Lost Pleasure and Other Ramblings (by SYRIAN HAMSTER)
I was told in argument on SC that it is no longer pleasurable to read my posts. As if I care,… this is not a competition for the most pleasant piece of literature. It is a battle forced on Syrians by a regime being defended, hyped, and constantly propped up by a bunch of people with primitive fears trying to hide innate sectarianism, believe of entitlement, and a maddening cocktail of inferiority-insecurity-superiority complexes.
How dare those trying to play both sides claim that the people of Syria want to burn their country? None of the revolutionaries, the FSA, or even Jihadists who may have entered the line here and there is flying Migs aircraft, driving tanks, and positioning mid-range artillery guns to prepare areas for the hordes of Assad barbarians by bombarding Syria’s cities one after another. It is the criminal regime, empowered by the cowardice of the shifty “against the regime but not with the revolution”, by the subhuman ethics of its defenders, by a primitive fear-based cult, and a group of anti-something fools, who never managed to join the 21st century and still reach orgasm imagining yet one more totalitarian system’s victory against forces of progress and civility. Zakraria Tamer is right, it is a regime empowered by Ignorance, arrogance, audacity, pettiness, stupidity and foolishness. It is the Assad hyenas who keep saying Assad or we burn the country, and have been burning the country, and some people have the audacity to blame those whose homes and cities are being burned, those whose families are being murdered, and those whose brothers and sisters are being killed under torture for the catastrophe befalling the country, so that these cowards can feel superior to the masses and rest comfortable with a malformed conscious grown out of their elitism.
Anyone who points the finger at the citizen who takes up arm to defend his neighborhood from the hyena packs instead of pointing the finger at the head hyena is a participant in the murder, an enabler of the sub-human regime, and is a part of the problem.
The most common theme in the writing of this class of cowards is their disingenuous declaration of sadness for the people of the country being massacred because “some people” want the toppling of the regime at all costs. Now it is us who are being rigid, and not the bastards of Damascus and their packs of hyenas hell-bent on burning the country and their enablers in Syria and elsewhere who propagate false stories, perform intellectual prostitution through shady articles accusing everyone of being on the pay of someone, whilst they refuse to declare the names of their financial and academic backers. So let us look at some of the fatal logical flaws in their set of arguments. Take the above argument, for example. It is mostly directed at SNC. Here are some of the statements
SNC is causing the mayhem by tricking people into fighting the regime for their own political agenda (aiming to deny the people on the street the legitimacy of free will to fight back… they are tricked)….
and
SNC is incompetent, it has no legitimacy, nor the backing of Syrians, its members are greedy,…. And so on. .
Does anyone see the contradiction of the two statements, most of the time present within a single regime-propagandist (or indirect apologist) paragraph. I will not try to pontificate like the foolish assad, so you pick it yourself.
However, there is an important undertone of the first statement, not only as an attempt to deny the popular character of the revolution, but also as a disgusting cowardly attempt to normalize the regime’s criminal violence, by implicitly accepting such non-human violence as the only possible, expected, must live with response. This also takes a more sinister form by blaming Qatar, KSA, Israel, US, and others for the follies of the stupid Syrians, who brought on themselves the wrath of this regime, rather deservingly because they have collaborated, directly or indirectly with the west. How deceitful and sinister. These are the same people who instead of accusing the Assad hyena gangs of burning the country, look at those striving for dignity and freedom and blame them for destroying the country. Sadly, these same bunch of ethically and morally challenged characters would drive themselves and others into fits of indignation if anyone suggested that hizbullah had any responsibility in instigating the murderous Israeli campaign against Lebanon or Gaza. I believe that they are somehow angry that Israel was successful in neutralizing Hizbullah and Hamas, at least militarily after a significantly shorter period of murderous bombardment and with less damage and lives lost than the damage their regime has wrought and lives lost to protect their cult master, while on the other hand, their beloved fool still can’t do the same in Syria. It is also the same people who are now advertising the regime as the best protection Israel has against the “islamist” monster, but fail to reconcile with their own rhetoric, when cornered by the persistent, no prisoner taken style of someone like AIG. I refused Israel’s defenders logic then, and I refuse Assad’s apologists logic now.
What they miss, really miss, is that toppling this regime is no longer a political quest, it is now a human and civilization necessity. And Syrians are paying the price to join civilization and civility again. There is no question in my mind that when speaking of regime apologists, cover and overt, their humanity did not fail them, the failed and continue to fail humanity with every word they utter.
