Haplogroup U – Are We More United And Similar Than We Think? – By EHSANI

The Syrian crisis was always going to be different than what we all witnessed in Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen thus far.  Every country has its own nuances that render it a unique case.  One of the glaring characteristics of the current Syrian conflict is to do with its sectarian fault lines.

Syrians like me have always been apprehensive about discussing our sectarian and religious differences.  Indeed, the subject matter has been taboo in Syrian society.

Like it or not, it is clear that this crisis has been taking on an undeniable sectarian character. While this is not surprising, I feel compelled to share a personal experience with the many Syrian readers of this note:

Back in 2010, I had read about “The Genographic Project”. This was a collaborative effort by National Geographic, IBM and the Waitt Family Foundation. For a fee, a person’s DNA results will be identified. The task will then involve finding out which branch on the Human family tree this person belongs to.  Naturally, I was skeptical at first.  In the end, I decided to participate in the project with my brother. I would track my paternal ancestors while he would track our maternal side (each person can only choose one).  With a simple swab from our cheeks and a 9-digit number to identify us we were promised an answer within six weeks.

Our DNA results identified us as belonging to the “Haplogroup U”.  As geneticists know, scientists believe that the human story begins in Africa sometime between 150,000 and 170,000 years ago, with a woman whom anthropologists have nicknamed “Mitochondrial Eve”.  This discovery was made in 1987 when it was confirmed that all people alive on the planet today can trace their maternal lineage to her. This is not to say that Mitochondrial Eve was the first female human. Eve was a survivor. Other Homo sapiens who evolved in Africa around 200,000 years ago became extinct. A maternal line can become extinct for a number of reasons. A woman may not have children, or she may bear only sons. She may fall victim to a catastrophic event such as volcanic eruption, flood, or famine, all of which have plagued humans since the dawn of our species.  None of these extinctions happened to Eve’s line.

EVE’s first ancestral line was L1/L0 who are now found exclusively in Africa.

L2 and L3 are also found all over Africa but they were the first descendents who moved north of the continent around 80,000 ago.

Those who made it across the Sinai Peninsula (present-day Egypt) formed group “N”.

After several thousand years, humans sharing a female ancestor from this N clan started making it to Anatolia (present-day Turkey) and formed Haplogroup R.

We now arrive at my own clan:

Most members of my “U” group are found in the eastern Mediterranean who descend from a woman in the R branch who lived around 50,000 ago.

Based in North America and only identified with a 9-digit number, this Genographic Project was able to identify my descendants as having lineages found in the eastern Mediterranean from some 50,000 years ago. This is 46,488 years before Moses. It is also 47,988 years before Jesus and 49,430 before the prophet Mohammad.

Presumably most of the inhabitants of what is Syria today may share the same DNA lineages as me.  My wish is for the whole country to participate in this Genome project. It would be interesting if the results confirm that members of the SNC, NCC, Tansiqiyat, Mokhabarat, Fourth division, Baba Amr, Daraa, Free Syrian Army and the whole of Qurdaha all share the same ancestral mother that had reached this land some 50,000 years ago well before all of our Prophets.

Many members of my immediate family have started talking about migrating out of this land. Having reviewed my 2-year old genome test this morning, I wonder if the current Syrian crisis qualifies as my family’s own version of a catastrophic event that forced us out of the region after 50,000 of finding refuge there.

Comments (1,179)


sheila said:

Dear Ihsani,
What can I say. This is a very sobering article. It just puts the whole thing into perspective. Our area has always been very mixed as many civilizations came and went but not before leaving some of their DNA on our land. We have been through wars, major earthquakes and famines, yet, we still managed to keep the diversity that made us who we are. Is our history going to be defined by how a single family managed to get us to kill each other based on religion, sect or ethnicity?. Only time will answer this question. I sure hope it will never happen.

January 9th, 2012, 10:40 am

 

Mina said:

A welcome reality check by Ehsani.
But unless you convince satellite channels to broadcast it (on a daily basis, preferably), it will remain a voice in the desert.

January 9th, 2012, 11:05 am

 

Observer said:

It is a catastrophic event.
i spoke with my family recently and they are packed and ready to leave on a moment’s notice and this from family members in their seventies and eighties. There are mysterious explosions and sounds of gunfire during the night. There are reports that even if the President were to give in one inch he would be shot by his own entourage. It is a sectarian civil war. Parts of the country are no go for the army and security services and there are killings based on one’s identity card as happened in Lebanon.
Now for the dialogue part. I know that some would love to give a breathing room for the regime to come out of the hole it dug itself into.
Here are the arguments that I would use based on the regime’s narrative itself.

1. Syria is not a democracy, the President himself and his spouse have indicated that fact more than once. The article 8 of the constitution enshrines the single party system in leading all aspects of life in Syria. Therefore in a country that has an explosion of the population, increased connectivity to the world, increased education there is now a demand for participatory rule and this emplies CHANGE and it implies abolition in principle and in practice of the egregious non democracy. To gain the trust of the people I would remove all armed elements and allow for demonstrations. I would ask the UN and the BRIC countries to come in to help in the transition
2. Syria is ruled by the Arab Baath party and henceforth excludes some non Arab minorities such as the Kurds and Armenians and Circassians from the ability to organize politically and socially and linguistically and culturally apart from the Arab society. Therefore change in the constitution should be immediate. This lag in implementing the reforms is not acceptable and the longer it lasts the less confidence there will be that a new day will emerge.
3. Syria has a directed state economy based on the socialist model that has failed and it was liberalized to allow for a monopoly of the few over the many. Therefore it needs to be dismantled. It is not sustainable. It is draining the effort and resources of the people into a sink hole
4. There is no independent and honest judiciary the LINCHPIN of the reform strategy. Without it there is no way that crony capitalism and graft and arbitrary abuse of power can be stopped. Help from the UN and other bodies is needed to reform the system.
5. There is an urgent need for independent media to enter the country and see what the situation is on the ground. Balance between so called pro and anti regime media can be achieved by having RT and Aljazeera, PressTV and Alarabyia, Chinese TV and France 24, Venezualan TV and the BBC.
I do not know why and how those pro regime would object to any these measures.
Now the narrative of armed gangs will lose its impact as the regime has cornered itself into a dead end. If there are armed gangs and only armed gangs it has not been able to stop them in 10 months and therefore it is incompetent. If it is legitimate resistance and self defense then it has used brutality to crush peaceful demonstrations. If there are genuine opposition then bring them into the regime structure and appoint them as ministers and what have you. If they are genuine opposition they will refuse without substantial guarantees if they accept they commit political suicide at this stage.
6. Question the legitimacy of changing the constitution to allow for the President to be nominated at age 34. How is that possible? 7. Since the office of the president is that of commander in chief and that of supreme court judge and that of the secretary of the party he and he primarily is responsible for the situation. He is either incompetent or dictatorial. He cannot be the agent and target of genuine change without checks and balances. If I were him I would resign and leave the post to the vice president to conduct the change. There are more than one country that can harbor him and give him political asylum. Is there anyone on the pro regime side on this forum against the President resigning in favor of his VP? He failed in quelling the uprising, he failed in remaining within the Arab League, he failed within the international community, he failed in preventing economic sanctions, he failed in bringing stability, he failed in ushering in reforms, he failed in defending the land against Israeli raids and Mossad killings, he failed in preventing terrorist infiltration, he failed in economic reform, he failed in administrative reform. He even failed to bring those that killed and tortured children to justice from the very beginning therefore nipping the crisis in the bud.

January 9th, 2012, 11:14 am

 

Mina said:

Observer, you gave the answer in the introduction: “There are reports that even if the President were to give in one inch he would be shot by his own entourage.”
Journalists are on the ground (check Ian Black, of the Guardian, for example) but the security apparatuses don’t let them go even when they carry a presidential laissez-passer.
How do you dismantle a million-man security mafiosi apparatus? Look at Iraq. No answer there.
As for the Kurds, Armenians and Circassians, they are pretty well socially organized in clubs, churches and associations. But of course every citizen should have equal rights (including rights of religious belonging): where does that exist in the region? In Israel? No. In KSA? No. In Egypt? No. There should also be some accountability. But have you seen any accountability in the Gulf or Afghanistan, recently?

January 9th, 2012, 11:43 am

 

mjabali said:

There is no solution to save Syria but SECULARISM.

Secularism is the only way out of this mess.

Secularism is the only guarantee to reign in the lunatics.

Secularism is the only way to have the people of Syria live in the Modern Times.

Secularism is the only way that would make all Syrians equal.

on the other hand: there is no other way but dialogue between all parties to stop this madness. There is no other way. War is going to drag for a long time and cause too much pain and destruction for ALL.

Also, there is no way to force real change but through elections and the establishment of REAL parties that represent the Syrian people.

You can not force change through this type of opposition that live outside that is as rigid as a rock. Cool heads should come out and take charge instead of these hell bent unknown people. We need opposition that is ELECTED and not APPOINTED.

This is the only way and the last ten months proved this and the next months is going to prove it again, because as I could tell the hostilities and this stalemate is going to keep on going because as we all know most of the participants in this mess are hard headed.

Syria needs calm people to lead through this storm.

January 9th, 2012, 11:53 am

 

Juergen said:

Just found this gruesome footage which is from last Friday, it was shot at Ar Rifai Mosque in Damascus, the same mosque which got stormed and devastated some months ago. Just click on the link, then on the peicture youll find in the beginning of the article. The commentary is in german, but the pictures clearly indicate who is beating who.

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,808015,00.html

January 9th, 2012, 12:49 pm

 

canadian said:

For years, i observed the Syrian population do nothing with the government it had. my father and his generation were instrumental in forcing the french out, they risked their lives to promote freedom and equality for all. i am once again proud of the Syrian population for standing up. now it is time for cool heads to prevail.

we can not allow the country to disintegrate or live through a civil war. the president must become a leader and step aside to allow reform to take place. had he implemented changes when he first took power, he would have been acclaimed as a hero of the country. now he will leave as a brute dictator that was completely inefficient and ineffective. he will follow the examples of Saddam Hussain and Moubarak n Egypte. hiw sad.

January 9th, 2012, 12:50 pm

 

defender said:

ZOO
What do you offer?

January 9th, 2012, 1:19 pm

 

Jasmine said:

Being Racist or Secterian doesn’t diminish with brains,it is a disease,a sickness,it may incubate in ignorance but it doesn’t necessarily disappear with the gaining of knowledge and wisdom.

January 9th, 2012, 1:57 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Ehsani
This is interesting, my daughter just had her results last week and she told me that her DNA showed her origin is african and later anatolian too, as you said this happened 100,000 years ago, I think most of us has the same DNA it is possible Eve and Adam were created in Africa, I like to see this test which cost around $100,should be done on several people from different areas, if All came from Africa then this add credence to the theory that we all came from Adam and Eve

January 9th, 2012, 2:26 pm

 

Ehsani said:

majedkhaldoun ,

Was it Haplogroup R?

January 9th, 2012, 2:28 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

I will ask her
but interesying that an american friend of her had this test too and he too had his root first in Africa

January 9th, 2012, 2:39 pm

 

Ehsani said:

As the note states, everyone on this planet does.

January 9th, 2012, 2:43 pm

 

ann said:

Shooting the Messenger in Syria – January 8th, 2012

At issue is discrediting Sudanese General Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi. He’s Arab League observer mission head in Syria. More on him below.

The phrase “shooting the messenger” is centuries old. Shakespeare wrote “Don’t shoot the messenger” in Henry IV, part two. In Antony and Cleopatra, she reacted to Antony jilting her by threatening to treat the messenger’s eyes as balls.

In Antigone, Sophocles said, “No one loves the messenger who brings bad news,” and Plutarch’s Lives noted that a messenger bearing bad news “had his head cut off for his pains.”

Today, corrupt politicians and media scoundrels vilify truth-tellers of all stripes. Among others, they include social justice activists and whistleblowers. Even Washington-approved generals heading pro-imperial missions aren’t spared when they fail to deliver the goods.

Al-Dabi was considered safe. Sudan backed NATO’s Libya war. Assuming automatic anti-Assad support appears misguided. At least so far.

Instead of reporting regime violence, his comments included:

* “The situation seemed reassuring so far;”

* “Yesterday was quiet and there were no clashes;”

* “Some places looked a bit of a mess but there was nothing frightening;” and

* Assad’s government has been “very cooperative.”

In other words, he contradicted Western propaganda and confirmed evidence of an externally generated insurgency. As a result, he’s now assailed as unreliable. Efforts are made to discredit him. Media scoundrels cheerlead it. It’s their customary role. “Shoot the messenger.”

On December 27, State Department spokesman Mark Toner stopped short of vilifying al-Dabi but came close saying:

Arab League monitors “bear a heavy responsibility in trying to protect Syrian civilians from the depredations of a murderous regime.”

Because Al-Dabi points fingers elsewhere, he’s assailed for not cooperating.

On January 2, New York Times writer Kareem Fahim headlined, “Chief of Arab League’s Mission in Syria Is Lightening Rod for Criticism,” saying:

Instead of confirming regime violence, he said Assad’s “government had withdrawn tanks and artillery from cities, and had released nearly 3,500 prisoners” after releasing hundreds more in November and December.

As a result, he’s now criticized and accused of being “mired in controversy: a Sudanese general who, (unnamed) rights activists say presided over the same kind of deadly and heavy-handed tactics in Sudan that the Arab League is seeking to curb in Syria.”

Al-Dabi “once ran Sudan’s notorious military intelligence agency, and has only compounded the criticism with his recent statements.”

“Last week, he spoke dismissively about the damage in Homs….On Sunday, he publicly contradicted an Arab League observer,” saying government snipers were shooting people. Interviewed by BBC, he said: “But he didn’t see.” He was referring to a hypothetical case.

Fahim and other Times contributors are notorious propagandists. During NATO’s Libya war, his managed news lacked truth.

Last summer on the Progressive Radio News Hour, Middle East/Central Asia analyst Mahdi Nazemroaya (from Tripoli) said some Western journalists performed fifth column duties. They included intelligence gathering, locating targets, and supplying bombing coordinates for NATO.

Fahim reported from Tripoli and other Libyan locations. Whether he was involved isn’t known. Clearly, however, his material lacked credibility.

Now he’s at it again, vilifying al-Dabi, calling him a “liability,” blaming Sudan’s “friendly relations with Syria,” and claiming “government attacks on civilians have continued,” instead of pointing fingers the right way.

In his book, “Winning Modern Wars,” General Wesley Clark said Pentagon sources told him two months after 9/11 that regime change was planned in Sudan, as well as Iraq, Libya, Syria, Iran, Somalia and Lebanon.

Balkanizing Sudan was planned. Strategy included vilifying its government. At issue is political and economic ties to China, especially for oil.

Washington wants it cut off. North Sudan has modest reserves, but southern Sudan is oil-rich. In July, it declared independence. As a result, China may be affected.

Though exaggerated and overblown, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s disturbing human rights record is pretext, including in Darfur and South Sudan. So is Al-Dabi’s likely role. He held various high posts, including military intelligence chief, foreign security director, deputy military operations chief, and Qatar ambassador.

At issue is geopolitics; namely, Washington’s longstanding plan for unchallenged world dominance. Achieving it requires turning independent regimes into client ones, including violently when other methods fail.

Al-Dabi’s not cooperating. On Monday, Arab League director Nabil al-Araby said he’s a “capable military man with a clean reputation.” However, he conceded that mission observers can’t stop bloodshed. At the same time, he didn’t lay blame on Western-backed insurgents.

On Sunday, the Arab League’s advisory body called for mission observers to leave because violence continues. Its pro-Western Kuwaiti head, Ali Salem al-Deqbasi, claims ongoing regime “flagrant violations,” adding: Observers allow “cover to commit inhumane acts under the noses of the Arab League.”

In fact, most AL members are notorious pro-Western despots. Their record includes attacking, killing, arresting, imprisoning, and brutalizing their own people for protesting for political, economic and social justice.

They’re also serial liars, pointing fingers the wrong way instead of at themselves and Western partners.

On December 27, Foreign Policy (FP) associate editor David Kenner headlined, “The World’s Worst Human Rights Observer,” saying:

Al-Dabi “may be the unlikeliest leader of a humanitarian mission the world has ever seen. He is a staunch loyalist of Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide and crimes against humanity….”

Fact check

Charges are way overblown. The ICC is a notorious imperial tool. It ignores appalling Western crimes, especially America’s. Its chief prosecutor Jose Luis Moreno-Ocampo is a reliable Washington ally.

WikiLeaks exposed his willingness to ignore US war crimes in Iraq. Throughout his tenure (since June 2003), he abstained from imperial prosecutions. He chose soft targets like Libya and Sudan. He absolved culpable major ones in Washington, Tel Aviv, London, Paris and other Western capitals.

FP is the influential Council on Foreign Relations’ publication. Kenner serves as associate editor. In his customary role, he assailed al-Dabi. He made unfounded/overblown accusations. He criticized his “checkered past,” including responsibility “for the worst atrocities during the Darfur genocide.”

His report lacked credibility. It was one-sided attack journalism. It’s typical corporate media managed news, not the real thing everyone deserves.

January 9th, 2012, 2:44 pm

 

jad said:

Mina
Observer is a typical case of the expat supporting the unknown, they are armed with no plans, no visions, no solutions, nothing really but the illusion of making Syria like Switzerland in one day and to transform Syrians to become ‘Harvard’ graduates geniuses the moment they take power, hence, the moment he or his family are in the middle of the chaos that he himself was a pioneer for in some way or another, at that exact moment they are ready to use their money and leave for the West safe haven and forget all the mess behind them for others to deal with without even the need of trying to fix it.
Mission accomplished!
Very depressing and alarming comment Mr. Observer. Welcome to the grave yard called ‘new’ Syria that we’ve been promised with…Thank you!

January 9th, 2012, 2:57 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

Dr. majed Khaldoun,

If your daughrer has African and Anatolian DNA,

What is your family’s skin colour ?

Also don’t you think Syrian Sunni Arabs are generally darker skinned than Alaiwi, Jabali Christains, Druze and Kurds ?

Also Anatolian DNA is no surprise. Is your family origin in rural area or urban area in Syria ? Because I have geard that Sunnis from urban areas in Syria are of 2 types – one is Turkish and the other is Bedouin.

January 9th, 2012, 3:12 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

JUERGEN,

What is the meaning of “Biedermeier” in German ?

January 9th, 2012, 3:14 pm

 

ann said:

Syria – Turkish Public Rejection to Erdogan Government Policies Mounts – 1.9.2012

The Turkish public rejection to the policies of the Justice and Development Party government led by the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, mounts as the Turkish people see Erdogan’s government as a tool to implement Western schemes in the region.

Ahmet Aday, Chairman of the Peace and Democracy Party-Ankara Department, told the Syrian TV “In Turkey, we have a regime, prime minster and a state committing genocide against its own people, and Erdogan is in no position to speak about Syria or Libya or the Middle East, especially in the Islamic world.”

A Turkish citizen said “We have plenty of problems that need to be tackled. As for other countries, we can help them but we don’t have the right to interfere in their affairs.”

”I don’t think there is a crisis in Syria, ” said another Turkish citizen, ”but it is a pressure exerted on Syria by the imperial powers, and we regret the fact that Turkey has become involved in it. I call upon the Turkish government to remember that Syria is a brotherly country and we don’t have to stand by imperial powers.”

January 9th, 2012, 3:16 pm

 

Mina said:

Poor Tlass, he felt some salaf empathy for Majed, but now that the guy may have a droop of black blood, he got all up side down. He is also unable to understand the sentences in Ehsani post. Poor thing.
I hope Bilal will pardon you…

January 9th, 2012, 3:17 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Khaled,

http://lmgtfy.com/

This website will teach you step by step how to use the mystical wizard called Google. Google will answer all your questions, you just need to type you question in, and press enter. I even filled out “Meaning of Biedermeier” for you.

Side note I never knew Salafis are into 18 century German furniture

January 9th, 2012, 3:29 pm

 

Antoine said:

2. ALDENDESHE معتز الدندشي said

“As long as they have self sufficiency in wheat, corn, burghul, tahini, garlic, Onion and Lemons, Rice and meat and fish, they well maintain a stable economy”

But the three major agricultural producing regions – Idlib , Daraa and Deirezzor – are totally engulfed by the uprising and almsot daily clashes between the Army and the defectors. large agricultural producing regions in these parts are infested with armed gangs and it is estimated half the men are in prison and half are in the armed gangs. Plus the agricultural lobby in Daraa and Idlib and openly allied against the reime ( correct me if you have more accurate info abt this). Don’t you think picture is a bit gloomy ?

January 9th, 2012, 3:35 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

S.O.D,

That was not funny. The reason I am obsessed with that question is some Lebanese Christian friends of mine are very racist and claim that Syrian sunnis expecially in big cities like Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, are originally Turkish, and they say it is proved by their smaller, mongolid eyes, shorter height and stockier frame. I introspected and found that it was partially true, most of the people do look like Anatolians, when compared with the Minorities, who have more Phoenician / Assyrian/ Kurdish features.

An Alawi member of this blog, name of MJABALI, also claims the same thing.

Abt Biedermeier, I was reading a book about Berlin’s 1848 revolution by Hagen Schulze and came across the word several times, I looked up Google Translate but it couldn;t provide an answer.

January 9th, 2012, 3:43 pm

 

ann said:

Pope Benedict XVI says observers can foster ‘fruitful dialogue’ in Syria – 9 Jan, 2012

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2012/01/09/Pope-praises-Arab-team-in-Syria/UPI-79791326121213/

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/pope-benedict-xvi-says-observers-can-foster-fruitful-dialogue-in-syria/articleshow/11424638.cms

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI on Monday called for a “fruitful dialogue” between political forces in Syria with independent observers present and said Arab Spring states should oppose discrimination.

“I pray for a rapid end to the bloodshed and the beginning of a fruitful dialogue between the political forces, encouraged by the presence of independent observers,” he told 160 ambassadors to the Vatican in a speech.

The Arab League is leading an observer mission in Syria aimed at halting 10 months of bloodshed between the government and the opposition, but it has been accused of only serving to cover up the regime’s deadly crackdown on protests.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church pinpointed youth malcontent in the wake of the global economic crisis as one of the driving factors behind the Arab Spring revolutions and said that the countries affected were still in a state of uncertainty.

“It seems evident to me that the best way to move forward is through the recognition of the inalienable dignity of each human person and of his or her fundamental rights,” he said.

“Respect for the person must be at the centre of institutions and laws.

“The building of stable and reconciled societies, opposed to every form of unjust discrimination, particularly religious discrimination, represents a much vaster horizon than that of short-term electoral gains,” he added.

The rise of Islamist political forces in North Africa following last year’s revolutions in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia has raised concern in the Vatican over the future of Christian minorities in the region.

January 9th, 2012, 3:57 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Dear Ehsani,

Welcome back!

“…This is 46,488 years before Moses. It is also 47,988 years before Jesus and 49,430 before the prophet Mohammad”.

Great wording. I believe that what you meant, is that we’re all humans, regardless of our beliefs, and let’s “go back” to being the wonderful warm family, that we used to be 50,000 years ago.

factually, this is not true. Humans always fought each other. Just like any other species. Sometimes my cats fight until there’s blood and the living room’s floor is filled with bunches of fur.

This is a basic and a natural fight over territory and resources. Our aim shouldn’t be stopping this fight, because it’s in our genes. It should be, reshaping the means and the quality of this fighting.
.

January 9th, 2012, 3:59 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

It is possible that Enki / Ptah was in his daughter Adobe (ruled land) in South Africa- Kenya area where he needed the [ADAMU] a Sumerian word meaning “Primitive Worker” to dig up the monatomic Gold mines and toil for food after the IGIGI (otherwise known today as the Grey, which Orientals evolved from) rebelled and refused to do the hard labor any longer. But other evidence points to a Northern origin of ADAMU in Sinai Peninsula or around that area in Atlantis as Sinai was connected to the land mass that is now sunk and is called the Mediterranean Sea.

All the crap you read in Quran is a third hand re-hatch of Hebrew / Moses 5 books which are proven now that they are nothing more than at a second hand, corrupt version, re-hatched from older texts and stories told in the Babylonian [Enûma Eliš ] Enuma Elish tablets.

So grow up and stop believing in crap like the Quran and that Moses sat for 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Sinai talking to god and sharing Coffee latte. The problem with Modern Science today, is that (by evil design) is segmented into fields and each one of the science fields researched and reached conclusions that are in direct conflict with other results reached by other fields. Great ideas only came from those with multi-desplanary (Uuuggh you spell it please) researchers.

http://www.enkispeaks.com/Essays/14EnkiThothNinmahCreateSlaveSpecies_2.html

http://www.enkispeaks.com/Essays/16EaLovesHybrids_Mother2Adapa&Titi_2.htm

http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sitchin/sitchinbooks_enki02.htm

January 9th, 2012, 4:00 pm

 

ann said:

Syria’s Assad to address the nation Tuesday – 2012-01-10

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/10/c_131350927.htm

DAMASCUS, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will appear on the state-TV to address his nation on the recent development in Syria and the region, the private Elkhbaria TV and the official SANA news agency reported.

The speech due on Tuesday, the third since the eruption of unrest in mid-March of last year, comes as the country is facing escalating violence and crescendo of international condemnation as well as repetitive calls on Assad to step down.

January 9th, 2012, 4:04 pm

 

ann said:

Syrian Muslims, Christians hold prayers in honor of unrest victims – 2012-01-10

Colette Khoury, a prominent Syrian novelist and poet, said ” there is no sectarianism in Syria … Throughout history, they have worked hard to foment sectarian rift but they didn’t succeed . .. All of us are brothers and the conspirators are working from outside Syria and want to damage our homeland … they are traitors.”

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/10/c_131350909.htm

DAMASCUS, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) — Syria’s Christian and Muslims clergymen held on Monday a joint prayer ceremony at a time-honored church in the Syrian capital of Damascus in tribute of Syrians killed since the eruption of violence in Syria in mid March.

The clergymen, during the prayers performed at al-Salib (cross) church, voiced support with their leader in the face of what they described as a “conspiracy” against Syria, and urged the Arab League (AL) and the United Nations “to change their opinions about Syria …”

Scores of Muslim and Christian Syrians gathered outside the church and waved the Syrian flag and photos of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Some held up banners that read “stop the terror against Syrian people.”

The Syrian government said a total of 2,000 army and security personnel were killed during the months-long unrest, while the United Nations put the death toll in the country at more than 5, 000.

During the ceremony, Syrian grand Mufti sheikh Ahmed Hassoun addressed the Syrian president saying “we, at this year, wait for reunion, closing ranks and the unity of the word … combat the corruption and we are all with you … draw a new road for this country to take it away from this big plot and to stop bloodletting.”

“Enough killing,” he appealed to those who he said carry weapons, and said “drop your weapons and Syria would be reborn this year.”

Hassoun underscored the depth of national unity in Syria and urged the AL and the United Nations “to change their opinions about Syria and not to bet on sects, doctrines, parties and groups in Syria.”

Meanwhile, Archbishop Luqa Khoury, who led the prayers along with Hassoun, said Syria is subject to a “sinister conspiracy” adding the United States and its agents want to damage Syria. He said those “killers have killed civilians, damaged the infrastructure and smashed service establishments.”

Colette Khoury, a prominent Syrian novelist and poet, said ” there is no sectarianism in Syria … Throughout history, they have worked hard to foment sectarian rift but they didn’t succeed . .. All of us are brothers and the conspirators are working from outside Syria and want to damage our homeland … they are traitors.”

The government said the turmoil in Syria is not an uprising but the work of terrorists and foreign-backed armed gangs.

January 9th, 2012, 4:06 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

SNP,

Since you know a lot abt racila theory,

Can u tell me the credibilty of claims that a large proprtion of Syria’s Sunni Arabs are actually descende dfrom Turks ?

January 9th, 2012, 4:17 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Khaled Tlass
I am white with blue eyes
I am urban from the heart of Damascus,Rawda,Maliki area

January 9th, 2012, 4:19 pm

 

Atheist Syrian Salafist Against Dictatorships said:

#3
if the President were to give in one inch he would be shot by his own entourage

I have believed this to be the case from day one, and it is more valid today. Besho is but a front for the million strong Mafia organization that has been in control of the deep south-style prison farm called Syria.

#5
Secularism is the only way out of this mess

Grand, sign me up.

But, wait, is that enforced secularism? i.e. secularism at the point of a gun? And doesn’t that contradict the latter part of the post calling for elected opposition? What happens if the people elect Islamists as did happen in the Palestinian and Algerian elections and recently the Tunisian and Egyptian elections? Hamas was OK because it in line with the Mumana3a charade, but all the others are not, eh?

I get the feeling that your use of the secularism requirement is a roundabout way of saying that since the current Assadist Mafia and Associates claim to be secular (which they are NOT by any stretch of the imagination as the owner of this here blog would testify to the fact) then they should rule because secularism trumps everything else, including the freedom of the people to choose whomever they want to be their representatives in both government AND opposition.

Sneaky.

Speaking of electing one’s representatives, I want to give my vote to George Sabra to be the next president of SNC. Dr Ghalioun was excellent but electing Mr. Sabra should shut up those who keep carping on about “outsiders” as he is nothing but an insider who also happens to know the inside of many a Syrian jail.

January 9th, 2012, 4:20 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

Aldendeshe said:

@ 21. Antoinesaid. You are right in what you said. But there is a catch here: The reason these agriculture and grain baskets areas are against the regime now, and they were adamant supporter of the Baathist Socialism and Land Confiscation for decades, which gave them the land for free and seeds for almost nothing, is that now, with the living standard in Syria diverged between rural and the Four Season hotel area, it became unsustainable for farmers to toil the small plot of land given to them by the Baathists with cows and asses for a whole year, only to sell the harvest to a Socialist State owned companies that, by laws, dictate to the farmers, what it will pay for the bushel. That price is not negotiable and there is no other way to sell the harvest except to the Socialist baathshit mafia monopoly. They cannot export it, because again, only the Socialist State has the export monopoly, and farmers cannot simply go and obtain export license except for Alawites areas growing Strawberries.

The price the State pays per bushel, having this monopoly, has reduced the farmers into serf with servitude to Socialist Baathists overlords. Now they see that the Agha and Beik was more generous and fair, at least their kids got educated and into the army college, where is now they discovered their bleak future. Add to this now the draught and it will be worsening in the next seven years.

January 9th, 2012, 4:22 pm

 

Antoine said:

. “Now they see that the Agha and Beik was more generous and fair, at least their kids got educated and into the army college, where is now they discovered their bleak future”

@SNP by Agha and beik do you mean the Ottomans ? Serioulsy ? Do you think Syria was better-off economically under the Otomans than it is now ?

And btw Land Confiscation in Syria started as early as 1958 under the UAR, the Baathists merely consoldiated it and accomodated some members of the Landed Class into the Baathist-Socialist mafia-bureaucracy. ( again correct me if u have more accurate info ).

January 9th, 2012, 4:44 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

@ 32. Antoinesaid:

Of course I am exaggerating and speaking subjectively. At no time in the past 1000 years and to this day has Syria, as a nation, prospered and excelled in any field. But the status of peasant and workers now, under Baathist Socialism scam (which is really nothing more than a cover mean for Alawites to control all economic aspects of Syria) is far worse that they were in 1963 or 1958, of course, this is relatively speaking, look at Syria landscape, do you see any sign of that glorious achievements going back a 1000 years or in present?

Yes, it was that idiot Sunni deceiver Al-Hakir Abd Alkhaser (Nasser) that started the land confiscation fad in Syria, but the early Sunni Baathist confiscated far more and reduced land owning families of Syria to face abject poverty or immigration. Alawites Baathists did nothing more than consolidated the evil plans and that is why I give them a break and a chance to undo what the Sunnis did.

January 9th, 2012, 5:03 pm

 

Darryl said:

32. ANTOINE said:

“And btw Land Confiscation in Syria started as early as 1958 under the UAR, the Baathists merely consoldiated it and accomodated some members of the Landed Class into the Baathist-Socialist mafia-bureaucracy. ( again correct me if u have more accurate info ).”

Yes, that incompetent fool Jamal Abdul-Nasser exported this ridiculous policy to Syria, which he used in Egypt to Bankrupt the Copts who were large land owners as well as owned private enterprises.

Many of Syria’s current problems can be traced to that unproductive era when some idiot in Syria thought it was a good idea to unite with Nasser, who was, BTW, an Islamist in sheep’s clothing.

January 9th, 2012, 5:11 pm

 

Observer said:

Good. I feel that the post has actually brought some frontal brain responses rather than the thalamic hypothalamic region responses ( those areas of the brain involved in rage and basic instincts ) except I must confess for JAD who is incredibly frustrated with I presume of course an inability to defend the indefensible.
Again you cannot be the agent of change and the agent of control of that change for you will not allow for change to happen.
Again it is but a rumor that the President is held hostage and this is one explanation the other is that he is part and parcel of the security house of cards that his father built.
So far everyone of his speeches has resulted in significant disappointment.
Again it is not secularism that holds the key to this crisis it is the establishment of the following
1. Independent uncorrupted judiciary
2. Open information for 1. to work effectively
3. Outside help to establish 1. and 2.
4. Removal of all violence from any confrontation between the people and the regime
As for those that are promoting the false idea that the Syrian people need long education in the travails of free and democratic system let me remind them of the following
1. Shishakli resigned and did not hold on to power.
2. The rule of law applied to all. My father used it to stop a clerck from opening his mail and listening on his conversations in the early fifties.
3. Corruption was punished as the son of the President in 1946 was denied entry to the university until he passed his baccalauret despite the insitence of the president. I know it for my grandfather was dean of the university and refused the enrollement on the basis of lack of credentials. The President backed down.

Finally what happened was coup d’etats and this is where our forefathers failed us. If they had demonstrated against the use of force to change the political system on the matter of pure principle then we would not have had recurrent forceful change of regime until we got to the most ruthless of the mafiosi who insituted in the 70’s the security house of cards for he knew how he came to power and therefore knew how he could lose power.
For JAD and others the entire security house of cards need to uprooted. It can happen peacefully or with a lot of damage. The ball is in the regime’s hand. Unfortunately there is a complete lack of imagination and a complete lack of foresight and a deep feeling that this piece of earth belongs to a family.

How do you dismantle the private smuggling ports and borders crossings and airport lounges that are used by the regime cronies? How do you calmly dismantle the telephone monopoly which was about to be extended to the electricity sector/ how do you dismantle the graft associated with every weapon purchase and every public work project how do you fix the 40% loss of water due to poor pipe and irrigation system in urban areas? how do you bring back the textile industry after the market was opened to cheaper imports for the sake of a quick profit.

That is why the people are fed up and they cannot imagine going back just as the other side cannot imagine having to account for anything.

It does not matter where I live or what I do and whether I am in comfort or not. What matters is that the country is in catastrophic situation and cannot be fixed from within the regime. I am actually proposing a way out by bringing BRIC experts and UN experts and even Iranian experts to help transition to a civil society and a truth and reconciliation commission that allows for everyone’s greivances to be aired and for protection against revenge and all the terrible things that a civil war will surely bring.

Remember the baboon who puts his hand in the nook of a tree to eat a fruit or a nut lodged there and cannot get his fisted hand out of the nook and dies of hunger as he refuses to let go. This is what is happening.

January 9th, 2012, 5:20 pm

 

Juergen said:

Khaled

We usually talk about this time in german history (1815-1848) in not a good way, we usually think that people lived under their own dictatorship of morals and remained silent in times of oppression. The people were much more interested in their own affairs than in the country. It was a time of social order and social control.

We say until now people with a limited mind or imagination.
But we do owe something of the famous german romantic era, which enabled the literature and the culture in a whole to prosper, so for me its a two sided medal, Goethe our Hafis wrote the Diwan in this time, for me the best book ever writen in German relating to the divine. He wrote in in it:
God is the Orient!
God is the Occident!
Northern and southern lands
Rest in peace in his hands.

January 9th, 2012, 5:21 pm

 

SQI said:

The Syrian nation is one society
your DNA does not matter.

from Antun Saadeh:

The Syrian nation is the product of the ethnic unity of the Syrian people which developed throughout history.

This principle defines what constitutes the nation mentioned in previous articles. lt reveals the concrete actuality of the nation which is the final outcome of the long history of all the people that have settled in Syria, inhabited it, interacted with each other and finally became fused in one people.

This process started with the people of the Neolithic age who preceded the Canaanites and Chaldeans in settling this land, and continued through to the Akkadians, the Canaanites, the Chaldeans, Assyrians, Arameans, Amorites, and Hittites. Thus the principle of Syrian nationhood is not based on race or blood, but rather on the natural social unity derived from homogeneous intermixing. Through this principle the interests, the aims and the ideals of the Syrian nation are unified and the national cause is guarded against disharmony, disintegration and strife that result from primitive loyalties to blood ties.

The alleged racial purity of any nation is a groundless myth. It is found only in savage groups, and even there it is rare. The Syrian nation consists of a mixture of Canaanites, Akkadians, Chaldeans, Assyrians, Arameans, Hiffites, and Metanni as the French nation is a mixture of Gauls, Ligurians, Franks, etc… and the Italian nation of Romans, Latins, Etruscans, etc… the same being true of every other nation.

The Syrian nation denotes this society which possesses organic unity. Though of mixed origins, this society has come to constitute a single society living in a distinguished environment known historically as Syria or the Fertile Crescent. The common stocks, Canaanites, Chaldeans, Arameans, Assyrians, Amorites, Hiffites, Metanni and Akkadians etc…whose blending is an indisputable historical fact constitute the ethnic-historical-cultural basis of Syria’s unity whereas the Syrian Fertile Crescent constitutes the geographic-economic-strategic basis of this unity.

January 9th, 2012, 5:25 pm

 

Antoine said:

SNP, I also heard that Nasser deliberately tried to create a famine in central Syria so as to break the Bedouin tribal resistance which was being funded by Saudia ( as part of Saudi-Nasser cold war), basically between 1958-1963 large parts of rural Syria was depopulated as the tribal people moved to new slums and ghettos in Hama and Homs, ultimately Hama and Homs proved to be breeding grounds for Islamists.

January 9th, 2012, 5:44 pm

 

defender said:

something for the second half of glass !
Dylan Ratigan (rightfully) loses it on air

January 9th, 2012, 6:16 pm

 

Darryl said:

38. ANTOINE said:

“SNP, I also heard that Nasser deliberately tried to create a famine in central Syria so as to break the Bedouin tribal resistance which was being funded”

I am interested in SNP’s answer too. However, Antoine, as I have said previously here, during Nasser’s experiments in Syria, there was a drought and it literally stopped raining in Syria. Hence, Syrian’s in that era used to joke that Allah hated Nasser so much that, He halted rain fall in Syria and all the wheat crops failed. Nasser wanted Syria as the bread basket for Egypt the same way it was as a bread basket for the Romans.

January 9th, 2012, 6:22 pm

 
 

Tara said:

Despite the cost in human lives, I am happy that the AL’s mission failed.  If succeeded, Bashar reign of terror could have perpetuated itself through reincarnation a Bashar- like leadership.  What we need is radical changes, a complete and total reset of the mentality of governance.      

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/09/syria-protesters-arab-league
….
Despite all that, the failure of the Arab League’s initiative may be preferable to its success. Had there been more progress, the result would have been protracted talks about political “reform”.

The fact is that the Syrian regime cannot reform – at least, not to the extent that would be required – without destroying its own support base. Negotiating with the regime at this late stage would not lead to a workable solution. It would simply create a diversion and throw President Assad a temporary lifeline.

That, more or less, is what has already happened in Yemen where the Gulf Cooperation Council’s “transition” plan has stymied a revolution. Though the “transition” may result in President Saleh leaving office and being confined to the sidelines, its overall effect is to prevent radical change by preserving the status quo.

The reality, harsh as it may be, is that there is very little that outsiders can usefully do to help the Syrian uprising beyond isolating the Assad regime as much as possible. This does not mean the revolution is doomed but it does mean the protesters will have to depend mainly on their own resources. In the long run, that could be beneficial if it eventually produces a government that is self-reliant and relatively independent of foreign influences.

….more
————

Dear OTW

I very much noticed your statement alerting everyone to “read more” that “Tara likes” on Heetan. Thank you for remembering. Heetan is blossoming. I was pretty impressed with Amal Hanano joining in. She has such a wonderful style, fine art I call it. And the site is being noted in international press. Amazing achievement in just short time!

January 9th, 2012, 8:04 pm

 

ann said:

U.S. ready to offer technical help to monitors in Syria: spokeswoman – 2012-01-10

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/10/c_131350973.htm

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) — The United States said on Monday that it stands ready to offer technical help to the Arab League monitors, as the regional bloc has offered to give enough time for them to fulfill their mission in trying to stop the violence in Syria.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland noted that the monitors had asked for technical help before they entered Syria in late December, and the United Nations as well as the European Union were providing some help.

“We’re obviously supportive of any direct requests that come to us,” she said at a regular news briefing. “You know, as I said, this is a first outing for them as international monitors. It’s a very important and valuable capability for the Arab League to be developing.”

“And we obviously stand by to help if that’s wanted,” she added.

At their meeting in Cairo on Sunday, the Arab League foreign ministers decided to continue the observer mission in Syria, despite criticism that the mission had so far failed to stop violence and bloodshed in the country.

The meeting also called on the Syrian government to “completely and immediately” implement the peace plan it signed with the regional group, which calls for ending of all acts of violence, withdrawal of armed elements from populated areas and the release of all political prisoners, in addition to allowing in monitors to conduct a field study of the situation in the Arab nation.

Syria was plunged into turmoil in mid-March when anti- government protests broke out.

The ministerial meeting asked for a report by Moustafa Mohammed Ahmed al-Dabi, a Sudanese serving as head of the observer mission, by Jan. 19.

“So we will await their final report and their assessment,” Nuland said. “I think we are not going to give a report card to this mission until we see what the Arab League monitors’ own report is.”

January 9th, 2012, 8:29 pm

 

jad said:

The two pathetic liars Erdogan and Oglu, talking about their fear of a civil war in Syria while they keep financing, arming, supporting and facilitating every terrorist armed militia in Syria.
While the renewed King Ghalyoun and his MB cornice never stop calling for the NATO to come and screw every inch of Syria.

«المجلس الوطني» يمدّد لغليون وأردوغان يحذّر من حرب أهلية

حتى ساعات متأخرة من ليل أمس، لم يكن المجلس الوطني السوري قد أعلن رسمياً تجديد انتخاب رئيسه برهان غليون لشهر إضافي. فيما أعلن أن سبب التمديد يتعلق «بإيجاد آلية أفضل للانتخاب»
شهدت العاصمة التركية إسطنبول حدثين بارزين أمس. فمن جهة، أعلن مصدر في «المجلس الوطني السوري» أن أعضاء المجلس المجتمعين في المدينة جددوا انتخاب برهان غليون رئيساً للمجلس، فيما حذّر رئيس الحكومة التركية رجب طيب أردوغان من نشوب «حرب أهلية وحرب ديانات» في سوريا.
وقال المصدر في «المجلس الوطني»، وهو على اتصال مباشر بمندوبين يحضرون الاجتماع المغلق: «مددت فترة الأشهر الثلاثة التي تولى فيها غليون المنصب، لشهر آخر ريثما يجري التوصل إلى آلية أفضل لانتخاب رئيس المجلس». إلا أن المتحدثة باسم المجلس، بسمة قضماني، رفضت تأكيد القرار، مشيرة إلى أن بياناً سيصدر في ختام الاجتماع.
تجديد انتخاب غليون جاء على وقع تحذير أردوغان الذي أعلن في مؤتمر صحافي أن «تطورات الوضع هناك تدفع في اتجاه حرب أهلية، حرب عنصرية، وحرب ديانات ومجموعات. لا بد لهذا أن يتوقف». وأضاف: «على تركيا أن تؤدي دوراً. إن اندلاع حرب أهلية سيجعلنا في وضع صعب (…) ويضعنا تحت تهديد».
وانضمت تركيا إلى الجامعة العربية والدول الغربية لفرض عقوبات اقتصادية على دمشق. وقد علقت اتفاقات مالية مع سوريا وجمدت أرصدة لمسؤولين سوريين. وأعلن أردوغان أن بلاده باشرت تطبيق هذه العقوبات، مؤكداً أنها ستُشَدَّ بحسب تطور الوضع.
وكان وزير الخارجية التركي أحمد داوود أوغلو، قد دعا المعارضة السورية إلى مواصلة تحركاتها ضد نظام الرئيس بشار الأسد «بالسبل السلمية»، وذلك خلال لقاء عقده الأحد مع وفد من المجلس الوطني السوري، على ما قال متحدث باسم الخارجية الاثنين.
وقال المصدر، لوكالة «فرانس برس»، إن «المعارضة السورية تطالب بالديموقراطية، وقلنا لهم خلال لقاء أمس (الأحد) إنه ينبغي القيام بذلك بالسبل السلمية»، مشيراً إلى أن برهان غليون رئيس المجلس الوطني كان من بين أعضاء الوفد العشرة الذين شاركوا في الاجتماع. وهو اللقاء الثالث منذ تشرين الأول بين داوود أوغلو والمجلس الوطني السوري، كما أعلن المتحدث الذي أضاف أن المجلس الوطني افتتح مكتباً في إسطنبول. كذلك، يتولى العقيد السوري المنشق رياض الأسعد من تركيا التي لجأ إليها قيادة عمليات عسكرية يشنها «الجيش السوري الحر». لكن الحكومة التركية أعلنت مراراً أنها لا تسمح بشنّ هجمات على سوريا من الأراضي التركية.
إلى ذلك، استكمل المجلس الوطني السوري أمس حملة على فريق عمل المراقبين التابعين للجامعة العربية، وذلك بعد أن قررت الجامعة إبقاء بعثتها هناك. وقالت عضو المجلس ريما فليحان، إن التقرير الأولي للجامعة العربية يتسم بالغموض الشديد ويتيح للنظام المزيد من الوقت. وأضافت أن المعارضة تريد أن تعرف ما ستفعله الجامعة إذا واصل النظام السوري قمعه في وجود المراقبين. وقالت إن الأمر يحتاج في لحظة ما إلى إحالة سوريا على مجلس الأمن.
وقالت جماعة الإخوان المسلمين، في بيان يحمل عنوان «بعثتهم لم تعد تعنينا»، إن البعثة متهمة بحماية النظام «من أي موقف جاد للمجتمع الدولي». وندد البيان الذي يحمل توقيع زهير سالم، الناطق الرسمي باسم جماعة الإخوان المسلمين، بـ«استرسال الأمانة العربية للجامعة العربية في استرضاء النظام السوري حتى قبل استقبال بعثة المراقبين العرب».
من جهتها، وجهت الهيئة العامة للثورة السورية نداءً إلى الأمين العام للجامعة العربية نبيل العربي، وإلى الوزراء العرب «نعت» فيه مبادرة الجامعة العربية لحل الأزمة في سوريا، ودعت إلى إحالة الملف السوري على مجلس الأمن. وقال أحمد الخطيب، عضو الهيئة، إن تقرير الجامعة العربية كان من الممكن أن يكون أكثر إدانة، لكنه على الأقل اعترف بالحاجة إلى نشر المزيد من المراقبين.
(رويترز، أ ف ب)
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/29243

January 9th, 2012, 8:40 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Speaking of DNA

هذي دمشقُ وهذي الكأسُ والرّاحُ إنّي أحبُّ وبعـضُ الحـبِّ ذبّاحُ
أنا الدمشقيُّ لو شرّحتمُ جسدي لسـالَ منهُ عناقيـدٌ وتفـّاحُ
و لو فتحـتُم شراييني بمديتكـم سمعتمُ في دمي أصواتَ من راحوا
زراعةُ القلبِ تشفي بعضَ من عشقوا وما لقلـبي –إذا أحببـتُ- جـرّاحُ
الا تزال بخير دار فاطمة فالنهد مستنفر و الكحل صبّاح
ان النبيذ هنا نار معطرة فهل عيون نساء الشام أقداح
مآذنُ الشّـامِ تبكـي إذ تعانقـني و للمـآذنِ كالأشجارِ أرواحُ
للياسمـينِ حقـولٌ في منازلنـا وقطّةُ البيتِ تغفو حيثُ ترتـاحُ
طاحونةُ البنِّ جزءٌ من طفولتنـا فكيفَ أنسى؟ وعطرُ الهيلِ فوّاحُ
هذا مكانُ “أبي المعتزِّ” منتظرٌ ووجهُ “فائزةٍ” حلوٌ و لمـاحُ
هنا جذوري هنا قلبي هنا لغـتي فكيفَ أوضحُ؟ هل في العشقِ إيضاحُ؟
كم من دمشقيةٍ باعـت أسـاورَها حتّى أغازلها والشعـرُ مفتـاحُ
أتيتُ يا شجرَ الصفصافِ معتذراً فهل تسامحُ هيفاءٌ ووضّـاحُ؟
خمسونَ عاماً وأجزائي مبعثرةٌ فوقَ المحيطِ وما في الأفقِ مصباحُ
تقاذفتني بحـارٌ لا ضفـافَ لها وطاردتني شيـاطينٌ وأشبـاحُ
أقاتلُ القبحَ في شعري وفي أدبي حتى يفتّـحَ نوّارٌ 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؟ وكلُّ ثانيـةٍ يأتيـك سـفّاحُ؟
حملت شعري على ظهري فأتعبني ماذا من الشعرِ يبقى حينَ يرتاحُ؟

January 9th, 2012, 8:45 pm

 

jad said:

وصفة لعلاج الشتاء الإسلاموي
جان عزيز

هل من ردّ حضاري إنساني على شتاء الإسلامويين؟
كل الحراك القائم اليوم يبدو محاولات تجريبية للتفاعل مع هذا الشتاء. حتى في الخطين اللذين يمثّلان ردّي الفعل البارزين ضد أن يكون ثوب السباحة في حمامات تونس منّة من ذمة الغنوشي، أو أن يكون قداس الميلاد في القاهرة قمة من سماح محمد بديع…
الخط الأول حسم خياره واستقراره على مكوِّن الخوف من الإسلامويين، وذهب بالتالي إلى المواجهة معهم، على نحو واضح أو مقنَّع. والصحيح أن ضمن هذا الخط قراءات مختلفة، تتمايز في أسلوب التظهير أو التقديم، لكنها تلتقي عند التناقض الأساسي. فثمة كلام مثلاً عن أن من الخطأ اعتبار المنطقة الممتدة من المحيط إلى الخليج، والمستهدفة بكرة ثلج شتاء الإسلامويين، أرض معركة واحدة. فهي جغرافياً وبشرياً واستراتيجياً مقسومة بوجود إسرائيل. وهي لذلك منطقتان: شمال أفريقيا والمغرب العربي من جهة، والشرق الأوسط الصغير بمتحده المشرقي من جهة ثانية. ويقول أصحاب هذه القراءة إن ما يسري على «المغرب» لا يصح على «المشرق». في المنطقة الأولى قد توجد أكثرية مذهبية تمثّل حقلاً خصباً لسلطة الإسلامويين. لكن في المشرق الأمر مختلف. فلا أكثرية هنا، بل جماعات متساوية القوة والنسبة، ولا قدرة لتعميم نموذج تونس والقاهرة والرباط وطرابلس الغرب. فأقليات الأمازيغ والإحيائيين والأقباط وسواهم بين السويس والأطلسي، ليست هي نفسها الجماعات الوطنية المتكافئة في القوة والحضور، بين شيعة ومسيحيين ودروز وعلويين وسنّة، بين الخليج والمتوسط… باختصار يقول أصحاب هذا الرأي إن المواجهة مع الإسلامويين ممكنة في «المشرق»، وبالتالي يغلِّفون «حلف أقلياتهم» بنظريات وتسويغات لتحسين شروط المواجهة وظروفها.
وفي المعسكر نفسه من يقول إن خيار المعركة ممكن لأن الإسلامويين أنفسهم، فور وصولهم إلى السلطة، سينتجون تفسّخات وتذررات داخل معسكرهم. بين إخوان وإخوان أولاً، وبين إخوان وسلفيين ثانياً، وبين إسلاميين وحلفاء في «الوهم الربيعي» ثالثاً، من ليبراليين أو يساريين أو ديمقراطيين رومانسيين، سرعان ما سيكتشفون فورية تحوّلهم مجرد «قدد» لجسر العبور إلى السلطة، أو حطب أحلام ثوراتهم… ما يسهل لاحقاً وسريعاً عملية المواجهة مع الإسلامويين. هذا الرأي يمثله بوضوح معظم الخطاب السياسي لمسيحيي الأكثرية الحكومية الحالية في بيروت اليوم.
في المقابل ثمة رأي آخر، ينطلق في خلفياته الكامنة والدفينة من الخوف نفسه، لكنه يذهب في التعبير عن ذاته في صيغة خيار «الهروب إلى الأمام»، وذلك بالتماهي مع شعارات «الربيع» والمزايدة في طروحاته، والرهان على مآله ونتائجه. ويحكي أصحاب هذا الطرح، بوضوح وقلق وأمل، أن رهانهم الأساسي هو أن يؤدي الزلزال الحاصل في المنطقة إلى كسر مطلقية الفكر الإسلاموي، على مستوى الاجتماع السياسي ومنطق الدولة وعلاقتها بالدين، وبالتالي إلى نقله في مدى زمني مقبول إلى مرحلة ظهور «بروتستانت» إسلاموي داخل تلك الفئات، تماماً كما حصل مع المسيحية قبل قرون حين كسرتها الثورات وأجبرتها على إنهاء «مساكنتها» مع السلطة. يعتقد أصحاب هذا الرأي أن مرحلة انتقالية في هذا السياق قد تحمل خسائر أو سلبيات، لكن مؤداها النهائي سيكون حتماً زاهراً ومشرقاً. ويمكن إعادة قراءة خطاب كامل لسمير جعجع ليلة رأس السنة الفائتة، يمثّل بامتياز هذا الطرح.
بين القراءتين هل من ردّ أفضل وأمثل؟ يقود البحث عن ثغر الخطاب الإسلاموي إلى تحديد مكمنين قابلين للطعن: الحريات، وفلسطين.
أولاً الحريات لأنها حافز إنساني لا يمكن تجاوزه، ولا تقدر أي أدلجة أخرى على تخطّيه، حتى المقدَّس، خصوصاً متى تزاوجت الحريات مع حافز آخر هو الجوع. هكذا يمكن لثنائيتهما أن تمثّل رأس الحربة المثلى لمواجهة المقدس الإسلاموي.
ثانياً، فلسطين. فالثابت أن في عمق الشتاء الإسلاموي عملية تسووية في إطار الصراع الإقليمي والدولي، على حساب فلسطين.
وذلك انطلاقاً من النظرية الأميركية ـــ الإسرائيلية بأن «السلام القومي» مستحيل، فيما «الصلح الديني» ممكن، إذ ثبت لمحور واشنطن ـــ تل أبيب أن العروبة لا يمكن أن تسالم إسرائيل، بينما يمكن الإسلامويين أن يتصالحوا مع «اليهود»، بذرائع السوابق والتاريخ، فيما جغرافيا القوميات جامدة، لا تتزحزح ولا تتجزّأ. وهو ما ألزم حافظ الأسد البقاء ثلاثة عقود متعنّتاً عند مترين من شاطئ طبرية، فيما عاد أنور السادات مغتبطاً من كامب دايفيد، ومتأبطاً شعار «دولة العلم والإيمان» لإمرار مشروع مناحيم بيغن تحت ستار الدين.
بين حلف الأقليات ـــ خيار الانهيار، وحلف «الرقص مع الذئاب» خيار الانتحار، وحدهما شعاران يختصران الرد الممكن: الحريات وفلسطين، على الأقل كي لا يكون الإسلامبولي قد اغتال السادات ليذهب هو إلى تل أبيب.

http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/29233

January 9th, 2012, 8:48 pm

 

Afram said:

Human palaeontology, the study of ancient remains, suggests that the species Homo sapiens originated in Africa, probably East Africa, about 200,000 years ago, but it was only about 60,000 years ago that anatomically modern humans began their long and arduous journey out of Africa.

In recent years, with the ability to decode the human genome quickly and cheaply, it has been possible to compare the palaentological record with historical information on human movements stored within our DNA.

Over time, human DNA has amassed a bewildering variety of mutations that scientists can now exploit to build a picture of how men and women today are descended from the first people who moved along these ancient migratory routes.

One of the first big surprises of the Genographic Project, for instance, is the discovery that the initial journey out of Africa may not have been through the “northern route” of the Sinai Peninsula and Middle East, as initially proposed. Instead, they seem to have moved out of Africa by a “southern route” at the Bab-el-Mandeb straits at the mouth of the Red Sea separating East Africa from southern Arabia.

This migration may have required boats to traverse the shallow waters that would have existed there 60,000 years ago. But even with this apparent physical obstacle, scientists believe that the DNA analysis of the female X chromosome of present-day humans suggests it is still the most likely route taken out of Africa. “This was really the first study that had used that kind of genetic information to look at global patterns of human variability,” said Spencer Wells, director of the Genographic Project and explorer-in-residence at National Geographic, one of the project’s sponsors.

“What it confirmed was that the earliest migration out of Africa, and probably the major migration, had gone out through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait to India. There could have been subsequent migrations out via the Middle East but certainly the majority of people trace back to that original migration event, and we’re still tracing out the details of exactly what happened.”

The DNA evidence shows clearly and unequivocally that Africa was the homeland of anatomically modern humans, neat, independent confirmation of the palaeontology. The genetic variation within people living in Africa, which is related to the length of time spent on the continent, is greater than all the variation in the rest of the world put together. “We see more variation in Africa than in any other group so that tells us we’ve been accumulating variation for longer than in any other group,” Dr Wells added.

“Outside of Africa, we see more variation in India than anywhere else which tells use we’ve been living in India for longer than any other place outside Africa. The question is, how many waves of migration out of Africa were there, and what were the timings of those events?”

The information being gathered by the Genographic Project is starting to put dates to the key crossroads in the greatest journey of human history.

The Maternal Journey of Mitochondrial DNA

The haplogroups of our five UK-resident volunteers originated from different parts of the world many thousands of years ago.

Lionel Shriver, American author: V haplogroup

One of the great migrations west from Central Asia eventually resulted in the haplogroups found in western Europe. Lionel Shriver’s V haplogroup is relatively new, probably about 15,000 years old, suggesting that it came about as the ice sheets retreated at the end of the Ice Age, allowing small bands of early Europeans to expand their range from their southern refuges into the ice-free territories further north.

Evgeny Lebedev, Russian-born businessman: H haplogroup

Closely related to the V haplogroup, the H group of Evgeny Lebedev is one of several that are associated with the European expansion that occurred at the end of the Ice Age. This colonisation is associated with the spread of the Aurignacian culture, which is known for significant innovations in the design and use of tools. H is considered a western European lineage, but it is also found further east.

Bonnie Greer, British-American author: L3 (Subclade L3b)

The “L” haplogroup is closest to “Mitochondrial Eve”, a woman who lived about 150,000-170,000 years ago. It is commonly found among Africans today. The L3 subclade of Bonnie Greer’s maternal line eventually left Africa about 60,000 years ago and is ancestral to all non-African mitochondrial groups.

Shazia Mirza, British-Asian comedian: M haplogroup

The M haplogroup of Shazia Mirza is one of two that are known to have split off from the L3 group soon after emerging from Africa. People carrying the M haplogroup are likely to have travelled across the Bab-el Mandeb Straits into Arabia from the Horn of Africa. From there they went on to populate India, south Asia and Australia. The Mhaplogroup is common in southern parts of Pakistan and north-west India.

Ching-He Huang, Taiwanese-born chef: B haplogroup

The B haplogroup of Ching-He Huang is commonly found in East Asia and derives from a nomadic migration across the steppes of Central Asia between the Caspian Sea and Lake Baikal. It is about 50,000 years old, one of the founding populations of East Asia and today comprises about 1 in 5 of the Chinese population. It is also found among Polynesians and Native Americans, indicating just how far this ancient genetic group has travelled.

Indigenous tribes

In addition to analysing DNA from about 425,000 members of the public, the Genographic Project has so far taken about 75,000 DNA samples from indigenous tribes around the world. The aim is to study the genetic roots of traditional people to shed light on their origins and broader relationships with people living elsewhere.

An intriguing journey of discovery of my chromosomes’ origins

Paul Nurse

I was very interested to take part in this analysis as in my lifetime as a geneticist, sequencing the human genome has made possible extraordinary advances in understanding our origins. This analysis identifies tiny changes on the Y-chromosome that do not interfere with the function but do identify where the chromosome comes from.

The changes are markers that can help trace back the origin of the chromosome. Different changes arose in different places in the world, at different times. This allows you to determine the journey your own Y-chromosome has taken before it ended up in you. For example knowing you have a particular change can tell you that one of your ancestors lived in Central Asia 35,000 years ago.

I have known for years the general pattern of migration of Homo sapiens from East Africa to western Europe but it somehow feels more real when you realise that your own Y-chromosome has actually taken that journey. I had not fully appreciated how far east the common migration routes of my ancestors are likely to have gone, taking them deep into Central Asia.

It is strangely reassuring to know that two out of three people I see on my way to work will have a Y chromosome related to my own.

Sir Paul Nurse, Nobel Laureate, is president of the Royal Society

January 9th, 2012, 8:51 pm

 

jad said:

While Turkey through its special voodoo magic of ‘facilitate’ and ‘support’ every radical terrorist militia ‘predict’ a civil war, Qatar role is to finance and to keep doing its trick by sabotaging any Arab effort to help Syria:

مصادر دبلوماسية عربية | دور قطر التآمري يتعرّض لنكسة.. ومعلومات عن “تنشيط” المجموعات المسلّحة قبل التقرير النهائي

قد يكون التقرير التمهيدي الذي أعدته بعثة المراقبين العرب إلى سورية، والبيان الذي صدر عن اجتماع اللجنة الوزارية العربية في القاهرة أول من أمس، لا يفيان بالغرض المطلوب على مستوى التعاطي بحيادية كاملة وشفافة مع الواقع الميداني الذي يحصل في سورية، إنما جاء التقرير ومعه بيان اللجنة الوزارية يتعاطيان “بحد أدنى” من التوازن في النظرة إلى الأحداث التي مرت وتمر بها سورية، ولهذا تنظر مصادر دبلوماسية عربية في بيروت بحسب صحيفة البناء إلى ما تمخضت عنه وقائع الساعات الماضية وفق الآتي:
1 ـ لأول مرة يخرج اجتماع عربي بناء على تقرير بعثة المراقبين بنوع من الحيادية، من حيث عدم وضع مسؤولية العنف بالكامل على عاتق الحكومة السورية، بل إنه تحدث عن وجود جماعات مسلّحة، تقوم بهكذا أعمال مسلحة، وبالتالي تعاطى البيان ببعض المصداقية مع حقيقة الأمور التي تجري داخل سورية، بعكس ما جرى في اجتماعات سابقة للجنة الوزارية ومجلس وزراء الخارجية العرب، حيث أخذت هذه الاجتماعات بحملة التحريض والأكاذيب التي مارستها ما تسمى “المعارضة السورية” ومعها وسائل الإعلام المشبوهة في الخليج، وغيره، فكان أن جاءت بيانات هذه الاجتماعات تتناغم مع الحملة الأميركية ـ الغربية، ضد سورية.
2 ـ لقد أعطت اللجنة الوزارية، بناء على تقرير بعثة المراقبين، المهلة الزمنية المعقولة لعمل هؤلاء قبل الحكم على نتائج عملهم، وهذا يعني أن كل المحاولات والضغوط التي مورست قبل الاجتماع على عمل المراقبين، سقطت أمام التسهيلات التي قدّمتها السلطات السورية للبعثة.
3 ـ لقد ظهر بعض الانحياز في مضمون بعض بنود بيان اللجنة الوزارية العربية، من خلال اعتبارها أن الحكومة السورية نفّذت جزئياً التزاماتها للجامعة العربية، وبالتالي رهن استمرار عمل المراقبين بتنفيذ سورية هذه التعهدات، ما يعفي “المعارضة السورية” التي ترعى المجموعات المسلحة من مسؤولية تسهيل عمل المراقبين، ودعوتها لوقف اعتداءات هذه المجموعات، وكأن المطلوب من السلطات السورية ترك هذه المجموعات المسلّحة تعبث بالأمن والاستقرار، من دون أن تقوم الأجهزة الأمنية بأي رد فعل، لإعادة الأمن والاستقرار إلى الداخل السوري.
إلا أن المصادر الدبلوماسية تلاحظ، رغم بعض الثغرات في بيان اللجنة الوزارية ـ سقوط المحاولات القطرية المدعومة من بعض أنظمة الخليج والدول الغربية، لخروج الاجتماع بمواقف تتناغم مع حملة القوى المتآمرة على سورية، انطلاقاً مما سبق الاجتماع، والذي تشير إليه المصادر بالتالي:
أولاً: لقد سعت قطر، مدعومة غربياً، لكي يكون البيان منحازاً إلى جانب ما يسمى “المعارضة”، وتالياً أن يحمل السلطات السورية مسؤولية تعثّر مهمة المراقبين، بعكس التسهيلات التي قدمت لهم من جانب الحكومة السورية. وقد ظهر هذا المسعى القطري ـ الغربي بالحملة الشديدة التي تعرّض لها المراقبون في الأيام القليلة التي سبقت اجتماع القاهرة.
ثانياً: لقد فشلت محاولات قطر المدعومة غربياً من الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة، لكي يخرج الاجتماع بطلب تطعيم المراقبين العرب بمراقبين “دوليين” كخطوة أولى، لفتح الباب أمام تدويل الوضع في سورية، وفق ما تطالب به “المعارضة”، وخاصة ما يسمى “المجلس الوطني السوري” لكن هذه المحاولة سقطت في ظل ما تضمنه التقرير التمهيدي للمراقبين، علماً أن رئيس وزراء قطر كلف نفسه قبل اجتماع القاهرة بزيارة الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة في نيويورك، سعياً وراء دفع اجتماع اللجنة الوزارية لتبني هذا التوجه، وذلك في سياق الدور المشبوه الذي تلعبه قطر في الأزمة السورية.
لذلك فالسؤال هو هل أن التقرير في نهاية الشهر الأول من عمل المراقبين والمتوقّع في 20 الشهر الحالي سيكون متوازناً، ويساهم في حلحلة الوضع داخل سورية، أم تتجه الأمور نحو اتجاه مغاير، بما يفتح الطريق أمام التدويل؟
في معلومات المصادر الدبلوماسية، أن قطر ومعها واشنطن وعواصم غربية، إضافة إلى “المعارضة السورية” وخاصة “مجلس اسطنبول” سيعملون لممارسة الضغوط على المراقبين، للخروج بتوصيات تفتح الباب أمام التدويل، ولذلك ستتضاعف في الأيام المقبلة حملة التحريض والابتزاز وبث الأكاذيب والأخبار الملفقة عن الوضع الأمني في سورية، وفي الوقت نفسه، ستسعى هذه القوى مجتمعة في سبيل تحريك المجموعات المسلحة، للقيام بأكبر قدر ممكن من الاعتداءات والتخريب ضد المنشآت الحيوية والقوى الأمنية والمواطنين، بما في ذلك اللجوء إلى “العمليات الانتحارية”، على غرار ما حصل في دمشق يوم الجمعة الماضي، لإظهار أن العنف يتسع في سورية، سعياً وراء تحميل السلطات السورية مسؤولية توسع الأحداث الأمنية.
لكن المصادر تعتقد أنه حتى لو نجحت القوى المتآمرة بذلك، فإن هذا الحلف سيصطدم بالموقف الروسي والصيني في مجلس الأمن، مع احتمال سعي هذا الحلف لإصدار مواقف عن هيئات “دولية أخرى” أو إقليمية ضد سورية، وهذا يعني في تقدير المصادر، أن الصراع سيبقى مفتوحاً حول الوضع في سورية، خصوصاً وأن رهان الحلف الغربي ـ الأميركي، يعمل لاستنفاد كل ما يملك من أدوات المؤامرة على سورية، وما تمثل عربياً.
البناء

January 9th, 2012, 9:00 pm

 

ann said:

Turkish party slams meddling in Syria – Tue Jan 10, 2012

Leader of Turkey’s Felicity Party Mustafa Kamalak says any military intervention in Syria would damage peace and security in the Middle East

http://presstv.com/detail/220223.html

He closely observed the situation in Syria during a recent visit to the Arab country.

