Asad's full Speech at Damascus University Nov. 2005
I just returned from a wedding in Latakia, where people were very torn about President Asad's speech. There is great anxiety among most Syrians but they aren't talking about it a lot. My barber - a Christian in his 30s - was categorical. He said, "Why don't they give up the people who killed Hariri instead of making the people suffer. We want a future." Others were more long winded and seemed to agree with the President about Syria being targeted no mater what it does. Many don't really believe Syria is guilty. All the same, no one relishes a fight with the US and international community. Some remarked that Syria was looking a lot like Iraq when it was isolated. Others, insisted Syria is different than Iraq because it is not so bad and its leaders more flexible. The lovely Christian family that runs the grocery next door think this government is about the best Syrians can hope for. They are frightened of Syria becoming like Iran or Iraq, with fundamentalists running about, and, "anyway," they say, "Middle Eastern people like dictatorship. They aren't ready for anything else." But quickly add that the people want more freedom and need reforms. It is a confusing picture over all. No one has any fight in them. They want to be part of the world, but cannot see how it is going to happen.
The speech of President Bashar al-Asad at Damascus University given on November 10, 2005 as translated by Sana, the official Syrian news agency. VIDEO: Bashar Speech Nov. 10 2005
Ibrahim Hamidi has a good op-ed, "It's time for Syria to take the advice it proffered to Iraq." in the Daily Star.
al-Nahar writes:
Perhaps the most illuminating rejection of Assad's intransigence has come from Gebran Tueni, one of the leaders of the March 14 anti-Syrian revolt touched off by Hariri's assassination, who labeled Assad's speech as an outright declaration of war against the new Lebanon.President Bush also spoke about Syria in his Veterans' Day speech. He stressed that Syria must import "Democracy," which will undoubtedly become his new line with Syria. Now there is no longer a Qaddafi deal. It must be democracy, which means effective regime-change. He also mentioned Kamal Labwani by name. This is new. Until today, the President has ignored the Damascus Spring prisoners.
"We are bent on preserving our national unity, Christians and Muslims, to consolidate our independence, and are also bent on getting to the truth of Hariri's assassination to bring to punitive justice the perpetrators of this terrorist crime," legislator Tueni wrote in An Nahar page 1 editorial on Friday.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Syria has no right to argue or negotiate how it should cooperate with the Hariri probe in line with U.N. resolution 1636, expressing 'disgust' over rejection in his speech to cooperate without pre-conditions.
"The U.N. Security Council couldn't have been clearer and, in fact, more detailed about what was expected of the Syrians," Rice told reporters in a briefing aboard her plane en route for the Middle East on Thursday.
"They are expected to answer affirmatively, positively, yes, to whatever Mehlis needs to complete his investigation. And I do not believe that the U.N. Security Council resolution contemplated the Syrians negotiating how they would say yes," Rice said.
In Paris, President Chirac was clearly irate about Assad's defiant stance, saying Syria should face international sanctions unless it cooperates fully with the Mehlis commission.
If President Assad "continues to refuse to listen, or understand, then it will become necessary to move to another level, which is that of sanctions," Chirac told a press conference.(Naharnet-AP-AFP photo shows Lebanese tuned in to Assad's speech in Beirut ) Beirut, Updated 12 Nov 05, 09:46
The influence of Islamic radicalism is also magnified by helpers and enablers. They've been sheltered by authoritarian regimes -- allies of convenience like Iran and Syria -- that share the goal of hurting America and modern Muslim governments, and use terrorist propaganda to blame their own failures on the West, on America, and on the Jews. This week the government of Syria took two disturbing steps. First, it arrested Dr. Kamal Labwani for serving as an advocate for democratic reform. Then President Assad delivered a strident speech that attacked both the Lebanese government and the integrity of the Mehlis investigation into the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister.Bush Tells Assad: 'Stop Trying to Intimidate and Destabilize' Lebanon
The government of Syria must do what the international community has demanded: cooperate fully with the Mehlis investigation and stop trying to intimidate and de-stabilize the Lebanese government. The government of Syria must stop exporting violence and start importing democracy. (Applause.)......
