Asef isn't Going to Vienna: Asad Family Safe for Now
Ibrahim Hamidi of al-Hayat gets the scoop again. Asef Shawkat, the president's brother-in-law and head of military intelligence, is not among the five security officers slated to go to Vienna for questioning about the murder of Hariri.
The house of Asad is not in the clear yet. We are only at the beginning of the second phase of the UN investigation, which has targeted the Syrian government as the guilty party. All the same, the Asad family does seem to have dodged a bullet in this round. I watched the news conference with 6 Syrian friends last night in which Walid Muallem and Riad Daoudi answered the question that every Syrian has been waiting for - Will Syria be sanctioned by the world? When it was announced that Syria was cooperating, everyone cheered. When it was announced that Mehlis had made important concessions, everyone smiled.
Since October 30 when UN Security Council unanimously passed resolution 1636, demanding that Syria hand over is top six security officers for questioning in the murder of Rafiq Hariri, the country has been burning with anxiety and fear. Would it become a legal and not just presumed pariah state? Had Bashar al-Asad, the young and seemingly weak president, allowed his country to be backed into a corner by the United States, Lebanon, and France? Would Bashar allow a family member to be questioned and possibly arrested? Could Syria become the next Iraq - completely ostracized and left to starve under international sanctions until internal collapse, public revolt, or foreign invasion brought revolution? These are the questions that have been the debated in Damascus by a population cut off from decision making both at home and abroad. The President's speech on November 10 only heightened the anxiety. By calling for resistance to what he described as an American-Israeli plot to bring down his family and turn Syria into another Iraq, everyone began to assume he would allow pride to jeopardize the nation. In many respects Mehlis has pitted the Asad family against the Syrian people. After all, the Syrian government has been a family enterprise for decades.
When the preliminary Mehlis report was first published, it named two Asads, Maher and Asef, the president’s brother and brother-in-law, as suspected accomplices in Hariri’s murder. President Bashar had refused to testify, but John Bolton, the neo-con US ambassador at the UN proclaimed that with resolution 1636 even Bashar would be subject to questioning. Observers could only interpret the report as a full broadside against the Syrian state. Could the US and its allies possibly believe they could force the entire Asad family into the clink? Was this regime-change on the cheap? What if the Asads said no? Would the world community do what they did to Saddam Hussein? Could they possibly afford another failed nation in the Middle East at a time when Iraq seemed to be spiraling towards total collapse?
After resolution 1636 was passed, Mehlis seemed to have made an important concession. He demanded to question only 6 witnesses and only one relative of the President. Maher, the President’s brother, was curiously dropped from the list of suspects. The French, who seemed to have assumed control of policy planning for the West by this time, began to whisper that they had a “Juan Carlos option,” a reference to the King of Spain. It seemed that they hoped they could turn Syria into some form of constitutional monarchy. They had lowered the bar of expectations – not total regime change, but partial. The president would have to give up some of his family – the non blood relatives - but not Maher, the head of the Palace Guard. If only he would abandon the family structure, abandon “tribalism” and make a democratic opening toward the reformers and clear the decks of crony capitalists to usher in the free air of the market economy, all would be well. Syria would have made its “strategic decision” to fall into step with the rest of the region and become part of the reformed Greater Middle East. This seemed to be the implication of Western rhetoric and reveries.
These magnificent dreams were dowsed with cold water by Asad’s speech of November 10. He identified his family with the nation and proclaimed there was no third way for Syria. He would not allow family members to be picked off by bullies; it was a question of national sovereignty, honor and self defense. Syria had but two options, he stated, resistance or chaos. Stand by the Asad household in its entirety or be sent down the ugly spiral towards Iraqification, sectarian violence, poverty, and terrorism.
President Bashar defied the world. Many in the West, and some in the East, thought the man had gone crazy. It was the “Lethal Weapon” gambit – look crazy and go for broke, like Mel Gibson in "Lethal Weapon," in the hope that your opponents don’t really have the heart or brazenness for a showdown. Pray that they are bluffing. This foreign policy strategy has been mastered by George Bush, who has own over the last 5 years. Now we must add Bashar al-Asad to the list of those with a taste for brinksmanship.
It worked. Well, it seems to have worked at any rate. The world backed down and the Asad family has been let off the hook. More and more western powers seem to be convinced by Bashar’s logic. Syria just might become another Iraq without the firm hand of the Asads at the top. Many factors seem to have played a role in this climb-down by the West. Bush is wounded at home, and Iraq is a horror show, voiding early threats of US military action against Syria. The Jordan bombings made the Asads look good and reminded the world that Iraq may well become the spawning ground of terror that we have feared. Syria, by contrast, has seen no serious terrorism for over twenty years, making it the only state in the region which can boast such stability and anti-al-Qa’ida credentials. Even Israel began to sing the praises of the house of Asad, claiming it was the least bad choice for the Jewish state.
The Syrian opposition did not play into Western hands. The Labwani trail balloon popped without an echo. Bush's suggestion that he would add the banner of democracy to the standards of foreign policy reform which he expects Damascus to fly over its ramparts did not impress the Syrians. They remained sullen and anti-American, proving that Washington has few instruments to divide Syria from within. Whether Syrians are too distrustful of the US, too frightened to complain, or too disinterested in democracy, they remained impervious to Washington's probings. America doesn't have tools to use in Syria. Its tool box is empty.
Kofi Annan, the beleaguered head of the UN, seems to have used his last bits of political capital to intercede on Syria’s behalf, insisting that Mehlis find some middle ground. Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the heart of the Arab League, said they were not in favor of sanctions even though they insisted Syria cooperate with the UN. Turkey chimed in with a similar refrain, arguing that the region could not withstand further chaos and conflict. The PKK has regrouped, and violence is on the upswing in the east of Turkey. Rumors in Syria suggest the Syrian branch of the PKK is also recruiting and again becoming a force. Should Asad weaken, militant Kurdish organizations, such as the PKK, will prosper and both Syria and Turkey will have a real head ache. Asad plans to redeploy thousands of Syrian troops into the northeast of the country at the start of the new year in order to ensure a tight grip on the region. That is what I hear. I cannot be sure it is true, but it would make sense, not only to reassure Turkey, but also to place the kind of iron grip on the border regions with Iraq that both Washington and Baghdad have been demanding.
Russia and China were early opponents of sanctions. Quite possibly the US and France discovered that no one, not even Europe, had the heart for sanctions, except possibly sanctions that were so “smart” as to be but a pin prick, in which case, why act tough when there is no credible follow through?