Heading a delegation from his party during his visit to Syria, Kamalak held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and several Syrian officials.

He said that the Syrian president had told the members of the delegation that he did not want them to paint a rosy picture of the situation in Syria and had said that he only expected them to reflect the reality they have witnessed in the country.

Kamalak said that journalists who had accompanied him and his delegation in Syria will share their observation with the public.

Some of the correspondents who had visited Syria say that what they witnessed in the country was different from what they were told by Turkish media.

The party’s visit to Syria comes as the Turkish government seems to be determined to continue its pressure on the Syrian government.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced Turkish sanctions against Syria in November 2011.

The Felicity Party says that the ongoing crisis in relations between Ankara and Damascus will damage the interests of both countries.

January 9th, 2012, 9:12 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Jad
The regime will only respond to pressure, and regardless whether Bashar is sincere or not,he is the head of a vicious mafia that transformed Syria into a lost land, then came the anti regime militia and an army of sudden politicians and revolutionists. I often clash with Islamists on this blog but you need to keep in mind that if there was a decent government in Syria those Islamists will have a very small audience to preach to.
Syrians deserve better,you have to agree with me on this one.

January 9th, 2012, 9:13 pm

 
 

Ghufran said:

في بلاغ تقدم به إسلاميون على خلفية رسمه نقاباً ولحية لميكي ماوس
إحالة رجل الأعمال المصري نجيب ساويرس إلى المحكمة بتهمة ازدراء الأديان
القاهرة – مصطفى سليمان

January 9th, 2012, 9:26 pm

 

Ghufran said:

انقرة- (ا ف ب): دعا وزير الخارجية التركي احمد داود اوغلو المعارضة السورية الى مواصلة تحركاتها ضد نظام الرئيس بشار الأسد “بالسبل السلمية” خلال لقاء عقده الأحد مع وفد من المجلس الوطني السوري، على ما قال متحدث باسم الخارجية الاثنين.
وقال المصدر لوكالة فرانس برس إن “المعارضة السورية تطالب بالديمقراطية، وقلنا لهم خلال لقاء امس (الأحد) انه ينبغي القيام بذلك بالسبل السلمية” مشيرا الى ان برهان غليون رئيس المجلس الوطني كان من بين اعضاء الوفد العشرة الذين شاركوا في الاجتماع.
Translation: turkey for the time being is only watching.

January 9th, 2012, 9:31 pm

 

Afram said:

10. majedkhaldounsaid:

“it is possible Eve and Adam were created in Africa”

hahaheeheeeeeeeehahaooooooooffffffffff……!!!?????

majed,s brain cells are flat/—————————dead
religion is the human MIND puplic enemy #ONE

according to ur stupid religion books allah created Adam&Eve in paradise….NOT in africa ya nutt!

ur crazy allah kicked ADAM,S&EVA asses out of paradiso to EARTH coz they disobeyed the maniac allah order…NOT TO EAT THE FRUITS OF THE TREE OF NOWLEDGE..Africa is not in paradise MR.ZIFT

SCIENCE IN… RELIGION OUT

January 9th, 2012, 9:35 pm

 

Ghufran said:

My last post of the day, I need to go and check my DNA and see if I am worthless and watery enough.
الفضائيات، او معظمها على وجه التحديد، لم تتعاط بحرية ومهنية وموضوعية مع الشأنين الليبي والسوري مثلما تعاطت مع الشأنين المصري والتونسي، الامر الذي الحق بها ضررا كبيرا في نظر العديد من المشاهدين، خاصة اولئك الذين ينتمون الى الطبقات المثقفة والمتعلمة، ويبحثون عن تغطية تغلب عليها الموضوعية واحترام عقل المشاهد.
صحيح ان المحطات الارضية والفضائية التابعة للسلطات السورية كانت مضللة في معظم تغطياتها لوقائع الانتفاضة واعمال القتل، خارجة عن كل حدود المهنية والتهذيب في تعاطيها مع خصوم النظام، وهذا ليس غريبا عليها، فهي تنطق باسم نظام شمولي لا يعرف الديمقراطية، ولا يحترم الحريات والحقوق الانسانية، ولكن ما هو غريب ان تنحدر بعض الفضائيات العربية التي تدعي المهنية وتقول انها تتمسك بالموضوعية الى اساليب المبالغة والتضخيم لاوضاع لا تحتاج الى ذلك، لان اعمال القتل التي يرتكبها النظام وقواته واضحة للعيان ولا تحتاج الى تضخيم اساسا.

January 9th, 2012, 9:36 pm

 

Afram said:

10. majedkhaldounsaid:

“it is possible Eve and Adam were created in Africa”

hahaheeheeeeeeeehahaooooooooffffffffff……!!!?????

majed,s brain cells are flat/—————————dead

religion is the human MIND puplic enemy #ONE

according to ur stupid religion books allah created Adam&Eve in paradise….NOT in africa ya nutt!

ur crazy allah kicked ADAM,S&EVA asses out of paradiso to EARTH[pradise!1!] is way up there next to the black hole not in africa ya baboon coz they disobeyed the maniac allah order…NOT TO EAT THE FRUITS OF THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE..Africa is not in paradise MR.ZIFT

SCIENCE IN… RELIGION OUT

January 9th, 2012, 9:46 pm

 

ann said:

51. Ghufran said:
“””CNN in Syria:
http://m.cnn.com/primary/wk_article?articleId=urn:newsml:CNN.com:20120109:syria-robertson-qa:1&branding=&category=cnnd_world&pagesize=10“””

cnn / robertson arrived to Syria 24 hours ago. He never left Damascus. But his headline already reads:

“””Robertson: Syria appears divided”””

cnn is a joke!

January 9th, 2012, 9:46 pm

 

Rubbish said:

No offense, but this article is based on a primitive view of evolutionary science. It is a proven fact that Man has evolved from different primates at different times at different locations. Those who were evolved in Asia for example come from a different evolutionary tract that those in Africa.

January 9th, 2012, 9:50 pm

 

Norman said:

What divide the Syrian people is not genetics, it is culture and religion,It is going to take a lot more than genetic testing to unite the country.

January 9th, 2012, 9:52 pm

 

Norman said:

Ann,

CNN is right , Syria is divided, 95% withe president and 5% with the opposition, still called divided.

January 9th, 2012, 9:54 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

47. Aframsaid:

I don’t trust, nor have any respect, to any Paleontologist, Archeologist, Anthropologist, not even Geologist or any institution that research or teach these subjects until they stop hiding the facts and evidences that are available now to us and are in direct conflict to each and every theory being taught and introduced as valid one by the Academia. They must stop hiding, conspiring with NSA, ridiculing others, discrediting the valid and compelling evidences and respond, address the million questions asked of them regarding all discovered evidence in the field of Astronomy, Geology, Archeology etc….

First and foremost, are the items labeled under: “forbidden archeology”, giant humanoid skeleton, elongated egg shaped alien skull, Sphinx Ice age anomalies, 250 out of this planet DNA and a whole bunch of solid evidences hidden in deep underground vaults of various museums.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NyPeDLQNFA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1RD49XG12Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-5nojvv9O0

January 9th, 2012, 10:12 pm

 

Norman said:

We all remember that Tara promised us massive demonstrations with the presence of the AL monitors,as witnesses but with the monitors there we saw no significant opposition demonstrations and that indicate that the opposition support is not as large as they want the world to believe and because of that they wanted the monitors out so they can not testify to the lack of support for the opposition and their violent nature, so now they are calling for ending their mission so nobody will know the truth,

January 9th, 2012, 10:15 pm

 

Darryl said:

58. NORMAN said:

“What divide the Syrian people is not genetics, it is culture and religion,It is going to take a lot more than genetic testing to unite the country.”

Norman, Syria needs more Syrian Nationalists like the Mufti Dr Hassoun, his speech at the Saleeb church was magnificent. I think Dr Hassoun is the modern example that all Syrians and Muslims should follow.

January 9th, 2012, 10:31 pm

 

Norman said:

Darryl,

Unfortunately Hassoun is in the minority between the Syrian Sunni, don’t you think?

January 9th, 2012, 10:48 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Darryl,

Is this the same Hassoun that called out for suicide bombers to attack Europe and the US, is he really a nationalistic hero for anyone to follow? A man that calls out for the death and destruction of innocent civilians is your modern example of what Syrians should look up to?

Don’t you find the irony at all when menhebaks call the opposition “terrorists” while supporting a state proclaimed terrorist in a mufti outfit?

No wonder you have a negative outlook at moslems when you look up to a weasel like Hassoun!

January 9th, 2012, 10:56 pm

 

ann said:

58. NORMAN said:

“””“What divide the Syrian people is not genetics, it is culture and religion,It is going to take a lot more than genetic testing to unite the country.””””

You’re right Norman it’s absolutely not genetics. The problem of some 5% of Syrians is poverty caused by 5 years of drought. Poverty breads discontent and ignorance. Discontent breads treason, and ignorance breads religious fanaticism.

Treason and religious fanaticism are fertile ground for anyone with money, religious absolution and guns.

January 9th, 2012, 11:14 pm

 

ann said:

63. Norman said:

“””Darryl,
Unfortunately Hassoun is in the minority between the Syrian Sunni, don’t you think?”””

Norman at least 60 of the 75% Sunni population in Syria, that’s 4 out of 5 Sunnis are pro government, and against the destruction of their country.

January 9th, 2012, 11:25 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

“……..Norman at least 60 of the 75% Sunni population in Syria, that’s 4 out of 5 Sunnis are pro government, and against the destruction of their country….”

They are not pro Government, they just don’t want the destruction of their country.

January 9th, 2012, 11:40 pm

 

ann said:

67. Syrian Nationalist Party said:

“””They are not pro Government, they just don’t want the destruction of their country.”””

Well, the government is against the destruction of Syria.

January 9th, 2012, 11:43 pm

 
 

Darryl said:

64. SON OF DAMASCUS said:

Dear SOD, you are one of the few people I respect, but please do not take his words out of context. The Mufti was not calling for terrorism as you would like to believe. He is a proud nationalist as he spoke in nationalistic terms only, I saw no wrong in the way he put things when it came to defending Syria’s sacred soil and its people.

I wonder if the US and NATO may a few thousand tons of depleted Uranium looking for a home in a flat country not too far from where thousands of tons have already been deposited?

January 10th, 2012, 12:09 am

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

“……Well, the government is against the destruction of Syria…”

I believe they are more concerned about the destruction of their power and its facade, The Baath party. Bashar Assad would have used his Presidential decree power to effect immediate serious changes in Syria, one that is not “TSHKILIYA” but serious one that can really preserve the country. The claim that he is not permitted to effect these changes by others is ferbelous. He can for sure go the people and gain their support when he has the agenda and goals at heart. I think self-preservation is more what is of importance to them all now and that is all.

January 10th, 2012, 12:19 am

 

Son of Damascus said:

Dear Darryl,

I just can’t stand anyone who thinks Syrians are pawns that can be used, especially pawns in a retaliatory way that is not appropriate in any means whatsoever.

Suicide bombings target innocent victims, they are not done to win a war but to maim and scar the innocent. I abhor terrorism with all its ugly masks!

To me every Syrian soul is sacred, and they should not be used either as pawns to further benefit a select few, or as pawns for some regional or international stooge. It is up to us Syrians to protect our country and not fool ourselves with the notion that the devil I know is much better than the devil I don’t, if we don’t want our country hijacked by Western Hegemony or by a group of self appointed thugs, then we must take it upon ourselves to do so.

Which ever side of the aisle you might stand you have to see that state has failed us, if you are in the opposition it has failed to hear you, and if you are in the supporters camp it has failed you in security. With all our branches of A’mn, Harass, jeish, moukhabarta and the mou3amara is not only still going but just as strong if not more brazen.

January 10th, 2012, 12:54 am

 

jad said:

Dear Ghufran

“Syrians deserve better,you have to agree with me on this one.”

I already agree with you on this and many more than this one, even from before all this bloody struggle get started.

“The regime will only respond to pressure”

What pressure are you talking about my brother Ghufran? The terrorist pressure? the unjustified sanctions against average Syrians? Turning a country into pieces pressure? or have a civil war pressure?

When pressure turns innocent people to sand bags and feed over their misery, blood, sadness and tears it becomes a barbaric torture to our humanity.

In case you don’t know, the pressure is already shifted from the regime to the average Syrians now, the pressure is tearing down the already weak country and it starts to destroy our social fabric, our humanity, our culture and tradition, our religions and every shred of hope we have for the future.
I can’t under any reasoning or any promise regardless how rosy it may sound to accept of getting involved in such pressure on the average Syrians and I’m not going to accept seeing any Syrian suffer or die in the name of a better future, I simply can’t, it’s too much for me to accept.
This is not the way I want to see Syrians go through for the future, as you wrote they deserve better and I say they deserve the best this life can offer them and the best we should try to give them.

It’s brutal and barbaric when everybody enjoy watching our people suffer in the name of freedom without even helping in staging the right environment and space and language for dialogue and solution.
I know that there is a solution but it doesn’t need to be paid in this much blood and misery, but obviously nobody wants to solve anything, every entity, every power and every politician involved in this bloody struggle is using it to its own advantage at the expense of our Syrian fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, children, nephews, nieces, grandparents and grandchildren blood, tears and souls.
Its an endless tragedy and we all are watching it without having any say…it’s hopeless and depressing case and every day goes by without starting the solution we are loosing Syria.

What really affected me emotionally today is Observer’s note about his family leaving the country..How devastating is that? and what makes it even more affecting that it’s coming from someone who was promoting the split of Syria in 4 from day one.

I can’t express you my sadness today, honestly, its beyond any word.

January 10th, 2012, 1:04 am

 

Juergen said:

Ann

You cant be serious to blame that there is an opposition because of 5 years of drought? But may be you are right,there is an even longer period, 41 years drought of freedom in Syria.

January 10th, 2012, 1:37 am

 

Syria no kandahar said:

With Islamists it is going to rain explosions every day.

January 10th, 2012, 1:45 am

 

Juergen said:

SNK

Stick to your beloved leader, he has done a lot for the islamists in Syria, he is playing the bad guy, nuturing not only salafi opposition but also keeping terrorist organizations like Hisbollah an active player in neighboring Lebanon.

January 10th, 2012, 1:51 am

 

Khalid Tlass said:

SOD, just ignore Daryll. He is an Islam-hater through and through. He even criticised Nasser for bringing the Copts to heel. His crusader brethren will be erased from the sacred Arab lands soon, he can eat his horse-manured garlics then, that is if we allow it.

January 10th, 2012, 2:57 am

 

Syria No Tehran said:

Looks like the AL really brushed off the lame, pathetic false flag operation which the regime did in Damascus.

January 10th, 2012, 3:09 am

 

Juergen said:

Syria’s protesters are on their ownWhile Arab League monitors have failed to stop the bloodshed, this may be preferable to protracted talks about political ‘reform’

by Brian Whitaker

….Despite all that, the failure of the Arab League’s initiative may be preferable to its success. Had there been more progress, the result would have been protracted talks about political “reform”
The fact is that the Syrian regime cannot reform – at least, not to the extent that would be required – without destroying its own support base. Negotiating with the regime at this late stage would not lead to a workable solution. It would simply create a diversion and throw President Assad a temporary lifeline….

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/09/syria-protesters-arab-league

January 10th, 2012, 3:45 am

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

I really feel sorry for the revolutionaries. This speech is designed to drown your hopes in a barrel of empty words. This clown is talking as if he was a president of a superpower, not as a head of a murderous illegitimate junta.

This speech is meant to exhaust you, to drive you into despair.

Ahaa.. and remind him that he promised free elections in “February or March”. This is in 21 days from today.
.

January 10th, 2012, 5:06 am

 

Uzair8 said:

@79

I agree.

Assad is giving the impression he and the regime are fine and in a strong position hoping this will dishearten the revolutionaries. People can say these months of struggle haven’t had much effect on the regime, what’s the point?

Another thing. After being silent for a while Assad chooses to make his speech during the AL observer mission. This perhaps another tactic in controlling the consequences and outfall of the observer mission. Carefully spaced out and timely diversions and distractions.

January 10th, 2012, 5:46 am

 

Uzair8 said:

Syria: is this true?

By Tariq Alhomayed

Tuesday, 10 January 2012

There is confusing and disturbing information relating to the Arab League, its thought process, its dealings with the Syrian crisis, and likewise how it perceives the Syrian opposition. I have obtained this information from several high-level, informed and reputable sources. For the purpose of this article I will reveal such information in an effort to seek the truth, without judgments, so we can give the Arab League the benefit of the doubt, and allow it to explain its position.

Firstly, a senior official in the Arab League told one of my sources, during his explanation of the situation in Syria and how to deal with it that in Syria there are only three thousand activists who are orchestrating the demonstrations there. The Bashar al-Assad regime is looking for them, and when it finds them, it will be able to eliminate the threat. The Arab League official believes that this will then put a stop to everything in Syria, and indeed he expects the al-Assad regime to be able to put a stop to everything by the end of February!

This is not all of course, as the same Arab League official also doubted the seriousness of the Syrian opposition, and questioned its sources of funding. He said that the opposition has “a lot of money…and I wish I knew where it was from!”

Read more:

http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2012/01/10/187452.html

January 10th, 2012, 5:48 am

 

Juergen said:

Its an other basharshow. He turnes oout to had some sidelessons by his friend Chavez how to dull his people in hourlong programmes. May be syrian tv should start an Hello president show like the one with Chavez.
I like this reaction of Rosemary Davis UK Foreign Office

Listening to Bashar #Assad talking, and talking, and talking. What a windbag!

The Guardian wrote: 9:48 am Foreign correspondents are getting bored:

I’m falling asleep (Bashar) reminds me of a boring history teacher #Syria JAVIER ESPINOSA via Twitter

President Assad of Syria. Not known for natural speaking ability. 48 minutes and counting… Tim Marshall via Twitter

Some highlights:

“We do not have national division” in Syria so need for national unity government, #Assad argues. Sense of unreality growing by the minute. Ian Black via Twitter

Assad suggests that Syrian opposition activists are not genuine revolutionaries. “If they were true revolutionaries, you and I would be following them,” he said.

He says it is difficult to know when the “conspiracy” against Syria will come to an end. It will end when the Syrian people become “submissive”, he ominously says. ( is that a bloody joke?)

Assad accuses the Arab League of hypocrisy over calling for reforms in Syria.

“It is like a doctor who advices the patient to stop smoking while having a cigarette in his mouth,” he tells his audience.

He says the Arab League knows nothing about democracy and is a mirror for failures in the Arab world. “The League has been doomed for ages,” he said.

Assad says disastrous ABC interview was “fabricated” part of hostile media campaign against Syria. Ian Black via Twitter

He calls on citizens and the media to help combat low level corruption. “Many of the people I meet say the president must be held accountable. The president cannot replace state institutions,” he says.

January 10th, 2012, 5:50 am

 

Mina said:

Jürgen

Sure, to take the advices of the wealthy journalists who are letting Europe and the US seek into deep-poverty by not reporting on sensitive issues, or giving more often Naomi Klein and Chomsky views on international crises, financial or not, is what you call a very honnest path!

I started to think you might have a double agenda when you mentioned Hitler’s crimes and limited them to the killing of the Jews, with no mention of the systematic elimination of the Gypsies, the Communists and the Homosexuals, already since the 30’s.

After all, there is a crisis in Germany. Continue dud’, if you get as good on Twitter as Wissam Tarif and Mayor Khayrullah, you may get a nice job in a CIA-funded “think” (undestand: bow and kiss)-tank (understand: financial-military lobby).

January 10th, 2012, 5:56 am

 

Juergen said:

Amir, he talked only about an referendum in march, so the first free and democratic parlamentary elections seem to be off the table. Probably he thinks its to dangerous to have them. He also stressed tht in times of crisis there can be no reform, what an lame excuse is that?

January 10th, 2012, 5:57 am

 

Mina said:

If the West needs a war to better its economy, why not staging it in the West, for once, and not on a Middle East theatre?

Why would Kuwait let the AL support protests?
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/31348/World/Region/Kuwait-warns-stateless-against-protests.aspx
“Kuwait’s interior ministry said in a statement that the ministry will not allow any processions, gatherings or demonstrations (by stateless), regardless of their nature or aims.”

Why would Tunis let the AL say there is an unemployment problem?
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/31351/World/Region/-Jobless-Tunisian-dies-days-after-selfimmolation-h.aspx

Why would Egypt let the AL discuss with revolutionaries, some of them having participated in Western NGOs seminars in the recent years?
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/31313/Egypt/Politics-/-Revolutionary-figures-remain-targets-for-military.aspx

Solution: Reform the AL, and then you can move forward. It will take more than just barking and painting colourful banners.

January 10th, 2012, 6:03 am

 

Juergen said:

Mina

I always thought you dont have something in common with the beloved leader, obviously you still have trust in this criminal.

I assume that nowadays everyone with some knowledge will know that not only jews were a victim of Hitlers reign, everyone with an opposing view or people who would listen to BBC on radio could end up in gas chambers( wonder if Assad would come up with an law prohibiting watching Akl Jazeera). To my knowledge no systematic killing took place prior to 1933, you can name me what you meant?

I dont know what kind of media you are consumming, in what i read economics, the growing poverty is an common issue,but I assume you like it more dramatic.

I always thought you are fond of Chomsky, well you seem to change sympathy fast nowadays.

January 10th, 2012, 6:06 am

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Juergen,

“…He also stressed tht in times of crisis there can be no reform, what an lame excuse is that?”.

Exactly. I can assure you, there will be no referendum in March. This boy-king (as OTW calls him) does not believe in Arab democracy. I wonder what the mnhebaks will be saying now. They claimed that Bashar will reform. Now it’s clear, because he said it: there will be no reform any time soon.
.

January 10th, 2012, 6:09 am

 

Mina said:

Jürgen
Very interesting logic here… Indeed by the thirties I meant from 1933 on. But what do you mean by claiming that opponents to Hitler were killed and include in this the genocide of the Gypsies and the Homosexuals?(and again, your example of Asad banning al Jazeera… you have an obsession with Syria, why not looking for Bielorussia next door? Can anyone who understand Arabic fail to see the bisaed coverage of al Jazeera? Did you read in Le Monde article that more than 130 foreign journalists are or have been in Syria since the beginning of December?)
Indeed, I have loved Chomsky for a while. I discovered him in Al Ahram Weekly, published in Cairo, where his articles and those of Edward Said were often published. It’s not from the French media I heard about Chomsky, he was considered in France as an anti-semitic because he dared condemning the Zionists, without mention to the fact he was himself Jewish! The nice old ways of the European media with anyone who oppose the rule.
Keep sticking to the fake news of protests, they will soon be used to cover the real massacres when they will happen. After all, it is another Faluja we are going to see for the extremists. With a nice Western-Arab caution. Don’t forget to prepare them some asylum documents to settle a new Londonistan in Hamburg.

January 10th, 2012, 6:51 am

 

Darryl said:

77. KHALID TLASS said:

Happy New Year Khalid, I am not an Islam hater, I only dislike your version which is pure ignorance with a thick sugar coating. There is nothing you can do to eliminate Christianity from the Arabic world Khalid, in fact the opposite is happening. KSA, gulf states, yemen, Egypt, Libya, Tunis, Algeria, Morocco are all coming back to the Lord of Lords, the Messiah. Closer to home, Syrians, Lebanese, Jordanians, Palestinians, Iraqis’ even the Turks and Iranians are coming back.

And if you dare to lift the death penalty against apostates, you will be a minority as most Muslims will leave to join the swelling number of secret followers of the Messiah. Just check out what happened when Calif Abu Bakr took over. Fear, terror and privilege holds Islam together, Christians are there to stay. And if they leave, it will be their choosing and backwardness will prevail in the ME. Enjoy the Christian privileges in the west!

January 10th, 2012, 7:00 am

 

Mina said:

Jürgen, Amir,
Sorry but I fail to understand your support to an opposition which remains unorganized, unable to get organized and most often totally unarticulate (not to mention the calls for violence, since the beginning of the uprising). Why do you need to attack personnaly the regime to express that you would like to see more freedom in the Middle East? Is the Syrian regime the sole cause of the absence of freedom in the Middle East?
Let’s say Bashar is Stalin and you are living in Moscow. Protests start, organized on one side by some Hitler admirers, on the other side by Rosa Luxemburg (sorry for the anachronism) and also by a group of Tsarists. Will you join the protesters? Wouldn’t you think that this opposition will start its own war as soon as the old regime falls? There must be more intelligent ways, no?

January 10th, 2012, 7:00 am

 

ann said:

DARRYL, KHALID TLASS is none other than that ABOUD propaganda ID 😉

The anti-Syrian crowed shared their e-mail addresses with him.

January 10th, 2012, 7:21 am

 

ann said:

Syria’s crisis poses serious test to Syrians nationalism: president – 2012-01-10

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/10/c_131352909.htm

DAMASCUS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Tuesday that the ten-month-old events that wracked Syria has “blooded the heart of every Syrian and imposed circumstances that pose a serious test for us in nationalism.”

In his fourth speech since the eruption of unrest in Syria in mid March, Assad said it’s no longer possible for some regional and international parties who want to destabilize Syria to fraud facts and events, adding hundreds of world media have worked against Syria “to push us to a state of collapse but they failed.”

Standing before a crowd of supporters in Damascus University, in dark suit and tie, Assad said he would not step down because he still has the support of his people.

He said Syria is facing an unprecedented battle, and that victory is imminent thanks to the Syrian people’s steadfastness and patience.

Meanwhile, Assad said his country will not close door to any Arab solution respecting the Syrian sovereignty and the independence of the country’s decision, adding he was the one to suggest the need for Arab monitors to find out the truth in Syria.

Commenting on Arab League’s (AL) halting of Syria’s membership, Assad said an AL without Syria is no longer an Arab organization. “The question is who would lose, the Arab League or Syria? The Arabism of the Arab League would remain suspended without Syria.”

Besides, Assad said a committee entrusted with rewriting the Syrian constitution is at its final stages. He noted that the upcoming constitution will be focused on political, party pluralism and institutions.

Assad said there would be a referendum on the constitution at the beginning of March.

Meanwhile, Assad said Syria seeks to establish a broad government that included a mixture of politicians and technicians and represents all spectra of society.

“We are at the threshold of changes, a great part of them focus on the youth generation that has confronted this crisis,” he said, however, he noted “restoring security is the ultimate priority for Syria at this stage.”

Assad vowed to fight terrorism with iron fist and accused foreign conspiracy of trying to destabilize Syria. The Syrian government has blamed the country’s turmoil on terrorists and foreign-backed armed gangs.

Assad said the country’s policies are to continue reforms and combat terrorism, adding that Syria’s dignity is stronger than instigators’ armies and wealth.

January 10th, 2012, 7:28 am

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Mina,

I pity you. For how little, if at all, faith you have in your own people. I assume you’re an Arab.

It’s not the first time that you demonstrate your low self esteem and acute pessimism. Pessimism BTW stems from low self esteem.

Arabs, contrary to your very low expectations, can do much better, if not people like yourself, and the ideas and fixations that you hold.
.

January 10th, 2012, 7:31 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

I heared parts of his speech
He said the constitution is not constitution of the state.
He said Khase2tum,
He said no reform at the time of crisis.
He said he is not looking for an official authority,here he sounds like Gaddafi and Mubarak.
He said Arab League will loose in Isolating Syria
He said the economy is worsening because the Lira is down
He said he will only leave office when the people want him to leave,the question is: is he not watching what the people say?

To me all what he said are not what a leader should say. another disappointing speech, he will not leave till he is forced by power, the revolution must turn to arms and with Bashar is using security power and military power he is to blame for arming the revolution.

There is over 6000 dead officially, there are over 50,000 prisoners, we do not know what happen to them, probably we will discover their burial places after Bashar leaves, those who say there will be more dead if we use arms ,they must remember that we already has tens of thousands of death .

January 10th, 2012, 7:31 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

The speech did not come up with solutions or hopes, but rather tell us he will not change and things will get worse.

January 10th, 2012, 7:45 am

 

ann said:

Yea Mina,

I pity you, yea, yea, you Arab, you low self esteem, you pessimist, you, you, you 😉

Guess no big box of chocolate from israel for you today MINA 😀

January 10th, 2012, 7:52 am

 

Ghat Al Bird said:

A reality check for all concerned. The results of actions taken by the US at the request of Bibi, and his group of American[?] advisors named Richard Perle, Douglas Feith and other neocon zionists to make Iraq a democratic state and save israel.

These are the Iraqis in Fallujah that are not enjoying life……

Would be interested to see how many of the commentators on SC enjoy the fotos.

http://theuglytruth.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/fallujah-babies-under-
a-new-kind-of-siege/

January 10th, 2012, 7:52 am

 

Juergen said:

Mina

i do not like the idea that there are 1st class nazi victims and 2nd class nazi victims. In my history classes in the communist regime fe. the victims who were pointed out were mostly communists, so i do think that we should care and remember all victims regardless of the reason they were prosecuted.Mina sorry i do believe that we are responsible until now, and i dont mind that we pay retribution to nazi victims, i think that the least we can do. Hitler fe killed more than half of the members of Parlament, many members of the socialdemocratic party ( the oldest we have) were imprisoned and killed. Needless to say that there were many brave people who lost their live by propagate how the nazis commit atrocities, there is the famous Sophie Scholl who produced leaflets and who got killed with her brother. I am obsessed so to speak in your terms because i do see in Syria my second home, i have never felt this way for any other country before, and dont worry when i was in Minsk i was talking the same way i talk about Assad about Lukashenko, and there were people like you who told me all is fine in Belarus. Sure its fine as long as you shut up and dont cross the red line. ( actually there is a ban i heard on satellite channels in Syria, i dont know how this ban is observed)

Mina if all is so great why do Christians of all denominations flock out of Syria? There are now 15% of once 60%, they are already coming to live in Europe and the US, not to mention the big numbers of christian syrians who settled in South America.
The biggest reason why people leave Syria and the whole region are the poor economic conditions, and i think that Christians care a lot about private schooling and therefore they might be better educated, but thats just a guess from observations in Syria.

Antisemitism is still an big issue in europe, we have it in our law, if you deny the Holocaust you could end up in prison. I do not like any censorships, and fe Hitlers book is not on sale in Germany. Sometimes we see that Antisemitism is declared by some groups as an knockout argument over an debate or discussion. At this stage i am much more concerned about the islamophobia we face throughout Europe since 2001, given that those populistic right wing parties even form european governments nowadays, that i find scary.

Mina i dont think anyone of us has a cristal ball( just this weirdo who spoke in Syrian state tv that Assad will stay in power) to predict the outcome of the revolution. I wont rule out that in the transition we will see more violence, i am certain that many are interessted in the status quo. I do believe nonethertheless that everything will be better than this regime, i understand the fears for a transition, but if we have let always our fears guide us, we would have never dared to leave the caves.

January 10th, 2012, 7:57 am

 

Observer said:

The baboon’s fisted hand is stuck in the nook of a tree holding on to “power” and cannot leg go. It is now screaming loud and wide its frustration for being stuck there. That was the speech today.

January 10th, 2012, 8:12 am

 

Uzair8 said:

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-jan-10-2012-1524

Israel is making preparations to house refugees from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s minority Alawite sect should his government fall, Israel’s military chief told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.

“On the day that the regime falls, it is expected to result in a blow to the Alawite sect. We are preparing to take in Alawite refugees on the Golan Heights,” a committee spokesman quoted Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz as saying.

Assad has faced 10 months of popular revolt in which more than 5,000 people have been killed, according to United Nations figures. Israeli officials have said they do not expect his government to last more than a few months.

[Lol- the Alawis would have no shame if they ran to Isreal. What about the ‘resistance’ and ‘anti-zionism’?]

January 10th, 2012, 8:27 am

 

Juergen said:

Uzair8
thats a big joke that Syria was always antiisraeli. On the propaganda front they might said so, but there is even secret economic deals with Israel, so i do believe they even had the best silent alliance with Israel. The saying goes: he is a bastard, but he is our bastard…

January 10th, 2012, 8:40 am

 

sheila said:

To #58. Norman,
You said:
“What divide the Syrian people is not genetics, it is culture and religion”
That is your Syria. In my Syria, there is no such division. Yesterday I was working on helping an Alawite friend who is trying to flee the situation is Syria. I talked to a Christian friend to ask for her help, which she gladly offered. This is my Syria.

January 10th, 2012, 8:57 am

 

Valerya said:

The second group of USA Naval Forces goes to Arabian sea
The striking naval Forces of the USA has entered into Indian Ocean led by a nuclear aircraft carrier “Charles Vinson” and goes to Arabian sea, has informed the central command of armed forces of the United States.
In Arabian sea now already there is American group led by an aircraft carrier “John Stennis”, marks “Interfax”. Being in an operative range of the fifth operative fleet of Naval Forces of the USA, the group aircraft carrier will render aviasupport to NATO armies in Afghanistan, will take part in doctrines and joint operations with allies and regional partners, is told in the message.
Besides, the group which structure besides an aircraft carrier with 90 planes and helicopters onboard includes a rocket cruiser “Bunker Buster» and a rocket destroyer “Helsi”, will be engaged in navigation safety in the region located in immediate proximity from the Iranian coast.
“We will operate together with our partners in region to show our adherence to business of safety and stability in region”, – the commander авианосной grouping rear admiral Thomas Shannon has told.
The aircraft carrier group left from base in California on November, 30th last year. After a three-day stop in Hong Kong where it has arrived on December, 30th, the group has gone to Indian ocean.
It is not excluded that “Charles Vinson” goes to Arabian sea to replace “John Stennis” at whom expires term of stay in area of Persian gulf and Arabian sea. The aircraft carrier “John Stennis” together with the ships fighting охранения has been directed there on July, 25th last year for seven-mouth term. Its problem included aviasupport rendering to the American armies in Iraq. After their conclusion on December, 18th last year “John Stennis” has passed through strait of Ormuz to Arabian sea where is now.
Earlier last year Persian gulf was left by group led by an aircraft carrier “George Bush” which is based in Norfolk, American state Virginia.

http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=680553

January 10th, 2012, 9:01 am

 

sheila said:

Dear Ghufran,
You are one of very few people here who are still on the fence. You have not made up your mind yet. You see the problems in the regime and you see the problems in the opposition. I would like to invite you to 7ee6an. We have been discussing people in your position who we call the “fence-sitters”. This should not affect your contribution to SC. Many of us write on both blogs anyway.

January 10th, 2012, 9:02 am

 

Valerya said:

«The USA Financial Minister Gaytner has arrived to Beijing. During forthcoming numerous meetings with the high-ranking Chinese representatives he can demand from the Chinese party to reduce purchases of the Iranian oil», – it was marked in the message, transfers “Interfax”.

Relations of Teheran and Washington are heated to a limit
http://www.vesti.ru/only_video.html?vid=389607

January 10th, 2012, 9:12 am

 

Revlon said:

66. annsaid
((Norman at least 60 of the 75% Sunni population in Syria, that’s 4 out of 5 Sunnis are pro government, and against the destruction of their country).

My mother, sister and husband, brother with his wife and 18+ kids who make up all of my first degree relatives remaining in Syria are sunnis, and are staunch anti-regime and Assad-Makhloof clan: That equals 10/10 Sunni middle class anti-regime!

All of my classmates in elementary school whom I never knew to be 3alawi, went on to assume high posts in the intellingence system. They had a long carreer in abusing Sunnis, including some of their classmates.
All of my sunnis classmates that I have kept contact with are strongly anti-regime: that is another 100% middle class.

The unofficial figures of unemployment rate among youth in Syria is 40%. To claim that those are also pro-Assad is beyond wishful thinking!

Academic surveys on support of the revolution and Asad as early as May showed more than 80% support for the revolution and disdapproval of the regime.
This figure is supported by the increasingly apparent sectarian division whereby the vast majority of 3alawi and Christians have remained with the regime, along with a small Sunni minority, altogether making 20% of the population.

January 10th, 2012, 9:14 am

 

mjabali said:

Mr. Against Dictatorship comment # 30

Secularism has nothing to do with elections and who is the victor. It means to separate the religion from the state and the way the state view its citizens (according to their religions or not).

Democracy comes from the constitution/law which is the guarantee for both democracy and secularism. Law makes the heavy hand of the government, which is police/army/others, make sure secularism, democracy are protected. Here you need a constitution to draw the lines and makes the definitions. Things are simple. Democracy has nothing to do with Secularism.

If the Islamists come to win in an election that does not mean Secularism could not be upheld.

As for Islamist parties winning, I think Syria is not Egypt or Tunisia and the Islamists would do well but they may not win.

If there is a real opposition and parties in Syria the Islamists would win like 30 percent on their best day. That is my estimate. This 30 percent is between traditional Ikhwan and Salafis. Qatari money and Saudi would play a role here to drive masses to elect so Salafis. But I would not think they would get more than this like their showing in Egypt. There are way too many trends that would prevent a landslide like Egypt.

This would be very interesting to see who would come out and I think there are more Salafis than traditional Ikhwan or Sufis these days.

As for al-Assad being secular, I say that is very debatable because the secular elements in Syria are older than al-Assads. They (Assads) did protect it while at the same time wanting to play Sunni which led to the mushrooming of Islamic trends like al-Qubaysiyat (Read Nabil Fayad article about them) and thousands of mosques and Islamic schools. Now half of the Sunni kids reads religious texts before going to bathrooms. This happened under al-Assad so do not tell me he is secular.

With all of these elements, Syria needs Secularism and a new law/constitution that is modern and make sure the rights of every individual is guaranteed.

January 10th, 2012, 9:16 am

 

irritated said:

74. Juergen

What’s political freedom of expression without bread? Dignity? The Tunisians and other Arab freedom seekers are starting to learn it.
They are now begging the western countries for bread. Where is their dignity now? What are they doing with their freedom?

Get the bread first than talk about political freedom.

January 10th, 2012, 9:34 am

 

Valerya said:

Can be on the back if Israel is in not calculated conditions

January 10th, 2012, 9:35 am

 

irritated said:

Uzair8

“Assad is giving the impression he and the regime are fine and in a strong position”

It is not an impression, it is a reality.
The pathetic SNC and its military Robin Hood, Ryad Al Assad are the ones who desperately try to show unity and strength while they are getting close to the first state of decomposition.

January 10th, 2012, 9:41 am

 

norman said:

Sheila,

You made my point, why did your Alawi friend need your help to flee, Culture and religion,

Did you see what AL Homsi said in AL meeting, you should find out,

January 10th, 2012, 9:46 am

 

zoo said:

Israel becoming “humanitarian” and insidiously trying to discredit the Alawites.
Israel ‘preparing to take in Syria refugees’
AFP
http://news.yahoo.com/israel-preparing-syria-refugees-141610205.html
Israel is preparing to receive Syrian Alawite refugees on the occupied Golan Heights if the regime of President Bashar al-Assad collapses, Israel’s army chief of staff said on Tuesday.

“On the day the Assad regime falls, it is expected to harm the Alawite clan. We are preparing to receive Alawite refugees on the Golan Heights,” Lieutenant General Benny Gantz told MPs at the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and defence, in remarks communicated by a spokesman.
{…}

January 10th, 2012, 9:47 am

 

Revlon said:

Feed the mouth so the eyes oblige!… something like that
اتحاد تنسيقيات الثورة السورية | Syrian Revolution Coordinators Union
10/01/2012
http://www.facebook.com/monasiqoon

اللاذقية المحتلة :: اللجنة كانت تتعشى بالليل بفندق روتانا مع المحافظ وأمين فرع الحزب ورؤساء الأفرع الأمنية بالإضافة لرائد من السياسية , وكان معهم عدد من التجّار حدّثوهم عن الإرهاب والعصابات المسلحة , و وردتنا معلومات بأن اللجنة كتبت الذي سمعته ورحلت خارج مدينة اللاذقية في الساعة 12 ظهرا .

Occupied Lattakia:
ALC were guests for supper at Rotana Hotel (5 star) of the Mayor, Baath party branch secretary, heads of security branches and several businessmen. They made notes of information provided by their hosts on terrosism and armed gangs.

31 minutes ago

January 10th, 2012, 9:52 am

 

zoo said:

Amal Hanano’s argument to discredit the observer mission

Observing the Observers
The Arab League’s monitoring mission in Syria has been a miserable failure, and no international white knight is waiting in the wings. Syrians are on their own.
BY AMAL HANANO | JANUARY 9, 2012
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/01/09/observing_the_observers

January 10th, 2012, 9:58 am

 

Tara said:

Revlon

This is quite pathetic. The AL ‘s mission should not accept social invitations by the regime. This should have been discussed with the delegate before arrival in Damascus. Were dancers provided? It looks we have many people that can provide entertainment for the cause. Are there cameras in the delegate’s hotel rooms so Buthaina Shaanab can blackmail the observers?

January 10th, 2012, 10:00 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Sheila
You helped An Alawi friend thru christian friend, this is exactly what I believe Syrians are about, This revolution is not sectarian revolution, it is not about religion either it is about freedom and dignity,The regime and his supporters are trying to depict it as salafist or as sectarian anti Alawite, it is not either.
The revolution is against inheritance of authority, when people revolt they revolt against such inheritance, kings are no longer accepted, when Yazid inherited his father Ma3awiya Hussain revolted, Monarchy in Europe lost to republican system, Russian revolted against Caezar,power comes from bottom up, not from top down, Kings or presidents who act like kings,are no longer accepted, their system is where corruption grows, the people are against corruption, it is rare to have a good dictator, the rule is dictators are evil people.

January 10th, 2012, 10:03 am

 

Uzair8 said:

107. irritated

If you compare the regime’s and SNC’s/revolutions previous states to the their current states then one can only say that the SNC/revolution has done remarkably well to reach their current position out of nothing. Seen in this way then the opposition is relatively strong and getting stronger.

On the other hand compare the regime’s move from percieved impenetrable position to its current much weakened position of desperately holding on for dear life. Their position is getting weaker and will continue to do so.

January 10th, 2012, 10:32 am

 

Revlon said:

This child’s eye and his brain were blown up by one of Assad’s professional snipers.
AlFatiha upon his soul,
May God bless his family with solace and empower them with fortitude.

Baba Amr neighbourhood, Homs city
07/01/2012

Jr has ended the life of this kid.
He deprived his mother and father from the joy of seeing him grow to become a good son, and the dream to see and hold his grand children.
He left his family with a life long pain of loosing a child.
He left them with one dream; Justice for their child

ALC observers in the meanwhile, were either resting or dining in their hotels or consoling/ allaying fears of shabbeeha in minorities neighbourhoods.

AlDabi the brave shall not find such sight feareful.
His reporting shall be professional and objective: The perpetrators were armed terrorists!
Al Mu3allem could not agree more!

January 10th, 2012, 10:33 am

 

Juergen said:

Irritated

I agree that the most will care for their part of the cake, most will be happy with bread and a job to pay that.

I dont see that Tunesia is doing bad now, as i hear from Tunesian friends (they arent from annahda) they are quite optimistic and actually say that finally they come to terms with their own coutry. One told me that this revolution could have easily slipped into an civil war. They dont have many christians or jews, but tribes and the innertunesian regions are bitterly poor compared to the rich coastal area. The moment when the regime started to shoot at the people this was the moment i started to demonstrate with the people my friend from Karthage said.

There was in the beginning just demonstrations for the change of the regime, for dignity which was a nonexistant word fopr more than 40 years in Syria. When the regime used lethal forces, only then the people called for the downfall of the regime. If Assad would have wanted to really reform that would have been the time to implement meanful reforms. By now the people who are opposing the regime have shifted their peaceful means to a more militay combat with the regime, the longer people face this “revolutionary live” the more they will not go back. A friend of Damascus told me,. even if i want to have a normal life again, i cant, the moment i do have a normal life i will face the regimes revenge.

By the way, in our revolution in eastern germany few started to fight for civil rights, in the beginning we thought we could reform the regime, and some wanted just the same good life the west germans had with fanca cars and bananas, az the end with the masses there was no control anymore, and the calls for reunification were rising. I do believe that Assad has lost his grip, he had a chance to reform but has shown now that the regime has no chance left to recover, the question is no longer if but when it will collapse.
.

January 10th, 2012, 10:38 am

 

zoo said:

Syria crisis amplifies black market arms demand
January 10, 2012 01:54 AM (Last updated: January 10, 2012 03:45 PM)
By Nicholas Blanford
The Daily Star

BEIRUT: As Abu Rida reels off a list of the latest prices for weapons and ammunition on Lebanon’s black market, his small audience lets out low whistles of surprise.“$2,000 for an RPG?” said one man, referring to a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

“I swear to God,” replied Abu Rida who has seen his profits skyrocket over the past year. “The prices are crazy. And it’s all going to Syria.”

Black market arms dealers like Abu Rida are struggling to cope with a soaring demand from Syria that has driven the prices of weapons and ammunition in Lebanon to record highs over the past 10 months.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Jan-10/159341-syria-crisis-amplifies-black-market-arms-demand.ashx#ixzz1j4HBTcAd
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

January 10th, 2012, 10:40 am

 

jad said:

Gene Sharp interview:

Puppets & Dictators: ‘Revolution Guru’ on OWS, Egypt, Libya
http://youtu.be/pE_1Ywu72dc

“Despite an Arab League observer mission in Syria, there has been no let up in the bloodshed. Author and scholar Gene Sharp told RT in exclusive interview that non-violence is the only way for people to bring about a democratic change.”

January 10th, 2012, 10:51 am

 

Uzair8 said:

105 MJABALI.

I read your earlier comment and A.S.S.A.D’S reply. I’m aware of the similar discussion on ‘The Walls’ however I’d like to respond here.

I came across a forum thread elsewhere which I think is related to this issue. In that thread and elsewhere on the internet an alleged final ‘hidden’ speech of the founder of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Jinnah is being shared and discussed.

In that speech Mr Jinnah criticises the western models of politics and economy and proposes Islamic models to present to and save mankind.

I thought to myself if Islam/muslims/Ummah have their own mission (including political and economic) which they want to implement and present to the world then how would they be able to do that if, as some wish, Islam and religion should be kept out of politics and instead confined to the home and mosque?

Here is the transcript of the speech by Mohammed Ali Jinnah (Quaid e Azam). The link to the video is at the end:

Quaid-e-Azam’s last speech which has been hidden from us.

The Quaid’s Speech on the Occasion of the opening ceremony of State Bank of Pakistan on July 1, 1948:-

“I shall watch with keenness the work of your Research Organization in evolving banking practices compatible with Islamic ideals of social and economic life. The economic system of the West has created almost insoluble problems for humanity and to many of us it appears that only a miracle can save it from disaster that is now facing the world. It has failed to do justice between man and man and to eradicate friction from the international field. On the contrary, it was largely responsible for the two world wars in the last half century.

The Western world, in spite of its advantages of mechanization and industrial efficiency is today in a worse mess than ever before in history. The adoption of Western economic theory and practice will not help us in achieving our goal of creating a happy and contented people.

We must work our destiny in our own way and present to the world an economic system based on true Islamic concept of equality of manhood and social justice. We will thereby be fulfilling our mission as Muslims and giving to humanity the message of happiness and prosperity of mankind.”

January 10th, 2012, 10:53 am

 

jad said:

I wonder how Mr. Christian Wulff is doing theses days..not so good I guess….corruption…threatening…journalism…phone calls…a speech…hmmm….boring…ok, lets go talk about Syria it’s more exciting for every German.

January 10th, 2012, 10:57 am

 

irritated said:

Juergen
I guess your friends are not the ones who are after bread and suffering unemployment.
Read this:
January 10, 2012 10:01 am
Tunisia urges G8 to materialize aid pledge in face of economic crunch
“Tunisia’s new Ennahdha-led government is faced with increasing public anger due to the slowness of reforms and increasing unemployment.”
http://balita.ph/2012/01/10/tunisia-urges-g8-to-materialize-aid-pledge-in-face-of-economic-crunch/

“If Assad would have wanted to really reform that would have been the time to implement meanful reforms”

Assad attempted to offer reforms at start and it was received with more demonstrations and protests. He quickly understood that offering quick reforms was never going satisfy the instigators of the demonstrations whose aim was his toppling. He acted very smartly in refusing to make any compromise under threat. As in his speech, he made no “concession”, as this would be immediately taken as a sign of weakness. He knows that his supporters and the silent majority are still on his side. Obviously his tactic succeeded as we see that the opposition got increasingly divided and confused and the international community is quietly changing its opinion about the near future of the regime.

January 10th, 2012, 10:59 am

 

Revlon said:

The bodies of 6 soldiers, all Sunnis, who defected in October and later arrested by 3alawi commanded military security branch in Bab AlSsba3 neighbourhoos in Homs city.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=P3uK7LmjLEU
حمص :استلام 6 جثث شهداء من برادات المشفى العسكري10/1
– Most had their eyes neatly gouged.
I strongly suspect that the globe was harvested to be sold for corneal grafting.
– All had marks of torture by electrocution.
– One had his jaw blown up, indicating a ponit blank execution.
– ALC observers did not show up to witness; they claim the reime did not permit them to enter to Bab AlSba3.

These are crimes against humanity.
They are commanded by a 3alawi mob.
They are tolerated or condoned by the AL representatives of the Arab regimes.
They are tolerated by the international community under the leadership of the superpowers.

January 10th, 2012, 11:01 am

 

Tara said:

Peaceful revolution is non- sense at this time. Not after 6000 dead. There is no light at the end of the tunnel except with armed resistance. Harrini should provide financial support to the FSA. Erdogan should turn blind eye to weapon smuggling from Turkey. The most important next step is to establish connection between the army defectors so they are not operating independently. They need to get more organized in order to provide a striking power. The SNC should lobby the Americans and the Europeans to get some sort of advance technology so the defectors can remain connected and not intercepted by the mafia.

January 10th, 2012, 11:03 am

 

Uzair8 said:

@122

Tourism is more or less at a stop in Syria.

Im sure potential tourists will not risk visiting with their families. Seems like a good chance they may be detained and have their organs/eyes etc removed for commercial use (by the regime).

Without tourism the regime still has the oil for revenue. If this was removed too then it surely can’t survive? Any chance of the oil lifeline being targeted?

January 10th, 2012, 11:12 am

 

Mina said:

119 Uzayr
And do you think the record of Pakistan, Afghanistan, KSA, Sudan, is not enough for the beautiful demonstration you wanted to give to “mankind” (i guess that excludes women). By the way, the ummah is by no way homogenous, so do you intend to start new ridda-wars to convince the different trends that you follow the only good one?

Jürgen, you are in good company!! Continue dud’ and we’ll get you a job at Blackwater.

January 10th, 2012, 11:12 am

 

irritated said:

114. Uzair8

I am amazed by your analysis. The Syrian regime had no official defections, except the mysterious Bakkour and another who has disappeared into oblivion after his show on Al Jazeera.
The Army is strong and united despite the daily claim of 15,000 20,000 35,0000 etc… defectors.
Not a single ambassador defected. The economy in Syria is still better than Tunisia’s and Egypt’s despite the enormous sanctions.
The facts show that the regime has been consistent in its approach and most western journalists admit now that it is holding very well after 10 months of relentless condemnations, unrests and media attacks.

In the contrary, the SNC despite the powerful political, media and financial support of France, Turkey, Qatar, the USA and most of the EU is an arrested development embryo. Divisions, political amateurism, indecision, incoherent strategies, internal dissensions, ego issues, it offers a very depressing spectacle of what is expected in Syria should this bunch take over the country.

You can continue imagining another reality, the facts on the ground don’t say the same.

January 10th, 2012, 11:19 am

 

Juergen said:

irritated

i can not help it but suggesting what he may have said sounds like the Kremlin reporters who would interprete every eyemove of the leader. Assad made it clear, no reforms, no election, no democracy. He promised an iron fist ( like it was a soft fist before) for the crackdown. I would not be so sure that the overall support is still in favor for him or the regime(one has to seperate that to be honest) the majority is silent, and does not want to get involved, they want to survive, and yet to say they are with the regime or the president is an assumption one should be careful about.

January 10th, 2012, 11:21 am

 

Juergen said:

@Uzair

I wonder if Iranians are still on theri way to Zainab and Ruaqqayah tombs, may be some of the hotels have shifted to this religious tourism group, which i think until now has always outnumbered the amount of foreign tourists to Damascus.

January 10th, 2012, 11:25 am

 

irritated said:

124. Uzair8 said:
“Tourism is more or less at a stop in Syria.”

For your information, Iranian tourists that made the largest number of tourists in 2010 are still flocking in Damascus, filling the hotels in Marjah and shopping in Hamidiyah.
I doubt their eyes and liver are participating in the ‘organs’ market that is only in your hopes of further demonizing Syria.

January 10th, 2012, 11:27 am

 

irritated said:

127. Juergen

As long as they are not against, they have no influence on the course of the events. They would only have an influence in free elections in March, that I am sure will be supervised by the AL observers.

January 10th, 2012, 11:31 am

 

jad said:

The wise politician
قناة ال: BBC الدكتور هيثم مناع
http://youtu.be/yUV4KtXlBAE

Part of the Syrians
المواطنون السوريون خطاب الرئيس الأسد شامل ومهم
http://youtu.be/cjRWaqE860g

And the crazy:
Ashraf Almoukdad Agrees with his sister in violence Tara, he is calling for more terrorist attacks and chaos which is in his view the shortest way to get the international military intervention, why those same people who are calling for more violence and more weapons don’t go back to Syria buy a weapon and use it instead of telling others to do it and die for them:
دعوة عامة لشعبنا الثائر:
ادعوكم لوقف اي تعاون مع الجامعة العربية وإحقاق اكبر فوضى ممكنة وأكثر عمليات عسكرية ممكنة فكلما فلتت الأمر عن سيطرة آل الاسد سيقرب التدخل الدولي الوحيد القادر على الحل النهائي لبشار ومجرميه..لا تنتظروا المجلس المعطوب أو هيئة الخيانة …وحدكم القادرون على التاثير …وعلى قلب الأمور

January 10th, 2012, 11:52 am

 

jad said:

Why the shortage in gas and fuel, because of the terrorist attacks against pipes and trucks transporting those materials between the Syrian cities are attacked on daily basis:

وتستمر محاولات الضغط على حلب .. مسلحون ينصبون كميناً لقافلة بنزين متجهة إلى حلب وإصابة خمسة من الجيش بينهم ضابط

نصب مسلحون كميناً مسلحاً لقافلة صهاريج محملة بالبنزين كانت في طريقها إلى حلب، في منطقة سراقب، عصر اليوم الثلاثاء، ما أدى إلى إصابة خمسة من عناصر الجيش الذين يرافقون القافلة لتأمين الحماية لها، كما تضررت أربعة صهاريج من القافلة.

وقال مصدر مسؤول، فضل عدم الكشف عن اسمه، لـ عكس السير : ” تعرضت القافلة التي تضم اكثر من 35 صهريج بنزين لكمين مسلح في منطقة سراقب، حيث فتح مسلحون كانوا يتمركزون على أسطحة مبان مطلة على الطريق العام النار على الصهاريج”.

وتابع ” وقع اشباك بين عناصر الجيش المرافقين للقافلة، وبين المسلحين، حيث أصيب خمسة من عناصر الجيش بينهم ضابط، في حين تضررت أربعة صهاريج”.

وبين المصدر أن القافلة تابعت مسيرها، ودخلت حلب بأمان.

ونقل المصابون إلى مشفيي العسكري، وحلب الجامعي، حيث تبين أن إصابة أحدهم خطرة، وتم إدخاله إلى العناية المشددة.

وذكر مصدر طبي في مشفى حلب الجامعي لـ عكس السير أن المشفى استقبل ثلاثة مصابين من الجيش، بينهم ضابط، وتم تقديم الإسعافات اللازمة لهم، في حين تم إدخال احد العناصر إلى العناية المشددة في المشفى.

واستقبل المشفى العسكري في حلب المصابين الباقيين، حيث بين مصدر طبي أن وضعهما مستقر.

وتتعرض صهاريج المازوت والفيول والبنزين إلى اعتداءات متتالية من قبل مسلحين يهدفون إلى منع وصول هذه المواد إلى حلب، في محاولة لشل حركة المحافظة التي تعتبر العاصمة الاقتصادية لسوريا، الأمر الذي دفع السلطات إلى تأمين حماية لهذه القوافل.

يشار إلى ان حلب تعرضت خلال الأيام القليلة إلى أزمة بنزين ” خانقة”، وصلت ذروتها الأحد، حيث فقدت المادة من جميع محطات الوقود .

وكان قال مصدر مسؤول في محافظة حلب لـ عكس السير انه سيتم توزيع 500 ألف لتر زيادة عن حاجة حلب لتغطية الطلب الإضافي الثلاثاء، حيث سيتم توزيع مليوني لتر من البنزين على المحطات، علماً أن حاجة حلب تبلغ نحو مليون ونصف مليون لتر، على حد تعبيره.

وعانت حلب خلال الشهرين الفائتين من عدة أزمات مؤقتة في البنزين، عملت بعض المحطات على تضخيمها، عن طريق قطع الطرق الموازية لها، والتحكم في توزيع المادة.

عكس السير – حلب
http://www.aksalser.com/?page=view_articles&id=c4476db4087d0fa78fd2664187c0677e&ar=75377501

January 10th, 2012, 12:00 pm

 

sheila said:

To #108. norman said:
You said:
“You made my point, why did your Alawi friend need your help to flee, Culture and religion,
Did you see what AL Homsi said in AL meeting, you should find out”.

My Alawi friend is not fleeing culture and religion, he is fleeing a country that is in shambles: no mazot, no propane and no electricity to name a few. A country where the ruler is willing to burn the whole thing down to keep his throne.
As for Al Homsi, yes I have heard what he said and I think he should be ashamed of himself. What he said is absolutely deplorable. The good news is that his opinion is not the main stream acceptable logic. Considering all the killings, my hat’s off to the Syrian people.

January 10th, 2012, 12:02 pm

 

Mina said:

Today’s speech makes perfect sense when reading this
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/NA11Ak05.html

The clock is ticking, the script is unfolding. Why paving them an easy way by offering more transitional chaos?
If a war starts, it won’t be about delivering freedom to the Syrians, but about continuing the silent genocide of secular and educated Arabs, plus the destruction of eastern christianity.

January 10th, 2012, 12:10 pm

 

sheila said:

Dear Irritated,
You are amazed at Uzair’s analysis and everybody else is amazed at yours. You said: “The Army is strong and united despite the daily claim of 15,000 20,000 35,0000 etc… defectors.
Not a single ambassador defected. The economy in Syria is still better than Tunisia’s and Egypt’s despite the enormous sanctions”.
You sound exactly like the Iraqi minister claiming on TV that the Americans did not enter Baghdad, while the American tanks are moving in the background.
Yes, if it makes you feel better, keep dreaming, Soria bkhair.

January 10th, 2012, 12:18 pm

 

norman said:

Sheila,

Syria and the Syrians had Mazot, electricity, affordable essentials until your Friends the ones you call opposition decided that they want to take power by force and convinced Arabs and non Arab countries to impose sanctions only so they can hurt the Syrian people and push them to hate the president, tell honestly , which part of the Syrian president policies you do not agree with economic, political, Palestine , Arab rights, which one , there are no policies that i do not like , the only reason that you and others want to take power by force because he is an Alawi, look at the flag you use , it is the flag of the separation between Syria and Egypt, i rest my case, there is no way that you can take power by force so join the political system before you lose everything you would have gained for the Syrian people but i am not optimistic, Arabs are known to miss opportunities time and time again , because of greed.

January 10th, 2012, 12:25 pm

 

Tara said:

Jad

Aren’t you tired of playingالذئب في ليلى و الذئب disguising as Layla’s grandmother or to translate, the ugly wolf in Little Red Riding Hood.  To continue hammering us with your usual role of being against the regime when all you do day and night during awakening hours is dumping regime’s propaganda is becoming quite repulsive.  You would be much more effective when you show your true face as no one is being fooled, believe me.  We are way beyond that stage. The tears you spent when a Syrian get killed are worse than the crocodile’s tears as you selectively spend them on the Shabeehas and not even on children. Reading your posts, which I now rarely do, indeed trigger lots of negative emotions I never knew I can have. Fake emotions or fake anything are repulsive.

January 10th, 2012, 12:30 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Dear Sheila,

Who can forget Baghdad Bob (Mohammad Al Sahhaf), that man had a major problem with reality (like many on this site)

For anyone who does not remember him here is a best of clip for Baghdad Bob:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bd8c248ca2

January 10th, 2012, 12:31 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

S.O.D.
Just like Sahhaf we in Syria have Sharif Shahadeh,Taleb Ibrahim
and some here on S.C.
In a way Bashar today is acting like Sahhaf

January 10th, 2012, 12:40 pm

 

mjabali said:

Mr. Uzair8 Comment # 119

you said: “In that speech Mr Jinnah criticises the western models of politics and economy and proposes Islamic models to present to and save mankind.

I thought to myself if Islam/muslims/Ummah have their own mission (including political and economic) which they want to implement and present to the world then how would they be able to do that if, as some wish, Islam and religion should be kept out of politics and instead confined to the home and mosque?”

I say:

Islam is not one uniform entity. You have Sunnis, Shia, Alawis, Druz, Zaidis, Ismailis, Sufis, ….etc Also, Islam and through 1400 years of its history failed to establish one successful economical model to follow. Not one single model that is fit for our times now.

We always hear the slogan: “Islam is the solution” but we never saw that in real terms. Islam created more problems than solutions. Probably it creates solutions on a personal level when one person is looking for peace and finds it through Islam, but, Islam was never able to provide any solutions for economic issues, for example, especially those we encounter at this day and age.

You need modern laws for modern solutions. Leave Islam to the individual to do with it as he/she pleases. Leave the state for the community especially if this community includes people from many religions.

January 10th, 2012, 12:51 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Chief of staff in Israel has just said , if Assad fall he expect his supporters to run to Israel as refugee, and he is preparing for that

January 10th, 2012, 1:25 pm

 

annie said:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/10/us-israel-golan-syria-idUSTRE8090XV20120110

(Reuters) – Israel is making preparations for the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and a flood of refugees from his minority Alawite sect into the Golan Heights, Israel’s military chief told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.

January 10th, 2012, 1:31 pm

 

Mina said:

This looks like a new provocation towards the Palestinian refugees, no? Why would the Alawites flood the Golan? It makes strictly no sense in the present context of witch-hunt and supposedly pending international condemnations and extraditions… Or are these just more cynical jokes?

January 10th, 2012, 1:37 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

المواطنون السوريون خطاب الرئيس الأسد شامل ومهم

اي وللله شامل كان سألت صديق قومي عنه وقللي شامل العلا ك وطئ حنك البعثية المصدي العرب والعروبة واللأسلام والمسلمين وحتى مانسي الفلسطينيين وتحريرهم يعني كان اختصر الساعتين وقال اسطوانة ل ب بجملة واحدة وهي بعثية بعثية بعثية امة عربية اسلامية واحدة بلا أي رسالة تحيا ايران والسلام عليكم

January 10th, 2012, 1:37 pm

 

irritated said:

#135 Sheila

As usual, your comment are full of good intentions but sound phony as obviously you have no arguments than comparing Syria to Iraq.
It only show how intelligently you grasp the political reality of the region. I guess you better limit yourself to the other blog that you are promoting where the commenters are all on your level.

January 10th, 2012, 1:41 pm

 

SQI said:

#131. JAD said:

The wise politician
الدكتور هيثم مناع

in 2004 Haytham Mannaa signed a letter along with 105 other self-proclaimed ‘intellectualls’ expressing their gratitude to george Bush and tony Blair for invading Iraq.

that shows clearly that his position against foreign intervention in Syria is not genuine.

i would never trust this man when it comes to syria’s public interest.