The fifth element of our strategy in the war on terror is to deny the militants future recruits by replacing hatred and resentment with democracy and hope across the broader Middle East. This is difficult, and it's a long-term project, yet there is no alternative to it. Our future and the future of the region are linked. If the broader Middle East is left to grow in bitterness, if countries remain in misery while radicals stir the resentment of millions, then that part of the world will be a source of endless conflict and mounting danger, in our generation and for the next. ...
America is making this stand in practical ways. We're encouraging our friends in the Middle East, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to take the path of reform, to strengthen their own societies in the fight against terror by respecting the rights and choices of their own people. We're standing with dissidents and exiles against oppressive regimes, because we know that the dissidents of today will be the democratic leaders of tomorrow. We're making our case through public diplomacy -- stating clearly and confidently our belief in self-determination, and the rule of law, and religious freedom, and equal rights for women -- beliefs that are right and true in every land and in every culture. (Applause.)
As we do our part to confront radicalism and to protect the United States, we know that a lot of vital work will be done within the Islamic world itself. And the work is beginning. Many Muslim scholars have already publicly condemned terrorism, often citing Chapter 5, Verse 32 of the Koran, which states that killing an innocent human being is like killing all of humanity, and saving the life of one person is like saving all humanity. (Applause.) After the attacks July -- on July 7th in London, an imam in the United Arab Emirates declared, "Whoever does such a thing is not a Muslim, nor a religious person." The time has come for responsible Islamic leaders to join in denouncing an ideology that exploits Islam for political ends, and defiles a noble faith. (Applause.)
Rice Blasts Syria's Crackdown on Opposition Leaders
Here is Kais's commentary at "Beirutbeltway" on the speech from a Lebanese point of view. It is entitled:"Bashar Declares War on Lebanon."
11/12/2005 - Deputy Secretary General of Lebanese Hizbullah Party, Sheikh Naeem Kassem has called the Lebanese officials to draw a clear programme for restoring good relations with Syria as stipulated by Taif Agreement. In an interview published by Lebanese daily , AlSafir , on Saturday Kassem called on for emancipation from the rhythm of the foreign priorities which aim at diverting Lebanon from its fundamental priorities under the sword of the international resolutions or under the title of preparation for international aid and preservation of Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty. In another interview broadcast by Qatari Aljazeera statellite TV channel, Kassem stressed that the international investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri will not be allowed to be used as a gate to enforce the American or international mandate on Lebanon and the region.
Anthony Newkirk in his article, "Syria in the Crosshairs: Constructive Engagement or a New Tonkin Gulf?" in Counter Punch charts the shift in Washington's policy toward Syria.
Robin Wright explains how the "Middle East Democracy Summit Ends in Rancor" because Egypt refused to endorse America's plans for funding NGOs.
By all accounts, the notorious "shift" in policy with Syria occurred in
2003. On April 30, J. Cofer Black, State Department Coordinator of
Counterterrorism, gave a press conference on the just-released report,
Annual Patterns of Global Terrorism 2002. A CIA veteran with Middle East,
South Asia, and Latin America experience, Black made an intriguing comment:
We designate Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism despite some cooperation
on al-Qaida. Syria continues to host and support terrorist groups, including
Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad There are some good things.
Syria quickly condemned the attacks of September 11th, and has provided
valuable information on al-Qaida that has helped save American lives.
Nonetheless, we want to make absolutely clear to Syria that nothing short of
full cooperation against all terrorist groups is acceptable.
Then, on September 16, 2003, Under-Secretary of Arms Control and
International Security John R. Bolton appeared before the International
Relations Committee. The infamous neoconservative ideologue had a dire
message about what were, in the words of committee chairwoman Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen, "Syria's nefarious activities."
Bolton announced that the Syrians backed Hizbollah and other anti-Western
factions in Lebanon, and let foreign terrorists enter Iraq from Syria.
Bolton stressed that Syria had a weapons of mass destruction program, which
put it among the ''rogue states'' led by Iran and North Korea.
posted by Joshua Landis @ 11/12/2005 11:01:00 AM
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The Thugs, I mean the Assad family and their cronies had a chance no one else in Syria had in the history of Syria, and over over 35 years of total domination and so called stability to transform Syria into a modern secular state like Switzerland or the Singapore, and instead nade it the garbage can of the world!