There is also always the possibility of a deal. Asef Shawkat is Mr. Security in Syria and has been the main link between US and Syrian intelligence. He is in a position to have hung out some tempting offers to the West on Iraq, Palestine, and even Lebanon. It is unlikely that the West would make a deal or open a real dialog with Syria at this point, but one should not assume that messages weren’t passed to Paris and Washington via Egypt, Saudi, and Turkey that Syria means business on issues close to the Western heart. But the deal scenario has probably not been the driving force behind the Mehlis mollifications. Most likely, local powers with a lot at stake in regional stability made it clear to both sides that a compromise had to be worked out because the region cannot withstand more upset.
Rhonda Roumani's article in the Washington Post, "Syria Will Let U.N. Question 5 Officials: Deal Ends Stalemate in Hariri Probe - isthe best of the stories in English.
Here are the good parts of Hamidi's article:
ورفض كل من نائب وزير الخارجية السوري وليد المعلم والمستشار القانوني في الوزارة رياض الداودي في مؤتمر صحافي مساء امس، ذكر اسماء المسؤولين الخمسة او ان يكون أي من الاسماء اسقط من القائمة.
لكن مصادر سورية رفيعة المستوى قال لـ»الحياة» امس ان «دمشق لم تطرح مع أي طرف موضوع الاسماء، بل موضوع الاجراءات والضمانات»، قبل ان يشير الى ان اسم رئيس شعبة الاستخبارات اللواء اصف شوكت «لم يكن مطروحا»، نافية حصول «أي صفقة». وقال المعلم مرات عدة للصحافيين :»لم يسقط أي اسم» من القائمة.
وكان تردد في وسائل الاعلام ان الخمسة هم الرئيس السابق لجهاز الاستطلاع والامن في القوات العاملة في لبنان العميد رستم الغزالي، ومسؤول بيروت العميد جامع جامع، ومسؤول في المخابرات العسكرية العقيد عبد الكريم عباس ومسؤول قسم الكمبيوتر العقيد ظافر عباس، اضافة الى رئيس فرع الامن الداخلي السابق اللواء بهجت سليمان. ورفض الداودي ذكر الاسماء لانها جزء من «سرية التحقيق». وقال ردا على سؤال لـ»الحياة» ان بعض الخمسة مشتبه بهم وبعضهم الاخر شاهد.
وقبل ان يبلغ الداودي ميليس قرار دمشق، ترأس الرئيس بشار الاسد امس اجتماعين للقيادة القطرية لـ»البعث» الحاكم وللقيادة المركزية لـ»الجبهة الوطنية التقدمية» التي تضم الاحزاب المرخصة. وقالت مصادر مطلعة لـ»الحياة» ان الاسد وضع كبار المسؤولين «في جو المعطيات فتقرر اتخاذ هذه الخطوة الممتازة». واوضحت :»تم قطع مرحلة مهمة، كانت تشكل عقبة اساسية. لكن ربما تظهر عقبات اخرى لاحقا».
وقال المعلم في المؤتمر الصحافي :»ان الخطوة الحكيمة والشجاعة التي اتخذتها سورية تسقط كل الذرائع» لفرض عقوبات اقتصادية عليها. واوضح ردا على سؤال اخر :»اذا كان الهدف كشف الحقيقة، نحن مستعدود للتعاون الكامل لكشفها». وعندما سئل عن موقف سورية اذا كانت مستهدفة سياسيا، فاجاب :»شعبنا كفيل بالمواجهة».
وكان لافتا ان القرار السوري جاء بعد يوم على اعلان وزير الخارجية فاروق الشرع ان بلاده تريد توقيع بروتوكول تعاون مع ميليس يحدد الحقوق القانونية للمسؤولين السوريين ويحدد آليات ومعايير التعاون. ويبدو ان حصول دمشق على ضمانات بفضل اتصالات سياسية قام بها عدد من الاطراف، لعب دورا في الاقتناع بالحل الوسط بان تجري الاستجوابات في فيينا وليس في»مونتي فيردي» او «اندوف» في سورية.
واوضح المعلم ان الضمانات تشمل حضور محامين مع المسؤولين السوريين وان تكون صلاحية التوقيف محصورة بالقضاء اللبناني الذي يمكن ان يطلب من القضاء السوري اتخاذ الخطوات الاحترازية.
واوضح الداودي ان الاتصالات ستجري في الايام المقبلة لتحديد مواعيد حصول الاستجوابات وكيفية سفر المسؤولين. وعندما سالته «الحياة» ما اذا كان الخمسة مشتبها بهم او شهودا، اجاب :»في التحقيق تسمية شخص مشتبها به او شاهدا لا يعني ان التحقيق يتقدم، بل ان هذا الشخص له علاقة اكثر من الاخر، وفرضية البراءة قائمة بالكامل في كل مرحلة وان الموضوع لا يرقى الى مرحلة الاتهام الا بتوافر المعطيات القانونية والادلة القاطعة التي تقدم الى المحكمة من قبل قاضي التحقيق». وزاد :»حتى اذا وصل الامر الى الاتهام، فان فرضية البراءة قائمة».
وفي نيويورك، أكد الناطق باسم الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة ستيفان دوجاريك الاتفاق بين الحكومة السورية وبين ميليس. وقال: «في استطاعتنا ان نؤكد ان فيينا ستكون مقر استجواب خمسة مسؤولين سوريين». واضاف الناطق ان الامين العام «مسرور جداً بالتوصل الى اتفاق على ان يكون مقر الاستجواب مكاتب الأمم المتحدة في فيينا».
وقالت مصادر في الأمم المتحدة مطلعة على تفكير دميليس «ليس هناك اي ضمانات مفتوحة الأفق بعدم الاعتقال» في حال ثبت تورط الذين سجري ميليس اللقاءات معهم والذين صنفهم ميليس «مشتبهاً بهم» في عملية الاغتيال.
وأضافت المصادر ان موافقة ميليس على استجواب خمسة من قائمة ستة مسؤولين أمنيين تأتي «كجزء من عملية». ولفتت الى ان الأمم المتحدة لم تكشف اسماء الستة بصورة علنية ورسمية مما يمكن ميليس من تقديم قائمة «بفوج» آخر من «المشتبه بهم» لاحقاً. وقالت أن ميليس قرر الموافقة على استجواب «خمسة» فقط في فيينا كنقطة انطلاق.
وبحسب المصادر المطلعة على تفكير القاضي الالماني «أراد ميليس ان يبرهن انه، منذ البدء، يتصرف بليونة وليس بتعنت كما حاولت سورية أن تقول وكررت ذلك اول من أمس على لسان وزير الخارجية» الشرع.
وضمن ما تراه هذه المصادر «ليونة واضحة» من ميليس موافقته على نقل مكان التحقيق من «مونتي فيردي» في بيروت الى مقر الأمم المتحدة في فيينا، وقبوله باستجواب خمسة من الستة مسؤولين أمنيين، وموافقته على عدم اصدار مذكرات اعتقال في فيينا.