Falloujah et son ode à Haytham al Mannaa
http://www.dedefensa.org/article-falloujah_et_son_ode_a_hatham_al_mannaa_09_01_2012.html

http://www.saotaliassar.org/Frei%20Kitabat/FreiKitabat/Intelgent.htm

January 10th, 2012, 2:00 pm

 

aldendeshe معتز الدندشي said:

خطاب بعثي تافه جدآ الزعبرة البعثية الاصولية مهتمين بلفلسطينيين وتحرير وطنهم الخرافي بس ما مهتمين بلوطن السوري ومأساة شعبه وتحرير اراضيه المحتلة والمسلوخة ماحد غير المهبول بيشتريه

January 10th, 2012, 2:02 pm

 

jad said:

Tara
I guess I triggered a nerve asking you to go back to Syria, buy a weapon and start your mission of shooting others, didn’t I? Why not, since you are trying to be SC Rambo and ‘THE’ model for other rebels and since my first advice to you was to stay safe for your kid’s future didn’t please you much and you and your friends took it in the worst way possible.
Did my question expose the hypocrisy of spreading violence while someone is staying safe behind their computer screens preaching for people to hold weapons against their brothers and sisters?
What you want Tara is one thing, you want to shut up every person on SC who doesn’t surrender for the twisted violence views that are promoted all over the wed, because, wrongly, you think that you don’t have any other alternative and unfortunately, you stuck in the message of hate and you can’t see that violence is not a solution, it’s a tool of destruction not for construction.
Your problem with me personally is that you can’t figure out how to shut me up, you tried almost every trick you know, from sending emails for people to ban me, to emotional blackmail to asking others to attack me, to orchestrate some cheap personal attacks to twist my views and to use my disagreement with my own friends as a way to make them to stop exchanging comments with me and you failed.
It’s time to accept that I’m here to stay and I have one message that I’ll keep repeating loud and clear to every person and every side that is:
[Corporation and Dialogue between all sides is the only way out, nothing else.]
Look Tara, SC is a place for everybody to write their opinions, some are honest, some are liars, some are here for the news and some are simply here to understand other side opinion and to learn from other people’s experience in these horrific days of Syria.
I and many others on this site refuse the violence as an answer and a tool for change, we prefer using reason over emotion regardless of how miserable, sad, ugly, bloody, unfair and unjust the situation may be, defiantly there is a way out and we have to find it, when God/Allah closes all doors he/she leaves us a window or a small crack in the wall to see the light and we need to use that small crack to open another door to go out of our dark and ugly prison.
I may be everything but a fake or a liar in what I write as you claim, I write what I truly believe in and if you don’t like it or you disagree with, it’s your own issue not mine to deal with, you have to learn to live with others even when they disagree with you (unless they promote violence), which seems that you can’t at the moment and everything for you is either black or white and always personal, it’s not. Get it already.
I came to a conclusion that violence and hatred won’t bring Syria anything but misery and life filled with regrets and that is not what anybody wants and if you agree on this principle then you have to look for another way out.
One last word, why don’t you concentrate and promote your politicians’ views, people that you truly like instead of being all about SC commentators, have a message of hope and be the messenger instead of wasting yours, and other commentators’, time in personal messages. You will feel better.
All the best.

January 10th, 2012, 2:04 pm

 

defender said:

Nikolay Starikov is a Russian publicist and the author

In information war of accidents doesn’t happen. As in usual war there are no casual approaches. If there is an information dump, means it have prepared and have tried to count effect from this provocation. And when the Internet is suddenly filled with rollers showing “horrors” you should understand that these rollers and this hysteria prepared IN ADVANCE. According to plan, under the scenario. Which was done not by guys on knees, and the whole Institutes in the West.

January 10th, 2012, 2:10 pm

 

defender said:

http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/?p=41085
Santorum Calls for a ‘Long War’ to ‘Eradicate’ Islam
Richard Silverstein – Tikum Olam January 10, 2012
Max Blumenthal has dug up a speech (transcript) delivered by Rick Santorum at David Horowitz’s invitation in 2007, in which he stated that Islam was a religion that had to be “eradicated” in a “long war:”
…This will be a long war. This will — remember, when they [Muslims] had the technological ability to fight us, they did, for a thousand years. A thousand years. This is hard for us to understand — a country scantly 250 years of age. A thousand years is incomprehensible to us. It is not to them. It is not to them. Their history is that history.

And they know their history. They know who they are. They know who we are. And we have no idea who they are…

…They are in a whole new war with us. We can choose not to be in one; doesn’t mean we aren’t. We are in a war, and theology is its basis. Just like we were in a war against Communism, and ideology was its basis. We need to understand that.

January 10th, 2012, 2:28 pm

 

norman said:

Santorum is a racist bigot,

January 10th, 2012, 2:33 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

I had a chance to listen to the speech again, certainly Bashar made concessions he admited that reform can not happen at the time of violence, he in this admits that the security solution failed and to do reform he must stop the oppression, I think he lies he is continueing the oppression so he does not want to do reform.
he seems to accept to talk to the opposition, and sent message to MB to talk,they refused, but here again he is lying he does not want to to talk to SNC.
this bashar as we expected is a lier.

All of us do not like violence, but while some claim that ,they support the regime , the regime who is using violence so they are lying too.

January 10th, 2012, 2:35 pm

 

defender said:

China rejects linking trade and Iranian nukes ahead of Geithner visit to lobby for sanctions

Associated Press – January 9, 2012

A top Chinese diplomat on Monday rejected linking Iran’s nuclear program to trade, adding to tensions with Washington on the eve of a visit by U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to seek support for sanctions on Tehran’s oil industry.

A deputy foreign minister, Cui Tiankai, said China’s trade with Iran, an important oil supplier, has nothing to do with the Iranian nuclear program.

Washington is pressuring Tehran to abandon what Western governments say is an effort to develop nuclear weapons. Sanctions approved by President Barack Obama on New Year’s Eve would bar financial institutions that deal with Iran’s central bank from the U.S. market.

“The normal trade relations and energy cooperation between China and Iran have nothing to do with the nuclear issue,” Cui told reporters. “We should not mix issues with different natures, and China’s legitimate concerns and demands should be respected.”

China’s fast-growing economy is the world’s biggest energy consumer and obtained about 11 percent of its oil imports from Iran last year. Industry analysts say Beijing is unlikely to support an oil embargo against Iran because such huge imports would be next to impossible to obtain from other sources.

The sanctions have led to a clash of interests between Washington and key commercial and strategic partners in Asia.

South Korea and Japan also depend on Iranian oil and are negotiating with Washington in an effort to keep supplies flowing. South Korea obtains up to 10 percent of its oil from Iran, while Japan gets nearly 9 percent.

The dispute threatens to add to irritants in U.S.-Chinese ties, which are strained by disputes over market access and pressure on Beijing to ease currency controls that Washington complains are swelling its trade surplus.

Cui, one of the top officials in charge of relations with Washington, said Beijing supports nuclear nonproliferation efforts but believes Iran is entitled to develop peaceful atomic energy.

He rejected suggestions that anyone who does business with Iran is providing money for nuclear programs.

“According to this logic, if the Iranians have enough money to feed their population, then they have the ability to develop nuclear programs. If that is the case, should we also deny Iran the opportunity to feed its population?” he said.

“We believe the livelihood of the Iranian people and the normal economic ties between countries in the world and Iran should not be affected.”

Chinese purchases of Iranian crude averaged about 560,000 barrels per day in 2011, rising to 617,000 barrels in November, close to one-third of Iran’s total exports of 2.2 million barrels per day, according to oil industry analysts Argus Media.

January 10th, 2012, 2:36 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

You know by now that neither SNP or Metaz giva a dam about thumb downs or thumb up for matter of fact, you can mark dozen of them if you like, one email dispatch and will have 400+ thumb up if we needed to do so.

The point of the two comments above by Aldendeshe and SNP is very clear, enough is enough. Stop playing the Baathist Istwani Bashar, let’s cut the 2 hours long Baathist speeches and start introducing some serious reforms using Presidential Decrees, or get out of the way please, take your Baathists, Arab nationalists, Socialists, Communists, Nasserites and Salafi’s and Iranians and Shia of Lebanon HA as well with you please. Syria has suffered enough for six decades from these crappy idiots who all they cared about is self interests and or self enrichment.

It is time to leave Syria for Syrians and Syrian Nationalists to put the nation back into the track of destiny after a whole Millennium of abuse and neglect.

STOP PLAYING THE GOD DAMM BAATHIST ISTWANI PLEASE, WE CAN NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE. WE WANT PEACE WITH ISRAEL AND START BUILDING OUR SYRIAN NATION.

January 10th, 2012, 2:44 pm

 

defender said:

Anastassia Michaeli: A Naughty Knesset Member!

January 10th, 2012, 2:52 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

DARYLL,

Is there an anti-apostasy law in Turkey ? In Tunisia ? hell, in Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan ? I donlt think so, yet mre than 90 % of the population report themselves Muslim in every national census.

So what abt ur stupid claim that Muslims are returning to Christianity ?

And btw I respect Western Christains and Reformed Churches like Lutheran, Calvinist, Presbyterian and Anglican. they introduced modern civilization, industrialization, political and social reforms, I admire them.

We have problems with superstitious, backward, Eastern and Orthodox Christains like Maronites, Melkites, Greek Orthodox, Syriac, Armenian Apostolc, Russian Orthodox, all the other orthodox churches, Assyrian, Chaldean.

If Arabic speaking Christians become reformed and Protestants there will be better relations with Sunnis.

And btw you will have to give bayah to Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman and Khalid ibn al Walid.

January 10th, 2012, 3:18 pm

 

b said:

Neocon Israel Mouthpiece Writes Syrian Opposition Intervention Paper

and he throws the real opposition on the ground under the bus.

January 10th, 2012, 3:22 pm

 

Mina said:

Wonderful, after the Christian Zionists who want all the Jews in Israel to become Christians to get a chance to see the Messiah live, now we have the Tlass US sect, who want every eastern Christian to become protestant.
Superstition is a problem among Christians, according to him, but it’s no problem that the Wahhabis sell the “miraculous water of the zam-zam well in Mecca”, after killing thousands in Yemen and elsewhere because they would have comitted shirk by visiting the graves of old saints; and still behead women for witchcraft.
The US is such a great place, they can produce new weirdoes by the minute.

January 10th, 2012, 3:36 pm

 

Darryl said:

119. UZAIR8 said:

Mr Uzair8, can you please explain the following things per you post and a previous one linking Sheikh AlQarney:

1. While the west produced giants the like of Kant, Voltaire, Newton, Leibniz, Gauss, Faraday, Ampere, Einstein, Fleming, Bell, Shannon, Shockley etc etc too many to list.

Islam was doing what besides NikaH and navel gazing under the 400 years of Ottomans, and before and after? Was Islam not ruling the Islamic world at the time?

Was there anything notable that was produced under the ISLAMIC Ottomans while Europe and America produced the above giants and all modern things that we take for granted?

2. There are 1.5Billion Muslims (your count) that produced 6 Nobel prizes, 23 Million Jews produced over 170 Nobel prize winners.

Islam was doing what besides producing children that were going no where and wasn’t Islam in control of the Islamic world?

3. Who is feeding you Islamic nations Mr Uzair8, who came to the aide of Somalia and the famine that infests most Muslim nations? Not KSA or Sheikh AlQarney, they only give money to convert people, not to sustain them.

It is time to remove your head from the sand pile, you are suffocating! beside pissing me off!

January 10th, 2012, 3:44 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

DARYLL,

Is there an anti-apostasy law in Turkey ? In Tunisia ? hell, in Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan ? I don’t think so, yet more than 90 % of the population report themselves Muslim in every national census. Chechnya was under Russian Orthodox Christain domination for 150 years and Soviet pseudo-atheist domination for 72 years,yet it is one of the most Islamically inclined and religious regions in the World.

So what abt ur stupid claim that Muslims are returning to Christianity ?

And btw I respect Western Christains and Reformed Churches like Lutheran, Calvinist, Presbyterian and Anglican. they introduced modern civilization, industrialization, political and social reforms, I admire them.

We have problems with superstitious, backward, Eastern and Orthodox Christains like Maronites, Melkites, Greek Orthodox, Syriac, Armenian Apostolc, Russian Orthodox, all the other orthodox churches, Assyrian, Chaldean.

If Arabic speaking Christians become reformed and Protestants there will be better relations with Sunnis.

And btw you will have to give bayah to Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman and Khalid ibn al Walid.

January 10th, 2012, 3:57 pm

 

Mina said:

In Turkey, laicity was imposed with an iron fist and a cult of personality that has outlived its founder Ataturk and is almost a religion.
In Algeria some guys have been arrested and charged last ramadan for eating in the street before iftar.
In Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan the only apostasy is to criticize the local despot, ruling for 20++ years, having survived the USSR and now great allies of the US.

At least, al Azhar speaks out for freedom of belief:
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/594171

and As’ad Abu Khalil comes out of the wood:
http://english.al-akhbar.com/blogs/angry-corner/propaganda-and-coverage-syria

January 10th, 2012, 4:06 pm

 

aldendeshe معتز الدندشي said:

“….people after throwing out corrupt and autocratic leaders will demand economic reform and personal freedom, and any party or leader who fails to give people what they want will be voted out….”

Keep it quite please, don’t teach Islamists the tricks of the trade, the facts of life. Go for the political lies and say Islamist will rule in Syria. Why, because we needs them to fight and die first man, kick the Shia منافقين out of Syria and that terrorist state within state, Shia power usurpers out of Lebanon. Let them go for it with gusto and the ballot boxes will finally take good care of Syria. In the future, I guarantee you that, and even more, not one Shia will ever get elected in Syria by a ballot of votes, even if he to bribe his way with a lot of stolen cash robed from the Noble Persian nation by the منافقين Mullahs . The only concern, is that Islamists are illiterate, exceptionally dim witted, even more than Ayatollah Khemenei of Iran, more like the reptilian god Allah (SIN) they worship, but not as much as those training and funding them, the backers are even dumber, stupid as hell, and that is the problem, they are not going anywhere but backward.

Send them all over to SNP, will trains them in the right ways, the peaceful ways, the other benevolent aliens among us ways that I met couple of times. When they here [Islamists], will teach them that a word is worth more than a thousand swords. Their god, the moon dweller will not allow it most likely, he may even needs them to clean all those bases on Mars and the Moon, he even needs them for food, “SIN” is a human flesh eater, he eats human alive, I am not kidding you, there are people who died a horrible death when they opened their mouth and spilled the beans publicly, I met a bunch of these brave people. There are some who walked out on $400,000 yearly salary because they could not handle the facts they discovered on the job. That is all I want to tell you about this.

Anyhow, they are welcome here for proper training that will get them to be useful in bringing Syria into Democracy and freedom from oppressive Baathist Sunnis and Shia that ruled Syria for nearly 60 years, rather than being useful idiots in Syria’s enemy hands. But we do have some conditions:

1- They need to secure at least 200 billion in aid from Allah and his bowing imbeciles.
2- They need to recognize Israel right to exist and support today rabbinical decision in circulating pictures of the “Temple Mount” without that reptilian god edifice on top of it, just as SNP already did couple of years ago and started using that clean image to send greetings to our Jewish brothers and sisters. So we all should celebrate Israel re-creation and its rise from the ashes, help them to set up own rightful Temple without any hindered or hostilities from Syrians.
3- They should accept SNP peaceful means of regaining the Golan and for Iskenderun.
4- Accept closing all Palestinian camps and slum dwellings and removing inhabitants for permanent settlement in Jordan. It is a country that is half ruled by Palestinians and that Palestinian lady ruler did nothing to help her people.

I do command the Moslem Brotherhood for refusing to meet with the Ayatollah representative. He was not nice to SNP and most likely will treat Syrians with contempt just like he treated Hamas when they got wacked in Gaza, who needs Half-men like that? In fact many Persians told me for a fact that most Ayatollahs have a “MADE IN UK” stamp under their beards and one eyewitness said that once he saw Khatami in restroom and he had a hairy p******y.

January 10th, 2012, 4:07 pm

 

Tara said:

Anwar Malek, an observer withdrew from the mission and stated the mission is serving the regime’ s agenda. He withdrew because he was afraid turning to a Shabeeh. He also said that the regime started to kill supporters to convince the mission of armed gangs. Norman, please do not visit Syria yet. The regime is not to be trusted. Bashar is killing his supports to keep the chair.

January 10th, 2012, 4:08 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

2- “They need to recognize Israel right to exist and support today rabbinical decision in circulating pictures of the “Temple Mount” without that reptilian god edifice on top of it,”

We can recognise Israel but they will have to cede total control of Masjid al Aqsa if they want that.

“3- They should accept SNP peaceful means of regaining the Golan and for Iskenderun’

The Islamists do not want 500,000 extra Alawis in Syria and want “zero problems” wuth Turkey. How about regaining Mosul and Ninewa from Shia Iraq ?
Golan is okay though. Druze people are good.

“4- Accept closing all Palestinian camps and slum dwellings and removing inhabitants for permanent settlement in Jordan. It is a country that is half ruled by Palestinians and that Palestinian lady ruler did nothing to help her people”

Agreed, but Palestinian Salafists must have Syrian citizenship, and also, if we agree to resettle Palestinians in Jordan, you must pay compensation to families of victims of Sabra-Sjatila, Karantina, Tal el Zaatar from Lebanese funds and Baathist confiscated properties.

January 10th, 2012, 4:24 pm

 

Atassi said:

KUss Amak Ye arssa Walla la Nick Amak y aldendeshe معتز الدندشي
“this will get the attention of the Admin to this Ass ldendeshe معتز الدندشي ” last comment… F him

January 10th, 2012, 4:27 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

TARA, which country is Anwar Malek from ?

I thnk they are killing their own Sunni supporters and Bouqs, just like Sari Hassoun kiling.

But believe me, it is not Bashar who is stubborn, it is his community and their brothers-in-faith in Lebanon, Iraq and Iran.

January 10th, 2012, 4:27 pm

 

Tara said:

Khaled

He sounded Morocon to me. But, I am not thet expert in figuring people nationality based on their accent? He could be Tunisian.

January 10th, 2012, 4:31 pm

 

SQI said:

#160. KHALID TLASS

…. I respect Western Christains and Reformed Churches like Lutheran, Calvinist, Presbyterian and Anglican. they introduced modern civilization, industrialization, political and social reforms, I admire them.

We have problems with superstitious, backward, Eastern and Orthodox Christains like Maronites, Melkites, Greek Orthodox, Syriac, Armenian Apostolc, Russian Orthodox, all the other orthodox churches, Assyrian, Chaldean.

—–
the Truth is, You and your wahabi and salafi ilk love to be dominated; and bend over to the power-obssessed protestants.

you have a problem with Eastern Christians because they won’t play your perverted game.

January 10th, 2012, 4:32 pm

 
 

sheila said:

To #136. Norman,
You have asked and I shall oblige. It is a very difficult question because it will take what amounts to a book to answer, but I will try to make it short and sweet.
Your question: “which part of the Syrian president policies you do not agree with economic, political, Palestine , Arab rights, which one , there are no policies that i do not like”
Her is my answer:
I do not like any of the above. You would be hard pressed to find a worst ruler for Syria.
I do not like him ruling the country like his private farm. I do not like the fact that we have no freedom of assembly which rendered the only possible political movement in Syria, the one that can meet in the mosque. I do not like that you can be arrested without a warrant and can be jailed without trial. I do not like that when you are arrested you are beaten and tortured and treated like a sub-human. I do not like that all the enterprises in Syria are owned by the president and his clan and those that are not owned by them are forced to partner with them. I do not like that our educational system is horrible. That kids have to study something called “national education” a total waste of time. That you can get to any university you want by parachuting from a plane, while others study so hard and get nowhere. That you can not speak your mind without risking humiliation or even death. That some people in Syria have to write ”reports” about their family and friends to make ends meet. As for the economic policy or lack thereof, I do not like that to get a business license in Syria can take up to a year or more and a massive amount of bribes.
I am now tired of typing, but if you do not yet get what I do not like, I will be happy to explain further. I can literally fill a book.
Now it is my turn to ask you a question:
If you like the Syrian president’s policies so much why did you come to the US?

January 10th, 2012, 4:42 pm

 

trustquest said:

I’m familiar with genome project and what you are up to Ehsani, it is too late for such call. We know we are all humans and we know too that crime might be pay for sometime but not for all the time. There is also limitation to human suffering and to human pain. What we have seen in the last 10 months surpassed human bearing. We are going into WW2 and WW1 drama and atrocities with difference it is played on slow motion on the hands of group have no human feeling. This group are very focus on the State as entity above all humans existence, such as individuals are not counted, and very soon they will enter the phase of some sects or this city or that group are not important and could be taken to out of this earth to save the “State” which mean for them “OUR STATE”…sorry to see you still writing and can not/or did not say what you should say…

January 10th, 2012, 4:45 pm

 

Tara said:

Attasi@ 169

Thank you very much for posting the link to the interview of the observer who withdrew from the mission.
—–

I am still waiting to hear comments from the pro regime. Is he an Islamist, or neocon? May be a Jew? Where is Bronco? I would love to hear what he can possibly say! I bet he will remain quiet as there is nothing to say. This is very incriminating.

January 10th, 2012, 4:51 pm

 

son of Damascus said:

Dear Darryl,

Let me remind you of a few Moslem scientist:

Avicena, Jaber Ibn Hayan (Father of Chemistry), Al Kawarizmi (father of Algebra), Omar Al Khayyam, Ibn Taymieha, Al Jahiz, Al Jazairi, Fatima Al Fihri (who established the oldest continuous University and was a woman) and the list goes on.

a few modern Moslems:

Mustafa Akkad, Mohammed Ali, Malcom X, Ahmad Zeweil (Nobel laureate in Chemistry), Fazlur Khan (Sears Tower, John Hanckok Tower), Fareed Zakaria, Aziza El Hibri (who has a seat in the US administration)

If the 1.5 billion Muslims had the same opportunities as people from the West (in terms of governance, social welfare, education, political stability, freedoms,..) you would see a lot more names on the Noble Laureates list. That would include as well Indian, Chinese, South American and pretty much the rest of the world that is not “western”.

For your info out 853 Nobel Prizes US got it 333, China 11 times.

January 10th, 2012, 4:53 pm

 

aldendeshe said:

“…The Islamists do not want 500,000 extra Alawis in Syria and want “zero problems” wuth Turkey. How about regaining Mosul and Ninewa from Shia Iraq ?

We should regain Ninevah from the non-moslem SOFA Shia , they have no use or respect for it, they wants Karbalah, they can have that dump. You are confusing Alawites Shia Twelvers who are awaiting a Mahdi with the Alevi of Iskenderun. Alawites originated from Iran, while Alevi are natives to the land of Syria and Anatolia.

“………The Alevi (in English /ælɛˈviː/, also /æˈlɛviː/ or /əˈleɪviː/) are a religious and cultural community, primarily in Turkey, constituting probably more than 15 million people.[1] Aleviness is a syncretistic religious tradition, historically grown out of the Bektashi-Sufi lineage within Shi’a Islam, incorporating many elements of local Anatolian folk culture. The Alevi are also known as Alevi-Bektaşi to distinguish them from the Alawis (also known as Nusayris), another Shi’a sect who are primarily found in Syria, but in smaller numbers in Turkey, as well. The Alevi-Bektaşi are ethnically Turkish or Kurdish, while the Alawi are ethnically Arab……”

Anyway, SNP plan is not to fight and regain Iskenderun all back to Syria, but rather calls for one separate autonomous administrative state ruled by Syrians, Turkmen and Alevi or a geopolitically divided region in which Syria will gain part of the coastal area and the City of Antioch. For the Golan Heights, It will be returned to Syria proper, but will also be ruled administratively by the Golan Council and the Golan Development Authority, whereby both Syrians and Israeli will jointly administer the heights and its resources, development. Israelis will remain on the heights, no evacuation of settlements is required, but financial compensation must be paid if these settlements are encroaching on deeds held by others in Syria. Israeli did a great job on the Golan, they developed it into a small Napa valley in a way, something Baathists will not ever do in their wildest corrupt dreams.

Yes, no one plans on trucking the Palestinians and dumping them on Jordanian side of boarder. Resettlement of Palestinian is to be under careful planning in every way and funded by all able nations to put the issue to rest once and for all.

No, you have no right to the mount area that has always been Jewish owned, Jewish Land and Jewish property. Just because Moslems Illegally built on top of it, it does not mean they can claim it now. There exist Roman documents in the Vatican ancient archive underground vault that back that Jewish claim.

January 10th, 2012, 5:02 pm

 
 

Uzair8 said:

Dear Jeurgen & Irritated,

Yes you’re right about the Iranian tourists. Frustrating isn’t it?

However, there was an article not too long ago regarding the Syrian economy and tourism. In the article it was mentioned how the continued Iranian tourism was not much consolation for those dependant on the tourism industry as the Iranians were ‘low-spending’ tourists.

“As the uprising gained momentum through the year and the violence grew, the most profitable areas of the tourism sector evaporated, with only low-spending Iranian pilgrims left.”

http://www.albawaba.com/syria-economy-country-should-brace-financial-collapse-407196

January 10th, 2012, 5:47 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

Dear Jeurgen & Irritated,

Yes you’re right about the Iranian tourists. Frustrating isn’t it?

However, according to a previous article this isn’t much consolation for the Syrian tourism industry.

“As the uprising gained momentum through the year and the violence grew, the most profitable areas of the tourism sector evaporated, with only low-spending Iranian pilgrims left.”

http://www.albawaba.com/syria-economy-country-should-brace-financial-collapse-407196

January 10th, 2012, 5:51 pm

 

jad said:

Nir Rosen discusses the situation in Syria
http://youtu.be/yu8jxX5JhgM

“Al Jazeera interviews Nir Rosen, a journalist who has been in Syria for the last two months, on the situation in Syria, and his opinion of the Free Syrian Army.”

January 10th, 2012, 6:33 pm

 

jad said:

رأس السلطة : حوالي ساعتين من “اللعي” و”اللغو” المنفصل كليا عن الواقع ، وتلويح بمزيد القمع

الخطاب أصرّ على الاستمرار في التركيز على “البعد الخارجي” للأزمة والتنكر لبعدها الداخلي الذي هو أس القضية وأساسها

دمشق ، الحقيقة ( خاص): أنهى رأس السلطة قبل قليل خطابه على مدرج جامعة دمشق ، والذي استغرق حوالي ساعتين ( ساعة و 48 دقيقة). وبخلاف ما سربته وسائل إعلام السلطة عن أنه سيكون خطابا “مفصليا”، جاء ليكرر ويجتر أحاديثه السابقة عن المؤامرة والإرهابيين مع الكثير من “اللغو” و “اللعي” عن العرب والعروبة ، الذي بدا كما لو أنه تنويع على عبارات الفنان الراحل نهاد قلعي ” إذا أردت أن تعرف مافي البرازيل ، عليك أن تعرف ما في إيطاليا”! لكن المشكلة تكمن في أن لاتكون تعرف شيئا في إيطاليا ، عندما ستكون المصيبة أعظم ، لأنك لن تعرف أي شيء هنا أو هناك!

مع ذلك ، والحق يقال، الشيء “المفصلي” الأساسي الذي كان واضحا في خطابه ، والذي لم يكن ” لغوا” ، هو تلويحه بالمزيد من القمع وسفك الدماء تحت عنوان مكافحة الإرهاب ، أو بتعبير أدق: إعطاء القمع بعدا فاشيا سافرا . فقد ألمح إلى فكرة دفع الموالين للسلطة إلى التحول إلى ” جيش رديف” للأجهزة الأمنية ، رغم أن ممارسات من هذا النوع جرى اللجوء إليها في أكثر من مكان وأكثر من مناسبة. وهو ما يوحي بأن الخطاب ” كتب من قبل الجهاز الأمني وليس من قبله”! ومن الواضح أن هذا التلويح بالمزيد من القمع لا يصدر إلا إلا عن الشعور بالقوة، سواء أكانت قوة حقيقية أو متخيلة.

الجانب”المفصلي” الآخر في خطابه هو استمرار التركيز على البعد “الخارجي” للأزمة والتنكر شبه الكامل لبعدها الداخلي الذي هو أس القضية وأساسها. ولا يغير هذا ، بطبيعة الحال، شيئا من حقيقة أن الأزمة الداخلية ، أي أزمة وفي أي بلد ، يمكن أن تكون مجالا لعبث القوى الخارجية وركوب كل من له مصلحة في ركوبها ، لاسيما في بلد كسورية له وضع وموقع استراتيجيان في منتهى الأهمية والخطورة.

بلى ، ثمة شيء “مفصلي” آخر في الخطاب هو تصادفه العجيب مع خطاب زين العابدين بن علي في مثل هذا اليوم من العام الماضي، والذي كان خطابه الأخير!

ولمن يريد معرفة ما جاء فيه من درر ، ولديه وقت شاغر لذلك ، يمكنه الضغط هنــــا
http://www.syriatruth.org/news/tabid/93/Article/6424/Default.aspx

January 10th, 2012, 6:38 pm

 

jad said:

عزيزي بشار الأسد: هل لك بالتكثيف في خطابك التالي؟!

من بين كل سأقوله في هذا النص، اخترت هذه الفكرة تحديدا للعنوان، لأنها باتت “قضية” تستحق أن يشار لها، وليس من باب التنديد أو التمجيد. فحين ينتظر ملايين من الناس ما ستقوله، وكل حركة ستأتي بها، وكل ابتسامة أو تقطيبة.. نظرا لكونك رئيس جمهورية تعيش أزمة جدية وعميقة، حين يكون الأمر كذلك، يصير من المهم فعلا أن لا يضطر هؤلاء للبقاء ساعة ونصف متسمرين أمام الشاشات حتى ينال منهم التعب وتتشتت أذهانهم ويجبرون على قطع متابعتهم لأسباب عدة (بعضها محض بيولوجي)،
يصير من المهم فعلا أن تقال الأمور بتكثيف دقيق ومختصر،
وإن كنت لا ألومك كثيرا في هذا،
لا ألومك لأنك تقوم بالدور الذي يجب على الإعلام الحكومي أن يقوم به. وبات حتى الحمقى يعرفون أن هذا الإعلام، في سورية، أغبى من الغباء ذاته، وأنه شريك كامل الشراكة بغبائه أو “حنكته” بما يحدث في سورية اليوم، بحيث أتفهم جيدا شعورك بضرورة شرح كل شيء، رغم أنك لو بقيت لعشرة ساعات تتكلم، وليس ساعة ونصف، فسوف لن تنجو من مجزرة الإعلام الحكومي السوري بحال، مثلما لن تنجو من مجزرة الإعلام غير الحكومي في الداخل والخارج. إذ يبدو أن مشكلتنا مستعصية فعلا مع “الإعلام”.
وأعرف أن عددا من الناس سوف يشنون حربا شعواء ضد هذه الملاحظة، ويسألوني: من أنت لتقول مثل هذا الكلام للسيد الرئيس؟ لكنني سأبتسم فقط، لأن الأمر يستحق فعلا.

المهم، ما أريد قوله اليوم بضعة أمور متعلقة بخطابك الهام جدا اليوم (الثلاثاء 10/1/2012)، والذي يصعب عدم تسميته بمحطة فاصلة، سواء لمن يتفق معه أو يخالفه (لأي سبب كان). فهذه المرة الأولى التي توضع بعض “النقاط” على كلمات أساسية في واقعنا الأحمر القاني اليوم. وطبعا، وكالعادة: ما أقوله يمثلني وحدي، كمواطن لم يرغب يوما، ولا يرغب اليوم بكل تأكيد، بالتخلي عن حقه بقول ما يفكر به بصوت عال. ولا يمثل أي شخص أو جهة أخرى.
ولا يتعلق كلامي أبدا بكل تلك الهستيريا الفرويدية التي أظهرت اليوم وجها جديدا للشعب السوري، من أقىصى الموالاة إلى أقصى المعارضة! هستيريا ستكون مفيدة جدا في المستقبل لكل دارس لعلم النفس الاجتماعي (والقطيعي أيضا). وهي، بكل حال، لا تستحق حتى القراءة والاستماع، عدا عن الرد والنقاش.

– أعجبني جدا أن تشيد بالجيش السوري. فهو كان بحاجة فعلا لهذه التحية. لا أقصد كبار الضباط الذين تعرفهم خيرا مما نعرفهم! بل الجنود الذين عانوا الأمرين خلال الأشهر الماضية، عدا عن الضحايا الذين سقطوا منهم وما زالوا يسقطون. والذين (بعيدا عن أخطاء فردية فعلا، وعن محاولة البعض التلاعب بهم وزجهم في مآزق أخلاقية عميقة وخطيرة) أثبتوا أنهم مواطنون لا يترددون في حماية بلدهم تحت أي ظرف كان.
لكن، وبلا رتوش، لم يعجبني أبدا أن تشيد بالأجهزة الأمنية السورية، لأسباب أكثر من أن تعد، أهمها أن هذه الأجهزة هي نفسها التي استولت على حياتنا عبر عقود من الزمن حطمت فيه كل معارضة مدنية، وكل تفكير عقلاني، وكل نفس علماني، وكل مواطنة، حتى صار ما نراه اليوم ممكنا بكل هذا المستوى المدهش من السهولة في سفك الدم، وطلب الاحتلال، وما إلى ذلك.. دون أن يعرف أحد أين رأس ذلك وأين قدميه!
وإذا كنت أعرف، مثلما يعرف غيري، أن عناصر هذه الأجهزة ليسوا إلا أخوتي وأهلي، فإنني أعرف أيضا أن هؤلاء العناصر هم، فعلا لا قولا، “عبد مأمور” يمكنه دائما أن يتحول إلى وحش متوحش بأمر، مثلما يمكنه أن يتحول إلى إنساني عظيم بأمر! وأن هذه الأجهزة ما تزال تشكل خطرا جديا وداهما في الانقلاب بسورية إلى الوراء! وبعضها لا يمانع من تدمير سورية بأمها وأبيها ليعود إلى الزمن الذهبي المتمثل بفرض حالة الطوارئ. فهم يعرفون أن مجرد توقيعك برفع حالة الطوارئ هو توقيع بالنعي النهائي لسلطاتهم المطلقة، حتى وإن تأخر استكمال ذلك بعض الوقت.
وإذا كان من المستحيل اليوم، في قلب المعركة، إنجاز كل شيء (خاصة دمج وإعادة هيكلة أجهزة الأمن، وتحديد صلاحياتها بكل وضوح)، وإذا كانت هناك تغيرات حقيقية على الأرض متعلقة بممارسة هذه الأجهزة لا ينكرها كل متابع جدي، فإن هذا لا يغير من واقع أن هذه الأجهزة ما زالت تمارس الاختطاف والاعتقال والتعذيب الوحشي بحق آلاف من الشباب الديمقراطي المدني الذي رفض كل أساس للتدخل الخارجي، مثلما رفض عنف المجرمين تحت أي مبرر.

– أعجبتني جوانب كثيرة من تحليلك لأسباب ما وصلنا إليه اليوم. لكن، وبإطلاق، لم يعجبني تجاهلك التام لحقيقة بسيطة إلى حد “مرعب”: غياب المواطنة خلال القرون الماضية (وليس فقط العقود الماضية) هو الجذر الأول والأساس لكل ما وصلنا إليه.
وغياب المواطنة، كما تعرف، مكرس في الدستور السوري بكل وقاحة، كما هو مكرس بكل فظاظة في الكثير من القوانين السورية. ولكن الطامة الأكبر أنه مكرس في الحياة المؤسساتية اليومية على مدى العقود الماضية برعاية وحماية وتنفيذ “حالة الطوارئ” السياسية المقبورة والقائمين عليها.. وحالة الطوارئ الدينية المستمرة والقائمين عليها.. وحالة الطوارئ “الجنسية” المستمرة أيضا..
ومهما فعلت سورية (وأنت وقيادة النظام والدولة والمعارضة والشعب و…) من أجل المضي قدما، وأيا كان المكان الذي سوف نصله غدا، فسوف نبقى نائمين على بركان متفجر ما لم يبدأ حل جذري لمشكلة غياب المواطنة هذه. بركان سيجد سريعا ألف قناة وقناة لينفجر بوجوهنا.
ولا يخفى عليك أن المواطنة ليست شيئا آخر سوى كل الترجمات لعنوان واحد بسيط هو: الحقوق المتساوية والواجبات المتساوية لكل سوري وسورية بغض النظر عن الجنس والدين والعرق والقومية والاعتقاد..
والخطر الذي نعيشه اليوم، ويستشعره الكثيرونأت غدا، يتعلق فعلا بأن التمييز سوف يستمر على ما يبدو. خاصة التمييز الديني المشرع في الدستور السوري الذي يجري تعديله الآن (ويبدو أنه سيحافظ على عنصريته الدينية هذه)، والتمييز الجنسي بين النساء والرجال، والتمييز القومي بين الأصول القومية المتنوعة للسورين والسوريات. واستمراره في الدستور المعدل (أو المرقع حسب تسميتي) سوف يعني استمرار، أو حتى المزيد من التمييز في القوانين وتعليماتها التنفيذية! أي: الحلقة كاملة!

– أعجبني أن تصر بكل وضوح، وبلا لبس، على ترافق الحل الأمني بمواجهة المجرمين المرتزقة والخونة، مع الحل السياسي المتمثل بتثبيت وتنفيذ الإصلاحات الجذرية التي بدأت (خاصة إلغاء حالة الطوارئ وإلغاء محكمة الموت المسماة محكمة أمن الدولة العليا، وهما العمود الفقري لكل ديكتاتورية)، وخاصة استثناءك المجرمين القتلة وطالبي الاحتلال من أن يكونوا معنين بأي نوع من الحوار. وأراحني إلى حد ما وصفك “أخوان الشياطين”، وإن كنت ما زلت متخوفا بشدة من أراهم غدا (وغيرهم من الإسلام السياسي الذي يطاوع اليوم النظام!) على طاولة اقتسام مستقبل الشعب السوري!
ولكن قلبي سقط من بين أضلعي وأنت تتكلم عن “اللجان الشعبية” والمجموعات التي حمت بعض تشكيلات الجيش! فلم أستطع أن أمسك بالضبط قصدك: هل أنت تلمح إلى أن هذه هي ميليشيا جديدة تقاتل من أجل النظام وبالتالي فهي تحصل على نوع من “الشرعية” لأنها تدافع عن النظام؟! أم أنه مجرد وصف سريع وغير موفق لواقع حال صحيح، ولكنه ترافق مع واقع حال صحيح آخر هو أن هذه المجموعات لم توفر إمكانياتها في أن تكون مجرمة وقاتلة وبنفس أساليب الأخوان المجرمين والوهابيين والخونة، وإن بعناوين مختلفة؟!
يزيد من خوفي هذا حديث تردد على مسامعي، من أشخاص في النظام نفسه. حديث دار حول أن “سحب سلاح” هؤلاء سيبدأ فقط بعد أن يتوقف إجرام المرتزقة! بما كان تأكيدا شبه صريح على قبول هذه الميليشيا؟!
إن هذا يحتاج، أقله، إلى توضيح حاسم لا يترك مجالا للشك بأن الدولة سوف لن تغض النظر عن هذه المجموعات المسلحة، حتى وإن كان الواقع قد فرض وجود بعضها مثلما فرض وجود بعض مجرمي “الثورة”، عدا عن أن تعطيهم أي نوع من الشرعية.
لأن الاحتمال الآخر هو فتح باب الجحيم بحد ذاته!

– أخيرا، في هذا الاختصار: تحدثت عن الشباب كعادتك في كل خطاباتك السابقة (بعد الأزمة وقبلها)، لكنك تجاهلت مرة أخرى مئات آلاف الشبان والشابات السوريين/ات ممن يمكن وصفهم بأنهم الخاسر الأكبر في هذه “المعمعة”.
فلأسباب كثيرة تمت “خيانتهم” من كل الجهات، بدءا من أمعات الثقافة والسياسة في سورية (ما كان يسمى بنخبة وأظهر حقيقته كتفاهة منقطعة النظير)، الذين استغلوهم أبشع استغلال دون أن يقدموا لهم أي خبرة أو معرفة أو آلية تنظيم مدنية أو.. مرورا بأجهزة الأمن التي لم توفر فرصة لضربهم واعتقالهم وتشتيتهم حتى أنهكتهم إلى آخر نفس فلم يعد باستطاعتهم مقاومة تيار الإجرام والخيانة الذي استولى لاحقا على الحراك جملة وتفصيلا، وليس انتهاء بالأخوان المجرمين وشركاهم من الوهابيين والسلفيين والعثمانيين وواجهتهم القذرة أمثلا غليون وقضماني وبقاعي والشقفة والبيانوني والقربي و…
هذا الشباب لا يحتاج إلى “عفو” لا خاص ولا عام. ولا يحتاج إلى أية شروحات حول من هم أولئك المجرمين المرتزقة فهو يعرفهم خير من جميع أجهزة أمن النظام بلا استثناء. كما أنه لا يحتاج إلى مواعظ في الوطنية ولا في الديمقراطية.. بل يحتاج، حصرا، إلى ما يجعله يصدق انه لن يكون ضحية للنظام ثانية وثالثة ورابعة.. وأن الطريق مفتوح أمامه فعلا للمضي في طريقه الاساسي الديمقراطي المدني والسلمي.
وأنت أدرى، (وأعرف أنك تعرف أنك أدرى) بمدى أهمية هذه الحاجة اليوم. وبأن مفتاح تلبية هذه الحاجة ليست في مكان آخر خارج النظام نفسه. النظام الذي أنت رئيسه. وتفاصيل تلبية هذه الحاجة قد تكون كثيرة، لكن أيا منها ليس مستحيلا ولا بالغ الصعوبة، إلا أن أيا منها لن يكون له أية جدوى دون أن يتكامل مع ما تبقى.
هؤلاء الشباب (وهم مئات الآلاف بكل تأكيد)، هم الرهان الحقيقي على مستقبل مدني ديمقراطي وآمن، رهان العمل المدني المستمر في مواجهة كل عنف وتمييز وفساد و.. ولكنهم أيضا هم الوقود المحتمل للمرتزقة القتلة باسم الحرية أو باسم الله. فمأزقهم اليوم ليس أبدا مجرد حكاية أو وهم. بل مأزق يجب أن يوضع في مقام عال جدا من الاولوية والاهتمام.

إذا، أظن أن “شحذ الهمم” و”التحدي” وما إلى ذلك مما حفل بها خطابك، قد أدت مؤداها. لكن هل هذا المؤدى سيتجاوز أن يكون محض عاطفي؟! أم أنه ككل عاطفة “جياشة” سرعان ما ستصطدم بواقع لا يمكن فيه لأي شيء أن يحل محل نداء معدة جائعة، أو طفل عريان.. فيكف بأزمة بالتعقيد الذي باتت عليه الأزمة السورية؟

http://bassam-alkadi.com/index.php/on-the-crisis-in-syria/665-dear-bashar-al-assad

January 10th, 2012, 6:45 pm

 

Syria no kandahar said:

Tara &Khaled Tlass and all the criminal MB family
Your ALAAROOR god in action:

January 10th, 2012, 6:59 pm

 

zoo said:

“There’s only one problem with that offer: There aren’t many Alawites on the Golan Heights.”

Will Assad’s supporters flee to Israel?
Posted By David Kenner Tuesday, January 10, 2012 – 11:09 AM
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/01/10/will_assads_supporters_flee_to_israel

Reuters has a small, strange story today about Israeli preparations to offer refuge to members of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s sect in the event that his regime falls. “We are preparing to take in Alawite refugees on the Golan Heights,” said Israel Defense Forces chief Benny Gantz to a Knesset committee on Tuesday.

There’s only one problem with that offer: There aren’t many Alawites on the Golan Heights. The region is overwhelmingly Sunni and Druze — communities that would likely come out on top in a post-Assad Syria. Ghajar, a disputed village of a couple thousand along the Syrian-Lebanese border, appears to be the last Alawite community in the region.

So to flee to Israel in any significant numbers, Alawites living in Damascus or Syria’s northwestern mountains would have two options: They could brave the journey across the presumably hostile Golan Heights, or they could travel into Lebanon and cross along its southeastern border, presumably at Ghajar. Why these Alawites would prefer Israel over south Lebanon — home of the Assad’s longtime ally, Hezbollah — is a mystery.

Given the improbability of this scenario, the most likely explanation is that Gantz was trying to tweak Assad — saying, in effect, that Israel would offer relief to his people once he no longer could. But the premise of his remarks — that Alawites would be forced to flee for their lives after Assad fell — isn’t a sentiment that Syria’s opposition will welcome. Gantz’s statements may have been anti-Assad, but they weren’t pro-revolution.

January 10th, 2012, 7:29 pm

 

jad said:

Nawar Abd Almalk aka Anwar Malek the Algerian observer reality was on Syriatruth 3 days ago.
Pretty CV! I think that he was a bit late going to Aljazeera, he should’ve done that before Syriatruth report about him not after.

Regardless of the bashing report, denying the weapon smuggling and the armed militias while many TV channels and Newspapers documented that in details even before his team visited Syria and the same point was clearly mentioned in the first report his team submit to the AL is an obvious political lie, his account on torture sounds right though, I think that his interview will be answered by his own team soon.

جزائريون يكشفون حقيقة أنور مالك عضو “الجماعة الإسلامية المسلحة” وفريق المراقبين العرب في سوريا

اسمه الحقيقي ” نوار عبد الملك “، وهو ضابط مطرود من الجيش الجزائري بسبب السرقة ، انتحل صفة”دكتور” وهو عضو في جماعة عنتر الزوابري التي كانت تذبح الأطفال بالسواطير!؟

باريس ، الحقيقة ( خاص) : لفت انتباهنا الصحفي السوري نزار نيوف إلى ضرورة العودة إلى أرشيف عضو فريق المراقبين العرب في سوريا ، المدعو أنور مالك ، والكشف عن حقيقته . وقد أحال لنا ـ مشكورا ـ عددا من المواد التي سبق ونبهه إليها صديقه الصحفي الجزائري عبد العالي رقاد من ” قناة فرانس 24″. وطبقا لما يستفاد من هذه المعلومات ، وهي منشورة منذ أكثر من عام تقريبا ، فإن أنور مالك ليس اسمه الحقيقي ، بل ” نوار عبد الملك”( وهو من مواليد العام 1972). كما أن فضائحه وقصصه الاحتيالية معروفة في الجزائر منذ أن أثيرت قبل أكثر من عام ونصف في الصحافة والإعلام الجزائريين. فهو ـ كما يوصف في هذه المواد ـ “نصاب ومحتال” و ضابط مطرود من الجيش بسبب السرقة والخيانة وسوء الأمانة. والأخطر من ذلك أنه “كان يوقّع بيانات الجماعة الإسلامية المسلحة” التي التي كان يقودها المجرم عنتر الزوابري ، والتي كانت نسخة جزائرية من “القاعدة” و تنظيم الزرقاوي في العراق . وقد تمكنت قوات الأمن الجزائرية من قتله في العام 2009 بعد أن أعمل ساطوره في رقاب الجزائريين ذبحا، بمن فيهم الأطفال، منذ أن ترأس الجماعة المذكورة في العام 1996.ويوصف الزوابري بأنه نسخة الجزائر من ” أبو مصعب الزرقاوي” ، إلا أنه أكثر إجراما ودموية ووحشية منه. فقد كان يغير على القرى ويحرقها بعد أن يكفّر أهلها ويقتلهم!

وطبقا لشهادة صحفي جزائري وردت في إحدى المواد التي أحالها لنا نيوف ، وهي شهادة مسجلة بالصوت والصورة كان نشرها قبل أكثر من عام ، فإن أنور مالك كان ينتحل لقب”دكتور” رغم أنه “لا يعرف كتابة جملة مفيدة”، وكان يجري مقابلات مع نفسه وينشرها في الصحافة الجزائرية على أنه “باحث ومحلل ودكتور”! أي ـ بتعبير آخر ـ نسخة جزائرية من المحتال السوري ، الشرطي الملاحق بتهم جنائية، وحيد صقر!؟ وأكدت مصادر صحفية جزائرية مقربة من”جبهة الإنقاذ في الجزائر” لـ”الحقيقة” أن الكتب التي أصدرها أنور مالك ، بدعم من الأخوان المسلمين ، حررها على الأرجح مرجعية الأخوان المسلمين في الجزائر ” أبو جرة السلطاني” المقيم في سويسرا!؟

وكانت قضية أنور مالك أثيرت في سوريا يوم أمس حين أنشأ صفحة على الفيسبوك وبدأ يروي فيه قصصا عن “مشاهداته” في سوريا ، رغم أن مهمته تمنعه من ذلك قانونيا. وقد ادعى أنه “حين يمشي في الشوارع السورية يدوس على الجثث بسبب تراكمها”. ولأنه تعرض للانتقاد ، بادر أصوليون سوريون تابعون للمجلس الوطني والأخوان المسلمين إلى إنشاء صفحة “تضامن ” معه!

وإلى ذلك ، علمت “الحقيقة” أن أنور مالك هو من معارف وأصدقاء برهان غليون ، ويمت بصلة قرابة لزوجته الجزائرية السابقة ، رغم أن هذا لم نستطع التثبت منه من مصدر مستقل!!؟

ـ رابط الجزء الأول مما كشفه صحفي جزائري وصديق سابق لأنور مالك عن حقيقة هذا الرجل
http://youtu.be/F1V_JZXkh1o

http://www.syriatruth.org/news/tabid/93/Article/6396/Default.aspx

January 10th, 2012, 7:37 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

From the Jew/EU/Saudi/al-Qaeda/CIA Salafist Press:

“…Bashar al-Assad has pledged to remain in power and crush conspirators and “terrorists” with an “iron fist”. Speaking for the first time since June, Assad, looking thin and haggard, again said that foreign powers and armed groups were behind Syrian unrest instead of “true revolutionaries”, counting himself among their number. “Our priority . . . is to regain security in which we basked for decades. And this can only be achieved by hitting the terrorists with an iron fist,” he said during a rambling 100-minute speech at Damascus university. “We will not be lenient with those who work with outsiders against the country.” Blaming foreign media for misrepresenting the situation, he said he had never ordered the security forces or army to fire on protesters and praised the military…”

Jesus, what a pathetically obscene pantload of shit Besho is. He should be forced to personally apologize to every man, woman and child on the face of the Earth…

January 10th, 2012, 7:53 pm

 

Tara said:

UN says Syria killings rise after monitors arrive

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/01/11/syria-idINDEE8090AS20120111

A senior U.N. official told the Security Council on Tuesday that Syria had accelerated its killing of pro-democracy demonstrators after Arab League monitors arrived to check on implementation of an Arab peace plan, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said.

“The under-secretary-general noted that in the days since the Arab League monitoring mission has been on the ground, an estimated 400 additional people have been killed, an average of 40 a day, a rate much higher than was the case before their deployment,” Rice told reporters.

Rice was speaking after Lynn Pascoe, U.N. under-secretary-general for political affairs, briefed the 15-nation Security Council behind closed doors on Syria and other major crises. She said the figure did not include more than two dozen people killed in a suicide bombing in Damascus last week.

“That is a clear indication that the government of Syria, rather than using the opportunity … to end the violence and fulfill all of its commitments (to the Arab League), is instead stepping up the violence,” she said.

January 10th, 2012, 7:55 pm

 

Observer said:

If all the misery and the problems are coming from armed gangs and infiltrators how come the security services famous across the ME for their efficiency have not been able to quell the violence? If it is a popular uprising how come the armed gangs that are supposedly shooting at peaceful demonstrators not claiming any responsibility?
Once again
1. You cannot be the author and recipient of change. You cannot eat the cake and eat too; something that the former regime did and this regime thinks it can continue to do.
2. Reforms means that mistakes and shortcomings have happened and therefore who is accountable and how do you make for accountability. The buck stops with the President especially where the constitution vests so much power in the post.
3. There is no room for dialogue let alone negotiations when there is ongoing violence. It has to stop first and knowing that it is not going to stop there is no reason not to expect reciprocal violence. At this level, the regime thinks it has the upper hand but I doubt it very much. If in 10 months there is worsening of the situation I do not think that the military solution is going to work.
4. For Syrians to remain part and parcel of Syria the definition of a Syrian has to be broad based, unequivocal, and most importantly it has to supersede any other affiliation: Arab, Kurd, Ethnic X, Religion Y etc….. So far I have not seen anyone on this blog who can demonstrate to me that this national concept has taken hold.
5. There is no stability with this regime. The regime was given 11 years to usher in change and reform and came out wanting. For those that advocate sitting down and talking I would say the following:
a) Is the head of the fourth division part of this nice chat?
b) Is the head of military intelligence part of this coffee break?
c) Is the head of aviation security part of this water cooler hang out?
d) Is the head of the central bank part of this soiree?
6. Again to avoid further bloodshed, I would suggest that army units be withdrawn and for BRIC and Iran and Venezuela and Lebanese and Iraqi observers in their thousands come and help the monitoring of the situation. Norwegians and Finns and Swedes may come as well. Nepalese troops may be needed. How about Indonesian troops as well. Heck they have Indonesian maids already.

The greatest losers of the Arab spring on the long run are going to be
1. Iran, for it is a Persian Shia country and now Sunni Islamic parties will take the lead
2. Israel as it will have to bend to the will of the people of the ME
3. Fundamentalist Islamic militants as there is no fuel to stoke their fire of oppression and alienation.

On a final note, the boundaries drawn by the colonial powers being purely fictitious and utterly artificial are going to disappear in a variety of ways beginning in the ME and continuing in Africa as we see in the Congo basin and on to other parts of the world.

Sheers latest reports indicate no bread in Aleppo. Any one confirming this please?

January 10th, 2012, 8:01 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Jad
I hope I am not reading too much in your post about Bashar speech,are you ready to convert and agree that Bashar is not doing his job as president and that Syria will be better off with a transitional government?
The guy does not get it,and his circle sees this crisis as a personal challenge that they must win while the truth is clear: the regime is the problem and a regime change is the solution.

January 10th, 2012, 8:10 pm

 

Ghufran said:

حسام الدين محمد
اتمنى كواحد من ملايين المشاهدين ان يظهر احد فقهاء الدراما الايرانية ويشرح لي كيف تستقيم حقيقة ان اثنين من ابناء الحسن بن علي بن ابي طالب كان اسماهما: ابو بكر وعمر، مع التنظير المذهبي اللاحق الذي جعل من الخليفتين الشهيرين عدوّان لعليّ وللحسن والحسين ولأمة كاملة من المسلمين الشيعة؟
كما اتمنى مثلا ان يشرح احد فقهاء الدراما السعودية لماذا توفّي الامام الأعظم، ابو حنيفة النعمان، دفاعا عن البيت العلوي بعد رفضه التعرّض لأبناء عليّ واتباعهم، وكيف يستقيم ذلك مع قيام شيوخ مدللين في السعودية بالتعريض بالشيعة والعلويين؟

January 10th, 2012, 8:49 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

more and more Booha is getting more threatening, more determined,more brutal, he said he will deal with an iron fist, he said to the demonstrators KHase2tom,he is contradicting himself,he lies.
Ghufran said
the regime is the problem and a regime change is the solution.
I am glad to hear that from him,we need freedom and democracy,we need to put an end to inherting presidency,and an end to corruption, we need to unite the syrian people, we need to extend this revolution to Iraq and KSA, we need civil rule,not religious rule, we need protection to all minorities, we need to look forward, what ahead of us is better Syria for syrian to live in, better Arabic state where we could unite,
I call on Others to support me , the more we get togather the more the chance for peacefull change.
Remember the syrian revolution IS the greatest revolution, there where history is truely will be made.

Congratulation to Ron Paul he made it with few money,and got 25%

January 10th, 2012, 8:51 pm

 

jna said:

Propaganda and Coverage of Syria

By As’ad AbuKhalil – Tue, 2012-01-10 00:00- Angry Corner

After months of intense and feverish coverage of Syria, it is high time that we ask: how bad has the coverage been? How much have we been served as readers by the coverage? To what extent has the Arab (Saudi and Qatari) media converged with Western media? And why do Western media toss out all token adherence to minimum standards of professional journalism when the coverage targets an enemy of the US (and Israel)? I keep waiting for an article in the Columbia Journalism Review to no avail.

Thus far, Western media has been playing games in its coverage about Syria. For the first few months, Western media insisted (against claims to the contrary by the repressive regime) that the Syrian uprising was peaceful: that is, it was part of the touted “Arab spring.”

Western media insisted that all claims about armed elements of the opposition were mere fabrications by the regime. Yet, when an opposition “army” was announced, and when news of armed clashes in Homs and other places appeared, there were no explanations in the Western press. There was no attempt to reconcile the claims and the later reportage.

But what is also curious is that Western media was desperate to deliver propaganda services to the cause of the Syrian National Council (there is opposition in Syria beyond the council, of course). Western media have been mere cheerleaders for the Syrian National Council. (This criticisms also applies to the news media of the Saudi and Qatari ruling dynasties). Every demonstration is massive, and every strike is successful, and every Friday has topped the previous Friday in the size of protesters. But how true is that? Has there been a demonstration that was not massive? Has there been one Friday that has not been successful?

Of course, in Arab media it is even worse: demonstrations are declared a success even before they take place. Thus, Aljazeera and Al Arabiya declare a demonstration massive the day before it starts. Not once, have the media stated that a particular demonstration was not massive, or that protests this week were less intense than last week, when protests—naturally—go through ups and downs.

Furthermore, Western media rarely covers demonstrations in support of the regime: and those protests have often been rather massive. Western media felt that it would be useful to the regime to admit the obvious: that the regime has some bases of support.

Western media’s propaganda (not coverage) has been so useless from the information point of view that there was no explanation provided for the resilience that has characterized the regime thus far. How does one explain that there has been not one diplomatic defection and no major government defection (notwithstanding the defection of an inspector general in an accounting department of the Syrian government.)

Why is it difficult for the media to even inform the readers of what is happening? Why are they insisting that the token Christian representative in the executive body of the Syrian National Council is a true representative of all Syrian Christians. Why do they view their mission as primarily political and propagandistic?

Of course, one does not expect the truth from the Syrian regime media. But, would one expect any better from the Saudi and Qatari regime media? Are we now to trust the propaganda outlets of the ruling dynasties of Qatar and Saudi Arabia? Have the rules changed and are we to follow the thrust of Saudi media that only Arab republics are undemocratic and that the Gulf kingdoms, princedoms, sheikhdoms, and sultanates are an oasis of freedom?

There are attempts at telling the truth. In Arabic, New TV of Lebanon tries to cover both sides and has snuck its correspondent into Syria. New TV has been criticized by both sides in Syria. In the US, Anthony Shadid and Nir Rosen have tried to cover aspects of the uprisings that are not covered in the mainstream press. The coverage is largely lazy: the unverified claims and wild exaggerations of the pro-Saudi Syrian Observatory for Human Rights basically fill in the space in all Western articles on Syria.

The regime has stayed in power thus far, at great cost to the Syrian people. But the story about Syria is not being told. We don’t have an explanation. People are afraid of defying the will of Syrian National Council and its propaganda message. But the readers are not being served. It is understandable that the Syrian regime and the Qatari-run Syrian National Council are lying. But it is less so that the media partake in the lying charade.
http://english.al-akhbar.com/blogs/angry-corner/propaganda-and-coverage-syria

January 10th, 2012, 8:56 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Sheila
I looked at hitaan but I have yet to see the site condemning violence by anti regime armed gangs or see a single post that does not belong to the group thinking that infected hitaan.
I am an observer who loves Syria,provides material help to Syrians but unlikely to return and not interested in playing a politician. My views reflect my anti violence philosophy and that makes me look like a fence sitter,I am more comfortable here and I see no reason to join hitaan until it becomes a diverse site,like SC (with all of its limitations),

January 10th, 2012, 8:58 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Majed
Was that you or another guy in the previous post?
Anyway,I agree with the main message in your post.
Ron is my guy too,I am afraid we have more in common than either one of us is willing to admit,we still can disagree but all of us must help Syrians and insist on a better government in Syria,however,the devil is in the details.

January 10th, 2012, 9:04 pm

 

Tara said:

The author argues that Assad must genuinely believe in his analysis of the Syrian crisis and that ” my people love me”‘ as the alternative – dealing with hard reality- would amount to surrender and shame.  I ask how about the dictator’s family, wife, mother, and children do they really believe “people love him”.    

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9005030/Syria-Inside-the-deluded-mind-of-a-dictator-at-bay.html

As he stood before his sycophantic audience, at once strutting, monotone and hollow-eyed, Mr Assad showed that inconvenient thoughts had been banished from his mind. He will never entertain the unwelcome truth that the challenge is against him personally, and the cause of Syria’s bloodshed is a struggle between the Assad clan and most of their country.
Did he genuinely believe the farrago of delusion and double-think that passed for his analysis of Syria’s crisis? The answer is that he must do, for this is part of the dictator mindset and the alternative – dealing in hard reality – would amount to surrender and shame.

Mr Assad, a doctor by training, might serve as a prime specimen of a specific condition – let’s call it “dictator delusion syndrome” – suffered by the tiny class of humanity who run authoritarian regimes. The most striking feature of this mental state is its consistency. The themes that ran through Mr Assad’s speech have cropped up time and again whenever oppressive rulers have been forced to confront the anger of their peoples.

The first and most familiar refrain is that all the trouble has been got up by outsiders. A dictator is psychologically programmed to believe that he basks in the adoration of his people. If he ever stops clinging to that vital reassurance, then his regime really would be a criminal enterprise dedicated to plunder and self-preservation. So the comfort blanket of universal popularity must remain immovable, and the facts have to be adjusted accordingly.

Thus Colonel Gaddafi watched as hundreds of thousands of Libyans wrested entire cities from his control, while spraying choice obscenities over every available picture of his face, before declaring on television: “My people love me!” With an original flourish, he added that “foreigners”, the inevitable cause of the rebellion, had incited Libyans against their leader by the novel method of drugging their cups of Nescafé coffee.

When Robert Mugabe faced the first significant opposition party in Zimbabwe’s history, his first thought was to blame its existence on the British. Adding a personal touch, he chose to pin the culpability on Tony Blair. In a remote corner of the Zimbabwean bush, where an ally had won an obscure by-election, Mr Mugabe duly declared: “We have defeated Blair!”
Even the leader of a theocratic regime, who believes himself to carry a divine right to rule, resorts to the old comforting refrain. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, watched a million people march in Tehran against a rigged election in 2009, before declaring that “foreign enemies” were behind everything.

If outsiders are the cause of all the trouble, it must follow that their aims go wider than the downfall of a particular leader. They must be plotting against the country itself. So the dictator-at-bay eases himself into the next source of reassurance: his interests and those of the nation must be one and the same. In fact, the distinction between country and leader is non-existent: he is the nation and the nation is him.

All of us occasionally console ourselves with harmless thoughts that may have little bearing on the real world. The delusions of dictators are, however, intensely harmful. Because Mr Assad believes that all the protests against his rule are the work of malevolent foreign powers, it follows that he considers any Syrian taking part in the demonstrations to be a traitor. And those who march against him deserve the harshest treatment. The methods that would be used to combat an invasion could justly be used against this threat from within.
Hence the bloodcurdling atrocities perpetrated by Mr Assad’s security forces, as documented by the UN. The ripples of delusion spread outwards from the leader: if he believes he is fighting a gang of hired traitors, so will many of those who serve him. The Syrian intelligence agents who tortured small boys – also recorded by the UN – will convince themselves that this was necessary punishment for treachery.
More…

January 10th, 2012, 9:15 pm

 

sheila said:

Dear Ghufran,
Thank you for your response. 7ee6an was not infected by anything, it was established as such. It is not like SC at all. I would also like to tell you that many of us are anti-violence and some are big advocates for civil disobedience and peaceful demonstrations only. I think your presence on 7ee6an would add another dimension and a deeper understanding to certain issues; however I fully understand your position.

January 10th, 2012, 9:19 pm

 

Ghufran said:

نقلت وكالة الأنباء الفرنسية عن تقرير أصدرته المؤسسة العربية للاتصالات الفضائية (عربسات) أن إيران هي مصدر التشويش على قنوات شبكة الجزيرة الفضائية، وذلك بعد عمليات تشويش تعرضت لها الشبكة الشهر الماضي مما اضطرها لتغيير تردداتها عدة مرات.

وذكر التقرير أنه “لوحظ تأثر باقة الجزيرة عن طريق حاملين جرى إرسالهما من موقعين مختلفين في إيران بالقرب من طهران وقرب مدينة مراغة شمال غرب البلاد”.

January 10th, 2012, 9:27 pm

 

irritated said:

MajedAlkhaldoon

After the ‘boring’ Bashar’s “iron fist” threat, I guess the opposition should beg the observers to stay on.

January 10th, 2012, 9:35 pm

 

zoo said:

Iran jamming Al Jazeera broadcasts: document
Tue Jan 10, 2012 9:40am EST
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/10/us-iran-jazeera-idUSTRE80916Z20120110
DOHA (Reuters) – Iran is jamming broadcasts by Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera, according to a document from satellite operator Arabsat obtained by Reuters Tuesday, with the broadcaster saying it believed it was because of its coverage of Syria.

Interference is coming from two locations in Iran, one west of Tehran and the other near the northwestern city of Maraghen, the document showed.

“We believe that this is happening because of our coverage of Syria,” a senior official at Al Jazeera told Reuters, declining to be identified.

The official said they believed other channels in the region had also been jammed.

Neither Arabsat nor Iranian officials were immediately available for comment.

Iran’s regional ally Syria has mostly barred foreign media from the country and has criticized Al Jazeera’s coverage of the upheaval there.

Saturday Al Jazeera announced a new frequency for Arabsat viewers due to “continued interference.”

“Over the past few months, Al Jazeera has faced sustained interference to our satellite transmissions,” the channel said in a statement.

Al Jazeera, owned by the Qatari government, aired round-the-clock coverage of uprisings that brought down veteran rulers in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya last year.