Alawis will never have a similar chance in their future! Assad and his cronies, and the stupid Alawis who supported them have been the greatest traitors against their own minority and all other minorities in Syria, and have served in enriching many Sunni Merchants and acted as their protectors and servants for 35 years and became the front end of the all thieves among Syrians where the people only point at them and at the Alawis, stupid Alawis... Retadrded Alawis, and disgusting Alawis!
The Assad family has done a great misjustice against all minorities in Syria, and against the Sunni Majority as well. They and their supporters and cronies did not care about anything else but to divide the Syrians, Lebanese, and Palestinians to serve themselves while serving who ever appointed them in the first place to lead Syria! Their role is even worse than that of Saddam Hussein, and their future, I hope as well will be similar or worse to Saddam's!
Bashar's speech should be taught in criminal schools. I wonder if this guy understands a thing in this world, and I am not sure that he can even think! I bet he is more shallow than any one of you have imagined him to be. He is the inheritor of a criminal throne, that of his father, Hafez Assad, the most disgusting person in the history of human kind!
JAM
He knows somthing all Syrians and Arabs should know (Give me liberty or give me death)the US does not want democracy and liberty for Syrians it want Syria,s abbandenment of the Palestinians and the Lebanese resistent and the Iraqi from being free from occupation.
What liberty are you talking about? The Assad regime has taken liberty out of the people's vocabulary for 35 years. The Assad regime has given death to the Syrian population for that long. Many many have perished in jails or put to death by the Mafia army of the Assads. Syrians were transfered into sheep as Prof. Landis pronounced few times here in this blog!
So, shut up!
JAM
norman:
That's not true. If Bashar really wanted 'freedom' for his own people he would have done that a long time ago, while he was sitting safely in his palace, and while the Mukhabarat was arresting everyone who dared to even think about raising a different view, or while corruption was running rampant from the lowest level gov. employee up to Rami Makhloof.
Let's face it, Bashar and his regime have pillaged Syria to the maximum extent possible, and now, when their criminal enterprise is being threatened by a bigger criminal enterprise, they run to the people and try to hide behind them, hoping that the Syrians will forgive and forget, and instead concentrate on this 'bigger' enemy from outside.
Alas, Syrians are not that stupid. They are accomplished liars. They'll pretend that they love Bashar and the regime, but the minute the shit hits the fan, Bashar will find very few people around him.
You just can't have it both ways: oppress and steal and humiliate and jail your people, and then run to them asking for help. Doesn't work. Bashar, belatedly realizing this fact, is scrambling to 'bribe' the Syrians with pseudo-reforms. Sorry Bashar, it's too late now. You'll have to face the consequences of your and your party's evil deeds alone.
As I said before, Bashar's only graceful exit now would be to step down, if he really cared about Syria's well-being, as he claims.
I think norman was referring to the liberty to torture political opponents, kill thousands of poeple, steal the nations wealth and assasiante political opponents abroad (at home they are just killed)
So here's a scenerio, some people believe the best thing to be done is for Bashar to just say "screw it" and resign his presidency.
Fine thing to say--but lets imagine that exact thing happened tomorrow. What do you think will happen next?
I want to get people's take because I am not sure. Would civil order break down? (I say likely) Unless the army controls things--so who controls the army? Would people emerge out of the cracks to try to take power (again likely I think) Would the Americans enter the country to 'impose order'? (again I think likely--and that means a lot of people and places would get bombed)
Even in our unlikely imaginary world--it is a good exercise to think about post-regime change Syria. I think this scenerio would only result in chaos--but if you think this it would be in Syria's best interests--please give me evidence to the contrary. Maybe you can convince me otherwise
I loved how Bashir threw in these two items:
Ladies and gentlemen,
Our region, as you can see, has witnessed bloody events. And Syria was at the heart of these events. And by virtue of its position and historical role, it faced its fare share of similar challenges which were accompanied by direct threats which depended on dubious political and media campaigns based on falsifying conceptions and twisting the truth in order to achieve their objectives.