I happen to believe that the demise of the Syrian Regime and its bosom body in Iran would be the first condition for stability in this region. Sustainable peace will come after stability…. Any fool knows that. And if these liars try to accuse me of being an Israel friendly, all I have to do is to remind them that in their narrow sectarian mindset, it was them who tried to sell the regime to Israel as its guarantor starting with Rami Makhlouf and not ending with the characters on SC.
I am not bitter, … I am repulsed and disgusted.
Who are SNC:
I also encounter so much hype from both sides about SNC members and how they spend their time in five stars hotels. For many members of SNC, especially the younger, ground active members, this could not be further from the truth. A few have lost their jobs because of the demand of their work. Others barely have enough to survive and they are living in far worst conditions than those using the broadest of brushes to paint SNC in bad picture. As a political organization, SNC’s record is mixed, with more negative than positive. But please do not belittle the sacrifices of many of its members, who could have continued t o live comfortable lives, with reasonably paying professional jobs, but chose otherwise for the sake of Free Syria.
On Asef, Ikhtiar, and the rest of the Gang
I Don’t believe in hell and heaven, so my word is Good riddance.
On the West
Unlike the regime, who is has surrendered Syrian Sovereignty to Iran and Russia at the pleasure of a few Russian agents pretending to be journalists, researches, and commentators, the revolution is beholden to no one. We will bring down the regime, punish those who ordered and committed atrocities and crimes against humanity (even if they defect from this point on), and build a new Syria. Syrians may not have many friends willing to fight on their behalf, but they will have plenty of friend as they embark on rebuilding their country. Mark my words. We just have to think in long terms and recognize that it is not easy to deprogram an adult elephant of its thin rope. It may take the next generation for freely roaming elephants.
Someone Else’s FB Rambling
I leave you with a FB status written a while a go by one of my friends, It is written in Arabic and it is far more concise than my writing above.
القتل فرضه النظام وليس المجلس الوطني أو الجيش السوري الحر رغم مساويء كل منهما
توصيف وضع المعارضه الان واتهام أطرافها الرئيسة بالسعي نحو السلطه وبأنها شهود زور على حرق البلد وبان من وقف مع الثورة من المثقفين يريد التغيير فقط للتغيير يخدم دعاية النظام وشبيحته الذين يتهمون الثورة بأنها وراء خراب البلد محاولين التغطيه على الشعار المقيت “الاسد أو نحرق البلد” …
كفاكم تباكيا واستخفافا بعقولنا ولو كان ذلك عن حسن نيه … لاتريدون الانضمام الى الثورة لخوفكم من الطاغية .. أنتم أحرار.. ولكن لا تلعبوا دور الغربان في وقت حرج كهذا … نحن لا نحتاج تعففكم عن الدماء … فأنتم طاهرون ومثاليون … أما نحن الرعاع فقد فرض علينا الدم …لا يا سادتي … لستم انسانيون أكثر منا .. ولستم حضاريون أكثر
تذكروا أن من فرض الدم هو النظام الذي لازلتم تتخوفون من فوضى زواله …
Translation:
Murder and death were forced by the regime and not by the SNC or the FSA despite of their deficiencies. Over-analyzing the state of the opposition, and accusing its various components of running after power and of being false witnesses to the burning of the country and accusing intellectuals who side with the revolution of being after change for mere change only serves the regime’s propaganda and its thugs who are accusing the revolution of being behind the destruction of the country in their attempt to cover for the contemptible slogan “Assad or we Burn the Country” .
Stop decrying and stop your disregard and insult on our intelligence, even if you mean well. If you don’t want to join the revolution for fear of the tyrant, then don’t, you are Free. But don’t become craws at a critical time like this. We don’t need your prudery of blood for you are the pure idealists. As for us, the mob, blood was forced upon us.
No sirs, you are not more humane than us, nor are you more civilized. And remember, blood was forced on us by the regime, whose demise you are so afraid of .
Posted on July 26, 2012, in Arab Spring, Crimes Against Humanity, Syria, Syrian Regime Crimes Against Humanity and tagged Bashar Al-Asad Crimes Against Humanity, Syrian National Council (SNC), شهيد. Bookmark the permalink. 175 Comments.



Bravo Hamster! Love it!
Love it too.