It frequently has had difficulties with Western and Arab governments in a region where governments have traditionally kept tight control over state media.
(…)

January 10th, 2012, 9:39 pm

 

Ghufran said:

حسام الدين محمد ٢
تعجبني ‘حكايات’ اكرم خزام التي تعرضها قناة ‘الحرة’ فهي تخرج المراسل الذي رأيناه يتجوّل من محطة الى اخرى كالبدو الرحل من جو الأخبار المتشنج ومن صيحته الشهيرة ايام عمله في ‘الجزيرة’: ‘اكرم موسكووووو’.
في حلقة السابقة من حكاياته (بثت بتاريخ 23 كانون الأول /ديسمبر) تعرض خزام لقضية تعنيف النساء واختار مدينة المحمدية المغربية لعرض بعض نماذج من هذا التعنيف كان أكثرها فجاجة (وطرافة سوداء) حلاق يدعى مصطفى النجار الذي صرّح هذا التصريح اللطيف: ‘ضروري ضروري المرأة تنضرب ولو مرة في الأسبوع’!
‘حتى لو لم ترتكب خطأ’ يتساءل خزام مندهشا فيجيب النجار: ‘ولو لم ترتكب عشان يكون الحب بينك وبين المرأة بتاعتك’.
يقوم النجار باجتراح ما يشبه نظرية في التربية القائمة على الضرب (مثل نظرية الرئيس الأسد) فلولا ان اباه كان يضرب أمه لما صارت اما ممتازة ولما نجح هو واخوته في حياتهم واعمالهم.
خزام كان بالمرصاد للنظرية الضربية مجددا وعاجله بالقول: ‘وهل توقفت امك عن كونها ممتازة بعد ان توفي والدك وتوقف عن ضربها؟’
‘نعم بطّلت تكون ممتازة’!
توقف البطش فتوقفت المعجزة التربوية. الآن فهمت خطاب السيد الرئيس!

January 10th, 2012, 9:42 pm

 

Norman said:

Shiela,
I came to the US because my family and country provided for me free education and health care but did not provide the opportunity that is available in the West to be able to take care of others, i did not come to the US to eat , i came to the US to make a difference, Syria has many problems but has nothing to do with who is the president as these problem are all over the Mideast with other Arab countries, our culture of bribery corruption and lack of helping others and provide for the community is endemic, i saw people in Syria, in Homs who will do nothing to buy a Cat Scan machine for the public hospital or join their resources to have open heart surgery, but they are fast to know their way to Lebanon for health care even for minor problem, when people are called stupid when they do not accept bribes, that is not the president mistake , that is the society mistake, Syrians and Arabs in general need to have more stake in their country by paying enough taxes to lift the poor Syrians, instead of going to the US or the EU for vacations then complain about the price of Mazzot or Gas, Syria is not the president farm and he never took Syria and the Syrian for granted, but he inherited a regime that put him in power, they he is part of but not the king that can change everything and until march 2011 he was the most popular Arab leader because of his positions on Iraq , Palestine and the economy and Lebanon, he was trying to improve the economy to build middle class then move on political reform so people will not vote out of anger but out of self interest, he did not have the chance to finish what he wanted, do you really think that i like waiting in line and people being treated badly, no, no but that is again related to our culture as it is all over the Arab world,

By the way , i think that you and your family have more friend in government that i ever have or will have as you said in another note that your family used it’s influence to find out about somebody, i do not have or want to have anything with the government in Syria , i just want Syria to be the place that one day my children can go to in the future and be equal and proud . i doubt that day will come.

January 10th, 2012, 9:53 pm

 

Tara said:

http://lebanonspring.com/2012/01/07/syria-diagnosis-stockholm-syndrome-72-protesting-bashar-assad-hafez-worship/

I don’t agree with the diagnosis.  I just think some people enslave themselves therefore deserve to be slaves. Viewing the picture in the link is pretty painful, whether it is Bashar or someone else. Public display of affection should be reserved to lovers only not to slaves and master. It is repugnant.

January 10th, 2012, 9:57 pm

 

Ghufran said:

استخدم الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد نحو 10 آلاف كلمة في خطابه اليوم الثلاثاء، والذي يعتبر الأطول من بين خطاباته الأربعة منذ بدء الثورة في سوريا.

واستغرق الخطاب الجديد 99 دقيقة، متجاوزا فيها خطاب العقيد الليبي الراحل معمر القذافي الذي بلغ 76 دقيقة.

وحاول الرئيس الأسد إيصال أفكاره عبر تكرار عبارات محددة حضرت بالكثافة ذاتها في خطاباته السابقة، فكلمة “العروبة” كان لها النصيب الأوفر إذ أتت على لسانه 40 مرة.

أما ثاني الكلمات، فكانت “الإصلاح” التي حافظت على كثافة حضورها بذكرها 35 مرة، بزيادة مرة واحدة عن آخر خطاباته.

ولم تسلم جامعة الدول العربية من نيران الرئيس الأسد، حيث هاجمها وذكرها بالاسم 28 مرة، وذكر أيضا جملة “حالة الطوارئ” 12 مرة في الخطاب الجديد.

أما عن حالة التصفيق المصاحبة لجميع خطابات الرئيس الأسد والتي قطعت تسلسل كلامه، فشهدت تراجعاً في خطابه الأخير بعد أن سجلت 17 مرة، في حين بلغت 20 مرة في الخطاب الثاني و44 مرة في الخطاب الأول في مجلس الشعب.

January 10th, 2012, 10:24 pm

 

Ghufran said:

باريس..
نفى رئيس “هيئة التنسيق” هيثم مناع ان تكون “الهيئة” من بين القوى التي يحاورها الرئيس بشار الأسد لتشكيل حكومة جديدة وقال لـصحيفة الحياة : لا علاقة لنا بهذا الحوار، واذا طلب الرئيس الاسد مني غداً تشكيل حكومة سأطلب منه أن “يتنحى” أولاً من رئاسة الجمهورية .
كما نفى ان تكون الهيئة مستعدة للحوار مع الحكومة السورية وقال ان الرئيس السوري “يتحدث عن جماعة أخرى في البلد، ولا يتحدث عنا. هناك مجموعات أخرى ربما يكلفونها (بمناصب حكومية)، و (الظن) في هيئة التنسيق هو بسبب تشويه المجلس الوطني لصورة الهيئة”.
واعتبر مناع أن خطاب الرئيس الأسد “يعيش في خيمة الخطيئة الأصلية للسلطة التي تعتبر الحراك الثوري المدني مرفوضاً”، ودعا قوى المعارضة الى “الجرأة في اتخاذ موقف حاسم وواضح من التسلح والعنف حتى نواجه استراتيجية النظام، ونواجه سياسة الجزأرة التي يسير عليها”.
ورأى أن “الخطاب يعيدنا الى المربع الأول، إذ يتكلم الرئيس الأسد مثلما تكلم في خطابه الثاني وكأن الأمور تحت السيطرة” ولفت الى ان “هذه الطمأنة سببها أنه يدافع بسلوكه الميداني عن الجزأرة، وأعني المثال الجزائري في التسعينات الذي تمثل في عمليات عسكرية مرتبة يقوم بها البعض ممن هم متغلغلون في أمنه ثم الرد عليها وتحميل مسؤوليتها للارهاب”.
وقال مناع أنه “لو كنا (المعارضة) صوتاً واحداً ونترقب عقد المؤتمر السوري العام لكان الرئيس الاسد يرتجف. لكنه يعرف أن هناك من لا يملك قراره ولا يستطيع ان يتوحد ولا يريد أن يتكلم بثقة، اضافة الى التعويل على الخارج، وهذه الدعوة صارت جزءاًَ من المجلس الوطني السوري”.
وخلص الى “أن مهمتنا اليوم هي استعادة المبادرة كمعارضة وطنية ديموقراطية لبناء قطب ديموقراطي مدني يتكون من ثلاثة عناصر هي أبناء المدن والأقليات والبعد المدني”، ورأى أن هذه العناصر يمكن ان ينضم اليها الجيش. لكن بصورتنا الحالية فإن المعارضة غير جذابة، وهي اتفقت على وثيقة بعد 37 يوماً من المفاوضات (بين المجلس الوطني وهيئة التنسيق) ثم تأكلها كما يأكل النمر بقايا الطعام”، وشدد على ان “اي ضابط شريف لا يرهن حياته ليقف معنا اذا كنا (في المعارضة) غير موحدين. فعلينا النظر في وضعنا ومشكلاتنا وتجاوزها حتى نتمكن من هز شباك النظام”.

January 10th, 2012, 10:29 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Simon Tisdall on Bashar:

1. Flight

If the situation gets simply too hot to handle, Assad could try making a run for it, as did the Arab spring’s first victim, Tunisia’s former president, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali. He headed for Saudi Arabia, a favourite refuge for displaced dictators such as Uganda’s Idi Amin and Yemen’s Ali Abdullah Saleh. Assad turning up on their doorstep would be an embarrassment for Saudi leaders (who do not like him), but if it brought stability back to the region, it might be worth it.

Alternatively, Assad could make a dash for Iran, his long-time ally, or even Russia, which has consistently shielded his regime from international censure and has sent a naval taskforce to the Syrian port of Tartus in a show of solidarity. If he does decide to leg it, a key consideration will be what to do with his British-born wife, Asma, and their three children. Any request from her to return to her family home in Acton, west London, could present Britain with an interesting diplomatic and security headache.

Assad insisted in his speech that he was not going anywhere. But Gaddafi-style, he also sounded seriously deluded. “I am not someone who abandons responsibility. I am in this position because of support from the people and if I leave, it will be because of the desire of the people.”

2. Fight

The current approach to the crisis comes straight from the play-book written by Assad’s late father, Hafez. He notoriously put down an earlier uprising in Hama in 1982, when up to 10,000 people are said to have died. The difference this time is that, so far at least, bloody repression has not worked and the unrest in not confined to one city or region. Increasingly, regime opponents backed by defecting military personnel have resorted to armed resistance across the board. Assad also says they are getting assistance from abroad, a claim that is difficult to verify.

“The situation in Syria is heading towards a religious, sectarian, racial war, and this needs to be prevented,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister, warned this week, voicing a concern that is shared across the region and in the west. Assad’s dilemma is that if the killing continues unchecked – in other words, if he cannot definitively reassert his control – the Arab League mission may be discredited and withdrawn, leading to direct UN security council action and possible Libyan-style intervention.

So far there is no sign the violent crackdown is working. But in his speech, Assad suggested he would not change tack – while again appearing to deny reality. “There is no cover for anyone. There are no orders for anyone to open fire on any citizen,” he said. His main aim was to restore order and this could only be achieved by “hitting terrorists with an iron fist … there is no tolerance for terrorism or for those who use weapons to kill”.

3. Negotiation

Assad again floated vague promises of reform, including a constitutional referendum on a proposed multi-party system in March. But his credibility is shot among many, if not most, Syrians after years of failing to carry through similar pledges. If Assad pushed for genuine change, he could risk being dumped by regime associates, notably by his tough-guy brother, Maher, the most powerful man in Syria’s security apparatus who is blamed for much of the recent killing.

Assad has also burned his boats with leading Arab states and western countries, including the US and Britain, which initially entertained high hopes of his leadership when he took over in 2000. They and neighbours such as Turkey now see no alternative but for him to stand down. Ironically, Israel – Syria’s old enemy – might prefer it if he survived, for the sake of a stable border. And if the alternative to Assad is an anti-western, Sunni Muslim-led regime, then the US and Iraq, for different reasons, might also secretly prefer him to stay.

Apparently heedless of such nuances and of his need for support if he is to negotiate his way out this mess, Assad poured contempt on fellow Arab leaders in his speech. “The Arab League has failed for six decades to take a position in the Arab interest … We should not be surprised,” he said. Yet at the same time he said Syria would not “close the door” to any Arab proposal that respected its sovereignty and unity. This suggests he still hopes for some face-saving regional formula that would enable him to stay in power.

Egypt may yet serve as a model for what happens in Syria. In this scenario, the regime figurehead – Hosni Mubarak/Assad – is removed and put on symbolic trial but the regime itself, represented by the military and other powerful insider forces, having offered up this high-profile sacrifice, remains largely intact. The revolution appears to have succeeded, the violence mostly stops, and there is a big celebratory party. But the morning after, it slowly dawns that nothing much has really changed.

January 10th, 2012, 10:53 pm

 

Afram said:

توضيح من عرب تايمز : انور مالك الذي ظهر على شاشة الجزيرة كاتب متبرع في عرب تايمز وسبق ان اتهم المحطة القطرية بانها مخترقة من قبل المخابرات الجزائرية

January 10 2012 17:30

عرب تايمز – خاص

فجأة وبدون مقدمات وجدت عرب تايمز نفسها في مواجهة سوريا والجزائر والمخابرات القطرية بعد ان ظهر احد كتابها المتبرعين ( انور مالك ) على شاشة الجزيرة التي قدمته على انه عضو في لجنة التفتيش التابعة للجامعة العربية وانه قرر الانسحاب احتجاجا على عمليات القتل … انور مالك كان قد اتهم محطة الجزيرة في مقال نشره في صفحته على موقع عرب تايمز بانها مخترقة من قبل المخابرات الجزائرية ويومها اتهمنا من قبل الاعلام القطري بالنشر لكاتب جزائري يعمل مع اجهزة امنية اجنبية ضد قطر ويبدو ان السحر انقلب على الساحر واصبح الكاتب الامني الذي يكتب في عرب تايمز ضد قطر احد ضيوف محطة الجزيرة البارزين .. بل واحد الرجال الذين استعان بهم نبيل العربي للتفتيش على سوريا

http://www.arabtimes.com/portal/article_display.cfm?Action=&Preview=No&ArticleID=4188

اوساط الصحفيين العرب في اوروبا بدأت تتحدث عن صفقة تم بموجبها شراء كاتب في عرب تايمز لخدمة مخطط قالت انه قطري امريكي يهدف الى التشكيك بتقرير لجنة التفتيش العربية مع ان عرب تايمز لا ناقة لها ولا جمل في الامر .. فالسيد انور مالك كاتب متبرع في عرب تايمز ( اي انه ليس موظفا ولا يتقاضى اجرا عن مقالاته ) وقد امتلك صفحة في بورتلها مثله مثل غيره من الكتاب وهو بالتأكيد يعبر في مقالاته عن رأيه وليس عن رأي عرب تايمز ووفقا لما هو مذكور في صفحته فهو كاتب جزائري مقيم في باريس ولا ندري كيف انضم الى لجنة المراقبة التابعة للجامعة العربية بخاصة واننا فهمنا ان اللجنة تضم خبراء عسكريين

الطريف ان خبر انسحاب انور مالك من لجنة التفتيش كان الخبر الاهم اليوم على شاشة الجزيرة ويبدو ان انور مالك موجود الان في الدوحة لان المذيعة ليلى الشيخلي استضافته في استوديوهات المحطة في الدوحة مما يعني ان انور مالك طار من دمشق الى الدوحة مباشرة حتى يسجل اللقاء الذي قال فيه انه لا يريد ان يكون شاهد زور مع ان النقلة السريعة له الى الدوحة عززت الاتهامات الموجهة له بانه رجل احترف شهادة الزور .. وتاجر بها

January 10th, 2012, 11:00 pm

 

Norman said:

Ghufran,

Assad is going no where and the Syrian army and the Baath party know that the goal is to their elimination Iraqi style, so the Egypt scenario is not an option, therefore there is no chance for the Syrian government to give up, they just have to move toward reform and whoever joins wins, the rest will lose .

January 10th, 2012, 11:01 pm

 

aldendeshe said:

“….they just have to move toward reform and whoever joins wins, the rest will lose ….”

Well for 10 months everyone wanted to join and Assad refused to share with anyone else. After all the killings, no one wants to even talk with him, let alone joining his Baathist Mafia. Handing over power is about the only way out for him now, or be ready for NATO / ARAB moves on Damascus.

النصيحة الذهبية ارحل ياافندي خود البعثية والاشتراكية والشيعة معك واولاد الحرام الآتاسية معك عميل معروف خلي الوطن والشعب السوري يطلع من هل كابوس الي مدا اكثر من ستين سنة

January 10th, 2012, 11:22 pm

 

irritated said:

Ghufran

Bashar al Assad is not a senile man like Mobarak or Ben Ali or a retarded hippie like Qaddafi and contrary to all these, he was an relentless ennemy of the US and the West and already under sanctions.
After 10 months, he has a strong support from his officials sunnis, christians and alawites, the army and more than 50% of the Syrians. The opposition and the western world are having a hard time getting used to the idea that he is here to stay until he secures a transition that will preserve Syria’s political position and assets in the region. The rest is just talks to fill newspapers.

January 10th, 2012, 11:27 pm

 

Ghufran said:

How many Syrians actually believed Bashar’s old and new promises?
The problem ,in one sense ,in Syria is that many Syrians do not trust the regime and many do not trust the opposition,but the regime bears most of the responsibility and I yet have to see anything that makes me change my mind about the regime’s inability to listen to the people’s legitimate demands.
This regime will only respond to pressure but not the type of pressure armed militia is trying which only benefits the regime and supports its line about the ” terrorist revolution”.

January 10th, 2012, 11:44 pm

 

zoo said:

Syria in the heart of a regional and international arm wrestling
By Scarlett HADDAD | 11/01/2012
(L’orient le Jour, translated from french)

As it has become a habit, the Lebanese political class has closely followed the speech by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and,as expected,the reactions to the speech varied according to the political camp. In the majority camp, the tendency is to consider the words of Assad as those of a man who still holds the reins of power and is determined to move forward with reforms, provided they do not sell out the national sovereignty. It is also for these groups the words of a man sure of the strategic importance of his country and confident in its future.
From the side of the March 14, however, comments are highly critical, calling the speech of Assad” aleady heard” and coming from a man overtaken by events, who does not understand that his days in power are numbered. Sources of March 14 in fact believe that the Syrian regime is about to collapse and they announce the “good news” for the next few weeks, assuring that efforts are made now to push the people close to Bashar Assad to defect.The idea is to isolate the Syrian president by depriving him of his support within the regime. But for this it is necessary to find a significant personality ready to join the opposition. So far, the figures that have done it were secondary positions and could not be considered as vectors of opinion.
Those who want the head of the Syrian regime consider in this regard that he is holding the reins of power with his army, which has proven to be an institution still solid. But all this can collapse overnight like a house of cards on the condition to find the element that could cause this fall. According to sources from March 14, it would be a matter of weeks. And at that time, the fall of the Syrian regime would have the effect of an earthquake in Lebanon. Once this regime gone,Hezbollah would necessarily be weakened as well as its Iranian sponsor. Especially since, according to the sources, the Arabs, Qatar in the lead, have decided to put all their efforts to reach this goal. To the March 14, it has already registered a victory by successfully separating Hamas from Iran and by trying to bring the organization into its fold, after having for long refused to grant it an office thus having pushed it to settle Damascus and get funding from Iran. Now it is the reverse process that is taking place, Qatar is offering to install the Hamas in Doha and is promising financial aid if that organization leaves Syria.
The sources of the March 14 recognize that the case is not yet fully completed, but it it is well under way and, so, Hezbollah would be deprived of the card of the resistance it wields with Hamas and that gives it a great popularity in the Arab world, surpassing its own community. According to reports, contacts have been made even with the Lebanese parties to create “a new structure of resistance” parallel to Hezbollah and even to return to a national resistance (as was the case between 1982 and 1985), which would not be mostly Shiite, thus cutting the grass under the feet of the party and depriving of its popular legitimacy. Qatar, who chairs the committee in charge of the Arab Syrian track would be the driving force behind this project, seeking to recover the Arab resistance movements and confirming the current trend of promoting Sunni Islamist movements as emerging forces in the Arab world, facing Iran and the Shias in general.
For the people close to Hezbollah, this scenario is part of the chimeras transmitted by the March 14 and its Arab and Western allies, and shows the inability of the enemies of the Syrian regime to get it to fall after 11 months of the outbreak of protests in Syria. For these groups, the Syrian track has become a strategic issue that embodies the new cold war between, on one hand, the United States and Europe, and, on the other, Russia and the so-called emerging countries. On one hand, the Syrian regime still enjoys broad popular support and has its entire state apparatus intact and on the other, its regional support (Iran) and international (Russia) allow it to hold on and withstand many more months. Building hopes on the defection of a personality close to Bashar al-Assad proves that all other means have failed, including the use of violence by the opposition. For the circles close to Hezbollah, the Syrian track is not a simple question of reform and popular protest, but a field on which is played the new confrontation between the American power and its detractors. The Middle East is the place that best shows that the world is changing. Although the United States remains a great power, these circles add, it is no longer able to decide alone the fate of the world. But no power is yet able to take this role. Hence the uncertainty and confusion in which the region is immersed. It is in Syria that it all happens, but the game is far from over.

January 11th, 2012, 12:09 am

 

jad said:

The real ugly face of the gulf states, KSA is deporting Syrians according to their religions, sects and political views, Alawites, Druz, Christians and Ismaelis.
Yet this kingdom along the similar way of thinking Qatar are telling Syria how to fix its constitution and the political system:

السعودية تبدأ تطبيق العقوبات على سوريا وإبعاد أبناء “الأقليات”الدينية والمذهبية من السوريين

الإبعاد يشمل كل من كتب عبارات يشتمّ منها تأييده للسلطة في سوريا أو “هيئة التنيق الوطني” أو انتقاد لـ”المجلس الوطني السوري”!؟

دمشق ، القاهرة ، الرياض ـ الحقيقة ( خاص): أبلغت السعودية جامعة الدول العربية رسميا بأنها ستبدأ تطبيق قرار وزراء الخارجية العرب بفرض عقوبات اقتصادية على سوريا .وطبقا لمصادر صحفية سعودية مختلفة ، فإن المملكة أبلغت الجامعة بأنها ستبدأ بالتنفيذ المباشر للعقوبات من تاريخ إرسال البرقية ( يوم أمس). وطلبت من الجامعة توزيع هذا الإعلان على جميع المندوبيات والسفارات العربية بما فيها سفارة الجمهورية العربية السورية.

على صعيد متصل ، وطبقا لإفادات أكثر من عشرين مواطنا سوريا ، ولنشطاء حقوقيين في السعودية ، فإن المخابرات السعودية بدأت منذ حوالي شهر من اليوم إجراء “مسح طائفي ومذهبي” للسوريين العاملين في السعودية من أجل إبعادهم . ويقدر عدد أبناء الجالية السوري في السعودية بحوالي نصف مليون . وعلمت”الحقيقة” من أطباء أسنان وأطباء بيطريين ومهندسين سوريين آخرين ، من حمص ومحافظات أخرى ، أن أكثر من ثلاثين مواطنا من هؤلاء تبلغوا فعلا قرارات بإبعادهم لأنهم ” مسيحيون أو دروز أو علويون أو اسماعيليون” ، حسب التصنيف الأمني السعودي. وقال هؤلاء إن أجهزة الأمن السعودية في مناطق عملهم ( لاسيما جدة ومكة ويثرب “المدينة المنورة” وتبوك والرياض والقطيف والدمام والظهران) استدعتهم وطرحت عليهم أسئلة تتعلق بانتماءاتهم الدينية والمذهبية ، فضلا عن أسئلة أخرى تتصل بمواقفهم من الأزمة في سوريا وما إذا كانوا يؤيدون السلطة السورية أو “المجلس الوطني” أو ” هيئة التنسيق الوطني” ، وموقفهم من إيران وحزب الله ! ولاحظ هؤلاء أن المحققين كانوا يطرحون أسئلة عليهم استنادا إلى تقارير موجودة لديهم وإلى أنشطتهم وكتاباتهم على صفحات ” فيسبوك” الخاصة بهم. وأكد أحد هؤلاء ، وهو مهندس يعمل في شركة ” آرامكو” للنفط في الظهران وينحدر من ريف مدينة حمص، إن المحققين ، وعندما أكد لهم أنه محايد ولا اهتمامات سياسية له ، طلبوا منه التوقيع على تصريح يؤكد أنه ” يعارض بقاء النظام العلوي حاكما في سوريا”، وعندما رفض التوقيع ، مؤكدا على أنه ” غير معني بهكذا أمور” ، جرى استدعاؤه مرة ثانية ( أول أمس) وإبلاغه بإنهاء إقامته!

وقال طبيب أسنان سوري يعمل في جدة في رسالة إلى “الحقيقة” إن ما فهمناه من بعض النشطاء السوريين المعارضين هو أن عضو قيادة “المجلس الوطني السوري” ، المحامي هيثم المالح ، وخلال زيارته الأخيرة للسعودية في تشرين الثاني / نوفمبر الماضي التي التقى فيها عدنان العرعور ، طلب من السلطات السعودية إبعاد أبناء “الأقليات” الدينية والمذهبية من السوريين واللبنانيين ، لأنهم ” يدعمون النظام السوري بتحويلاتهم المالية و / أو ويقومون بأنشطة تجسسية على المعارضة لصالح المخابرات السورية “!

وأكد معارض سوري يقيم في لندن ، وهو من مناصري “المجلس الوطني السوري” وممن يعرفون محمود الدغيم ، المشرف على موقع ” شام تي في” ، إن هذا الاخير تقدم الصيف الماضي بمذكرة مشابهة إلى السلطات السعودية عن طريق سفارتها في لندن حيث مقر إقامته الدائم!؟

يشار إلى أن عددا من الدول الخليج لجأت إلى إجراءات مشابهة ضد مواطنين لبنانيين خلال الأزمة التي أعقبت اغتيال الحريري و حرب تموز 2006 .

http://www.syriatruth.org/news/tabid/93/Article/6426/Default.aspx

January 11th, 2012, 12:15 am

 

jad said:

UN is still out of the game until further notice:

الروس قالوا كلمتهم ومجلس الأمن فشل اليوم في الاتفاق على قرار بخصوص سوريا

عقد مجلس الأمن الدولي اليوم جلسة مشاورات مغلقة حول الأوضاع في سوريا حيث إستمع في خلالها إلى إفادة من نائب الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة لشؤون عمليات حفظ السلام لين باسكوا حول الأوضاع في سوريا.

وقالت مصادر مطلعة في مجلس الأمن الدولي إن مجلس الأمن لم يستطع حسم أي توجه في شأن إصدار قرار حول الأوضاع في سوريا بسبب التشدّد الروسي في موضوع أي تعديلات طرحتها الدول الغربية والولايات المتحدة على مشروع القرار الذي تقدمت به موسكو، وبدا من خلال جلسة الإستماع هذه أن الوفد الروسي غير مستعد بعد لمناقشة أي تعديلات.

وهنا عبّرت المندوبة الأميركية في الأمم المتحدة السفيرة سوزان رايس عن إستغرابها لهذا الأمر كما أسفت لأن الجواب الروسي حول بعض التعديلات التي تقدمت بها بعض الدول الغربية وواشنطن كان غير واضح وغير مفهوم وكشفت في المقابل أنه قبل نهاية العام كانت أرسلت تعديلات عدة على مشروع القرار المذكور التي طالبت بأن يكون أكثر مصداقية وشاملاً. وأكدت السفيرة الأميركية أن مجلس الأمن الدولي تأخير كثيراً في التعامل مع الأزمة وأنه يتوجب عليه إصدار قرار قوي في هذا الإطار.

ووفق المعلومات فإن الدول الغربية ستواصل مشاوراتها في الأيام المقبلة من أجل الدفع نحو إصدار قرار عن مجلس الأمن الدولي خصوصاً وأن روسيا لم تتقدمّ بأي صيغة جديدة لمشروع قرارها.

وأوضحت مصادر دبلوماسية أن الدول الغربية ستنتظر حتى ما بعد التاسع عشر من الشهر الحالي أي بعد صدور التقرير الثاني عن بعثة المراقبين لمناقشة بعض الإقتراحات الخاصة بتحرّك مجلس الأمن الدولي ولا سيما في ضوء الإقتراحات التي تقدمت بها عدد من الدولي ومنها ألمانيا.

من جهته رفض المندوب السوري في الأمم المتحدة السفير بشار الجفعري أي حديث عن التشكيك بمهمة بعثة المراقبين العرب وقال إن هذا الأمر يضعف مصداقية الجامعة العربية، ودعا إلى عدم إستباق نتائج مهمة المراقبين، وأضاف: إن من يتحدث عن فشل مهمة المراقبين العرب منذ الآن إنما يسعى إلى الإضرار بمصداقية الجامعة العربية، ويسعى إلى نقل الأزمة في سوريا برمتها إلى ايدي أولئك الذي يتآمرون على سلامة وإستقرار سوريا داخل مجلس الأمن وخارجه، وقال يجب إعطاء الفرصة للمنظمات الإقليمية ومنها الجامعة العربية لكي تقوم بمهامها ولا سيما في ضوء الوصاية المعطاة للمراقبين العرب، فيجب إعطاءهم الفرضة لكي يقوموا بواجبهم.

وأكدّ السفير السوري أن الحديث عن فشل مهمة المراقبين العرب وعن نقل الملف وجلبه إلى مجلس الأمن الدولي فإن هذا أمر لا يستهدف سوريا وإنما يستهدف مصداقية الجامعــة العربية، ويستهدف الأداء العربي، وهذا أمر يشكل خطراً إستراتيجياً على الأداء العربي في المحافلا الدولية.

ورداً على سؤال قال الجعغري إن إستهداف المراقبين العرب هو سعي لاستهداف ما تقوم به الجامعة العربية.

January 11th, 2012, 12:18 am

 

Darryl said:

173. SON OF DAMASCUS said:

“Let me remind you of a few Moslem scientist:

Avicena, Jaber Ibn Hayan (Father of Chemistry), Al Kawarizmi (father of Algebra), Omar Al Khayyam, Ibn Taymieha, Al Jahiz, Al Jazairi, Fatima Al Fihri (who established the oldest continuous University and was a woman) and the list goes on.”

My dear SOD, where is the rest and there were at least two of the above who were atheists, certainly Ibn Sina just like Abu Alla Al-Maari.

“a few modern Moslems:

Mustafa Akkad, Mohammed Ali, Malcom X, Ahmad Zeweil (Nobel laureate in Chemistry), Fazlur Khan (Sears Tower, John Hanckok Tower), Fareed Zakaria, Aziza El Hibri (who has a seat in the US administration)”

And these individuals have contributed to revolutionize our way of life?

“If the 1.5 billion Muslims had the same opportunities as people from the West (in terms of governance, social welfare, education, political stability, freedoms,..) you would see a lot more names on the Noble Laureates list. That would include as well Indian, Chinese, South American and pretty much the rest of the world that is not “western”.”

My dear SOD, Islam never provides opportunity to anyone except those who are on the “privilege receiving end” that is how it was then and that is how it will stay. The rest will have to live with the mind control part and chase their tail for life.

Please ask Mr Uzair8 to contribute to your answer and tell me how Islam is going to solve the above opportunity problem since it has not managed to do it for the last 1400 years?

Dear SOD, thanks for trying anyway.

January 11th, 2012, 12:57 am

 

Antoine said:

204. Norman said:

You talked about the revolution flag as the “Flag of separation between Egypt and Syria”, that flag was the National Flag of Syria from 1946 till 1958, the current Flag is the “unity flag” which is meaningless anyway, Syria and Egypt were united for only 3 yars and Syria got the worse of it ; anyway what is the use of unification between 2 countries 1000 miles apart and like chalk and cheese ?

January 11th, 2012, 1:08 am

 

Son of Damascus said:

Dear Darryl,

I would say all religions would like to control their subjects, not just Islam. Throughout history you see normal people rising up against the established norm, a prime example of that (although he is by all means not just a mere normal man whatever your faith might be) would be Jesus rising against the established practices of his time (whether Roman or Jewish), or Martin Luther nailing his 95 Thesis to a Catholic Church door, or Galileo when he predicted that the earth was not the centre of the universe. Where these men all not called heretics, and persecuted by their respective established religions? Those three men went on to shape the world, as did Mohammed, Khayyam, Ibn Battuta …

Darryl I am not defending Islam because I might think it happens to be correct, or the better, or … because for every good thing I can point out I am sure there is a negative you can shed a light on, and I am sure I can reciprocate towards your faith the same sentiment; however I will not because I understand your faith is what is right for you, it is what you believe to be correct and who am I to say other wise!

In reality my dear Darryl all religions Achilles heel are us humans, we have corrupted and hijacked whatever goodness they might offer. Mere humans have no business in godly matters.

January 11th, 2012, 2:00 am

 

ann said:

191. Ghufran said:

“””Majed
…Was that you or another guy in the previous post (188)?”””

Good catch Ghufran! That obviously was not majed and I don’t need to tell you who it was 😉

Peace

January 11th, 2012, 2:21 am

 

Mina said:

Jad 209
This has nothing to do with the AL and UN “sanctions” on Syria, but everything with the preparation of a Gulf-Iran war, just as the Wikileaks were full of on-going talks on that. The AL/UN sanctions are just an umbrella for more Saudi racist and sectarian madness.
About 210 and the UN, did you notice in the http://www.innercitypress article posted by Ann and available on their website that the simple way for Russia to refrain other members to discuss Syria is to say “okay, but then we’ll have to discuss Palestine as well.”

January 11th, 2012, 2:42 am

 

ann said:

INTERVIEW: Syrian patriarch says Christians feel betrayed by West – Jan 11, 2012

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1684906.php/INTERVIEW-Syrian-patriarch-says-Christians-feel-betrayed-by-West

Istanbul – Syria’s Christians, who make up more than 6 per cent of the population, are fearful they will be caught up in the 10-month power struggle between the Alawite-dominated government of President Bashar al-Assad and the largely Sunni opposition movement.

In an exclusive interview with dpa, Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III, head of the Syriac Catholic Church, which is in full communion with Rome, accused Western governments of sacrificing the rights of minorities in the Middle East in pursuing their geostrategic and economic interests.

dpa: In recent months there have been talks between Syrian churches on the position Christians should take in the conflict between al-Assad and the protest movement. What is the current position here?

Ignatius Joseph III: We Christians of the Middle East are disappointed at the policies pursued by the European Union and the United States, because we note that the Europeans and the Americans regard the problems of the Middle East solely from a political and economic viewpoint.

They have come to the conclusion that it is inevitable that Islamist religious fanatics will come to power in these countries and they have given up. We Christians feel that we have been betrayed by them.

dpa: What do you say to the accusation from the opposition that Syria’s Christian churches are supporting the regime, even though it is violating human rights?

Ignatius Joseph III: Yes, we are accused of being on the side of the regime, but all we aim to achieve in the end is that our communities will be able to live in peace. We always have the negative example of Iraq in mind, where many of our co-religionists had to emigrate.

dpa: Certain Syrian Christians say they are, on religious grounds, unable to support a regime that uses violence and kills children.

Ignatius Joseph III: This is a totalitarian regime – that cannot be denied. This is regrettable. But in Syria there has been no democratic education. Apart from a brief phase following the end of the colonial period, we have never had democracy…

It is true that this is a police state, and there are many political prisoners … But when there is conflict, and the security forces want to re-establish order in an area, then this cannot happen without the use of force.

dpa: Have you spoken to Western governments, which are banking on the fall of the Syrian government, in order to highlight the situation of the Christians?

Ignatius Joseph III: In May, I met French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe in Paris, and I realized that France and the EU have a preconceived opinion of the Baath regime in Syria. They think this is a monstrous regime that kills its own citizens.

Yes, there have been and there are massacres. But nobody talks about the hundreds of thousands of deaths that took place in Iraq (after the US-led invasion) or of the tens of thousands who died recently in Libya.

What would a solution to the conflict in Syria look like, now that so many people have died in a way that has set in motion a spiral of violence on both sides?

Ignatius Joseph III: There should be dialogue … But in our society we still have the concept of revenge. It is not the way it is in Turkey, where there is an Islamic party in power, but which shows a certain tolerance of those who think differently…

Why not have dialogue? Because 5,000 people have been killed? After World War II, which caused the death of millions, Germany and France also engaged in dialogue.

January 11th, 2012, 2:43 am

 

Mina said:

172 Tara
About your friend the Algerian Anwar Malek, if you can read Arabic, there is a post by Afram where his former colleagues from the Arab times explain he seems to be a Qatar-paid spy, because what he says now and what he used to write are so totally incompatible that it doesn’t make sense otherwise. But you certainly won’t believe there exists such thing as “paid-journalists”…

January 11th, 2012, 2:53 am

 

ann said:

At UN on Syria, Europeans Go Off Camera, Ja’afari Chides TV, Says Wait Til March

http://www.innercitypress.com/syria1tv011012.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 10 — After the UN Security Council heard about Syria behind closed doors on Tuesday, a series of European Permanent Representatives came out and spoke to the press, off camera but on the record.

UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said that Russia, which preemptively put out a draft resolution in December when it was president of the Council, has been asked to circulate a new draft, updated with the many suggestions made.

He said the Council should take action before January 19, when another Arab League statement is expected, or immediately after that.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin emerged and told the press that action before January 19 is “unlikely.” He called the Arab League the “game” in town, and said that all Council members agreed on that.

German Ambassador Peter Wittig said some have proposed that the Secretary General of the Arab League come and brief or engage with the Security Council.

After these off camera semi-engagements, US Ambassador Susan Rice and then Syrian Permanent Representative Bashar Ja’afari took to the stakeout, in (strange) context the main event.

Ja’afari chided two television networks for “jumping to conclusion” that the Arab League observers were attacked by “supporters of the government.” He asked, “How do you know they were supporters of the government? These things can be prefabricated.”

Ja’afari went on to describe letters he has written to the Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, complaining that some of this information was never “transpired to the Security Council.”

While Churkin has said wait until (at least) January 19, Ja’afari said that Bashar al Assad was saying wait until March, which Ja’afari called “tomorrow.” He said that Egypt still has an emergency law; he described reforms and said that countries which allow on their territory armed opponents of the Assad government, to talk about their military plans, are violating the UN Charter. And then he was gone.

January 11th, 2012, 3:02 am

 

ann said:

217. Mina said:

“””172 Tara
…About your friend the Algerian Anwar Malek, if you can read Arabic”””

israeli propaganda artists are fluent in Arabic MINA 😉

January 11th, 2012, 3:07 am

 

ann said:

At UN, Raising Israel’s Settlements Called “Ill-Timed,” After Child Soldiers Meeting

http://www.innercitypress.com/unsett1caac011012.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 10 — The humanitarian consequences of Israel’s policy of settlements was raised in the UN Security Council late on Tuesday afternoon, after a closed door meeting about Children and Armed Conflict.

Morocco, replacing Lebanon as the Council’s Arab member, requested that the Council get a briefing on the topic. There was an attempt to expand the topic to cover other issues, and actors, but it was resisted.

And then “one country” — the host country, the US, a well placed source told Inner City Press — called Morocco’s request “ill-timed and counter-productive.” Others said after that it is the settlements that are ill-timed.

The request made by Morocco was foreshadowed by recent statements by Palestine’s Observer to the UN Riyad Mansour. He often refers, including on the question of Palestine’s application for full UN membership, to the opposition of “a single powerful member,” the US.

Whether or not there are now nine votes in the Council in favor of Palestinian UN membership, the US remains the outlier, the source said, even behind closed doors.

January 11th, 2012, 3:14 am

 

ann said:

Turkey’s ‘Syrian intervention’ scenario – – 11 January, 2012

http://rt.com/news/syria-turkey-war-intervention-497/

Turkey has been keenly watching events unfold in Syria, fearing its near-neighbor’s violence could spill over the border. However, there are fears that Turkish government may not be getting an accurate picture of what is really happening in Syria.

­As soon as Syria’s president promised to completely revamp the constitution in an attempt to resolve the crisis in the country, Turkey expressed support for a humanitarian intervention, saying it must do all it can to prevent a civil war.

With the bloody status quo in the Syrian crisis having been maintained for months, there is a danger that violence may start spreading beyond the country’s borders.

And its close neighbor Turkey – once a close friend too – is now a harsh critic of Damascus.

“Syria’s first priority should be to listen to its people and meet their demands, not to denounce others; instead of massacring its people, it should listen to them,” says Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Faruk Logoglu, the deputy chairman of the Republican People’s Party in Turkey, is a harsh critic himself, but he is critical of the Turkish government.

Ankara is on the side of the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian National Council – a military and diplomatic force aimed at overthrowing the regime of Bashar al-Assad. It supports a “buffer zone” and a “humanitarian corridor” – which some fear could bring Turkish troops to Syrian soil.

“What does that mean according to international law? It means aggression against a country, it means war,” Faruk Logoglu says.

But any intervention would be different from the one in Libya – since Russia and China have made it clear: no more no-fly zone resolutions. It means the role of regional players like Turkey increases dramatically.

But Faruk claims Ankara’s behavior is irresponsible and risky.

“It is the larger implications beyond the bilateral context of Turkey and Syria as such. The situation in Syria must be handled with great care by all powers. And unfortunately I do not see that care, especially from the Turkish government,” he says.

Oytun Orhan works for the Middle East Strategic Studies Center, based in Ankara.

It is sponsored by the Turkish Foreign Ministry to help shape policy. And its opinion on Syria is clear.

“The regime of Syria is killing its own people,” says Oytun Orhan, Middle East analyst the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM).

Or not always that clear.

“Nobody has objective information as to what is going on in Syria,” says Oytun Orhan.

The center’s specialists have not been to Syria for over a year.

It means the picture they paint for officials in Ankara is unlikely to be an accurate one.

The sources of some videos are often questionable, so it is easy to be misled or get a false picture of what is really happening.

Although that does not stop researchers from coming to firm conclusions.

“The military option, this is the last option Turkey does not want to see. But this is an option,” says Oytun Orhan.

Turkey may have declared it does not welcome a military solution to the Syrian crisis, but it has not ruled it out either, playing an “if” game: if there is massive migration from its troubled neighbor Turkey says it will have to protect its own people.

And while officially Ankara insists it wants peace and stability in the region, its troops are ready just kilometers from the border with Syria.

January 11th, 2012, 3:16 am

 

Juergen said:

Uzair

I would be afraid something will happen to the iranian pilgrims, i would say that they are in danger, with this regime playing the sectarian card, they are in danger. God forbid this regime will place an other bomb. I remember that there was a bomb attack a couple of years ago while i was in Syria on a bus nearby the grave of Zainab, never heard anything about it again, and thats not a good sign in Syria.

January 11th, 2012, 3:29 am

 
 

ann said:

Bomb kills Iran nuclear scientist; Israel accused – Wednesday, January 11, 2012

http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/bomb-kills-iran-nuclear-scientist-israel-accused_751914.html

Tehran: An Iranian nuclear scientist was killed by a bomb placed on his car on Wednesday in an attack Tehran’s Deputy Governor blamed on Israel, raising the diplomatic temperature in a stand-off with the West over Iran’s nuclear program.

The bombing, which a city official said was similar to attacks a year ago on nuclear scientists in Iran, came as the United States sought to persuade a skeptical China to help efforts to toughen sanctions against Iran.

“The bomb was a magnetic one and the same as the ones previously used for the assassination of the scientists, and is the work of the Zionists (Israelis),” Iran’s semi

January 11th, 2012, 3:33 am

 

ann said:

Saudi oil output nearing capacity limit – Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Riyadh traditionally sets aside 1.5 mln bpd

http://www.emirates247.com/business/energy/saudi-oil-output-nearing-capacity-limit-2012-01-11-1.437082

Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia is nearing its comfortable operational production limits and may struggle to do much to make up for shortages that arise from new sanctions imposed on Iran by the West, Gulf-based sources said.

The kingdom, now pumping just under record rates of 10 million barrels per day, has poured billions of dollars into its vast oil fields, which on paper should ensure it has the ability to ramp up to 12.5 million bpd.

Long-standing oil policy by Riyadh, the heavyweight in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), sets aside some 1.5 million bpd as protective spare capacity.

But industry sources said pumping anywhere near the declared production capacity might involve extracting heavy crudes the market might not want. It would also be difficult to sustain higher rates for lengthy periods.

“There is very little unused capacity in the Gulf,” said an oil official in the region. “Saudi Arabia could comfortably manage an extra 500,000 barrels a day or so and, if pushed, could go up to 11 million (barrels a day).”

A steady rate beyond 10 million bpd would offer immediate relief to world oil markets, but it would take the kingdom’s production to untested levels.

Saudi officials are confident, however, of achieving higher flows.

“Saudi Arabia can easily make 1 million to 1.5 million (barrels per day) available,” a Saudi source said about output beyond current volumes.

Since June of last year, Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have been cranking oil out after failing to convince Iran and other OPEC members to agree a coordinated increase to cover the supply disruption from Libya’s civil war.

The trio has kept up the higher pace, despite the return of Libyan crude, to supply rising demand from Asia and in effort to bring oil prices below $100 a barrel to help nurture global economic growth. Increased deliveries have left Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates producing nearly flat out.

That will make it a stretch to fill a sizeable gap left by any punitive cuts in Iran’s oil exports of about 2.5 million bpd.

After spending huge amounts on fortifying their production, the Gulf countries are now reluctant to push output to the very brink and leave them bereft of a supply cushion.

CHINA LOOKING AROUND

The United States and its allies in Europe and elsewhere are trying to put pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear programme, worried that Tehran is attempting to develop its own atom bomb.

Iranian oil officials said shipments from the Islamic Republic are continuing as normal.

There are, however, reports that some traditional buyers of Iranian crude, such as China, may be looking elsewhere. This may be part of a negotiating ploy over contract renewals.

The European Union has brought forward a ministerial meeting that is likely to match new U.S.

measures to tighten the financial screws on Tehran. At stake are roughly 500,000 bpd of Iranian exports to EU members.

The U.S. has long embargoed Iranian crude, but the new sanctions target institutions that deal with Iran’s central bank.

Asia’s big consumers of Iran’s oil – Japan, China and India – are already taking precautions. Tokyo has asked Saudi Arabia and the UAE to help it to plug any gap.

And China’s Premier Wen Jiabao is set to visit Saudi, the UAE and Qatar amid signs that Beijing wants to expand its options as the U.S. ratchets up measures against Iran.

Despite the diplomatic efforts, there have been no hard requests from buyers.

“So far, there are no extra orders (from buyers) that would require Saudi to increase production,” a Gulf industry source told Reuters. He repeated Riyadh’s vow to meet any extra demand.

January 11th, 2012, 3:37 am

 

ann said:

Japan Wants to Keep Importing Iranian Crude – JANUARY 10, 2012

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204257504577153670108313172.html

TOKYO—Japan wants to keep importing crude oil from Iran despite rising pressure from the U.S., its key ally, to cooperate in strengthening sanctions over the Islamic Republic’s uranium enrichment program.

“We are concerned about an impact on global energy prices,” an official at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday. “We are also worried about how a fuel shortage might impact rebuilding” after the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March, added the official, who asked not to be named.

The comments came a day before the planned meeting between U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Japan’s Finance Minister Jun Azumi. The two ministers plan to meet Thursday morning, with a possible ban on Iranian crude oil and Japan’s currency intervention likely to be on the agenda, which a spokesman at the Ministry of Finance declined to discuss.

Mr. Geithner arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, where it is believed he is meeting stiff opposition to the U.S.’s sanctions plan.

“We urge all relevant nations to remain calm, exercise restraint, refrain from taking actions that will intensify the situation and make common efforts to prevent war,” Chen Xiaodong, a top Chinese diplomat on Middle East affairs said in an online interview with the state press.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba is touring the Middle East this week, asking major oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to increase oil production in order to stabilize prices, and urging Iran to back down from its threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz in case of an embargo on Iranian crude exports.

Mr. Gemba’s visit to the oil-rich region is aimed at enhancing “Japan’s energy security in general” and “does not mean that Japan accepts Iranian oil sanctions,” the foreign ministry official said.

JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp., Japan’s largest refiner by capacity, said Tuesday that it has been in talks with Saudi Arabia and a few other oil producers about possible purchases in case of a ban on Iranian crude.

Japan imports roughly 300,000 barrels a day of crude oil from Iran, nearly 10% of its total crude imports.

January 11th, 2012, 3:47 am

 

ann said:

China says war over Iran will bring disaster – 20 hours ago

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jqqTq7QgXNRul6tegDJGlCXbhKIA?docId=CNG.de1b6202342d998e00eb801ac291148e.401

BEIJING — A top Chinese diplomat said Tuesday war over the Iranian nuclear issue would bring disaster to the world economy and urged all nations involved to exercise restraint and prevent hostilities.

The remarks by Chen Xiaodong, a top Chinese diplomat on Middle Eastern affairs, came as Iran’s showdown with the West slid closer to confrontation as alarm over its new uranium enrichment plant and Tehran’s death sentence for a “CIA spy” raised the stakes.

“We urge all relevant nations to remain calm, exercise restraint, refrain from taking actions that will intensify the situation and make common efforts to prevent war,” Chen said in an online interview with state media.

“Everyone knows that 40 percent of the oil shipped daily to every part of the world goes through the Strait of Hormuz, so once war starts in this region not only will the relevant nations be affected and attacked, it would also … bring disaster to a world economy deep in crisis.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s confirmation on Monday that Iran had begun enriching uranium in a new, underground bunker southwest of Tehran was seized upon by the United States, Britain, France and Germany as an unacceptable “violation” of UN Security Council resolutions.

On Monday, a Revolutionary Court in Tehran sentenced an American former Marine, Amir Mirzai Hekmati, to death after convicting him of being a CIA spy.

The United States has called for the release of Hekmati, 28, who also holds Iranian nationality through his family who settled in the United States before his birth.

Chen’s statement comes as US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner arrived in Beijing for talks expected to be focused on a new set of sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran late last year.

Energy-hungry China — which relies on Iran for 11 percent of its imported oil supplies — has repeatedly said sanctions will not resolve the nuclear issue and urged all sides to seek a diplomatic solution through dialogue.

January 11th, 2012, 3:50 am

 

Juergen said:

I am sorry to post this translated commentary, but i think its a very good comment on the last speech of the “beloved leader”.

Chief cynic Assad spoke again
By Ulrich Leidholdt, ARD radio studio Amman

Firing order – by who ? Popular uprising – no question! Syria is a dictatorship – ridiculous. Chief cynic Assad has struck again. This time verbally. If this man now unrealistic, stubborn or calculating? A madman, some try to label him, he isnt in any case. Assad knows very well what he is doing.

The Syrian despot is a cool-calculate player. He flays time and tried the ten months sustained uprising against his regime continue to shoot. At the same time he successfully tricking with new tricks to paralyze the world community.

Assad relies on the deterrent effect of his prediction that the entire Middle East is on fire, if you run like a military intervention against Syria like in Libya. Pulled in the fear into a conflagration with unimaginable consequences to be mixed in the foreign state of shock – the West and the Arab world as well. In addition, Assad must still rely on the two veto powers in the UN Security Council, Russia and China, which prevent every attempt to form an anti-Assad resolution.

The so unusual active approach of the Arab League to get Assad under control through their observers, has failed tremendously. Some neighboring countries are not observing the sanctions against Assad, the debacle of the observer mission is so obvious that Assad can claim political victory even before its end. The mission of his grace, which is more forbidden than allowed, makes puppets out of the frustrated Arabs and the Syrian opposition.

Assad’s speech, only the fourth since the start of the revolt was recognized by the opposition as an expression of weakness and cynicism. The opposition had not expected anything anyway and would never sit down with this deadly regime at a table.

But the half-hour speech with accusations against foreign nations and the innerself-expression of the regime quite an addressee: namely, the silent majority of Syrians – those people who do not dare to protest on the street, without being supporters of the regime. They fear the chaos after a fall Assad more than his repressive apparatus. Assad has them thoroughly inculcated the fear of many years of ethnic and religious civil war like in Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Suicide attacks are like before Christmas and last week, with 70 dead in the middle of Damascus – whether orchestrated by the regime or by Islamist terrorists. For decades, intimidated, or frightened by the strong leader convinced Syrians and minorities alike.

Also one can assume that the disunited opposition has no plan for the time after the fall of the regime. Assad is counting on time – and that the remaligned foreign powers abroad can not or will not get at him.

Of course, this regime must fall – only when, that is when these conditions are not predictable. Let alone what comes next. As long as Syrians will continue to die, watched by the world and scorned by Assad – because that is not only stubborn, but also calculating.

http://www.tagesschau.de/kommentar/kommentarassadrede100.html

January 11th, 2012, 5:11 am

 

b said:

http://www.moonofalabama.org/2012/01/neocon-israel-mouthpiece-writes-syrian-opposition-policy-paper.html

/excerpt/
The neocon org’s communications director and excecutive director of a “mouthpiece for Israel” Michael Weiss writes a paper to further military intervention in Syria for a U.S. State Department funded expat Syrian think tank which then gets adopted by the expat militant Syrian National Council.

Weiss then takes to the pages of Foreign Affairs where he excommunicates the anti-intervention local Syrian protesters as “cover organization pushing reconciliation” to then claim that military intervention is endorsed by all factions involved in the Syrian protests.
/end-excerpt/

January 11th, 2012, 6:20 am

 

Mina said:

No democracy in the Middle East. Not a single one.

More colonization in the name of “retaliation for Unesco admission”, is just a fascist policy. Nothing else.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-subsidizes-west-bank-housing-breaking-promise-to-u-s-1.406609
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to build 277 new housing units in Efrat as part of a series of reprisals for the Palestinian Authority’s admission to UNESCO in October. The tender was published at the end of last month and is due to close at the end of February.

But it turns out that of these 277 units, 213 are being offered under the “Mechir Lamishtaken” program, under which the government sells the land to contractors for less than its full market value.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/le-figaro-israel-s-mossad-recruiting-iranian-dissidents-to-work-against-tehran-regime-1.406712

How come the UN, which has spend millions of dollars if not billions, in Iraqi Kurdistan, has let it transform into a US-Israeli military base?

January 11th, 2012, 7:08 am

 

Revlon said:

1 in every 600 Sunni inhabitants of Homs gevernorate have been killed at the command of 3alawi authorities over the last 10 months.

The latest toll of martyrs stands at 2356 in Homs and 6336 in Syria http://www.facebook.com/Syria.Revolution.Intelligence#!/photo.php?fbid=282432835148195&set=a.194980847226728.50763.178929398831873&type=1&theater

The claculated rate takes into account an often quoted 20% rate of non-Sunni inhabitants and a total population of Homs governorate of 1,763,000, as per 2010 census. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homs_Governorate

January 11th, 2012, 7:10 am

 

Mina said:

It is kind of getting weird this trend of illustrating every article about Syria by a PRO-REGIME demo!!!

Look at this one:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/01/israel-syria-refugees.html
(Asad’s picture on the right, people carrying the Syrian flag and not the one used by the opposition)

and this one:
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-assad-faces-his-peoples-hatred–but-as-their-anger-grows-his-excuses-are-still-just-the-same-6287792.html

I remember last June in a Turkish newspaper the picture of a Hatay refugee camp with a group of 30 refugees seating on the floor and carrying Bashar’s pictures! Journalists are not ashamed at all: they can’t read the news in Arabic, and even for pictures, they prefer not to show the small demos of the heavy bearded opposition and their toddlers…

January 11th, 2012, 7:15 am

 

Mina said:

Bashar al Asad gave a speech on a Damascus square today, and was joined by his wife and children.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/31471/World/Region/Syrias-Assad-speaks-to-crowd-in-Damascus-square.aspx

What we read elsewhere are just plain lies and a last attempt for an escalation. The Gulf is real dumb if some there think that Iran or Syria will shoot the first shot. But if the US and Europe have no other plan to get out of their financial crisis (make me a war and we’ll arrange you a tiny bantustan like Palestinian state), they will continue to follow the script. After all, Guantanamo is still open three years after Obama’s promess (10th January… didn’t make the frontpage yesterday.. nor al Jazeera had a special programme I bet…)

My Syrian friends are still writing emails, still using Skype, still talking of the events on the phone. Some are traveling and going back there. The problems are only in Homs and Idlib.

January 11th, 2012, 7:37 am

 

Norman said:

Antoine,

How far is Alaska and Hawaii from the US mainland, Egypt and Syria are closer,don’t you think?

January 11th, 2012, 7:55 am

 

Juergen said:

Mina

nice piece of propadanda, but where are the photos of him and Asmaa, i just found those pictures on sana:

http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2012/01/11/393580.htm

and no Asmaa and no children…

In your link they said that

The crowd shouted “Shabiha forever, for your eyes, Assad”

Sounds like a mafia reunion to me

January 11th, 2012, 7:59 am

 

Mina said:

Jürgen,
The video is on your belove Guardian’s blog, the one where you took the Twitter quotes during the speech yesterday.

No doubt you know what you are talking about when it comes to propaganda. Any news from the car belonging to the German embassy that was supposedly caught in Damascus? Since you inform us of any honor crime involving Syrians in Germany, I am surprised you did not mention this one.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwvDKKbUz2Y&feature=player_embedded)

January 11th, 2012, 8:14 am

 

irritated said:

228. Juergen

So ridiculous that you can’t imagine that the opposition iranian-haters (as we have a lot on this blog) would be better candidates to put a bomb to discourage iranians pilgrims to visit Seyyeda Roqaya mausoleum and give a further blow to Syria’s declining tourism in Damascus!
Instead you accuse preemptively the Syria government.
Soon you will accuse the Syrian governemnt to put bombs in Kerbala!
You bad faith is amazing.

“Sounds like a mafia reunion to me”
Another of your ridiculous denial statement.. I guess your house of card is falling right in front of your eyes. Syria is not East Germany, wake up or shut up!

January 11th, 2012, 8:32 am

 

Valerya said:

‘Mossad hiring Iranians in Iraq to spy on Iran
January 11, 2012

The Mossad has managed to infiltrate the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq in order to spy on Iran’s nuclear program, French daily Le Figaro reported Tuesday.

According to an unnamed security source in Baghdad, Israel has hired Iranian Kurdish refugees in the autonomous region to gather information about Iran’s nuclear program, and to target nuclear experts in the Islamic Republic.

Iran’s judiciary said on Monday a death sentence had been passed for an Iranian-US citizen on charges of spying for the United States, the students news agency ISNA reported.

“A death sentence has been issued for Amir Mirza Hekmati for cooperating with the hostile government of America and spying for the CIA,” ISNA quoted spokesman for the judiciary Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei as saying.

“The court found him (Hekmati) Corrupt on Earth and Mohareb (waging war on God),” semi-official FARS news agency said.

Hekmati, a 28-year-old of Iranian descent, was arrested in December and Iran’s Intelligence Ministry accused him of receiving training at US bases in neighboring Afghanistan and Iraq.

Iran’s judiciary said Hekmati admitted to having links with the CIA but said he had no intention of harming Iran.

The US responded that same night to the death sentence, demanding Iran release Hekmati immediately.

“We’ve maintained from the beginning that the charges against him were a fabrication and we call on the Iranian government to release him immediately,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

Iran has blamed the US and Israel for infiltrating the Islamic Republic, and targeting its nuclear scientists – five of which have been killed since 2007. One scientist died Wednesday when a bomb attached to his vehicle exploded near Tehran University.

Both the US and Israel have denied the espionage charges.

January 11th, 2012, 8:38 am

 

irritated said:

239. Mina

Thanks for the video.
For a ’embattled’ and ‘unpopular’ president, he is rather bold and courageous to appear so casually and without protection in front of a ‘massive’ cheering crowd.
I can hear teeth grinding on this blog.

January 11th, 2012, 8:42 am

 

Uzair8 said:

Robert Fisk: Assad faces his people’s hatred – but as their anger grows, his excuses are still just the same

Wednesday 11 January 2012

It was the Assad Speech of the Year. There was an international conspiracy against Syria. True. Arab states opposed to Syria were under “outside pressure”. True, up to a point. Nobody could deny the seriousness of these plots. True. After all, the Syrian government itself registers 2,000 dead soldiers, while the UN estimates civilian dead at 5,000. And when Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan warned that the violence in Syria was “heading towards a sectarian, religious war”, there were few supporters of President Assad who would disagree with him.

As for foreign plots, who doubts that weapons are pouring into Syria from Assad’s enemies in Lebanon? Syria’s Defence Minister, Fayez Ghosn, has stated that al-Qa’ida had infiltrated the northern Lebanese town of Arsal – a dodgy claim since the only death there appears to have been caused by Syrian troops. The Lebanese Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt, still nominally an Assad ally, suggested officials should not use such all-encompassing words that mean anything to anyone. True again. Jumblatt said the recent explosions in Damascus that killed at least 25 Syrians raised “many questions” – because they coincided with the Arab League monitors’ visit.

Read more:

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-assad-faces-his-peoples-hatred–but-as-their-anger-grows-his-excuses-are-still-just-the-same-6287792.html

January 11th, 2012, 8:43 am

 

zoo said:

Turkey: Business first!
Turkey Resists US Sanctions Against Iran Despite US Envoy Visit

By Dorian Jones, VOA, Istanbul, Turkey

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns is visiting close ally Turkey to further press international sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear energy program. However, Ankara remains opposed to the new U.S.-led measures.
{…}
http://www.payvand.com/news/12/jan/1095.html

January 11th, 2012, 8:47 am

 

Uzair8 said:

More from the R. Fisk article in 246.

Mission to Syria: Arab League unease

22 December Arab League delegates start arriving in Syria to monitor a plan calling for the withdrawal of troops from cities.

23 December Syria suffers its first suicide bombing since unrest began in February. Forty people are killed, but activists are suspicious of the timing.

27 December Foreign Policy magazine labels the mission’s Sudanese head, Mohammed Ahmed al-Dabi, the world’s worst human rights observer because of links to abuses in Sudan.

28 December General Dabi says the situation in parts of Syria is “reassuring”. The next day, 25 people are shot dead by security forces.

1 January A body advising the Arab League says it should pull monitors out.

5 January Qatar’s Prime Minister admits Arab League monitors made “mistakes”.

6 January Another bomb explodes at a busy intersection killing 26 people, with state media blaming “terrorists”.

January 11th, 2012, 8:52 am

 

Juergen said:

Very nice documentary about democracy in Tunesia by Arte. Unfortunatly its only available in German and French. I have linked the french version directly from Arte and sometimes its not visible if you watch it outside of Europe, there is the same video available through youtube.

I love democracy
Pour le premier numéro de la collection I love democracy, Daniel Leconte a choisi la Tunisie. C’est en effet la révolution de Jasmin qui a donné le coup d’envoi du “printemps arabe”. Et la Tunisie est aujourd’hui devenue le baromètre de tout le monde arabo-musulman. Un an après la chute du régime de Ben Ali, ce film plonge au coeur de cette démocratie naissante : il capte les enthousiasmes, les espoirs, la formidable énergie d’un pays qui découvre la liberté, mais pointe aussi les menaces, les peurs et les combats à venir. Il raconte de l’intérieur, à travers des histoires particulières, les paradoxes de la Tunisie nouvelle. Des témoignages complétés par des interviews exceptionnelles, en particulier un entretien exclusif avec Moncef Marzouki, le nouveau président tunisien.

http://videos.arte.tv/en/videos/i_love_democracy-6317684.html

January 11th, 2012, 9:20 am

 

Juergen said:

Irritated

you are right Syria is not East Germany. Its worst than East Germany, our regime made life to hell for the ones who dared to speak up, the syrian regime killed thousands and take the whole country as hostages.

And by the way i will not silence, thats what freedom has brought for me, never i will be silent in presence of a murderous regime.

January 11th, 2012, 9:25 am

 

Revlon said:

Mother of martyr Bilal Mkhaiber mourns her young son, and pray to God to avenge his death by excising justice from Jr and his family.

10/01/2012
القصير10 1ام الشهيد بلال مخيبر هكذا خنسوات ينجبن هكذا أبطال اللهم صبرهاوانصرنا

January 11th, 2012, 9:36 am

 

Juergen said:

Mina

What really makes me wonder that they found only this car and not an israeli license plate. Really i thought you have at least your own opinion, obviously you shifted to state propaganda instead.

Thank you for the link, i watched it with an Aleppine friend and he said to me that he feels sorry for Bashar, he looks like as he is loosing it, jumping from one topic to the other like Maryam Noor.

January 11th, 2012, 9:39 am

 

Juergen said:

Irritated

Sorry you said you find it brave of Baschar to show up like this. See the video, you think he is a brave man? Guearded by 20-30 shabihas on stage, 20 m corridor between him and the security forces, even Saddam or Ghadaffi were not that cautious when they met their “children”. Good Assad said that the school children in front of him came voluntarily, what a lame joke. Nothing is spontanous and voluntarily in this regime.

January 11th, 2012, 9:44 am

 

defender said:

http://www.davidicke.com/headlines/59126-syria-next-the-return-of-the-incubator-style-lies
Syria Next – The Return of the ‘Incubator’-Style Lies!
Kuwaiti Baby Incubator Lies

January 11th, 2012, 9:54 am

 

Tara said:

Dear Juergen

I am sorry that you are getting exposed to Syrian vulgarity on this site. I used to call vulgar people “peasants” but I understand it can offend real farmers therefore I am trying to limit my use of such a word. I assure you that the sample you are exposed to here does not reflect us, the majority Syrians who are polite, generous, and cultural.

Ann,

Oh boy, my taste is changing. I started to develop a taste to the dullness in your posts. You manage to make me smile, Thank you.

January 11th, 2012, 9:56 am

 

Juergen said:

Tara

Dont worry i know how kind and openminded Syrians are. Here in Berlin the mnhbakjs will be demonstrating on Saturday, i will see if i can stop by and count the lebanese who will come to dance dabke. The regime can not even get all syrian students who get state scholarships to come and wave an syrian flag. Last time they did that the germans who passed by got really upset with them.

Have you heard that one western journalist was killed today in Homs today? I have only seen an report by Reuters, others havent reported that yet.