وشددت المصادر على أن التعهد هو بعدم اعتقالهم «فقط وحصراً في فيينا» اذ «ليست هناك ضمانات بأنه لن تكون هناك اعتقالات مستقبلاً... وليس هناك أية ضمانات مفتوحة الأفق بعدم الاعتقال». وحسب مصادر أخرى «لا توجد هناك أية ضمانات».
وفي بيروت علّق ناطق باسم لجنة التحقيق الدولية على الاعلان السوري بالقبول بالاستماع الى المسؤولين السوريين في فيينا بالقول إن ميليس «يرحّب به ويعبّر عن تقديره لكل الافرقاء الذين عرضوا مقرات في سبيل هذا العمل (التحقيق)». وأشار النائب الى ان ترحيب ميليس جاء «لأن الخطوة السورية تأتي في سياق تنفيذ قرار مجلس الأمن الدولي ونحن مسرورون بالاعلان السوري». ورداً على سؤال حول سبب إشارة الجانب السوري الى خمسة ضباط سوريين وليس ستة، قال الناطق باسم اللجنة ان لا تعليق حول التفاصيل. وعن موعد حصول الاستجوابات قال الناطق باسم اللجنة: «هذا أيضاً من التفاصيل المتصلة بسرية التحقيق».
وكان المحققون الدوليون استمعوا أمس الى كل من رئيس الاتحاد العمالي العام غسان غصن ونائبه بسام طليس في شأن اتصالات هاتفية جرت معهما من قبل رئيس جهاز الاستطلاع السوري في القوات السورية التي كانت في لبنان العميد رستم غزالة للدعوة الى اسقاط حكومة الشهيد الحريري في العام 2004 بالتظاهر في الشارع.
وذكرت مصادر مواكبة للتحقيق ان المحققين الدوليين سيواصلون الاستماع الى شهود ومشتبه بهم لاتخاذ قرار في شأن توقيف أو عدم توقيف بعضهم. واستمع المحقق العدلي اللبناني في جريمة اغتيال الحريري أمس الى إفادات أربعة شهود جدد أمس.
وفي باريس علمت «الحياة» من مصدر فرنسي موثوق به ان اللجنة القضائية الفرنسية لتبادل الموقوفين التقت امس السوري محمد زهير الصديق المشتبه به في قضية اغتيال الحريري، والموقوف حاليا في العاصمة الفرنسية بناء على طلب القضاء اللبناني. وقال المصدر ان اللجنة ستعطي رأيها الاسبوع المقبل.
وكان لبنان طلب استرداد الصديق من فرنسا، علما انه لا يوجد اتفاق لتبادل المطلوبين بين البلدين. وذكرت المصادر انه نظرا الى غيالب مثل هذا الاتفاق، تدرس اللجنة الفرنسية امكان تسليم المطلوب الى القضاء اللبناني. واضافت ان فرنسا لا تمانع في التسليم، لكن الخطوة تواجه عائقا مرده الى كون عقوبة الاعدام ما تزال قائمة في القانون اللبناني في حال الادانة بتهمة القتل.
107 Comments:
In other words Josh, you want Syria to get away with the Hariri murder and its history of terrorism in Lebanon...
While I don't wish a regime removal at this point, I do think that 'smart' sanctions should be applied to Syria . Even if such sanctions wouldn't be very effective, they would have a strong political meaning and would help isolate this regime. UN-enforced sanctions symbolize makes it clear that the Syrian state is a pariah state.
The emergence of Al-Qaida has been a Godsend to the Syrian Regime. So long as the Middle East continues to produce America hating Judaists, Bashar will always be the less of two evils. The enemy of democracy and change in the MidEast has been the crazy hatred of America. A vast majority wants it both ways. They want to change regimes like Syria’s Baath and simultaneously promote hatred for the US and its policies. This is precisely what Bashar and the regime have come to master and use to their full advantage. Regrettably, a number of smart people on this site fall into the same trap. Change in the ME has to start from getting rid of regimes like the Baath. But to do so, the people of the region have to demonstrate that they are ready for a credible democratic alternative. Hating the west and America and sympathizing with Jihadists does not exactly give the International community much comfort. Bashar and co. is the only beneficiary of such myopia.
People get what they deserve at the end of the day!
Why should America be more fanatic about establishing democracy in the Arab world than the Arabs themselves? Arabs, seem to me love to worship their rulers. Just look at how the Arab media has been talking about the so called "new" king of Saudi Arabia, and his so called "100 days" in power, and see how the Arabs, even some of their most educated love to inflate the egoes of their rulers and some how get some benefits, or cash back. The Saudi new king has been effectively the real King of Saudi for a decade, but Arabs, from left to right have celebrated him as the "new" king. It is strange that only Arabs in the whole world raise the pictures of their ruler when they go in support demonstrations for their countries. Pictures and statues are of special values to the them.
Syrians I believe, still deserve this criminal gang that governs them, and Mr. Joshua Landis is so happy about this, one can tell! Was he brainwashed by perhaps, the his in laws? Or has he discovered a new spirituality to live by while he lived in Syria?
JAM
Common VOX abd Ihsani, none what you described. It is the movement of Millions to Iraq and 13.7 Billion from Swiss banks to U.K. banks. All the sudden, the U.K. is sooooo quite, when couple of weeks ago were more anti Assd than Bolton.
And for Landis, the narrower the family rulling circle, the easier to free Syria.
Asef Shawkat WILL BE among the FIVE:
Mr. Joshua Landis is NOT happy
about this, Even He is a good man. and he\We know right from Worng..
Please read this:
Asef Shawkat, the president's brother-in-law and head of military intelligence, WILL BE among the five security officers slated to go to Vienna for questioning
Who is Asef? Why do think he is above the law?
Asef Shawkat is only Mr. Security for CEO of the Assad's in Syria. They are DONE for good.. Trust the Trues this time..
No one would have gone on the flight had Asef not been on it. Who is Asef? He was hand picked by the Late Hafez to protect the young 34 year President. Incidentally, his previous credentials was to lead the division that raided Moslem Brotherhood strongholds during the early 1980's. The word is that he did so with "distiction".
If Bashar survives this, he ought to rename Syria to "Kingdom Of Syria" and get it over with.
The most depressing thing for Syria is not the idea that Bashar Asad’s regime is the lesser of two evils when it comes to jihadists, but that it IS the evil that will bring on the insurgents.
If you are unsure about this, go back and read the lucid comments by Ehsasni2 on the Syrian economy, then look around at all the bright-eyed, lively young people in Syria and think through their future. Then read up on the roots of the Algerian nightmare, where civil society was systematically destroyed and tens of thousands of ordinary citizens were butchered. When you have no job, no money, nowhere to to pass the time, no hope of ever affording marriage or a home of your own, there is always the society of the mosque. It costs nothing, it offers a welcome, a sense of belonging, a vision, an action plan and a prospect of change.