Terrific to see you back, Hamster —
Here is an interview with Ayman AdelNour of All4Syria, who once worked with Batta when it seemed (years ago) that reform was possible — in French again
Ayman Abdel Nour : “Le régime est prêt à ravager Damas pour sauver sa tête”
LE MONDE | 25.07.2012 à 14h47 • Mis à jour le 26.07.2012 à 10h14
Par Propos recueillis par Benjamin Barthe
Ancien membre du parti Baas syrien, âgé de 47 ans, Ayman Abdel Nour est l’un de ces réformateurs dont s’entoura Bachar Al-Assad, à son arrivée au pouvoir, en 2000. Fondateur en 2003 du site d’information All4Syria, qui a ébréché le monopole du pouvoir sur les médias, ce chrétien syriaque voulait croire que le nouveau président saurait changer le régime de l’intérieur. Il n’a pas tardé pas à déchanter. L’accès à son site, bouffée de pluralisme dans un pays étouffé par la police politique, a été fermé dès 2004.
Le jeune technocrate s’est éloigné du pouvoir pour prendre la direction d’un projet d’aide européen en Syrie. Mais sa liberté de parole et le fait que son site est resté accessible depuis l’étranger, a suscité des agacements en haut lieu. Contraint à l’exil en 2007, Ayman Abdel Nour vit aujourd’hui entre Dubaï et Montréal, d’où il pilote All4Syria, qui se veut une source d’information indépendante sur la révolution syrienne.
L’opposant syrien, Ayman Abdel Nour, fondateur du site d’information All4Syria.
L’Armée syrienne libre prétend que les jours de Bachar Al-Assad sont désormais comptés. Partagez-vous son optimisme ?
Je suis optimiste, mais je ne perds pas de vue le soutien indéfectible de Moscou à Damas. Même si le régime s’effondre, les Russes pourraient l’aider à se replier sur la côte, autour de Tartous et Lattaquié, dans cette zone de peuplement alaouite [une secte dissidente du chiisme, dont est issu le clan au pouvoir] où il pourrait créer un mini-Etat.
Quelle est la situation à Damas, où le régime semble avoir repris le dessus sur les rebelles ?
Les destructions qu’il a causées, dans les quartiers de Midan ou de Mezzeh, où il par exemple rasé des parcs sous prétexte que les rebelles s’y dissimulaient, ont écœuré la population. La fameuse majorité silencieuse, que la propagande du régime avait enfermée dans la peur de la révolution, est en train d’ouvrir les yeux. Elle a compris que le régime est prêt à ravager Damas pour sauver sa tête. J’ai eu récemment des contacts avec certaines des plus grandes familles de la bourgeoisie sunnite, les Shakhashero, Al-Azem, Al-Aïdi ou Sorbaji. Elles ne veulent plus entendre parler de Bachar. Certaines sont parties pour Beyrouth.
Et la situation à Damas ?
On observe la même évolution. Prenez le cas d’Olabe, une fameuse usine de textile, qui a été récemment brûlée. Cet acte a vraisemblablement été commis par des employés de l’usine, partisans de la révolution et convaincus que leur patron finance les chabiha [nervis du régime]. Pour cet homme, c’est un tournant. Il réalise que le système qu’il soutenait n’est désormais plus capable de le protéger. A moins d’être fou ou tétanisé par la peur comme les alaouites et certains chrétiens, plus personne ne peut soutenir le régime.
En dépit des combats, la diplomatie a-t-elle encore une carte à jouer ?
Je ne veux plus de cette diplomatie peureuse, qui dissimule son impuissance derrière le dos de la Russie. C’est comme cela que l’on risque de se retrouver avec un pays coupé en trois, avec un réduit alaouite, un Etat kurde et un Etat sunnite. L’unité de la Syrie est menacée. Et pas que par Bachar et ses sbires. Les puissances occidentales jouent un rôle néfaste.
Que devraient-elles faire dans votre esprit ?
Permettre à l’Armée syrienne libre de se doter d’ armes véritablement performantes. Elle commence à être équipée de lance-roquettes antichars. Mais ce sont des modèles anciens, qui ne sont efficaces que contre les chars les plus vieillots de l’armée syrienne. Nous avons besoin aussi de lance-roquettes sol-air, contre les hélicoptères. Je sais que les Occidentaux craignent que ces armes ne tombent dans de mauvaises mains ou qu’elles n’alimentent des règlements de compte, après la chute du régime. Mais ils ont tort. Il n’y aura pas de vide du pouvoir. Nous seront prêts.