January 11th, 2012, 10:04 am

 

jad said:

A terrorist attack in Homs killing Syrians and a French/Belgium journalist with many injured:

حمص /عاجل :
سقوط 7 شهداء و مقتل صحفي فرنسي و اصابة 10 اخرين بعيد استهدافهم ب3 قذائف ار بي جي في حي عكرمة و نداءات للتبرع بالدم في مشفى الزعيم بحمص

خاص شبكة أخبار حمص الاولى
http://www.facebook.com/HNN.SYRIA

في تفاصيل العملية الارهابية التي نفذتها أيدي الغدر
في منطقة عكرمة الجديدة

سقطت قذيفة هاون بالقرب من سوبر ماركت البتول
في اللحظة التي كان فيها الوفد الإعلامي بالقرب من مشفى النهضة
وعند سماعم لصوت الانفجار
توجهوا مباشرةً إلى موقع انفجار قذيفة الهاون
لمعاينة الضرر ولتوثيق الإرهاب السلمي الذي ينادوا به
مجلس الاسطبل التركي

وأثناء تحركهم سقطت قذيفة أخرى بالقرب منهم
أصابت الوفد وجميع المواطنين المتواجدين بالقرب منهم
وحسب مراسلنا المتواجد هناك
أفادنا أن عدد الشهداء من الوفد الإعلامي
ارتفع إلى 3 شهداء

نوافيكم بأية تفاصيل فور جمعها

خاص شبكة أخبار حمص الاولى
http://www.facebook.com/HNN.SYRIA

من موقع الحدث في حي عكرمة غضب عارم واستنكار شعبي كبير
للعمليات الارهابية التي يقوم بها المسلحون على المواطنين الآمنيين
حيث استطعنا التوصل إلى بعض أسماء المصابين والشهداء

من الوفد الإعلامي الغربي :
استشهاد الصحفي جيل جاكي وهو من قناة فرانس 24
وإصابة الصحفي ستيفان هولندي الجنسية بشظايا في العين

واستشهاد كل من محمد سعد الدين
والشهيد عبادة ونوس المكلفين بمرافقة الوفد الإعلامي وكلامهما من العسكريين

كما استشهدت المواطنة : هيام يونس

أما أسماء الإصابات من المواطنينن فهم :
بشار منصور
عمار سلوم
نبيل الضاهر
عمار خرمى
ابراهيم محسن

– أما عن حالة المصابين في المشفى الأهلي
بعد أن استهدفت قذيفة الهاون ساحة حي السبيل
بلغت عدد الإصابات إلى 18 إصابة
من بينهم شهيد واحد وهو الشهيد : عماد الفحام ـ رحم الله روحه الطاهرة ـ
بينما باقي المصابين تنوعت إصاباتهم
ومنهم من يخضع إلى عمليات جراحية الآن
ولكن الحالة العامة لهم وحسب الأطباء المشرفين جيدة ومستقرة تقريباً

الرحمة على أرواح الشهداء
وتمنياتنا بالشفاء العاجل لكل المصابين

خاص شبكة أخبار حمص الاولى
http://www.facebook.com/HNN.SYRIA

January 11th, 2012, 10:06 am

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Notice that the junta now is changing it’s PR tactics. They allowed CNN and others to cover Syria from within, and they showed Bashar in a pro-rally. I suspect we’ll see Bashar more frequently than we’re used to. Have to admit that this is quite wise, from their point of view. Did they hire PR international consultants?
.

January 11th, 2012, 10:13 am

 

jna said:

Syria’s Kurds mistrust government and opposition: activists
9:14am EST Wed Jan 11, 2012
By Jon Hemming

ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Syrian Kurds, the country’s largest ethnic minority, do not trust President Bashar al-Assad, nor the opposition, so for now have largely kept out of the uprising against the government, exiled Kurdish opposition representatives said.

The Kurds are also wary of Turkey’s growing influence on the Arab groups trying to overthrow Assad, fearing that if they succeed, they will crush Kurdish hopes for autonomy in Syria, due to Ankara’s opposition to home-rule for its own Kurds.

“There is no trust between the Kurds and the Arab opposition that’s why there are not huge protests in the Kurdish cities,” said Majed Youssif Dawi, a Kurdish member of the Syrian National Council main opposition umbrella group.

“We don’t have any agreements with the Arab opposition in terms of Kurdish rights,” he told Reuters in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil. “We don’t have any agreement on how to change the system … also the statements of the heads of the Arab opposition do not give us any reason to trust them.”

While mainly Sunni Arab cities in Syria have seen 10 months of large, almost daily demonstrations against Assad, the mainly Kurdish towns and cities in northeast Syria, after initial protests, have remained much more calm.

“The Kurds don’t support the regime. We Kurds have been against the Syrian regime for more than 20 years and the Kurds were the one of first who came out onto the streets,” said Dr. Sarbast Nabi, a Syrian Kurdish politics professor at Salahaddin University in northern Iraq’s autonomous region of Kurdistan.

Syrian Kurds clashed with security forces for days, leaving several dead, after an incident at a football stadium in the main Syrian Kurdish city of Qamishli in 2004.

“At that time I was in Damascus,” said Nabi. “I don’t want to mention any names, but those who are now the heads of the opposition stood against the demands for Kurdish rights … They still support the ideology Arab-isation and political Islam.”

As well as the lack of trust between the Kurds and the main opposition groups, the Syrian Kurds have deep divisions among themselves and are backed by different regional players, some by the Iraqi Kurds, and another by the Turkish Kurd rebels, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), independent analysts said.

The Syrian government has increased its support for the PKK as a counterweight to Turkey’s backing of the Syrian opposition, the analysts said, and therefore the PKK’s proxies inside Syria had not joined in the struggle to overthrow Assad.

KURDS WARY OF TURKEY’S ROLE

Mahmoud Mohammad Bave Sabir, a leading member of the Democratic Union Kurdish Party of Syria, one of the oldest Kurdish opposition groups, said Assad was playing on Arab fears of Kurdish separatism and Kurdish fears of Arab nationalism.

Any Kurdish protests, he said, had not been met with the same level of forces as elsewhere, where security forces have used live ammunition and killed hundreds of demonstrators.

That, he said, was because Assad feared the reaction of the many thousands of Kurds living in the capital Damascus, and the commercial hub Aleppo, which have until now remained much quieter than outlying smaller towns and cities.

But Kurdish activists inside Syria are still mobilizing the youths who took to the streets regardless of the Kurdish opposition parties, said Dawi, a student activist imprisoned for two months in Syria before feeling to Iraqi Kurdistan.

He is now in daily contact with fellow activists in the Kurdish towns and cities inside Syria as well as lobbying for greater recognition of Kurdish rights from within the main opposition umbrella group based in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

The support for the opposition by Turkey’s government, which evolved from a series of banned Islamist parties, has led to Sunni Arab Islamist groups coming to the fore of the protests, the Syrian Kurdish representatives said.

If those groups came to power, the Syrian Kurds said, they would likely still pursue the Arab nationalist policies of the Assad government and stand in the way of Kurdish demands for self-rule, similar to that of Iraq’s Kurdish autonomous zone.

“I think the revolution in Syria has not remained in the hands of the Syrian people, but has become a conflict between the regional powers,” said student activist Dawi. “We should not trust those big countries because they are putting their own interests first.”

“We are afraid of any Turkish role inside Syria,” said Professor Nabi. “I am sure Turkey will face strong Kurdish resistance in Syria.”

For now, he said, Syria’s Kurds were keeping their powder dry, awaiting the outcome of the uprising, but were ready to fight to defend their rights when needed.

“I don’t believe they will remain neutral because they are obliged to defend themselves, either against the regime, or after it changes because then the struggle will become multi sided.”

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/11/us-syria-kurds-idUSTRE80A12O20120111

January 11th, 2012, 10:16 am

 

zoo said:

The mantra of the embattled SNC

http://news.yahoo.com/assad-speech-incitement-violence-syria-rebels-154914230.html

“Our next step therefore is to go in a speedy way to the Security Council with the support of the Arab countries which are now convinced that this regime has not cooperated during the (Arab League) mission and is quite unlikely to cooperate in any manner,” she said.

“This is a message that members of the Security Council should carefully read and understand that by preventing decisive action by the council … the regime is encouraged to continue its crimes,” she said.

The SNC hit out at the Arab League over their report which said the “killing has been reduced” and had recommended that a team of Arab monitors continue their mission.

January 11th, 2012, 10:19 am

 

irritated said:

Juergen

“20 m corridor between him and the security forces,”
Do you happen to know that any gun or grenade can reach further than 20 m?

How many Arab leaders (or even western leaders) are courageous enough to appear in a public gathering?

Please continue your Hollywood deconstruction of any pro-regime demonstration, it is becoming entertaining to watch how far your imagination can go in denying the realities.

January 11th, 2012, 10:27 am

 

irritated said:

January 11th, 2012, 10:34 am

 

zoo said:

The emergence of a new entity in Syria’s hot spots: The ‘unindentified gunmen’

Gunmen Fire RPGs at Foreign Journalists in Syria’s Homs, Many Killed
2012-01-11 23:02:56 Xinhua
http://english.cri.cn/6966/2012/01/11/2724s675781.htm
Unidentified gunmen fired three Rocket-Propelled grenades (RPG) on a delegation of foreign journalists in Syria’s central Homs province, killing eight people including a French journalist and injuring dozens of others, Syria ‘s private Sham FM radio and Ekhbaria TV reported.

There was no immediate confirmation that all eight people were journalists, but Syria’s private media confirmed that a French journalist was among the killed, as another journalist is in critical condition and was hospitalized to nearby hospital in Homs.

PARIS – Le journaliste occidental tué mercredi à Homs, dans le centre de la Syrie, est Gilles Jacquier, grand reporter à France 2 et prix Albert-Londres en 2003, a indiqué la chaîne à l’AFP à Paris.

January 11th, 2012, 10:45 am

 

jna said:

241. Juergensaid: …nice piece of propadanda, but where are the photos of him and Asmaa

Watch video to see Asma and kids (doesn’t look like England).

January 11th, 2012, 10:49 am

 

Mina said:

The journalist killed and those wounded were covering the start of a “staged” pro-regime demo, according to the Guardian’s Ian Black (see on the Live Guardian blog).

January 11th, 2012, 10:51 am

 

Juergen said:

Irritated

Well i happen to have met Assad during a dinner he made for Chavez 2 years ago, and seriously he wasnt much afraid then, he was driving in his car and if i wanted to i could have run and kiss his hand as others did.

Please dont compare his behaviour with the democratic elected heads of state of europe. We do not have such a paranoia about getting killed, thats may be because the actions of so many elected does not revoke such behaviour.

I leave it to you to think that such an speech we saw today is an act of bravery. If he can not be safe among his mnbaks, where can he be safe?

Too bad Asmaa is still in the country, i wonder if the EU has her on a travel ban, i suppose not.

January 11th, 2012, 10:51 am

 

Mina said:

The new Ben Laden is from Nigeria. Not sure he’ll become as famous as the other.
Qardawi was not available for comment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16510929

January 11th, 2012, 10:55 am

 

Mina said:

Jürgen,

Who is going to buy your dream version of Europe? As a guy who meet the powerfuls in this world (you entertained us also about your trips to Saudi Arabia once), you certainly have nothing negative to say. A failed diplomat or a failed academic?

Check any article on Sarkozy’s visits: praetorian guard and only selected UMP (his party) supporters or no-union-guys when he visits factories or provincial towns…

January 11th, 2012, 10:58 am

 

jad said:

مسلحون يستهدفون وفداً إعلامياً أوروبياً بحمص الأمر الذي أودى بحياة صحفي بلجيكي و8 مدنيين

قالت مراسلة شوكوماكو في حمص أن مجموعة إرهابية مسلحة استهدفت وفد إعلامي أجنبي كان يزور مجمع صحارى في حمص.
وفي التفاصيل وأثناء خروج الوفد الإعلامي من المجمع أطلقت مجموعة إرهابية مسلحة قذائف آر بي جي وهاون على الوفد الأمر الذي أودى بحياة صحفي بلجيكي و8 مدنيين كانوا بجوار الوفد، إضافة إلى إصابة صحفي بريطاني نقل على الفور إلى العناية المشددة.
وكان الوفد الإعلامي الأوروبي قد زار اليوم الأربعاء المشفى العسكري في حمص حيث تجول في معظم أقسامه واجتمع مع مدير المشفى والتقى عدداً من الجرحى وذويهم، كما وجال في قسم الإسعاف للمشفى، وأشارت مراسلتنا أن الوفد وأثناء وجوده في قسم الإسعاف وصل شرطي مصاب بطلق ناري جراء استهدافه من قبل المسلحين.
كما وزار الوفد المشفى الأهلي وجال في أقسامه اطلع على الأضرار جراء استهدافه من قبل العصابات الإرهابية المسلحة.
http://www.shukumaku.com/Content.php?id=39716
————————————————–

Bombardements en Syrie: un journaliste français tué, un Belge peut-être blessé
En voyage autorisé par le régime syrien, un groupe de journalistes a été bombardé. Gilles Jacquier, grand reporter à France 2, serait mort. Selon plusieurs médias, un Belge aurait également été blessé.

L’obus tombé à Homs en Syrie sur un groupe de journalistes aurait tué un journaliste français, Gilles Jacquier. Agé de 43 ans, ce grand reporter de France 2 a couvert la plupart des conflits des 20 dernières années. Il y aurait également plusieurs blessés, dont peut-être un Belge, selon plusieurs médias. Contacté par Bel RTL, le ministère belge des Affaires étrangères a affirmé qu’aucun Belge n’est en tout cas décédé dans l’attaque. Le groupe de journalistes se trouvait à Homs dans le cadre d’un voyage autorisé par le régime syrien qui limite les déplacements des médias étrangers en Syrie. Le ministère de l’information syrien a indiqué qu’il était au courant d’un incident impliquant des journalistes étrangers à Homs, mais qu’il n’avait pas d’autres détails.

“Un véritable chaos”
Selon l’agence Belga, la chaîne flamande VRT a décidé de rapatrier ses deux équipes présentes sur place le plus rapidement possible. “C’était un véritable chaos”, a témoigné le journaliste de la chaîne publique Jens Franssen sur les ondes de Radio 1.

Foyer de l’insurrection
Homs est un des foyers de l’insurrection contre le régime du président syrien Bachar al-Assad qui a débuté il y a dix mois et a fait, selon une estimation de l’ONU, plus de 5.000 morts.
Selon l’Observatoire syrien des droits de l’Homme (OSDH), “des obus sont tombés entre les quartiers de Akrama et Al-Nouzha où se trouvait un groupe de journalistes. Un journaliste occidental a été tué ainsi que six Syriens. Il y a eu des blessés”. L’OSDH a demandé l’ouverture d’une enquête indiquant qu’il ignorait l’origine de ces tirs, alors que les militants dans la ville ont accusé les autorités.

http://www.rtl.be/info/monde/international/849446/syrie-un-journaliste-belge-aurait-ete-tue-dans-les-bombardements-a-homs

January 11th, 2012, 10:59 am

 

Juergen said:

Mina

failed diplomate or failed academic, you made my day today Mina…

I get airline deducted staff tickets, so i can travel may be more than others, and its my goal to have seen every arabian country before i say farewell to this world.

January 11th, 2012, 11:08 am

 

Uzair8 said:

‘Freedom convoy’ to try to cross Syria border

Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Hundreds of Syrian and international activists will try to cross into Syria from Turkey and Jordan on Thursday in a bid to take humanitarian aid to the Syrian people, various sources said.

“Our aim is … to deliver humanitarian aid to the families in the afflicted areas that suffer from daily brutal bombing and totally unacceptable living conditions,” said a statement posted on the website of the group called “Freedom Convoy.”

The group composed of around 1,500 “independent young Syrians” accompanied by peace activists from all over the world intends to cross the border Thursday from Gaziantep in the southeast Turkey and from Ramtha, Jordan.

If Syrian authorities refuse to let them cross, activists say they will stage a three-day sit-in protest on both sides of the border, with the participation of Syrian artists.

Read more:

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/01/11/187694.html

[Maybe they should get George Galloway involved if possible along with Viva Palestina.]

January 11th, 2012, 11:09 am

 

irritated said:

Juergen

It is obvious that you were taken off guard when you saw that Asma and the two kids were present and mixed with the crowd without much security. You tried to come up with plausible explanations and diversions to dispell your annoyance.
No, there is no ban about her travel, and you knew it.

When is the last time we saw a European democratic leader with his children at a popular gathering?

January 11th, 2012, 11:11 am

 

irritated said:

Juergen

“I get airline deducted staff tickets”

Spies too

January 11th, 2012, 11:15 am

 

Juergen said:

Anyone has a clue how the regime will respond with the killing of an foreign journalist, my guess would be that they either tighten the security among them or will throw out the remaining free press for their own safety though…

Mina

come on, Sarko could do well with the arab despotits, and dont forget to mention Berlosconis best buddy was ghadaffi. I dont think both play in the same league when we talk about Cameron, Merkel or Rajoy. The difference is surely that we can get rid of those through elections a choice many dont have.

January 11th, 2012, 11:16 am

 

Mina said:

How cool, you should give me the address where you get free miles PLUS easy visas. Every tourist gets an invitation for dinners with Chavez and Asad!
Your ego fails you.
Again, if 51 percent of Syrians are conservative and scared of being the new Iraq, it is not for a 5 percent of Syrian expats to decide.

January 11th, 2012, 11:18 am

 

Revlon said:

Hama 1982 massacre: The tragedy of modern times
A 58 minutes documentary recorded in 1984 and uploaded on the internet for the first time.
وثائقي عن مجزرة حماه 1982 سجل عام 1984 يعرض لأول مرة

It includes
– An introduction to the city
– Scenes of massive residential destruction
– Eye witness accounts of two surviving kids of scenes of bodies in the streets.
– Eyewitness account of mass executions.
– The Long Market, the business hub of the city, and a historic 1500 long historic bazaar was systematically looted by Assad forces and then burnt to the ground.
– The Gold market was systematically looted by Assad Special Forces, and burned to the ground.
– Scores of historic mosques, partly destroyed by shelling, were later bombed after looting their carpets.
– The two churches in Mdeeneh district were bombed and brought to the ground after looting all of their furniture. One of them took 15 years to build and was about to be officially opened for prayers.
– Al3azm Palace was destroyed after being looted.
– AlKailaniya historic quarter (Registered with UNESCO) was destroyed completely.

Some questions to ponder:
Did it matter what the victims or the perpetrators DNA Haplogroups were?

Would those victims have celebrated their torture, hunger, and execution had they known that their murderers shared with them Haplogroup-U

Would it make their ‘surviving family members, neighbours or friends feel any better to know that they share the same DNA Haplogroups?

Justice is coming.
It shall be based on criminal evidence!
Perpetrators shall be hunted down no matter where they may be, or how long it may take.
Perpetrators shall be brought to civil justice, irrespective of their DNA Haplogroups.

January 11th, 2012, 11:21 am

 

irritated said:

271. Uzair8

‘Freedom convoy’ to try to cross Syria border

In case they can’t cross, they could use the idle and celebrated MAVI turkish flotilla?

January 11th, 2012, 11:22 am

 

Juergen said:

irritated

wise heads of state leave their family matters private, regimes love to show their loved ones. fe. we germans just know by chance that Merkels husband is an professor for physics. But its an improvement for Bashar, his mother fe, was unknown to 90% of the syrians, no picture no public appearances.

Being a spy? With my background sorry, i would fail their security tests for sure.

Sorry no i did not know for certain there is no ban on her travel, i supposed their might be no such thing. Unfortunately we have in Europe quite an tendency to be mediochre when it comes to dictators. I am afraid that they even would let the whole Assadclan live in England, but that would be fun to see this Rifaat finally getting his family reunion. What a shame!

January 11th, 2012, 11:24 am

 

irritated said:

Mina
“a 5 percent of Syrian expats to decide.”

and even less from an European ‘frequent flyer’ coming from a country responsible of the death of millions of innocents!

January 11th, 2012, 11:24 am

 

irritated said:

Juergen

“wise heads of state leave their family matters private”

Oh yes, Obama is dumb showing his family, or is he a in-the-closet dictator?

Spies act so innocent that that they always fail security tests, this is why they are hired.

“mediochre when it comes to dictators”

Only when it comes to dictators?

January 11th, 2012, 11:29 am

 

Juergen said:

Mina

Mina
just work for an travel agency or for an airline

I was not invited to the dinner, this Bashar boy has a good taste in restaurants, he happens to like two restaurants which i always visit when i am in Damascus. It was funny i was with an jewish friend that evening, and we enter the place and they told us that we can not have the table downstairs, this time i would have to eat upstairs. In a joke i told her you better have a good reason for doing so, the president may be and she smiled and said yes he is coming. I was suprised though that we were still allowed to eat there, and just minutes before he came there were security of him and Chavez. Chavez came a bit late and i was joking with my friend, i told him wait a moment Ahmedinejahd will come too just to please you. Needless to say, Assad came after us, but was served first…

January 11th, 2012, 11:30 am

 

Revlon said:

Jr, the eye doctor has many supporters in the field.

Dr Amira Stephano, a family physician and director of the Nursing school of Aleppo turned out to be a snitch.

She contacted security forces to arrest activists while taking their examination at the school.
10/01/2012
Syrian Revolution Intelligence System جهاز إستخبارات الثورة السورية

‎#Aleppo #Syria Anti.Aleppo.Mercenaries ضد مرتزقة حلب
شبيحة خطيرة

الدكتورة أميرة ستيفانو
اختصاص طب الأسرة
مديرة مدرسة التمريض في حلب
أخبرت عن طلاب المدينة الجامعية وساعدت في عملية اعتقالهم أثناء تقديمهم الامتحانات

January 11th, 2012, 11:37 am

 

Juergen said:

Irritated

In the USA family values are important in elections, so an single atheist president wont make it to the white house i suppose.

When Sarko is showing off with his wife i will just say watch out for short men…

January 11th, 2012, 11:38 am

 

zoo said:

Anwar Malek, the Algerian intellectual who withdrew form the Al observers mission after qualifying it to Al Jazeera as a ‘farce’ in an interview with Ben Jeddo:
The Arabs are backward and hopeless.

January 11th, 2012, 11:47 am

 

Juergen said:

Revlon

I would suggest youll find the worst kind of Assadis in the school services.

this one for example reminds me a lot of my principal when i was in school:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15102862

(watch her from 1:49 m on)

Can you give us again the link for the hama video, i think the link is wrong which you added.

January 11th, 2012, 11:49 am

 

irritated said:

Juergen

“In the USA family values are important in elections”

In many Middle East moslem countries too. I guess the king of saudi Arabia would avoid showing his family for good reasons.

January 11th, 2012, 11:51 am

 

jad said:

Mina,
Every German citizen knows what is the job of Angela Merkel’s husband.
The Germans are busy with their own president’s problem now..funny enough, many are asking him to resign and he refused and went on TV to apology yet he managed to LIE even more 🙂 so in the German media the big question asked is: are asking Hat Wulff die Qualitäten eines Bundespräsidenten??

January 11th, 2012, 11:54 am

 

jad said:

Another message to kill someone by name is announced on SC..keep the good work makeup dude.

January 11th, 2012, 11:57 am

 

Juergen said:

Zoo

whats wrong with his assumptions? Do you know how many books are printed in all arab countries in a year? As much as in Spain.
I guess the bearer of the truth needs to be hanged.

January 11th, 2012, 11:58 am

 

Tara said:

When some Arabs kneel to kiss the dictator’s picture and put out a Facebook page to worship his toes, they are indeed backward and hopeless, and I add deserve nothing but contempt. Don’t you think?

January 11th, 2012, 11:58 am

 

Son of Damascus said:

Irritated,

Um what elections are there in Saudi for the King to show off his family?

I am not defending the royals but don’t understand your statement, it makes no sense. I guess your Irritated bowel Syndrome is getting to your brain cause you are just spewing crap these days.

January 11th, 2012, 11:59 am

 

Juergen said:

Jad

no i dont agree with you when you say every german knows what the job is of Angela Merkels husband, most wont even know the name of our president if asked.

Anyway good to know that morality is still an concern, and this wont be the end of the world if we get an new president. I admire Israel that they sent Katzav to prison, that would never happen in my country though.

January 11th, 2012, 12:02 pm

 

jad said:

Jurgen
“no i dont agree with you when you say ”
I agree to disagree.

“I admire Israel that they sent Katzav to prison, that would never happen in my country though.”
Finally, the admiration!
However, I do understand that you can’t say otherwise especially for a German commenting on Israel.

January 11th, 2012, 12:04 pm

 

zoo said:

Juergen

These are not assumptions, they reflect the colonized inferiority complex. Many North African suffer of it. I guess they miss ‘french culture”
Didn’t you wonder why you prefer to visit so frequently the Arab world that produces nothing ‘cultural’ and befriend with “uncultured” arabs instead of other countries who produce a lot of books?

January 11th, 2012, 12:06 pm

 

jad said:

Zoo,
I guess you missed the story I linked about Anwar Malek:

جزائريون يكشفون حقيقة أنور مالك عضو “الجماعة الإسلامية المسلحة” وفريق المراقبين العرب في سوريا

اسمه الحقيقي ” نوار عبد الملك “، وهو ضابط مطرود من الجيش الجزائري بسبب السرقة ، انتحل صفة”دكتور” وهو عضو في جماعة عنتر الزوابري التي كانت تذبح الأطفال بالسواطير!؟

http://www.syriatruth.org/news/tabid/93/Article/6396/Default.aspx

January 11th, 2012, 12:07 pm

 

aldendeshe said:

@275. Revlon said:

Was not Khaddam on top of the regime when that attrocity happend? What did they Sunni Arabs do then? anything close to what they are doing now going to the SC. And why if this massacre of importance to MB they would go on and join in Khaddam NSF? the word MUNAFIKIN comes to mind dude.

January 11th, 2012, 12:09 pm

 

Mina said:

When Revlon calls for murder, as in #281, no one here except Jad has a problem with it? What a great “resistance” movement.
If the journalists were moving freely in Syria they would be butchered. And what of foreign journalists being allowed in Saudi Arabia to report on beheadings and the “trials” that lead to them?

Well put Dendeshe! Try to explain that to Ian Black before he gets us a Khaddam interview from Paris.

January 11th, 2012, 12:10 pm

 

irritated said:

Juergen
“I admire Israel that they sent Katzav to prison”

There are many in the IDF who deserve prison, but in Israel, sexual misconduct with an Israeli woman is much more reprehensible than killing thousands of palestinians.
There is nothing to admire in their fake justice that just covers up their crimes with the veil of “democracy” ans ‘women rights’

January 11th, 2012, 12:11 pm

 

ann said:

Russia calls for “utmost restraint” in Iran standoff – January 11, 2012

http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=351349

Russia on Wednesday said a military attack on Iran would be a “grave mistake” that will reverberate across the world, calling for utmost restraint in the West’s escalating tensions with Tehran.

“A military operation against Iran would be a most grave mistake, a very crude miscalculation.

“The consequences of such a hypothetical development of events would be most far-reaching for regional and global security,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the state ITAR-Tass news agency.

“There cannot, by definition, be a military solution of the task to revive trust in the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program,” Ryabkov was quoted as saying.

“We believe it is categorically unacceptable and call on our partners in the six-party talks, all those who have in recent days begun actively discussing this topic to come to their senses and demonstrate utmost restraint.”

Nuclear negotiations between Iran and six world powers – the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany – collapsed a year ago.

Russia, which has relatively close ties with Iran and built its first nuclear power station in the southern city of Bushehr, spoke out amid escalating tensions between Iran and the West over Tehran’s nuclear program.

The European Union has announced plans to join the United States in ramping up sanctions on Iran, and threats and counter-threats are being increasingly backed with displays of military muscle.

Russia earlier this week voiced concern at the announcement Iran had begun uranium enrichment at a new nuclear plant but Ryabkov condemned sanctions and called for the resumption of talks.

“We believe that preconditions to continue the talks are ripe, and this chance cannot be missed now,” he was quoted as saying.

January 11th, 2012, 12:14 pm

 

zoo said:

#295 Jad

Thanks Jad,
Al Jazeera knows how to pick its stars…

January 11th, 2012, 12:14 pm

 

jad said:

The history is repeating itself with the exact same players!

إعترافات الإخوان بجرائمهم في الثمانينيات 2010
http://youtu.be/S-GH4MXkM58

“جماعة الإخوان المسلمين ، ذلك التنظيم المسلح الإرهابي والذي أرهب الناس والعباد والبلاد ، خرج زعيمهم المنتمي لذلك التنظيم المسلح ومراقبهم العام ” رياض الشقفة ” في مقابلة مع البي بي سي عام 2010 ليعترف بجرائمه وجرائم الجناح الإرهابي التابع له والمسمى ” الطليعة المقاتلة التابعة لجماعة الإخوان المسلمين ” وأبرزها ” تفخيخ الباصات والسيارات ، حادثت الأزبكية والمدفعية الدمويتين ، واغتيالات في صفوف الأساتذة والضباط ، ولزيادة في المعلومة فإن الجناح المسلح المسمى ” الطليعة ” هو نتاج فكر الأرهابي الإخواني ” مروان حديد ” الذي افتخر ويفتخر أتباعه بمقتل عشرات الجنود وتصفية الناس حسب انتمائاتهم الدينية في تلك الفترة قبل أن يعتقله النظام ويقدمه للمحاكمة ، ” الطليعة المقاتلة ” برئاسة حديد الأرهابي الذي يعتبره الإخوان أهم رموزهم ، يتلبك الأخوان ويتحيرون عندما يرد ذكرهم ، فلا يستطيعون نفي انتمائهم عنهم ، ولا يجرئون على الاعتراف بهم ، إلا ان الشيء الوحيد هو أن كلا الفئتين تنتميان إلى نتاج الفكر الإرهابي الداعي الى العنف والطائفية وعدم الإعتراف بأي أحد إلا اذا كان ينضوي تحت زعامتهم ، الاف المدنيين والعسكريين في حلب ودمشق وحماة واللاذقية وإدلب سقطوا نتيجة تطرفهم وإرهابهم وعنفهم وفتنتهم حتى استطاعت القيادة السورية ان تقضي عليهم وتنفي من بقي منهم خارج سوريا ، وها هم اليوم يعودون بنفس الأسلوب ” التفجيراتي ” ليقتلوا بعنفهم وإرهابهم وفتنتهم أكثر من 2250 عسكري وجندي ورجل أمن ، والالاف ممن يخالفوهم ويعارضوهم ويرفضون وجودهم في ريف دمشق وإدلب وحماة وحمص ، طبعا عدا الفتنة الطائفية وتكفير الآخر والدعوة إلى ذبحه وإبادته ومحوه من الوجود”

January 11th, 2012, 12:16 pm

 

irritated said:

#290 SOD

“what elections are there in Saudi for the King to show off his family?”

Obviously, you thick mind is unable to grasp the irony.
You want a drawing?

January 11th, 2012, 12:19 pm

 

jad said:

Zoo,
Isn’t it strange that until today and after 10 months of the tragedy, they couldn’t get ONE respected person on any TV channels to defect or tell one honest and sincere story without the need for the extra accessories of lies that comes with every person goes on Alarabiya and Aljazeera?
I mean we all know how how brutal and corrupted our regime is yet NOT A SINGLE RESPECTED PERSON TO BE HEARD, they only show the worst liars as the only SHOWCASE. Very strange.
Check this out..no laughing please:
إضحك مع العربية..وتحليل غليوني بإمتياز.. 2.1.2012
http://youtu.be/nmg160R0DG4

Irritated, SOD,
I never ever saw the Saudi king family..never, any of you did? Who are the first four ladies of KSA? Even the first ‘Banana’ of Qatar is not the first lady and I never saw them as a family with the kids and the maids and the salves out.

January 11th, 2012, 12:22 pm

 

Juergen said:

Zoo

as much as i am against colonalism and surely there are many who who have complexes about being less cultivated. I dont mean that reading books or publishing them does mean you are civilized.
I will give you an example. I have an kuwaity friend who visited Germany for 4 weeks. I met him the last two days of his visit. I asked him if he had visited the famous Cologne dome. He asked me why should i go to a church? I was quite shocked to hear that from an university educated guy.

Whenever i was travelling in Syria especially in the summer i happen to meet gulf arabs alot in Damascus, Latakia and Aleppo. I did not see any gulf arab in Qualaat Samman or Hosn Akrad,Palmyra. The only place i saw them was in Bosra in the old roman theatre, you can guess why. May be for many this is a european approach to visit museums or historic places during holidays. In the US they made an test for every school student, where they asked what is an elevator. Surely native american students may not know what an elevator is, but does that make them stupid or less intelligent. Nobody suggests that Arabs are less intelligent or cultivated. But there is an ignorance which is part of the games regimes play in the region. I dont know of any syrian writer of prestige whom is read outside of Syria. The ones who are famous Adonis and Rafiq Schami are kept silent ghosts to ordinary syrians, alot will never have heard from them.

January 11th, 2012, 12:26 pm

 

Mina said:

How things go in the Middle East: media and politics
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/bin-talal-coup-what-remains-lbc

Jad
They must be afraid one of the wives takes a chance to shout to the TV reporter that her husband is gay!

January 11th, 2012, 12:29 pm

 

zoo said:

Jad #303

As Scarlett Haddad explained it in the post #214 ,
“Sources of March 14 in fact believe that the Syrian regime is about to collapse and they announce the “good news” for the next few weeks, assuring that efforts are made now to push the people close to Bashar Assad to defect.The idea is to isolate the Syrian president by depriving him of his support within the regime. But for this it is necessary to find a significant personality ready to join the opposition”

It may or may not happen. Until now, the 2 low level defectors, after a lot of media noise, have disappeared into thin air.

January 11th, 2012, 12:35 pm

 

jad said:

The first footage of the criminal coward attack against the Syrians and the Journalists in Homs…it’s a disgusting TERRORIST attack with no goal but to kill innocent people.

دون مونتاج- مشاهد من الجريمة النكراء بحمص
http://youtu.be/q0hRhhyiM_4

January 11th, 2012, 12:37 pm

 

Revlon said:

284. Dear Juergen:
((Revlon, Can you give us again the link for the hama video, i think the link is wrong which you adde))

Thank you for alerting me to the problem and your link.
Here is the correct link to Hama massacre documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JFxDn0ZHFqA
Cheers

January 11th, 2012, 12:38 pm

 

ann said:

AL asks Algeria to send more monitors to Syria – 2012-01-11

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/11/c_131353275.htm

ALGIERS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) — Abdelkader Hadjar, Algeria’s Ambassador to Egypt and permanent representative of Algeria in the Arab League (AL), said Tuesday the AL ministerial committee in charge of following up the Syrian issue requested Algeria to send more observers to Syria.

The local El Khabar newspaper quoted Hadjar as saying that the AL request of adding another 10 Algerian observers to Syria has been referred to Algeria’s foreign ministry.

The ministry has previously sent 10 monitors, including officials, military officials and journalists, to Syria as part of the Arab observer convoy.

“Algeria is committed to the AL roadmap as a unique solution to the crisis in Syria,” Algerian Minister for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel said Sunday in Cairo during a meeting of the AL ministerial committee on Syria.

“The Arab monitors are qualified enough to do the mission,” he said, urging all the Syrians, Arab and international parties to implement the AL peace roadmap.

January 11th, 2012, 12:39 pm

 

jna said:

French journalist killed at pro-regime rally in Syria
Published Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Nine people were killed, including French journalist Gilles Jacquier, when shells struck a pro-regime rally in the Syrian city of Homs on Wednesday.

French television network France 2 confirmed their journalist Jacquier had died covering the rally, while Belgian journalist Steven Visner from Belgian radio was also seriously wounded.

“Another journalist from Belgium is in a very bad situation,” Mazen Darwish, director of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Speech, told Al-Akhbar.

Jacquier is the first foreign journalist to have been killed in Syria since the uprising began last March.

Darwish, citing local sources, said RPGs were fired on the protest in the Akramah neighborhood by unknown armed men.

The journalists were in Syria legally after receiving permission from the Ministry of Information, Darwish said.

“Last week the Ministry of Information allowed 135 journalists to enter Syria, some of them got permission for a few days. These two journalists were among them,” he said.

Darwish expressed concern that the attack will deter journalists from trying to reach Syria to cover the crisis.

“We’ve been fighting a long time for independent journalists to come to Syria. I will be sorry if journalists stop coming to Syria and getting coverage from inside Syria,” he said.

Foreign journalists have been unable to freely cover the crisis in Syria, with few exceptions granted to those willing to be escorted by the regime.

In explaining his ban on foreign media coverage in Syria, President Bashar Assad said the media lacked legitimacy.

“We chose to keep the media out because they lack legitimacy to report [on the crisis] from outside, let alone inside the country,” he said in a Tuesday speech.

Saleem Kabbani, a member of the opposition Local Coordination Committees (LCC) reportedly in Homs, said told Al-Akhbar he was not aware of the attack.

“Protest with the regime? I don’t know anything about it,” he said.

But the LCC member insisted on blaming the regime for the attack, stating that Assad is “killing people loyal to him in order to create internal and sectarian strife.”

The attack was an attempt to “scare off pro-regime loyalists who have not joined the revolution yet,” Kabbani said.

When asked for further details, Kabbani said he would not be able to get information from pro-regime neighborhoods as he “would get slaughtered.”
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/french-journalist-killed-pro-regime-rally-syria

January 11th, 2012, 12:43 pm

 

Mina said:

Thanks a lot Jad for the link, I had missed it too. I paste it here because it is really important. Obviously he didn’t belong to the Algerian team of observers, so he was even put into the team by France or by Qatar.

جزائريون يكشفون حقيقة أنور مالك عضو “الجماعة الإسلامية المسلحة” وفريق المراقبين العرب في سوريا

08 كانون الثاني 2012 07:01 عدد القراءات 4076
27

اسمه الحقيقي ” نوار عبد الملك “، وهو ضابط مطرود من الجيش الجزائري بسبب السرقة ، انتحل صفة”دكتور” وهو عضو في جماعة عنتر الزوابري التي كانت تذبح الأطفال بالسواطير!؟

باريس ، الحقيقة ( خاص) : لفت انتباهنا الصحفي السوري نزار نيوف إلى ضرورة العودة إلى أرشيف عضو فريق المراقبين العرب في سوريا ، المدعو أنور مالك ، والكشف عن حقيقته . وقد أحال لنا ـ مشكورا ـ عددا من المواد التي سبق ونبهه إليها صديقه الصحفي الجزائري عبد العالي رقاد من ” قناة فرانس 24″. وطبقا لما يستفاد من هذه المعلومات ، وهي منشورة منذ أكثر من عام تقريبا ، فإن أنور مالك ليس اسمه الحقيقي ، بل ” نوار عبد الملك”( وهو من مواليد العام 1972). كما أن فضائحه وقصصه الاحتيالية معروفة في الجزائر منذ أن أثيرت قبل أكثر من عام ونصف في الصحافة والإعلام الجزائريين. فهو ـ كما يوصف في هذه المواد ـ “نصاب ومحتال” و ضابط مطرود من الجيش بسبب السرقة والخيانة وسوء الأمانة. والأخطر من ذلك أنه “كان يوقّع بيانات الجماعة الإسلامية المسلحة” التي التي كان يقودها المجرم عنتر الزوابري ، والتي كانت نسخة جزائرية من “القاعدة” و تنظيم الزرقاوي في العراق . وقد تمكنت قوات الأمن الجزائرية من قتله في العام 2009 بعد أن أعمل ساطوره في رقاب الجزائريين ذبحا، بمن فيهم الأطفال، منذ أن ترأس الجماعة المذكورة في العام 1996.ويوصف الزوابري بأنه نسخة الجزائر من ” أبو مصعب الزرقاوي” ، إلا أنه أكثر إجراما ودموية ووحشية منه. فقد كان يغير على القرى ويحرقها بعد أن يكفّر أهلها ويقتلهم!

وطبقا لشهادة صحفي جزائري وردت في إحدى المواد التي أحالها لنا نيوف ، وهي شهادة مسجلة بالصوت والصورة كان نشرها قبل أكثر من عام ، فإن أنور مالك كان ينتحل لقب”دكتور” رغم أنه “لا يعرف كتابة جملة مفيدة”، وكان يجري مقابلات مع نفسه وينشرها في الصحافة الجزائرية على أنه “باحث ومحلل ودكتور”! أي ـ بتعبير آخر ـ نسخة جزائرية من المحتال السوري ، الشرطي الملاحق بتهم جنائية، وحيد صقر!؟ وأكدت مصادر صحفية جزائرية مقربة من”جبهة الإنقاذ في الجزائر” لـ”الحقيقة” أن الكتب التي أصدرها أنور مالك ، بدعم من الأخوان المسلمين ، حررها على الأرجح مرجعية الأخوان المسلمين في الجزائر ” أبو جرة السلطاني” المقيم في سويسرا!؟

وكانت قضية أنور مالك أثيرت في سوريا يوم أمس حين أنشأ صفحة على الفيسبوك وبدأ يروي فيه قصصا عن “مشاهداته” في سوريا ، رغم أن مهمته تمنعه من ذلك قانونيا. وقد ادعى أنه “حين يمشي في الشوارع السورية يدوس على الجثث بسبب تراكمها”. ولأنه تعرض للانتقاد ، بادر أصوليون سوريون تابعون للمجلس الوطني والأخوان المسلمين إلى إنشاء صفحة “تضامن ” معه!

وإلى ذلك ، علمت “الحقيقة” أن أنور مالك هو من معارف وأصدقاء برهان غليون ، ويمت بصلة قرابة لزوجته الجزائرية السابقة ، رغم أن هذا لم نستطع التثبت منه من مصدر مستقل!!؟

http://www.syriatruth.org/news/tabid/93/Article/6396/Default.aspx

January 11th, 2012, 12:51 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Only the syrian army has the kind of weapon that was used in Homs, that killed the journalist

January 11th, 2012, 12:52 pm

 

jad said:

Mina, Zoo,
Did you read Robert Fisk article linked earlier on SC?
I guess he will be declared INSANE for daring to agree on many TABOO the Syrian said from the first day of the tragedy of Syria.

Robert Fisk: Assad faces his people’s hatred – but as their anger grows, his excuses are still just the same

It was the Assad Speech of the Year. There was an international conspiracy against Syria. True. Arab states opposed to Syria were under “outside pressure”. True, up to a point. Nobody could deny the seriousness of these plots. True. After all, the Syrian government itself registers 2,000 dead soldiers, while the UN estimates civilian dead at 5,000. And when Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan warned that the violence in Syria was “heading towards a sectarian, religious war”, there were few supporters of President Assad who would disagree with him.

As for foreign plots, who doubts that weapons are pouring into Syria from Assad’s enemies in Lebanon? Syria’s Defence Minister, Fayez Ghosn, has stated that al-Qa’ida had infiltrated the northern Lebanese town of Arsal – a dodgy claim since the only death there appears to have been caused by Syrian troops. The Lebanese Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt, still nominally an Assad ally, suggested officials should not use such all-encompassing words that mean anything to anyone. True again. Jumblatt said the recent explosions in Damascus that killed at least 25 Syrians raised “many questions” – because they coincided with the Arab League monitors’ visit.

So far, then, so good. Assad also promised a referendum on the constitution around March and elections mid-year. The problem, of course, is two-fold. Although President Assad was giving his first public address in six months, it contained little new. The foreign plotters, the Arab states under foreign pressure, the threat to hit the regime’s armed enemies with “an iron fist”, are statements that we have all heard before.

What has changed, however, is the extent and speed of the deterioration in Syria, an ever more blood-curdling battle in which Assad’s opponents are ever more heavily armed and readier to assault the regime’s forces. The “Free Syria Army” or the “Free Army” is steadily growing in size, although it will not be taken seriously by its armourers unless whole Syrian military units defect.

Assad’s government, however, has still found itself unable to deal with the news side of the crisis. By allowing few international journalists to enter the country, officials have allowed the stunning YouTube images of the opposition to lead public opinion. When Al Jazeera can broadcast a Muslim imam in a crowded mosque shouting “Assad’s soldiers – God curse them – say Assad is their God; if that doesn’t make you angry, what will?” and then give specific details of protesters’ demonstration tactics in a suburb of Damascus, the Syrian Ministry of Information has a real problem.

The President can say – as he did yesterday – that “according to the law, nobody should open fire – only in self-defence or in a battle with an armed person”, but dozens of YouTube phone videos on Al Jazeera suggest that such laws are widely ignored by the regime.

Of course, Al Jazeera is funded by the Emir of Qatar, and the Qatari royal family’s influence has now reached its zenith in the Arab League – which has threatened to allow the whole bloody business to go to the UN Security Council. It’s not difficult to see how – from a sparse Baathist drawing room – this looks more like conspiracy than coincidence. The League has been boasting of its sense of resolution, while Assad believes it was his idea to bring the League’s monitors to Syria. And that’s exactly what he told us all yesterday. The Kuwaitis, meanwhile, said that two of their League military monitors in Syria had been slightly wounded by “unidentified protesters”. It would be interesting to know whom the protesters were protesting against.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-assad-faces-his-peoples-hatred–but-as-their-anger-grows-his-excuses-are-still-just-the-same-6287792.html

January 11th, 2012, 12:53 pm

 

ann said:

Cyprus allow Russian ammunition ship to go – 2012-01-11

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/11/c_131355330.htm

NICOSIA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) — The Cyprus authorities on Wednesday allowed a Russian-owned ship reportedly carrying a “dangerous cargo” of military munitions to Syria to leave after it changed its destination.

“We decided to release the vessel after the ship changed its destination and will not go to Syria,” said government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou.

But he did not specify the new destination of the vessel.

A foreign ministry statement said the Saint Vincent and Grenadines-flagged M/V “Chariot” was forced to anchor off the southern Cypriot port of Limassol on Tuesday afternoon for refueling due to rough seas.

The Cypriot authorities originally prohibited refueling of the ship after customs found it carried a hazardous cargo.

However, the ship was given permit to sail after it had been confirmed that EU regulations and European Council decisions on Syria were not violated.

“We has decided that it was in the public interest to allow the ship to leave”, said Finance Minister Kikis Kazamias, who is in charge of the Customs Department. He did not make clear what the public interest involved here was.

About 500 tons of confiscated explosives exploded near the country’s biggest and newest power station last July, killing 13 people, triggering a government crisis and deepening the country’s financial problems.

January 11th, 2012, 12:58 pm

 

Revlon said:

295. Dear aldendeshe:
((@275. Revlon said:
Was not Khaddam on top of the regime when that attrocity happend?))

No he was not! He was the foreign minister.
You should know better what a minister is worth in Assad Syria.

((What did they Sunni Arabs do then? anything close to what they are doing now going to the SC. ))
Neither Arabs nor others did anything then! They pretended they saw and heared nothing.
Youtube and Facebook has made the difference between then and now. The world feels compelled to react; nevermind how or whether they want to!

((And why if this massacre of importance to MB they would go on and join in Khaddam NSF?))
This massacre is important to every human being who believes in the sanctity of human life, irresepctive of race, citizenship, or ideology!

Hama was bombed and shelled indiscrimanately.
Homes were destroyed over their inhabitants heads; men, women and children.
The murderers did not arrest people or interrogated them to know their political inclinations; they just executed them.
What do children, women or old people have to do with politics.

What happend then was like what is happening now; sectarian cleansing, Alawi commanded forces annihalating Sunni populace from the aged to the todler, destroying their historic neibourhoods and looting their hard earned living.

January 11th, 2012, 1:01 pm

 

Mina said:

Jad, yes I read Fisk’s article, did you notice that just as in the LA Times, they use pro-regime demos as illustrations!

January 11th, 2012, 1:05 pm

 

defender said:

IAEA leaked secret info to Iran enemy’
News 11.01.2012

A senior lawmaker says assassination of Iranian scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan proves that the confidential information provided to international bodies by Iran has been leaked to the country’s enemies.

“The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must be trusted by nations because nations and governments give their documents to the agency,” said speaker of the Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Kazem Jalali on Wednesday.

“How the enemies of [the Islamic] establishment have obtained the names and information of our country’s elite is a question we would like to know the answer to,” he added.

Jalali stressed that the IAEA, international community and the UN nuclear agency’s member states using their membership against the Islamic Republic must be held accountable for their actions.

The lawmaker said the resemblance of the Wednesday assassination and other Zionist-American killings indicate that the “principle of assassination has been institutionalized in the American system and Zionist regime.”

“Assassinations like what happened in Tehran this morning lack operational value as such assassinations are called blind [acts of terror] which prove the maximum frustration of the enemies because they have not been able to weaken the [Iranian] nation’s resolve and therefore resort to any shameful measure,” Jalali said.

Ahmadi Roshan was a Sharif University of Technology chemical engineering graduate and served as the deputy director of marketing at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.

On Wednesday morning, an unknown motorcyclist attached a sticky bomb to Ahmadi Roshan’s car near Allameh Tabatabaei University in Tehran.

Ahmadi Roshan was immediately killed as the result of explosion, and his driver, who had sustained injures, passed away a few hours later in hospital.

The latest terrorist attack comes as Iran has reached an agreement with the P5+1 — Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States plus Germany – to hold negotiations in Turkey.

The US, Israel and their allies accuse Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program and have used this allegation as a pretext to sway the UNSC to impose four rounds of sanctions on Iran.

Based on these accusations, they have also repeatedly threatened Tehran with the “option” of a military strike.

This is while in November 2011, some of the US presidential hopefuls called for conducting covert operations ranging from assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists to launching a military strike on Iran as well as sabotaging Tehran’s nuclear program.

The calls for assassinations are not idle threats as a number of Iranian scientists have been assassinated over the past few years. Professor Majid Shahriari and Professor Masoud Ali-Mohammadi are among the victims of these acts of terror.

On November 29, 2010, Shahriari and Fereydoun Abbasi were targeted by terrorist attacks; Shahriari was killed immediately and Dr. Abbasi, the current director of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, only sustained injuries.

Iran says as the UN Resolution 1747, adopted against Tehran in March 2007, cited Abbasi’s name as a “nuclear scientist,” the perpetrators were in a position to trace their victim.

According to reports, Ahmadi Roshan had recently met International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, a fact which indicates that the IAEA has leaked information about Iran’s nuclear facilities and scientists.

PressTV

January 11th, 2012, 1:08 pm

 

jad said:

‘Alqaeda’ message in Syria:

تنظيم القاعدة في سورية- كتيبة الفرقان
http://youtu.be/ZmBKdHQxuAo

“تنظيم القاعدة في سورية ,كتيبة الفرقان بقيادة ابو اسامة الشامي وموجود على الحدود السورية التركية والحدود السورية اللبنانية
كتيبة الفرقان التابعة لتظيم القاعدة تتعهد بالقتال في سورية بالاضافة الى حزب التحرير الاسلامي”

January 11th, 2012, 1:14 pm

 

aldendeshe said:

@REVLON

“..You should know better what a minister is worth in Assad Syria…”

Worth nothing, but did he resign or helped the regime further for decades and became VP, then helped them again by handing it over?
And why MB joined his worthless front? SNP was already on the net and SC and they choose NSF because teh Saudis and Americans told them so, not only proven to be a tool of “Munafekeen” but puppets as well. Syrians are now stuck between Saudi/American murdurous Puppets and Mukhabrat/Iranian Shia genocidal puppet, neither have any leadership quality, Syria, in fact the whole Middle East, needs a visionary leadership that care about Syria, the homeland and the nation as well as the Levant, our fertile Crescent we all call home. Syrians are tired of being ruled by puppets and mercenaries, we need INDEPENDENCE, FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY, PEACE… Puppeteers are out.

January 11th, 2012, 1:18 pm

 

jad said:

Mina,
They did that many times in the newspaper, before they used to call them Anti-regime demonstrations, now they are simply using the pictures to give the impression of big Anti-regime gathering since nothing that big is going on anymore.

There is a heart breaking clip of the massacre that happened in Homs today online. It’s graphic and very emotional I wont link it, but it seems that Homs is already in a civil war where people are killed according to their sect.

All the world now know that they can’t hide the armed militia crimes anymore even Alain Jupee didn’t try to accuse the Syrian regime of the criminal attack in Homs.
It became too obvious now that the terrorist that Turkey, Qatar, Franc and Britain support, finance and armed are nothing but criminal gangs and they are leading us to full destruction and a full scale civil war, they must be stopped.

January 11th, 2012, 1:24 pm

 

Observer said:

Is this spontaneous appearence reminiscent of someone that used to appear in his famous square with adoring crowds?
Do I smell rats and germs?
Well, if there is ever increasing armed gangs and strife and now delegates being fired on and journallists killed then there is somewhere clear incompetence.
Can anyone tell of one case of accountability for the incompetence of the security services to protect the people? Did the minister of interior resign? How about the head of the police?

What do people make of the speech? Was the picture that of Asma and her children? Was it staged as it was very brief and with her head covered?
Is there any basis for the rumor that she left and asked for divorce?

January 11th, 2012, 1:28 pm

 

ann said:

Qatar offered the Syrian foreign minister $250 MILLION to defect, he declined.

January 11th, 2012, 1:28 pm

 

Mina said:

Important details about the attack here:

TÉMOIGNAGE – Le correspondant de la BBC en arabe se trouvait mercredi à Homs en même temps que le reporter de France 2 Gilles Jacquier.

Mohammed Ballout, envoyé spécial de la BBC en arabe, présent à Homs, raconte:

«Nous étions deux délégations de journalistes étrangers présents ce mercredi après-midi à Homs. La première, escortée par le ministère de l’Information syrien, était composée, outre moi-même, de journalistes des chaînes américaines CNN et CBS et de l’AFP. La seconde délégation était escortée par une religieuse libanaise et comptait dans ses rangs Gilles Jacquier et un autre journaliste de France 2, cinq Belges, deux Suisses, deux Libanais et un journaliste syrien.

«Nous avons fait le tour des hôpitaux dans les quartiers de Homs qui sont toujours sous le contrôle de l’armée et, vers 15 heures, mon groupe a quitté le secteur alaouite de Zahira. Quelques instants plus tard, devant l’hôpital de Zahira, un attroupement s’est formé de militants pro-Assad qui ont commencé à scander des slogans favorables au régime. Soudain, une roquette RPG a frappé la foule. Huit activistes pro-Bachar ont été tués sur le coup, il y a eu des blessés également.

Gilles Jacquier était arrivé samedi dernier à Damas.
Gilles Jacquier était arrivé samedi dernier à Damas. Crédits photo : KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP

Un bastion alaouite

«Les journalistes du groupe de Jacquier sont accourus pour voir ce qui se passait. À ce moment-là, un deuxième RPG a été tiré dans leur direction. Gilles Jacquier est mort sur le coup. Un journaliste de la radio flamande VRT a été blessé à la tête. Le caméraman de France 2 n’a pas été blessé. L’attaque s’est passée dans la rue.

«Zahira est un bastion alaouite qui a été visé plusieurs fois dans le passé par les manifestants. Dans ce quartier, il y a souvent des tirs de snipers de la part des manifestants», ajoute Mohammed Ballout, qui s’est rendu à plusieurs reprises ces derniers mois en Syrie.

Gilles Jacquier était arrivé samedi dernier à Damas, invité par Sœur Marie Agnès, une religieuse libanaise favorable au pouvoir syrien. Gilles Jacquier était grand reporter à France 2 depuis 1999 et prix Albert-Londres en 2003. La France demande que «toute la lumière soit faite sur les circonstances» de sa mort, a déclaré le ministre des Affaires étrangères, Alain Juppé.

Gilles Jacquier est le premier journaliste occidental à trouver la mort en Syrie depuis le début de la révolte populaire lancée en mars contre le régime de Bachar el-Assad.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2012/01/11/01003-20120111ARTFIG00506-gilles-jacquier-un-journaliste-present-a-homs-temoigne.php

January 11th, 2012, 1:35 pm

 
 

jna said:

‘Neocon Israel Mouthpiece Writes Syrian Opposition Intervention Paper’

“… The paper was written for the Strategic Research & Communication Centre, a somewhat mysterious organization in Britain that claims to offer “Informed insight on Syria”, founded in 2010 and run by the Syrian expat Ausama Monajed who “previously served as the director of Barada Television”. As is known from Wikileaks cables:

Barada TV is closely affiliated with the Movement for Justice and Development, a London-based network of Syrian exiles. Classified U.S. diplomatic cables show that the State Department has funneled as much as $6 million to the group since 2006 to operate the satellite channel and finance other activities inside Syria.

We can safely assume that Ausama Monajed, who’s current organization does not reveal its funding sources, is still on that indirect U.S. State Department payroll.

The paper Weiss wrote to argue for military intervention is endorsed as a Special Report by the expat Syrian National Council on its slick new website… … …

See, that nasty “cover organization pushing reconciliation” that represents the real protesters in Syria is now simply done away with.

The neocon org’s communications director and excecutive director of a “mouthpiece for Israel” Michael Weiss writes a paper to further military intervention in Syria for a U.S. State Department funded expat Syrian think tank which then gets adopted by the expat militant Syrian National Council…”

http://friday-lunch-club.blogspot.com/

January 11th, 2012, 1:38 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

@321 Ann.

On second thoughts Mr Muallem and the regime have missed a golden opportunity. They could have had him pretend to defect and once the money was recieved re-join the regime.

Imagine what $250 million would mean for the regime running out of funds? I’m sure Mr Muallem could have played hardball and raised the sum? $300 million?

January 11th, 2012, 1:45 pm

 

jad said:

Thank you Mina for the article.
Now I understand the emotional reaction of Sister Agnes, she feels responsible because she invited him. she said that in Syria there are no true oppositions any more the criminals took over the streets and all the news about Syria are intentionally full with lies.

January 11th, 2012, 1:46 pm

 

Mina said:

I wait for Ian Black or anyone still to mention Soeur Agnes today.. and the BBC-journalist quoted says he has been several time to Homs in the recent months and that in this Alawite neighborhood there are often pro-regime demos and often “protester snipers”.
«Zahira est un bastion alaouite qui a été visé plusieurs fois dans le passé par les manifestants. Dans ce quartier, il y a souvent des tirs de snipers de la part des manifestants», ajoute Mohammed Ballout, qui s’est rendu à plusieurs reprises ces derniers mois en Syrie.

Of course, his views were not reported on the BBC world service.

January 11th, 2012, 1:50 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

{I hadn’t heard Sky News’ Tim Marshall’s thoughts for a while so did a search and will share the following from Dec 23, 2011. It sets out 3 possible scenarios for the twin december bombings in Damascus:}

Damascus Bombs New Departure For Syria

By Tim Marshall, foreign affairs editor | Sky News – Fri, Dec 23, 2011

The twin bombings in Damascus mark a new departure for Syria after almost a year of turmoil.

The reasons behind the attack and the identity of the perpetrators is unknown but there are various possibilities.

The government was quick to blame al Qaeda.

Al Qaeda does have a strategy of trying to further destabilise already unstable countries in order to try and collapse them and then step into the vacuum.

This has not been successful and al Qaeda is not thought to be able to operate in Syria without extreme difficulty given the pervasive presence of the domestic intelligence agencies.

Nevertheless, the possibility that it has entered the Syrian crisis remains.

The bombs struck a security and intelligence complex. This makes it possible that a breakaway faction of the uprising against the regime has decide to step up attacks against the state.

However, there were many civilian casualties and the opposition groups are trying to unite the country in their favour which this attack will not achieve.

A third scenario is one the opposition is already circulating – that the government planted the bombs itself in order to “prove” its claim that there is not a popular uprising in Syria but there are “armed terrorist groups” fomenting violence.

The attacks came the day after an advance party of Arab League observers arrived in the capital to set up a monitoring operation which should include 150 monitors by the end of the month.

Opposition groups claim the bombs were designed to persuade the monitors that the government claims are correct.

When the Arab League teams are in place they will fan out across the country in groups of 10.

The agreement Syria signed with the Arab League grants them free, unannounced access to all parts of the country and to take media with them.

A test of the agreement will come when a team attempts to go to one of the flashpoint cities such as Homs and Deera.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/damascus-bombs-departure-syria-161540623.html

January 11th, 2012, 1:57 pm

 

Badr said:

An interview with Ali Ferzat, currently in Kuwait receiving treatment

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00mrj7n

January 11th, 2012, 1:58 pm

 

ann said:

325. Uzair8 said:

@321 Ann.
“””On second thoughts Mr Muallem and the regime are stupid. They could have had him pretend to defect and once the money was received re-join the regime.”””

It is impossible for an israeli to understand honesty and honor

January 11th, 2012, 2:04 pm

 

Tara said:

The regime’s despicable crime killing the French journalist and others should not pass unpunished. The UNSC must meet emergently and sanction an international invertigation committee. Assad crimes must be stopped and he must face justice. The world should not tolerate these crimes anymore.

January 11th, 2012, 2:04 pm

 

Shabbi7 said:

First off, I am greatly disgusted by what happened today and I condemn this and all other terrorist acts all over Syria. That is something you won’t hear the dabbi7a saying as they will desperately try to blame this cowardice act on the regime (with comprehensive support from western and “Arab” media).

Mina, I’m sure you noticed how the AL (ie Hamad) kept talking about “snipers” and all the media just said “pro-government snipers.” Then in the latest AL statement, when they called on the Syrian government and the “armed groups” to stop all violence, again all the media said “AL calls on Syrian government to stop killing civilians” and no mention of armed groups whatsoever. This has been the case with Syria since… forever really. It’s always kind-hearted people like Sister Agnes that get trampled over and ignored by the global media gang, which just leads to more and more killing.

The west doesn’t care about us. They never have, never will. Syrians have to depend on themselves and all those counting on NATO support are nothing but COWARDS and TRAITORS. How can this be called a revolution? Can you imagine Che and Fidel asking for NATO support in their revolution? Let’s put it this way: there are Che shirts everywhere, but you will never see Abdul-Jalil (aka Abdul-NATO) shirts. I used to think Hafez was being harsh exiling all those “dissidents” but now I see he was showing mercy. They should have been hung.

January 11th, 2012, 2:08 pm

 

Mina said:

Tara,
Give us a break. And take a risk to kill Sister Agnes, one of the best advocate of the regime in such places as the Vatican, where some real power still lies?

January 11th, 2012, 2:08 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

Ann @330

I meant from the point of view of the regime. They missed an opportunity.

I wouldn’t think they would care about honesty and honour while fighting for their lives. Anyway, nobody would know about this story as Qatar wouldn’t make it public out of embarrassment. The Assad regime wouldn’t make public the matter.

January 11th, 2012, 2:12 pm

 

zoo said:

303. Juergen said:

Juergen, there is an Arab in the prestigious Academie Francaise: Amin Maluf, a Lebanese.
The Arabs are generally hedonists and fatalist and do not attach great importance in cultivating memories.

January 11th, 2012, 2:30 pm

 

ann said:

Four army men killed in ambush by “terrorists” near Syrian capital – 2012-01-11

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/11/c_131355310.htm

DAMASCUS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) — Four army personnel were killed and eight others wounded early Wednesday when “an armed terrorist group” attacked a military bus in a suburb of the capital Damascus, state-run SANA news agency reported.

The bus was blown up by an explosive device in Ya’four district, some 20 km southwest of Damascus, killing four and wounding eight others, according to SANA which didn’t mention the ranks or identities of the personnel.

Separately, a colonel and two law-enforcement forces were killed Tuesday near Damascus by gunshots, according to SANA, noting colonel Jihad Qaddour and the two law members were attacked while on their way to a military unit in Damascus’ suburbs.

Three other members were wounded and taken to a military hospital in Damascus, it added.

January 11th, 2012, 2:44 pm

 

Tara said:

The footage of the murder is very disturbing. It is believed to be a mortar attack. A mortar on the roof or on the ground in a fortified Alawite neighborhood in Homs can not belong to any entity except the regime. The regime’s fingerprint is all over. Who kill the innocents and torture children in cold blood? Who banned foreign journalists for 10 month to hide the truth? Who planted plastic bags near a pool of blood to be filmed by the al Dunya TV after the second car bombing in Damascus? Who incited violence on his last speech? Who has plans to kill his own supporters to look like a victim? And in case the regime has nothing to be afraid of, why not allowing an immediate French or international investiation into this heinous murder?

January 11th, 2012, 2:48 pm

 

irritated said:

329. Badr

An interesting account of Ali Ferzat’s ordeal
Yet, he did not answer the question on how he left the country (facing the security officers at the airport?) while he said he left the country because he was afraid of the security officers roaming the hospitals in Syria.
After being mistreated by the ‘authorities’ that he directly accuses, it is puzzling that he seems so confident that he will go back and work normally in Syria.

January 11th, 2012, 2:52 pm

 

jna said:

Today’s murders by RPG in Homs:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/jan/11/syria-400-dead-during-arab-league-mission-live-updates#block-21

Mohammed Ballout, described by Le Figaro as an Arabic-speaking journalist for the BBC, has given this account of events in Homs today.

Like the Guardian’s Ian Black, he was in the other group of journalists, but heard an RPG exploding either near or in the crowd of pro-regime supporters.

The journalists from Jacquier’s group ran to see what was going on. At that moment, a second RPG was shot in their direction. Gilles Jacquier was killed on the spot.

A journalist from the Flemish [Belgian] radio station VRT suffered a head injury. The France 2 cameraman was not injured. The attack took place in the street.

Zahira is an Alawite stronghold which has been targeted several times in the past by protesters. In this neighbourhood, there is often sniper fire from protesters.

January 11th, 2012, 2:52 pm

 

zoo said:

Thanks Mina #323
I am giving an english translation of the important part.

The french Figaro reports the circumstances of the killing:

According to Mohammed Ballout, special envoy of BBC arabic, present in Homs:
… a moment later in front of the Zahira hospital, a group of pro-regime activists formed and started to shout pro-Bashar slogans. Suddenly a rocket hit the crowd. 8 pro-Bashar activists were killed instantaneouly and there has been wounded too.
….
Gilles Jacquier arrived saturday in à Damas, invited by Sister Marie Agnès, a Lebanese nun supporting the Syrian regime.
..
«Zahira is an alawite stronhold that has been targeted several times by protesters. In this area, there are often protesters snipers.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2012/01/11/01003-20120111ARTFIG00506-gilles-jacquier-un-journaliste-present-a-homs-temoigne.php

January 11th, 2012, 3:04 pm

 

jad said:

Mina,
-She can’t, she has a big piece of wood in her eyes.
-The contract killing are exclusive to the makeup dude.

