War in Syria
August 15: as its defector PM says, the Assad regime as of mid-August only "controls" 30 per cent of the territory in Syria, and air power is losing its effectiveness as rebel forces get better-armed and down planes;
endgame in Syria approaching, with hopes for a broad transitional government, supported by both Arab League and Organization for Islamic Cooperation
suspicion of foreign interference vs. hope for a democratic regime in Syria,
the debate:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/15/syria-my-family-dilemma
Despite all that, though, I still firmly believe in the need for Bashar al-Assad and his regime to go. There is simply no feasible or acceptable scenario whereby he and his party can continue their decades-old, repressive, totalitarian rule.
Bashar may be secular but, like his late Iraqi counterpart Saddam Hussein, he is an equal opportunities oppressor, and the rich history of coexistence in both countries was not created by the Ba'ath parties. Indeed, my mother's inclusive childhood predates the Assad dynasty.
If a post-Assad Syria is to avoid the abyss of civil war, under no circumstances should minority rights be hindered. However, while it must be acknowledged that support for Assad is not limited to minorities, and opposition to him does not come solely from the Sunni Muslim majority, there are those who resent what they see as minorities' complicity or silence regarding his crackdown.
At the same time, one cannot ensure minority rights by repressing the majority (as has happened to Syria's Sunnis) – that, too, is a sure way to civil war. So it is incumbent on the opposition to reassure the minorities, and incumbent on minorities to stand with their revolutionary compatriots. Basically, the rights of all should be considered, respected, and treated as equal.
a very active Syria news site:
http://www.syrianews.cc/
former chief of European diplomacy proposes a common approach to the endgame in Beirut daily:
http://www.lorientlejour.com/category/%C3%80+La+Une/article/773278/Vers_...
Parvenir à un accord implique impérativement que la Turquie, les États du Golfe et la Ligue arabe s’alignent sur une position commune. Ce n’est qu’à cette seule condition qu’ils parviendront à rallier l’ensemble des différentes factions de l’opposition syrienne – suspicieuses des intentions qui pourraient se cacher derrière un soutien unilatéral – et à se rapprocher des positions des minorités syriennes, lesquelles ne peuvent être exclues de ce processus. Cela pourrait contribuer à faire pression sur le Conseil de sécurité pour obtenir son aval et déclencherait un processus de transition en Syrie. Il ne sera pas facile de s’accorder sur un scénario post-Assad, mais aucune autre alternative n’est plus prometteuse pour la Syrie et la région.
Googled:
Reaching an agreement involves imperatively Turkey, the Gulf States and the Arab League aligned on a common position. It is only this condition that will succeed in rallying all factions of the Syrian opposition - suspicious of the intentions that could hide behind one-sided support - and to approach the positions of minorities in Syria, which cannot be excluded from this process. This could help put pressure on the Security Council for its approval and trigger a transition process in Syria. It will not be easy to agree on a post-Assad scenario, but no other alternative is more promising for Syria and the region.
Israel-US Script: Disintegrate Syria
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/08/14/256166/us-harbors-divisive-plots...
"What is happening in Syria is a sign of things to come for the region. Regime change is not the sole goal of the US and its allies in Syria. Dividing the Syrian Arab Republic is the end goal..."
Tim Harper: Is It Time for Canada and Allies to Arm the Syrian Rebels
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1241825--tim-harper-...
"...in the morality play here - moving arms to help kill versus standing by watching a dictator kill his own people - is really no choice at all.."
after Iraq, Afghanistan or Libya, you'd have to be more than a few bricks short of a load to support this latest USRAELI project, which of course also leads directly to an attack upon Iran for a fictitious nuclear bomb program and eventual confrontations with Russia and China. Don't fall for it Canucklheads...
Libyan Terrorists Are Invading Syria
Image: Libyan Mahdi al-Harati of the US State Department, United Nations, and the UK Home Office (page 5, .pdf)-listed terrorist organization, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), addressing fellow terrorists in Syria. Harati is now commanding a Libyan brigade operating inside of Syria attempting to destroy the Syrian government and subjugate the Syrian population. Traditionally, this is known as "foreign invasion."
U.S.-Qa'eda terrorists invading Syria with intentions of installing another U.S.-Qa'eda regime, this time in Damascus.
Canada Funelling Money for Medical Supplies to Syrian Opposition
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Canada+funnelling+money+medical+suppli...
"The Canadian government is channelling $2 Million for medical supplies through a little known Syrian-Canadian group because it specifically wants the equipment to reach Syrian rebels, Postmedia has learned. This represents the first time Canada has provided direct material assistance to opposition forces..."
