NewsCatID=341

A security guard working for a private company at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport has stolen two sacks containing between 2.5 million and 3.5 million Syrian pounds, Doğan news agency reported May 2. The money was transported on a plane that departed from the southern province of Adana and belonged to a company that specializes in transferring money, company sources, who preferred to remain anonymous, have said.

May 2nd, 2013, 4:35 pm

 

zoo said:

#323 Majed

The reason Obama would arm the rebels is simply because the rebels are about to be crushed by the heroic Syrian Army and Obama prefers that the war to continue until Syria is totally devastated and Al Qaeda eliminated…

May 2nd, 2013, 4:47 pm

 

zoo said:

Enjoy the esthetics of violence and war in photography.
That’s what the western journalists do the best and love the most.
It gets them international awards and none of the poor photographed soul would get any of it or even the chance to legally sue the photographer for taking photos without permission.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/02/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html

May 2nd, 2013, 4:58 pm

 

zoo said:

Selim Idriss’s letter to Obama, trying to force his hand and “desperately” begging him to help to counter the ‘chemical attacks’ against the FSA

http://www.aawsat.net/2013/05/article55300528v

In a letter dated April 30 sent by Idris to US President Barack Obama earlier this week, he said: “As your administration has recently concluded, the Assad regime used chemical weapons against opposition forces and the civilian population in Syria on at least three separate occasions in recent weeks.”

“These are unassailable facts,” he added.

Addressing the US president directly, the letter acknowledged, “The Supreme Military Council of the FSA values your statements regarding the use of chemical weapons in Syria. We appreciate, as you noted today at your press conference, the critical importance that facts will play in your analysis. However, I respectfully submit to you that Assad is not taking your carefully phrased condemnation as warnings, but as loopholes that justify his continued use of chemical weapons on a small, strategic scale.”

General Idris added: “As the world has seen, there is no limit to the cruelty that Assad will employ to deny the Syrian people their freedom. There is no limit to the number of men, women and children he will kill, arrest or torture; towns he will destroy; [or] families he will force to flee their homes.”

The letter continued, “Mr. President, I understand the reasons behind your cautious involvement in Syria. But I hope you will not discount the imperatives urging the free world to assist us in protecting our people. We desperately need your support, as the FSA under my command has neither the requisite training nor equipment to counter the effects of Assad’s chemical weapons or to destroy them.”

Idris emphasized, “Now that Assad has crossed your red lines as he had crossed many before, we are calling upon you to help us rid Syria and the world of this cruel dictator and his dangerous chemical weapons.”

May 2nd, 2013, 5:03 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

Salam/Hello revs.

I believe this is important. It also happens to be related to the title of this thread (possibility of US intervention).

Sh. Yaqoubi in late October gave glad tidings of intervention (in a matter of ‘weeks not months’) by a ‘friendly power’ (with use of planes) and Assad and his aides would face a horrible end.

Sometimes learned men of God can gain insight via inspiration. The time frame not being as accurate as predicted, with 6 months having gone by, shouldn’t be read into too much (ie could be a personal estimation/interpretation).

On Tuesday 30th April, on Facebook, Sh. Yaqoubi, stated that the US may be preparing for intervention and asked people to discuss the issue.

Supporters of the revolution may hold varying positions on the pros and cons and ramifications of western intervention. They would certainly brace themselves for a backlash from against the revolution from skeptics in the arab and muslim world.

It seems Shaykh Yaqoubi is asking for the question of intervention to be discussed beforehand rather than later in a heated atmosphere (post intervention). This may save from having to deal with the inevitable backlash (accusations, questions, blamegame, finger pointing etc). It’ll take the wind out of the sails of the ‘backlash’. Discussing with or trying explaining to angry people is a different prospect than doing so in a cool atmosphere.

For me this facebook statement indicates a likelihood of an intervention in the near future.

Posted on Tuesday:

استطلاع للرأي

أمريكا تحضر للتدخل العسكري في سورية، ما هو رأيك؟

يبدو جليا من خلال تتبع الأخبار والتقارير أن أمريكا تحضر للتدخل العسكري لإنقاذ الشعب السوري وإسقاط نظام بشار.
نريد من القراء والمتابعين لصفحاتنا مناقشة الأمر وإبداء السلبيات والإيجابيات في هذا التدخل لنتمكن من كشف كل جوانبه.
ندعو كل من له رأي سديد أو تحليل عميق أو وجهة نظر مفيدة إلى المشاركة في هذا النقاش المفتوح. فمشكلتنا نحن العرب إجمالا أننا لا ندرس المشكلات قبل الوقوع وإنما ننتظر وقوع الأحداث ثم نبدأ باللوم والنقد.
نفتح صفحتنا لكم راجين مشاركتكم على أوسع نطاق، مع جزيل الشكر ، داعين الله تعالى بالنصر لأمتنا وثورتنا وأن يرد كيد النظام في نحره ويخلصنا من شره إنه سميع مجيب.

Google translation:

An opinion poll

America preparing for military intervention in Syria, what is your opinion?

Seems clear by tracking the news and reports that America is preparing for military intervention to save the Syrian people and overthrow the regime of Bashar al.

We want readers and followers to our pages discuss the matter and make the negatives and positives in this intervention to be able to detect all its aspects.

We call on all of his opinion سديد or deep analysis or useful point of view to participate in this open debate. فمشكلتنا We Arabs as a whole we do not study the problems before falling, but wait for the occurrence of the events then we start the blame and criticism.

We open our page you Rajin participation widely, with many thanks, calling God a victory for our nation and our revolution and Kidd is order in the throat and save us from the evil that he listens and responds.

You can read the response/discussion following the statement.

May 2nd, 2013, 5:05 pm

 

ann said:

In Middle East, public rejects arming Syrian rebels: poll – May 2, 2013

A Pew Center poll found that large majorities worry that an influx of arms – from Western or Arab sources – will increase violence and instability in the region

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2013/0502/In-Middle-East-public-rejects-arming-Syrian-rebels-poll

Citizens of many Middle East countries remain opposed to providing military assistance to the Syrian opposition for its fight against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, despite substantial fears that the violence will spill into their own countries, according to a poll released this week by the Pew Research Center.

The Pew results are based on a survey of 11,771 people between March 3 and April 7 from 12 countries: Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, Germany, France, Britain, the US, and Russia.

95% of Lebanese said they were concerned that violence would spread west into their country, with 68% of them saying they were “very concerned” and 27% saying they were “somewhat concerned.” Eighty percent of Jordanians, who live to Syria’s south, and 62% of Turks, who are on Syria’s northern flank, expressed worry.

And in Israel, which appreciated the decades-long cold war reached between the two after fighting multiple wars, 78% of those polled said spreading instability was a problem.

But countries farther afield share the unease of those whose borders are now inundated with desperate Syrians. 89% of Tunisians and 77% of Egyptians told Pew that they were worried about violence destabilizing the region, already in upheaval because of revolutions throughout the Arab world.

Public opinion is unquestionably not in favor of the US and European countries arming the Syrian opposition, however, with the exception of Jordan, where a slight majority (53 percent) support doing so. Reticence is strongest in Lebanon, where arms are almost certainly flowing already across the border as both rebels and Assad-allied Hezbollah fighters move back and forth and citizens are braced for tensions to explode into open conflict.

80% of Lebanese oppose Western arming of the rebels, and even among Sunnis, who are generally sympathetic to the predominantly Sunni opposition, a solid majority of 66% oppose the West sending military aid. Unsurprisingly, almost all (98%) Lebanese Shiites oppose sending arms; the regime’s base is predominantly Alawite, a Shiite sect.

The picture changes slightly when such aid is coming from other Arab countries, but only Lebanese Sunnis join Jordan in supporting the idea – 65% of Jordanians favor sending arms and other military supplies, while 63% of Lebanese Sunnis do (to show how starkly divided Lebanon is over the Syrian war, hold that up against the 97% of Lebanese Shiites who oppose Arab countries sending military aid).