January 11th, 2012, 3:07 pm

 

jad said:

“جاء في الإثم الكنعاني من نشوء الأمم لأنطون سعادة
-ما دمنا قد بلغنا حدّ الوجدان القوميّ الّذي هو أبرز الظّواهر الاجتماعيّة العامّة العصريّة فقد بلغنا هذا الدّين الاجتماعيّ الخصوصيّ الّذي أعطى الكنعانيّون فكرته الأساسيّة للعالم ونعت في بعض الظّروف بالخديعة الكنعانيّة(238) أو الإثم الكنعانيّ
-القوميّة، إذن، هي يقظة الأمّة وتنبّهها لوحدة حياتها ولشخصيّتها ومميّزاتها ولوحدة مصيرها. إنّها عصبيّة الأمّة. وقد تلتبس أحياناً بالوطنيّة الّتي هي محبّة الوطن، لأنّ الوطنيّة من القوميّة ولأن الوطن أقوى عامل من عوامل نشوء الأمّة وأهمّ عنصر من عناصرها. إنّها الوجدان العميق الحيّ الفاهم الخير العامّ، المولّد محبّة الوطن والتّعاون الدّاخليّ بالنّظر لدفع الأخطار الّتي قد تحدق بالأمّة ولتوسيع مواردها، الموجد الشّعور بوحدة المصالح الحيويّة والنّفسيّة، المريد استمرار الحياة واستجادة الحياة بالتّعصّب لهذه الحياة الجامعة الّتي يعني فلاحها فلاح المجموع وخذلانها خذلانه
-القوميّة هي الرّوحيّة الواحدة أو الشّعور الواحد المنبثق من الأمّة، من وحدة الحياة في مجرى الزّمان. ليست القوميّة مجرّد عصبيّة هوجاء أو نعرة متولّدة من اعتقادات أوّليّة أو دينيّة. إنّها ليست نوعاً من الطّوطميّة، أو نعرة دمويّة سلاليّة، بل شعور خفيّ صادق وعواطف حيّة وحنوّ وثيق على الحياة التي عهدها الإنسان. إنّها عوامل نفسيّة منبثقة من روابط الحياة الاجتماعيّة الموروثة والمعهودة، قد تطغي عليها، في ضعف تنبّهها، زعازع الدّعاوات والاعتقادات السّياسيّة، ولكنّها لا تلبث أن تستيقظ في سكون اللّيل وساعات التّأمل والنّجوى أو في خطرات الإنسان في بريّة وطنه أو متى تذكّر برّيّة وطنه
-إنّ الإثم الكنعانيّ لا يزال فاعلاً فينا وقد أصبح فاعلاً في العالم كلّه”

January 11th, 2012, 3:12 pm

 

irritated said:

Jad
I think the killing in Homs is going to have a serious impact on the international media as it is becoming increasingly clear who are the “unidentified” gunmen and snipers.
This is probably a turning point in the media war.

January 11th, 2012, 3:19 pm

 

Mina said:

The extremists among the opposition need more bloodshed because they know that the AL mission and even a UN handling of the crisis would take months of bureaucratical procedures, observers, deployment of peace corps etc. Some of the important players have elections in the coming months Iran, France, Russia, the US, so they have actually no interest in a conflict now (except for the maniacs who think they have here a window of opportuniy for imposing silence on the peaceniks). The non-extremist believe that the AL mission is the time to create a momentum, but they don’t see that the extremists and the FSA are looking only for escalation…

January 11th, 2012, 3:28 pm

 

irritated said:

322. ann

“Qatar offered the Syrian foreign minister $250 MILLION to defect, he declined.”

Qatar (and the opposition) are desperately looking for high level defector to finally start the “Libyan” scenario that is 10 months late. Offers are going up.

Until now they were able to convince two dubious men: The invisible Bakkour and the Al Jazeera star, Mahmoud al-Haj Hamad

January 11th, 2012, 3:28 pm

 

zoo said:

Call to its supporters: The FSA need money to buy weapons

FSA buying weapons from pro-regime militia– Senior FSA officer
10/01/2012 By Caroline Akoum

http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=28044
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat – Questions continue to be asked regarding where the anti-regime Free Syrian Army [FSA] – made up predominately of Syrian army defectors –is obtaining its weapons and arms from. A senior FSA commander, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the condition of anonymity, described the FSA’s financial capability as being “weak”, and revealed that the FSA obtains most of its funds from “ordinary Syrian citizens.” He stressed “if the FSA had greater capabilities the situation on the ground would be very different, and we would have overthrown the regime by now.”
The FSA commander also revealed that FSA soldiers are only equipped with light weaponry, such as RPG’s [rocket propelled grenades] and AK-47s. He told Asharq Al-Awsat “we obtain these weapons from a number of sources, and this includes defectors who bring weapons with them, as well as from successful attacks [on the Syrian army], whilst we also purchase a large proportion of our arms from the pro-regime Shabiha militia.” The FSA officer also claimed that the anti-regime organization also obtains arms and weaponry from Alawite Syrian army officers who are sympathetic to the revolution but too afraid to come out publicly and endorse the uprising against the rule of Alawite Bashar al-Assad.
{…}

January 11th, 2012, 3:37 pm

 

zoo said:

Tunisia is doing well?

Jobless Tunisian ‘dies days after self-immolation’
10/01/2012
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=28037

TUNIS, (AFP) — A Tunisian man who set himself on fire to protest unemployment has died, a hospital official said Tuesday, a year almost to the day after a fruit-seller’s self-immolation sparked the Arab Spring.

Ammar Gharsalla, a 48-year-old father of three, had been among protestors staging a sit-in outside the Gafsa government office last Thursday to highlight the unemployment problem in the region.

He doused himself with petrol and set himself alight after three ministers of Tunisia’s first post-revolution government who were visiting the area had refused to meet the group, sources said.
{..}

January 11th, 2012, 3:40 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

The killing of Iranian scientist should be considered as crime against humanity

The appearance of Bashar in Amawyen square along with his wife and children is very unusual and we will know in the future explanation for it, I very much doubt what the Shabbiha here on SC are saying, I believe there are talk about Bashar is ready to run away,or may be his wife is planning to leave to London

January 11th, 2012, 3:43 pm

 

Antoine said:

It seems Bashar al Assad is killing Allaouites. ( this is not the first time though ).

January 11th, 2012, 3:51 pm

 

aldendeshe said:

@JAD
I been told my Arabic is that of a Six grader, that SSNP Saadeh comment is way above my Arabic skill to understand. I never read Mien Kampf and neither Noushou Al-Umam.

It is obvious that a cruel monopolistic and ultra gready Baathshit mafia running the show in Syria with a front puppet to give it a better face. It is obvious that they have no care whatsoever about the people, the country or the nation. IRHAL YA ZALAMI IRHAL. Take your mafia bosses and move on to live rich ever after. 60 Years of Baathist hell and nightmare needs to come to end in Syria. I am still polite and restrained.

January 11th, 2012, 3:54 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

ارحل عنا يازلمي خود عصابتك وارحل دخيلك

January 11th, 2012, 3:58 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

@ Aldendeshe

Don’t worry, the fake pseudo-Islamists like MB ( mirror image of Shia Islamists) will not have much of a say in independent Syria. Real people, I mean real people are rising and already in charge with adrenaline pumping. They will not stop at any obstacle to bring every single bitch starting with Khaddam and Rifaat Assad, whoever served in that Cabinet, Peoples Council, Defence Companies, Provincial Governmebt between 2 February 1982 and 1 March 1982. bound and gagged hands and feet, to Al Assy Square in Hama.

USA France Saudi do not and will not have much of a say in new Syria so basically Khaddam and Rifaat are COOKED MEAT. A new dawn awaits us, trust the real guys, not the MB circus animals.

January 11th, 2012, 4:07 pm

 

Juergen said:

Zoo

Sorry i truly believe that arab hedonism is owned by the lebanese only, so far i havent met more hedonists than in Lebanon.

Amin Maalouf is one of my favorite writers, his book The Crusades Through Arab Eyes ( i love the german title more: “the holy war of the barbarians” ) should be made a obligatious in schools. We have quite an romantic view on the crusades, through him i understood how much this chapter of history is still so important in the ME.

January 11th, 2012, 4:14 pm

 

defender said:

ثورات و حقائق سرية

الأناركية و الفوضى الغير خلاقة التي تواجه العالم
http://revfacts.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-post_04.html

الطرف الثالث
http://revfacts.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-post_28.html

January 11th, 2012, 4:34 pm

 

Halabi said:

The millions of pro-Assad terrorists that turned up at his rally today.

January 11th, 2012, 4:51 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Halabi,

Wow, that is an abysmal amount of people. From what the menhebakji made it out to be you would have thought they were millions.

One thing that really surprised me is that someone used their camera phone inside the Syrian TV HQ to film this, wonder if it was filmed for memorabilia sake or the person is pro revolution, if so I am sure he/she would have more videos to share that can shed some more light on the regime lies.

January 11th, 2012, 5:00 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

@ Aldendeshe

Don’t worry, the fake pseudo-Islamists like MB ( mirror image of Shia Islamists) will not have much of a say in independent Syria. Real people, I mean real people are rising and already in charge with adrenaline pumping. They will not stop at any obstacle to bring every single bitch starting with Khaddam and Rifaat Assad, whoever served in that Cabinet, Peoples Council, Defence Companies, Provincial Government, Mukhabarat, between 2 February 1982 and 1 March 1982. Bound and gagged hands and feet, to Al Assy Square in Hama. In fact Rifaat al Assad is Prime Accused and convicted, NOT Hafez.

USA France Saudi do not and will not have much of a say in new Syria so basically Khaddam and Rifaat are COOKED MEAT. A new dawn awaits us, trust the real guys, not the MB circus animals.

January 11th, 2012, 5:26 pm

 

zoo said:

306. jad

This is the most horrifiying live video I have ever seen of the killings. I am in a state of shock.

January 11th, 2012, 5:32 pm

 

irritated said:

Majedalkhaldoon, Antoine and the “angels” supporters

We are hearing near hysterical reactions from the supporters of the FSA after the horrible and well documented killing in Homs that leaves no doubts about who are the killers and the snipers.
Now we read inepties like that:

Bashasr kills alawites and NUNS!
Bashar is surely packing to leave
Bashar is behind the killing in Homs
The weapons belong to the army not to the FSA angels

I guess we will hear more of that as the western media and the observers are discovering how much they have been mislead in accusing only one side.

January 11th, 2012, 5:45 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Thank you Halabi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QsXgLiepHk
this is staged video,we will hear more about it

January 11th, 2012, 5:49 pm

 

jad said:

Zoo,
I know, I’m very very sorry that I have to link this, the voice alone is telling of the tragedy:
A mother saying good bye to her kid and a brother kissing the feet of his lost brother asking the same question we all do, Why?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=353718537987682

The names of the martyrs and injured of today terrorist bombing attack in Homs:

أسماء المصابين و الشهداء نتيجة قصف حي عكرمة بقذائف الهاون من قبل إرهابيي بابا عمرو :
الإصابات التي وردت إلى مشفى النهضة :
الشهيدة هيام اليوسف .
الشهيد محمد سعد الدين عسكري
الشهيد عبادة ونوس الشرطة العسكرية .
… … … … بشار منصور حالته مستقرة مدني
عمار سلوم حالته مستقرة مدني
نبيل ضاهر حالته مستقرة مدني
عمار خرمة حالته مستقرة مدني
ابراهيم محسن حالته مستقرة مدني
الإصابات التي وردت إلى مشفى الزعيم :
عمار النقري استشهد منذ قليل.
ياسر نصر حالته خطيرة مدني
حسين محسن حالته متوسطة مدني
بشار اليوسف (أخو الشهيدة هيام اليوسف ) حالته مستقرة
الاصابات من الوفد الصحفي :
ميل جاكييه توفي بلجيكي الجنسية يعمل لدى قناة فرانس 2
ستيفان دارسبرغ هولندي الجنسية شظايا بالرأس حالته جيدة .
وضاح ميخائيل عساف سوري الجنسية وهو مصور صحفي حالته مستقرة .
لطفل نادر حسان الفجر مصاب بشظيتين واحدة في الراس والاخرى في الوجه والان هو بالعناية الالهية بمشفى الاهلي

الرحمة لشهداء الوطن .

January 11th, 2012, 6:22 pm

 

Tara said:

Irritated

“I guess we will hear more of that as the western media and the observers are discovering how much they have been mislead in accusing only one side.”

I thought there is a cosmic conspiracy against Syria plotted by the west and the gulf. I thought there is no free press in the whole wide world and that every and all western news media are working under an agenda to bring down the boy-king. That what you have been feeding us for the last 10 month… Now you are hoping the western media and the observers discovering how much they have bee mislead? I thought when they have an agenda, it doesn’t matter what the truth is….Guys, not that you have ever had credibility but your credibility is becoming below zero…can you stick to one version and be consistent. Choose whatever version you like and best fit your narrative but stick to it.

January 11th, 2012, 6:28 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Syria is being driven by Assad to economic collapse, material devastation, civil war and social disaster. He may long 6 months, one year, two or ten. But the more he lasts the more Syria will be destroyed and controlled by foreign political and economical forces when Assads leave. So, the best thing Assads can do is leaving right now.

For Syria, for the syrians, for the arabs, for the world, for your own mafias please go, ASSAD GO.

January 11th, 2012, 6:50 pm

 

jad said:

Seriously!! Don’t we have one sane person in the regime to recognize the tragedy they are imposing on Syrians and putting Syria in the danger of disappearing?
Not a single opposition member who wants to try to help solve the struggle instead of spreading lies, propaganda and hatred.
Not one country is willing to mediate to help us see the light at the end of this misery.
What all these elements are waiting for I don’t understand.

What is the logic of letting this shower of blood to go on endlessly in every street of Syria? What is the logic of financing, arming and supporting armed militia and terrorists? What is the logic in empowering rigid and lost oppositions? What is the logic of seeing a mother, a father, a brother, a sister saying goodbye to their beloved ones without knowing the reason of their lost and begging to kiss the feet of their diseased beloved ones…It’s beyond depressing.

Why Syrians have to pay by their own blood and souls for the shortcoming of every criminal side?
It’s a crime against every Syrian by everybody; by the criminal regime that took every brave reasonable Syrian man and woman and mad them disappear in prison for torture or killing without any accountability, consequently it opens the streets for every criminal and thug to use in the name of the revolution, by the stupid oppositions who insist of not seeing the terrorists that are doing every atrocity against innocent Syrians in their names without exposing them, and by the criminal greedy foreign powers that are intentionally making the situation getting worse and worse for political gains and to add more cards to their collections.
————————————————

Un journaliste français tué en Syrie, Paris exige une enquête

Gilles Jacquier, grand reporter de la chaîne de télévision France 2, a été tué mercredi lors d’un reportage à Homs dans le centre de la Syrie. Nicolas Sarkozy a dit attendre des autorités à Damas de faire “toute la lumière sur la mort” du journaliste.

C’est le premier journaliste occidental à trouver la mort en Syrie depuis le début de la révolte il y a dix mois. Gilles Jacquier, grand reporter de la chaîne de télévision France 2, a été tué mercredi lors d’un reportage à Homs dans le centre de la Syrie.
Selon un photographe de l’AFP qui se trouvait avec lui, le journaliste français de 43 ans a été atteint par un obus tiré sur un groupe de journalistes occidentaux. Ce groupe se trouvait à Homs, haut lieu de l’insurrection anti-régime, dans le cadre d’un voyage autorisé par Damas qui limite drastiquement les déplacements des médias étrangers. Lors de l’attaque, un photographe indépendant néerlandais a également été atteint par des éclats. Il a été blessé aux yeux. Détail sinistre, la compagne de Gilles Jacquier, une photographe de presse, se trouvait aussi sur les lieux.

Origine des tirs ?

Au-delà du triste bilan, il reste à déterminer les responsabilités dans cette attaque sanglante. La télévision officielle syrienne a accusé “un groupe terroriste” d’avoir “tiré des obus sur des journalistes étrangers”, alors que des militants pro-démocratie sur place ont accusé le régime de Bachar al-Assad confronté depuis le 15 mars 2010 à une contestation populaire qu’il réprime dans le sang. L’Observatoire syrien des droits de l’Homme (OSDH) a précisé que six Syriens avaient également été tués dans l’explosion des obus. L’organisation basée en Grande-Bretagne a demandé l’ouverture d’une enquête, indiquant ignorer l’origine des tirs.

Pour l’heure, seul le témoignage du photographe de l’AFP permet de retracer les évènements qui ont mené au drame : “Nous sommes arrivés à Homs encadrés par les représentants du gouvernorat. Tous les journalistes ont insisté pour se rendre sur le terrain. Les autorités ont décidé de nous emmener à Hadara, un quartier alaouite”, la communauté religieuse du président Bachar al-Assad, a raconté le photographe. “Un premier obus est tombé sur un immeuble, alors que nous étions en train d’interviewer des anifestants pro-Assad qui nous ont suivis vers cet immeuble”, a-t-il poursuivi. “Nous sommes montés sur le toit. Entre-temps un second obus est tombé sur l’immeuble et en redescendant, j’ai vu des morts à terre et j’ai commencé à les photographier”, a-t-il ajouté.

“Acte odieux”

Puis tout s’enchaîne : “Les autres journalistes sont descendus pour voir ce qui ce passait et ceux qui sortaient de l’immeuble ont reçu de plein fouet le troisième obus”. “Devant l’immeuble, les militants pro-Assad ont également été touchés. En redescendant, j’ai vu Gilles qui gisait dans une mare de sang. Une ambulance est arrivée, j’ai sauté dedans. A l’hôpital, c’était le chaos et l’hystérie totale, toutes les cinq minutes un nouveau blessé arrivait”, a-t-il ajouté.

Le président français Nicolas Sarkozy a dit attendre des autorités à Damas de faire “toute la lumière sur la mort” du journaliste. Son ministre des Affaires étrangères Alain Juppé a condamné un “acte odieux” et demandé au pouvoir syrien “d’assurer la sécurité des journalistes internationaux sur son territoire”. Dans la soirée, la chef de la diplomatie européenne Catherine Ashton a exigé elle aussi une enquête, de même que l’organisation de défense de la presse, Reporters sans Frontières. “Gilles Jacquier est le premier journaliste étranger tué en Syrie depuis le 15 mars. Nous demandons aux autorités, avec le concours des observateurs de la Ligue arabe, de faire toute la lumière sur cette tragédie”, a déclaré RSF. Londres a condamné ce décès et Washington l’a “déploré”.

Gilles Jacquier était grand reporter pour France 2 depuis 1999. Il a en particulier couvert l’Irak, l’Afghanistan, le Kosovo et Israël. Il a réalisé de nombreux reportages pour l’émission Envoyé Spécial. Né en 1968, il a débuté à France 3 Lille en 1991, avant de rejoindre la rédaction nationale de France 3 en 1994. En 2003, le prix Albert Londres récompensait sa couverture de la deuxième Intifada et de l’opération Rempart menée par l’armée israélienne en avril 2002.

http://lci.tf1.fr/monde/moyen-orient/un-journaliste-francais-tue-en-syrie-paris-exige-une-enquete-6930285.html

January 11th, 2012, 7:26 pm

 

Halabi said:

After Syrian TV used the Lords of the Rings soundtrack as a promo for Harmoush and Israeli spy (which seems like such a long time ago), Addunia raises the bar to the Star Wars Imperial March to showcase the amazing Assads.

http://youtu.be/b8qRHDBwN5c

Now I understand Menhebaks. If Bashar is Darth Vader, then we have to love him through fear, but with the hope that his son Hafez, Luke, will bring balance to the force. This also explains the universal conspiracy.

January 11th, 2012, 7:45 pm

 

jad said:

Malek story reaches FLC and the UN

The Algerian Arab League ‘observer’ is a fraudulent former member of the ‘Armed Islamic Group’ (GIA)
http://friday-lunch-club.blogspot.com/2012/01/algerian-arab-league-observer-is.html

Algerian FM on the ‘fraudulent’ Arab League observer: “Other Algerians didn’t speak, they might have different opinions!”
“… But most press questions directed to him concerned Syria, including about Anwar Malik, the Algerian member of the Arab League observer mission who left the mission in disgust, calling it a farce. “Other Algerians didn’t speak,”Medelci responded, saying that “they might have different opinions.”
And Medelci is seemingly among them, emphasizing that the violence in Syria does not only come from the government, calling the claims and counterclaims “intriguing.” He said Algeria is opposed to strong cuts of Syria air flights, says it punishes civilians, not the government and its officials….”
http://www.innercitypress.com/syria1algeriaws011112.html

التضليل الاعلامي 11-1-2012 كذب أنور مالك و يونس اليوسف
http://youtu.be/KPMiN4tNUjk

January 11th, 2012, 7:48 pm

 

jad said:

It seems that Alarabi and Hammoudeh are not coordinating what they say, Alarabi seems more balance than the Qatari scum.
Hammoudeh and his masters want to finish the AL mission in anyway they could the faster the better, without any alternative other than NATO. It’s interesting that Clinton spoke on behalf of him!

نعي أميركي قطري مبكر لمهمة المراقبين

وقالت مصادر سورية لمراسل «السفير» في دمشق زياد حيدر إن القيادة السورية ستبدأ الأسبوع المقبل الاتصال مع القوى السياسية السورية المحتملة لتشكيل حكومة وطنية موسعة ربما تشهد النور في شباط المقبل، وذلك بعد أن أعلن الأسد عن توجه لتشكيل حكومة موسعة قال إنه يمكن تسميتها بحكومة وحدة وطنية أو حكومة ائتلافية موسعة، مشيرا إلى أنها ستضم الهيئات السياسية والقوى الراغبة في الانضمام إليها.
ورفضت «هيئة التنسيق السورية»، أحد أهم فصائل المعارضة في البلاد، المشاركة في حكومة كهذه، كما رفضت الحوار مع السلطة في سوريا، في الوقت الذي رحب كل من أمين حزب الإرادة الشعبية قدري جميل (شيوعي) ورئيس الحزب السوري القومي الاجتماعي (جناح معارض) علي حيدر بالفكرة. وقال جميل على صفحته على «فيسبوك» إنه يؤيد فكرة تشكيل حكومة تحمل لقب حكومة وحدة وطنية في أسرع وقت ممكن. كما ذكر في تصريح لصحيفة «الوطن» السورية أول أمس أن اتصالات «غير رسمية» جرت معه في هذا الاتجاه، معتبرا أن هدف هذه الحكومة هو «الوصول الى تحقيق مصالحة وطنية شاملة». وفي السياق ذاته كشف حيدر للصحيفة عن لقائه «أغلب القيادات السياسية والأمنية وأغلب أصحاب القرار في البلاد» لهذه الغاية.
من جهته، قال رئيس تيار بناء الدولة السورية لؤي حسين، على صفحته على «فيسبوك»، إن أية اتصالات لم تجر معه، لا لهذه الغاية أو غيرها، مشيرا إلى أنه لا حوار بينه وبين السلطة منذ أيلول العام الماضي، رافضا فكرة الحكومة الموسعة المطروحة حاليا.
إلا أن المصادر السورية أبقت على رغبتها في الاتصال مع الهيئة وقوى أخرى للمشاركة، على الرغم من اطلاعها على ردود الأفعال السابقة، مشيرة إلى أن الاتصالات ستشمل كل القوى الموجودة على الأرض داخل سوريا، ولا سيما التي لم يسبق لها المشاركة في حكومات في السابق، وذلك في اشارة لسؤال «السفير» عما إن كان هذا الأمر يعني قوى الجبهة الوطنية التقدمية.
وحول الموعد المرتقب لهذه الحكومة، قالت المصادر إن القيادة تستهدف بدء الحوارات والاستشارات ابتداء من الاسبوع المقبل، من دون أن يكون لديها موعد ملزم للتشكيل، فيما أشارت تقديرات الى أنه ربما يحل مع بداية الشهر المقبل، والذي سيشهد مؤتمرا قطريا لحزب البعث سربت مصادر الحزب أنه سيشهد تغييرات في البنية العامة للحزب كتنظيم وتغيير واسع في قياداته. وتبدأ في هذا السياق اليوم الانتخابات الفرعية للحزب، استعدادا للمؤتمر القطري المقبل، على أن تستكمل خلال 10 ايام.
وفي سياق مختلف، أكد مصدر سوري رفيع المستوى لـ«السفير» تمسك دمشق بالحل العربي للأزمة السورية خلافا لما روجته وسائل إعلام عربية تعقيبا على خطاب الأسد أول أمس. وقال المصدر إن «سوريا متمسكة بالحل العربي، وتعمل على إنجاحه بكل الوسائل المتاحة»، مشيرا إلى أن رئيس بعثة المراقبين الفريق السوداني محمد أحمد مصطفى الدابي سمع هذا الكلام رسميا من وزير الخارجية وليد المعلم.
العربي
وقال العربي، في مقابلة مع قناة «الحياة» المصرية، إن «زيادة عوامل الضغط والمقاطعة الاقتصادية والسياسية من عدة دول على النظام السوري والمعارضة أيضا قد تؤتي ثمارها في وقف العنف». وأعرب «عن تخوفه من نشوب حرب أهلية في سوريا في ظل استمرار العنف والأحداث الجارية»، مؤكدا أن «ما يحدث لا يعد في صالح سوريا والعالم العربي، خاصة أن سوريا دولة مؤثرة وأي مشاكل فيها سيكون لها تداعياتها على دول الجوار والمنطقة».
واستبعد العربي «تكرار سيناريو التدخل الأجنبي في سوريا على غرار ما حدث في ليبيا، وأنه ذكر ذلك مرات عديدة للمعارضة السورية»، موضحا أن «الموضوع في سوريا معقد للغاية، بالإضافة إلى أن سوريا تؤثر تأثيراً مباشرا في دول الجوار». وأضاف «سوريا ليس فيها إغراء بالنسبة لدول تستخدم السلاح وتجد من يدفع الفاتورة، ليس فيها نفط، كما أن الولايات المتحدة لديها انتخابات هذا العام، وبالتالي لا أظن أنهم يرغبون في الدخول في مغامرات عسكرية». وتابع «أنا أتحدث عن اللحظة الحالية، وقد تتغير الظروف في ما بعد، وإن كان مجلس الأمن أيضا لا يرغب بالدخول في هذه المغامرات في ظل المعارضة الصينية والروسية».
قال رئيس غرفة عمليات المراقبة في القاهرة عدنان الخضير إن المراقبين الذين أعلن من قبل أنهم سيتوجهون إلى دمشق نهاية الأسبوع الحالي سيتأجل سفرهم حتى يتضح الموقف بعد الهجوم على فريق المراقبين في اللاذقية الاثنين الماضي، حيث أصيب بجروح طفيفة 11 مراقبا.
كلينتون وحمد
ووصفت كلينتون، خلال مؤتمر صحافي مشترك مع الشيخ حمد في واشنطن، خطاب الأسد «بالمستهجن». وقالت «بدلا من تحمل المسؤولية ما سمعناه من الأسد في خطابه أمس (أول أمس) الذي ينطوي على سوء نية بشكل مفزع لم يكن سوى انتحال أعذار وإلقاء اللوم على دول اجنبية ومؤامرات».
وأضافت أن «حكومة الأسد لم تف بوعودها بوقف العنف والافراج عن السجناء وسحب قوات الأمن من المدن». وتابعت «أعتقد أن من الواضح لرئيس الوزراء ولي أن بعثة المراقبة ينبغي ألا تستمر إلى أجل غير مسمى. لا يمكن أن نسمح للأسد ونظامه بالإفلات من العقاب. والشعب السوري يستحق تحولا سلميا». وقالت «نحن نتطلع إلى العمل مع الجامعة العربية عند انتهاء المهمة الحالية لمراقبي الجامعة في 19 الحالي، ونتطلع إلى قيادة رئيس الوزراء القطري مرة أخرى في هذا الصدد».
وقال الشيخ حمد، الذي تتولى بلاده رئاسة الجامعة العربية، إن الشكوك تتزايد بشأن فاعلية المراقبين. وأضاف «بصراحة، لا أرى حتى الآن أن البعثة ناجحة»، معتبرا أن التقرير النهائي بعد انتهاء المهمة في 19 الحالي يمكن أن يساعد في تحديد الخطوات التالية بشأن الأزمة السورية. وتابع إن «التقرير سيكون مهما للغاية بالنسبة لنا لإصدار الحكم الصائب. نأمل ان نحل نحن الازمة لكن الحكومة السورية لا تساعدنا حاليا».
وأشار حمد إلى أنه «إذا قال الأسد إن هناك في الجامعة العربية 6 عقود من الفشل ففي سوريا هناك 4 عقود»، مضيفاً أن «الحكومة السورية ليست جاهزة حتى الآن للقيام بالتغيير». وأكد أن «ما يهم هو وقف القتل في سوريا وحتى الآن لم يتم ذلك بما يتفق مع البروتوكول».
وقالت متحدثة باسم وزيرة خارجية أوروبا كاثرين اشتون، في بيان، ان الخطاب الذي ألقاه الاسد وتطرق فيه الى فكرة «توسيع الحكومة مخيب للآمال بشكل كبير وغير واقعي». وأضافت ان «النظام وعد منذ بدء الانتفاضة بإصلاحات لم يتم احترامها أبدا. وانطلاقا من ذلك، نذكر بأن الاسد فقد كل مصداقية وينبغي ان يغادر السلطة لكي يسمح بعمــلية انتقالية حقيقية في سوريا».
واعتبر وزير الخارجية التركي احمد داود اوغلو، في مؤتمر صحافي عقده في أنقرة مع نظيره التونسي رفيق عبد السلام، ان الهجمات على المراقبين في سوريا تثير شكوكا حول مواصلة مهمتهم. وقال داود اوغلو، الذي دعي الى المشاركة في 23 كانون الثاني الحالي في اجتماع يعقده في بروكسل نظراؤه الأوروبيون لمناقشة الاوضاع في كل من سوريا وإيران، «من غير المقبول ان تستمر إراقة الدماء فيما لا تزال البعثة على الأرض».
ميدانيا
قتل الصحافي جيل جاكييه، الذي يعمل لحساب شبكة «فرانس 2» في حمص اثر سقوط قذائف على مجموعة من الصحافيين. وهو أول صحافي غربي يقتل في سوريا منذ بدء حركة الاحتجاج في 15 آذار الماضي. وقال شاهد في حمص إن الإصابات وقعت نتيجة لقذائف أطلقت أثناء اجتماع حاشد لمؤيدي الأسد.
وذكرت «سانا» «أقدمت مجموعة إرهابية مسلحة على إطلاق قذائف هاون على وفد إعلامي أجنبي وتجمع للمواطنين المتضررين من الإرهاب في حي عكرمة بحمص ما أدى إلى استشهاد 9 أشخاص بينهم صحافي فرنسي وإصابة صحافي بلجيكي بجروح خطيرة إضافة إلى إصابة 25».
وقال مصدر مسؤول في وزارة الإعلام السورية إن «الوزارة تعبر عن أسفها الشديد وحزنها العميق لسقوط شهداء من سوريا ومن ضيوفها وتستنكر هذا الاعتداء الإرهابي وتؤكد أنه يشكل امتدادا لسلسلة الإرهاب التي تتعرض له سوريا، ويأتي في سياق محاولة الإرهابيين تغييب الصورة الحقيقية لما يجري من أحداث في سوريا».
وقال وزير الخارجية الفرنسي آلان جوبيه ان باريس طلبت «توضيحا كاملا لملابسات» مقتل جاكييه (42 عاما) في سوريا. وأضاف، في بيان، «نحن نندد بشدة بهذه الفعلة الشنيعة»، مطالبا السلطات السورية بـ«ضمان أمن الصحافيين الدوليين العاملين على اراضيها وحماية حرية الاعلام التي هي حرية اساسية».وأعربت واشنطن عن «أسفها» لمقتل جاكييه.
وذكر المرصد السوري لحقوق الانسان، في بيان، ان «اربعة مدنيين قتلوا برصاص قوات الامن السورية في حماه حيث تدور مواجهات بين الجيش ومنشقين عنه، بينما عثر على جثة مدني كان خطف قبل يومين في حمص». وذكرت «سانا» «استشهد أربعة عسكريين وأصيب ثمانية بعبوة بريف دمشق». («السفير»، سانا، أ ف ب، أ ب، رويترز، أ ش أ)

http://www.assafir.com/Article.aspx?EditionID=2048&ChannelID=48648&ArticleID=930

January 11th, 2012, 8:31 pm

 

Tara said:

AL is putting a hold on sending new observers.  Is this an implicit admittance of failure?

http://gulftoday.ae/portal/8d2b46c3-f483-4d0e-8998-c1d60f8d9025.aspx
AL decides against sending new observers to Syria
January 12, 2012

CAIRO: The Arab League (AL) is putting on hold a decision to send new observers to Syria after three monitors were slightly wounded in an attack this week, an official at the Cairo-based bloc said.

The official also dismissed remarks by an Algerian monitor who said he quit the Syria mission, accusing the regime of war crimes, saying all his claims were unfounded because he was bedridden and was never in the field.

“The Arab League will not send more observers to Syria for the time being until the situation calms down,” following Monday’s attack targeting observers in the port city of Latakia, the unnamed official said.

Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad vowed to vanquish “foreign conspirators” plotting to end his rule.

In the latest violence, a Western journalist was among eight people killed in Homs, Syria’s Addounia television said, adding that 25 people had been wounded.

It said the dead journalist worked for France 2 television and that among the wounded was a Dutch journalist. The death would be the first of a foreign reporter in Syria in 10 months of unrest. 

A smiling Assad, in a dark jacket and open-necked shirt, greeted thousands of rapturous supporters in a Damascus square, only a day after breaking a six-month public silence.

The crowd shouted “Shabiha forever, for your eyes, Assad,” a reference to loyalist militiamen.

Assad’s wife Asma and their two children joined him for his surprise appearance in Umayyad Square.

“I belong to this street,” Assad, 46, said, adding Syria faced foreign conspirators. “We will make this phase the end for them and their plans. We are going to win without any doubt.” 

His remarks followed a 100-minute speech on Tuesday in which he mocked the Arab League.

January 11th, 2012, 8:48 pm

 

Tara said:

Second Arab monitor may quit Syria over violence

http://www.en.apa.az/news.php?id=163434

Baku-APA. An Arab monitor said on Wednesday he might quit a fraying Arab League team of observers in Syria because the mission was proving ineffectual in ending civilians’ suffering there, exposing rifts in an Arab peace effort, APA reports quoting Reuters.

His comments come a day after Anwar Malek, an Algerian observer, told Al Jazeera TV he had quit Syria because the peace mission was a “farce.”
……
Another resignation would further undermine its credibility.

Asked if he agreed with Malek’s characterization of the mission as a failure, the monitor said: “It is true, it is true. Even I am trying to leave on Friday. I’m going to Cairo or elsewhere… because the mission is unclear…. It does not serve the citizens. It does not serve anything.”

“The Syrian authorities have exploited the weakness in the performance of the delegation to not respond. There is no real response on the ground.”

The monitor, speaking by telephone from Syria, asked not to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

“The military gear is still present even in the mosques. We asked that military equipment be withdrawn from the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq mosque in Deraa and until today they have not withdrawn.”
….
The monitor said the Syrian authorities had shown little genuine willingness to comply with the plan while the observers lacked the expertise to do their mission justice.

“There is oppression. There is strong oppression and there is suffering, a lot of suffering, more than you imagine,” he said, describing one part of the central city of Homs he had visited.

“This is a very big problem and it is related firstly to the general will of the Syrian authorities to cooperate with the delegation in a genuine manner and without maneuvering,” he said.

“Secondly, it is related to the expertise of the delegation… It needs experts in the fields of monitoring, of diplomacy, of international law.”
….
Monitors had been allowed to visit any area they chose, but Syrian authorities had refused to accompany them in particularly tense neighborhoods, forcing them to make a decision to either stay away or take the risk of going in alone, said the monitor.

He arrived in Syria on December 27 and has visited Homs, Damascus and Deraa. The Bab Amr area of Homs was in a particularly dire way, he added.
….

January 11th, 2012, 9:05 pm

 

Tara said:

The footage is gruesome.  It is bringing memories of the veiled Banias woman gunned down by the regime and as she fell, her denture fell off in front of her dead body.  I hope who ordered as well as who committed these crimes are cursed forever and never to have a moment of peace in their life. 

Top EU Diplomat Demands Inquiry Into French Journalist’s Death In Syria
2 hours, 44 minutes ago

(RTTNews) – Wednesday, European Union’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has condemned the death of a French journalist in an explosion in Syria earlier in the day and demanded an immediate investigation into the incident.

Ashton called for “a rapid investigation to clarify the circumstances leading to this tragedy,” and stressed that Syrian authorities “have a responsibility to guarantee the safety of journalists in their country.” 

Syrian media reported that eight civilians were also killed in the resultant blast. Although it is not clear who fired the rocket-propelled grenade, activists in Homs are blaming Syrian security forces. 

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe condemned what he described as an “odious act” and called for full clarification of what happened. Separately, French President Nicholas Sarkozy paid tributes to the deceased journalist and said his government expects “Syrian authorities to to shed light on the death of a man who was simply doing his job.”

January 11th, 2012, 9:15 pm

 

jna said:

We got it Tara. You don’t want Arab observers in Syria to restrain the violence. You don’t want the opposition to negotiate with the regime a transition to democracy. You do want foreign forces to make war against the Syrian army. You do want terrorism against the regime, army, and supporters. You want Syrians and others, on all sides, to sacrifice their lives, but you don’t put your life on the line.

January 11th, 2012, 9:31 pm

 

irritated said:

The hardline opposition whose mantra is still the UNSC have apparently succeeded in its strategy of keeping to themselves the exclusivity of reporting the facts on the ground and making any potential protection of the civilians by the AL observers a failure. More AL observers are on hold and many journalists of the 135 journalists allowed in Syria have returned home.
Yet, the killing of the french journalist in the open will probably trigger an international inquest. There were so many reliable eye witnesses that the truth will easily prevail. It may be a turning point for the international community approach to the Syrian crisis.

January 11th, 2012, 9:34 pm

 

newfolder said:

there was an animal on the loose today after Bashar’s appearance in Damascus, thankfully they caught it soon:

January 11th, 2012, 9:36 pm

 

aldendeshe said:

“…. You don’t want the opposition to negotiate with the regime a transition to democracy. …”

What a B.S. 10 months, death of thousands and this is started out from first speach as a farce, gave him the b.o.d and in the last one, there was no doubt at all, it was plain clear that is was all along a farce by cruel baathist mafia nice boy face.

January 11th, 2012, 9:46 pm

 

zoo said:

Russia has many reasons to defend Syria’s regime
January 11, 2012 01:25 AM
By Hussain Abdul-Hussain
The Daily Star

….
Should the Arab mission be deemed a failure, world opinion would certainly tilt in favor of U.N. intervention. In that case, Russia would find itself alone at the U.N. fending off another Western diplomatic offensive. Meanwhile, indicators show that Assad’s grip on power is weakening and his finances – needed to keep his military machine going – deteriorating. In a second diplomatic showdown at the U.N., expected in February, Russia might not rush to Assad’s defense and could instead compromise with other world powers over his removal.

Perhaps sensing that Moscow’s pro-Assad stance could change, the head of the opposition Syrian National Council, Burhan Ghalioun, told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Moscow in mid-November that should Assad fall, Russian interests in Syria would be “guaranteed.”

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Commentary/2012/Jan-11/159469-russia-has-many-reasons-to-defend-syrias-regime.ashx#ixzz1jCyPCMtE
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

January 11th, 2012, 9:46 pm

 

irritated said:

French TV 1 just announced that Homs was under an attack by the army when the rockets fell and killed the french journalist.
How far can the French TV lies go?

January 11th, 2012, 9:51 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

‫واحد حمصي لاقى ديك هربان ! مسكوا و اخدوا على البيت
و قال لمرتوا اليوم بدك تطعمينا ديك مشوي بالفرن!!!
قالتلوا ما في غاز !
قال طيب بفرن الكهرباء قالت مقطوعة الكهربا!
قالها:طيب اشوي على الصوبيا!
قالت مافي مازوت!
نط الديك و صاح الله سوريا بثار و بس

January 11th, 2012, 9:53 pm

 

Tara said:

JNA

Playing victim now? Not good at it.  Mnhebaks can play anything except victims.  Providing support to children killers make you an active accomplice in the horror.    

Please open the links.  You may find it interesting. 

http://www.france24.com/en/20120110-2012-01-10-2049-wb-en-webnews 
LATEST UPDATE: 11/01/2012
Reactions to Bashar al-Assad’s speech 

January 11th, 2012, 9:55 pm

 

zoo said:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/01/20121111976555870.html

“Mortar shells hit a pro-government rally, leaving seven Syrian nationals dead besides Jacquier, Omar Homsi, an opposition activist based in the area, told the DPA news agency by phone.”“

January 11th, 2012, 10:35 pm

 

jad said:

The Al denies the report that it will hold sending observers, it’s sending some 40 observers to Syria the coming week
الجامعة العربية تنفي وقف ارسال المراقبين الى سوريا
الأربعاء 11 كانون الثاني 2012، آخر تحديث 21:20
نفت الجامعة العربية الأنباء عن وقف ارسال المراقبين العرب الى سوريا، مشيرة الى انها سترسل 40 مراقبا جديدا نهاية الاسبوع المقبل.

#360
Another fabrication discovered:
محاولة فاشلة لتزوير مسيرة الامويين وخطاب الاسد 11.1.2012
http://youtu.be/DTRZ0CTj0TU
“حاولت صفحات الفتنة والفجور تزوير مسيرات الامويين التي جرت في دمشق يوم الاربعاء 11.01.2012 والتي ظهر فيها السيد الرئيس بشار الاسد والقى كلمة رائعة بين الجموع الغفيرة….. ولشدة حقدهم وغيظهم لم تسعفهم افكارهم الجهنمية سوى محاولة تزوير هذه المسيرة وتشويهها واظهارها انها مسيرة خالية من المؤيدين فقاموا بتصوير ساحة الامويين في بداية التجمع في ساعات الصباح الاولى وطبقوا صوت السيد الرئيس على الفيديو بطريقة فاضحة وتافهة لم يكن من الصعب علينا نحن شبكة شام المؤيدة كشفها بسهولة شكرا لله الذي ارسل لنا الشمس والعلم والعقل لنسخرها في خدمة الوطن والحق والوقوف بوجه الباطل للنصر على عملاء الشيطان اتباع الاخوان المجرمون”

January 11th, 2012, 10:39 pm

 

Shabbi7 said:

I’m so proud of the Syrian youth that take the time to expose all the lies and fabrications of the dabbi7a douchebags. It was clear that the video showing a much smaller pro-Asad demonstration was a fabricated voice-over. So many retards on SC. Fabrication after fabrication, on YouTube and on “professional” media, are exposed on a daily basis, and they’re still pretending like there’s a popular movement. Popular revolutions don’t need fabrications nor NATO bombs.

January 11th, 2012, 11:23 pm

 

irritated said:

#380 Jad

The need to make these fabrications shows well the state of the hardline opposition.
The lies and the media manipulation are unravelling one by one.

January 11th, 2012, 11:27 pm

 

Jerusalem said:

This opposition is such a disgrace.

الجامعة العربية تنفض يدها من انور مالك … هيثم مناع هو الذي بعث به

الى سوريا … وعرب تايمز توقف صفحة مالك على موقعها

January 11 2012 17:06

عرب تايمز – خاص

نفضت الجامعة العربية رسميا يدها من ضابط المخابرات السابق انور مالك ( كاتب سابق في عرب تايمز ) الذي ظهر على شاشة الجزيرة ليزعم ان اعضاء البعثة يراد لهم ان يصبحوا شبيحة للنظام السوري وكشفت الجامعة النقاب عن ان المدعو مالك انضم اليها بترشيح من منظمة حقوق انسان في فرنسا في اشارة الى منظمة يديرها هيثم مناع الذي تربطع علاقة غير مفهومة مع انور مالك

وأكد السفير أحمد بن حلى نائب الأمين العام لجامعة الدول العربية أن الناطق الرسمى الوحيد باسم البعثة هو رئيسها الفريق أول أحمد الدابى وأكد بن حلى، بعد أن بثت الجزيرة تصريحات لانور مالك أن مالك جاء فى إطار منظمة حقوقية تعنى بحقوق الإنسان من أوروبا واضاف : ان كلام مالك فى الإعلام لا نريد أن نتوقف عنده أو التعليق عليه، وما يصدر عن رئيس البعثة الفريق الدابى هو الذى يعتد به ويؤخذ فى الاعتبار”.وذكر نائب الأمين العام للجامعة العربية، أنه دون الفريق الدابى لا يعبر عن الجامعة العربية أو بعثتها أى شخص آخر

هذا وقد اوقفت عرب تايمز صفحة انور مالك على موقعها ومنعته من الدخول اليها لانه خالف شروط النشر فالموقع – وفقا للجريدة – هو منبر حر للاحرار واصحاب الرأي وليس لضباط المخابرات وعملاء الاجهزة الامنية

January 11th, 2012, 11:28 pm

 

Jerusalem said:

من قلم : راكان غزنوي
تصميم عرب تايمز ….. جميع الحقوق محفوظة

سوريا بين دهاء النظام وغباء المعارضة

عندما قلنا هنا أن المعارضة السورية لاتملك الكاريزما القيادية وأن برنامجها مشوش وأنها تفتقر الى تصور جلي لسوريا المستقبل تنافخ البعض هنا وأنبروا يكيلون الاتهامات بأننا ندافع عن النظام السوري لا بل ذهب بعضهم الى القول أننا نقبض من النظام السوري ولايدري هؤلاء أنني ما دخلت سوريا الا مرة مناضلا وخرجت منها وقد طلقت النضال والمقاومة بالثلاث وأنا أرى نضالا تحول الى مكاتب وياقات بيضاء وبساطير تركب وتترجل من سيارات المرسيدس والأودي الفارهة ولا تحمل ذرة من غبار معركة .

بالأمس كنت أستمع باهتمام الى خطاب الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد والحقيقة أن الرجل عرض ما عنده وما في جعبته وما يعتبره ويقدره هو وحكومته كحل للأزمة السورية ومن منطلق موضوعي وجب علي أن أحترم وجهة نظره وما جاء في خطابه سواءا اتفقت معه أم اختلفت على كل ما قاله أو بعضه فالمشكلة لاتكمن هنا بأي حال من الأحوال المشكلة الحقيقية تكمن في عدم استيعاب المعارضة السورية وعدم استيعاب كثير من العرب ممن يتعاطفون معها حقيقة حنكة ودهاء النظام السوري الحاكم وأعتقد جازما أن هذه الحنكة والدهاء مصدرهما وزير خارجيته وليد المعلم الذي أستطيع أن أصفه بعمرو بن العاص النظام السوري فهذا الرجل الذي يتسم بهدوءه لايمكن لأي سياسي أن يستهين به وبقدراته وهذه حقيقة أعلمها انا شخصيا عنه منذ زمن طويل ويعتبر الرجل خوري سوريا الثاني بحكمته وخبرته ودهاءه وليس هذا مدحا انما الحق بالحق يقال ، هذا الدهاء كان ولازال في مقابله غباء معارضة تأرجحت بين غرب وعرب ودولار وبترودولار وتناقضت بين داخل وخارج واختلفت بين خارج متفرنج وخارج غير متفرنج أو بين خارج أوروبي وخارج أمريكي وبناءا عليه توزعت الساحة السورية المعارضة بين معارض متظاهر مسالم وأخر مسلح ومقاوم ، هذه الفسيفساء التي رتبت خطأ كانت صنيعة معارضة أستطيع أن أصفها بأنها ذهبت بالشعب السوري المعارض للنظام الى نفق لا بل أخذته الى متاهة كلفته الكثير من دماء وحياة أبناءه .

أنا حقيقة أستهجن كيف لمسؤول عربي يعتقد أن دويلته هي أكبر امبراطورية في العالم ليوجه كلامه للنظام السوري ويطلب منه أن يأخذ خطوة تاريخية ولم يوضح في خطابه أبعاد هذه الخطوة ولا أدري كيف قام هذا ببناء رأيه هذا وعلى أي أساس ن فاذا كان الكلام قد أسس اعتمادا على معارضة فكل الشواهد تقول أنها معارضة لا في العير ولا في النفير وأن حنكة ودهاء النظام السوري قد أوقعتهم في مأزق الراعي والذئب وأهل القرية .

أنا اعلم أن البعض هنا سوف يستشيطون غضبا وسوف يرجمون بكلام ساقط لا يعبر الا عن مستواهم الفكري والأدبي والاجتماعي ولكن أقول لهؤلاء جميعا وسلفا اذا كان لابد من تغيير النظام السوري فاعلموا أن هذه المعارضة أعجز من أن تغير مختارا يتولى زمام حي أو ضيعة وأن من توهم أن دويلته صنيعة العام 1971 هي قوة عظمى جراء نعمة الغاز والمازوت تأمر وتنهى وتمول وتحرم ليس الا ذلك الرجل الذي علق فوق رأسه جرة العسل وتوهم بزوجة وولد ثم هش بعصاه لتأديب ولده “الوهم” فأطاح بالجرة وما بها على رأسه . فاذا كانت المعارضة السورية تهتم حقا بصالح الشعب السوري وكانت سورية خالصة لله وللشعب فعليها أن تدرك ذكاء وحنكة النظام ودهاءه خاصة بعد أن سقط من أيديهم استدراج الغرب وأمريكيا الى المأزق السوري وهذا ما كان النظام السوري متأكد منه لابل موقن لكنهم لعبوا على حبل ولا عبهم النظام على أكثر من حبل ولعل المطلب الرئيس الوحيد الأن أن يتسائل السوريون عن المسؤول الحقيقي عن ذبح أبنائهم وعن كل تلك الدماء التي أريقت بلا ثمن …نعم بلا ثمن يذك

January 11th, 2012, 11:33 pm

 

ann said:

On Syria, Medelci Calls Anwar Malik Just One Algerian, W. Sahara a Colonial Issue

http://www.innercitypress.com/syria1algeriaws011112.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 11 — When Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci held a press conference at the UN midday on Wednesday, he wanted to talk about his country, emphasizing that it has no foreign debt, and about the Group of 77 and China, of which Algeria has the chair from Argentina.

But most press questions directed to him concerned Syria, including about Anwar Malik, the Algerian member of the Arab League observer mission who left the mission in disgust, calling it a farce. “Other Algerians didn’t speak,” Medelci responded, saying that “they might have different opinions.”

And Medelci is seemingly among them, emphasizing that the violence in Syria does not only come from the government, calling the claims and counterclaims “intriguing.” He said Algeria is opposed to strong cuts of Syria air flights, says it punishes civilians, not the government and its officials.

That is what he explained about the 165 member Arab League mission: it includes 10 representative of the Algerian state, who have not quit, and “a few dozen representatives of NGOs,” including (until he quit) “one Algerian.”

He was asked by a Turkish journalist if he believes that France committed genocide in Algeria. While remaining diplomatic, he said that “our children need to know about… massacres” committed by France.

Inner City Press asked Mourad Medelci if he thought Morocco joining the Security Council changes things. He did not answer this part of the question. As the Moroccan mission has argued to Inner City Press, Western Sahara is by no means their only interest. And this is true: as Inner City Press reported yesterday, Morocco has requested a Council briefing on the humanitarian consequence of Israel’s settlement policies.

On Wednesday Inner City Press asked Moroccan Permanent Representative Loulichki for the status; he said the Council’s president is consulting with members but he is an “optimist.” And, like Medelci, a diplomat. Watch this site.

January 12th, 2012, 12:17 am

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

مقال جفص وغبي ، لآ حاجة لحفظ حقوقه إلى كنت تحتفظ بالزبالة . بتقول ؛ أن تدرك ذكاء وحنكة النظام ودهاءه ؟ بالحقيقة هي قلّة ذكآء العرب والآميركان اللي عم تنعكس .

January 12th, 2012, 12:18 am

 

Revlon said:

370. Dear Tara,
((Top EU Diplomat Demands Inquiry Into French Journalist’s Death In Syria 2 hours, 44 minutes ago
(RTTNews) – Wednesday, European Union’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has condemned the death of a French journalist in an explosion in Syria earlier in the day and demanded an immediate investigation into the incident.
Ashton called for “a rapid investigation to clarify the circumstances leading to this tragedy,” and stressed that Syrian authorities “have a responsibility to guarantee the safety of journalists in their country.” )).

Thank you for this post.
This murder might form a turning point in the international course of action towards the regime.

Insistence of the EU on sending a fact finding mission or the participation in the investigation, whether rejected or allowed by the regime shall be backed by a widespread EU public support, and provide a political cum legal platform for the buildup of EU-spearheaded, international intervention.

January 12th, 2012, 12:26 am

 

ann said:

Syrian President Assad joins supporters at massive rally in Damascus

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2012-01/12/c_131355893_4.htm

January 12th, 2012, 12:28 am

 

aldendeshe معتز الدندشي said:

@ Ann

شنتر حفانا ، حنشل ، مبين من لباسهم وشكلهم انه مآجورين . شوفي كل الصور وفرجيني أكآبر واحد . عمال النسيج وبساطين سوق الخضرة ، وين صورة البو صتات ؟

January 12th, 2012, 12:53 am

 

Mina said:

If the EU investigation is as efficient as their early evaluation of the Syrian protests or as efficient as their pressures on Netanyahu to stop colonization, i can’t wait.

January 12th, 2012, 12:59 am

 

Mina said:

366 Jad
It reaches the UN but the media yesterday (Le Monde, BBC, Guardian), and 24 hours after the Arab Times article, were simply repeating one after the other the story without any reference to his identity and the doubts that have emerged. If the Western journalists are unable to Google an Arabic name, search on Youtube for his former statements, and look for articles on him, why not letting Arab journalists who live in Europe do their job? Are the Arab emigrants half-citizens? Europe is pretty good at tracking the private life of people, so it wouldn’t be too difficult for news outlet to have an enquiry and be sure the guy does not get 6-digits paychecks by a governement or another…

January 12th, 2012, 1:12 am

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

وعن مسؤولية رأس السلطة بشار الأسد عن هذه الاختراقات ، قال نيوف “هذا الكلب الأجرب هو المسؤول عن كل هذه الجرائم. فطوال عشر سنوات كان همه الأول حشد جرائه وكلابه وخنازيره في أجهزة الأمن لمطاردة الوطنيين الحقيقيين وإحصاء أنفاسهم وتعقب حتى المقالات السخيفة التي يكتبها شبان على صفحات الإنترنت، في الوقت الذي كانت كل أجهزة المخابرات في العالم ، وعلى رأسها الموساد، تصل حتى إلى مكتبه العسكري الخاص وتجند حتى مساعده العسكري الأكثر قربا منه( محمود سليمان). وها هو جهاز الموساد يصل اليوم إلى أحد أخطر ضباط الأمن والخبراء العاملين في حقل يمس جوهر الأمن الوطني في الوقت الذي كان يتمنظر فيه مثل قحبة في مربع ليلي أمام قطعان الغنم والماعز من أنصاره في ساحة الأمويين ، الذين لا يعرفون ما الذي يجري في بلادهم ، وما الذي فعله رئيسهم الساقط بأمنها ، وما الذي جره عليها من ويلات طيلة عشر سنوات”. و أضاف “حتى لو وضعنا جانبا كل الجرائم التي ارتكبتها أجهزته الأمنية بحق الأبرياء ، فإن جرائم الاختراقات الأمنية الأجنبية لأمننا الوطني تكفي وحدها لدق عنقه تحت المقصلة أكثر من عشر مرات. هذا الصبي التافه يجب أن يعدم بتهمة الخيانة الوطنية ، رغم أني ضد عقوبة الإعدام من حيث المبدأ. لكني سأتسامح معها لمرة واحدة إذا كان من تنفذ به هذه العقوبة بشار الأسد تحديدا ودون أي شخص آخر في نظامه”!

January 12th, 2012, 1:17 am

 

Mina said:

353
You certainly know what you mean by hedonism, aren’t you?
I remember a website where a German had posted pictures on young Arab men with comments like “how cute…” and the text was supposedly denouncing pederasty in the Gulf. But it looked rather like some advertisment for the website owner. I think it was a guy from Berlin…

January 12th, 2012, 1:19 am

 

Juergen said:

Mina

are you trying to get personal here? nice try but you have to try harder.And before others seek, i do not operate websites.

Before you or an other fan of the beloved leader will post it, Ill do it.

Here is a gruesome video how US soldiers urinate on dead taliban fighters.

January 12th, 2012, 1:33 am

 

Juergen said:

Us embassy in Damascus will shorten services to the public

In a statement from the US state department it was annonced that more personal from the US embassy in Damascus will return to the US.
The state department reacted on their revised travel warning to Syria for US citizens. A spokesmebn of the ministry said that given the nature of the violence in the country the public services and the support for its citizens can no longer be provided on a 100% level. The embassy will remain open but appointments are needed to enter the embassy.

January 12th, 2012, 1:44 am

 

jad said:

Mina,
More funny story telling by Malek, no wonder the AL denies his stories and state that Malek didn’t really leave his hotel room because he was sick
الجزيرة أنور المالك النظام السوري يقوم باغراء لجنة المراقبين بالفتيات
http://youtu.be/1Xq89odeXVg

January 12th, 2012, 1:47 am

 

annie said:

http://www.yalibnan.com/2012/01/11/hezbollah-amal-baath-members-are-arming-syrian-rebels-report/
Hezbollah, Amal, Baath members are arming Syrian rebels, report
January 11, 2012 ⋅ 11:52 pm ⋅ Post a comment
Filed Under Amal, arms, Assad, Baath, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Syria, Syrian rebels

Lebanese security sources have confirmed that “dozens of members of Shiite Hezbollah and Amal movement are involved in smuggling arms across the Syrian border to the Syrian rebels.” These elements buy the weapons in Lebanon and Libya and smuggle them to the “Free Syrian Army”, mainly to Damascus countryside and Homs.

The sources pointed out that “the leaders of Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut and the Bekaa, arrested a number of these cadres and seized some of the arms shipments.” According to the sources, the smugglers use the same illegal border crossings used by Hezbollah for the past 10 years to smuggle Iranian arms from the Syrian regime

The sources noted that officers of the regime’s Syrian army have been facilitating the entry of the smuggled arms to the rebels in return bribes by the Hezbollah smugglers.

Lebanese security sources revealed also that “military units loyal to the Syrian government killed over the recent period a number of smugglers trying to deliver arms to the rebels in the town of Zabadani, close to the Syrian Lebanese border. In one case near Lebanon’s northern border, a number of Hezbollah members were arrested and a truck loaded with weapons was seized. In addition, Syrian forces arrested several Syrian officers, including one colonel, who were involved in the operation.

In a related development, a former member of the Amal movement revealed that “there are senior political figures in the Syrian ruling Baath Party who are involved in the arms smuggling to the rebels. The main sources of these illegal weapons are Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Turkey. Senior bankers, businessmen and traders contribute to financing the purchase of weapons and smuggling into Syria. They choose to make this in order to secure their future in the event of the success of the revolution and the downfall of the (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad. ”

Source: Al Bawaba
Discussion

January 12th, 2012, 1:59 am

 

Juergen said:

Ann

if any of those accusations are true, then your beloved leader will have serious problems with his henchmen in Lebanon. May thats why we sont see the Hisbollah flags so often in the pro rallys anymore. Just counted one yesterday.
Ungracious bunch dont you think?

January 12th, 2012, 2:08 am

 

Son of Damascus said:

juergen,

That was Annie that posted the article not Spammie Ann. Although their names might be close one is not a cut and paste bot, while the other is.

January 12th, 2012, 2:16 am

 

Mina said:

Repeat after me: the crisis in Syria is completely unrelated to the need to divert people’s attention from the Palestinian status-quo, and no link with the Western and Israeli threats against Hizbollah and Iran. Annie and Jürgen may find out today that Syria has been involved in smuggling weapons to the aforementioned for years.
Jürgen: I don’t need a beloved leader, I need a self-reflecting society and WOMEN RIGHTS. Since you claim to have travel a lot thorugh the Arab world, can you tell me where you have seen women enjoying as much rights as in Syria?

EU on verge of abandoning hope for a viable Palestinian state

Israel’s foreign ministry denied that Israeli settlers were taking water resources from the West Bank

The Palestinian presence in the largest part of the occupied West Bank – has been, “continuously undermined” by Israel in ways that are “closing the window” on a two-state solution, according to an internal EU report seen by The Independent.

The report, approved by top Brussels officials, argues that EU support, including for a wide range of building projects, is now needed to protect the rights of “ever more isolated” Palestinians in “Area C”, a sector that includes all 124 Jewish settlements – illegal in international law – and which is under direct Israeli control. It comprises 62 per cent of the West Bank, including the “most fertile and resource rich land”.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/eu-on-verge-of-abandoning-hope-for-a-viable-palestinian-state-6288336.html

January 12th, 2012, 2:33 am

 

Revlon said:

392. Dear Syrian Nationalist Party!
Wow!
Could you kindly link to Mr Nayouf’s article please!
Cheers!

January 12th, 2012, 2:54 am

 

Juergen said:

Annie

sorry, i see you arent the same person… Mea culpa!

January 12th, 2012, 3:01 am

 

SYR.EXPAT said:

364. JAD

“It’s a crime against every Syrian by everybody; by the criminal regime that took every brave reasonable Syrian man and woman and mad them disappear in prison for torture or killing without any accountability, consequently it opens the streets for every criminal and thug to use in the name of the revolution, by the stupid oppositions who insist of not seeing the terrorists that are doing every atrocity against innocent Syrians in their names without exposing them, and by the criminal greedy foreign powers that are intentionally making the situation getting worse and worse for political gains and to add more cards to their collections.”

Many good questions I must admit. However, as was said many times before, the responsibility of what’s is happening lies with the government first and foremost.

Had the government not used its ruthless iron fist from day one, things wouldn’t have escalated. Had the government made serious compromises, things would not have gone that far.

Bandar and NATO didn’t force Atif Najib’s to jail and torture the school children in Der’a for writing anti-government graffiti at a time of revolutions in the Arab world. Qatar didn’t prevent Assad Jr. from personally going to Der’a to resolve the matter. I can go on and on about the many missed opportunities.

What do you expect the people to do? They can’t take it anymore and they can’t go back. If they stop protesting, the Mukhabarat will get them one by one slowly, but surely.

A regime that targets doctors for treating the injured and allows its henchmen to shoot at those trying to retrieve the dead or injured is beyond barbaric. How can people trust such a regime?

We said many times that despite everything, Assad could have put a stop to the torture and humiliation of the people. He could have freed the political prisoners. He could have compromised and offered some measures to establish some form of trust, but he didn’t want any of it.

In the interview before the last, he admitted to “many mistakes” committed by his forces. When a ruthless dictator admits to “mistakes,” you know we’re talking about major crimes and atrocities. How come these “mistakes” keep happening? How come the heads of the security branches were not sacked for committing those “mistakes” and for failing stop the “global conspiracy against Syria.”

As long as the opposition is on the run in Syria and abroad, things will only deteriorate. As long as the pro-regime crowd can gather in big squares without any fear of being gunned down or viciously beaten by the security thugs, but not the opposition, things will get worse.

Right now, many people want revenge for the killing of their loved ones by the government. If the regime doesn’t act, a fully blown civil war will ensue. However, despite all that, the global conspirators cannot prevent Assad from starting a real transition and a South-Africa-type national reconciliation.

The government got us to where we are today, but it also holds the key to way out of this.

January 12th, 2012, 3:47 am

 

Juergen said:

Mina

I would say that in Tunesia its comparable that women have similar rights, may be the Tunesian women had the most modern rights of any arab country to my knowledge since 1958 Bourguiba introduced rights which allowed women the right to divorce and abolished polygamy. I checked and there was never an policy which allowed or tolerated honor killings, so overall i think Tunesia is better off than Syria when it comes to women rights.

January 12th, 2012, 4:54 am

 

Juergen said:

Syr Expat

very good comment on the situation. If we believe one moment what they are saying about the armed terrorists operate right within higly secured parts of the capital, then something goes seriously wrong within the regime. Its kind of like 9/11 Bushs visit to tenet and the clap on his shoulder pic, like good job guys. the biggest failure of the securuity services and 2 weeks later the CIA bos is visited by a friendly president, sometimes its hard to believe what one is seeing.

I wish that Syrians can start an reconciliation process like the South Africans in their truth commissions, i wish them also an end of their muhabarat spying on every citizen, i wish that every syrian citizen will be able to read his file after the regime will collapse. Lets hope that there is a Bishop Tutu style personality which could unify all Syrians under the banner of truth and reconciliation.

January 12th, 2012, 5:06 am

 

Mina said:

Jürgen,
Tunisia was the first Arab country to have a constitution; Tunisia was colonized by the French quite longer than Syria (and in Morocco too and Algeria you find educated women, as a result of the decades long exchanges and education system); Tunisia has a non segregated school system based on the French school programmes and education is customary until 16.
So yes, Tunisia stands apart. It is homogenous, only 6 million people, and does not witness a competition between the religious leaders of the different sects (which always result in a crush on women… they need scapegoates).
If honour crime is the criterium, why should the West hail Jordan? why doing business and political alliances with the Saudis who cannot even admit a church (or even a non-Muslim visitor to Mecca)?

Syr Expat
“As long as the opposition is on the run in Syria and abroad, things will only deteriorate.”
As if the opposition was able to agree on anything…

January 12th, 2012, 6:09 am

 

Mina said:

http://blog.lefigaro.fr/malbrunot/2012/01/comment-la-syrie-et-la-russie.html

14 comments, almost all raising doubts on the Western propaganda and its real goals.

January 12th, 2012, 6:19 am

 

Uzair8 said:

Shabbi7,

This appears to be a provocative username.

January 12th, 2012, 6:48 am

 

Juergen said:

Mina

you will not hear a single good word from me for this wahabi/salafi country or their way of islam, to me thats the cancer within modern islam,as much as they say bidah to everything, i would say they are the biggest bidah.