Congratulations Canada, your tax dollars are now helping Al Qaeda butcher Syrians...
Turkish Protesters Rally in Support of Assad
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/15/256468/turkish-protesters-rally-to-...
"Turkish protesters have held a demonstration in the southern province of Hatay near the Syrian border to show their support for the Syrian government. Last month a member of Turkey's parliament said that the Hatay province has become a hub for swarms of CIA and Mossad spies infiltrating into Syria freely..."
Lebanese Clansmen Abduct Syrians to Avenge Relative's Kidnap
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/15/256472/dozens-of-syrians-kidnapped-...
Ceasefire Only Solution to Syrian Crisis: Opposition Activist (and vid)
http://www.rt.com/news/syria-opposition-activist-crisis-653/
"The only path to peace in Syria is a ceasefire, yet a proxy war backed by outside groups is holding both the Syrian government and the opposition hostage, Syrian political activist Abdul-Aziz-Al-Khair says. Khair has been an opposition supporter for over a decade.."
Here in Quebec, the intellectua lDevoir newspaper feeds its readers with Agence France Press which get its reports from the so-called Syrian Observatory of Human Rights almost exclusively. Left-wing Quebecers when they're not in the streets with red squares and pots and pans generally support humanitarian regime change, like Kosovo or Libya or Syria.
Hey Rikardo - yeah well 'garbage in - garbage out'. Things are pretty dismal in Canadian media on Syria generally - even Rabble.ca SOHR is a very popular source for obvious reasons. Here's some additional info on them that may be of interest...
SOHR: Syrian Observatory For Human Rights - A Cheap Imitation
http://www.syrianews.cc/sohr-syrian-observatory-for-human-rights-a-cheap...
"a useful fake for false propaganda.."
Syria: Proxy War Powder Keg - by Bryce White
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=32374
"Two conflicting narratives have developed to explain the country's recent violence. On one side, Western and Gulf policymakers and media have portrayed the uprising as spontaneous and peaceful, and the Syrian government as a ruthless and indiscriminate murderer of its civilians.
Other Arab governments, along with independent media and analysts, assert that the government is fending off terrorists armed and funded from abroad.
As time passes, the details emerging of the situation unfortunately confirm the latter..."
Syria Update: Terror and Hypocrisy (and vid)
http://landdestroyer.blogspot.ca/2012/08/syria-update-terror-hypocrisy.html
James Corbett reports..UN Observer Mission bombed by Rebels
Those were not humanitarian regime changes. That was the Gladio Gang installing their dope dealing, war criminals and murdering mafia friends in Kosovo, and aiding and abetting Al Qa'eda terrorists to takeover Libya and now Syria. And militant Islam is the biggest threat to women's rights in those countries. This is what the NATO spring is all about achieving - cutting whole countries in half along gender lines and destroying any hope for democracy. It's what the motherfuckers do.
Now the VP has jumped ship. Whatever the alternative to the Assads turns out to be, it looks like it's coming soon.
Talk about garbage. This bombing was aimed at a meeting of army generals nearby. Its purpose was to attack the generals but also show that the rebels can strike anywhere, even in a fortified area where Syria's top generals hold their meetings.
Of course we could always take the dunce James Corbett's (on the ground, live from his apartment in Japan!) view as gospel:
"head scratching... goes against their own interests... hard to know what to make of this... I guess... I guess"
How compelling.
Just because some dork has a $20 webcam, that doesn't make him a "reporter."
Syrian Government Must Be 'Smashed Fast': French FM
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/17/256792/syria-government-should-be-s...
"French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabien has said the government of Syrian President Bashar al Assad should be 'smashed fast'.."
hey France has 'socialists' that think the same as our NDP
'Israel, West Apoplectic Over Syria' (and vid)
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/18/256912/israel-west-apoplectic-over-...
"An American author and historian says the US, Israeli regime, France and the UK are 'apoplectic' due to the failure of their anti-Syria plots.."
Syrian VP Farouq al-Shara Refutes Reports of Defection
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/18/256890/syrian-vp-refutes-reports-of...
the foreign backed 'rebels' have vowed to murder Syrian officials and public servants, while Qatar has offered huge bribes to defecting officials...yet the majority of Syrians still support the government over the West and their FSA-Al Qaeda mercenaries.
Military Intervention in Syria Will Lead to Catastrophe: Lavrov (and vid)
http://rt.com/news/lavrov-military-intervention-syria-006/
"Military action in Syria will lead to catastrophe, Russia's Foreign Minister has said. Russia opposes US demands for a no-fly zone over Syria, he asaid, adding that the solution to the ongoing conflict is the Geneva Accord peace plan..."