[…]

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2013/0502/In-Middle-East-public-rejects-arming-Syrian-rebels-poll

May 2nd, 2013, 5:07 pm

 

ann said:

Middle Eastern and Western Public Wary on Syrian Intervention – May 2, 2013

http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/05/02/middle-eastern-and-western-publics-wary-on-syrian-intervention/

Some pundits and politicians now say the equation has changed. Anne-Marie Slaughter, the former head of the State Department’s policy planning staff, wrote in Sunday’s Washington Post: “Mr. President, how many uses of chemical weapons does it take to cross a red line against the use of chemical weapons?” And Sen. John McCain, on NBC’s Meet the Press, called on the Obama administration to arm the rebel troops, to establish a no-fly zone over Syria and to “be prepared with an international force to go in and secure these stocks of chemical, and perhaps biological, weapons.”

Such exhortations seem to be out of step with much public sentiment in the United States, in Europe and in the Middle East. Just 45% of the American public favors military intervention in Syria even if it is confirmed that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against anti-government groups, according to a new poll by the Pew Research Center conducted April 25-28, 2013 among 1,003 adults in the United States. About three-in-ten Americans (31%) oppose such military action. And 23% has no opinion. But just 18% of the public say that it has been following news about the Syrian chemical weapons issue very closely.

A separate Pew Research Center survey conducted in March before information emerged of the alleged use of chemical agents found nearly two-thirds (64%) of Americans were against even arming the Syrian rebels. And there was even less support for such involvement in Europe. Eight-in-ten Germans (82%) opposed such assistance, as did more than two-thirds of the French (69%) and a majority of the British (57%). Even the Turks (65%), who share a border with Syria and now house 300,000 refugees from the civil war, oppose military aid to the rebels.

[…]

http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/05/02/middle-eastern-and-western-publics-wary-on-syrian-intervention/

May 2nd, 2013, 5:28 pm

 

Ameera said:

نطرونا – موقف دارينا

نطّرونا كتير كتير ع موقـــــف دارينا
لاعرفنا أساميـــهن ولاعرفوا أسامينا
ع موقــــــــف دارينا ع موقف دارينا
ع موقف دارينا

ع الموقف ركاب وليل وبنية مهـــيوبة
وشب يقلهاّ صيف وليل وتقلّه مخطوبة
يانسمة خدينا يانسمة جيبينا
ع موقف دارينا ع موقف دارينا
ع موقف دارينا

ســـــيارة صغيرة والليـــــــــــــل والغيرة
والعشاق اتنين اتنين ماحدا عارف لوين
نطّرونا كتير
نطّرونا نطّرونا آآآه نطّرونا

كلمات: الأخوين رحباني
ألحان: زياد رحباني
مقام: كرد صول
تاريخ: 1974

May 2nd, 2013, 5:39 pm

 

Ameera said:

اليوم اشتريت سكربينة سودا و طاير أعلي فيا

May 2nd, 2013, 5:55 pm

 

Dawoud said:

I was recently in Cairo for a final dissertation research on the brief Egyptian-Syrian unification, and I never met any Egyptian who didn’t strongly support the Syrian revolution against the dictator and his Iranian/Hizbistan allies. Arming the Syrian opposition, including arms from Egypt, would probably win the support of 85-90% of Egyptians.

Free Syria, Free Palestine!

http://www.opendemocracy.net/amro-ali/egypt%E2%80%99s-stake-in-syrian-revolution

Egypt’s stake in the Syrian revolution
Amro Ali 22 July 2012

Numerous segments of the Egyptian public have thrown their weight behind “their” Syrian revolution and cheered for their team.
When Tahrir Square was not playing host to Egypt’s revolutionary sequels, it became one of the chief unofficial nerve centres of the Syrian Revolution. Thousands of fleeing Syrians quickly connected with Egyptian activism, coordinated with the Syrian National Council (SNC), raised awareness amongst Egyptians, set up tents, launched weekly protests, collected donations, hosted conferences, pressured the nearby Arab League, and disseminated information from inside Syria with international media outlets and journalists based in Cairo.
[…]

May 2nd, 2013, 6:00 pm

 

Dawoud said:

P.S., there are very good reasons to question the validity and methodology of any public opinion polls in the Arab World. In 2006, all polls of the Palestinians conducted by reputable Israeli, American, and Palestinian polling centers/organizations showed a comfortable win for the corrupt Fatah. That’s why Israel and the Untied States facilitated the Palestinian elections and pushed Mahmoud Abbas to conduct him. They even allowed Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem to vote. They were all wrong!

The Pew poll published in the CSM and posted above by Hizbistan/Dictator advocate is as valid as the Dick Morris and Gallup (which is a reputable U.S. polling organization) that predicted the 2012 U.S. elections to be won by Mitt Romney. Hew, President Romney!

May 2nd, 2013, 6:11 pm

 

Ameera said:

عم يئولو انو حلئولو على الناعم لغسان هيتو و ما عاد الو علائة بمجلسهم صحيح هدا الكلام؟

واليوم ألي اخي انو الشيخ معاذ بدو يساوي مجلس شامي بمصر فصحيح هدا الكلام كمان؟ وكم مجلس صار عندن؟

May 2nd, 2013, 6:15 pm

 

ann said:

Hagel: US administration mulls arming Syrian rebels – 2013-05-03

http://rt.com/news/hagel-us-syrian-rebels-736/

The US is rethinking arming Syrian opposition fighters, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said. Speaking at a Pentagon news conference, he stressed the Obama administration is considering a range of options.

Asked directly if the administration was reconsidering its opposition to that option, Hagel said “yes”. “Arming the rebels — that’s an option,” he said. “We must continue to look at options.”

“These are options that must be considered with partners, with the international community: What is possible, what can help accomplish these objectives,” Hagel said.

At the same time, he stressed that he has not personally decided whether it would be wise to provide weapons to the rebels.

The statement by Hagel coincided with negotiations between the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and UN chief Ban Ki-moon on “possible diplomatic moves to end” the Syria conflict.

While diplomats declined to comment on the meeting with the secretary-general, Reuters reports that a dispute between Russia and the United States over Syria has left the council paralyzed.

Russia insists on an investigation into reports of the use of chemical weapons near Aleppo, Syria, in March, but said that the UN’s demand to check all facilities in the country “is incorrect” and “undermines the goal of an immediate investigation” according to Lavrov.

“We insist on satisfying the specific request from the government of Syria for an investigation into this incident,” Lavrov told a news conference in Budapest. “[It] is very reminiscent of the resolutions that the UN Security Council was passing on Iraq.”

[…]

http://rt.com/news/hagel-us-syrian-rebels-736/

May 2nd, 2013, 6:16 pm

 

zoo said:

Morsi’s children ordered to say goodbye to Uncle Sam

Egypt court orders Morsi’s children attend US citizenship revocation hearing

President Mohamed Morsi’s son and daughter to attend court hearing, scheduled for 30 May, on lawsuit demanding the revocation of their US citizenship

Lawyer launches case to strip Morsi’s children of US citizenship
Egypt’s Supreme Administrative Court’s State Commissioners Authority on Thursday ordered that President Mohamed Morsi’s son and daughter attend the hearing on a lawsuit demanding the revocation of their US citizenship.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/70592/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-court-orders-Morsis-children-attend-US-citiz.aspx

May 2nd, 2013, 6:16 pm

 

Tara said:

Zoo,

Don’t you think Asma should renounce her British citizenship too?

May 2nd, 2013, 6:33 pm

 

zoo said:

Panic among the rebels in Homs. Will US weapons make a difference. Too little, too late. The fall of Homs to the Syrian Army is the game-changer

Syrian regime launches major assault on Homs as US mulls military options: Reports

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/syria/130502/syrian-regime-launches-major-assault-homs-us-mulls-mi

“The suburbs of Homs today are under a greater threat than ever before,” the group said in a statement cited by CNN, adding: “Every decision maker and leader capable of helping us will be judged by God, people, and history.”

May 2nd, 2013, 6:36 pm

 

zoo said:

#343 Tara

Why? She lives in a free country.

May 2nd, 2013, 6:46 pm

 

Tara said:

How many times Homs has “fallen” to the Assad’s army. Homs should enter the world record for the number of times it has fell!

May 2nd, 2013, 6:48 pm

 

Ameera said:

عدي فنا على هالكسم تبع اسما من وين جايبتو نيالا عليه

May 2nd, 2013, 6:51 pm

 

Ameera said:

يبعتلن حما الحماصنة شو حلوين بس ما بتناسبو بنوب

May 2nd, 2013, 6:54 pm

 

Tara said:

Zoo,

Can you be objective one time in your life when it comes to Al Assads? You would not demand the same from our soon to be president of free Syria?

