Tens Of Thousands Syrian Pro Govt Protesters.

[Guest Stefan]

How did they figure out that the video was made in Iraq ?

[pedroali 10]

ComicalAli should go back to school maybe. I asked where is the video of the ATTACK on the students in the school. Surely some of the teachers must of had a camera phone or video camera in the school?. Why not record the attack?. If peoples accounts alone are now sufficient evidence of an event as having taken place, well then that rule applies equally to people accounts in any country, or only in Bahrain?

yes im sure as army stormed the school people were just pointing phones ''sigh'' the teachers students(with bruises) issued a press release,you simpleton..and any discussion on syria or bahrain or saudi is each a seperate issue,you would know that if you were from the region,or even an informed westerner..different players,parties,politics,culture,etc...ps btw can you give me a few sources where u get you news,,besides ridicullous reuters?name me 10 of ur own sources..for the middle east pls,i dare you LMAOOO

[satyaban 188]

The World from Berlin

'Assad Has Proven His Regime is Incapable of Reform'

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has sent in tanks to crush the pro-democracy protests, in a sign that he has abandoned all pretense at reforming his regime, German media commentators say. Even though the pillars of his administration remain intact, his days could well be numbered.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad showed he is

bent on crushing the pro-democracy protests by force after troops and tanks fired on protesters in the southern city of Deraa on Monday. Deraa is where the uprising against his autocratic 11-year rule started a month ago. On Monday, human rights groups said security forces had killed a total of 350 people since the protests began, and that a third of the victims were killed in the past three days.

The White House, deploring "brutal violence used by the government of Syria against its people," said President Barack Obama's administration was considering targeted sanctions to make clear that "this behavior is unacceptable." Assad lifted Syria's 48-year state of emergency last Thursday. But activists say the violence since then shows he is not serious about meeting demands for political freedom.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle appealed to Assad to respect human rights and warned that the pro-democracy movements across the Arab world were at risk of failing.

'Outrageous Use of Violence'

He told Bild newspaper in an interview published on Tuesday: "Those who think the revolutions in our neighborhood have already been completed are mistaken. We Europeans must take bold action to make sure the Arab spring is followed by a summer -- and doesn't return to winter. I am very worried about the violence in Syria and urgently call on President Assad to respect human rights."

In recent weeks, Western criticism of Assad's crackdown had initially been hesitant, partly because of fears that a collapse of his minority Alawite rule in the majority Sunni country would lead to civil war. But the sharp increase in violence since the end of last week has prompted fierce condemnation. On Friday, Obama urged Assad to stop the "outrageous use of violence to quell protests."

At the United Nations, Britain, France, Germany and Portugal have asked the Security Council to condemn the crackdown and urge restraint by the government. But it is unclear whether Russia and China will support the idea.

German media commentators say Assad has missed his opportunity to reform his regime and that his own days are likely to be numbered. If the demonstrations and the killings go on, the army will eventually become divided or turn against him, say German editorialists.

Center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung writes:

"Syria's president has torn down all bridges by ordering his army to attack the city of Deraa. After the most recent orgy of violence, reforms and a peaceful settlement with the opposition are hardly imaginable. Now Bashar al-Assad can only hope that his soldiers will quickly crush the nationwide revolt. The man in the presidential palace is likely to know what the alternative to such a bloody victory would be: The end of his regime and revenge against him and his followers."

"Assad lacks the political imagination to deal with the uprising. That proves his regime is incapable of reform."

"Syria's officers may be loyal to the Assad regime and may keep firing on the opposition for the time being. But in the end, every army consists of citizens with families. If the killing goes on, officers and ordinary troops may start to ask themselves for whom they are shooting at their compatriots. That could end in the army becoming divided or launching a coup. The latter has a precedent in Syria: it's how Assad's father came to power."

Left-wing Berliner Zeitung writes:

"Dictators are fairly powerless against peaceful demonstrators, not least because people sympathize with the protestors, which enables them to mobilize the masses in their countries. Assad has recognized the danger. He is trying to radicalize the revolution with tanks and snipers. His calculation is that if his troops keep firing at them, they will fire back at some point. That would mark the end of the revolution and the start of a civil war. The regime would be facing a minority of armed rebels. That would mean Assad could stay in office. His country would sink into chaos but he could remain in the presidential palace. The international community is largely sidelined. But we shouldn't stop criticizing the violence and praising the demonstrators for their courage."

Conservative Die Welt writes:

"The Syrian modus vivendi -- the Alawites govern and the Sunnis do business -- is unsuitable for the future. The Sunni majority is demanding a political say. The Syrian president is to blame for having failed to recognize this and to respond in time. His people didn't want to topple him, they just wanted more freedom. But Assad missed his chance to grant it. His speech to the pseudo-parliament was amateurish, silly and foolish. It's only now that the Syrians want to get rid of him and his nepotistic power apparatus, and he's no longer in control of events."

"The most important pillars of his rule are still intact -- the administration carried by the military, the security forces and the Baath party with its informal network of patronage relationships. But for how long? When will regime members start to distance themselves from him? The 'benevolent dictator' has lost his innocence. It seems to be only a matter of time before he loses power as well."

Left-wing Frankfurter Rundschau writes:

"The world is appalled at how a further Arab regime is resorting to gunfire to crush a revolution by people yearning for freedom. The confrontation is escalating. In Deraa, tanks and infantry are firing at everything that moves in the streets. The chance for political compromises that could calm the enraged citizens has been missed. More than 120 deaths from bullets fired by the government killers -- no wonder the people don't trust Assad or his supposed readiness to refom. They will go for broke now because they know such a system of power cannot be reformed."