The news for Dr Landis is that America’s attitude, Mehlis, sanctions etc are a small sidebar, not material to this scenario.
This is my favourite:
``Could they possibly afford another failed nation in the Middle East at a time when Iraq seemed to be spiraling towards total collapse?´´
Another one dear Josh? Is it not a failure already by most standards?
Though some have commended the Syrian health and educational sectors as pretty efficient in providing with the basics. Is it true?
Standards for the Arab world are not like those for the civilized world.
Contrary to the impression that the latest Landis post conveys Asef will go to Vienna whenevr asked to make an appearance and any of the suspects will not be in a position to resist being detained if the evidence substantiates their guilt.
As a result I do not think that the current Syrian regime has dodged the bullit. If the investigations show that the Syrian regime had knowingly conspired in the assassination of the Lebanese PM Raic Harriri then the Assad dynasty is over.
If tyranny and opression are bad for say the French then they cannot be good for the Syrians irrespective of the convluted arguments by Dr. Landis. The Syrians are just as deserving of dignity, democracy and civil society. Some principles are not negotiable and thus no price is too high to pay for them. The Syrian regime will not survive the current crisis simply because the Syrian people desrve better.
To the questioner above who wrote :“...the Syrian health and educational sectors as pretty efficient in providing with the basics. Is it true?”
Well, whenever I am reminded of that terrific tale about Shawkat Asef being rushed to Paris for repairs several years ago after Meher Asad shot him in the stomach, I remember it as a powerful indictment of the inferior state of Syrian medical services.
agree The Syrian regime will NOT be abel to chart the Syrian ship anymore.. The current "perfect Storm" Will filp the leadership upside-down. like it or not.
too much damge has been infelect on this regime ..
I feel so much pain that Syria has not been free for a very long time. We feel bad that Syria is still NOT free yet " Syrian Occupation regime" it really bad when you strugle to free your beloved country form evil people withen"
I don't know for the Syrian health system (those who are probably dead) but if I believe a Syrian friend who tells me that all the Syrian who can afford to put their children in private institution do so, then I would say that the system is not perfect.
I am not going to mention the story of a Syrian president who did his studies in the West or all these Syrian students in AUB.
Bashar’s economic gurus have been out in force lately assuring their populace that the country is on a solid economic footing, and that were economic sanctions to be imposed on it, it will have little trouble managing. They timed their appearances with various new saving products that allowed people to earn more interest income on longer-term deposits. Since this summer, the Syrian Pound has started its slow descent against the Dollar and other currencies. Few hours prior to Bashar’s decision to agree to the Vienna deal, the S. pound traded 64 to the Dollar. From its value of around 54 this summer, the currency had effectively lost 18.5% of its value. For the record, following the decision, it has traded back to 60.0, still 11 % lower than its value in the summer. The poor citizens that took the bait and invested their locked up savings in search of extra interest income saw this income wiped out in 48 hours. Meanwhile, Rami and co. knew better. Since that period, Dubai’s banking system saw a significant amount of funds transfer into their accounts. This significant drop in the value of the currency is a reminder to the regime that the situation is much more precarious than they admit. Just think, even before the start of sanctions, the currency suffered an 18% loss of its value at one point. A number of merchants are frightened by the economic prospects. Business is at a standstill. In my opinion, the most pessimistic observer of the Syrian economy is not pessimistic enough. The economic prospects are akin to a ticking time bomb. Nearly 300,000 new people will be looking for a job every single year. The country’s oil resources are dwindling fast which will turn it into an oil exporter to importer in the next 20 years. With a cancerous type corruption and incredibly inept and inefficient socialist mangers of the economy, you can fill the blanks. What is the plan and is being done about all this? Lie to your sheep-like people. Play the hate America and Syria is targeted CD. Hope Islamic fundamentalism continues to spread as your population continues falling into a black hole.
without a doubt,syrian hospitals are the worse in the region.
In syria,it's possible to be illiterate after the 6 years of the elementary school.that give u an idea about the educational system.
Death follows any serious disease. If you survive the disease, you will most likely not make it past the infections that you will contract from your visit.
Amman and Beirut is your only refuge if you have the means that is
Quick statistics facts from the World Development Indicators data
In Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) Syria ranks 9th out of 14 Arab countries.
In Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) Syria ranks 11th out of 14 Arab countries
In Improved sanitation facilities (% of population with access) Syria ranks 9th out 13 Arab countries
In Improved water source (% of population with access) Syria ranks 11th out of 13 Arab countries
In Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) Syria ranks 3rd out of 11 Arab countries
In Literacy rate, youth total (% of people ages 15-24) Syria ranks 4th out of 9 Arab countries
In Physicians (per 1,000 people) Syria ranks 4th out of 14 Arab countries
In Pupil-teacher ratio, primary Syria 9th out of 14 Arab countries
Is Hosni Mubarak trying to make Asad look like goody two-shoes these days.
He sent his police in to block the entrances to the polling booths in northern Egypt because the Muslim Brotherhood candidates were poised to win a couple of seats.
At least two voters are dead because of beatings by NDP thugs.
So why all the pressure on Syria, not to mention the fact that Jordan is transforming itself into a dictatorship with a hi-five from the USA?
Didn't do him any good--Muslim brotherhood won big in Egypt more than quadrupling their number of seats so far
Brotherhood gains seats in Egypt Polls
You know Bashar is happy with that result!
Trust Mehlis and his assistants.
Europe is a better place than Beirut. The Hague is nearer, the international laws and orders stronger. They are guilty and anybody knows it, just wait and see.
The story about Show,cat and Ass, ad,s deal is pure Landis style. Propaganda campain made in syria. Thats what Hamidi also stands for.
Sure that Mehlis has many traps and just logically Assad again fall into one.
BTW, your statistics, Mister Ramzi, does not include the quality of education, as Vox Populi already narrated, the standards are low. The proud MD made in syria, how did he get his title?
The whole syrian society is built upon lies. Or you can say instead, syrias currency is a lie.
JAM came to the conclusion, that syrians deserve this government. We all know, that he is right. Sad but true.
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This interesting article give an answer to the question of nur al cubicle.
http://english.daralhayat.com/opinion/OPED/11-2005/Article-20051126-cc4447a7-c0a8-10ed-0092-eb76b073a8bc/story.html
BP -- for the exception of pupil-teacher ratios these statistics are not meant to be proxies for the quality of anything.
Bp
To your knowledge Syrian Doctors are among the best in the world and I am proud that I learned it in Arabic. Sadly though Syrian expertise was driven outside the country by brutal regime. So please don't come here to mock Syrians if you dislike us that much go to Israelcomments.com they would welcome you with opem arms.