Ameera,

She is too thin for my taste. No lean muscle mass. She got to go to the Gym.

May 2nd, 2013, 6:54 pm

 

zoo said:

Didn’t we hear before that mantra used when the USA just doesn’t know what to do:
“All options are on the table”

Wasn’t it about military actions against Iran for the last 2 years?

Obama: All Options for Syria Are Being Considered
MEXICO CITY May 3, 2013 (AP)

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/obama-options-syria-considered-19096043#.UYLt3Texu1k

President Barack Obama says his administration is looking at every option to end the bloodshed in Syria.

The president said Thursday that his administration is proceeding cautiously as it looks at options, to ensure that what it does is helpful to the situation rather than making it more deadly or complex.

May 2nd, 2013, 6:55 pm

 
 

Dawoud said:

A Shia or Shiite religious authority, Mohammad Hasan al-Amin, CONDEMNS/OPPOSES Hizbistan’s and Nasra$s’ support for the murderous Bashar al-Assad:

http://aljazeera.net/news/pages/a7afa0e3-8e88-4519-8e71-6b1b49f9407b

مرجع يستنكر قتال حزب الله مع النظام السوري

استنكر المرجع الشيعي اللبناني العلامة السيد محمد حسن الأمين أن يقاتل حزب الله (اللبناني) “حزب المقاومة والمستضعفين” إلى جانب النظام السوري في مواجهة شعبه.

واعتبر الأمين في لقاء مع الجزيرة سيبث في وقت لاحق أن قتال أي طرف أو فريق ضد الشعب السوري هو أمر محرم شرعا.

وأضاف المرجع الشيعي أن هذا الأمر من الحزب حاليا يشكل خطرا على المقاومة ونهجها.

وكان عضو هيئة علماء المسلمين في لبنان الشيخ سالم الرافعي قال الأسبوع الماضي إن تدخل حزب الله في سوريا يجر البلاد إلى فتنة داخلية ويدفع الجيش الحر لقصف القرى اللبنانية.

وجاء التصريح بعد إعلان الشيخ الرافعي التعبئة العامة لنصرة “المظلومين” في منطقة القصير السورية.

وتشهد منطقة القصير الحدودية معارك وصفها ناشطون بالكر والفر، حيث تمكن الجيش السوري الحر من استرجاع عدد من القرى كانت عناصر حزب الله سيطرت عليها.
[…]

May 2nd, 2013, 7:02 pm

 

Ameera said:

ايه بعرف هي مو معباية بنوب بس دخيلك يا ريتني عصايه طقي موتي وآكل على كيفي احسن من انو شوف اكلة الروس و المآدم وما استرجي مد ايدي

May 2nd, 2013, 7:04 pm

 

Ameera said:

وكمان الكبة المشوية مسأسئة بالشحمة

May 2nd, 2013, 7:05 pm

 

zoo said:

#349

Asma is not the president of Syria. If she is elected as president or as a PM, she will spontaneously renounce to her British Citizen. She is a lady, not a cowboy.

When will Hitto, the PM of the Sole representative of the Syrian people renounce to uncle Sam?
The guy is not stupid. He knows that his wife would hate to leave Texas to live in Azzaaz or Al Raqqa, so he is keeping his options open to run back home if things go wrong. That hopefully may happen very soon.
American puppets will never have any credibility with Syrians living in Syria.

May 2nd, 2013, 7:06 pm

 

Dawoud said:

Pro-Bashar/Dicator al-Assad commentators are so happy that Bashar visited a power station in Damascus yesterday. They want to show that he is secure and in control and all is good! NO, NO! The Syrian resistance is everywhere in Damascus and the visit doesn’t show normalcy. The video I posting below shows Saddam Hussein walking in Baghdad streets in 2003 while the American forces (and behind them Nuri al-Maliki and the Shia politicians) were in downtown Baghdad. Where is Saddam now? Neither Saddam nor Bashar al-Assad were in control!

May 2nd, 2013, 7:09 pm

 

ann said:

On Syria, Ban’s UN scheduled P5 Meeting, Sellstrom on May 3, Popova Evidence?

By Matthew Russell Lee

http://www.innercitypress.com/syria1p5sell050213.html

UNITED NATIONS, May 2 — On Syria, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met with the Permanent Five members of the Security Council at 10:45 am.

But even after noon, the meeting was not on Ban’s online public schedule. So Inner City Press asked Ban’s spokesperson Martin Nesirky about it. From the UN’s transcript:

Spokesperson Nesirky: the Secretary-General invited the ambassadors of the permanent five members of the Security Council to an informal meeting this morning, for discussions on Syria. They discussed possible diplomatic moves to end the crisis. He briefed them on the latest developments relating to the chemical weapons investigation mission. And they also discussed the ever-worsening humanitarian situation inside Syria and the neighboring countries and international efforts to alleviate it.

Okay, yes?

the meeting wasn’t even put on Ban’s online schedule an hour and a half after the meeting took place. Last week, Inner City Press asked Nesirky about Ban meeting former French president (and current investment adviser to Qatar) Nicholas Sarkozy.

Nesirky didn’t answer Inner City Press, but gave the answer to Agence France Presse: Ban met Sarkozy at Ban’s UN-provided residence. It was never put on Ban’s schedule — despite Sarkozy’s connection with Qatar, which is to say, on Syria.

Now on May 3, Ban is publicly scheduled to meet his chemical weapons prober Ake Sellstrom at 12:30 pm. Will Sellstrom have considered any of the evidence of Anastasia Popova by then? On May 1 Inner City Press asked Nesirky:

Inner City Press: yesterday, the Russians hosted a Russian State journalist that had been in Syria for some eight months, Anastasia Popova. Among other things, she said that she was in Khan al-Assal just after the attack and interviewed people. So, she said that she is offering this evidence. She said that the Pinheiro panel didn’t want to speak with her, saying that they would only speak first-hand to refugees, but I am wondering whether it is the Secretary-General’s understanding that his probe, if it can’t get into the country, or while it can’t get into the country, is this the type of evidence that they would be willing to take a look at?

[…]

http://www.innercitypress.com/syria1p5sell050213.html

May 2nd, 2013, 7:10 pm

 

zoo said:

David from Texas

Are you so desperate to bring back a dictator that the USA and the GCC pampered for years to fight Iran and with whom France and the UK made lucrative business while Germany was selling him gas to kill Kurds and Iranians.

You are obviously out of options too..

May 2nd, 2013, 7:15 pm

 

ann said:

Qatar’s Syria Draft May Be Voted On Late Next Week, Swiss Proposals, Press Circus

By Matthew Russell Lee

http://www.innercitypress.com/syria1swisscircus050113.html

UNITED NATIONS, May 1 — The proposed Syria resolution drafted by Qatar may be voted on in the UN General Assembly “late next week,” two of its proponents told Inner City Press on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Inner City Press has obtained and is today exclusively publishing a letter from the Swiss Mission to the UN to Qatar’s Ambassador, urging “informal negotiations on the text open to all Member States” and a series of amendments, adding for example “all parties” and “armed elements of the opposition.”

It may be worth noting that due to the way the UN proposes to conduct the (delayed) move-back to the Secretariat Building, all media at the UN have been told to shut down their offices at 1 pm on Friday, May 10.

So if the GA vote is then, there will be very little coverage, even by those wanting to hype up such a resolution.

[…]

http://www.innercitypress.com/syria1swisscircus050113.html

May 2nd, 2013, 7:21 pm

 

Tara said:

Sami,

The introduction to your last post was pretty funny. A big smile! By the way, we may turn out to be relatives somehow. It seems to me that all Damascenes are related to each others.

May 2nd, 2013, 7:21 pm

 

zoo said:

Endowments’ Ministry Condemns Sacrilege of Prophet Companion Hajar Bin Oudi in Damascus Countryside
May 02, 2013

DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Ministry of Endowments on Thursday condemned the attack committed by the armed terrorist groups on the shrine of Companion of prophet Hajar Bin Oudai in Adra city in Damascus Countryside.

In a statement, the Ministry said that destroying the shrine of a companion of the prophet and sacrilege his tomb is a flagrant attack on all Muslims’ sanctity.

“Those Takfiri terrorist groups have got used to attack the places of worship of churches and mosques.. the attack on the Islamic and Christian sanctities is a systemized plot carried out by enemies of the humanity, on top, the attack on the Great Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo,” the statement added.