[Ya Aba 3abdillah 1,717]

[Akritas 26]

I hate spoil all the fun of the good ole shouting match and trying to figure out who took what low quality shots of people milling around and yelling, so forgive me for butting in. But you do realize there is no contradiction whatever between the ideas that a lot of Syrians want political reforms of various natures that they probably don't agree on themselves, a lot of Syrians are afraid of what might happen if the government totally collapses and the idea that a variety of foreign powers and the Saudis in particular are trying to get any political advantage from the situation they can? I happen to believe all three are very likely.

[satyaban 188]

I think I am seeing a relationship here .Iran and Syria are allies. Syria does not beat down, jail, and kill demonstrators because Iran does not beat down, jail, and kill demonstrators. Therefore some who support Iran are also trying to discredit news reports about Syria's butchery. Are those taking to the streets in Deera and Duma Shia, Sunni, other sects or an aggregate?

[ali313 82]

'US at risk of war with China, Russia'

Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:10AM

The US is at the risk of a war with Russia and China as its main objective behind engineering the Libyan war and Syrian unrest is to remove the two world powers out of the Mediterranean, a former US official warns.

"Washington is all for invading against Libya and is putting more and more pressure to intervene in Syria because we want to ... clear China and Russia out of the Mediterranean," Paul Craig Roberts, former assistant secretary to US Treasury in Panama City said in an interview with Press TV.

On one hand, China has massive energy investments in eastern Libya and is relying on Libya and on the other hand, Russia has a large naval base in Syria and it gives it a presence in the Mediterranean, he pointed out.

"Those two countries are just in the way of American hegemony in the Mediterranean and certainly the Americans do not want a powerful Russian fleet stationed there and they certainly don't want China drawing energy resources," Roberts added.

"Once Russia and China come to the conclusion that the Americans simply cannot be dealt with it in any rational way and are determined to somehow subdue them and do them damage, all kinds of escalations can result. This is the real danger and we're risking a major war," the former senior US official cautioned.

Meanwhile, the US does not want to overthrow the governments in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, where both governments are using violence against protesters "Because they're our puppets and we have a large naval base in Bahrain," Roberts argued.

Many civilians have reportedly been killed since the US-led coalition unleashed a major air campaign against Libya's regime forces on March 19 under a UN mandate to protect the Libyan population.

According to Libya's National Transitional Council, since the revolution against Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi's regime began in mid-February at least 10,000 people have been killed and another 30,000 injured in clashes with pro-Gaddafi forces in the North African country, while 20,000 more are still listed as missing.

Elsewhere in Syria, scattered protests have broken out since mid-March. Several people have reportedly been killed in clashes between security forces and armed groups.

Roberts argued that "Washington was caught off guard by the outbreaks of protests in Tunisia and Egypt, but quickly learned that they could use and hide behind Arab protests to evict Russia and China without a direct confrontation ... so they've engineered these protests."

In recent months, a wave of revolutions and anti-government uprisings has swept the Arab world.

In January, a revolution in Tunisia ended the 23-year ruling of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

In February, another revolution led to the ouster of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after three decades of authoritarian rule.

Other revolutions have erupted in Yemen and Bahrain, while more anti-government upheavals have swept Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait and Algeria.

Meanwhile, more Arab countries are expected to witness similar revolts.

Video:

http://www.presstv.i...ail/176960.html

Edited April 27, 2011 by ali313

[Akritas 26]

Well, I'll give him points for being creative anyway.

[Thurston 357]

Robert Fisk: If the rumours and conspiracies are true, then President Assad's regime is on the road to civil war

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-if-the-rumours-and-conspiracies-are-true-then-president-assads-regime-is-on-the-road-to-civil-war-2275155.html

[Irishman 6]

Well, I'll give him points for being creative anyway.

Surprised PressTV left the part in about the Russian Naval base in Syria. Does not get as much coverage as the US one in Bahrain.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20100802/160041427.html

16:21 02/08/2010

Russia's naval supply and maintenance site near Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartus will be modernized to accommodate heavy warships after 2012, the Russian Navy chief said on Monday.

What does Syria want Russians to have Naval base in Syria. The same Russians who slaughtered hundred of thousand of Muslims in Chechnya after the false flag apartment bombings in Moscow. The same Russians who occupy stolen land in Kaliningrad.

Please explain Mr. Putin why Russia has land so far from its own country. Please explain Mr. Assad why you let murdering Russians who occupy stolen land in Europe to have Naval base in Syria. No wonder Syrians are angry with ASSad.

[Thurston 357]

^

the difference is Russia doesn't go around lecturing everyone on human rights around the world - but certain countries in the west do and extend this to intervention when its in its interest. see the difference.

[Basra 43]

^

the difference is Russia doesn't go around lecturing everyone on human rights around the world - but certain countries in the west do and extend this to intervention when its in its interest. see the difference.