Your argumentation regarding Makkah sounds just like the right wing populistic parties here in europe. as long as no church bell is ringing in Makkah, we wont accept another Mosque. I doubt you want to belong to such right wing rednecks.

Women rights are an issue but not the most important, what sense does it make that women can wear miniskirts but are being imprisoned for their thoughts? Tunesia may have a great school system, probably the best if we see how many tunesian teachers work in the arab world, but did this change the fact that this regime under Ben Ali was among the harshest in the aarab world?

January 12th, 2012, 7:18 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

mina
Are you communist?

January 12th, 2012, 7:48 am

 

Uzair8 said:

@410 Jeurgen

Excellent comment.

January 12th, 2012, 8:05 am

 

irritated said:

400. Son of Damascus

Thanks for the useful intervention to clarify who is Ann and who is Annie. We would have missed this crucial distinction.

January 12th, 2012, 8:28 am

 

Juergen said:

anyone can confirm that the AL has suspendend their mission in Syria? I just found one source in german tv saying so, no others confirm that yet.

January 12th, 2012, 8:32 am

 

zoo said:

Arab League’s indecision is fuelling Assad’s belligerence

Michael Young
Jan 12, 2012

When lost, continue walking around in circles. That is the motto of the Arab League in dealing with the crisis in Syria. And judging from the wavering in Arab capitals over what to do next with the regime of President Bashar Al Assad, little is likely to soon change.
{…}
Saudi Arabia has also been strikingly hazy on Mr Al Assad’s repression. The kingdom has condemned the actions of the Syrian regime, but it has also shied away from shaping Arab agreement on events in Syria. Riyadh has played a largely passive role, in contrast to its interventions in Bahrain and Yemen. That could be because the Saudi plate is full and the royal family is going through a transition; perhaps, too, the Saudis prefer a slow corrosion of Syria’s regime. That said, the prospect of ensuring that Iran loses a vital ally in the Levant has appeared not to galvanise Saudi decision-makers
,,,,
The Saudis’ response on Monday to the Arab League monitor’s report showed that they still prefer to have it both ways. The council of ministers issued a statement calling on the Syrian government to carry out the Arab plan and protect civilians. Yet it also implicitly supported pursuing the plan, affirming that it has been “partially” implemented – which the opposition rejects.

Other Arab states have also shown no enthusiasm for aggressively applying Arab decisions. Iraq, Algeria, Sudan, Morocco, Jordan and Lebanon have either been openly sympathetic to Mr Al Assad or have gone with the flow. Most of the Gulf states will follow the Saudi lead, which has been to step back. Qatar has stood out as the exception, but in March it relinquishes the rotating presidency of the Arab League to Iraq, which has defended Mr Al Assad.

There is no Arab momentum to side with the Syrian population against their leaders. This risks dangerously alienating the Syrian opposition, leading to radicalisation of the uprising. That may be precisely what Mr Al Assad wants, but it is also what the Arab states claim they want to avert. Syria is now an urgent matter for the UN Security Council, and has been for months. Arab indecision shows why.
http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/arab-leagues-indecision-is-fuelling-assads-belligerence_

January 12th, 2012, 8:35 am

 
 
 

zoo said:

Arab League says no delay in sending more observers to Syria
2012-01-12 20:14:33

CAIRO, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) — An Arab League (AL) official denied on Thursday there would be a delay in sending more observers to Syria.

Adnan al-Khodair, head of the AL’s monitoring operations room in Cairo, told Xinhua when the AL would dispatch a new batch of observers depended on the security situation and the request of observers already in Syria.

“If the observers in Syria need more support, we will immediately send another batch,” he said.

Khodair said the AL had received applications from many Arab countries and organizations to send observers. The AL will make arrangements for the mission according to the situation in Syria.

Currently, there are around 160 AL observers in Syria. An Arab diplomatic source said the AL would not send more observers to Syria for now until the situation becomes stable, Egypt’s official MENA news agency reported Wednesday.

Syria signed the AL observer protocol on Dec. 19, 2011 in Cairo after the AL threatened to take the issue to the United Nations Security Council.

The observers are monitoring the situation in Syria as part of the AL peace initiative to end the months-long turmoil in Syria. The Syrian government said some 2,000 army and security personnel were killed since the unrest began in March, 2011, while the UN said more than 5,000 people have died in the violence.

On Tuesday, the AL condemned attacks on monitoring teams in Syrian cities of Latakis, Deir al-Zour and some other areas by pro- government people or the opposition.

Related:

Syria restates commitment to Arab League amid attacks on monitors

DAMASCUS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) — Syria has stressed its commitment to the Arab League (AL) as news came out that monitors of the bloc were attacked in the troubled country.

While denouncing any action that might “hinder the observer mission in Syria,” Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Tuesday that his country will continue shouldering its responsibilities to protect AL observers. Full story

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/12/c_131356877.htm

January 12th, 2012, 9:00 am

 

Mina said:

In a previous post i mentioned the women issue as the key to the empowerement of society, of children education, and of the demographic problem. If the only thing you have to bring about this is “Women rights are an issue but not the most important, what sense does it make that women can wear miniskirts but are being imprisoned for their thoughts” I am afraid there is no debate. Do you know how difficult for women in Egyptian villages to go to an hospital, unless a male relative accepts to rent a car and bring them?
The problem is not about churchbells in Mekkah, it is about principles towards the other, another human being, be it a woman or someone of another religion.

January 12th, 2012, 9:03 am

 

zoo said:

Arab League mission in Syria faces challenges from both parties to conflict: diplomat
2012-01-12 04:35:59
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) — Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci warned here Wednesday that Arab League observers in Syria face challenges from both the Syrian government and the opposition.

“Today there is a type of violence, which pits the regular armed government against an opposition, which is also armed,” he said through an interpreter. “The difficulties met by the commission and observers of the Arab League not just difficulties having to do with the Syrian government.”

Medelci made the remarks at a press briefing following Algeria’ s assumption of the chairmanship of the diplomatic Group of 77 ( G77).

Medelci said it will likely take a bit more time for the Arab League mission to determine the full truth about what is happening in Syria and for the commission to facilitate a dialogue between the opposing parties.

“We are starting to advance, there is more clarity, we better understand what’s happening, but I think that the commission needs at least another 10 days and when we meet in Cairo on the 20th of January the commission will come to make its second assessment and based on that, at that time, it will probably appear that some initiatives could be taken to improve the mediation process further, which is being conducted by the Arab League now,” he said.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/12/c_131355383.htm

January 12th, 2012, 9:03 am

 

irritated said:

419. Mina

Funny that for some ‘human rights’ do not include ‘women rights”.
Women rights is the most important key to any development of a future healthy society. This is probably one of the major problem of the moslem-arab society that is hindering its harmonious growth.

January 12th, 2012, 9:10 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Mina
Do you have a religion, or code of ethics and morality, do you have children, are you communist? is your support of Assad is based on principals or on personality? do you support dictatorship and hate freedom? is lying O.K. to you ?is revenge ,is it part of your thinking or do you prefer to forgive?do you like planting? are you married with good relation with your husband, and children? do you describe your self as a happy woman or angry person?
You sound that you are from Egypt is it true?

January 12th, 2012, 9:14 am

 

zoo said:

Turkey, US planning Syria no-fly zone: Russian secretary
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-us-planning-syria-no-fly-zone-russian-secretary.aspx?pageID=238&nID=11330&NewsCatID=353

NATO and Gulf countries are trying to go from indirect meddling in Syria’s internal affairs to a direct military intervention, Russia’s National Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said today.

Patrushev assessed the situation in the Middle East in an interview with Interfax agency, the website of the Voice of Russia reported.

Patrushev said Turkey and the United States were planning to create a no-fly zone in Syria to secure a base for the country’s opposition. According to Patrushev, Turkey, which had “excellent” relations with Syria until recently, is vying for influence in the Middle East with Iran.

The reason for a military intervention in Syria would be Damascus’ close ties with Tehran, Patrushev said, and not the crackdown on the opposition by the Bashar al-Assad regime.

“The West fears that weapons and ammunition go through Syria to Iran, Lebanon and the Hezbollah,” Patrushev said.
{…}

January 12th, 2012, 9:14 am

 

Juergen said:

Mina

My question was what does it bring to the people to have women rights when the civil rights are not granted or abused? Either you have total freedom in all civil and human rights. See its this same kind of argument i had with an persian who told me how great Iran was under the Schah. Surely you could find women who enjoyed their freedom, while many others were left in illeteracy and the dungeons of the Schah.
The debate should rather focus how can we achieve civil rights and liberties and grant all women the rights.

The problem Mina is that in such regimes like Syria youll never have an continuancy, always the rule of right can change upon the taste of those ruling, one time hijabs are banned from syrian universities, and then miracously through a presidential decret allowed again. So you mean that never ever we will see democracies in the ME, so as I read through this you suggest that we should stick to the regime, because it provides shelter and power to the minorities and provide women at least some sort of rights. Isnt that exactly the deal the Assads, Mubaraks and ben Alis made with their “children”?

January 12th, 2012, 9:35 am

 

Mina said:

How does your code of ethics apply in Iraq? Why should men watch unveiled women on TV all day but ask their household to “look islamic” and forbid a wife to ride the bus by herself to go to the hospital because she needs a “muharim”? Why don’t you see books in most houses? How can children respect studies when they have never seen someone holding a book and that some Salafis are telling them that “even the sciences are in the Quran?” What can you understand of the Quran without 1) a dictionary 2) studying grammars, which have to give exemples from poetry, literature and proverbs? 3)studying history for the references it makes?

January 12th, 2012, 9:40 am

 

defender said:

The Death of American Democracy

January 12th, 2012, 9:44 am

 

Shabbi7 said:

Uzair,

I used to post on here under a different name, but dabbi7a like Tara (and many others) kept calling me (and others like me) shabbi7a or mukhabarat. Of course, they said the same thing about the millions of Syrians that gathered in all governorates of Syria in support of Bashar al-Asad and reform under his leadership. Then I stopped visiting SC because of the gross infestation of dabbi7a retards with empty slogans, but every now and then when I would really want to comment, I decided I should do so as Shabbi7 🙂

If the choice is between shabbi7 or dabbi7, then shabbi7 forever is my choice, just like how the massive crowds in Damascus chanted for Bashar al-Asad yesterday (it definitely put a smile on my face, and reading Tara’s dismay about it, that smile went double).

Also as long as they’re going to call us shabbi7a, I’m calling them dabbi7a. Best part is that the dabbi7a came up with that name for themselves on their own while chopping off the arm of a dead soldier in Deir ez-Zor, so I encourage everyone here to use the dabbi7a label on them just like how they use the shabbi7a label on us.

January 12th, 2012, 10:00 am

 

Mina said:

Jürgen and Majedkhaldoun’s logic is: if you don’t want a NATO sponsored bloodbath, it is because you are pro-Asad, “the beloved leader”.
This is an insult to the intelligence of the Syrians, among other things.
Continue to pray for your Iraq-redux, for you “Lebanese war, part II”, I won’t follow.
If it is about human rights, why shouldn’t the Christian of Syria first get a guarantee that the constitution will have “a person of ANY religion or any sex can be president of Syria”?

January 12th, 2012, 10:01 am

 

Mina said:

January 11, 2012 7:12 PM

A rare look inside Syria, under Assad’s thumb

By Elizabeth Palmer
(CBS News)

HOMS, Syria – The deadly violence in Syria has been mounting for ten months, leaving more than 5,000 people dead – mostly anti-government protesters – according to the United Nations.

The protesters demand that long-time dictator Bashar Assad step down immediately, but his family has held Syria in an iron grip for 40 years, and he is determined to hang on at any price.

Assad has kept most foreign journalists out of the country. CBS News applied for visas six months ago, and on Wednesday, CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer finally gained official access to the closed nation. She saw only what the government wanted her to see, but the brutality and violence was still apparent.

Another group of Western journalists were midway through their own government-supervised tour of the embattled city of Homs when the area came under fire Wednesday.

One French reporter was killed. So were eight Syrians – ordinary residents of this middle class neighborhood. Just 20 minutes earlier, the CBS News crew was on the same street to hear from the people who say the threat of snipers and kidnapping is constant.

CBS News wasn’t allowed out of sight of the government minders, but from the bus windows, Homs looked eerily quiet. Armed opposition groups opposed to the regime now control whole neighborhoods, which are off limits to all government vehicles.

The bus driver didn’t dare drive across town, instead driving all the way around it to the next destination on the official tour: the Nader Shaqfah Military Hospital, where CBS News was shown injured Syrian soldiers in every bed.

Doctors say an average of 25 wounded soldiers arrive daily, along with four to five dead.

In Damascus, President Assad made a rare public appearance at a pro-government rally on Wednesday.

Speaking to a vast crowd of supporters, he once again blamed the violence on a foreign plot, and promised to crack down hard on people he has repeatedly deemed “terrorists,” who he says are merely acting out the will of foreign groups and governments.

There are very disturbing signs, however, that in spite of international attempts to mediate in this conflict and quell the violence, the situation is actually escalating.

There is already a lot of evidence to suggest we’re looking at the opening chapters of a civil war already underway between the two main Islamic factions in Syria.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57357434/a-rare-look-inside-syria-under-assads-thumb/

(I hope you will all have appreciated the “international attempts to mediate in this conflict and quell the violence”… For 6 months you just have to read the comments here to know there is a civil war in Homs, but these guys can’t.)

January 12th, 2012, 10:10 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Mina
I understand that you are secretive person and a person who is full of fear, and you want to talk about women right from very narrow vision,but you are against human rights, and you are against society rights you must have read some books and you thought of yourself as educated woman,you seem to have special cult and you want to apply it to every one,with no respect to freedom, revenge and angr dominate your thinking

While I love human rights and beleave in freedom I fully aware that freedom has limitation, it must not touch other freedom and never without respect to society rights,I am for women right and beleave women have been deprived of a lot of rights, but in no way that should blind me from defending human rights and society rights.

Your understanding of Islam is wrong,just like a lot of religious ulama are interpreting Islam wrong, in Islam women are equal to men,In inheritence women sometimes get half,some times get equal, sometimes get twice as much,this is conditioned on society nature and natures that are obvious from difference between women and men, when the prophet was asked who should I love more, the prphet answered Your mother,women need love men need respect.
When women are deprived of their right they suffer and feel tortured, all people must not be tortured, your support of dictatorship contradicts your support for women right, Human suffering is wrong everywhere, all the time.
When I asked you about yourself , it is not that I expect answer, it is for you to analyse your personality and always to strife to improve yourself once you know your personality.

January 12th, 2012, 10:18 am

 

Juergen said:

Mina

interessting that you point that out, but do you think that education or the missing of educational values are unique to Muslims only?

I mean i can give you an example, when i was a boy the tv was just for fun times, it never was running when we were eating. When i lived in the US, it was common to have the tv run all day, same applies when i visit some syrian families, the tv is i suppose an status symbol and few make a difference and read for example.

But who am i to criticise arabs for their culture? When i was in Tehran one see only people who read, basically everywhere.
Some salafis might tell us that arabs have more of an oral tradition, whoever will buy this excuse.

Mina, i dont rule out that some people have narrow minded views not only upon their lives but also on their religion. It is as always an question of ones character. And thinking is not an obstacle towards it. I met once a guy who converted to islam. He invited me to his apartment. The walls in his living room were all green, i asked him if this is his favorite color. He told me: this is the color of Islam and the prophet and all muslims like it… well what can you say to some who think the world is like their sheikh is saying?

By the way, i totally agree with you that the snc is on a wrong path if they really pursue that only a muslim could become president.

January 12th, 2012, 10:22 am

 

Shabbi7 said:

Mina,

Every time they said they were mediating, they were actually escalating. The only reason those terrorists are still killing today is because every time the government stops in their face, it gets condemned internationally (that’s called mediation). It’s scary knowing that the UNSC was close to condemning our government while labeling these terrorists as unarmed civilians, and all based on “activists said this” and “dissident with contacts in Syria said that”.

“One French reporter was killed. So were eight Syrians – ordinary residents of this middle class neighborhood. Just 20 minutes earlier, the CBS News crew was on the same street to hear from the people who say the threat of snipers and kidnapping is constant.”

Look at this paragraph where a reader will automatically assume the protesters are anti-government and that the snipers and kidnappers are pro-government, when in fact it’s exactly the other way around. The filth of the media and the dabbi7a never stops.

January 12th, 2012, 10:23 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Mina said
why shouldn’t the Christian of Syria first get a guarantee that the constitution will have “a person of ANY religion or any sex can be president of Syria”?

They should,It was Hafez Assad and Bashar who wrote this in the constitution that the president should be Moslem and in Lebanon the constitution clearly say the president must be christion , you should object to it there too.

January 12th, 2012, 10:23 am

 

Tara said:

Shabeeh

I think you are a former Habib. If true, don’t get paranoid. I promise you I don’t have inside info. I just have a feeling which could be very well wrong. I never called you Shabeeh. I remember I was pretty nice to you. I am in general nice with polite people. I once told you that I was less angry. That was a phase. I am very angry again. You guys disappointed me. You should have overcome that Bashar is Alawi and at least requested accountability from the get go. If armed gangs now present, it is because you guys turned a blind eye on extreme injustices and cornered the victims. You roved we were never one people and this is saddening. You by the way means general you not you personally.

January 12th, 2012, 10:24 am

 

jna said:

379. Tarasaid:
JNA Playing victim now? Not good at it. Mnhebaks can play anything except victims. Providing support to children killers make you an active accomplice in the horror.

Tara, I’m not a victim in any way. The people of Syria are victims of crimes and stupidity committed by both government and opposition. It’s past time for all sides to reassess and find a way out of the mess. Take advantage of the observers as a way to utilize international support for a transition process. Syria needs more observers, not removing them.

January 12th, 2012, 10:34 am

 

Shabbi7 said:

Tara,

Armed gangs have always been present. This has been proven on SC back in April, at least! That’s not to mention the police officers that were killed and the buildings and cars burned since the first day of the “peaceful revolution” in Dar`a. You guys are the ones turning the blind eye to facts on the ground and then you give us the whole bleeding heart speech about mothers and children; mothers and children whom your dabbi7a killed and then started peddled with their blood. We will never forget that people like you were advertising NATO intervention as a good thing, and advertising that the US, EU, and Mr. Hamad were “honorable” people looking for the well-being of Syria and the people of Syria. You have failed miserably with this shabbi7, at least.

January 12th, 2012, 10:36 am

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

Odd..I did but sorry, for some reason the link was not posted with the quote from an article found at Al-Hakika… Communists, but very good Syrian Nationalist in a way, nice people we can live with. Here is the link to the site:

http://www.syriatruth.org/

January 12th, 2012, 10:37 am

 

Son of Damascus said:

Irritated,

Your welcome, I know people like you with “special needs” need some help connecting the dots, I am more than happy to provide it.

Here is another thing that I will help clarify to you,
Your god Bashar is the scum of the earth, and anyone that looks up to this weasel is morally and ethically corrupt. He is single handedly ripping our country apart so that he can keep his inheritance, well guess what I am not nor is any Syrian his property to be inherited.

January 12th, 2012, 10:40 am

 
 

Tara said:

Shabeeh

I am interested in replying to your post. I am pretty involved at work. I will respond later.

January 12th, 2012, 10:44 am

 

Uziar8 said:

@435 JNA.

“The people of Syria are victims of crimes and stupidity committed by both government and opposition.”

Let’s go along with this comment for a moment.

The Syrian people are victims.
The Syrian opposition are also victims.
The only party that is not a victim is the regime.

The Regime is the stronger party here and carries the major portion of the burden of responsiblity. You’re talking as though the regime and opposition are equal parties the way the neo-cons/zionists portray the Isreali – Gaza situation.

January 12th, 2012, 10:46 am

 

Uzair8 said:

@436 Shabeeha

What the Syrian people have achieved (with God Almighty’s help) has been remarkable and has outdone all other Arab revolutions. I for one don’t want NATO intervention. For one it would ruin what the people have achieved by themselves so far.

I’d rather some form of Turkish/Arab involvement. However, this is for the Syrian people, in particular the Syrian Street, to decide and not me.

January 12th, 2012, 10:53 am

 

Mina said:

432 Sabbih
This is why I quoted the article. Today le Monde and the Guardian are selling to all that the “Syrian regime” killed the journalist… And Ian Black says that just before it happened they were in this neighborhood and people were telling them about killing and kidnappings “all from the same sheet”, that is, taking a position to say the people he interviewed were lying and repeating government propaganda. How do you want hatred not to spread with such racist idiots? It has been in a state of civil war in this area for 6 months, but because they are somehow supporting the presence of the army to stop the sectarian killings, Ian Black knows better.
What if journalists were interviewing people in Iraq, if they say “i am okay with the US troops and Malaki torturing the terrorists” and they’ll say: you repeat the governement sheet?

By the way, there is still another possibility, which is that the mafias among the security apparatuses did it in answer to Bashar al Asad speech in the morning, to make clear to him that he should not go the “Mahmud Abbas way”.

January 12th, 2012, 10:57 am

 

jna said:

440. Uziar8said: …The Regime is the stronger party here and carries the major portion of the burden of responsiblity. You’re talking as though the regime and opposition are equal parties the way the neo-cons/zionists portray the Isreali – Gaza situation.

Internally,the regime is stronger. Internationally, the opposition is the stronger party. Slice and dice it however you want but a legitimate transition to democracy cannot be carried out without opposition participation in the process.

January 12th, 2012, 10:57 am

 

jad said:

Dear Mina,
Do you have a religion?
See, it’s very important that we know your religion and sect because of the survey we are conducting, the bad news is that most probably you will be labeled as a Kafira (la sama7 allh), the good news is that because you are a women you will be labeled as a Half Kafira (la sama7 Allah) including all the priceless prizes that come with the title.
Have a nice day my friend 🙂

Shabbi7,
I agree, the name is much better than Dabbi7! Ya la6eef!

January 12th, 2012, 11:13 am

 

Mina said:

Escalation: in Egypt too, and from a self-proclaimed activist group on FB…
Majed: of course I am against these stupid discriminatory measures. But do you think anyone in the Middle East has enough power now to reverse that?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/jan/12/syria-arab-league-monitors-cannot-stop-the-killing
(at 2:55 quoting ahramonline
http://english.ahram.org.eg/~/NewsContent/1/64/31544/Egypt/Politics-/Islamist-Morality-Police-to-train-volunteers-in-us.aspx)

A self-declared “Morality Police”- official title: the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice- has announced it will hold its first training session for volunteers in Cairo tonight.

Ahram Online reports that the group proclaimed on its new official Facebook page that it had acquired 1,000 tazers to be distributed to volunteers who will promote “virtue” and combat “vice” in the Egyptian street.

The “Morality Police”, which models itself on a similar group in Saudi Arabia that monitors citizens social behaviour, added in its announcement that these electric shocks batons will help in self-defence against any possible attacks on volunteers, adding that volunteers would be instructed to use the tazers only in “extremely necessary” situations.

The Facebook page announced that the first field training session for volunteers will be on Thursday evening in El-Mandara neighbourhood in Alexandria.

Question: how can they buy tazers? I can’t believe this is not forbidden under Egyptian law.
Jad: i did mention it last spring. Let’s not follow this path…

January 12th, 2012, 11:15 am

 

Ghufran said:

Expat, welcome back.
المندسه حول جيش سوريا الحر
http://the-syrian.com/archives/61293

January 12th, 2012, 11:18 am

 

Mina said:

Two Arab League monitors quit Syria amid conflicting claims
Head of league’s Syria mission challenges claims by Algerian monitor that Al-Assad regime is guilty of war crimes
AFP , Thursday 12 Jan 2012
Two Arab League monitors in Syria have quit, officials said on Thursday, as the head of the operation accused an Algerian observer who resigned of making unfounded claims about the operation.

“Two monitors have excused themselves – an Algerian and a Sudanese,” Syria operations chief Adnan Khodeir said at Arab League headquarters in Cairo.

He said that the Algerian monitor quit “for health reasons,” while the Sudanese “was returning to his country for personal reasons.”

On Wednesday, Algerian Anwar Malek told Doha-based Al Jazeera that he had quit the mission and accused the Syrian regime of committing a series of war crimes against its people and of duping his colleagues.

But the head of the mission slammed Malek’s claims as “baseless” because, since his deployment to the flashpoint city of Homs in central Syria, he stayed in his hotel room and did not join other observers in the field.

“What observer Anwar Malek said on satellite television is baseless,” General Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa Al-Dabi, former head of Sudanese military intelligence, who leads the operations in Syria, said in a statement.

“Malek was deployed to Homs as part of a team, but for six days he did not leave his room and did not join members of the team on the ground, pretending he was sick,” Al-Dabi said in the statement.

He echoed remarks by an unnamed Arab League official who had said that Malek was bedridden throughout his assignment in Homs and that his accusations were unfounded.

“What I saw was a humanitarian disaster. The regime isn’t committing one war crime but a series of crimes against its people,” the Algerian observer had told Al Jazeera.

“The mission was a farce and the observers have been fooled. The regime orchestrated it and fabricated most of what we saw to stop the Arab League from taking action against the regime,” he said.

According to Al-Dabi, the Algerian monitor requested leave for medical treatment in Paris but departed before waiting for the green light.

Meanwhile, Arab League chief Nabil El-Arabi told a private Egyptian television station late Wednesday that reports he was receiving from Al-Dabi on the mission were “extremely worrying.”

Earlier this week, El-Arabi warned that the mission – launched on 26 December to end the Syrian regime’s crackdown on democracy protesters – could be suspended after three monitors were hurt in an attack.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/31586/World/Region/Two-Arab-League-monitors-quit-Syria-amid-conflicti.aspx
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/31576/World/Region/Arab-observers-face-tough-mission-in-Syria-China.aspx

January 12th, 2012, 11:23 am

 

Revlon said:

الأسد فاجأ مؤيّديه بنزوله إلى الشارع معهم وأكد أنه “سننتصر على المؤامرة”
الخميس 12 كانون الثاني 2012- السنة 78 – العدد 24616
http://www.annahar.com/article.php?t=arab&p=3&d=24616
فاجأ الرئيس السوري بشار الاسد الآلاف من انصاره في ساحة الامويين
بدمشق، إذ شاركهم شخصيا في تحركهم المؤيد للنظام، وتعهد دحر من وصفهم بالمتآمرين الاجانب الذين يخططون لانهاء حكمه قائلا: “سننتصر على المؤامرة”، وانسحب أحد مراقبي بعثة جامعة الدول العربية من سوريا واتهم السلطات بارتكاب جرائم حرب. وقتل صحافي فرنسي في حمص وهو أول صحافي أجنبي يسقط منذ بدء الاحتجاجات في سوريا.

قال الاسد الذي وصل فجأة الى مكان تجمع مؤيديه في ساحة الامويين بدمشق: “سننتصر من دون أدنى شك على المؤامرة… انهم في مرحلتهم الاخيرة من المؤامرة وسنجعلها نهاية لهم ولمخططاتهم”.
واضاف في حضور زوجته أسماء الاسد واثنين من أولاده، لانصاره الذين تجمعوا تعبيرا عن دعمهم للاصلاحات التي تحدث عنها في خطابه اول من امس: “جئت لكي استمد القوة منكم. لم أشعر بالضعف يوما ما بفضلكم”.
وهتفت الحشود: “شبيحة للابد لعيونك بشار الاسد” في اشارة الى الميليشيات المؤيدة له ومعظم افرادها من الاقلية العلوية التي اكتسبت شهرة ببث الرعب لدورها في قمع الاحتجاجات المناهضة للرئيس. وجاء هذا التجمع في اطار سلسلة تظاهرات دعم للنظام نظمت في مدن وبلدات سورية عدة، استنادا الى مشاهد بثها التلفزيون السوري
__________________________________________________________________
Personal Comment
Jr’s confidence in own supporters’ approval, and wisdom of his policy appears to have been badly shaken.

In over 10 years in office, he never felt the need, or attempted to look people in the eye and address them as constituency.

He always addressed “Institutions” that owe their existence and persistence to his late father, and himself respectively.

The failure of 10 months old brutal crackdown by his mighty army, republican guards, and security agencies to put an end to the descent of a “handful of protesters” has shattered his long held conviction of being beloved, adored, and rightful.

Assad sought a breather from the several months long security-imposed house/hideout confinement; the world’s vastness now feels so oppressively tight!

January 12th, 2012, 11:24 am

 

Ghufran said:

المندسه حول المناع
المناع ما غير موقفو
نحن يلي عملنا

نحن كنا نشوف اي واحد بنتقد النظام على اي شي بفترة ما قبل الثورة كمعارض
اي واحد بحكي او بكتب علنا  بالمواضيع يلي ما منحكيها الا ادام المقربيين الموثوقين كان تلقائيا بصير معارض

اما هل الايام فازا الزلمة  ما طلع و لعن روح حافظ شي الف مرة و هدد بشار بالوعيد فما بكون “معارض”

المناع بقي مخلص لمبادئو واهدافو يلي كان عم ينادي الها من زمان ابل الثورة حتى

كيف طلع معي هيك؟
الجواب
مناع بعرف منيح عن النظام وعايش فترة التمانينات وجرائمها يلي بتشيب الراس و السجون المرعبة يلي الناس كانت تفوت الها وما كانت تطلع, حتى لو جثث, وبالتالي العداد ضد النظام عندو  معبي للاخير ومالح يزيد شو ما انسفك دم اضافي يعني بالمختصر المفيد هو بنى اهدافو اعتمادا على تفكير عميق و طويل وما كان عبارة عن رد فعل على الامور الحالية او الامور العاطفية يلي عم ترافقها

واحدة من الوسائل المستخدمة لتفهم الزلمة ليش اتخذ قرار معين هي انك تشوف شو هي المعلومات يلي بملكها و تحط حالك بموقفوا و تحالوا تجاري تفكيروا اعتمادا على اسلوب اتخاذوا القرارات بالماضي و بتشوف شو هي القرارت يلي لح تتخزها انت بهديك الحالة و بتشوفها ازا بتطابئ القرارات يلي اتخذها ولا لأ
ازا كانت مطابقة فغالبا وليس دائما عرفت ليش اتخذ هو القرار تبعو
اما ازا كان لأ فغالبا في المشكلة بمحاولتك مجارات تفكيرو او بسبب انو معلومات اضافية هو بعرفها و انت ما بعرف انو بعرفها او ممكن انك ما بتعرف بوجودها حتى

طبقت هل الاسلوب على هيثم مناع:
هو من جماعة حقوق الانسان مهتم بحقوق المرأة و الاقليات يعني متل اليسار الاوربي الغربي غالبا بكره سفك الدم وبفضل انو يكون الضحية على انو يكون الجلاد
فيلو تاريخ شيوعي قبل ما يضطر يغادر البلد ليعيش في فرنسا فترة طويلة فهو كمان من هل الناحية لح يكون متل اليسار الاوربي بكره السياسة الامريكية “الامبريالية  العسكرية” وان كان غير معادي للغرب
فمناع كان ضد فكرة الغزو للعراق من شان الاطاحة بنظام صدام حسين (جزار الملايين ) يلي هو اشد بكتير من وحشية حافظ يلي بشار اقل وحشية منو (ابدا لا تفكر تقارن بين واحد امر بابادة 40 الف باقل من شهر بحماة مع مجازر متفرقة ضد المدنيين  في لبنان و حلب و جسر الشغور يعني بكل المناطق يلي خالفتوه مع بشار يلي معدل ضحاياه حوالي 1000 كل شهر) وبتوقع قرار معارضتو للحرب نابع من رفض مبدأ الغزو للاطاحة بنظام مهما كان متوحش ودموي.

فبتوقع انو اهدافو هي متل اهداف اليسار الاوربي تتمثل بتحقيق دولة ديمقراطية محترمة لحقوق الانسان و الاقليات والمرأة مع نوع من الرعاية الاجتماعية
وسائله هي السلمية والسياسية بشكل كامل باعتبارو برفض سياسة الحوار بالبسطار او مجرد الدعس فيه على بشار حتى دون حوار بالاضافة الى الحفاظ على الدولة و محاولة استئصال النظام ببطأ خطوة خطوة حتى لا تســتأصل الدولة بالغلط مع النظام

فمنشان هيك منشوفو عم يحاور الكل دون استثناء “روسيا و النظام ومنشوفو على قنوات العالم والمنار”
اما ازا سألتني كيف هاد الشي لح يشتغل و ينفع مع بشار؟
ما بعرف وباعتباري بتصنف مع اليمين ما مع اليسار و شخصيا بؤمن انو بشار بفهم لغة القوة بس فمصطلح “حوار مع بشار” بالنسبة الي عبارة عن طلاسم ما بفهمها, بس بعرف شو بتعني
فدور على حدا غيري  يجاوبك انو كيف ممكن هاد الشي يشتغل؟
بس بتوقع انو  وسيلتو للتغير هي انو يخلي الروس يضغطوا على بشار متل ما الامريكان ضغطوا على مبارك, ما عندي جواب تاني!
هل الشغلة خارج مدى ادراك عقلي. ياريب لو حدا بعرف يحط الجواب
طيب ليش واحد يميني متلي بتلائيه ساكن بكل الاماكن يلي بترفع مستوى الادريناليين بالدم لمستويات قياسية عم دافع عن واحد من اليسار عاش حياتو دفاعا عن حقوق الانسان و يلي تقريبا شخصيتو مختلفة بشكل كامل عن شخصيتي وبشوفو جبان و بشوفني مجنون؟
لانو الزلمة معارض للنظام من ابل ما انولد انا نفسي
ربما سياستو ممكن تأدي لمخرج انا ما لي شايفو

بس مشكلتي معو هي انو بدو يفرض اجندتو السلمية  بشكل ديكتاتوري علينا عن طريق رفض التدخل الدولي كسياسة عامة ما الاجندة السلمية المطلقة بحد ذاتها

January 12th, 2012, 11:28 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Comment #444 is very silly

January 12th, 2012, 11:31 am

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

الشعب السوري والوطن السوري بحاجة ماسة لقآئد حقيقي لا واجهة لعصابة مجرمين تعمل تحت اسم حزب البعث.

January 12th, 2012, 11:33 am

 

jad said:

‘Dabbi7a’ of Deir Alzor throwing dynamite toward the security froces
رمي ديناميت على رجال الامن في دير الزور 12.1.2012
http://youtu.be/aRX-qRsAv-Y

January 12th, 2012, 11:48 am

 

jad said:

#450,
I’m glad that you see how silly your questioning ‘Syndrome’ is.

January 12th, 2012, 11:51 am

 

irritated said:

Mina #448

Lies and disinformation is a disease that even AL observers are catching thanks to the generous remuneration of Qatari owned’s Al Jazeera

January 12th, 2012, 11:58 am

 

aldendeshe معتز الدندشي said:

It is time to hold Shia Iran to account. They have proven to be a tool of the devil in continuing not only their clandestine Nuclear program that is threatening the entire Middle East, but unabated support to the Baathist criminal Mafia in Damascus that murdered more than 180,000 Moslem Syrians in the past 30 years. This is genocide the world is silent about. But for Iran, an Islamic State that falsely proclaim Islam as their only true religion, a front position advanced to encroach on real Moslem land in the west, it is beyond hypocrisy to continue funding the Baathist regime while it continue to kill Moslems even in Mosques and Holly places.

Shia Munafekeen, المنافقين الشيعة are out kissing hands of every enemy of Syria and western puppets as well, they claim to be Moslems ( that is fraud by itself) but did nothing to help Syrians free their live from the clutches of a criminal gang operating under non-legitimate front, pretending to be a political one, but in fact , it is just a classic organized crime family using a fictitious political name Baath party and a front man, supposedly a President ( what a sick joke) he has no power or any leadership quality whatsoever, just your old plain coward criminal front-man like Al Capone lawyer basically.

January 12th, 2012, 12:04 pm

 

zoo said:

Israel and the US resort to “terrorism” to stop Iran’s nuclear program

“After all, killing civilian scientists and civilian leaders, even if you do it quietly, is unquestionably terrorism. That’s certainly what we’d consider it if Hezbollah fighters tried to kill cabinet undersecretaries and planted bombs at the homes of Los Alamos engineers.

If you think Iran is a mortal enemy that needs to be dealt with via military force, you can certainly make that case. But if you’re going to claim that terrorism is a barbaric tactic that has to be stamped out, you can hardly endorse its use by the United States just because it’s convenient in this particular case.

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/11/more_murder_of_iranian_scientists_still_terrorism/singleton/

January 12th, 2012, 12:05 pm

 

Revlon said:

Future benefactors of Free Syria
Karm AlZeitoun, Homs
10/01/2012

January 12th, 2012, 12:12 pm

 

ann said:

AL monitoring team head in Syria denies his mission “farce” – 2012-01-12

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/12/c_131357052.htm

DAMASCUS, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) — Head of the Arab League (AL) observer mission in Syria Moustafa al-Dabi on Thursday dismissed as “untrue” the remarks of a former AL observer in Syria, who decried the monitoring mission to the country as a “farce.”

Al-Dabi was quoted by state-run SANA news agency as saying that Anwar Malek, an former Algerian member of the monitoring team, hadn’t left his hotel room since he was dispatched to central city of Homs for field trips.

In a recent interview, Malek told the Doha-based al-Jazeera TV that he resigned because of what he saw, saying that the mission was falling apart.

“What I saw was a humanitarian disaster. The regime is not just committing one war crime, but a series of crimes against its people,” he said, according to al-Jazeera.

“The snipers are everywhere shooting at civilians. People are being kidnapped. Prisoners are being tortured and none were released,” he said, adding that security forces did not withdraw their tanks from the streets, but just hid them and then redeployed them after the observers left.

Meanwhile, al-Dabi said “He (Malek) hadn’t even joined his team through the field mission in Homs,” adding that Malek stayed in his hotel room citing his illness that prevented him from joining his colleagues.

“Malek has requested permission to leave Syria for treatment in Paris and we granted him that permission but he didn’t wait for his departure arrangement and booked his plane ticket on his own expense,” al-Dabi said.

Al-Dabi’s team renewed its calls on the media to stick to objectivity and to be accurate in its coverage, according to SANA.

Meanwhile, an AL official denied Thursday there would be a delay in sending more observers to Syria.

Adnan al-Khodair, head of AL’s monitoring operations room in Cairo, told Xinhua when the AL would dispatch a new batch of observers depended on the security situation and the request of observers already in Syria.

“If the observers in Syria need more support, we will immediately send another batch,” he said.

Khodair said the AL had received applications from many Arab countries and organizations to send observers. The AL will make arrangements for the mission according to the situation in Syria.

Currently, there are around 160 AL observers in Syria. An Arab diplomatic source said the AL would not send more observers to Syria for now until the situation becomes stable, Egypt’s official MENA news agency reported Wednesday.

Syria signed the AL observer protocol on Dec. 19, 2011 in Cairo after the AL threatened to take the issue to the United Nations Security Council.

The observers are monitoring the situation in Syria as part of the AL peace initiative to end the months-long turmoil in Syria. The Syrian government said some 2,000 army and security personnel were killed since the unrest began in March, 2011, while the UN said more than 5,000 people have died in the violence.

On Tuesday, the AL condemned attacks on monitoring teams in Syrian cities of Latakis, Deir al-Zour and some other areas by pro- government people or the opposition.

January 12th, 2012, 12:13 pm

 

jad said:

Haytham Manna3 position is correct by refusing all kind of international intervention, he is also correct that the Russian will Veto any military resolution by the UNSC, it’s obvious, yet some delusional oppositions are still insisting of giving people false promises they can’t deliver or can’t even deal with the results of those promises, killing the hopes of people like that has one result full scale civil war or a regional war.
The oppositions must learn politics and diplomacy for the sake of all Syrians including the regime itself, they can help instead of being promoters of chaos.

خارجية فرنسا: نعمل مع شركائنا لقرار بمجلس الأمن يدين النظام السوري

أكدت الخارجية الفرنسية أن “خيار فرض حظر جوي على سوريا غير مطروح حالياً”، مشيرةً إلى أنها “تواصل السعي مع شركائها لاعتماد قرار في مجلس الأمن يدين النظام السوري ويدعم مبادرة الجامعة العربية”.
وشدد المتحدث باسم الخارجية الفرنسية رومان نادال، في مؤتمر صحافي، على أن “موقف فرنسا من سوريا لم يتغير، فأمام القمع الدموي الذي يمارسه النظام، ندعم بشكل كامل مبادرة جامعة الدول العربية وتنفيذ الخطة في أبعادها الأربعة، أي وقف القمع، وتحرير جميع السجناء السياسيين، وعودة القوات الأمنية إلى الثكنات، ودخول وسائل الإعلام الدولية إلى الأراضي السورية”.
وتمنى نادال أن “يتحمل المجتمع الدولي مسؤولياته لدعم الخطة العربية”، مجدداً “إدانة جميع الهجمات ضد المراقبين”، ومذكراً السلطات السورية بأن “من واجبها حماية بعثة المراقبين”.
هذا ورحب نادال بـ”نية اللجنة الوزارية العربية إستمرار التنسيق مع الأمين العام للأمم المتحدةبان كي مون”، معتبراً أنه “من الضروري الآن أكثر من أي وقت مضى أن يلتزم المجتمع الدولي ويتعاون مع الجامعة العربية لإنهاء القمع في سوريا”.
وأضاف أن “التعاون مع الأمم المتحدة سيعزز مهمة البعثة من دون أن يتمكن النظام من عرقلة أو إخفاء الواقع”.

January 12th, 2012, 12:17 pm

 

ann said:

Arab League says no delay in sending more observers to Syria – 2012-01-12

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/12/c_131356877.htm

CAIRO, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) — An Arab League (AL) official denied on Thursday there would be a delay in sending more observers to Syria.

Adnan al-Khodair, head of the AL’s monitoring operations room in Cairo, told Xinhua when the AL would dispatch a new batch of observers depended on the security situation and the request of observers already in Syria.

“If the observers in Syria need more support, we will immediately send another batch,” he said.

Khodair said the AL had received applications from many Arab countries and organizations to send observers. The AL will make arrangements for the mission according to the situation in Syria.

Currently, there are around 160 AL observers in Syria. An Arab diplomatic source said the AL would not send more observers to Syria for now until the situation becomes stable, Egypt’s official MENA news agency reported Wednesday.

Syria signed the AL observer protocol on Dec. 19, 2011 in Cairo after the AL threatened to take the issue to the United Nations Security Council.

The observers are monitoring the situation in Syria as part of the AL peace initiative to end the months-long turmoil in Syria. The Syrian government said some 2,000 army and security personnel were killed since the unrest began in March, 2011, while the UN said more than 5,000 people have died in the violence.

On Tuesday, the AL condemned attacks on monitoring teams in Syrian cities of Latakia, Deir al-Zour and some other areas by the opposition.

January 12th, 2012, 12:17 pm

 

jad said:

Stop using innocent children, they have no place in this bloody struggle.
.لا لتجييش الأطفال تحت أي مسمى كان، انها جريمة بحق كل سوري
.أماكن الأطفال المدارس والملاعب وليس السياسة أو الحروب

January 12th, 2012, 12:20 pm

 

jad said:

Homs, ‘Dabi7a’ shooting RPG in a residential area

إرهابيو حمص يقصفون المنازل بالآر بي جي
http://youtu.be/KrPsoD8XNOc

“السلمية تتجلى بأبهى صورها ، التي لا تفرق بين عسكري ومدني وبين بريء ومتهم وبين مؤيد أو معارض ، الكل سواسية تحت القصف بالأر بي جي ، والجميع متماثلون في حقهم باختيار الموت إما قتلا بالسكين والسواطير أو ذبحا تحت أنغام التكبير – والدين منهم بريء – أو تحت الموت والتشتت أشلاء تحت قصف الصواريخ والهاون والار بي جي”

January 12th, 2012, 12:27 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

@JAD
Then why the genocidal criminal Baathist Mafia keep killing them by the hundred? Tell them to stop too please.

January 12th, 2012, 12:27 pm

 

jad said:

Algeria, Egypt and Iraq are against taking the Syrian file to the UN (My guess it’s a message to Hammoudeh of Qatar)

وزير خارجية الجزائر: الحكومة السورية اتخذت خطوات لنزع فتيل الأزمة

أشار وزير الخارجية الجزائر مراد مدلسي، يوم الأربعاء، إلى أن الحكومة السورية اتخذت خطوات لنزع فتيل الأزمة في البلاد، وإن حمل المعارضة للسلاح ينذر بأعمال عنف أوسع نطاقا، كما بين أن الجزائر والعراق ومصر ستعارض على الأرجح إحالة الملف السوري إلى مجلس الأمن، إذا قالت الجامعة العربية أنها فشلت في سورية.

وقال مدلسي، في مؤتمر صحفي بالأمم المتحدة، نقلته وكالة (رويترز) للأنباء، إن “الحكومة السورية اتخذت بعض الخطوات، ربما لا تكفي لكن اتخذت بعض الخطوات بمعنى أنه قد تم سحب الأسلحة الثقيلة من المدن التي تواجه مشاكل الآن”.

وكان الأمين العام لجامعة الدول العربية نبيل العربي، قال مؤخرا، إن الجيش السوري انسحب من المناطق السكنية، الأمر الذي واجه انتقادا من “المجلس الوطني السوري” المعارض الذي قال إنه بعد اتصاله مع رئيس بعثة المراقبين تبين أن النظام سحب قسما من دباباته من مراكز المدن إلى أطرافها ولم يسحبها إلى ثكناته.

وأضاف مدلسي أنه “جرى إطلاق سراح بضعة آلاف من السجناء لكن هناك الكثير لم يطلق سراحهم بعد، وهناك انفتاح لوسائل الإعلام، رغم أن هذا الانفتاح غير كامل إلا انه حقيقي”.

وكانت السلطات المختصة، أخلت سبيل 552 موقوف، خلال الشهر الجاري، كما أخلت، سبيل 3400 موقوفا خلال الشهرين الماضيين، ممن تورطوا في الأحداث الأخيرة، التي تشهدها سورية مؤخرا، ولم تتلطخ أيديهم بدماء السوريين.

وإخلاء سبيل المعتقلين وسحب المظاهر المسلحة من المدن هو أحد بنود الخطة العربية لوقف “العنف” في سورية، والتي وافقت عليها القيادة السورية، إضافة إلى فتح حوار وطني مع المعارضة في مقر الجامعة، والسماح لوسائل الإعلام والمراقبين بالدخول إلى سوريا والإطلاع على الأوضاع فيها.

وقال وزير خارجية الجزائر إن “الشعور هو أن الحكومة السورية تعكف على بذل مزيد من الجهد لكن جامعة الدول العربية لديها مشاكل بشكل خاص مع المعارضة المسلحة”، موضحا أنه “لا يعتقد أن سوريا حاليا في حرب أهلية”، كما أشار إلى أن “العنف يقتصر على عدد قليل من المدن”.

لكنه بين أنه “إذا استمرت المعارضة في تسليح نفسها فسيكون هناك خطر، قد يضعنا في موقف عنف أوسع نطاقا.”

وأكد رئيس بعثة المراقبين العرب الفريق محمد مصطفي الدابي، في وقت سابق، على ضرورة استكمال مهمته وفق البروتوكول الموقع بين الجامعة ودمشق، لافتا إلى أن “كافة الأطراف السورية تتحمل مسؤولية القتل”، على حد تعبيره.

وفيما يخص انسحاب العضو الجزائري أنور مالك من بعثة الجامعة العربية، قال مدلسي إن “مالك ينتمي إلى منظمة غير حكومية وان الجزائريين الآخرين لديهم أراء مختلفة”، لافتا إلى “وجود 10 مسؤولين من الحكومة الجزائرية في فريق بعثة الجامعة العربية لسوريا والذي يضم 165 عضوا”.

وكان احد المراقبين العرب أنور مالك، أعلن يوم الثلاثاء انسحابه من مهمته بسبب ما اسماه “المشاهد المروعة” التي رآها في مدينة حمص و”الأوضاع المأساوية” التي شهدتها المحافظة, على حد تعبيره.

وقال وزير خارجية الجزائر إنني “سأندهش إذا قالت جامعة الدول العربية أنها فشلت وأنهم ذاهبون إلى مجلس الأمن”، لافتا إلى أن “دولا مثل الجزائر والعراق ومصر ستعارض على الأرجح الإحالة إلى مجلس الأمن”.

وحذرت مصر، في وقت سابق، من مغبة احالة ملف الأزمة السورية إلى مجلس الأمن, لافتة الى انها مازالت ترى امكانية نجاح الحل العربي, في وقت اعلنت فيه الجزائر ان هناك متسع من الوقت امام الحل العربي للازمة التي تشهدها سورية منذ اشهر.

وكانت اللجنة العربية الوزارية عقدت اجتماعا، يوم الأحد الماضي، لبحث تقرير بعثة المراقبين العرب، حيث أقرت اللجنة أن هناك “تقدم جزئي” في تنفيذ التزامات تعهدت بها الحكومة السورية بموجب خطة العمل العربية، إلا أنها دعت الحكومة السورية إلى التنفيذ الفوري والكامل لجميع تعهداتها، وقررت في الوقت ذاته منح بعثة المراقبين الحيز الزمني الكافي لاستكمال مهمتها، على أن يقدم رئيس بعثتها تقريره في نهاية الشهر الأول.

وكشف مساعد الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة للشؤون السياسية بي لين باسكو، في وقت سابق، أن عدد القتلى في سورية بلغ 400 منذ بدء مهمة المراقبين العرب، فيما أكد مندوب سورية في الأمم المتحدة، بشار الجعفري أن العنف في سورية يرتكبه ارهابيون يتلقون الدعم من دول أجنبية.

وبدأت بعثة المراقبين العرب مهامها في سورية في 27 كانون الأول الماضي, حيث قامت بزيارة كل من حمص ودرعا وحماه وادلب ودمشق وريفها وحلب, وذلك لمراقبة تطبيق الخطة العربية لحل الأزمة في سورية.

ووقع نائب وزير الخارجية فيصل المقداد الشهر الماضي، في العاصمة المصرية القاهرة على مشروع بروتوكول خاص بإرسال مراقبين عرب إلى سورية لمعاينة الأوضاع، حيث ينص على أن بعثة المراقبين إلى سورية التي ستقوم بعملها لمدة شهر ستقوم بالمراقبة والرصد لمدى التنفيذ الكامل لوقف جميع أعمال العنف ومن أي مصدر كان في المدن والأحياء السكنية السورية.

سيريانيوز

http://www.syria-news.com/readnews.php?sy_seq=142618

January 12th, 2012, 12:30 pm

 

jad said:

SNP
I’m telling the criminal side of the regime, the criminal side of the Baathi or any political party and the criminal side of the oppositions to stop this madness, it’s not a one way message, it’s a message to all.

January 12th, 2012, 12:34 pm

 

ann said:

Arab League chief unhappy about Syria crisis – Jan 12, 2012

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012/01/12/63750747.html

Speaking to reporters in Cairo on Thursday, Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi expressed concern about the latest developments in Syria.

“What we currently witness in the country is no doubt a revolution,” al-Arabi said referring to a recent report by Arab League observers on Syria.

He also said that the Syrian opposition may play a “useful role in halting the violence.”

Al-Arabi added that a repeat of the Libyan scenario in Syria is unlikely because “there is no oil in Syria and consequently no-one will cover expenses for the international interference.”

He called the imposition of international sanctions one of the ways to prevent the Assad regime from cracking down on Syrian people.

January 12th, 2012, 12:39 pm

 

aldendeshe معتز الدندشي said:

سورية ، دمية ، وبس

January 12th, 2012, 12:41 pm

 

Mina said:

At 12h40 (UK time = 13h40 French time) the Guardian published that, in total contradiction with Le Monde’s article published in the morning

12:40 Thierry Thullier, editorial director of France Télévisions, is travelling to Syria today along with the two editors of Envoyé spécial, the France 2 programme for which Jacquier worked.

In a message posted earlier this morning by Celia Mériguet, editor-in-chief of FTVi, said the purpose of their trip was to “bring back to France the cameraman Christophe Kenck, the photographer wife and the body of the journalist, which is at the French hospital in Damascus.”

A doctor and a psychologist is accompanying them. They will take care of the two survivors, who are in shock.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/jan/12/syria-arab-league-monitors-cannot-stop-the-killing

no further change or correction.

This is what Le Monde was stating at 11h50
“Après son décès, le corps de Gilles Jacquier a été transporté dans un dispensaire chrétien de Homs. Ses proches ont dû empêcher les services de renseignements syriens de s’emparer du corps, jusqu’à l’arrivée de l’ambassadeur de France, Eric Chevallier, qui est rentré à Damas avec le corps de reporter de France 2 et les autres journalistes.”
http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/article/2012/01/12/la-mort-d-un-journaliste-en-pleine-folie-syrienne_1628878_3218.html#ens_id=1481132
(no further change or correction).

January 12th, 2012, 12:43 pm

 

Revlon said:

Child Tasneem AlAbrash was killed by a bullet while returning home with her family from Der Alzor; She is finally in peace with God.
AlFatiha upon her soul,
May God bless her family with solace and empoower them with fortitude.

Her unarmed father failed to defend and protect her precious life and probably his own as well.

Jr offered her no gurantee of excemption from deadly mistakes of his forces.

NCB and peaceful SNC members can use her death to add more peaceful pressure on the regime, so they can secure a secular, democratic state that respects the rights of minorities…ah and also women’s rights!

ادلب معرشورين الشهيدةالطفلة تسنيم الأبرش استشهدت على جسر سراقب اثناء عودتها من دير الزور 12 1 2012

January 12th, 2012, 12:47 pm

 

Juergen said:

What Assad really said…

January 12th, 2012, 1:12 pm

 

jad said:

“so they can secure a secular, democratic state that respects the rights of minorities…ah and also women’s rights!”

Good to know that you only care for [SPECIFIC] [MEN]’s right in a country like Syria known for its diverse society and enlightened women.
How morally bankrupt using the murder of an innocent child to promote Taliban’s style country filled with discrimination against women and minority and empty of any tolerances in the 21st century, only ‘Jahala’ advocate such Syria.

January 12th, 2012, 1:12 pm

 

Mina said:

As the Greeks are asked to live with 300 dollars salaries to help bail their banks, EU-NATO seem to prepare its military bases “for a much bigger destiny”. I doubt the Greeks or the Europeans citizens will be asked for any democratic authorization before it starts…
http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/1383501-greece-still-splashes-out-billions-defence

(Happy Jürgen, it’s all German weapons! The German citizens must applaud.)

January 12th, 2012, 1:14 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Revlon
Poor child,is the word stop is all what the thugs on SC has for this innocent child, is the word stop will bring back this child to life,
For those who tell the regime stop, and tell this child stop, they should be ashamed of themselves, theu have no values, they have no ethics and morality,they are the criminals in this world.

January 12th, 2012, 1:14 pm

 

defender said:

459. JAD
لا لتجييش الأطفال تحت أي مسمى كان، انها جريمة بحق كل سوري
هل استدعاء جيوش الأطلسي فضيلة ؟
هل تدمير البنى التحتية للدول المختلفة فضيلة؟
هل تمويل مشاريع الاطاحة بأنظمة دول الرغيف فضيلة؟
هل قسمة الشعوب الى فريقي اقتتال فضيلة ؟
هل التستر بالحق عند اللعب لصالح الباطل فضيلة ؟
هل قسمة السودان و نيجيريا فضيلة؟
هل البكاء على ما كان فضيلة ؟
هل الاقتراض من صندوق النقد الدولي فضيلة؟
هل اضاعة الأوطان فضيلة !

January 12th, 2012, 1:16 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

העם הסורי והעם הסורי במצוקה קשה של מנהיג אמיתי ולא מול עבור החבורה של פושעים הפועלים תחת השם של מפלגת הבעת’.

Сирийский народ и сирийский народ остро нуждается в настоящий лидер, а не прикрытием для банды преступников, действующих под названием партии Баас.

叙利亚人民和在一个真正的领袖,而不是为根据的阿拉伯复兴社会党的名义经营的罪犯团伙面前迫切需要叙利亚的国家。

敘利亞人民和在一個真正的領袖,而不是為根據的阿拉伯復興社會黨的名義經營的罪犯團伙面前迫切需要敘利亞的國家。

Syriske folk og de syriske nation i hårdt brug for en sand leder og ikke en front for den bande af kriminelle, der opererer under navnet af Baath-partiet.

Peuple syrien et de la nation syrienne dans le besoin d’un vrai leader et pas une façade pour le gang de criminels opérant sous le nom du parti Baas.

Syrischen Volkes und der syrischen Nation braucht dringend ein wahrer Führer und nicht eine Front für die Bande von Kriminellen, die unter den Namen der Baath-Partei.

सीरिया के लोगों और एक सच्चे और कारण बॉथ पार्टी के नाम के तहत ऑपरेटिंग अपराधियों के गिरोह के लिए एक सामने नहीं नेता की सख्त जरूरत सीरियाई राष्ट्र.

Popolo siriano e la nazione siriana un disperato bisogno di un vero leader e non un fronte per la banda di criminali che operano sotto il nome del partito Baath.

真のリーダーとしないバース党の名の下に動作する犯罪者のギャングのための前面の緊急に必要でシリア人とシリアの国家。

시리아 사람과 진정한 리더가 아니라 Baath 파티의 이름으로 운영 범죄자의 조직에 대한 전면이 원활에있는 시리아의 국가.

Syrus Syrus gente in gentem et dirum caput et non opus est in caterva ante sceleratis operating sub nomen Baath cursus.

مردم سوریه و ملت سوریه، نیاز مبرم به یک رهبر واقعی و یک جبهه برای این باند از مجرمان عامل تحت نام حزب بعث نیست.

Syrianska folket och den syriska nationen i stort behov av en sann ledare och inte en front för banditgäng verkar under namnet Baathpartiet.

Suriye halkı ve gerçek bir lider değil, Baas Partisi adı altında faaliyet gösteren suçluların çete için bir ön şiddetle ihtiyacı olan Suriye ulus.

شام کے لوگ اور ایک سچے رہنما اور نہ بعث پارٹی کے نام کے تحت کام کر مجرموں کے گروہ کے لئے ایک سامنے کی سخت ضرورت شام قوم.

סיריאַן מענטשן און די סיריאַן פאָלק אין דייר דאַרפֿן פון אַ אמת פירער און ניט אַ פראָנט פֿאַר דער באַנדע פון קרימאַנאַלז אָפּערייטינג אונטער די נאָמען פון די באַאַטה פארטיי.

Συρίας ανθρώπων και της Συρίας έθνος απόλυτη ανάγκη από ένα πραγματικό ηγέτη και όχι ένα μέτωπο για την συμμορία των κακοποιών, που δρουν κάτω από το όνομα του κόμματος Μπάαθ.

January 12th, 2012, 1:22 pm

 

zoo said:

Israel and the US resort to “terrorism” to stop Iran’s nuclear program

“After all, killing civilian scientists and civilian leaders, even if you do it quietly, is unquestionably terrorism. That’s certainly what we’d consider it if Hezbollah fighters tried to kill cabinet undersecretaries and planted bombs at the homes of Los Alamos engineers.

If you think Iran is a mortal enemy that needs to be dealt with via military force, you can certainly make that case. But if you’re going to claim that terrorism is a barbaric tactic that has to be stamped out, you can hardly endorse its use by the United States just because it’s convenient in this particular case.

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/11/more_murder_of_iranian_scientists_still_terrorism/singleton/

January 12th, 2012, 1:24 pm

 

jad said:

Defender
Apparently all what you wrote is ‘Fadila’ for Dr. ‘Syndrome’ and his likes.

January 12th, 2012, 1:29 pm

 

zoo said:

Turkey: A Nation Divided Over Islam’s Revival
by Marvine Howe
http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9780813342429-0
The secular Republic of Turkey, which has gone further towards Westernization than any other Muslim country, has been caught up in the Islamic revival sweeping the world from Morocco to the Philippines. Three-quarters of a century after Mustafa Kemal Ataturk abolished the trappings of the Islamic state and replaced them with Western institutions, Turkey has become dangerously polarized. Ataturk’s disciples see his revolution under threat and are engaged in a new crusade against the spread of political Islam. On the other hand, a reinvigorated Islamic movement chafes at official restrictions on Islamic practices and is seeking ways to gain political power.Turkey Today is about the Islamic surge in today’s Turkey, the only Muslim country with one foot in Europe and an active member of the Western Alliance. It is about Ataturk’s legacy, its successes and failures. It is also a personal view of the multi-dimensional nature of Islam in Turkey… as a political, moral, spiritual force.The New York Times bureau chief in Ankara before and after the 1980 military coup, Marvine Howe returns to Turkey to give an in-depth account of the Islamic revival in that rigidly secular country. She discusses the questions on many peoples minds: Why has political Islam reemerged in Turkey today? How does the observance of Islam in Turkey differ from that of other Muslims in the region? Does the Islamic movement pose a threat to the secular state and its relations with the West? What are the chances for an Islamic-secular dialogue and accommodation?Here is a close-up view of some of the many faces of Islam in Turkey: the fundamentalist who would sacrifice higher education for a headscarf, radical cult leaders who prey on youths, the Islamist author who openly seeks to return to Sharia (Islamic Law), ordinary students in the controversial Imam Hatip schools, a leading Islamic reformist who would be satisfied with the American Bill of Rights.Here too, you will meet the Kemalists imbued with the Ataturk mystique. There is the judge who firmly believes that all sectors of the Turkish society have been infiltrated by the Islamic movement. Above all many women are obsessed with the Iranian revolution and the possibility it might happen in Turkey. Their close allies are the military, who promoted religion against Communism in the 1980s, and a decade later launched a virulent campaign against what they perceive to be radical Islamic activities.This reportage-monograph also focuses on other aspects of contemporary Turkey: the Kurdish imbroglio, the mood of the minorities, the Islamization of the arts, the economic boom in the provinces, the reappraisal of Turkish foreign policy.Turkey Today is a lively engaging portrait of this richly diverse society, a fair and even-handed treatment of all sides.

January 12th, 2012, 1:32 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

AlQuds said

Jordan will train 10,000 Libyans to become security officers.

January 12th, 2012, 1:39 pm

 

jad said:

Zibaleh only answer to everything is: Bomb Syria and kill everybody so he can rule.
Unfortunately for Syrian, the masters of this garbage of a man didn’t teach him any other thing to say.

الأهرام: المجلس الوطني السوري سيطالب الأمم المتحدة بإقامة منطقة عازلة

علمت “بوابة الأهرام” أن “المجلس الوطني السوري المعارض برئاسة برهان غليون قرر إرسال وفد إلى الأمم المتحدة حاملاً رسالة مهمة لمجلس الأمن الدولي تطلب إقامة منطقة عازلة لحماية المدنيين السوريين”.
وأفاد مصادر في المجلس أن “الرسالة التي اقترحها مسؤول العلاقات الخارجية رضوان زيادة ووافقت عليها الأمانة العامة للمجلس تحمل نفس المضمون الذي طلبه المجلس الانتقالي الليبي من مجلس الأمن الدولي من قبل”.
ولفت عضو المجلس الوطني والمجلس الأعلى لقيادة الثورة السورية خالد كمال في حديث إلى “بوابة الأهرام” إلى أنه “تم الاتفاق أيضا على تمديد رئاسة غليون للمجلس حتى يوم

“Radwan Ziadeh
شهادة المراقب أنور مالك ربما ستشكل ضغطاً حقيقياً على الجامعة في تقريرها في 19 من الشهر الحالي من أجل تحويل الملف إلى مجلس الأمن لكن بنفس الوقت نريد بقاء المراقبين وزيادة عددهم من أجل تشجيع المظاهرات لكن لما فشلت المبادرة العربية في وقف القتل فيجب اللجوء إلى مجلس الأمن لحماية المدنيين وفق الفصل السابع من ميثاق الأمم المتحدة المادة 42 والتي تنص على استخدام كل الوسائل الضرورية والتي تعني استخدام القوة ”

After Russia, Egypt, Algeria, and Iraq, Chian told the AL its rejection to take the Syrian file to the UN:

الصين تبلغ الجامعة العربية عن معارضتها لنقل الملف السوري إلى مجلس الأمن الدولي

أبلغت الصين الأمانة العامة للجامعة العربية أنها تعارض نقل الملف السوري إلى مجلس الأمن الدولي، مجددة ثقتها في إمكانية حله في الإطار العربي.

وقال الممثل الصيني الخاص في الشرق الأوسط فو سيكيه عقب لقاء الأمين العام للجامعة نبيل العربي في القاهرة يوم 12 يناير/كانون الثاني: “إن جامعة الدول العربية هي الجهة التي تناسب بشكل أفضل لمهمة حل الأزمة السورية”.

وأكد الدبلوماسي الصيني دعم بكين لعمل بعثة المراقبين العرب في سورية وأضاف: “يتمثل الموقف الصيني حيال الأزمة السورية في تأكيدها على ضرورة وقف العنف وبدء الحوار السياسي بمشاركة جميع الأطراف من أجل تنفيذ الإصلاحات اللازمة”.

January 12th, 2012, 2:52 pm

 

annie said:

French journalist killed in Homs, some questions
Posted: 01/12/2012 by Mary Rizzo in Middle East, Newswire,

Written by Lorenzo Trombetta for Sirialibano, translated by Mary Rizzo

Gilles Jacquier

A French journalist, Gilles Jacquier, reporter for France 2 (photo), was killed in Homs by an explosion in the Alawite neighbourhood of Akrama. He is the first Western journalist to lose his life in Syria since the beginning of the repression of the anti-government protests.

His life was not lost in Gaza, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Libya. He lost his life in Syria. One of his Dutch colleagues – Steven Wassenaar, a freelance journalist – was slightly injured in an eye (initially he was reported as being Belgian). Another seven Syrians – states the TV channel Duniya, close to the regime – were killed.

As a photographer for AFP, witness to the event, states, the journalists were part of a tour organised by the authorities in the third city of the nation and epicentre of the repression and the consequent revolt. They were going to follow a march of loyalists when the group was struck by shells. This fact stimulates some spontaneous questions.