It affirmed that the Syrian people with all their spectrums have been aware of the reality of those takfiri criminal acts as they have become, more than any time before, committed to face this conspiracy and those who stand behind it.

The armed terrorist groups destroyed and burnt several Mosques and Churches in several provinces, including some sites with historical and religious values.

One of those attacks was the explosion of the Great Umayyad Mosque’ minaret in Aleppo and the attack on Khaled Ibn al-Waled Mosque in Homs, in addition to destroying parts of Om al-Zunar Church in Homs.

The sites affected by terrorists’ acts in Daraa were al-Omari Mosque, the ancient al-Hrak Mosque in Izraa’a and the two old Mosgues in AL-Sheikh Misken and Mahaja.

May 2nd, 2013, 7:26 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

Athma dog-poop athad is a partner of d-p athad in crimes. Both will face trials for their crimes. Knowing syrians, though, they may decide to spare female d-p athma, and allow it and its fans-club to clean latrines in the jails where people who have advocated wholesale slaughter of Syrians will be held for their complicity in genocide.

May 2nd, 2013, 7:36 pm

 

ann said:

The Syria-Iran red line show – Pepe Escobar – May 2, 2013

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/World/WOR-01-020513.html

This eminently Bushist Obama “red line” business, applied to Syria, Iran or both, is becoming a tad ridiculous.

Take Pentagon head Chuck Hagel’s tour of Israel and the “friendly” GCC (the de facto Gulf Counter-revolution Club) last week. US defense contractors had the Moet flowing as Hagel merrily congregated with that prodigy of democracy – United Arab Emirates (UAE) Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed – to celebrate the sale of 25 F-16 fighter jets.

There’s more on the way; 48 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD missile interceptors, at a cool US$1 billion. The Pentagon is sending one of its only two of such systems to Guam this month to counter that other threat – missiles from North Korea.

The weaponizing free fest to Israel and the Gulf petro-monarchies – missile defense, fighter jets, mega-bombs – could not but be duly hailed as the proverbial “message” to “counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions”, or “the air and missile threat posed by Iran”, or the general “worry about Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon” or “Washington’s determination to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.”

There’s no “red line” here; just hardcore weaponizing of Israel and the GCC. Any doubts, blame it on Iran. And this while Saudi-controlled media in the Middle East – roughly everything except al-Jazeera – was breathlessly spinning that Tel Aviv is pursuing a deal to use Turkish soil for an attack on Iran.

Wait; there’s more weaponizing on the way – bound to neighboring latitudes. Kraus-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) from Germany closed another $2.48 billion deal with Qatar – five years in the making – to deliver 62 Leopard 2 tanks and 24 self-propelled howitzers. Qatar is not exactly using them for the 2022 FIFA World Cup; they are bound to “friendly groups in other countries” – as in Syria’s “rebels”, via Turkey.

Ask the Nenets
Now take the Syria chemical weapons charade. The White House now seems to be convinced that the CIA believes, with “varying degrees of confidence”, that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons. Secretary of State John Kerry – an “intervention” cheerleader posing as a dove – was already convinced.

But then Hagel said, “Suspicions are one thing; evidence is another.” Just to flip-flop a little while later, during his visit to Israel, he became convinced Bashar al-Assad was using sarin gas. Of course; after all, Hagel finally had unimpeded access to Israeli – not US – intel.

And now for the beauty of Hagel’s marketing; what about embarking as a traveling salesman to “our bastards” with a sales pitch of ” Look, Iran and Syria are both crazy, you might consider stacking up on this, this and this.”

The Nenets of Siberia – crossing the Ob river to enter the Arctic Circle – could teach a thing or two about real strategy to those limping armchair warriors in US Think Tankland. Even the Nenets would know that the current chemical weapons hysteria is a total fabrication by the CIA, MI6 and Israeli intelligence – corroborated by zero evidence. Still, the prevailing Washington “wisdom” is that a “red line” must be enforced over Syria so a “red line” must be enforced on Iran.

The fact is that the al-Assad government initially accused the “rebels” of using chemical weapons – and asked the United Nations for an official investigation.

Even the New York Times was forced, grudgingly, to admit the “rebels” acknowledged an attack happened in territory controlled by the government, with 16 Syrian Army dead, plus 10 civilians and over a hundred injured. But then the “rebels” changed the narrative, blaming Damascus of bombing their own soldiers. It was Moscow that introduced a measure of reality, detailing how Washington was stalling the UN investigation.

Our Nenets of Siberia would also know there’s hardly anything secular leading the “rebels” in Syria; it’s a motley crew of varying degrees of fanaticism. Once again, the Nenets would not need to freeze to death reading the New York Times to find out that the CIA is “secretly” funneling a free for all weaponizing to the “rebels” via Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Still the Obama administration peddles the fiction that Washington only supplies “non lethal” aid as Capitol Hill nutters keep insisting that Obama install a “no fly zone” over Syria – as in Libya-style NATO war remix.

Follow-on strike package, anyone?
US Think Tankland nonetheless is ecstatic that the GCC petro-monarchies now have access to precision-guided munitions to “strike Iranian targets”.

But nothing compares to the cheer leading of Israel’s new access to KC-135 aerial refueling tankers – or Stratotankers. Then there’s the imminent transfer of anti-radiation missiles as well – advanced versions of the AGM-88 HARM missiles. These toys will “reduce the threat to Israel’s follow-on strike package.”

No, this is not exactly about “US circumspection”, or “US resolve in the campaign against Iranian nuclear weapons”; it’s unqualified Dog of War barking.

Meanwhile, that police state run by King Playstation, also known as Jordan, has opened its airspace to Israeli drones now engaged in “monitoring” Syria.

As Asia Times Online has repeatedly warned, Obama in Syria is fast becoming a remix of Reagan in 1980s Afghanistan. We all know what came out of those “freedom fighters” afterward. In this context, Robert Ford, Obama’s alleged Syria expert, telling the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that it’s important for Washington to “weigh in” to affect “the internal balance of power in Syria” qualifies as a joke line, not a red line.

There’s wild speculation that after the Boston bombing Obama and Russia’s Vladimir Putin made a deal; Washington lets Moscow do whatever it wants in Chechnya like, forever, but gets a nod to install a “no-fly zone” and further mayhem in Syria. There’s no evidence to that. What a geo-politically savvy Putin wants to know is what does he get out of Syria in practical terms (and Obama does not have a clue). Crumbs from a NATO banquet don’t apply.

As for allowing Syria to become a “Western-friendly” Wahhabi emirate or yet another failed Muslim Brotherhood fiefdom, one needs to go no further than Hezbollah’s Sheikh Nasrallah … “the goal of anyone standing behind the war in Syria, is destroying Syria so that a strong, centralized state would not be established in it, and so that it would become too weak to take decisions related to its oil, sea, or borders.”

[…]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/World/WOR-01-020513.html

May 2nd, 2013, 7:44 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

The suction noise is deafening. It is s-pipes’ competition day.

May 2nd, 2013, 7:48 pm

 

mjabali said:

Tara:

I was just reading your response to my ridiculing of your beloved poet Nizar Qabbani. You claimed that no women stood up to Nizar Qabbani’s misogynist poetry. Well, I know that you are no expert in poetry or culture, so let me give you these notes:

1- One of the harshest critiques of Nizar Qabbani is May Ghandur مي غندور, a Lebanese who trashed your “poet” till he was begging newspapers and magazines not to publish her interviews with him. She got him bad like no one else.

2- Another noted woman who trashed your poet for his degrading attitude towards women is Katia Shuhab كاتيا شهاب, who called Nizar Qabbani “shallow and not cultured.” funny ha… For example she went through the verbs your beloved Nizar used in his poems, when talking about women. The results show how your hero put women down.

3- Not only his language against women was bad: Nizar Qabbani was just a merchant looking for money from his poems. Read about how much of a miser he was, and how he was chasing singers, who sing his poems, for money.

4- Nizar Qabbani is fake: he was writing about women and erotics then changed into a “political” poet. Remember his first political poem was in praise of the Dictator Husni al-Za’im. Nizar was writing these sappy love poems and making money. I was living when he switched from love poetry to political poetry. Not because of his political activism: it was because of popularity and money.