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Why don't you just simplify things? Syria is either guilty or not guilty of the assasination of Mr Harirry.
If the 6 officers are guilty, then they will be charged.. end of story? this is what the syrian government said from the begining.
why can't you just differentiate between Mehlis's interogation on Hariri's assasination and your views, with respect, about the regime & syria? these are two different topics.
International law can't just romove regimes for that reson. Sharoon destroyed Jenin Camp and killed hundreds of people and no one did or say anything? I don't think Mr Harriri's blood is more precious than those who died defending their homes there??
Abu Arab, While it is true that Harriri's blood is not more preccious than those killed daily in Palestine; yet the Syrian regime has proven with their latest deal Shawkat blood is more preccious than that of the other five officers. And maybe more than the entire country for that matter.
Abu Arab makes the case for the Syrian Regime very well. In effect, he is telling us that Bashar and the regime can do whatever they can get away with so long as Israel mistreats and kills Palestinians. You feel like killing the prime minister of a neighboring country because he is resisting your own policies in his country? No problem. Just assassinate him. If any one protests, we can just what is the big deal; Israel did the same to hamas leaders. The King of Jordan is getting on your nerves? Simple, Just kill him. Israel kills Palestinians so why can’t we take this guy out? Is his blood more “precious”? Oh and when I can justify killing a prime minister, who on earth is going to care or do anything about killing few of my citizens or throwing them in prison without a single court proceeding. After all, Israel does this every day to Palestinians. Please stop this pathetic tribal nonsense
YES and YES
Mr Harriri's blood is more precious than Dr. Bashar and Asef and Whole company.. Trust me on this. They killed the wrong man. they are Doomed..Thank you God
In my humble opion there are 2 possible explanations for letting Asef skip:
1) The Dktor sold out the country on a bunch of things and got a pass from Bush
2) Mehlis is so sure that he has trapped him that he can get away without Asef and still prove involvment on the highest level
I hope it is 2
We now learn that it was King Abdullah of S.Arabia that mediated the deal under which Bashar agreed to the Vienna deal. Al-Baath newspaper said the agreement was a result of “continued and uninterrupted contacts and visits by Arab and foreign dignitaries and a fruit of Syria’s heavy contacts with the world countries”. In reality, it was prince Bandar that secured the agreement. An Iranian envoy to S.Arabia was quoted telling its king that “the alliance between Syria and Iran is strong and historical but Syria is now in an ordeal and Iran is in a different ordeal”. Newsweek is running a story that Bush has authorized his Ambassador in Iraq to open a diplomatic dialogue with Iran as part of an effort to stem the insurgency. The Ambassador is quoted saying “I have been authorized by the President to engage the Iranians. There will be meetings, and that is also a departure and an adjustment”.
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It is becoming more interesting by the day. Syrian TV aired an interview with a man claiming he was offered $1.3 million by Saad Hariri to testify against top Syrian officials. Husam Taher Husam (the witness) claims he was offered a new ID and residency in France as well as cosmetic surgery.
The witness also claimed that the UN investigators told him to say that President Bashar threatened Hariri but he refused. He also alleged that the investigators told him to say that he was close to Asef but that he said “but I have never seen him in my whole life”.
Is it me only me that sees all this as signs of desperation from a regime that seems to be unraveling and imploding.
The The witness is a total BS show.
Yes the Regime is in a state of unraveling.
Don't know what this show meant for and for Whom?
DO YOU REMMBER SADDAM INFORMATION MINSTER?
FORM WHAT I READ AND SEE IN TV
HE IS BACK WORKING FOR THE ASSAD'S.
I am now 100% convinced that the regime is done. This is an ultimate sign of a complete collapse. Asef, Maher and even Bashar himself is on the verge of being implicated
I received this urgent news today: Maher Assad was taken to the hospital after a nervous breakdown.
What are you all trying to do, give Dr Josh a nervous breakdown?
.........and he cannot go to european hospital????? Oh my...poor guy.
We should give Dr. Landis a break, he was engaged to much in the past dreaming about a carrot cake. My tipp:
Kais has a good analyse
http://beirutbeltway.blogspot.com/
I will raise my flag... just like I always did!
I can see Syrian Flags everywhere... I should be happy!!! but when I think that the same ppl who are now raising Syrian flags like flyers, on their SVUs, Hummer(s) and Villas are the same ppl who raised the Baath flag since the 70s and lowered this very same Syrian Flag, and those are the ppl who will willingly raise any other flag... even the white one with 2 blue stripes!!!
Yes it is TREASON, they are traitors, THOSE who risk the future of a whole country [not mentioning that this country is SYRIA]... those who risk the economy of a whole country for years to come.. for the sake of few individuals... those who risk the lives of syrians in such a deadly confrontation with the whole PLANET for the sake of power and money!! Those are traitors... THOSE ARE TRAITORS!
I'm not talking about the past, I'm not taking about turning a floorishing economy into THIS! I'm not talking about turning a vibrant community into THIS! I'm not talking about an Emergency Law that's been humiliating ppl for 40 years... No, everything looks small and trivial when looking at what they're gambling about today... A FUTURE>>> 50 years to come.. that's what they're playing.. MY FUTURE, OUR FUTURE!!!
No Mr. Husam Husam.. these are NOT honorable ppl ur talking about... I donno if they killed Hariri... I DON'T CARE anymore, cause they're about to slaughter a whole country...
God, every asshole on this forum is pushing their own agenda with their obvious hatred for the regime (somewhat justified) and their hatred for Syria itself.
You guys are really dying to change the regime, sitting in Paris, London, or the US, but you are all just armchair losers and traitors, wishing that the government will collapse and the Americans/Israelis get their way, and then somehow things will get better. You guys are worse than Jumblatt and Siniora, siding with the Americans for free.
That said, if you guys are dismissing this Hussam Hussam witness as total BS and somehow a 'sign' that the regime is collapsing, you guys are just dreaming.
First of all, some of this guy's claims are verifiable, like his claims to have spoken to Jameel al Sayyed and accusing him of certain specific things. The existence of the car he speaks of can be tracked, and many other claims can be followed up on and verified.
Second, his claims are a very strong rally 'round the flag tools. They have put all Syrians inside Syria in line with the regime (the ones who will suffer from sanctions, not the idiots cheering for sanctions against Syria here).
if you guys want to see how honest Syrians (as opposed to most of you here, the allegedly 'highly-educated-affluent-expatriates') then you should go to Syria News and see how people are rallying around the flag.
Maybe I am just missing something but somebody explain for the slower ones why this new witness is a sign of desperation of the regime?