Syria Rebels Warn They Will Turn To Al Qaeda if West Fails Them (and vid)
http://rt.com/news/syria-al-qaeda-exlposives-insurgents-801/
"The US spy chief has admitted that Al Qaeda might be behind recent suicide bombings in Syria. While rebels threaten they will have to make an alliance with Jihadists if they don't see more help from the West.."
Rebel Dark Side: Syria 'Charities' Mute on Atrocity Claims (and vid)
http://youtu.be/RX46rux2Hyo
"The embattled Syrian opposition has made a fresh plea for foreign action, as activists claim people's support for the insuregency is dwindling amid new allegations of rebel atrocities..."
None of the insurgents were Syrian. Britons among foreign mercenaries: UK journalist
The unemployment situation in Britain must be pretty bad for them to resort to murdering people for the Gladio Gang Inc.
CIA handing out weapons and cash to murdering scum of the earth marauding into Syria
Obama Threatens To Attack Syria
http://rt.com/usa/news/obama-syria-weapons-president-153/
"In an address made early Monday, the commander in chief confirmed that he has not ruled out an offensive strike on Bashar al Assad and his regime.."
US Disregards Remarks by UN Envoy to Syria Over Assad's Resignation
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/21/257315/us-challenges-un-syrias-envo...
"US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says Syrian President Bashar al Assad should relinquish power, challenging teh remarks made by newly appointed UN peace envoy for Syria..."
West Recruiting Thugs to Crush Syria: Analyst
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/20/257244/west-waging-war-with-terror-...
"A political analyst says the West is hypocritically recruiting the same thugs it supposedly waged the bloody and costly 'war on terror' against a decade ago, to topple the Syrian government today..."
US Desperation Surfaces in Syria - by Tony Cartalucci
http://landdestroyer.blogspot.ca/2012/08/us-desperation-surfaces-in-syri...
"Obama's bizarre threats indicative of losing strategy and increasing desperation..."
The Plan for a New World Order Stumbles on Geopolitical Realities - by Imad Fauzi Shweibi
http://www.voltairenet.org/The-plan-for-a-New-World-Order
"...the ambitious US New World Order is being shattered by new geopolitical realities.."
Damascus regime, facing the inevitable, "ready to discuss" departure of al-Assad
in middle of prolonged standoff with rebels in Aleppo:
http://actu.orange.fr/une/syrie-damas-pret-a-discuter-d-un-depart-d-assa...
... le Conseil national syrien (CNS), principale coalition de l'opposition, "étudie" la formation d'un "gouvernement de transition", a annoncé son président Abdel Basset Sayda, après sa rencontre avec le président français François Hollande à Paris.
"C'est un processus qui demande beaucoup de consultations, il ne faut pas aller trop vite mais le CNS tente d'y parvenir le plus rapidement possible", a-t-il poursuivi.
Combats violents
Mais sur le terrain, la bataille n'est pas prête de s'essouffler.
Une source syrienne des services de sécurité a affirmé à l'AFP que "des renforts" de l'armée et des rebelles se dirigeaient vers Alep, estimant que c'est "une guerre qui va prendre beaucoup de temps".
"Nous contrôlons désormais plus de 60% de la ville d'Alep", a affirmé à l'AFP le colonel Abdel Jabbar al-Oqaidi, chef du conseil militaire rebelle de la province d'Alep, en affirmant que "le peuple est avec eux".
[...]
Russia, China Say Bypassing UN Rules is 'Impermissable'
http://rt.com/politics/russia-bypassing-un-inadmissible-189/
"Russia and China called for other nations to strictly observe the UN Charter and the International law after the US said it would bypass the UN in its actions on Syria.."
'West's Chemical Weapons Talk Just Pretext for Intervention': Syrian Deputy PM Jamil (and vid)
http://rt.com/news/west-chemical-weapons-intervention-249/
"President Obama's recent statement about a chemical weapons' 'red-line' is just the West's pretext for intervention, Syria's Deputy PM has said, also stating that Bashar Assad's resignation is discussable but cannot be a precondition for talks.."
US, Britain Fright Proxy War to Overthrow Assad Government: Analyst (and vid)
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/20/257223/us-uk-fight-proxy-war-in-syr...
"The Western powers, the US and Great Britiain among others, are determined to essentially bring down the Assad regime. And not being able to do it through the UN, they do it surreptitiously by aiding the rebel forces adn this has been going on for a very long time.."
Western Powers Not After Democracy in Syria: Analyst (and vid)
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/21/257431/west-not-after-democracy-in-...