5- The political poets who lived during his times were better than him at any given moment. Samih al-Qassem, Mahmud Darwish, Kamal Nasser and co. were in a different class. At this stage: Nizar was writing love poems that became silly. For example; he published a book called: The Childhood of a Breast. طفولة نهد, how can I take someone seriously after writing something like this?

6- Nizar was a racist talking the worst about the Arabs. He said the most racist things about Arabs.

7- One famous poet goes to Nizar’s house and sees no library or any books, and all of what he saw was society magazines.

May 2nd, 2013, 8:00 pm

 

Dawoud said:

358. ZOO

Zoo from Hizbistan: حديقه حيوان حزبستان

I don’t support dictators. I hated Saddam and now I am hating Bashar. As I told you yesterday, you are dummy. You couldn’t understand my analogy. Neither Saddam nor Bashar could be in control by appearing in public. You don’t like Saddam, but you like Bashar because he is Alawi killing Sunnis! What a filthy dummy sectarian!

May 2nd, 2013, 8:41 pm

 

Tara said:

Mjabali,    

Your argument is an asset only if you are preaching to a feminist choir.  Most women however do not submit to feminist theology.  

You can take a shot at Nizar’s legacy.  You are entitled to your opinion and so the two feminists you mentioned.  It won’t change his legacy much.           

May 2nd, 2013, 8:49 pm

 

ghufran said:

This signals an attempt to close an old case:
British defence secretary Philip Hammond fears West can no longer prove chemical weapons attacks because blood and soil samples ‘degrade over time’

Dan Roberts in Washington
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 2 May 2013 12.12 EDT

This ,on the other hand, is an attempt to open a new case:
نشر معارضون سوريون صوراً قالوا انها لمقام الصحابي الجليل حجر بن عدي الكندي الواقع في عدرا بريف دمشق. واكدت تنسيقية الثورة في عدرا البلد على صفحة فايسبوك ان مسلحين قاموا بنبش القبر ونقلوا رفات الصحابي الى مكان مجهول

May 2nd, 2013, 8:58 pm

 

revenire said:

Even the liars at the New York Times can’t help but take not of the army juggernaut:

Syrian Forces Strike Rebels in Wide-Ranging Assaults

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Syrian forces carried out what antigovernment activists described as furious assaults against a range of insurgent enclaves on Thursday, seeking to snap a stalemate in the central city of Homs, attacking rebels ensconced in a seaport near Russia’s naval station and apparently destroying a historic bridge in the contested western city of Deir al-Zour.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/03/world/middleeast/syria.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=1&

May 2nd, 2013, 9:12 pm

 

revenire said:

David Bashar’s wife is Sunni, most of the army is Sunni… you’re crazy.

May 2nd, 2013, 9:17 pm

 

ghufran said:

By Ruth Sherlock, Machaghara, Lebanon
6:48PM BST 01 May 2013
The testimonies given by Shia refugees who have fled to Lebanon paint a graphic picture of how the Syrian rebellion is becoming beset by deep-seated sectarianism, with hardline Sunni rebels now bent on building and uncompromising Islamic state.
“I heard the imam in the mosque next to our home call for jihad — holy war — against the Syrian regime, and against the Alawites and Shia. They were shouting it from the minarets,” said Awatif, 60, too frightened of reprisals to give her family name.
“The neighborhood next to ours was burned. Friends found crosses marked in red on their doors and then they were attacked. That was when we knew we had to leave.”
Awatif and her elderly husband Ali, 70, are among thousands of Shia families to have sought refuge across the border Lebanon, in their case in the mountain village of Machaghara.

May 2nd, 2013, 9:17 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

For want of a nail….

It all began when a couple of teenagers wrote graffiti on the wall, and got tortured. Then some poor people protested, and the Assadists chose to shoot them.

As I’ve said before: even the Pakistani government is better at ruling a country than the Assadists. At least the Pakistanis don’t shoot poor people when they protest.

May 2nd, 2013, 9:26 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

Most of the army has defected, retard. Why do you think the Assadists have lost two-thirds of the country already? The Iranians are trying to create a new Alawite army from scratch. But that costs money, all paid by Iranians.

The war continues.

May 2nd, 2013, 9:32 pm

 

zoo said:

#368 David

You think you are smart but your assertions sound fake especially when you force yourself to talk mild for fear of being kicked out of the blog.
You don’t fool me, your Zionism is clearly imprinted in your demeaning insults.
You sound so much like an arrogant Israeli David, it’s revealing.
I suggest you try harder to hide your true nature and your real identity.

May 2nd, 2013, 9:35 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

What’s the point of Iran supporting (with lots of money) Syria if it makes enemies of the rest of the Arab world?

How is this making Iran any safer? What benefit are they thinking they’re getting from this? What’s the point of them saying they’re against Israel, if they spend all their time and effort fighting Sunnis in Syria and pissing off the GCC and Turkey?

Thanks to this war, the Americans are seen as the “decent guys” in the Middle East again (at least better than Assad or Iran). And everyone’s forgotten about Palestine.

The Iranians are stupid. Like Zoo. Who by the way supports an Iranian theocracy despite his avowed “atheism.”

May 2nd, 2013, 9:37 pm

 

revenire said:

In a way David reminds me of AIG – similar mentalities. It would not surprise me.

May 2nd, 2013, 9:44 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

You remind me of a retard. SAME mentality: retarded.

May 2nd, 2013, 9:45 pm

 

Darryl said:

Donations for retirement fund

Is there any interest in donations for a retirement fund for BAM BAM BOORAAN and the the Garbage Bin Buster (They maybe the same person). It is really annoying to read so many useless posts with so little content other than noise.

May 2nd, 2013, 9:48 pm

 

Dawoud said:

Free Syria, Free Palestine, Bahrain is Arab Forever!

The regime destorys the Deir al-Zour Bridge. Shame on Bashar and his supporters!

May 2nd, 2013, 9:54 pm

 
 

ann said:

Another Al-Qaeda Volcano 😀

Rebels destroy old footbridge in eastern Syria with mortars – 2013-05-02

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-05/02/c_132355313.htm

DAMASCUS, May 2 (Xinhua) — Armed rebels in Syria on Thursday fired mortar shells at a 68-year-old footbridge in the country’s east, and destroyed it completely, the pro-government Sham FM radio said.

The shells have destroyed the Suspension Bridge of the oil-rich Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria, the report said, giving no further details.

The bridge, spanning the Euphrates River, is considered an archeological site as it was built in 1927 during the French Mandate.

Meanwhile in the country’s east, the state media reported the advancement of government troops in rebellious areas in the sprawling suburb of Ghouta.

Pro-opposition web pages, at the same time, reportedly declared the commencement of the rebels’ battle in the Syrian coast, which is hometown of the Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, to whom the ruling elite in Syria belongs.

The battle, titled “the coast’s volcano,” aims to “liberate the coast of the Alawite colonies,” according to rebels’ claim.

The al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front has started its attacks on government troops from the coastal city of Banyas.

[…]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-05/02/c_132355313.htm

May 2nd, 2013, 10:03 pm

 

Dawoud said:

“A Picture Speaks a Million Words!” Bashar and Saddam

May 2nd, 2013, 10:04 pm

 

Dawoud said:

The Chinese and the American Hizbistan, who posts their news stories, should learn Arabic! If they know Arabic they would know who really destroyed the Bridge of Deir al-Zour!

Free Syria, Free Palestine, Bahrain is Arab Forever!

May 2nd, 2013, 10:09 pm

 

ann said:

EU Carves out Another Kuwait, this time it’s in Syria!

EU Lifts Oil Embargo on Syria – Buys Directly from Al Qaeda – May 2, 2013

Western media hails EU oil deal as potential game changer, despite admitting Al Qaeda holds oil fields

http://landdestroyer.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/eu-lifts-oil-embargo-on-syria-buys.html

May 2, 2013 (LD) – It was recently reported that the European Union would be lifting its oil embargo on Syria, in an effort to help fund what it calls “rebels” operating there. In the Associated Press article, “EU lifts Syria oil embargo to bolster rebels,” it states:

The European Union on Monday lifted its oil embargo on Syria to provide more economic support to the forces fighting to oust President Bashar Assad’s regime.

The decision will allow for crude exports from rebel-held territory, the import of oil and gas production technology, and investments in the Syrian oil industry, the EU said in a statement.