Also Wikileaks has revealed that the alleged "protests" (armed CIA rebel gunmen attacking Syrian civilians and Syrian security forces) have been and are all funded by the Amerikkkan government and the CIA.

http://www.examiner.com/foreign-policy-in-national/wikileaks-cable-reveals-us-funneling-millions-into-syria-opposition-group Wikileaks cable reveals US funneling millions into Syria opposition group

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=24375 U.S. secretly backed Syrian opposition groups: Cables released by WikiLeaks show

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=24016 Media Disinformation: The Protest Movement in Syria

Western Media Coverage of the Events in Daraa by Michel Chossudovsky

Quote- The Israel National News Report on the same event

(Israel National News, Arutz Sheva, not particularly pro-Syria)

Syria: Seven Police Killed, Buildings Torched in Protests

by Gavriel Queenann

Seven police officers and at least four demonstrators in Syria have been killed in continuing violent clashes that erupted in the southern town of Daraa last Thursday.

end quote.

This is an Amerikkkan attempt at overthrowing the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad because it supports the resistance bloc against Amerikkkan-Zionist imperialism and neo-colonialism in the Middle East region. This is yet another of the new contra "wars" (or covert actions) the imperialist Amerikkkans are launching just like Libya wherein they are using openly "al-Qaeda" aka al-CIA-duh pawn fighters to go after their old foe the pan-Africanist, anti-imperialist leader Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. It should be clear as day now that "al-Qaeda" aka al-CIA-duh is a pawn of the evil imperialist Amerikkkan government. Why else would the imperialist Amerikkkans work with, fund, and arm admittedly "al-Qaeda" aka al-CIA-duh fighters when they had Muammar Gaddafi who was a strong opponent against al-CIA-duh (and openly expressed that he wanted to work with the Amerikkkan imperialists against "al-Qaeda" aka al-CIA-duh: apparently Gaddafi didn't realize al-CIA-duh is an Amerikkkan front group). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8407047/Libyan-rebel-commander-admits-his-fighters-have-al-Qaeda-links.html Libyan rebel commander admits his fighters have al-Qaeda links

Reality that the Western mainstream Zionist owned and controlled media doesn't tell you: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/172060.html Syrians rally to support Assad

Edited April 27, 2011 by Basra

[pedroali 10]

Surprised PressTV left the part in about the Russian Naval base in Syria. Does not get as much coverage as the US one in Bahrain.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20100802/160041427.html

16:21 02/08/2010

Russia's naval supply and maintenance site near Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartus will be modernized to accommodate heavy warships after 2012, the Russian Navy chief said on Monday.

What does Syria want Russians to have Naval base in Syria. The same Russians who slaughtered hundred of thousand of Muslims in Chechnya after the false flag apartment bombings in Moscow. The same Russians who occupy stolen land in Kaliningrad.

Please explain Mr. Putin why Russia has land so far from its own country. Please explain Mr. Assad why you let murdering Russians who occupy stolen land in Europe to have Naval base in Syria. No wonder Syrians are angry with ASSad.

i guess the concept of bilateral relation between nations,and shared cooperation agreements wich included economic and military are alien concepts to ''irishfraud'' LoL booga booga the russians they are too far from its own broders,how dare they set up joint bases with countries wich have mutual relations somebody call glen beck back n fox news and spread the enws,irishfraud has figured out an evil conspiracy at work uhauhuhauhauhauh :wacko:

[Basra 43]

i guess the concept of bilateral relation between nations,and shared cooperation agreements wich included economic and military are alien concepts to ''irishfraud'' LoL booga booga the russians they are too far from its own broders,how dare they set up joint bases with countries wich have mutual relations somebody call glen beck back n fox news and spread the enws,irishfraud has figured out an evil conspiracy at work uhauhuhauhauhauh :wacko:

lol good points and Wikileaks has revealed the imperialist Amerikkkan hand in these alleged "protests" in Syria (which are armed CIA gangs looting and killing Syrian people and security forces); just like what happened in 2009 in Iran with some deluded CIA pawn/thugs looting.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/2218623/George-W-Bush-raised-400-million-for-action-against-Iran.html George W Bush 'raised $400 million for action against Iran': The White House has been reported to have secretly stepped up covert operations inside Iran with the aim of destablising its leadership.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1552784/Bush-sanctions-black-ops-against-Iran.html Bush sanctions 'black ops' against Iran "President George W Bush has given the CIA approval to launch covert "black" operations to achieve regime change in Iran, intelligence sources have revealed."

Edited April 27, 2011 by Basra

[Akritas 26]

Please explain Mr. Putin why Russia has land so far from its own country. Please explain Mr. Assad why you let murdering Russians who occupy stolen land in Europe to have Naval base in Syria. No wonder Syrians are angry with ASSad.

If anyone is interesting the actual historical reason, the USSR took the former Koenigsberg (now the Russian Kaliningrad) as a mostly ice free port on the Baltic after WWII. It was included in the Russian SSR for reasons I forget and since when the USSR broke up all the SSR's became independent countries Kaliningrad went with Russia even though it isn't geographically next to the rest of Russia. Aside from the initial annexation and ethnic cleansing (it was mostly German before WWII, now it is almost totally ethnic Russian) there is nothing remotely sinister about it. Though to be honest, every nation in central Europe ethnically cleansed its German populations after WWII. You'd have to pretty much totally re-write the borders and ethnic make-up of the region to go back. What goes around comes around I guess.

[pedroali 10]

SYRIAWATCH-SPINALERT- Uruk.net - Friends or Foes, Syria's Neighbours Wary of Assad's Ouster http://uruknet.com/?p=m77175&hd=&size=1&l=e

More likely, Bashar will continue what biographer David Lesch, a Syria scholar at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, called a "bipolar policy" of alternating minimal concessions with outbursts of lethal force. Opposition groups will continue to challenge the government and the ties that have bound Syrians to the Assad family for four decades will fray and eventually disappear.