The political scene consisted of a number of hot spots whose elements converged in order to lead to changing the political, cultural and human face of the region and redrawing its map in a manner that meets the new tasks and functions of this region and serves the strategies interests of some foreign powers, particularly Israel. The Israeli factor has had always a dubious presence on all these arenas. Developments have in fact shown that that Israel was the most prominent actor and the greatest beneficiary.
Then later:
On a parallel line, we used to hear attacks against Syria under the title of the “era of tutelage”. Regardless of these terms and our rejection of them, and regardless of the ingratitude and the immorality of such terms and propositions in relation to Syria which sacrificed a lot for Lebanon, we say that those who are using such terms are what they call themselves the “Hariri current”.
If we got along with them in the use of this term, who is the good son of the “era of Syrian tutelage”? It is Hariri himself. He supported this era, marketed it, defended it, and used to call for intervention upon facing every problem, the last of which was the last government which was not formed. We refused to interfere. So, why are they reviling him? Why are they reviling Hariri, while they are his “current”? At the same time, they started accusing Syria of Hariri’s blood. And at the same time they absolved Israel of his blood, as if they are saying that Hariri was not good with Syria, and was good with Israel. This is incorrect. So, why are they making a traitor out of him? This means that this “current” reviled Hariri and made a traitor out of him in order to revile Syria and accuse her of treason while doing the opposite thing.
You ask me he's the one distorting the truth. It COULDN'T be Syria who killed Hariri, we Loved him like a brother, it had to be the EVIL jews who did it.
Warning: This is long, plase bear with me (if you can)
The problem with economically deprived minority reaching power is that the regime is fully aware that it is unnatural for them to be where they are. Given this fact they implicitly conduct their affairs based on the notion that such absolute control is unlikely to last for long. You, therefore convince yourself that I better steal as much as I can, and as quickly as I can before the lights go out on me. This is precisely what the Assad regime has been all out. They know that it is unnatural for them to rule a country like this. They know that unless they have an iron grip on security, their people will get rid of them at the first opportunity, hence they work on a formula of political freedoms = likely political instability = the higher the probabiltiy of losing power, so why risk it? They also know that they will never get an opportunity like this again, hence accumulate as much money and wealth as possible so that it can last for generations to come after the lights go out.
It is interesting to read comments like why is Bashar doing this to his PEOPLE? Who are his "PEOPLE" exactly? It is amazing to read how many people write this? Bashar's people are the Assad family members and perhaps a larger group of die hard Baathis supporters who have benefited enormously form his regime. So please stop mentioning the word his people. This is the Middle East, the land of "Tribes with Flags".
History will show that Bashar's biggest strategic blunder took place when he decided to bet on the insurgency and against the U.S. after it invaded Iraq. Had he sent his own Syrian army to Iraq to help restore "law and order" and stop the violence and carnage of "our brothers in Iraq", Bashar would have established himself as the undisputed leader of the Middle East. America needed help at the time and here was Bashar assisting not America necessarily but his Iraqi brothers. This would have been the official line that he should have sold to his people so that he maintains his nationalist credentials. Instead, Bashar DOES THE EAXT OPPOSITE. He beomes one the most public opponents of the invasion as he makes a disasterous bet that the insurgency will prevail and America will retreat just like it did from Lebanon during his father's rule. By doin this, he BECOMES A MARKED MAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE. Now, all he has to do is make a mistake to invite America in his backyard. And mistakes come soon after, and in abundance. The rest I guess is history.
The Assad and Harriri families cannot coexist any more. The former has no support from anywhere while the latter has it from everywhere. Syria's Alawi rule has come to an end. The Middle East is moving towards majority rule. The next Syrian leader will be a Sunni that can and will work with Harriri and Lebanon. It will have to be a professional technocrat, not a religious fanatic who will make the Sharia the rule of the land. He will need to rely on a professional army general/s to support him and a secular constitution. His number one priority will be Economic growth and immediate International help to raise the population's standard of living. The Baath party and its antiquited idelogy needs to be dissolved immediately. Syria can keep its culture but turn to the west for help in all the areas it needs urgent assistence in. Investments will start pouring in. Syrians in diaspora will start to return. The economy will grow between 5-6%. Unemployment will stop rising. Syria will be a regional economic hub that it so deservedly needs to come. We will all stop hearing empty slogans and empty attacks on America and the zionists. We will sign a peace treaty with Israel when we can demonstrate that we mean it and will abide by it. Bashar will become a distant memory and Syrians can be proud of their nation again.