A recent TIME article titled, “Syria’s Opposition Hopes to Win the War by Selling Oil,” reports:

On paper, the E.U.’s idea seemed straightforward. Without an embargo, European companies can now legally begin importing barrels of oil directly from rebel groups, which have seized several oil fields in recent months, mostly around the eastern area of Deir Ezzor. That would provide the opposition with its first reliable source of income since the revolt erupted in Feb. 2011, and in theory hasten the downfall of Bashar Assad’s regime, by giving rebels the means to run skeletal local governments and consolidate their control. As part of the decision, the E.U. ministers also agreed to export technical equipment, insure the rebels’ shipments of oil and invest in the rebel oil businesses. Before the war, Syria earned about $3.6 billion a year exporting oil and gas to Europe, with its biggest customers in Germany and Italy, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The BBC in their article, “EU eases Syria oil embargo to help opposition,” would mention which fields specifically the EU was planning on exploiting, stating:

Syria’s main oilfields are in the eastern provinces of Deir al-Zour and Hassakeh, which both border Iraq.

Just as in Libya, the West is wasting no time in despoiling Syria’s resources, with the pillaging beginning long before the war even reaches a definitive conclusion. But in addition to the overt looting of Syria’s resources, there is an added complication.TIME also reports:

Still, analysts warn that the plan is deeply flawed—and in fact, that the E.U.’s decision could intensify the violence in Syria, by setting up a deadly competition for control of a resource that has languished amid two years of grinding civil war.

And indeed, this “deadly competition” has already been taking place, as Al Qaeda’s al-Nusra front in Syria has been overrunning civilian populations, government positions, and local militias alike across Syria’s oil-rich region. In fact, TIME’s itself admits that:

Complicating the issue is the fact that several of the rebel-held oil fields are believed to be under the control of Jabhat al-Nusra, which has declared its allegiance to al-Qaeda.

TIME concedes that “several” oil fields are held by Al Qaeda, however, other reports across the Western media indicate most, if not all “rebel-held oil fields” are under Al Qaeda’s control.

In the New York Times article, “Islamist Rebels Create Dilemma on Syria Policy,” not only is it admitted that, “nowhere in rebel-controlled Syria is there a secular fighting force to speak of,” but it specifically mentions the oil fields the EU seeks to plunder:

Elsewhere, they [al-Nusra] have seized government oil fields, put employees back to work and now profit from the crude they produce.

Additionally:

In the oil-rich provinces of Deir al-Zour and Hasaka, Nusra fighters have seized government oil fields, putting some under the control of tribal militias and running others themselves.

In Reuters’ “Rebels battle with tribesmen over oil in Syria’s east,” it is admitted that:

Islamist rebels are clashing with tribesmen in eastern Syria as struggles over the region’s oil facilities break out in the power vacuum left by civil war, activists said on Saturday.

One dispute over a stolen oil truck in the town of Masrib in the province of Deir al-Zor, which borders Iraq, set off a battle between tribesmen and fighters from the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda linked rebel group, which left 37 killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The fighting, which started in late March and lasted 10 days, was part of a new pattern of conflict between tribal groups and the Nusra Front, said a report from the Observatory, a British-based group which opposes Syria’s government and draws information from a network of activists in the country.

The Reuters article had forewarned:

The incentive for disputes over lucrative resources may be increased by plans by the European Union to lift an embargo on Syrian oil, which would make it easier to sell.

The EU said this week it wants to allow Syria’s opposition to sell crude in an effort to tilt the balance of power towards the rebels, who are outgunned by Assad’s fighter planes and long range missiles.

In other words, the EU’s announcement while lining the pockets of big-oil, is sowing increased chaos, violence, and death across oil-rich regions of Syria, compounding an already catastrophic humanitarian disaster of the West’s own creation. It is also clear that Al Qaeda’s al-Nusra front is the opposition the EU plans to buy the oil from, as there are no other “opposition” groups across the country to speak of according even to the New York Times, and more specifically, none besides al-Nusra holding significant ground in Syria’s oil fields.

The EU is openly preparing to do business directly with Al Qaeda, in a direct bid to bolster their control over territory they now occupy, and to overthrow the secular government of Syria in an unprecedented sectarian bloodbath. While many may claim the EU’s policy is merely yet another manifestation of the corruption and incompetence that are hallmarks of the failed supranational bloc, it was revealed as early as 2007 that the West sought to intentionally arm and fund sectarian extremists, including Al Qaeda, to overthrow the Syrian government in just such a sectarian bloodbath.

In 2007 – a full 4 years before the 2011 “Arab Spring” would begin – Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh in his New Yorker article titled, “”The Redirection: Is the Administration’s new policy benefiting our enemies in the war on terrorism?” would state specifically (emphasis added):

To undermine Iran, which is predominantly Shiite, the Bush Administration has decided, in effect, to reconfigure its priorities in the Middle East. In Lebanon, the Administration has coöperated with Saudi Arabia’s government, which is Sunni, in clandestine operations that are intended to weaken Hezbollah, the Shiite organization that is backed by Iran. The U.S. has also taken part in clandestine operations aimed at Iran and its ally Syria. A by-product of these activities has been the bolstering of Sunni extremist groups that espouse a militant vision of Islam and are hostile to America and sympathetic to Al Qaeda.

Clearly then, it is no accident that Al Qaeda has the weapons and cash to dominate the so-called “opposition,” nor a mystery as to how they’ve managed to seize much of Syria’s oil fields. It is also no accident that these very terrorists now stand to gain immensely by selling stolen oil to the European Union, in a bid to further increase their strength, capabilities, and reach, in an otherwise so-far unsuccessful bid to overthrow the Syrian government.

The EU and their US and British allies, now have yet another deep scar that will permanently disfigure their reputation, legitimacy, and international standing ad infinitum.

[…]

http://landdestroyer.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/eu-lifts-oil-embargo-on-syria-buys.html

May 2nd, 2013, 10:28 pm

 

Visitor said:

Alhamdulillah!!

When all is said and done there will be no more Shiite in our region. All Praise be to Allah The Al-Mighty who chooses His servants from among the most pious,

https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/commentaryanalysis/revisiting-karbala-in-syria

Our Holy Warriors will be victorious by the Blessings of Allah.

May 2nd, 2013, 10:37 pm

 

Dawoud said:

http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=40073

قراءة في خطاب نصر الله الاخير
صبحي حديدي
MAY 2, 2013

خلال شهر نيسان (أبريل) المنصرم، لقي أكثر من 3300 مواطن سوري حتفهم على يد قوّات النظام السوري الموالية، أو أجهزته الأمنية المختلفة، أو قطعان الشبيحة وميليشيات ما يُسمّى بـ’اللجان الشعبية’ المسلّحة، أي بمعدّل 138 مواطناً كلّ يوم، وفق إحصائيات ‘الشبكة السورية لحقوق الإنسان’. بين هؤلاء 377 طفلاً (بمعدّل 13 يومياً)، و176 قضوا تحت التعذيب (ستة معتقلين في اليوم). هل كان لهذه الأرقام أيّ حظّ في احتلال كلمة واحدة من إطلالة حسن نصر الله، الأمين العام لـ’حزب الله’، على شاشة المنار، قبل أيام؟ كلا، بالطبع، لأنّ مساحة التباكي على سورية انحصرت عنده في أفعال المعارضة المسلحة؛ وليس، البتة، في ما ارتكبه ويرتكبه النظام السوري من جرائم وحشية، كلّ يوم، بل كلّ ساعة.
وخلال الشهر ذاته، قصف النظام مئذنة الجامع الأموي الكبير في حلب، أحد أهمّ المواقع الأثرية والتاريخية الإسلامية في سورية، الذي يعود تشييده إلى سنة 96 للهجرة، 716 ميلادية؛ وقبل هذا كانت عمليات قصف أخرى قد ألحقت أضرارا بالغة بجدران الجامع، فهُدم بعضها أو تشقق أو احترق. وكانت أبشع واقعة تخريب ضدّ الجامع قد سُجّلت باسم إمبراطور الروم نقفور فوكاس، سنة 962 ميلادية؛ كما تعرّض لتخريب على أيدي التتار، بأوامر من هولاكو، عند اجتياح حلب سنة 1260.
وفي درعا، خلال شهر ابريل أيضاً، قصف النظام مئذنة الجامع العمري، ويُنسب بناؤه إلى الخليفة عمر بن الخطاب عند زيارته إلى حوران، وتُعدّ مئذنته الأولى التي تُشيّد في بلاد الشام؛ ومنه انطلقت التظاهرات الأبكر في درعا، ساعة انطلاقة الانتفاضة السورية هناك، يوم 18 آذار (مارس) 2011. فهل كان للمئذنتين حظّ، مقدار كلمة واحدة يتيمة، في حديث نصر الله المستفيض عن مقام السيدة زينب، وما يمكن أن يتعرّض له من أخطار على يد ‘التكفيريين’؟ أليس للجامع الأموي في حلب، وللجامع العمري في درعا، ‘حساسية مفرطة جداً وبالغة جداً’، كما يصف نصر الله حال المقامات الشيعية الشريفة الأخرى؟
هنا نموذجان، لا أكثر، على سوية انحياز نصر الله إلى صفّ النظام السوري، ليس في مسائل سياسية أو عسكرية (إذْ أنّ مواقفه في هذه الميادين ليست بحاجة إلى استقراء، فهي قديمة قاطعة، وثابتة راسخة… كما عبّر ويعبّر مراراً)؛ بل في مسائل إنسانية، تخصّ معدّلات القتل؛ ومسائل روحية تشمل المقدّسات والمقامات الشريفة عند أهل السنّة، الذين يحلو لنصر الله مساواتهم بأهل الشيعة؛ وثالثة رمزية، تخصّ تراث السوريين، وتاريخهم، وآثارهم. كان في وسع الأمين العام لـ’حزب الله’ أن يبدي الأسف، ليس أكثر، على الجامعَين والمئذنتَين، ما دام قد أتى على ذكر المخاطر التي قد يتعرّض لها مقام السيدة زينب؛ أو كان في وسعه أن يتبنى رواية النظام السوري، فيتهم ‘جبهة النصرة’، أو أي طرف ‘تكفيري’ داخل صفوف المعارضة السورية، بالمسؤولية عن الجريمتين، خاصة أنه تبنى رواية مرتزقة ‘لواء أبو الفضل العباس′ العراقيين، الذين يحتلون مقام السيدة زينب.
كان لافتاً، في المقابل، مقدار القصور اللفظي الذي طبع أقوال نصر الله في ثلاثة ميادين، جديدة على خطابه المعتاد بصدد الانتفاضة السورية، أو هي بالأحرى ليست جديدة إلا بمعنى اتصافها بضيق عبارة لم نتعوّده، ولم يعوّدنا عليه، الأمين العام لـ’حزب الله’.
ففي تبرير أمر ‘شهداء’ الحزب على الأرض السورية، تعمّد نصر الله اللجوء إلى صياغات غائمة، وتأويلات تبسيطية تماماً، تتوسّل تمويه المعاني الفعلية وراء عبارات مثل ‘مَنْ يستشهد منا نشيّعه علناً’، و’كلّ مَنْ سقط شهيداً منا في أي مكان من الأمكنة، خصوصاً هؤلاء الشهداء في الأسابيع الأخيرة ومن سبقهم من إخوانهم نعتز بهم’، و’نحن لا نخجل بشهدائنا، لا نستحي بشهدائنا، نحن نعتز بهم، نرفع رؤوسنا بهم’.
هذه بلاغة تحصيل الحاصل، كما قد يقول قائل، لأنها في نهاية المطاف تحشد سلسلة أفعال من طراز ‘نعتز′ و’لا نخجل’ و’لا نستحي’ و’نرفع رؤوسنا’؛ وقد تكون كلّ هذه المشاعر والاحاسيس وردود الأفعال تكررت بالفعل كلما وصل جثمان قتيل من قتلى ‘حزب الله’ إلى أهله.
لكنها مسألة أخرى أن يكون القتيل ‘شهيداً’، ومسألة ثالثة أكثر تطلباً أن يُطرح السؤال حول موقع استشهاده، لأنّ خطاب الحزب الرسمي ـ منذ تصعيد تدخله العسكري المباشر إلى جانب النظام السوري، في منطقة القصير تحديداً ـ تقلّب في توصيف حال هؤلاء القتلى، وتدرّجت أنماط المماطلة في توصيفهم: تارة قُتل هذا ‘خلال قيامه بواجبه الجهادي’، ولا نعرف أين، ولماذا (ولكنننا على يقين من أنه لم يستشهد على أية جبهة مع العدو الإسرائيلي)؛ وطوراً قُتل ذاك دفاعاً عن القرى ذات الأغلبية اللبنانية، ولكنّ الواقعة جرت داخل الأراضي السورية؛ ومؤخراً، استقرّ الحزب على ما يشبه رشوة أهل القتيل، بالقول إنه كان يدافع عن العتبات الشيعية الشريفة، في ظاهر دمشق (مقام السيدة زينب، مقام السيدة سكينة)! هذه، في أخفّ ما يليق بها من حكم قيمة، مخاتلة ومخادعة، تكتسب بُعداً أخلاقياً فاضحاً حين تصدر عن طرف يزعم احتكار روح المقاومة ضدّ إسرائيل، ويتفاخر بـ’الوعد الصادق’؛ أمّا في حكم قيمة أثقل، فإنها انحراف عن الحقّ إلى الباطل، واصطفاف خلف الجلاد ضدّ الضحية.
ميدان القصور اللفظي الثاني هو هذه العبارة العجيبة: ‘بالخط العريض ـ ومثلما يقولون ويكتبون في آخر البحث العلمي: فافهم وتأمّل وتدبّر ـ إنّ لسورية في المنطقة والعالم أصدقاء حقيقيين لن يسمحوا لسورية أن تسقط في يد أمريكا أو في يد إسرائيل أو يد الجماعات التكفيرية. لن يسمحوا، كيف؟
هذا تفصيله وتفسيره يأتي لاحقاً، وأنا عندما أقول هذا أقوله من موقع المعلومات والمتابعة التفصيلية وليس من موقع التكهن والتحليل والأماني’. لافت، أوّلاً، أنّ نصر الله قرأ هذه الفقرة تحديداً من ورقة أمامه، ولم يرتجلها، ممّا يوحي بأنّ الضرورة اقتضت نطقها بحذافيرها، كأنما قد اتُفق عليها نصّاً، ربما خلال زيارته إلى طهران واجتماعه مع الولي الفقيه علي خامنئي (نشر موقع ‘العهد’ الإخباري صورة فوتوغرافية تجمع خامنئي مع ‘الأمين العام لحزب الله حجة الإسلام والمسلمين السيد حسن نصر الله’، أعاد نشرها موقع ‘المنار’ أيضاً).
لافت، ثانياً، أنّ الفقرة تعتمد ذرّ الرماد في العيون حين تتفادى الحديث عن سقوط النظام، وتستبدله بتهديد حول عدم السماح بسقوط سورية في يد أمريكا وإسرائيل والتكفيريين؛ رغم أنّ المنطوق الفعلي للفقرة يفيد المعنى الأوّل، لا الثاني. أمّا كيف، فإنّ نصر الله يؤجّل الإجابة (كما فعل مراراً بصدد تفاصيل كثيرة، خلال هذه الإطلالة تحديداً) إلى موعد لاحق، ويلمّح إلى أنه لا ينطق عن هوى، ولا يتكهن أو يأمل أو حتى يحلل، بل يصدر عن ‘المعلومات’. فما الذي يملكه من معلومات أخرى، سوى تلك التي تأتي من ‘أصدقاء حقيقيين’ للنظام،
[…]
http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=40073

May 2nd, 2013, 10:38 pm

 

zoo said:

Confusion at the UN as Lakhdar Ibrahimi finally resigns…

http://www.timesofisrael.com/un-chief-pushes-for-security-council-consensus-on-syria/
..
The five powers did agree on the roadmap for a Syrian transition, along with other nations, at a meeting in Geneva on June 30, 2012. The plan calls for a political process that would start with the establishment of a transitional governing body vested with full executive powers and end with elections — but there has been no agreement on how to implement it.

The diplomat said one idea raised Thursday was to hold “a Geneva 2″ meeting to focus on implementation, but there were serious differences on the timing, with Russia and China wanting to rush to Geneva and the Western powers saying that before any meeting takes place work has to be done to unite the divided opposition and with the government.