Augustus R. Norton, a Middle East expert at Boston University, predicts "a gradual cooling" of Syria's three-decade-old alliance with Shiite Iran, rather than a sudden break.Many Israeli officials prefer the secular devil they know to a successor regime that might have a more ideological and Islamic character. While Syria has supported Hamas and Hezbollah, the Israeli- Syrian border has remained quiet, enabling Israelis to enjoy their homes and wineries in the Golan.

Farideh Farhi, an Iran expert at the University of Hawaii, told a conference at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. on Monday that Iran is "trying to play a subtle game" in Syria and banking on the fact that the Syrian government and the Syrian people "have the same position on Israel".

-------------------------------------------------------

[WHERE TO BEGIN WHERE TO BEGIN HEHEHE,LETS START WITH THESE SO CALLED EXPERTS,THEIR CREDENTIALS,THEIR UNKNOWN TIES TO OTHER GROUPS SHALL WE?=)

David Lesch- Dr. Lesch was also president of Middle East International Business Associates, Inc., a consulting company that facilitated business opportunities in the Middle East for American companies--among his clients were a number of Fortune 500 corporations. http://www.trinity.edu/departments/history/html/faculty/lesch.htm

----------------------------------

Lesch has also met on a regular basis since 2004 with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad and consulted with Bush and Obama administration officials on an on-going basis in high-level attempts to improve US-Syrian relations(as if bush sought to improve relations LoL) The university has many lecture series, such as the high profile Trinity Distinguished Lecture Series http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_University_(Texas) George H.W. Bush (former Trustee of the University)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Augustus Richard Norton - http://www.bu.edu/ir/faculty/alphabetical/norton/

He has held academic appointments at New York University and the United States Military Academy. In 2006 he was an adviser to the Iraq Study Group (Baker-Hamilton Commission). In the 1990s he headed a widely-cited three-year project funded by the Ford Foundation that examined state-society relations in the Middle East.He is also a Visiting Professor in Politics of the Middle East at the University of Oxford and a Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies

-----------------------------

(known ORIENTALIST CENTER see..Subverting Islam: The Role of Orientalist Centres http://www.imamreza.net/eng/imamreza.php?print=3814 I OWN BOOK PERSONALLY AND THE CENTER IS A FRONT ORIENTALIST GROUP FUNDED BY SAUDIS)(ALSO DID YOU CATCH WHAT HE SAID? [''the Israeli- Syrian border has remained quiet, enabling Israelis to enjoy their homes and wineries in the Golan.''] CAN YOU IMAGINE?THATS WHAT HE SAYS ISRAELIS ARE DOING IN GOLAN ''ENJOYING WINE!!! ; )

--------------------------------------------------

Farideh Farhi - Advisory Board http://www.niacouncil.org/site/PageServer?pagename=About_farhi

She has been a recipient of grants from the United States Institute of Peace and the Rockefeller Foundation and was most recently a Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She has also worked as a consultant for the World Bank and the International Crisis Group.

-----------------------------------------

[NEED I SAY ANYMORE? I COULD DIG MUCH MUCH FURTHER,BUT THIS IS ENOUGH TO SEE WHO'S NARRATING EVENTS ;) URUK.NET UR GARBAGE,STOP PUSHING GARBAGE,AND GLOBALIST [Edited Out]...YOU ARE DISGUSTING,YOU WANNA BE GATEKEEPER!!!ALSO SEE URUK PARROT,CIA, RAN MEDIA OUTLETS ON SYRIA AND MUCH MORE http://urukexposed.blogspot.com/AND http://syriafalseflag.blogspot.com/2011/04/syria-false-flag.html

-------------------------------------------

SYRIA WATCH-LETS LOOK AT WHO'S NARRATING EVENTS FROM GLOBALIST MEDIA OUTLETS!!! http://thenakedfacts.blogspot.com/2011/04/syria-watch-lets-look-at-whos-narrating.html SYRIA WATCH- The “Arab Spring”: Heritage Foundation http://thenakedfacts.blogspot.com/2011/04/syria-watch-arab-spring-heritage.html

DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND ,THAT SOME BARELY SLEEP?DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND THERE ARE WTACHFULL EYES LIKE MINE DOCUMENTING THEIR EVERY STEP?HAS THE GLOBALIST ZIONIST MDIA FORGOT ,THAT WE ARE UNRELENTLESS WHEN IT COMES TO EXPOSING THEM?

[Schrodinger 29]

What does Syria want Russians to have Naval base in Syria. The same Russians who slaughtered hundred of thousand of Muslims in Chechnya after the false flag apartment bombings in Moscow. The same Russians who occupy stolen land in Kaliningrad.

LOL.

1. It was not a falseflag and even if it was Chechenya is RUSSIAN TERRITORY. The muslim terrorist/criminal scum got what they deserved. Russia even bothered evacuating Grozny before tearing it down.

2. Stolen my arse, the whole population is Russian. Cry some more.

Please explain Mr. Putin why Russia has land so far from its own country.

Please explain why the UK own the "Falklands", first.

Please explain Mr. Assad why you let murdering Russians who occupy stolen land in Europe to have Naval base in Syria. No wonder Syrians are angry with ASSad.