Ehsani2
while your vision of future Syria is what most people dream of, I don't think it will be realized in the near future.
You rightly mention that the regime is grabbing everything while it can, but the Baath and Assad will not just go away, I'm afraid (although that's their own chance for not being on a deck of cards).
EngineeringChange wondered how removing Assad from power tomorrow will help, or if it will result in total chaos. I think any transition state will foster chaos, as many groups fight to fill the power vaccum.
That's why, if Bashar was honest and wanted to save Syria, he would not just go away tomorrow; instead, he should nominate a non-Baathist to the 'throne', such as Mr. Dardari. Dardari would then immediately institute a multi-party system, and call for parliamentary elections. The new parliament would then write a new Syrian constituion that separates mosque and state to the best extent possible, calls for representation from all of Syria's sects and ethnic groups, and put the worst criminals of the past regime on trial. Bashar would get a pardon and will be encouraged to take residence somewhere outside Syria.
I think this trasitory phase would prevent the power vaccum and would safely trasform Syria into democracy, all while ridding it of its international isolation.
I think what Norman is probably trying to say is that, has past U.S. administrations shown any miniscule attention to the gross human right violations in Syria and other places in general. And in particular, has the Bush Administration in the past 4+ years shown any attention to the awful human right abuses, worked with sincerity to alleviate the suffering of the people of Syria. Those Arabs, Moslems and Syrians would have been on the U.S. side in everyway, all the way.
Unfortunately, It was just last night that the Bush Administration and it’s Department of State head Rice, for the very first time ever, mentioned the regime human right issue.
Therefore Norman and just about everybody now, do not take the Bush Administration and not even U.S. Congress drive to push Democracy with any merit. Most will consider it a cover up mask for ulterior plans.
Adding to that, the huge and unforgivable mistake of establishing the “Iraq Occupation Authority” rather than the “Iraq Liberation Authority” or “Iraq Development Authority” or any name other than “Occupation” would have saved untold lives on all sides and made all the people region more susceptible to help Bush in Iraq and other places.
At this time, after all the disasters in Iraq, all the visits paid to Assad in Damascus from What’s his name Sec. of State, to the members of Congress just last month. I seriously doubt in the ability of the U.S. to change the region attitude or succeed in the original mission goal “War on Terror and Democracy drive” No one will buy Bush’s slogans just as much no one will buy Bashar’s Baathist slogans.
I still think that a deal was done in long time ago, when cash was shipped by plane load to Baghdad, search for previous post in this regards. Yet another evidence just surfaced last week, the transfer of $11.7 Billion from Swiss to U.K. banks. I believe Bashar speech this maybe all posturing and that Bashar possibly have paid his dues.
Just in case this was overshooting (doubtful), but if it was, and if the Bush Adminstration is serious about pushing and succeeding in bringing the original goals that set out before the start of the Iraq war, it is still “douable”. Barring further erosion, it can be done by having the U.S. taking a back seat and help in every way the Syrian oppositions do the work and talking on behalf of Syria.
You need help, we can help. Otherwise, just listen to the Zionists and implement the silly and worthless plans Mossad’s fanaticize about, only to get the U.S., Israel and the whole region into bigger trouble and deeper mess than Iraq.
Metaz K. M. Aldendeshe
Syrian Republican Party
www.ssprs.com
web-media@ssprs.com
P.S…. I do share JAM feeling about the lost chance Syria’s Alawites could have built in Syria and carved a nitch in Syria's history that would have been looked at as the beginning of Syria's modern day of glory. Rather, looks like Bashar and Shawkat chosen to leave Syria broken and in ashes. With memories that Syrians will remember as Syria's worst black days that topped 43 years of black history. All the billions in cash sent abroad will be frozen and stolen like that of the Shah's. All the status and symbols fallen on the dirt, just like the Baathist slogan of “One Arab Nation with One Eternal Mission, Unity, Freedom and Socialism. I doubt that this was the vision Hafez had or expected for Syria and his Alawites minority when he passed away. I am sure he thought that his status will be standing for time immemorial.