Vous qui avez bien connu Bachar Al-Assad, dans quel état d’esprit pensez-vous qu’il se trouve ?
C’est un homme profondément déséquilibré, qui pense que les manifestants sont tous des pantins des Qataris. Il pense qu’il a été choisi par Dieu pour conduire la Syrie. Cette dérive a commencé dans les années 2000, au fur et à mesure que les élites politiques, militaires et religieuses du pays lui tressaient des lauriers. Il finira comme Kadhafi. Un homme choisi par Dieu ne peut pas prendre la fuite.
Propos recueillis par Benjamin Barthe
Thank you Hamster, thanks
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-26/aleppo-is-far-from-won-fisk/4157948
Aleppo is far from won: Fisk
umm nuwâs merci pour l’article
Interesting that you should mention Ayman AbdelNour, Umm Nuwas, because his website has been down for many days, maybe even a couple of weeks. Pity, because there was always interesting stuff on that site.
I wonder if any one else has been unable to reach the site, or is just me?
Dear MGB
The site is accessible now, it has been for the past couple of days but not in the original form. It says (نسخة احتياطيه): It looks ,ore like a raw blog, still with some “interesting” tabloid style information.
That said, the man has suffered a lot. He is the first of Bashar ‘s (i.e. according to hamster, the buffoon or foolish) friends to defect, and that was even years in the making. Good for him.
Judge Talal Houshan denounces the crimes of the regime and resigns (he was called upon to investigate the Houla massacre)
Hamster, the person who called you an angry bitter man on SC is still living in the 1960s and has not yet got over the hangover he suffers from the loss of Saddam and Gaddafi, the Heroes of Palestine.
Please spread this as much as possible : http://www.brown-moses.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/how-not-to-handle-unexploded-ordnance.html
[ Warning to activists in Syria on careless handling of unexploded artillery and mortar shells. ( Many activists carelessly handle these unexploded shells which are actually still very dangerous). Please spread this article on social sites which you know are frequented by LCC actisvist (I cannot read the Arabic script so I cannot do it myself) ]
Will do Antoine, excellent comment.
From Facebook.– Another point of view of Assad’s Sectarian Plans
اهمية المناطق الكوردية في تشكيلة الدويلة العلوية
فارس مشعل تمو :: (عن الأوضاع العربية – الكردية)
يحتاج الاسد في مشروعه لاقامة دويلته الى عنصرين فقط لضمان استمراريتها وهما، مصادر الثروة السورية، وطريق بحري لبيعها، اي انه يحتاج الى الساحل السوري (اللاذقية وطرطوس) وللمناطق الكوردية (لانها المصدر الوحيد للثروات النفطية) ، حيث يتركز النفط السوري والغاز في المنطقة الشمالية الشرقية في سوريا وهي منطقة القامشلي في حقول رميلان، كما ان الثروة الزراعية السورية ايضا تتركز في المناطق الكوردية (القمح والقطن)، وايضا تعتبر جبال عفرين مركز الثروات المعدنية ومنبع زيت الزيتون.
بالاضافة الى اهمية الشمال السوري (المناطق الكوردية) كطريق بري مكمل للهلال الشيعي الايراني من خلال الاراضي العراقية، بحيث تشمل حدود دويلته العلوية الشمال السوري بالاضافة الى الساحل السوري، لتامين خط بري للبترول الايراني العراقي مرورا بمعبر على نهر دجلة في منطقة عين ديوار التابعة لمنطقة المالكية(ديريك) ليمتد عبر الشمال الى الساحل السوري من خلال انابيب حقول رميلان النفطية الى موانئ اللاذقية وطرطوس. يخطئ من يظن بان الاسد يسقط بسقوط حلب ودمشق، بل بسقوط اللاذقية والقامشلي، فان تحصينات المناطق الكوردية عسكريا وسياسيا وعاطفيا لمنع سقوطها كتحصينات الساحل ( اللاذقية وطرطوس) مع فارق نوعي في الشحن والاستثمار العاطفي، الطائفي والقومي، في الساحل يستثمر في العاطفة العلوية من خلال ممارسة القتل العام باسمها في باقي انحاء سوريا لدفعها للتقوقع في حصن طائفي خوفا من مجازر سنية بحقهم اذا سقط الاسد، يترافق ذلك مع تصريحات وكلاء للنظام الداعين الى الجهاد السني ضد الاسد العلوي والمحرضين على قتل العلويين وتصفيتهم انتقاما لمجازر الاسد، بينما في حقيقة الامر هم موظفون في اجهزة المخابرات الاسدية في الداخل والخارج، يقومون بمهمة نوعية لارهاب ابناء الطائفة العلوية من التغير.