Is it possible this witness is for real? Why has everyone discounted this? I am chatting with a non-baathist educated friend in Syria who is telling me as if its a fact that this witness is for real. He says this is the same masked witness that was previously identified by Lebanon. He is the main guy.
What leads everyone to brush him aside as a fabrication of the regime??
I am not discounting anything right now--I can't tell u this is guy is for real. But please let me know why others seem sure that he is phony.
You fucking "Damascene Blood", if you are serious about the fucking flag, and if your fucking president, Bashar Assad is serious about Syria, and resistance as he claimed, then why is he not releasing Seif and his friends from jail right now? Why is he not releasing the thousands of Syrians who have rottened in his jails? Why are you silent about what Bashar fucking Assad is doing to the country?
Yes, I want the Americans to come to Syria and liberate it from the Baath and the Assad family today before tomorrow.
Syria should finally become openly pro-USA. I will be proud of Syria then.
Thank you very much!
JAM
You fucking Damscene Blood; For 35 years there was no flag but the Picture of your dictator Hafez Assad and his sons, and his statues every wehre on every corner or wall. Now you are talking of a Syrian flag?
What Syrian flag? I do nt recognize this fucking flag. This flag is not Syria's flag. It is a flag that Assad and Sadat and Saddam have chosen, vhanging the original flag.
Fuck the Assad flag.
JAM
Witness
I guess the above is part of the witness story for those who don't have any information.
**Release Riad Seif from Jail** YES
-Iraqi style 'liberation' in Syria NO
A Pro-America Syria one day I hope...but not while neocons are in power in the US because they don't won't let us now.
This fucking Assad is raising the "syrian" flag now?
What happened to the people who have been made to woeship his father and now him?
Do you mean that the personalization of the country Syria in the person of the dictator Assad has come to an end now, and Syrians will have a country to defend , not the dictator Assad?
JAM
JAM, you moron, calm down.
First of all, I'm no friend of Assad or the stupid Baath. So let's get the record straight here.
That said, I hate the fact that people like Seif are still in prison, and I hope he will be released soon.
But, I don't want your neo-con masters to invade my country and turn it into a 'democracy', like they did in Iraq.
You are a very simple person and you are obviously very emotional. You are still buying this crap about democracy and freedom. Quite sad. I would rather have Assad and his incompetent, slightly evil regime than an American puppet regime that will certainly treat Syrians like the US treats the Iraqis, or Israel treats the Palestinians.
I hope this will clear things up, because you are apparently an Ikhwanji with a vendetta against the regime?
You guys, proclaiming to be opposed to the regime, have not provided any alternatives in plans, government, or people. You are intellectually bankrupt and are just trying to change one party (the Alawis) with another, equally corrupt one (Ikhwan, Liberals, US-Israel-Worshippers, etc.), and guess what, the Syrian people are not buying any of your crap.
Maybe the Syrian people do not have it as bad as you guys claim? yes there is poverty, but the whole world has poverty, and 'democracy' doesn't somehow remove that. Yes there is corruption, but guess what, those 'democratic' US allies in the ME are as corrupt-or more corrupt- than Syria (check www.transparency.org). Guess what, most Syrians love to follow politics, but very few want to get involved.
People like you simply do not represent, or speak for, the Syrian Street.
You fucking Damascene Blood made me laugh so hard with what you wrote above.
I know the Syrian street, and the Syrian street is very secretive, and no one dares telling people like you how they feel.
You know the Syrians were waiting and excited that the US might come to Syria after Iraq right away, and they were very disappointed when the Americans screwed up there, and did not have enough troops to accomplish the mission without resorting to more violence to compensate for their small number.
You are a true Assadist. Ask God for forgiveness!
JAM
I don't recognise DamasceneBlood from earlier postings. If it's not an imposter, please go back and re-read what you have written in the past. I just did, and it's really excellent and inspiring stuff. Not like this. It's not reasonable and rational to accuse anyone of hatred and contempt for Syrians and Syria except its "leaders".
JAM, first of all, stop using the F word, it just shows how low your level is.
Also, notice how you haven't presented any counter-arguments. Just name-calling and claiming that you somehow know what the Syrian people 'really' want, but are afraid to voice.
I travel to Syria every year, and my family lives there. I have seen very few people in Syria who want the Americans to come. Most just want to live in peace, and they want the US/Israel to stay away.
As I said, I am no friend of Assad, but apparently, your reading comprehension is like that of a 3rd grade kid in special-ed with an IQ of 20.
""""""As I said, I am no friend of Assad, but apparently, your reading comprehension is like that of a 3rd grade kid in special-ed with an IQ of 20.""""""" Damascene Blood
""""""""""Maybe the Syrian people do not have it as bad as you guys claim? yes there is poverty, but the whole world has poverty, and 'democracy' doesn't somehow remove that. Yes there is corruption, but guess what, those 'democratic' US allies in the ME are as corrupt-or more corrupt- than Syria (check www.transparency.org). """"""" Damascene Blood.
You are an enemy of Assad. It is evident!
Hahahahah
JAM
ActiveListener
Yes, I am accusing those drooling as Syria is being sent down this hell-hole of being opportunistic, mentally bankrupt, and armchair regime-change-wannabes.
I think I am correct in my assessment. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but when these guys cheer and drool as Syria is being pressured to give-in and kneel before Israel and let go of everything, these guys show their true colors: they are not after the well-being of the Syrian people, just change for the sake of change. No matter the consequences. That is just stupid and unacceptable.
thank you for being an Active Listener ;)
Is DB a Mukhabarat working from the "Amn Sisai" and getting paid to post? I am sure
Yabrood
LOL, good one. Yeah, I am Amn Siasi: The US Branch.
JAM
I don't see how saying that there is corruption in other countries makes me a supporter of the Assad regime??? your logic is really lacking here. Trying again...
'kan gheirak ashtar'
Dam.Blood, I think it would be a mistake to rely on an accurate reading of the Syrian Street. As I wrote in earlier posts, the regime’s indoctrination policies that kick into gear the day a child is born have done an incredible job at poisoning the brain of the vast majority of the people. As to why people outside feel differently, I had also wrote to Dr. Landis that it would be shocking if they did not think and act differently. People like you and others on this post find it hard to let go of your nationalistic feelings while you find it deplorable for others to do the same. You and others keep talking about not wanting a Neocon. Controlled America achieve their aims and are willing to trade off this possibility with a regime that you admit is bad but you somehow seem to accept as inevitable. Sir, of course it is hard to admit that you need a powerful country like the US help people get rid of their regime, but this is the undeniable truth. You have to be intellectually honest and not fall into emotional confusion. You have to first come to terms with the fact that this regime’s record has been a complete failure on every single count. No sensible person can credibly defend a shameful record like this. When you spend enough time going over all aspects of this record, you then have to convince yourself that this country deserves better. Few can hopefully disagree. The hard part for you is what come next and how does it happen? I grant you that were not for America there is the inevitable probability that Hafez Junior would be our next President. I think the America hating that most Arab minds are programmed minds are trained to do is the obstacle that your mind finds very difficult to overcome. Syria needs a change yesterday. America is the only country that will make this happened. Palestine and their problems are not my concern as a Syrian. Over the years, Arab politicians made huge mistakes. I don’t want generations of Syrians pay the price with senseless devotion to the so-called Arab cause. I want the Syrian cause and Syrian standards of living. In a way not changing the regime is akin to letting Syria to continue to fall into the abyss. People calling for change have the Syrian man in the street in mind. I for one will resist the Ikhwan from ever taking over. I trust my Syrian brothers and sisters will do the same.