Russians will always be our friend, there's nothing you can do about it. Many of them have died in our service, we will never forget it.

Russian Source: Diplomatic Mission Proceeding Normally in Damascus

Moscow, (SANA)- A diplomatic source at Russia's Foreign Ministry stressed that the Russian diplomatic mission in Damascus is proceeding in a quite normal way.

The source ruled out in a statement on Wednesday that Moscow may evacuate or reduce its Embassy's staff in Syria, affirming there is no reason to do so.

Russian analyst: The so-called 'international community' ignites events in Syria

Mikhail Leontiev, a Russian journalist and political analyst, strongly condemned the Western and US stance towards Syria, wondering "what does the 'international community' want from Syria?" and "what is the definition of this so-called 'international Community' which has voiced concern over what the Syrian authorities are doing?"

In his comment to Channel One Russia on Tuesday, Leontiev said the Syrian authorities are seeking to put an end to the acts of unrest and confusion in the country.

"President Bashar al-Assad has announced all possible reforms, and it is the legitimate authority's right to confront the armed riot and unrest given that the goals behind such acts have nothing to do with reform," the Russian analyst added.

He stressed that the aim behind the events going on in Syria is to change the political stances and the geopolitical approach of the country.

In his speech to the Russian TV, Leontiev addressed sharp criticism of what is known as 'the international community', describing it as "most insidious and impudent", stressing that the main reason behind its behavior lies in igniting the events.

He also wondered why the United States and its allies did not make any moves concerning similar events witnessed by several other countries.

"What is happening is a war involving the so-called 'international community' or rather the United States along with its friends aimed at destabilizing Syria," said Leontiev, reminding of Syria's stances in support of the national resistance in Lebanon and Palestine.

H. Said

Source: http://www.sana.sy/eng/22/2011/04/27/343628.htm

Edited April 27, 2011 by Schrodinger

[Praetorius 1,002]

It's a shame that Demo(hypo)crats on this forum continue to argue on this forum even after watching this shocking video. I knew the media resorts to biased journalism... but to think they would stoop this low... :dry:

Irishman... can you respond to this video? And how the hell did Russia come into all of this?

[Schrodinger 29]

Irishman... can you respond to this video?

You don't have to wait here's my impression of his response:

:D State funded propoganda, there are no terrorists they are all security personnel trying to scare away the protestors.

[Greg Potemkin 66]

If anyone is interesting the actual historical reason, the USSR took the former Koenigsberg (now the Russian Kaliningrad) as a mostly ice free port on the Baltic after WWII. It was included in the Russian SSR for reasons I forget and since when the USSR broke up all the SSR's became independent countries Kaliningrad went with Russia even though it isn't geographically next to the rest of Russia. Aside from the initial annexation and ethnic cleansing (it was mostly German before WWII, now it is almost totally ethnic Russian) there is nothing remotely sinister about it. Though to be honest, every nation in central Europe ethnically cleansed its German populations after WWII. You'd have to pretty much totally re-write the borders and ethnic make-up of the region to go back. What goes around comes around I guess.

Nice to see someone point out basic facts when confronted with an inane argument.

kudos

[satyaban 188]

Iran and Syria are allies. Iran does not brutalize its own citizens= Syria does not brutalize its citizens. If you are blind and a supporter of Iran= You are a blind supporter of Syria. The absurdity and hypocrisy is growing. The worst part is that these folks have put themselves so deep into a corner that no matter the evidence they will never be able to admit they were wrong.

[Noah- 1,820]

Iran and Syria are allies. Iran does not brutalize its own citizens= Syria does not brutalize its citizens. If you are blind and a supporter of Iran= You are a blind supporter of Syria. The absurdity and hypocrisy is growing. The worst part is that these folks have put themselves so deep into a corner that no matter the evidence they will never be able to admit they were wrong.

It is really funny that the folks who were crying fool and accusing the whole Muslim world of terrorism because of 'Salafi Takfiris' and till a few months ago they were running around to see if MB is gaining ground in Egypt and were trying hard to say Egypt does not welcome Islamists ALL A SUDDEN when it came to SYRIA, LIBYA and BAHRAIN, they are totally hidden behind the glass and supporting Takfiri folks and oppressor anti-democracy folks in Libya, in Syria and in Bahrain......

So which one is good to side with? We side with Syrian government against Takfiri terrorists! Is it bad? then what the F your government was talking about when it waged two [three] wars against Afghanistan, Iraq and [Pakistan] to fight Salafi-Alqaida loyalists?

Oh ya I forgot something, Iran, Libya and Syria are not listening to the West... so anything to discredit them and bring them down even alqaida loyalists are ok.. And even Osama is the person who might be cheered by the West as freedom fighter who is struggling for democracy in Libya and Syria. WOW AND JUST WOW... Now look who is talking of hypocrisy.

SO WHAT HAPPENED IN BAHRAIN?

Mr. Obama and his little puppet in the UN, Rice says that Iran is actively helping Syria to kill protesters, but liars only lie and accuse... While true forces only provide evidence. AT THE MOMENT evidence is clear, 3 puppet countries were ordered by the US to enter BAHRAIN AND BRUTALLY KILL unarmed protesters, arrest 1000s and never stop even destroy mosques, arrest doctors and nurses, and kill the wounded protesters who are under treatment.