May 2nd, 2013, 10:42 pm

 

zoo said:

More panic as the Syrian army is pushing in and the activists warn the rebels about their looming defeat if they don’t unite under one flag.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/362097

Assad’s forces also seized the town of Qaysa on the eastern edge of Damascus on Thursday, part of a steady move north from the airport on the city’s southeastern edge that aims to lock down the eastern approaches to the city and close off weapons supplies from the Jordanian border.

A call issued by several activists in the area warned the disparate rebel forces to pull together or face defeat.

“If you do not unite under one flag, the regime is going to hunt you down, one brigade after another,” it said.

May 2nd, 2013, 10:45 pm

 

revenire said:

Brahimi is an odd man. I will toast his departure.

May 2nd, 2013, 10:47 pm

 
 

revenire said:

If not for concern for civilians the army could kill them all in 2-3 weeks. It is a good thing Syria’s government is so caring or I fear we’d see a real bloodbath.

Bashar is a kind doctor.

May 2nd, 2013, 10:51 pm

 

revenire said:

KIDNAPPERS AND LOCATION OF ABDUCTED SYRIAN BISHOPS DISCOVERED
Athens, May 2, 2013

Sedmitza citing the Greek ecclesiastical news agency Romfea and the Kurdish news agency Firat News reports that the army of the Peoples’ militia of Western Kurdistan have determined the identity of the abductors who kidnapped Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo Boulos Yagizi and Syrian Orthodox Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim. They are Islamists from Feteh El-Hesun, which is part of the Syrian rebel “Liberating army”. The Kurds surrounded the place where the abducted archbishops are being held, and have given the militants a deadline for the archbishop’s release. If the deadline is not met, the Kurdish army intends to begin a military operation against the captors.

http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/61282.htm

May 2nd, 2013, 11:07 pm

 
 

ghufran said:

The next few days/ weeks will probably witness dramatic developments in Syria, there is a lot of talks about a military strike against Syria, possible but unlikely, but what is certain is that the syrian army will try to change the military stalemate in Aleppo after making advances in Homs and Ghouta. Turkey’s position is particularly interesting, Erdo is silent and his troops did nothing when SAF bombed positions few hundred yards from Turkish borders and watched with little interest as troops attacked rebels in idleb. The US is now trying to assure Russia that it will be neutral while syrian troops take Nusra forces as long as the regime agrees to a US-Russian plan for a ceasefire that is followed by measures to address Israel’s concerns and provide a face-saving exit for Turkey.

Iraq, is about to enjoy the fruits of Arab Spring:
(I hope this prediction does not come true)
Iraqi leaders fear that the country is sliding rapidly into a new civil war which “will be worse than Syria”. Baghdad residents are stocking up on rice, vegetables and other foodstuffs in case they are prevented from getting to the shops by fighting or curfews. “It is wrong to say we are getting close to a civil war,” said a senior Iraqi politician. “The civil war has already started.”

May 2nd, 2013, 11:37 pm

 

Ameera said:

الله يستر كل الشام هزت مرتين

May 2nd, 2013, 11:38 pm

 

Ameera said:

لطفك يا الله

May 2nd, 2013, 11:40 pm

 
 

Ameera said:

يا مال الشام ويلا يا مالي
طااار المطااار يا حلوة تعالي

May 2nd, 2013, 11:42 pm

 

Dawoud said:

398. AMEERA

انتي عايشه في دمشق الان؟

May 2nd, 2013, 11:44 pm

 

Ameera said:

مهجرين بين الشام و بيروت

May 2nd, 2013, 11:47 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Test
Ameera
What is the difference between Shishbarak,and Tatabarak?

I want to believe you are a woman from Damascus,so you have to answer fast

May 3rd, 2013, 12:00 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Ameera

What is the difference between Shishbarak and Tatabarak

I want to believe you are a women ,so answer quickly

May 3rd, 2013, 12:02 am

 

Visitor said:

MajedK @12:AM,

It looks like you have the same suspicions as I have.

I am thinking branch 225.

May 3rd, 2013, 12:03 am

 

Dawoud said:

403. MAJEDKHALDOUN

Man pretending to be a woman. I always thought so.

Majed:

ما رأيك في الفيديو من تلفزيون بردى عن حسن نصر الشيطان؟ انظر الى رقم 392

May 3rd, 2013, 12:14 am

 

Dawoud said:

http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/church-of-scotland-jews-do-not-have-a-right-to-the-land-of-israel.premium-1.518932
Church of Scotland: Jews do not have a right to the land of Israel
A new church report challenging Jewish historic claims and criticizing Zionism has drawn anger and harsh condemnation from the local Jewish community.
By Anshel Pfeffer

A report by the Church of Scotland, published this week, denies any special privilege for the Jewish people in the land of Israel.
[…]

http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/106939/scottish-church-debate-jewish-right-land-israel
Scottish Church to debate Jewish right to land of Israel

The Church of Scotland has been attacked by Jewish leaders over a report said to question Israel’s right to exist.
A discussion document compiled by the Church’s church and society council suggests that Jews’ claim to the land of Israel could be invalidated by their treatment of Palestinians.
The report will be voted on by the 700 Church members who attend the annual general assembly – the Church’s sovereign body – when it meets later this month. If it is passed by a majority, it may become “the considered view of the Church”, a spokesperson said.
[…]

May 3rd, 2013, 12:24 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Dawoud
I tried to get back to it I could not,it is locked.
Hasan Nasrallah has lost all credibilty,he is behaving as if there is no people of Syria,and there is no people in Lebanon, however he knows if Assad lose he is finished, it is a matter of life to him,I think he is behaving like he is cornered and has no choice he is fighting to death,

Ameera is not a woman and not from Damascus

May 3rd, 2013, 12:24 am

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

This is the stuff, JL and his sidekick don’t read and have miserably failed, time and again, to integrate into their fake “expertise” about Syria and Syrians.

‎حازم نهار‎

لعل أكثر ما نحتاجه بعد المجزرتين الأخيرتين، جديدة الفضل والبيضا، هو سيبويه، فقد يسعفنا بتعبير يفي المشهد الإجرامي والمؤلم حقه.

كلمة “شبيحة” التي استخدمها السوريون لوصف المجرمين الذين ارتكبوا
مثل هذه المجازر ما عادت تفي بالغرض، بخاصة بعد أن أصبح المجرمون يفتخرون بها ويعدونها وساماً على صدرهم.

ربما كانت كلمة “الحَوَش” بفتح الحاء والواو، تقترب قليلاً من الحقيقة النفسية للفاعلين: الغوغاء، الرعاع. وربما كان “الحَوْش” بفتح الحاء وتسكين الواو، هو المكان الذي يليق بتلك الرعاع: الحظيرة التي توضع فيها الدواب.

واحد من حقوق الإنسان هو “الحق بالتعبير عن الألم”، وأنا أمارس حقي هنا بأقصى ما أستطيعه من لباقة.

إنهم مجموعة من الحَوَش التي لا تستحق أن تعيش إلا في حظيرة الدواب.

and this describes the الحَوَش on Syria Comment, who keep calling for d-p athad to murder syrians. They should be all send to their appropriate حَوْش.

May 3rd, 2013, 4:16 am

 

samu said:

The next few days/ weeks will probably witness dramatic developments in Syria, there is a lot of talks about a military strike against Syria, possible but unlikely, but what is certain is that the syrian army will try to change the military stalemate in Aleppo after making advances in Homs and Ghouta. Turkey’s position is particularly interesting, Erdo is silent and his troops did nothing when SAF bombed positions few hundred yards from Turkish borders and watched with little interest as troops attacked rebels in idleb. The US is now trying to assure Russia that it will be neutral while syrian troops take Nusra forces as long as the regime agrees to a US-Russian plan for a ceasefire that is followed by measures to address Israel’s concerns and provide a face-saving exit for Turkey.

Iraq, is about to enjoy the fruits of Arab Spring:
(I hope this prediction does not come true)
Iraqi leaders fear that the country is sliding rapidly into a new civil war which “will be worse than Syria”. Baghdad residents are stocking up on rice, vegetables and other foodstuffs in case they are prevented from getting to the shops by fighting or curfews. “It is wrong to say we are getting close to a civil war,” said a senior Iraqi politician. “The civil war has already started.”

September 29th, 2015, 7:39 am

 

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