1) Who has the possibility to use shells and mortar in Syria?

a) if they are deserters, to say it the way the conspiracy people do, the salafites-infiltrators-terrorists-zionists, then this is REALLY a piece of news. It means that a military escalation is underway. Up to this point, the deserters, and the civilians who have joined them, have shown that they are able to use automatic rifles and RPGs. At Jabal Zawiya (Idlib) they said that they were able to bring an anti-missile rocket launcher. But mortars up to this point, no one has any knowledge of that.

b) if it is not the deserters, then it must be the regime. Because the protesters at this point are still not equipped with anything of the sort.

2) If it was the deserters with brand new mortars – which came to them from the French-Turks-NATO-Israel, still bearing the plastic wrapping and tags – why aim them into a loyalist neighbourhood?

a) because, some will say, since they are really bad people, they can’t wait to exterminate their enemies, the Alawites who are victims of the conspiracy. By chance, in that moment, there were also Western journalists. But in the regime’s rhetoric, aren’t Western journalists in the service of the conspiracy? On the one hand, the agents of the conspiracy are described as being very shrewd, on the other – if it is true that they killed one of their accomplices by accident – the reporter – they show themselves to be simply bunglers.

3) If it was the regime, why shell a loyalist neighbourhood and risk killing – as had in fact happened – your own supporters and some foreign journalists?

a) to demonstrate, others will say, that Homs is dangerous and it is important to stay away from the city. Observers and accredited journalists have now been warned. To then attribute the attack to terrorists who impede free access to information operators, freely welcomed by the authorities of Damascus.

4) Why are the agents of the conspiracy attacking Syrian civilians (Damascus, 6 January) when they should have been trying to collect internal consensus? And why do they attack Arab observers (11 of them have been injured in Lattakia and Homs on 9 January), when they should have tried to convince them of the worthiness of their cause? And why attack Western journalists, when they should instead have them as allies to serve for receiving international support?

6) Why, for the first time, have the terrorists-bad guys attacked a loyalist march, and why precisely when there is a Western journalist?

7) Why does the regime organise tours only in the loyalist neighbourhoods with an Alawite majority (a circumstance confirmed by at least four authoritative colleagues who have participated in these trips)?

a) because, some will say, the other neighbourhoods are too dangerous for the Syrian authorities, who are responsible and care about the safety of their guests. For reasons of safety, in essence.

b) because, others will say, the regime does not want to show the other face of Homs. The one in revolt against the government and the one that is under siege and bombarded by loyalist artillery.

We furthermore report that it took around an hour and a half after the killing of a journalist in Homs for dissemination of the first news for the activists to be able to release any amateur videos on Internet. “Because Akrama is a zone that is forbidden to us, no one can enter at all except for the loyalists,” was what I was told by telephone from two inhabitants of Homs that were reached by phone and who live in the neighbourhoods with a Sunni majority.

The TV channel al Duniya was speedy, instead, in releasing news, something which in these ten months it has never been – which is the same case as the State-run channel Sana – which has been this fast only in case of attacks attributed to Al Qaeda, to salafites and to terrorists.

We await your questions and possible replies. In the meantime, an homage to Gilles Jacquier, winner of the Ilaria Alpi prize in 2011 for the best international reportage for his Tunisie, la révolution en marche.

ORIGINAL: http://www.sirialibano.com/short-news/ucciso-giornalista-francese-a-homs-qualche-domanda.html

January 12th, 2012, 3:03 pm

 

annie said:

We are all Hamza Alkhateeb
URGENT : PLEASE SHARE THIS
SYRIAN REGIME MURDER OF FRENCH JOURNALIST AND 7 CITIZENS
ADDOUNIA BLOW IT AGAIN: the first time they broadcast the firing on journalists yesterday… they forgot to edit the State TV cameraman and another man shouting…”DON’T FIRE! DON’T FIRE! THIS MIGHT CAUSE US A PROBLEM. WAIT! WE HAVE SOME FOREIGN JOURNALISTS HERE!”
(presumably into their ear pieces and mikes, always worn when controlling their own movements for ‘visitors’. And presume the shooter was misled by half the journalists having just left)

January 12th, 2012, 3:08 pm

 
 

Juergen said:

Does this regime think that the world is buying their lies?
how come most victims were almost torn into pieces, but Syrian state tv can show this photo for the alledged “terrorist”?
What is that CSI Dimaschq???

http://news.nawaret.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%89-%D8%A7

January 12th, 2012, 3:35 pm

 

ann said:

Crude Oil Plunges on Report EU Will Delay Iran Embargo By Six Months – 1/12/2012

http://community.nasdaq.com/News/2012-01/crude-oil-plunges-on-report-eu-will-delay-iran-embargo-by-six-months.aspx?storyid=113904

Crude futures plunged late, sliding under the $100 a barrel market for the first time since the start of the year. Light, sweet crude for February delivery settled at $99.19 a barrel, down 1.67, falling nearly $2 a barrel in the final 15 minutes of the NYMEX floor session.

Undercutting price were reports the European Union would delay imposing Iran sanctions. Citing an EU official with knowledge of the talks, Bloomberg News reported that an EU embargo on imports of Iranian oil would probably be delayed for six months to allow countries such as Greece, Italy and Spain to find alternative supply.

January 12th, 2012, 3:55 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

Syrian Nationalist Party

When will the Baathist genocidal criminal Mafia and its front face boy KIM YUNG ASSAD concludes that there is a real revolt against the Baath / Alawite /Shia rule in Syria, and not just a foreign paid and inspired conspiracy plot?

The mafia proved to be incompetent, their Shia backers in Tehran proven to be a bunch of dim witted weak users playing Imperialism with other poor nation. WE WANT SYRIA BACK TO THE SYRIANS. Move on before the stronger Mafia force you out. Syrians are not going to sit and wait for the Front-Man to gain a grain of brain, intellect and courage’s to say to his henchmen NO, and get on with reform for real. We are not going to wait until the meaner mafia moves in when Syrians are scrapping rice and seeds from the ground. Move out now, while we can somehow stay afloat. MOVE OUT, you and your father, and uncles stole billions, starved Syrians and sent all the cash overseas. OUT, OUT, OUT or will get the bigger Mafia to force you out. Get ready to account for all the Billions sold in crude Oil revenue since the early 80’s while you are packing in a hurry.

سوریه ، حزب ناسیونالیست
هنگامی که بعثی نسل کشی مافیا جنایی و جلو صورت پسر کیم یونگ اسد نتیجه می گیرد که شورش علیه حکومت بعث / علوی / شیعه در سوریه، و نه فقط خارجی پرداخت و الهام گرفته از طرح توطئه وجود دارد؟
مافیا نشان داد به ناشایسته، حامیان شیعه خود را در تهران ثابت می شود یک دسته از کاربران تیز هوش کم نور ضعیف بازی امپریالیسم با کشور دیگری فقیر. ما می خواهیم سوریه BACK به سوریه است. در حرکت قبل از مافیا قوی تر به شما زور از. سوریه می رویم بنشینند و برای مرد جبهه صبر کنید برای به دست آوردن یک دانه مغز ، عقل و شجاعت می گویند به نوکران اوست که NO، و با اصلاحات واقعی است. ما قصد نداریم تا حرکت meaner مافیا در زمانی که سوریه scrapping برنج و دانه از زمین صبر کنید. خارج در حال حاضر ، در حالی که ما به نوعی شناور باقی می ماند. حرکت، شما و پدر و عمو به سرقت برده میلیارد، سوریه گرسنگی و تمام پول نقد در خارج از کشور فرستاده شده است. از، خارج، خارج و یا مافیا بزرگتر را به زور از شما. آماده به تمام میلیاردها درآمد نفت خام از اوایل دهه 80 به فروش می رسد را به حساب در حالی که شما در حال بسته بندی در یک شتاب.

סיריאַן נאַטיאָנאַליסט פארטיי
ווען וועט דער באַאַטהיסט דזשענאַסיידאַל פאַרברעכער מאַפיאַ און זייַן פאָרנט פּנים יינגל קים יאַנג אַסאַד אויס אַז עס איז אַ פאַקטיש ופשטאַנד קעגן די באַאַטה / אַלאַוויטע / שיאַ הערשן אין סיריע, און נישט נאָר אַ פרעמד באַצאָלט און ינספּייערד קאַנספּיראַסי פּלאַנעווען?
די מאַפיאַ פּרוווד צו ווערן קאַליע, זייער שיאַ באַקערז אין טעהראַן פּראָווען צו ווערן אַ בינטל פון טונקל וויטיד שוואַך ניצערס פּלייינג ימפּעריאַליסם מיט אנדערע אָרעם לאַנד. מיר וועלן סיריע צוריק צו די סיריאַנז. מאַך אויף איידער דער שטארקער מאַפיאַ צווינגען איר אויס. סיריאַנס ביסט ניט געגאנגען צו זיצן און וואַרטן פֿאַר די פראָנט-מענטש צו געווינען אַ קערל פון מאַרך, סייכל און מוט ס צו זאָגן צו זיין כענטשמאַן ניט, און באַקומען אויף מיט רעפאָרם פֿאַר פאַקטיש. מיר זענען נישט געגאנגען צו וואַרטן ביז די מינער מאַפיאַ באוועגט אין ווען סיריאַנס זענען סקראַפּינג רייַז און זאמען פון דער ערד. קער אויס איצט, בשעת מיר קענען עפעס בלייַבן אַפלאָוט. קער אויס, איר און אייער פאטער, און אַנגקאַלז סטאָול ביליאַנז, סטאַרווד סיריאַנס און געשיקט אַלע די געלט מעייווער – לייאַם. אויס, אויס, אויס אָדער וועט באַקומען די ביגער מאַפיאַ צו צווינגען איר אויס. באַקומען גרייט צו באַריכטן פֿאַר אַלע די בילליאָנס פארקויפט אין גראָב אָיל רעוועך זינט דער פרי 80 ס בשעת איר זענען פּאַקינג אין אַ ייַלן.

Сирийские Националистическая партия
Когда баасистского геноцида уголовную мафию и ее передней мальчик Ким Юн АССАД к выводу, что существует реальная восстание против Баас / алавитов / шиитской правления в Сирии, а не только иностранные платных и вдохновили заговор сюжет?
Мафии оказались некомпетентны, их шиитские сторонники в Тегеране оказались кучей тусклом сообразительные слабые пользователей, играющих Империализм с другой бедный народ. МЫ ХОТИМ ВЕРНУТЬСЯ К СИРИЯ сирийцев. Переходите перед тем сильнее сила мафии вас. Сирийцы не собираемся сидеть и ждать фронт-Man, чтобы получить зерно мозга, интеллекта и мужества, чтобы сказать его приспешники НЕТ, и продолжать реформы по-настоящему. Мы не собираемся ждать, пока злее мафии движется, когда сирийцы слом рис и семена из земли. Перемещение прямо сейчас, пока мы можем как-то остаться на плаву. Выехать из квартиры, вы и ваш отец, и дяди украли миллиарды, морили голодом сирийцев и отправил все деньги за границей. OUT, ​​OUT, ​​OUT или получите больше мафии, чтобы заставить вас. Будьте готовы к ответу за все миллиарды проданных в сырой нефти доходов с начала 80-х годов, пока вы упаковка в спешит.

叙利亚国民党
当复兴党种族灭绝犯罪黑手党和其前脸的男孩金容阿萨德得出的结论是一个真正的起义反对在叙利亚复兴党/ Alawite/什叶派规则,不只是一个支付和灵感的外国阴谋情节?
被证明是不称职的黑手党,在德黑兰的什叶派支持者被证明是一堆点心打帝国主义与其他贫穷国家的机智弱的用户。我们也希望叙利亚叙利亚人。前黑手党强迫使你移动。叙利亚人都不会坐下来,等待接待人获得粮食的大脑,智慧和勇气的无说,他的心腹,并获得真正的改革。我们不会等到寡情黑手党动作时叙利亚人取消从地面大米和种子。现在,虽然我们可以在某种程度上维持下去。搬出去,你和你的父亲和叔叔偷了数十亿美元,饿死的叙利亚人和发送海外所有的现金。 OUT,OUT,OUT或将获得更大的黑手党,迫使你。准备好为所有在80年代初以来销售十亿美元的原油收入帐户,而你是在急于包装。

Partido Nacionalista Sírio
Quando é que o partido Baath Mafia genocida criminal e seu rosto na frente menino YUNG KIM ASSAD conclui que há uma revolta real contra a regra Baath / Alawite / xiita na Síria, e não apenas uma trama de conspiração estrangeiros pagos e inspirado?
A máfia provou ser incompetente, apoiantes seus Shia em Teerã provado ser um monte de dim witted usuários fraco jogar com imperialismo nação outro pobre. QUEREMOS VOLTAR PARA SÍRIA os sírios. Seguir em frente antes do mais forte Mafia forçá-lo para fora. Sírios não vão sentar e esperar para o front-man para ganhar um grão de intelecto cérebro, e coragem para dizer a seus capangas NO, e continuar com a reforma de verdade. Nós não vamos esperar até que os movimentos fraco máfia em quando sírios estão a demolição de arroz e sementes do chão. Sair agora, enquanto nós podemos de alguma forma se manter à tona. Sair, você e seu pai, tios e roubaram bilhões, sírios fome e enviou todo o dinheiro no exterior. OUT, OUT OUT, ​​ou vai ter o maior Mafia para forçá-lo para fora. Prepare-se para dar conta de todos os bilhões vendidos em receita do petróleo bruto desde o início dos anos 80, enquanto você está de embalagem em uma pressa.

המפלגה הלאומית הסורית
כאשר המאפיה רצח הבעת’ פלילית ילד מול הפנים שלה קים יונג אסד למסקנה כי יש מרד נגד שלטון הבעת’ אמיתי / העלאווי / השיעית בסוריה, ולא רק מזימה זרה קונספירציה שילם השראה?
המאפיה הוכיח שהוא לא יוצלח, שיעים התומכים שלהם בטהראן הוכיחה להיות חבורה של מטומטמים עמום משתמשים חלש משחק האימפריאליזם עם העם המסכן אחרים. אנחנו רוצים סוריה לראש הסורים. העבר לפני המאפיה חזק להכריח אותך החוצה. הסורים לא מתכוונים לשבת ולחכות Man-החזית להשיג גרעין של אינטלקט המוח, של אומץ לומר ואנשיו לא, ולהמשיך רפורמה אמיתית. אנחנו לא מתכוונים לחכות עד המהלכים המאפיה מרושע כאשר הסורים מבטל אורז זרעים מהקרקע. העבר עכשיו, בעוד אנחנו יכולים איכשהו לצוף. לעזוב את הבית, אתה ואבא שלך, דודים גנבו מיליארדים, הסורים מורעבים ושלח את כל המזומנים בחו”ל. החוצה, החוצה, החוצה או יקבל את המאפיה גדול להכריח אותך. תתכונן לתת דין וחשבון על כל מיליארדי נמכר בהכנסות הנפט הגולמי מאז תחילת שנות ה -80 בעת האריזה ממהר.

Syrische Nationalistische Partei
Wann wird die Baath-Völkermord kriminellen Mafia und seiner Stirnseite Junge KIM YUNG ASSAD kommt zu dem Schluss, dass es eine wirkliche Revolte gegen die Baath / Alawite / Shia Herrschaft in Syrien, und nicht nur eine fremde bezahlt und inspiriert Komplott?
Die Mafia erwies sich als inkompetent, bewährt haben Shia Hintermänner in Teheran zu einer Reihe von dim schlagfertig schwachen Benutzer spielen Imperialismus mit anderen armen Nation zu sein. WIR WOLLEN Syrien zurück, die Syrer. Move on vor dem stärkeren Mafia zwingen Sie sich. Syrer sind nicht zu sitzen und für die Front-Man wartet auf eine Korngröße von Gehirn, Geist und Mut ist, um seine Schergen sagen NEIN zu gewinnen, und wieder mit der Reform für die Echtzeit. Wir werden nicht bis zum gemeiner Mafia bewegt sich in, wenn Syrer sind Verschrottung Reis und Samen aus dem Boden warten. Bewegen Sie sich jetzt, während wir uns irgendwie über Wasser halten können. MOVE OUT, ​​stahl dir und deinem Vater und Onkel Milliarden, ausgehungert Syrer und schickte das ganze Geld in Übersee. OUT, ​​OUT, OUT oder wird der größere Mafia erhalten Sie Kraft aus. Machen Sie sich bereit für all die Milliarden in Rohöl Einnahmen seit den frühen 80er Jahren verkauft Konto, während Sie in Eile Verpackung sind.

シリアの民族主義党
意志バース党大量虐殺の犯罪マフィアとその前面少年KIM YUNGアサドは、シリアでバース党/アラウィー派の人/シーア派のルールだけではなく、外国のお支払いとインスピレーションを得た陰謀のプロットに対して、実際の反乱があると結論するのはいつですか?
マフィアが無能であることが証明、テヘランでの彼らのシーア派の支持者は、他の貧しい国と帝国主義の再生を暗く鈍い弱いユーザーの束であることが実証。我々は戻っシリア、シリアを求めています。強力なマフィアがあなたを強制的に前に移動します。シリア人は座って待ってフロントマンのために脳、知性と勇気、NO彼の部下に言ってそれの穀物を得るために、そして実際に改革を上取得するつもりはありません。私たちは、シリアが地面から米や種子を廃棄する際に意地マフィアに移動するまで待つつもりはありません。我々は何とか浮いたままでいることができますが、今外に移動。退去、あなたとあなたの父、そして叔父は十億​​、飢餓シリアを盗み、海外のすべての現金を送った。 OUT、OUT、OUTまたはあなたを強制的に大きくマフィアを取得します。急いで荷造りしている間80年代初期以来、原油収入で販売されるすべての十億を考慮して準備をしなさい。

Suriye Milliyetçi Parti
Baas soykırım suç mafya ve ön yüz çocuk KIM YUNG Esad Suriye’de Baas / Alevi / Şii kural değil, sadece bir yabancı ödenmiş ve ilham komploya karşı gerçek bir isyan olduğu sonucuna zaman?
Mafya yetersiz olduğunu kanıtladı, Tahran’daki Şii destekçileri, diğer yoksul milleti ile Emperyalizm oynuyor loş zekâlı zayıf kullanıcıların bir demet olduğu kanıtlanmıştır. Suriyelilerin GERİ İSTİYORUM SURİYE.Güçlü mafya zorla önce üzerinde hareket ettirin. Suriyeliler Ön-Man için oturup beklemek, beyin, akıl ve cesaret NO uşaklarının diyelim bir tane elde etmek için ve gerçek reformu ile almak için gidiş değildir. Biz Suriyeliler, pirinç ve tohum yerden hurdaya zaman ahlaksızca mafya hamle kadar beklemek zorunda değildir. Biz bir şekilde ayakta kalabilirler, şimdi taşıyın. OUT MOVE, sizin ve baba ve amcalar milyarlarca hasret Suriyeliler çaldı ve yurtdışı tüm nakit gönderdi. OUT, OUT, OUT ya da zorlamak için büyük mafya alacak. Aceleniz paketleme ise 80’lerin başından bu yana ham petrol geliri satılan tüm Milyarlarca açıklamak için hazır olun.

Arabic Machine translation is funny. I can imagine the others, but hey, let the people of the world knows the fact.

January 12th, 2012, 3:57 pm

 

Haytham Khoury said:

January 12th, 2012, 4:03 pm

 

aldendeshe معتز الدندشي said:

@ANN

I would not call $98.92 pbl a plunge. It is more like a 50% Fibonacci correction to previous low. looks like ready to move up again soon after a bit of couple falling knife candles action.

January 12th, 2012, 4:04 pm

 
 

Khalid Tlass said:

SNP, so have you defected ? ( though admittedly you were never a mnhebak). We have our differences but I think we can work together, atleast we agree to our basic point, we have to get rid of IRAN first, kick Iran out of Syria and Lebanon and hopefully Iraq as well, Iran is the problem and Shia Imperialism is the devil.

January 12th, 2012, 4:16 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

SNP, so have you defected ? ( though admittedly you were never a mnhebak). We have our differences but I think we can work together, atleast we agree to our basic point, we have to get rid of IRAN first, kick Iran out of Syria and Lebanon and hopefully Iraq as well, Iran is the problem and Shia Imperialism is the devil, it has been so since 1979.

January 12th, 2012, 4:19 pm

 
 

defender said:

US State Department tells bold lies regarding the latest assassination in Iran as it harbors MEK terrorists in Iraq.
http://alexandravaliente.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/mek-american-backed-terror-in-iran/

January 12th, 2012, 4:36 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

Well looks like the charlatan closet Shia “Mufti” Hassoun has some problems coming his way.

January 12th, 2012, 4:36 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

The MEK or MKO led by Massoud and Maryam Rajavi has been harboured by the Iraqi people since 1984 to defend the Middle East from the Safavid Imperial Threat. The MKO are not terrorists, they are real Iranian patriots and guests of the Iraqi people.

January 12th, 2012, 4:39 pm

 

defender said:

‘Israel finger mark over Syria unrest’
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/220570.html

Syrian security forces reportedly seize yet another cache of weapons, bearing traces of Israel’s contribution to unrest inside the country.

The shipment had been smuggled into the country for anti-government armed groups.

According to authorities, it included bombs manufactured by Israel.

The cargo is not the first one containing Israel-made weaponry meant for armed saboteurs fighting the central government in Damascus.

On October 16, the Syrian ambassador to the Arab League told a meeting of the regional grouping in the Egyptian capital Cairo that Syrian security forces had seized Israel-manufactured weapons trafficked into the country through Lebanon’s soil.

Youssef Ahmad said, “They are Israeli made automatic weapons,” which are used by the “armed opposition to kill the sons of our nation.”

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March, with demonstrations being held both against and in favor of President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

Hundreds of people, including many members of the Syrian security forces, have been killed during the unrest.

The Syrian government says outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorists are the driving factor behind the turmoil and deadly violence, while the opposition accuses the security forces of being behind the killings.

Damascus also says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country and that the security forces have been given clear instructions not to harm civilians.

January 12th, 2012, 4:42 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

Syrian Nationalist Party
Metaz K M Aldendeshe
Chief Startegist

I am a bit puzzled by the low number of thumb downs; we were hoping thumb-downs organic clicks will be greater than 20+ spontaneously clicked ones, which mean the new campaign is very effective in its message and goal. Now I am sitting wondering if majority of Syrians are plain brain dead and exhausted or what. I need data man, not too many objecting, are you in shock, or just broke?

January 12th, 2012, 4:46 pm

 

defender said:

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2012/01/12/syria-to-form-new-government-in-early-february.html

Syria to form new government in early February
News | 12.01.2012 | 18:02

A new government to include opposition members will be formed in Syria early next month, the Al-Watan newspaper close to Syrian authorities reported on Thursday.

The newspaper said consultations to form a new cabinet will begin early next week.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who faced deadly protests inspired by uprisings across the Arab world last year, said “a government of the whole country, not of one party” must be formed.

“With the adoption of the new law on parties new political forces emerged in the country and this should be taken into account,” the president told students in the University of Damascus.

According to UN data, Assad’s crackdown on the protests has killed more than 5,000 people. Syrian authorities blame the violence, which erupted last March, on armed gangs and say 1,100 soldiers and police have been killed.

January 12th, 2012, 5:02 pm

 

Haytham Khoury said:

شهادات 4 صحافيين تتكامل لتلقي شبهة على تورط حكومي في مجزرة الزاهرية

http://www.youkal.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41429%3A2012-01-11-18-12-17&catid=3%3A2009-11-15-22-49-31&Itemid=109

January 12th, 2012, 5:30 pm

 

Haytham Khoury said:

الجزيرة | تقرير خاص عن اغتيال الصحفي جيل جاكي

January 12th, 2012, 5:32 pm

 

defender said:

Panetta: Iran not trying to build a nuke, they are trying to build capability
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdiGahJItOA
US Defense Secretary Admits “Iran Not Trying to Develop Nuclear Weapon”

Mish’s Global Economic Trend Analysis
All the tin hats that disputed Ron Paul’s position that Iran was not developing nuclear weapons can now hear the same thing from US Secretary of Defense. Please consider Panetta admits Iran not developing nukes.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta let slip on Sunday the big open secret that Washington war hawks don’t want widely known: Iran is not developing nuclear weapons.
Appearing on CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday, Panetta admitted that despite all the rhetoric, Iran is not pursuing the ability to split atoms with weapons, saying it is instead pursuing “a nuclear capability.”
That “capability” falls in line with what Iran has said for years: that it is developing nuclear energy facilities, not nuclear weapons.
“I think the pressure of the sanctions, the diplomatic pressures from everywhere, Europe, the United States, elsewhere, it’s working to put pressure on them,” Panetta explained on Sunday. “To make them understand that they cannot continue to do what they’re doing. Are they trying to develop a nuclear weapon? No. But we know that they’re trying to develop a nuclear capability, and that’s what concerns us. And our red line to Iran is, do not develop a nuclear weapon. That’s a red line for us.”

That admission by Defense Secretary Panetta proves just how preposterous the US position is. Hopefully Europe has second thoughts over the absurd embargo it is considering later this month.

January 12th, 2012, 5:35 pm

 

defender said:

In Readiness for War On Iran: US Builds Military Hospitals in Georgia
Thursday, 12 January 2012
‘The United States is sponsoring the construction of facilities in Georgia on the threshold of a military conflict in Iran, a member of the Georgian opposition movement Public Assembly, Elizbar Javelidze has stated. According to the academician, that explains why President Mikhail Saakashvili is roaming the republic opening new hospitals in its regions.

“These are 20-bed hospitals…It’s an American project. A big war between the US and Iran is beginning in the Persian Gulf. $5 billion was allocated for the construction of these 20-bed military hospitals,” Javelidze said in an interview with Georgian paper Kviris Kronika (News of the Week), as cited by Newsgeorgia website. The opposition member stated that the construction is mainly paid from the American pocket.’

January 12th, 2012, 5:42 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

@BAATH APPROVED DEFENDER

“……A new government to include opposition members will be formed in Syria early next month, the Al-Watan newspaper close to Syrian authorities reported on Thursday….”

Yeah… here is the correct translation from the Arabic Newspaper:

“……A new government to include approved loyal Socialist opposition members that passed mukhabrat and Mafia subordination, Shipples cowards’ screening will be formed in Syria early next month, the Al-Watan newspaper close to Syrian authorities reported on Thursday….”

Common man, what are you, a dimwitted Baathist from some boon dog dirt road village. Do you really think that Syrians are going to buy this crap and go on as the criminal Baathist mafia did for decades, sending a Mukhabrat to someone they approve off and ordering him to run for Majlis, assuring him that his ballot boxes will be pre-filled properly. You are an idiot just like the regime to even think this is still will pacify the people. It just shows how far removed you are, hopeless idiot, when will your boss pack up and hands over that crude oil sales tally since 1971.

“With the adoption of the new law on parties new political forces emerged in the country and this should be taken into account,” the president told students in the University of Damascus.”

What Party Law? The one you need to meet few million hurdles and pass the Baathist mafia exam? Get approved by the Ayatollah of Tehran. Tell your boss to shove it, and get a real one that protects all Political Party constitutionally without Baath Mafia red tapes, subornation and approvals or will get NATO to help us do it. Hurry up, we have no patience left, one more two hours Baathist Istwana and it will assuredly do it.

January 12th, 2012, 5:43 pm

 

defender said:

Wow! Talk about racism!!! Better read this story now to see how evil it gets!

http://news.yahoo.com/israels-top-court-backs-bar-palestinian-spouses-135427485.html

Israel’s top court backs bar on Palestinian spouses
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s top court has upheld a law denying citizenship to Palestinians married to Israelis, with one judge saying it helped the Jewish state fend off “national suicide”.
By a 6-to-5 vote, the Supreme Court late on Wednesday rejected petitions against the 2003 ban, which civil liberty groups denounced as racist for potentially forcing members of Israel’s 20-percent Arab minority who wed Palestinians to emigrate.
The former centrist government championed the law chiefly on security grounds given Palestinian gun and bomb attacks.
But Interior Minister Eli Yishai, who congratulated the Supreme Court on Thursday, made clear that shoring up Israel’s Jewish majority was also a concern. Yishai’s party, run by rabbis, is a powerful partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rightist coalition.
The ruling, Yishai told Israel Radio, served to stem “a situation in which, not too many years hence, we would find yourself losing the majority, (and) faced with terrorism”.
Israeli law guarantees full civil rights, including political representation, to Arab citizens, who are mostly Muslim. But they often complain of entrenched racism.
Many Israeli Jews have been outraged by pro-Palestinian displays among their Arab compatriots, especially given the rise of hostile Hamas Islamists in Gaza and stalled peace talks with the secular Palestinian leadership in the occupied West Bank.
Justice Asher Grunis, whose nomination as the Supreme Court’s next president was welcomed by conservatives, voted to keep the citizenship law, saying in the ruling that rescinding it “would mean thousands of Palestinians entering the country after marrying Israeli citizens”.
RIGHTS, RIGHTISTS
“Human rights do not prescribe national suicide,” he wrote.
Grunis framed his remarks around fears of infiltration by Palestinian militants, saying: “The (law’s) blow, as presented, to family life must be viewed against the certain harm, given past experience, to the lives and bodies of Israelis.”
Dissenting, Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch and four other justices described the freedom to marry as being at the heart of democratic principle.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, one of four petitioning groups, accused the Supreme Court of perpetuating a “racist law” and “failing to uphold basic human rights in the face of the tyranny of the Knesset (parliament)”.
The judicial review was also watched closely after right-wing politicians pursued procedural changes that would have helped them to influence selection of Supreme Court judges.
On the attorney-general’s advice and citing the need to preserve the court’s independence, Netanyahu blocked that legislation.
Normally Israel naturalizes the spouses of its citizens, though it sometimes offers as a stop-gap permanent residency, a similar status but without the right to vote. Many Palestinians see economic opportunity in being an Israeli citizen or resident, as well as access to health and other state benefits.
Sawsan Zaher, a lawyer for the Israeli Arab lobby Adalah, another petitioner, said the ruling showed “the country is interfering in the choosing of spouses”.
Seeking to play down the law’s disruptive effect, Yishai said his ministry issued an average of 1,000 special entry permits a year to Palestinians and other non-Israelis on the basis of what he called “family unification”.

January 12th, 2012, 5:51 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Yesterday images of Bashar Al Assad at Omayyad Square with some 3 thousands moukhabarat and shabbiha around him, with official cameras trying to show the ¨crowds¨ around the leader, reminds me of the last months of Gaddafi at the Green Square. I hope I am wrong because I do not wish any harm to the President but every day he is nearer to the typical dictator´s violent ending. I pray for him to react in time and dismantle the mafia state while leading a total change, if it is still possible. If not, then those who survive will have lost a decade of their lives.

January 12th, 2012, 6:06 pm

 

Tara said:

Shabeeh

If you think that the revolution want to win the Sabeeha over, you are mistaken.  After 6000 dead, it is quite clear that people who took sides aren’t going to change.  The revolution started sacred and peaceful.  It was born in Deraa after few school children got tortured.  You can’t deny it as Bashar himself admitted it.  When asked about bringing Atef Najeeb to justice, he answered that no one sued Atef, additionally that “Atef is my cousin”.  You said it was proved on SC that armed gangs were present from the beginning.  Proved to whom?   To the regime’s supporters who believed the regime’s narrative from the beginning?         

No one can  deny the criminality of the regime, it’s corruption, it’s culpability in killing women, children, and the innocents,  it’s brutality….It is natural consequence at this day and age for people to revolt against the oppressor.  It is a natural consequence for people to armed themselves to defend their own.  It is natural for outsider to meddle to achieve their agenda and the revolution can’t be held responsible for that.  The full culpability if foreign intervention to take place belongs the regime and it’s supporters.  

It is saddening though that the overwhelming majority of Alawis support the killer.  This was a historical mistake for the Alawi community.  Assads never belived in co-existance.  They built a whole structure of mostly Alawis (4th division, the republic guards, and the security forces) and used them to terrorize a whole country.  They built a sectarian army with the sole purpose of keeping the chair.  They robbed you from your Alawism and made you Shabeehs and unfortunately, even the educated fell for it and that is what is saddening.  We have never been one people.  There was an institutionalized strategy over the last 40 years to subjugate the majority through militarizing the minority and brainwashing them.  Brainwashing that renders you incapable of feeling our pains whether we are gunned down, tortured, raped, or humiliated and subjugated to the bone.  We have in your eyes become subhuman, traitors,  islamists, terrorist, zionists, conspirators and therefore deserve our punishment.    

Assad is falling.  I have no doubt what so ever.  The doubt I have is if we can ever truly reconcile.  It will be an enormous task.                 

January 12th, 2012, 6:32 pm

 

Tara said:

Syria forms committee to probe killing of French journalist in Homs

http://www.poten.com/NewsDetails.aspx?id=11985972

It is like the rapist being the forensic examiner.  The EU must insist on an independent international investigation.

January 12th, 2012, 6:43 pm

 

ann said:

Bloomberg View: Learning from Iran (Yep, Iran); the Fed’s Plan to Jump-Start Housing – January 12, 2012

Iran’s model for fuel-subsidy reform; Congress should take up the Fed’s suggestions to help revive the housing market

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/bloomberg-view-learning-from-iran-yep-iran-the-feds-plan-to-jumpstart-housing-01122012.html

January 12th, 2012, 6:55 pm

 

syria no kandahar said:

Tara MB
The rapists are your dudes,it is slowly becoming clear.YOU ARE A RAPIST AND CHILDREN KILLERS SUPPORTER.

January 12th, 2012, 7:02 pm

 

zoo said:

The Fate of Bashar Assad: Will He Be the Next Gaddafi or the Next Milosevic?
By Tony Karon | @tonykaron | January 12, 201

…..
Or, in other words, Balkanization. It’s worth remembering that Syria, like Yugoslavia, was invented after World War I on the remains of a collapsed empire. One reason its ruling ideology has been more Pan-Arabist than nationalist, per se, is that the bonds of nationhood tying together its disparate communities may not be particularly deep or enduring. Whether Syrian nationhood would survive a civil war is an open question—one that international and regional powers mindful of the consequences of a centrifugal collapse of state power in Syria may not be willing to ask.

That leaves Syria’s opposition facing a long, bitter and lonely fight, in which foreign pressure is likely to be restricted to the economic strangulation that will slowly degrade the regime’s ability to maintain its support base. Milosevic ultimately got his comeuppance in 2000, when he was overthrown by his own people and soon after packed off for trial at The Hague, where he eventually died. But that was nine years after he plunged Yugoslavia into bloody chaos.

Read more: http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2012/01/12/is-syrias-bashar-assad-the-next-gaddafi-or-could-he-be-the-middle-easts-milosevic/#ixzz1jIB4O2tU

January 12th, 2012, 7:08 pm

 

zoo said:

Syria’s Future and the Arab League

by Robert M. Danin
January 12, 2012
http://blogs.cfr.org/danin/2012/01/12/syria%E2%80%99s-future-and-the-arab-league/
….
To salvage its own credibility, the Arab League is going to have to answer for the results, or lack thereof, of its mission when it reports on January 19. That will be a critical moment. The Arab League will have to take decisive action, referring the Syrian issue to the United Nations, implementing the sanctions it announced but has so far failed to enforce, and denouncing Assad unequivocally. Otherwise, the Arab League’s critics will be proven right, and the regional organization will relegate itself to utter irrelevance in the post-2011 Arab world.
{…}

January 12th, 2012, 7:11 pm

 

syria no kandahar said:

Tara almost had a heart attack from being so happy watching another lier.She and her MB dudes have lies for breakfast,lunch and dinner,they dream lies and live in a constant revolutionary day dreaming status:
كد الفريق الأول الركن محمد الدابي رئيس بعثة مراقبي جامعة الدول العربية في دمشق أن ماتحدث به المراقب أنور مالك عبر إحدى القنوات الفضائية لا يمت للحقيقة بصلة.
وقال رئيس بعثة مراقبي الجامعة في تصريح صحفي إن مالك منذ أن تم توزيعه ضمن فريق حمص لم يغادر الفندق طيلة ستة أيام ولم يشارك أعضاء الفريق النزول إلى الميدان متعللاً بمرضه الذي يحول دون مرافقة الفريق في جولاته داخل حمص.

وأضاف الدابي ان مالك وقبل مغادرته دمشق بيوم طلب السماح له بالسفر للعلاج في باريس وتمت الموافقة له لكنه غادر قبل اتخاذ الإجراءات التي تستلزم سفره ومن دون أن يسلم العهدة التي تسلمها لمشاركته في المهمة في حمص ولم ينتظر استخراج تذكرة للسفر وسافر على حسابه الخاص.

وأوضح رئيس بعثة مراقبي الجامعة أن مالك حنث بالقسم الذي أداه إلى جانب أن ما صرح به إنما يقع على مسؤوليته الشخصية وهو ما يؤكده أعضاء الفريق الذي ذهب إلى حمص.

وجدد الفريق الدابي دعوته وسائل الإعلام إلى تحري الدقة فيما تنشر وأن تلتزم برسالتها في المنهجية والموضوعية.

January 12th, 2012, 7:13 pm

 

Tara said:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2085297/Asma-Assad-British-wife-Syrias-President-takes-children-cheer-dictator-daddy.html?ITO=1490

Asma used to be prettier, I think the black cap does not look good on her, also Zein is not pretty.  Kareem is a handsome little boy.  I heard he is adorable.  

January 12th, 2012, 7:13 pm

 

zoo said:

Turkey and US ‘discuss no-fly zone’ for Syria
Zoi Constantine
Jan 13, 2012
http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/turkey-and-us-discuss-no-fly-zone-for-syria
BEIRUT // Nato members and some Gulf states are discussing possible military intervention in Syria, according to a senior Russian security official.

Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Security Council of Russia, said the United States and Turkey, both Nato members, were discussing the possibility of a no-fly zone.

“Working under the ‘Libyan scenario’, they intend to move from indirect intervention in Syria to direct military intervention,” said Mr Patrushev, former head of the FSB, the intelligence agency that succeeded the Soviet-era KGB.

There has been speculation that the crisis in Syria might follow a trajectory similar to the uprising in Libya, where a Nato-imposed no-fly zone and bombing campaign helped to topple Muammar Qaddafi.

Some Syrian opposition groups, including the Free Syrian Army, have been calling for a no-fly zone and buffer zones to assist the 10-month revolt against the regime of the Syrian president, Bashar Al Assad. Russia is expected to oppose any Nato role.
{…}

January 12th, 2012, 7:16 pm

 

ann said:

Armed groups kill eight government troops in northern Syria – 2012-01-13

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/13/c_131357095.htm

DAMASCUS, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) — At least eight law-enforcement members were killed Thursday by “armed groups” gunfire in northern Idlib province, the official SANA news agency reported.

“Armed groups” targeted a bus carrying law-enforcement forces at the Khan Sheikhoun area, said SANA, adding the bus was showered with heavy gunfire, killing the law forces.

In a separate incident, a small boy was killed when an explosive device, planted by “terrorists,” went off at Huraitan town, a suburb of the northern Aleppo province, according to SANA. The Syrian government says more than 2,000 army and security personnel were killed during the months-long unrest, while the United Nations put the death toll in the country at more than 5, 000.

January 12th, 2012, 7:18 pm

 

Tara said:

Kandahar,

Read this:

Doubt hangs over Arab monitoring mission in Syria
Published on Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 16:32 |  Source : Reuters
http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/wire-news/doubt-hangs-over-arab-monitoring-missionsyria_649864.html
….
Malek, an Algerian who quit the monitoring team this week, said many of his former colleagues shared his chagrin.
“I cannot specify a number, but many. When you talk to them their anger is clear,” he told Reuters by telephone, adding that many could not leave because of orders from their governments.
He said a Moroccan legal specialist, an aid worker from Djibouti and an Egyptian had also left the mission.
Their departures could not immediately be confirmed, but another monitor, who asked not to be named, told Reuters he planned to leave Syria on Friday. “The mission does not serve the citizens,” he said. “It doesn’t serve anything.
….
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that the monitoring mission cannot continue indefinitely and dismissed Assad’s speech on Tuesday as “chillingly cynical”.

“The journalists were attacked in a heavily militarised regime stronghold,” said Wissam Tarif, of the Avaaz campaign group. “It would be hugely difficult for any armed opposition to penetrate the area and launch such a deadly attack.”

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, who heads the Arab League committee on Syria, said doubts were growing about the effectiveness of the monitors.
“I could not see up until now a successful mission, frankly speaking,” he told a joint news conference with Clinton in Washington. “We hope we solve it, as we say, in the house of the Arabs, but right now the Syrian government is not helping us.”

January 12th, 2012, 7:19 pm

 

zoo said:

The new love affair: The USA and the Moslem Brotherhood

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood hails ties with US
AFP
Thursday, January 12, 2012 11:24:58 AM

CAIRO – The head of the political arm of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood on Wednesday hailed US-Egyptian ties during talks with the US State Department’s number two, but also said they must be “balanced.”

http://213.158.162.45/~egyptian/index.php?action=news&id=22933&title=Egypt%27s%20Muslim%20Brotherhood%20hails%20ties%20with%20US

January 12th, 2012, 7:20 pm

 

syria no kandahar said:

May be 300 millions arabs one day will stop Qatar from dictating
their future:
نقل موقع «بوابة الأهرام العربي» أن حركة “اللجان الشعبية للدفاع عن مصر” تنوي تنظيم وقفة احتجاجية أمام السفارة القطرية بالقاهرة يوم غد الجمعة للمطالبة بإسقاط عضوية قطر من الجامعة العربية، وذلك اعتراضًا على ما أسمته “الدور المشبوه” الذي تقوم به لخدمة الأجندة الأمريكية.

وقالت الدكتورة منال المصري، مؤسس الحركة للموقع المصري: “سيتم عرض فيديوهات ومستندات تثبت بالدليل القاطع تورط قطر في التحالف مع المخابرات الأمريكية والموساد الإسرائيلي”.

وأبرز دليل على ذلك حسب المصري ما قاله رئيس وزراء قطر، أن “بلاده أرسلت 5 آلاف جندى قطرى لمساعدة الليبيين بالتخلص من القذافي، إضافة إلى ما نشرته ويكيليكس عن الدور المشبوه لقناة الجزيرة، وأن وضاح خنفر المدير السابق للقناة كان يتلقى تعليماته من المخابرات الأمركية”.

وتقول د. منال المصري “إن دولة قطر خالفت ميثاق جامعة الدول العربية ومعاهدة الدفاع العربية المشتركة بإرسالها 5000 جندى قطري إلى ليبيا، بالتنسيق مع حلف الناتو، لإسقاط القذافى، إضافة إلى تمويلها نشر الفوضى في سوريا، وأكدت منال، أن الوقفة الاحتجاجية ستتسع فى كل أنحاء مصر للمطالبة بإسقاط عضوية قطر من الجامعة العربية بعد تحالفها مع “الناتو”.

January 12th, 2012, 7:20 pm

 

Tara said:

Kandahar@510

I do not eat breakfast and I eat very very little at lunch in case you are interested. I could not sleep last night thinking about the French journalist. I felt as if he was family. He survived Afganistan, Iraq, and Israel but he was murdered in Syria. My heart aches for him.

January 12th, 2012, 7:24 pm

 

ann said:

Syria forms committee to probe killing of French journalist in Homs – 2012-01-13

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/13/c_131357107.htm

DAMASCUS, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) — The governor of central Syrian city of Homs Ghassan Abdul al-Al issued a decision Thursday to form a committee to investigate the circumstances of the attack that occurred a day earlier and claimed the live of French journalist Gilles Jacquier, the state-run SANA news agency reported.

The committee consists of a judge, two weapons experts, and a representative of the France 2 TV channel, according to SANA.

Jacquier, the correspondent of France 2 TV, was among other nine people, who were killed Wednesday when identified gunmen fired mortars on a crowd of people, who were giving testimonies to foreign journalists that were inspecting in the Ekrima neighborhood in the city of Homs, a hotspot in the months-old Syrian crisis.

Abul-Al called the attack “an appalling crime that targeted civilians and journalists.” But he also told Xinhua that the group of foreign journalists went independently to Homs and requested to be alone and move freely without protection from the government.

The Syrian Information Ministry expressed on late Wednesday its deep grief and regret over the deadly attack. It condemned the incident, saying that the attack came in the context of the terrorist attempts to cover the true picture of what is happening in Syria, according to SANA.

In Paris, French Foreign Minster Alain Juppe immediately condemned in strong words the killing of Jacquier, who is the first Western journalist that was killed in Syria since the unrest began in March last year.

“We vigorously condemned this odious act,” Juppe said in a statement, adding that “we demand an investigation so that the circumstances of this tragedy be clarified.”

Juppe urged the Syrian authorities to conduct its duty to protect foreign journalists in the country, and noted that the French ambassador in Damascus would arrive at the scene immediately.

Also, the foreign policy chief of the European Union (EU) Catherine Ashton on Wednesday strongly condemned the attack and expressed her condolences in a statement to the family of Jacquier, and the families of all the victims in the Homs attack.

“The Syrian authorities have a responsibility to guarantee the safety of journalists in their country,” Ashton said, “The press must be allowed to carry out its vital role of providing independent information on events in Syria without fear of violence or repression.”

Ashton called for an immediate end to violence in Syria, and expressed her concerns on the recent escalation of violence in the country. She also called for a rapid investigation to clarify the circumstances leading to Wednesday’s tragedy.

January 12th, 2012, 7:27 pm

 

ann said:

Chinese envoy stresses Arab League’s role in solving Syrian crisis – 2012-01-13

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-01/13/c_131357112.htm

CAIRO, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) — Chinese special envoy to the Middle East Wu Sike said on Thursday China supported the efforts exerted by the Arab League (AL) in solving the Syrian crisis.

After talks with AL chief Nabil al-Arabi in Cairo, Wu told reporters that the pan-Arab body is the proper framework to resolve the Syrian crisis and that the AL and its members are capable of doing this.

China opposed the internationalization of the Syrian crisis and urged all sides in Syria to immediately stop violence and carry out inclusive political dialogue, he said.

As to the AL’s observer mission, Wu expressed regret over the recent attacks on observers in Syria.

China supported the AL to dispatch observers and hoped the observer delegation to continue fulfilling their mission, Wu said.

China called on the Syria government and different blocs to create favorable environment for the activities of observers, he added.

January 12th, 2012, 7:38 pm

 

zoo said:

Turkey aims to limit France’s Mideast role
Thursday,January 12 2012
ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-aims-to-limit-frances-mideast-role.aspx?PageID=238&NID=9992&NewsCatID=338

Turkey’s sanctions aim at limiting French presence in the Mideast and Caucasus and will remain even if the French Senate disapproves the ‘genocide’ bill

Two of the Middle East’s key countries, Syria and Lebanon, where France replaced the Ottoman Empire as the colonial power after World War I, are seen as being crucial for the entire region’s stability and still have close ties with Paris. Though the turmoil in Syria precipitated rapprochement between Turkey and France, recent developments indicate that the power struggle between the two sparring countries will now be exercised in the Middle East.

“Turkey will do everything to prevent a meeting on Syria and other key topics under the aegis of France,” a diplomat said.

However, this development has seriously disturbed the United States since the tension is likely to weaken the international community’s position vis-à-vis Syria.

January 12th, 2012, 7:41 pm

 

jad said:

Alawite Shaikh replied to the Israelis “The Sunnis are our brothers both in religion and the homeland”

“شيخ علوي” يرد على التصريحات الإسرائيلية: أهل السنّة إخوتنا في الدين والوطن

فجأة قرر أحد شيوخ الطائفة العلوية الكريمة أن يقطع مشاركته في مناسبة دينية في إحدى قرى ريف اللاذقية، ويجيب على رسائل موقع “سيريا بوليتيك” التي تهاوت على جواله، وأزعجته على مدار أيام طالبة منه الرد على التصريحات الإسرائيلية بخصوص العلويين. وآثر أخيرا، الشيخ غير المكترث بالسياسة ومن أنصار ابتعاد رجال الدين عن السياسة والذي يؤلف الكتب في مجال العلوم الإنسانية والأديان منذ سنوات طويلة وينشرها في لبنان، إلا أن يرد مطولا على رسائلنا معلقا على التصريحات الإسرائيلية.

وكان رئيس أركان الجيش الإسرائيلي، الجنرال بيني غانتز قال إن اسرائيل تهيئ نفسها لاستقبال لاجئين من الطائفة العلوية التي ينتمي إليها الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد، في حال سقوط نظامه. ونقل ناطق بإسم لجنة العلاقات الخارجية في الكنيست الاسرائيلي، قول الجنرال غانتز أمام اللجنة انه من المتوقع ان تتضرر الطائفة العلوية في اليوم الذي يسقط فيه نظام الأسد وإن اسرائيل تستعد لاستقبال لاجئين علويين في هضبة الجولان.

فماذا قال الشيخ العلوي، المنحدر من عشيرة القراحلة، لموقع سيريا بوليتيك ؟. قال الشيخ ، الذي فضل عدم نشر اسمه، إن “إسرائيل تريد الفتنة من وراء هذه التصريحات، وتريد أن تثير العلويين على إخوانهم السنة، لتندلع حرب طائفية مدمرة لنا جميعا”.

وأضاف الشيخ العلوي “لن نلجأ إلى إسرائيل، وإذا ما أصابنا مكروه لن نلجأ إلا إلى أهلنا الحمويين والشوام والحلبيين وكل السوريين، فنحن نفهم أنه يوجد غلاة متطرفون يريدون الانتقام منا، ولكن لا يجوز التعميم، لأن الكراهية والتطرف لا تتحمل مسؤليتها الطوائف والمذاهب والأديان، وإنما الأفراد الذي يروجون لهذه الأفكار في المجتمع”.

وقال الشيخ “عندما قام الطيار الخائن بسام العدل بسرقة طائرة الميغ 23 وتسليمها إلى إسرائيل قبل ثلاثين عاما، لم يكن يمثل تصرفه ذاك المذهب السني الكريم، ولا أي مذهب آخر، وإنما كان يمثل نفسه”.

وأضاف الشيخ ” هذا لا يمنع وجود هواجس كبيرة لدينا من القادم، وقد روى لي شيخ فاضل من المهتمين بالسياسة إن شخصين من المعارضة السورية في لندن وباريس حاولا التواصل معه، فطلب منهما طلبا واحدا هو أن تصدر بادرة طيبة عن المعارضة عبر كتابة جملة واحدة وهي تطمين الطائفة العلوية بأنها لن تتعرض لانتقام وأذية، وأنها ستتابع حياتها بشكل طبيعي في أي مرحلة سياسية قادمة، فتحجج المعارضان بأن المعارضة لا تسمي الطوائف باسمها وهي تتحدث فقط عن الوحدة الوطنية والأقليات، فرد الشيخ عليهما قائلا لكن تتم تسمية الطائفة عندما تصدر فتاوى تكفير من قبل بعض الفضائيات التي يطل فيها شيوخ يدعون لقتلنا ولم يصدر عنكم أي بيان يدين هذه الفضائيات بل العكس تدخلون وتشاركون على مواقعهم الالكترونية، كما أنكم ذكرتم أسماء الاقليات القومية فلماذا لا تذكرون أسماء الاقليات الدينية”.

وقال الشيخ “نحن لم نتدخل في السياسة يوما، ولن نتدخل، هل شاهد أي سوري شيخا علويا يخطب في الناس يوم الجمعة على الفضائية السورية مثلا ؟ هل شاهد السوريون وفدا من الشيوخ العلويين يزورون مواقع حكومية رسمية ؟ هل قرأ أو سمع أو شاهد أي سوري فتوى صادرة عن شيخ علوي تدعو لقتل أحد ؟ ؟ لا .. هي مو شغلتنا بالمرة.. آلاف السجناء السياسيين من طائفتنا عارضوا النظام لم نقل ضدهم كلمة واحدة وعندما خرجوا من السجن كنا نذهب إليهم مهنئين بالسلامة”.

وأكد الشيخ “عندما قمعنا العثمانيون وارتكبوا بحقنا أفظع الجرائم هربنا إلى الجبال، وعشنا التهميش والجوع والفقر في قرانا ومع ذلك تعلم أولادنا عندما كانوا يمشون حفاة إلى المدينة، ويعودون مع غياب الشمس، واليوم نسمع بعض الأصوات التي تقول بأنها سوف تعيدنا من مزة 86 وعش الورور إلى قرانا، ولكن لن نكترث لها، فهذا وطننا ووطن كل السوريين، وأرضنا وأرض كل السوريين، عشنا فيها وسنموت فيها، ولن نلجأ إلى إسرائيل، وأهل السنة في سوريا أخوتنا في الدين والوطن، ونحن ندرك وجود الغلاة والمتطرفين في كل زمان ومكان من الذين يسعون للقتل والفتنة والانتقام الذي يبدو أنه بدأ بالحصول، ولكننا ندرك أيضا أنها أصوات فردية لا تمثل دينا أو طائفة، ويدنا لن تمتد إلى يد إسرائيلية، ونفضل ألف ألف مرة أن نمد يدنا لابن بلدنا حتى لو كانت السكين في قبضتها، وهي لن تكون (أي السكين) بإذن الله لأن أهل السنة السوريين أهل اعتدال ومحبة وتسامح وكما تعايشوا مع المسيحيين سوف يتعايشون أيضا مع العلويين.. ولكن نتمنى أن يبتعد رجال الدين عن السياسة ويتفرغوا لأمور حياتية مجتمعية وللعبادة، فالسياسة لها أهلها وشبابها..ونتمنى على المعارضين من أبناء بلدنا أن يعلنوا صراحة خطابا تطمينيا بكل وضوح وشفافية، وأن يقلدوا الشيخ الجليل ابراهيم هنانو وليس غيره.. الدين لله والوطن للجميع.. والسلام عليكم .. وفقكم الله يا ابني والله يحمي هالبلد وأهلها من عيون الأعداء وعيون المخربين في الأرض”.

http://syria-politic.com/ar/Default.aspx?subject=306#.Tw98QKUePla

January 12th, 2012, 7:46 pm

 

irritated said:

Obvious dilemma

The foreign journalists want to roam alone without Syrian security accompagniying them

“But he also told Xinhua that the group of foreign journalists went independently to Homs and requested to be alone and move freely without protection from the government.”

At the same time,
““The Syrian authorities have a responsibility to guarantee the safety of journalists in their country”

January 12th, 2012, 7:47 pm

 

Tara said:

Al-Assad does not let activists into Syria
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/al-assad-does-not-let-activists-into-syria.aspx?pageID=238&nID=11386&NewsCatID=352

“We want to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis taking place in Syria. However, the al-Assad regime did not allow us. Now we will set up our tents and wait at the Syrian-Turkish border in order to protest the regime,” the spokesperson for the group, Hasan Hatip told to Hürriyet Daily News in an interview yesterday. 

Up to 150 activists, brought together by a campaign on the social networking website Facebook, left the southeastern city of Gaziantep in buses and cars, carrying token relief supplies of blankets, medicine and food. The groups carrying Syrian flags and singing songs in Arabic, have chanted slogans calling for the freedom to Syrian people. Comprising of Syrian expatriates from Europe, North America and the Arab world, the group was stopped by the police before entering Kilis.

Border camp

After their meeting with the deputy governor Erkan Çapar, eight people carrying Syrian passports were allowed to pass the border in order to talk with the Syrian authorities. “We want to go to Syria to show to the whole world what is happening there,” said Moayad Skaif, a 30-year-old Syrian journalist from Qatar on one of “Freedom Convoy to Syria” coaches. “al-Assad does not want the truth to come out.” Hasan Hatip said they wanted to make an impact on world public opinion like the Mavi Marmara flotilla incident has caused. “We want the whole world to see what is going on in Syria,” Hatip said. 

However, the group was refused entry to Syria and set up a camp in the Turkish border in protest of the Syrian regime. Turkey’s foreign ministry sources said they had been in touch with the convoy, but did not say whether Turkey supported the campaign.
January/13/2012

January 12th, 2012, 7:48 pm

 

jad said:

أيام صعبة في الأزمة السورية… بسبب إيران
سامي كليب
أراد الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد لخطابه الأخير أن يكون رسالة حزم أمني وانفتاح سياسي. وأراده أيضا تعبيرا عن قوة النظام في وجه الرياح العاتية التي تعصف به من كل حدب وصوب. تزامن ذلك مع تفاقم التهديدات المتبادلة بين إيران والولايات المتحدة، ومع تجاذبات لافتة حول المراقبين العرب. ووصل المشهد إلى نقطة خطيرة مع مقتل الزميل الفرنسي جيل جاكييه الذي سقط شهيد جرأته الصحافية الجديرة باحترام كبير.
لم يأخذ الغرب من خطاب الأسد سوى جانبه الأمني. كذلك فعلت المعارضة السورية والدول العربية والإسلامية الداعمة لها. ارتفعت اللهجة القائلة بانسداد الأفق السياسي وعقم تجربة المراقبة العربية للأوضاع في سوريا. ازدادت الدعوات لسحب المراقبين. وهم على الأرجح سيُسحبون عاجلا أم آجلا لأن المطلوب في الأسابيع المقبلة زيادة الضغط لإعادة فتح الملف السوري في مجلس الأمن الدولي. مرفوض عربيا ودوليا أن يشعر النظام باستعادة زمام المبادرة.
كانت واشنطن وفرنسا في طليعة من شجب خطاب الأسد. تبعها بعض العرب. تخلل ذلك لقاءان منفصلان جمعا وزيرة الخارجية الأميركية هيلاري كلينتون مع رئيس الوزراء القطري الشيخ حمد بن جبر آل ثاني ووزير الخارجية السعودي الأمير سعود الفيصل. استكمل المشهد بلقاءات هي الأولى من نوعها علنا بين وليم بيرنز الرجل الثاني في وزارة الخارجية الأميركية وجماعة الإخوان المسلمين في مصر. كان جيفري فيلتمان، كبير مستشاري وزيرة الخارجية الأميركية، قد مهد لها قبل فترة وقيل إن لهذه الزيارات أهدافا عديدة، ولكن أبرزها إيران وسوريا ومستقبل العلاقة مع إسرائيل وأميركا.
حديث الأسد عن الحكومة قبل الانتخابات وعن دعوته مختلف الأطراف للمشاركة فيها لم يلق أي صدى ايجابي عند الدول المطالبة منذ فترة بإسقاطه. لكن الرئيس السوري قدم بذلك ورقة إضافية لحلفائه الروس، وقدم الأمر على انه احد أبرز التطبيقات الفعلية لمشروع الإصلاح. أريد للكلام عن الحكومة والانتخابات أن يقطع الطريق على من يلوم الأسد على انه كثير الوعود قليل التنفيذ. ومع ذلك فان الآذان بقيت صماء وتم تسليط الأضواء مجددا على الخيار الأمني.
الخيار الأمني مستمر، والأسد لم ينف ذلك بل عززه. لكن الرئيس السوري سعى لرمي الكرة السياسية والإصلاحية في ملعب المعارضة، ذلك أن رفضها التجاوب مع دعوته يعني أن المعارضة هي التي لا تريد الحوار. لم يكتف الأسد بذلك. قرر حماية خياراته بسند شعبي. قفز فوق كل النصائح الأمنية ونزل مع زوجته وأولاده إلى ساحة الأمويين.
كان الأسد يقول لمناصريه في ساحة الأمويين «سننتصر .. وإنهم في مرحلتهم الأخـــيرة من المؤامرة وسنجعلها نهاية لهم ولمخططاتهم». فهم مناصــروه الكلام على انه مصدر قوة، وقالت عنه المعارضة انه عـــنوان ضعف. لكن ليس كل ذلك مهما، الأهم أن كلام الأســـد جاء فيما كانت المياه الإقليمــية من الخليج إلى البحر الأبيض المتوسط تغلي بتحــركات عســكرية بحــرية أميركــية وروسية.
غليان البحار رافق ارتفاعا كبيرا في حرارة اللهجة الإيرانية. هددت طهران بإغلاق مضيق هرمز. كشفت عن استمرار وتفعيل عمليات التخصيب النووي. قابل ذلك ازدياد الكلام عن إرسال قوات أميركية إلى المنطقة وإسرائيل.
يوحي كل هذا المشهد، بان الأزمة وصلت إلى ذروتها، لم يبق إلا الانفجار أو الصفقة. كلا الاحتمالين وارد. لا يوازي القلق من الانفجار سوى الخطوات المتلاحقة للتهدئة. تتصدر روسيا قائمة الكابحين للتفجير. رئيس الحكومة الروسية فلاديمير بوتين يصل إلى حد التوعد بالرد على أي عمل من طرف واحد يقوم به الغرب. يريد لكلامه كبح جماح الاندفاع صوب التصعيد والذي تغذيه إسرائيل علانية أو تحت الطاولات. تتكرر التحذيرات الروسية حيال أي عمل عسكري في المنطقة. تسحب موسكو البساط من تحت أقدام الغربيين بقولها إنها لا ترى أي دليل على تطوير إيران قنبلة نووية. يتذكر السامعون تلفيقات الإدارة الأميركية حين كانت تتحدث عن اسلحة دمار شامل عند الرئيس العراقي الراحل صدام حسين.
تحوم حول تركيا كافة الإغراءات. يدعو الاتحاد الأوروبي وزير الخارجية التركي احمد داود اوغلو للانضمام إلى لقاءاته حيال إيران وسوريا. تحاول إيران قطع الطريق فتكثف اللقاءات والاتصالات مع أنقرة، رغم صعوبة المحادثات بينهما بشأن سوريا. تستشعر قطر اقتراب الخطر ويحق لها أن تكون أبرز القلقين في حال تعرضت إيران لعمل عسكري، فهي في فوهة المدفع الإيراني. يقول رئيس الوزراء القطري من واشنطن بضرورة تخفيف التأزم في الخليج. تريد الدوحة أن تتحول إلى وسيط من نوع خاص بين طهران وواشنطن، ولكنها لا تستبعد أي احتمال لوضع أسوأ.
في أوج هذا التأزم يُقتل الصحافي الفرنسي جيل جاكييه في حمص. الزميل الأربعيني العمر والأب الحديث لطفلتين تميز بشجاعة لافتة في كل مساره الصحافي. وضع روحه على كفه مرارا من كوسوفو إلى أفغانستان وليبيا واليمن وصولا إلى سوريا. سيكون مقتله نقطة مفصلية في الأزمة السورية، ودمه مرشح لأن يتحول إلى قميص عثمان. من الصعب السماح للسلطة السورية بتحميل المسؤولية للمسلحين. سترتفع الأصوات القائلة بان النظام هو مدبر القتل. أما إذا تحول مجرى الرياح وصار لا بد من تهدئة فيمكن تحميل المسؤولية لاحقا لمسلحين مجهولي الهوية.
هب العالم اجمع مستنكرا مقتل الزميل الفرنسي. سارعت واشنطن والاتحاد الأوروبي وفرنسا لمطالبة السلطات بكشف الملابسات. لكن اللافت أن أحدا من هذا العالم لم يستنكر في اليوم نفسه اغتيال عالم نووي إيراني. اكتفت واشنطن بإعلان البراءة من دم العالم الشاب. أدركت أن اتهام إيران لها ولإسرائيل يعني تحميلها جزءا كبيرا من المسؤولية التي قد يترتب عليها رد إيراني. تستطيع طهران أن ترد بسهولة على واشنطن لكنها تتريث للرد على إسرائيل، وهي على الأرجح سترد في مكان وزمان يناسبانها، ولعل لدى «حزب الله» كثيرا من الخطط لعمليات ينفذها حين يحين موعدها على غرار ما اعتاد سابقا رغم تغير الظروف في محيطه.
كل هذا التلبد في غيوم المنطقة يجري وسط ارتفاع حرارة التنافس الانتخابي في الولايات المتحدة. تثار مجددا قضايا هزيمة أميركا في العراق. يعاد فتح ملف معتقل غوانتانامو الذي وعد الرئيس الأميركي باراك أوباما بإقفاله ولم يف بالوعود بعد. تدخل قطر على خط التسوية الأميركية مع حركة طالبان، تتقدم الوساطة القطرية خطوة وتتعثر خطوات ولم يعرف مآلها النهائي حتى الساعة. وفي فرنسا ترتفع لهجة الاتهامات الحزبية للرئيس نيكولا ساركوزي في حمأة الاستعداد للانتخابات المقبلة وذلك فيما يجاهد الغرب لحل أزمة ديونه.
بعد عشرة أشهر على الأزمة السورية يريد الأسد أن يقول انه قادر على التلويح بالعصي الأمنية الغليظة بيد، والتلويح بحل سياسي بيد أخرى شرط أن يكون الحل بإشرافه ورعايته. لكن المعارضة ومعها دول كثيرة تريد إسقاطه حتى ولو اختلفت أهداف هذه الإرادة. لم تنفع محاولاته للانفتاح السياسي في إقناع المعارضة بالحوار حتى ولو انه فتح الباب هذه المرة للجميع.
بات إسقاط الأسد جزءا من الحرب الإقليمية والدولية الأوسع. صار الربط بين دمشق وطهران و«حزب الله» أوثق من أي وقت مضى في حرب المحورين في المنطقة. لابد من انفجار أو صفقة. المنطقة تغلي. إدارة الأزمات تبدو عقيمة وهي خطيرة على الجميع. كل شيء مرهون بمستقبل الملف الإيراني. من غير المنتظر إذا أي حل أو انفراج في الأزمة السورية قبل وضوح الرؤيا في الملف النووي. هنا بالضبط تكمن كل الخطورة، ولكن أيضا قد يكمن الأمل بالانفراج. الوقت الراهن يوحي بالخطورة أكثر من الانفراج. التجارب الإيرانية السابقة مع الانتخابات الأميركية توحي بان ثمة أشياء كثيرة تجري تحت الطاولات. إيران المحاصرة ما تزال قادرة على رفع سعر النفط بمجرد التهديد بإغلاق مضيق هرمز، وقادرة أيضا على إثارة الهلع عند الناخب الأميركي والتأثير سلبا على أوباما، لكنها لم تســقط حتى الآن في فخ جرها إلى الحرب. تدرك أن المبادر إلى الحرب المقبلة سيكون خاسرا. من جا