GO BACK TO YOUR HOLE satyaban... it is an embarrassment and a shame that you still show up on this forum and back up these Zionist dictatorial regimes against free countries who are actively fighting terrorism from one side and Zionists meddling from the other side. We heard enough of your kinds. SHAME SHAME!

[satyaban 188]

It is only here at SC where people can be found who will deny what the whole world is saying to be true. The US, the UN, Germany, France, and God knows how many nations have told Syria to stop brutalizing its citizens. The Syrian ambassador to England was called on the carpet and was advised that it would be in terribly bad taste to attend the wedding when his citizens are being killed. Also 200 Baath party members have resigned their govt jobs and denounced the regime in protest of their butchery.

The Assad regime can not survive but he and his cronies are desperate because they will face the music in court.

It will be fun to watch some members of SC weasel out of their current claims.

[yassameen 32]

Syria: EU push for UN condemnation fails

áß Çááå íÇ ÈÍÑíä

on the other hand , today a number of Bahrainis will be executed cause they protested against the King

[ali313 82]

Surprised PressTV left the part in about the Russian Naval base in Syria. Does not get as much coverage as the US one in Bahrain.

http://en.rian.ru/ru.../160041427.html

16:21 02/08/2010

Russia's naval supply and maintenance site near Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartus will be modernized to accommodate heavy warships after 2012, the Russian Navy chief said on Monday.

What does Syria want Russians to have Naval base in Syria. The same Russians who slaughtered hundred of thousand of Muslims in Chechnya after the false flag apartment bombings in Moscow. The same Russians who occupy stolen land in Kaliningrad.

Please explain Mr. Putin why Russia has land so far from its own country. Please explain Mr. Assad why you let murdering Russians who occupy stolen land in Europe to have Naval base in Syria. No wonder Syrians are angry with ASSad.

The US Has 761 Military Bases Across the Planet, and We Simply Never Talk About It!

http://www.alternet.org/world/97913/the_us_has_761_military_bases_across_the_planet,_and_we_simply_never_talk_about_it/

[Irishman 6]

^

the difference is Russia doesn't go around lecturing everyone on human rights around the world - but certain countries in the west do and extend this to intervention when its in its interest. see the difference.

Russia is more than happy to lecture other countries about human rights, when they themselves have been guilty of human rights abuses.

i guess the concept of bilateral relation between nations,and shared cooperation agreements wich included economic and military are alien concepts to ''irishfraud'' LoL booga booga the russians they are too far from its own broders,how dare they set up joint bases with countries wich have mutual relations somebody call glen beck back n fox news and spread the enws,irishfraud has figured out an evil conspiracy at work uhauhuhauhauhauh :wacko:

COMICAL Ali is back. Where is Syrian Naval base in Russia?. I guess you are fine with all the US bases throughout the world then also, in Bahrain and other countries?. Just bilateral relations between nations and shared cooperation agreements. Nothing wrong then.

If anyone is interesting the actual historical reason, the USSR took the former Koenigsberg (now the Russian Kaliningrad) as a mostly ice free port on the Baltic after WWII. It was included in the Russian SSR for reasons I forget and since when the USSR broke up all the SSR's became independent countries Kaliningrad went with Russia even though it isn't geographically next to the rest of Russia. Aside from the initial annexation and ethnic cleansing (it was mostly German before WWII, now it is almost totally ethnic Russian) there is nothing remotely sinister about it. Though to be honest, every nation in central Europe ethnically cleansed its German populations after WWII. You'd have to pretty much totally re-write the borders and ethnic make-up of the region to go back. What goes around comes around I guess.

But Königsberg a city in Germany, not another nation. The German population were ethnically cleansed from their own land and city by Russians, and Russians installed in their place, hence why it is nearly all Russian now. In the Potsdam Conference, it was the Soviet Union, America, and Britian that decided who is to carve up and what and who gets what. So you think it is ok for victors of wars to decide to ethnically cleanse an ethic group from its own country and cities and install its own people?. Interesting!!

Nice to see someone point out basic facts when confronted with an inane argument.

kudos

See my reply to his post below. I guess you must also agree with ethnically cleansing a local population by victors of a war?.

The US Has 761 Military Bases Across the Planet, and We Simply Never Talk About It!

http://www.alternet.org/world/97913/the_us_has_761_military_bases_across_the_planet,_and_we_simply_never_talk_about_it/

Russia has 25 actual Bases in other countries. That 761 includes any little office related to US military, not all are large 'Bases' in the military sense.

[yassameen 32]

Syria: Baath party officials 'quit in protest'

i dont want to comment on the events but it is starting to suffocate me to see Mubarak not being charged in court , Tunisian king living the luxury in Jeddah , Yemeni king is killing more citizens with the Bahraini king in spooky silence of - human rights police - and bloody media and now more chaos killing and bombs ahead of Syria

i wish we can vote directly in the UN for the immidate departure of American military presence from our lands

[Irishman 6]

You don't have to wait here's my impression of his response:

:D State funded propoganda, there are no terrorists they are all security personnel trying to scare away the protestors.

If I brought a video camera out onto the streets of Dublin today, I could interview numerous people and find some absolutely rabidly angry and opposed to the Queen's soon visit to Ireland, but I would also get quite a few who think it would be a good thing and totally for it. It would be my decision which one's to include in a video if I wanted to upload it to youtube say. There will be people in Syria with a wide range of views as to what is happening and what should happen at the moment. Those that edit the footage can decide which interviews to use.