بينما على الساحة الكوردية استعان الاسد ببعض حلفائه القدامى من احزاب الممانعة والمقاومة الكوردية، لاستثمار العاطفة القومية، وجهز الى جانبهم مجموعات مسلحة تضم مجرمين كورد واصحاب سوابق في السرقة وتجارة المخدرات والسلاح وعلى علاقة وثيقة بالاجهزة الامنية بالاضافة الى عملاء ومخبري هذه الاجهزة في الوسط الاجتماعي، واستهلاكهم بالقيام بمهام الاجهزة الامنية بالانابة من خلال تكليفهم بالملاحقات واعتقال النشطاء وقمع مظاهرات الشباب الكورد المنتمين الى الثورة السورية بحجة سلفيتها واخوانيتها، وهي ذات المصطلحات التي يطلقها نظام الاسد على ثورة الشباب السوري، بالاضافة الى التصفية الجسدية لرموز الواقعية السياسية من القادة الكورد بتهمة خيانة القومية حيث لاتختلف احزاب الممانعة الكوردية عن مثيلاتها من احزاب الممانعة العربية في التكوين، واستلاب العقل، وممارسة ثنائية الاستبداد(القومي والخائن، الوطني والعميل)، وبطبيعة هذه الثنائية اما ان تكون منتمي الى الحزب الواحد، واسير ابدية القائد الاوحد، او تكون خائن وعميل، لان القضية القومية والشعب يتم اختزالهم بشخص القائد والحزب.
وقد منحهم الاسد ميزة رفع سقف الشعارات القومية البراقة كتشكيل الدولة الكوردية والادارة الذاتية، بشكل مرحلي مؤقت، حتى يتمكنو من كسب الشارع واغراء شباب الثورة الذين تم سحبهم خلف هذه الوعود وتفريغهم من محتواهم الثوري وتجنيدهم لخدمة الاسد بشكل غير مباشر لضبط المناطق الكوردية والحفاظ على بعدها عن التصعيد الثوري ضد الاسد الى ان يتفرغ من معاركه في باقي المحافظات السورية ويلتفت للكورد فيخضعهم لدويلته العلوية، عندها ستغير هذه الاحزاب من استراتيجيتها السياسية لتطالب للكورد السوريين بالحقوق الثقافية في ظل الدولة العلوية باستهتار مفرط بعاطفة الشعب الكوردي، وتلاعب ساذج بمصيرهم في سوريا، والتاريخ خير شاهد على سقف شعارات هذه الاحزاب وتغيراتها المفاجئة بين ليلة وضحاها، في الصباح يطالبون بالفيدرالية والحكم الذاتي وفي المساء يطالبون بالحقوق الثقافية، وبحسبهم فان تغير المبادئ والاهداف يسمى استراتيجية مرحلية، وبيع تاريخ شعب اصيل وفصله عن الحرية وثورتها في سوريا يسمونه مصالح استراتيجية، هكذا يرى القائد الاوحد ؟
وما تم ترويجه قبل ايام عن تحرير المناطق الكوردية، والتطبيل له اعلاميا، لم يكن سوى تسليم مقرات حزب البعث لبعض هذه الاحزاب مع بقاء علم حزب البعث الى جانب اعلامها مرفوعا في بعض المقرات في عفرين والحفاظ على صور حافظ الاسد داخل المقرات.
من السذاجة والغباء الاعتقاد والتصديق بان الاسد سيفتح طريق البترول السوري مفروشا بالورد امام هذه الاحزاب المكلفة بمهمة مؤقتة
بالطبع رافق مراحل تثبيت اقدام الممانعة القومية الكوردية حملة شنها وكلاء النظام من الجانب الاخر الموظفين(كشوفينين عرب) باطلاق تصريحات تنفي الوجود الكوردي وتلغي اي حق من حقوقه القومية والوطنية لاضفاء الشرعية على جماعة الممانعة القومية الكوردية في الدفاع المسلح عن القومية الكوردية المختزلة باحزابهم وشخوصهم،وتصفية من يخالفهم الراي.