The dummy asked me not to use the F word.
hahaha
I say to him that I can not accept any of the Assad proponents as a human being. They are evidently not human beings and I have absolutely no desire to engage with them in any respectful discussion. They can not be treated as human beings.
For 5 years since Bashar Assad inherited his power, all oppositions have been trying to reason with him, while praising him, and impressing upon him few nice adjectives such as the "young" president, and the western Eduacated", etc...but the more they bowed to him and praised him, the more severe he was with them, and the more of his savagery was shown to them, by killing the,, or putting them in unbearable prison cells.
So, the F word is the least I can use to throw words to these creatures.
JAM
The LIONS are already MEOWING!!!!!
Ehsani2
Thank you for your thoughtful post, as opposed to JAM and other low-lives.
Frankly, yes, I have nationalistic pride towards Syria. I don't think that is wrong. I was never brainwashed by the Baath, as I always hated them, even while in school in Syria.
However, we Syrians who care about Syria are faced with a conundrum: support the US/Israeli plan (you know they are inseparable), or just keep the status quo.
People in Iraq hated the terrible Saddam regime, but as you can see, what they got is anything but better.
Frankly, if the Swiss or the Norweigians were pushing for a change in Syria, I would be the first to support it, and you'll see a lot of Syrians doing the same. It is those who are working on change (the neocons who have Israel's interests in minds) that are not acceptable to us. We all know that Syria deserves better, and the 'Better Winds' don't blow from Washington or Tel Aviv.
You are wrong. Studying in school in Syira means the poison found its way to your brain cells even though you don't want to admit it. Your brain is trained to hate America and associate it with bad and evil. If you read your own words, Israel is always prominent in your cells as well. Norway or Switzerland is not coming to do the change. America went to liberate Europe during WW2. Think what the world would like today if people in Europe thought with the same nationalistic one dimensional thinking that you are doing today. America is not doing this because they love you and me. Their own national interests happened to coincide with the interests of the average Syrian citizen. It is a shame not to take this opportunity, because the truth is that you will not be presented with a similar oppoutunity like this again in your lifetime. The regime wants you to think of the infamous CD. You have to be smarter
The for sure Mukhabarat guy calling himself DB, I want you all to notice how he is preaching civility to JAM when he was the one who started the insults against all the posters on this forum by calling all the posters "ass holes" just before JAM replied to him. This is what he said:
((( At Monday, November 28, 2005, DamasceneBlood said...
God, every asshole on this forum is pushing their own agenda with their obvious hatred for the regime (somewhat justified) and their hatred for Syria itself.
You guys are really dying to change the regime, sitting in Paris, London, or the US, but you are all just armchair losers and traitors)))
Then he spoke of the flag at Syria-news, but what is funny is that Karfun had described seeing the lifting of the flag few posts before him, and he described it in a beautiful way, very opposite to what this so called DB did.
When you preach civility to others, you must practice it, Mr. DB. I am sure that JAM started describing you with fucking DB in direct response to your insulting every body just above his first post here. I have followed JAM's posts for a long time, and this is the first time he shows his despise to any one on this forum, and I too say that I despise you and if I will argue with you about anything, I will not be civil or polite for you do not deserve it. You are the moron!
This is 2005, the world of blogs and satellite TV. Just pray for the average Syrian's sake that the world keeps taking any kind of interest in Syria. And it will, but probably only as long as America keeps glancing in Syria's direction. As I've said before on this forum, if you want to know what an internally generated (and externally ignored) massive vortex of blood and staggering hellish misery looks like, take an hour to read up on Algeria in the 90s. Large-scale random massacres by the army disguised as the work of Islamist fanatics and vice-versa, assassinations of anyone who even looked like an "intellectual" and so on and so on. Nobody even dared to visit the place for years, it just rotted.
Yabrood
you and JAM are low-lives who do not deserve to be treated with civility. My insult was towards those who hate Syria and have their own agenda, if you are one of them, then that insult is for you, otherwise it's not.
You have no arguments to speak of, only lame accusations of me being a paid agent and hate. You can hate me all you want. You are obviously channeling your hate for Syria towards me. Hate all you want, I don't hate you, I just feel sorry for you, because you can't go beyond name-calling and hate and present one argument. You are like the 3antari Syrian who gets all manly from the first accusing words, but chickens away when presented with argument, or force. Get lost. I don't care about you or your pet friends, and I don't want to go down to your very low level.
Ehsani2
I'm sorry, but it is simplistic to compare this with what the Americans did in Europe. Syria is not occupied by the Nazis or their likes, but Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine are occupied by Israel. I don't think you can argue with that. For your WW2 analogy to work, the US has to come and liberate us from Israel.
America's national interests at the moment do not coincide with you & me, they coincide with Israel. I know you will say that it's my hatred towards Israel CD that keeps playing in my head. Yes, I hate Israel, and my hate is justified, given how Israelis treat the Palestinians, I just don't get the feeling they are friendly to you and me. I am sure you read 'A Clean Break' and you are aware that what the US is doing now is basically fighting a proxy war for Israel, nothing more, nothing less. If you deny this, then we are disagreeing on the basic premise, and we should each go our separate way...
For sure you meant Ehsani among those who "hate" Syria.
(((You guys are really dying to change the regime, sitting in Paris, London, or the US, but you are all just armchair losers and traitors)))
Well, Jam or I had no post above your post you fucking low life DB, who then were the ones you were insulting and attacking ?
What about you are all losers? Again, the thread is still here. The posts above your insulting posts belonged to BP and Ehsani. Who else? I or Jam had not posted before your insult. The evidence is still here.
Now go and get fucked.
Oh, and one more thing. The US is not really looking for true 'democracy', I just don't see it happening. The US is interested in weak, puppet regimes that are friendly towards Israel and US interests in the region. These interests include the subjugation of our economy to the IMF and the Multi-national corproations. Syria is not yet integrated well into the global economy, and that's a big no-no for the globalists. I don't know if you're aware of Kissinger's views of uniting the world under one government, by creating 7 regional blocks that eventually answer to one authority. He even wrote a book about it, I suggest you look it up.