If Assad and his party are so confident that they have the backing of the majority of the people. Let opposition parties be formed in the country and hold free and fair elections that can be overseen by independent unbiased election monitors from outside countries that neutral on Syria. Otherwise, nobody can say with any degree of certainty whether is supported by his people or not.

[Schrodinger 29]

If Assad and his party are so confident that they have the backing of the majority of the people. Let opposition parties be formed in the country and hold free and fair elections that can be overseen by independent unbiased election monitors from outside countries that neutral on Syria. Otherwise, nobody can say with any degree of certainty whether is supported by his people or not.

This is the one time where I will ALMOST completely agree with you. I don't like the "opposition" terminology. Instead of opposing what another party does, they should work together as long as they are serving the people's interests -- they are representatives after all. Furthermore, there has to be a way to stop the zioWest from just coming in and buying out the election like in Ukraine and Georgia.

Edited April 28, 2011 by Schrodinger

[Irishman 6]

This is the one time where I will ALMOST completely agree with you. I don't like the "opposition" terminology. Instead of opposing what another party does, they should work together as long as they are serving the people's interests -- they are representatives after all. Furthermore, there has to be a way to stop the zioWest from just coming in and buying out the election like in Ukraine and Georgia.

Well "opposition" party is just a general term normally used for any party apart from the one that is in government. They dont always oppose everything, but will oppose some things, as its rare two or more parties will have the exact same opinion on everything.

[Thurston 357]

Russia is more than happy to lecture other countries about human rights, when they themselves have been guilty of human rights abuses.

.

Are you for real - Russia doesn't issue annual human rights report cards of abuses by other nations.

[Irishman 6]

Are you for real - Russia doesn't issue annual human rights report cards of abuses by other nations.

Where did I say they did?

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5ba1154e-61ff-11dd-9ff9-000077b07658.html#axzz1Kp7csuLp

Russia warns Georgia over breakaway province

Russia has accused Georgia of using a disproportionate force in its breakaway province of South Ossetia and warned it not to aggravate the crisis there, the foreign ministry said on Monday.

Disproportionate force in its breakaway province? This is after what Russia done in its breakaway province of Chechnya? :lol:

[Akritas 26]

But Königsberg a city in Germany, not another nation. The German population were ethnically cleansed from their own land and city by Russians, and Russians installed in their place, hence why it is nearly all Russian now. In the Potsdam Conference, it was the Soviet Union, America, and Britian that decided who is to carve up and what and who gets what. So you think it is ok for victors of wars to decide to ethnically cleanse an ethic group from its own country and cities and install its own people?. Interesting!!

There is a certain logic in 'to the victor go the spoils' but my real point is that you can't go back. About a third of modern Poland was ethnically German and is now over 90% Polish. Large areas in parts of Romania, the Czech Republic and many cities in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were as well. It would probably a bad idea to uproot 10 million or so Poles and replace them with Germans to try to reverse the ethnic changes. There would be so many headaches around where the Poles would go, which Germans would get what part of the new lands, compensation for any buildings added to the land and so on and on and on. It's just not a good idea. Germany has expressly agreed to respect the new boundaries. Trying to remake central Europe is not a good idea.

But seriously, does anyone here really think that Assad is a cute, harmless little victim of the evil foreigners here? Yeah, the Saudis in particular are probably pretty eager to see him gone and trying to take advantage of the current unrest. Maybe Israel though they have less to gain since I have a hard time seeing any likely replacement to Assad being pro-Israel. I'm prepared to grant these powers are likely trying to help the protesters on the Q-T. I'd be doing it in their shoes. But the vast majority of them were not protesting because they had a bag of Saudi gold hand-delivered to them or because they want chaos in Syria for the benefit of the house of Saud. And I have no doubt that Assad will make half a dozen Hama's if that's what it takes to stay on top.

[satyaban 188]

Who thinks the following is not true?

Inside the Syrian suburb of protest

Phil Sands

Last Updated: Apr 29, 2011

DAMASCUS // The first protest in Hajar Aswad, a tough, working-class district in southern Damascus, was small, brief and peaceful. But that was five weeks ago. Now the neighbourhood is a tinderbox near the heart of Syria's ancient capital.

In Hajar Aswad - its name means "Black Stone" - civilians have been shot dead, a formerly pro-regime cleric is now stoking an anti-government uprising, and long- simmering sectarian tensions are exploding to the surface, as life-long neighbours become enemies overnight and tribes get drawn into a growing conflict.

The escalation, as recounted by local residents, provides both an insight into the anatomy of Syria's turmoil and a warning of what may lie ahead.

It was on March 18 that the first four protesters were gunned down by security forces in Deraa, 100 kilometres south of Damascus, marking the start of the Syrian uprising. Immediately afterwards, a few dozen young men held a demonstration of solidarity in Hajar Aswad.

Thousands of Nazaheen - members of historically Bedouin tribes displaced from the Golan Heights by Syria's war with Israel - live in the neighbourhood, as do members of Hourani tribes from Deraa itself. Mixed in are thousands of settled Palestinian refugees and urban residents from minority communities, including Alawites, who dominate Syria's ruling elite.

Local police decided not to openly confront that initial protest and, after a short time, the demonstrators went home.

In Deraa the bloodshed quickly worsened throughout March, the city becoming a focal point for growing anti-government sentiment. In Hajar Aswad, the atmosphere was more stable. There were protests, but no violence. Many residents are government employees and the neighbourhood is known for providing large numbers of the hard-edged, rank-and-file security officers working the Syrian capital.