Indeed, I am very pessimistic about the way in which Bashar will call it quits. This is not going to be a picnic. I think one can forget about handing over to Dardari or anyone else.
I think people overestimate the power of Bashar at the power pyramid. Maher is more powerful than him militarily and on the ground. So is Asef. By outsourcing the palace internal security to both, he ensured that he is merely the pretty boy facade for the regime. Maher and Asef have implicitly let Bashar and his pretty wife do all the travelling and public affairs while they effectively run the country's security systems while Mr. Makhlouf runs the Business side. Power in Syria starts with Maher then Asef and then Bashar with Muhammed Makhlouf an important fatherly figure and contact person with the Alawi religious establishment.
Dam.Blood, let us forget this "if Bashar wanted to save Syria". He wants to save himself, his family and all the Billions, period.
This episode will not end nicely, which is normal and not surprising. You don't cleanly end 40 year of absolute rule and control. America and the threat or actual use of force is the only way this regime will ultimately give up power. Let us stop all the fanciful other scenarios.
"to Syria which sacrificed a lot for Lebanon"
Yep, except he didn't tell who was sacrificed.
The Syrian soldiers who were killed died for nothing. It's sad but it's true. The Lebanese lost even more.
Ehsani2
Yeah I know that was a mad fantasy, but one can dream...
The alternative, which is what will most likely happen, is that Bashar will sacrifice Syria and every last one of us before he lets go :(
My fantasy exercise was to show the defining line b/w Bashar being sincere or not. I believe the coming days will prove that he is not (obviously).
One thing that REALLY irks me about the Syrian gov. reasons for not sending Asef & the Gang to Beirut is that they are so stupid: because it hurts our feelings, because it hurts Lebanon's feelings, blah blah blah. These guys really need to fire their dumbass PR agents.
Why don't they just say it as it is? sending those clowns to Lebanon exposes them to arrest, and poses a security issue given the tensions in Lebanon. It's funny, if Mehlis refuses any other place, then that means he probably wants to arrest them there, or at least strike a deal with Asef to implicate Bashar & Maher and put him in power. On the other hand, Asef probably told Bashar: if you send me to Beirut, I'll spill the beans and tell them everything. So clearly, Bashar is scared as hell, from Asef as he is from Mehlis, no wonder he looked pale when he made the speech, he's damned if he complies, and damned if he doesn't.
I am sure the syrian people will win at the end, those who commited the crime will be punished, syria will never accept foreign domination, rather syria will stay the ever beating heart of the arab.
Lets be honest here, most of those who are asking the regime to step down , or to praying for the moment when the american bombs drop on damascus are living out side syria. so please if you live in the west and among western keep ur valuable comments to yourself. because its we(who live in syria) who will die not you stupid morons.
Back to the speech of king Asad junior, when I heard it I had mixed feelings, I was happy that the tune was challenging(if he was honest) but i was seeply angry and disappointed because he offer no change no reform for syrian people.
Surely Bashar should not count on our support if things carry on the way it is. If Bashar wants to win this war he needs to give power back to its people and rally the whole country, every single syrian not only Alwais. Yes we hate the regime but we hate the United snakes even more. As things stand the picture is very grim and sad for both syrians and the regime.
May Allah help my beloved country SYRIA. AMEEN
I think people really have to accept some certain realities. Open your eyes and look at all the clues around you. These things seem so clear to me.
1. Bashar and the Baath party are going nowhere. NOWHERE.
1b. If given a chance, people in Syria would not automatically call for seperation of mosque and state. no you would have people willing to give their LIVES to make sure Syria would not be as secular as it is now.
1c. Al-Qaida is a real danger and we are lucky in Syria that our leaders have not let them have a precsence in our country. And Syria is NOT in such a dire situation. There are many poor but even many of these poor people are happy. America the Great is full of poor and discrimated against. There is also corruption in other places in the world. It could be better in Syria sure I don't want to take away Syrian people's potential but it really isn't so bad.
2. The US has been after Syria ever since Bush assembled his foreign policy team when he was first elected. You see they are going after Syria according to plan--but they have had to tweak things because things in Iraq have not gone well.