Syria isn't called a rogue state for nothing, and the Syrian regime's struggle against this integration is real, not just a conspiracy in the minds of our paranoid leaders.
Either way, probably I should remind you of Chile, where the Chileans elected Allende in the 80s democratically, only to have the US Marines invade the country and install their own puppet.
When asked about it, Kissinger proclaimed: "the Chilean people are not ready for democracy yet, and they don't know what's best for them".
I think that pretty much sums up the American view of democracy. Any talk of ideals and freedom is pure BS.
Hey DamasceneBlood stop wasting your breath with these so called educated Syrians.
It is easy to chant freedom freedom, democracy, democracy .American bombs won't fall on their heads. It is we the Syrians who live inside the country who will die while these pathetic morons will be watching from Aljazeer and CNN crying the crocodile tears.
The can scream and say the F word as loud as they like but we (Syrians who live in Syria) will dictate what will happen to our country.Please don't call me regime lover; someone whom his father and brothers got imprisoned and tortured by the regime can’t be regime lover
Yabroud
if you weren't insulted by this, then STFU and go to hell. No one stepped on your tail and asked you to defend him.
"Either way, probably I should remind you of Chile, where the Chileans elected Allende in the 80s democratically, only to have the US Marines invade the country and install their own puppet."
heheheheh
This crazy is comparing Allende, the Elected leader with the dictator of Syria who thought that he owned Syria and can pass it to his children as a farm, for ever!
Where did he inherit such a brain from?
Defend who, crazy DB?
I am stating the obvious. You started calling every body who disagreed with you, every body as "asshole", and "you are all losers, and traitors".
Be consistent you, son of Mukhabarat, DB.
shamee
some of those so-called educated Syrians are neither educated nor Syrian. They are separated from reality and cheer change by no other than the Neocons. They think Bush, Rumsfeld, Bolton, Wurmser, Feith, and Netenyahu will somehow bring them freedom and democracy.
Look guys, you can hate the regime all you want, but associating your selves with the Zionists and the Neocons is no way to win support in Syria.
Yabrood
it's funny how people like you and JAM keep throwing insults left and right. Try to at least make a single reasoned argument. I don't think you're even capable of that.
as for me mentioning Allende, I wasn't comparing him to Assad, I was just showing how American democracy works: we put whom we like in power, but apparently you are too dumb to get it.
-sigh-
If you guys want to beleive that Asif is excluded from Mehlis interogation then there could be two justifications to that:
1-He is not Guilty and his name was inserted by the Americans to mount the pressure on Syia and particularly Asad's family
2- He is Guilty and excluded from the interogation. If so, this should lead us to a conclusion that Mehlis and the Americans are conspiring and agreed to exclude him because the Americans finally got what they need from Syria(Iraqi boarders, terrorism and etc..)? Which also means that the whole Mehlis report was based on Mr Mehlis vision through the Americans Eyes??
The above (2) if true means that you guys are betting on a loosing horse, i.e The Americans leaders. This also proves that they don't care nethier about you nor about the Syrian people and their democracy, and most important about Mr Harrir's blood (the interogation case).
When I mentioned the comparison between Mr Hariri's blood with the Palestinan's blood in my previous comment, I just wnated to remind you all that, as a democracy and freedom fighters, you may also need to spice your comments up with Israeli's crimes. Not because The Arab regims are corrupted means that Israel is Honest and peacful and all what happened is just becuase of the Arabs corrupted regimes. That's not trur, i think that Israel has a great deal of poisoning our life.
Ehsani2
Ok, I'll play your game for a moment and go with regime change by Bush & Co. Could you please elucidate to me how you think this will play out? will it be peaceful or will there be bloodshed? what kind of gov. do you see replacing the current regime (as brought by the US)?
Yes, I think the Syrians are afraid of change by the US because it has a big "?" on it. I don't think the Americans have a solid plan if the regime falls, and people fear what they don't know.
If you could enlighten us on how things might play out post-Assad maybe we wouldn't be so afraid...
Life will teach the Assad and his ilks the lesson Saddam is still learning.
If Saddam was a Just man, applying justice, and sincere toward his people, not exploiting them and promoting his children to abuse them and making Iraq his private firm, he could have withstood American pressure or any other pressure, and no foreign power could do him any harm. The same applies exactly to Assad and Syria. We see that Cuba or Venezuela are not the easy target for America, and their leaders stand tall, and do not bow to any pressure, unlike Syria or Iraq's Saddam. For Saddam accepted the humiliation of his country and his people for 13 years, accepting all conditions from the outside just to stay in power and because he knew he was not a Just man and his people hated him, he could not say No to anything demnded from Iraq. The same applies to Syria and Assad.
Injustice is what the dictator of Syria is all about. It is the Injustice in the final analysis that will decide the fate of the dictatorship in Syria vis a vis the people. The people will not stand with the dictator. Also, had Syria had a leader tied to the people like the Venezuelan one, it is evident that he would not bow to any foreign demand.
The Assads will fall. Their memory will be that of the most atrocious men in the history of mankind, and they deserve nothing but being despised for what they did and what they are all about.
JAM
Just for the record, I think what the Israelis and the Americans are aiming for is the Balkanization of the ME: small, ethnic nation-states who can barely survive without international help. I think the coming years will prove that this is the correct assessment. Just wait and see. We're gonna have 3 Iraqs to start with, then Kurdistan will expand into Syria, while the Druze get their own nation in the south, and Lebanon will be further divided into Sunni, Shia, and Christian mini-nations.
We are facing a new Sykes-Picot that will make us even weaker and more humiliated. This is the democracy the US is working for.
The same CD is being played again: Israel mistreats the Palestinians, therefore, it is alright for the Syrians to accept being mistreated by their dictator.
Syria will be liberated in the very near future.
JAM
no, JAM, you need to listen better: The CD says that Israel mistreats the Palestinians, the US mistreats everyone, therefore, it is naive to expect the US to not mistreat us, therefore, we are better off without them. Assad & Co. are not the issue here, the issue is those coming to take their place: are they any better? it just doesn't seem that way.
I have to agree with Damasceneblood, its true we are now infornt of new M.E map, where Israel is the most powerful state in the region at all levels including population number.
its the American who started this ugly war between Suni's and Shia'ats & Kurds in Iraq, and they are the ones who will start it again in Syria and Lebanon.
There is a major difference between having corrupted governments (which come and go in history)and having a divided society which will eventually and permanantly lead to a corrupted nations, civil wars and under the threat of dispose.
Some one said this:
"""Just for the record, I think what the Israelis and the Americans are aiming for is the Balkanization of the ME: small, ethnic nation-states who can barely survive wit