لذا فان على شباب الثورة (الكورد والعرب) الحذر وعدم الانجرار بسذاجة وراء الاعيب الاسد من خلال وكلائه في الداخل والخارج، الطائفيين ، الشوفينين العرب، المتطرفين الكورد، فهؤلاء اخطر ما يهدد الثورة ومسارها ومستقبلها.
كما علينا التخلي عن السطحية في الوعي والعفوية في فهم التنوع السوري، وادراك حتمية التعايش المشترك القائم على الاحترام الكامل للاخر بكل مايميزه قوميا ودينيا وطائفيا، لا الاضطهاد القومي يجدي نفعا، ولا الابادة العرقية تجدي في عدم الاعتراف بالاخر المتمايز قوميا، ولا وجود لقانون طلاق الشعوب، فلا مناص من التعايش المشترك في الوطن المشترك، والقبول بالاخر المتميز بلونه ولسانه وتاريخه وثقافته، بدون هذا الاحترام لن يكون هناك سوريا موحدة، ولن نرى مستقبل بل سنبقى نراوح في الماضي، ونشتت احلام المستقبل.
ينقصنى الوعي بحقيقة الاخر، يجب ان يعي الاخ العربي الشريك في الوطن السوري تاريخ الشعب الكوردي، وحقيقة الجزءالكوردستاني الغربي الذي اصبح جزء لايتجزء من الوطن السوري الحديث الذي ساهم الكورد الى جانب باقي المكونات السورية ببناءه وحمايته والدفاع عنه عبر التاريخ الحديث، فلن تكون سوريا لوحة فسيفساء جميلة اذا لم تفتخر بكوردستانها كما تفخر بحورانها ، ولن نتحرر من الاسد اذا لم نفتخر برفع العلم الكوردي تحت لواء العلم الوطني الام السورية، كما نفخر برفع العلم الاشوري والسرياني ايضا، فكلها الوان سورية اصيلة وليس من حق احد حرمان سوريا منها، لا الشوفينين ولا العفلقيين ولا المتطرفين ولا الطائفيين.
كما يجب ان يعي الشباب الكورد الذين ثاروا لدرعا ولحمص ولكافة المدن السورية، بانهم هم الضمان الحقيقي لتثبيت كافة حقوقنا القومية والوطنية في سوريا المستقبل وليست الوثائق والضمانات الموقعة في اسطنبول والقاهرة واربيل وواشنطن، لان من يحضر هذه المؤتمرات من اصحاب العقول الانهزامية والانسحابية الكوردية لايمثلنا كما ان من يوقع عليها من الطرف الاخر لايمثل السوري العربي وما الضمان ان نراه في المستقبل او ان يدخل سوريا بعد سقوط الاسد لذا لن نجد من ينفذ هذه العهود والمواثيق.
فالضامن الحقيقي لمستقبل الشعب الكوردي في سوريا الوطن هم شباب قامشلو وعفرين وكوباني وعامودا والدرباسية والحسكة وراس العين وديريك و…..، وعموم شباب سوريا عندما يدركون حقيقة الشعب الكوردي ويعتبرون القضية القومية الكوردية قضية وطنية بامتياز ويسعون للدفاع عنها بالتكافل والتضامن السوري.
فلنعد الى بداية الثورة السورية المباركة ونؤكد عن سابق وعي وادراك تام على شعار ( واحد واحد واحد الشعب السوري واحد)(عربي كوردي سني علوي واحد) هذا الشعار الوحيد الذي سيسقط الاسد وعصابته ومرتكزات نظامه.
محامي وناشط ساسي
عضو في تيار المستقبل الكوردي في سوريا
Reading about how the FSA recently rescued two foreign journalists from a band of foreign fighters in Idleb, and how one Kurdish FSA commander was declared that he will fight the PKK in exchange for direct Turkish weapons supplies ….
I was just thinking about the tragedy of our times, that World Powers will give weapons to the FSA to fight Al Qaeda and PKK , but not to defend civilians…
Reading about how the FSA recently rescued two foreign journalists from a band of foreign fighters in Idleb, and how one Kurdish FSA commander declared that he will fight the PKK in exchange for direct Turkish weapons supplies ….
I was just thinking about the tragedy of our times, that World Powers will give weapons to the FSA to fight Al Qaeda and PKK , but not to defend civilians…
Terrific post, very well done!