But with each passing week, the numbers taking part in the protests grew: first dozens, then more than 50, then hundreds. Last Friday, thousands took to the streets.

It was also Friday that following afternoon prayers, Hajar Aswad was firmly plunged into the centre of this country's crisis, its people adding their blood to that of some 100 Syrians, shot and killed in a single day nationwide as part of a government crackdown.

To date, more than 450 civilians have been killed. As with previous Fridays, the protest started peacefully, with a crowd marching to the district police station. There, according to witnesses, a middle-aged man picked up a rock and threw it at police, other protesters soon following his lead.

The police responded with warning shots aimed harmlessly into the air and used tear gas, breaking up the gathering without anyone being hurt. The crowd moved away.

An hour later, busloads of heavily armed plainclothes security units from outside of Hajar Aswad arrived and, according to residents, immediately took aggressive action, making arrests and shooting close to the demonstrators.

Angered, the protesters marched to local headquarters of the ruling Baath Party, where some began to tear down pictures of President Bashar al Assad. Immediately, residents said, the security forces shot directly into the crowds with live ammunition. Some 50 people were wounded and at least six more killed, among them a 17-year-old high school student named Yaman, the son of a leading local cleric, Abu Bilal.

The previous Friday, in his sermon, Abu Bilal had delivered an hour-and-a-half long speech in the Rahman mosque, telling residents to keep faith with the government, insisting their president would deliver political reforms and that protests were unnecessary. That changed with his son's death. "We heard them calling over the mosque loudspeakers that someone from the Bahaterah tribe had been killed, then there were more announcements, more dead.

People from other tribes, the Hawajeh and Jaatheen," one Hajar Aswad resident said on condition of anonymity, "Then we heard them broadcasting, over and over again, 'We want the downfall of the regime'." As the call from the mosque sounded, more people poured into the streets, rallying to the support of their tribes and fallen neighbours. "It was incredible, there were thousands of men, women and children joining in," one resident recalled. "I've never seen anything like it. There was no fear.

There were teenage boys baring their chests in front of the security. They were willing to die. They were proud to die." As anger swelled, according to a respected member of a leading local family who sympathises with the protesters, government forces themselves came under rifle fire.

"The protests had been peaceful, but after the security killed people, there was fury," he said. "One household in Hajar had weapons and they started to use them."

By the evening, the streets were effectively under control of residents - some by this point armed with metal poles and wooden clubs - with security forces pulled back and surrounding the area. Syria's uprising has been defined by a cycle of protests, shootings and then funerals at which more demonstrators are killed, leading to further rebellion. Hajar Aswad is no different.

After the bloody Friday, there were funerals on Saturday and more violence. At least one more civilian was shot dead. By that time a threatening sectarian edge had developed, with members of the Sunni Muslim tribes, a majority in Hajar Aswad, adamant that three local Alawite families had encouraged security units to set up sniper positions on their roofs. Fearing for their lives, the families fled, returning to the coastal region near Latakia, the Alawites' ancestral lands.

On Sunday, the day after the funerals, leading tribal figures were trying to hold back an angry mob that wanted to burn the Alawite families' properties. "We don't want that to happen, but there's only so much we can do to stop it," said one tribal member, involved at the time in mediation. "We told them [the Alawites] if they want to come back to collect their belongings, they must tell the tribe leaders first so we can escort them in safely, otherwise it will be dangerous for them."

The tribal negotiator, a secular, well-educated man, said he was "dismayed" to see sectarianism flare up. "These people have lived as neighbours in Hajar for 30 years, and now it has come to this, brothers turning against brothers."

Throughout this week, ahead of today's expected protests, tensions continued to simmer as residents talked of tribal customs of martyrdom and revenge "Now the women are pushing their sons to go out in the streets to demonstrate," said a male resident in his 30s. "They talk about it - 'Why don't I have any martyrs in my family?' - to shame the men into going out. Those with martyrs or injuries from the protests boast about their sacrifices."

There has been no formal effort to defuse tensions with the authorities, community leaders said. "There are no lines of communication with the government," said one supporter of the protesters. "It's not because we don't want to come up with a solution to stop more bloodshed. It's because there are no clear decision makers."

Syria's authorities say that as they have made political reforms to meet protesters' legitimate demands, demonstrations have now been hijacked by Islamist militants trying to mount an insurrection. Dozens of security personnel have been killed and injured. The government also insists that it is all that stands between the country and a sectarian civil war.

On Monday, tanks and infantry swept into Deraa to crush the revolt once and for all, while a wave of house raids and arrests by security forces have taken place in Douma, Homs and other protest areas. Protesters in Hajar Aswad have no coherent political strategy, residents admitted.

"People are calling for regime change, but it's true that we have no idea what will happen if that succeeds," said one. "Especially the young, they are just generally angry. They have no prospects, they're poor, they are mistreated by the security, they don't feel they have anything to lose."

Today it will become clear whether Hajar Aswad has been cowed by government force, or if it will once again take to the streets. "I know these people," said one resident, himself from a tribal background. "They will not walk away. They believe in revenge, they will stand together, it's their custom, and it might be violent." "Nobody know what's going to happen from now on," said another resident of Hajar Aswad.

"But if you ask me, this isn't going to go away now. It could all go into chaos. No one is in control anymore."

psands@thenational.ael

[Ya Aba 3abdillah 1,717]