"These armed opposition groups are not interested in negotiating with the Syrian government. Neither are the backers of these armed opposition groups, which are the White House as well as Downing Street in London..."
Yara Saleh - Hostage of the 'Free Syrian Army' (and vid)
http://pennyforyourthoughts2.blogspot.ca/2012/08/yara-saleh-hostage-of-f...
"Journalist taken prisoner by the Free Syrian Army responds to questions.."
Renewed Lebanese Clashes Violate Ceasefire, Kill 12
http://rt.com/news/lebanon-syria-conflict-spillover-388/
"Clashes have erupted in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli in defiance of a ceasefire, bringing the death toll to 12. Skirmishes between pro and anti-Damascus fighters in Tripoli have heightened fears the Syrian conflict will engulf its neighbor..."
Lebanon: Clashes Breach Fragile Tripoli Ceasefire
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/24/257824/clashes-breach-fragile-tripoli/
"Sheikh Nabal Rahim of the Salafist movement in Lebanon has expressed his worries of Lebanon's 'catching the Syrian Flu'.."
Of course Lebanon, with Syria is a member of the 'Resistance block' and as such is included with Syria on the USRAELI hit list along with Iran..
Turkey's Anti-Syria Alliance with US, Lethal Embrace (and vid)
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/24/257876/turkeyus-alliance-lethal-emb...
"Since the onset of the foreign-backed insurgency in Syria, Turkey has actively played the CIA assigned role of arming, funding and supporting the anti-Syrian terrorists." Discussion with Webster Tarpley and other activists.
"Two Cheers" for Terrorism: US Mainstream Media Applauds Syria's Al Qaeda Rebels
Religious Leaders for 9/11 Truth Just one Anglican priest?
Syrian Christians in 2 Week Blockade by Rebel Fighters, Residents Desperate
http://rt.com/news/syrian-rebels-blockade-christians-549/
"An estimated 12,000 people have spent 2 weeks blockaded in the Christian town of Rableh, Syria, near Homs. 'We have organized ourselves so we can stand by each other and we are sharing everything we have so we can survive. We need all the help we can get. Please help us,' a local priest told the Caritas, a Lebanon-based Catholic humanitarian organization..."
Sorry folks, Canada's backing the rebels trying to kill you...
Syria: Regime Change Prep, France 'No Fly', US Special Ops & Iran
http://pennyforyourthoughts2.blogspot.ca/2012/08/syrian-prepping-for-reg...
"In Ankara, Turkish and US officials began their first 'operational planning' meeting and bringing about an end to the Syrian regime.."
With 'Friends' Like These...: Contact Group Industry in Overthrowing Governments - by Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya
http://rt.com/news/contact-group-overthrowing-governments-665/
"Anybody who has studied how the US and NATO worked to topple the Jamahiriya in Libya knows that the US has tried to replicate the same regime-change mechanism in Syria. The function of mulitlateral contact groups supporting proxy opposition has been a key to this process.
What most people do not know is that America's contact group industry started in Somalia. Somalia's status as a divided, lawless and unstable state has been the model for the new divided and lawless Libya and what the US sees in the cards for a Syria plagued with civil war.."
France Tells Syrian Opposition to Form Government, Pledges to Recognize It (and vid)
http://rt.com/news/france-syria-opposition-government-679/
"French President Francois Hollande has called on the Syrian opposition to form a provisional government, saying his country will recognize it as legitimate. Brian Becker, director of the ANSWER anti-war coalition, told RT that Western states are pushing forward the idea of a proxy government as part of their colonial agenda in the Middle East. And such a move would lay a strong basis for a full-scale military intervention, he added..."
They were misled by western propaganda. Those Syrians will be weary of FSA foreign mercenaries and thugs for hire from now on.
'Syrian Crisis, Proxy War Against Russia' - by Yuri Fernandez
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/28/258609/syrian-crisis-proxy-war-agai...
"There are numerous economic and cultural bonds between Russia and Syria..."
NATO Terrorists Target Syria and Algria - by Tony Cartalucci
http://landdestroyer.blogspot.ca/2012/08/nato-terrorists-target-syria-al...
NATO's Pan Arab terrorist blitzkrieg. Libyan militants have been confirmed to be leading entire brigades of foreign fighters inside Syria. With the US now openly arming and supporting and literally 'cheering' Al Qaeda in Syria, it is clear that the 'War on Terror' is an unprecedented geopolitical fraud.."
The Brahimi Plan - by Thierry Meyssan
http://www.voltairenet.org/The-Brahimi-Plan
"This NATO confidence man has been entrusted with the task of unleashing all out civil war in Syria..."