3. Nothing--NOTHING that Bashar could have done short of giving up power would have eased the pressure. The US is out to destroy arabism once and for all because they think it threatens ISRAEL long-term. They have neutured Jordan and now give huge financial aid to the Jordanian General Intelligence Directorate to keep order there.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/644451.html
Egypt is taken care of and the Palestinians are an issue Israel takes care of. Realize that Washington's foreign policy architects are also Likud Israel's!! They are the same set of people! Syria is a threat to Israel so it must be pacified!
What kind of fantasy is it to say that Syria's blunder is to not have sent troops to Iraq?? The US would never ever have consented to such a thing--they want iraq to be in the American sphere of influence not Syria's!!
4. Bashar is a leader of a country--u better believe he regards his 'people' to be every single last syrian citizen. And he is urging them to rally around him--because I am sure he regards this whole affair as an American plot against Syria. I don't think he is blowing hot air to save his own butt.
And is it such a fanciful scenerio to believe that things are changing and change will proceed in the next few years and there doesn't have to be this bloodshed to end 40 years of absolute rule? Its not 40 years of absolute rule! Bashar has been in power for 5 years and has managed to sack nearly every old guard!
Give the guy 5 more years and we can avoid war, avoid invasion, and avoid bloodshed.
Exactly thanks for the comment shamee27....
Fellow Syrians INSIDE Syria lets hear more of your voices---Do you think life is so bad in Syria that you would risk it all for the chance of better days? Maybe it is--but let us know why!
shamee27
Please don't call others stupid asses when arguing, it just hurts your cause.
That said, I lived in Syria most of my life, and I go there every year, and my parents and large portions of my family live there. So I'm not an 'armchair' nationalist calling for change or for the US to come and bomb us, I have a very large stake in Syria's well-being and I would love nothing more than to go back and live there.
That said, if you read my comments you'll see that I'm talking about how to save Syria and its people from suffering and war. I think, at this point, Bashar needs to eliminate any American and Israeli execuses for them to wage war on us, that is, by changing the facade of who's ruling Syria, and by making real reforms.
If Bashar, as you claim, is really sincere and honest, then why did he wait until last week to start some reforms, including the naturalization of about 500,000 Kurds? why didn't Syria withdraw from Lebanon before Hariri was killed???? why hasn't the multi-party law taken effect yet? why is corruption still rampant on all levels?
It's clear that without outside pressure (unfortunately) Bashar wouldn't do anything that the Syrian people want, simply because there is no one to bring him and his men to account for their actions.
Again, I want Syria to be the best country in the Middle East, and it has the potential. We just can't leave our destiny to the lying Baathists or to the conspiring Americans/Israelis.
From Bush's speech
"They've been sheltered by authoritarian regimes -- allies of convenience like Iran and Syria -- that share the goal of hurting America and modern Muslim governments,"
Now is Bush saying that the modern governments are Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait and Egypt? I hope that's not what he's saying.
I have a question for the Syrians here. Would you prefer an anti-US authoritarian government to a pro-US authoritarian government such as Jordan?
Another question: Would a democratic Syria be more or less friendly with Israel than Asad? If the answer is less, then assuming the US is interested in advancing Israel's interests, do you believe the US would tolerate a democratic Syria?
To DamasceneBlood I was not talking about you specifically , I was talking about every single nutcase who is saying "lets get rid of this regime "let the son of snakes attack Syria " who is chanting with such stupid slogans is so ignorant to what most Syrians want. Secondly yes we want change we want regime change but we don’t want an American puppet government which brought to us by American tanks.
When did you I say Bashar is sincere , I know for fact he is not I know for fact that he is more concerns about his {kersee}but two wrongs don’t make right, I would never ever ally with the sons of snakes against my own people and whoever meet or seek help from them is one of them. Syrians will never accept those who ally with the devil.
One interpretation of the speech that I read on another blog (http://syrianistician.blogspot.com) is that assad think that whatever he does, he'll end up like Saddam Hussein, so, considering that whether he cooperates or not wont make a difference (like it did no difference with hussein), he took the decision to start resisting from now.
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