Florence Aubenas in Aleppo today (Le Monde subscribers’ edition) — please share it, Annie!
Alep : “Nous sommes prêts à mourir ici”
LE MONDE | 30.07.2012 à 12h53
Par Florence Aubenas (Au nord d’Alep, en Syrie, envoyée spéciale)
Le ton de la menace, l’effroi qu’elle suscite venant d’un régime sans pitié depuis le début de la révolte en Syrie : c’est peu dire que la ville d’Alep sentait déjà la tragédie avant de sentir la poudre. “Nous vous attendons, nous sommes prêts à mourir ici”, a répondu El Hadji, un commandant rebelle de l’Armée syrienne libre (ASL).
Des combattants rebelles de l’Armée syrienne libre se préparent, le 27 juillet, dans un quartier d’Alep, à lancer une opération de guérilla contre les troupes fidèles à Damas.
Cette fois, le “grand combat” pour la deuxième ville du pays est lancé, comme beaucoup d’habitants l’appellent ici.
Les bombardements ont commencé samedi 28 juillet vers 5 heures du matin, dans le quartier de Tarik Al-Bab, à Alep. Des séries longues et lourdes. Voilà deux jours que le régime de Damas a annoncé une riposte terrible qui doit pulvériser les troupes rebelles, entrées en masse dans la ville.
Dans une rue déserte, une famille part à pied, sans courir, le père en tête qui porte deux enfants, puis la mère, silhouette toute voilée de noir, y compris une mousseline recouvrant entièrement le visage, des gants pour les mains, mais d’incroyables chaussures vernies, vertes, à talons très haut.
UNE KALACHNIKOV NONCHALANTE ENTRE LES JAMBES
Certains ont attendu le dernier moment pour fuir, espérant jusqu’au bout dénicher une voiture qui permettrait d’embarquer le plus précieux : le frigo et le ventilateur.
Vers 8 heures, les bombardements s’arrêtent. Ils ne sont pas tombés bien loin de l’école où l’ASL a établi un de ses quartiers généraux. C’est la prochaine cible, tout le monde le dit. Devant le seuil, cinq ou six soldats sur des fauteuils en moleskine dépareillés boivent alternativement du thé chaud et des sodas tièdes, une kalachnikov nonchalante entre les jambes.
Ils pensent que les militaires de Bachar Al-Assad, le président syrien, ne pourront pas grand-chose contre eux: “Nous sommes trop rapides dans nos mouvements”, disent-ils. La veille encore, l’endroit hébergeait un hôpital de campagne, une prison, le bureau des commandants, les dortoirs des hommes. Tout a été évacué.
Les téléphones des rebelles se mettent à sonner. Ça parle de Jenoubi, un grand type aux yeux verts, beau comme un soldat de cinéma. Il vient de mourir, en ravitaillant ses hommes en munitions. Puis, ça sonne à nouveau. C’est Jaber, cette fois, père de famille qui écoutait le coran à fond dans sa voiture pour monter vers le front, dodelinant en rythme sa grosse tête de garde-champêtre, comme un adolescent avec sa musique préférée. Mort lui aussi.
“LA RÉVOLUTION, OÙ EST-CE QU’ON APPREND À LA FAIRE ?”
Dans les rues silencieuses, on n’entend plus qu’un concert strident de portables. C’est Abdelkhader, c’est Karim, c’est Hassan. Il n’est pas 11 heures du matin et ça ressemble déjà à une veillée funèbre. “La révolution, où est-ce qu’on apprend à la faire ?”, demande, stupéfait, un gamin en treillis.
Près de l’ancien QG, deux points de contrôle sont vides. Plus loin, à un autre, un rebelle s’est endormi en plein combat. Il est étudiant, 22 ans, pas fermé l’œil depuis trois jours. Il n’a pas pensé mettre des sacs de sable pour se protéger, juste un parasol renversé. Sa famille s’est cotisée pour lui acheter une kalachnikov. L’ASL n’accepte que les recrues avec leur arme : elle n’en a pas assez.
Au checkpoint, un tireur embusqué a touché l’étudiant à la tempe. Il respire encore. Il faut traverser la zone industrielle pour évacuer le jeune homme à l’arrière, rouler à travers une immensité d’usines et d’entrepôts autour d’Alep.
Dans la capitale économique du pays, tout tournait la veille encore, explique Fayes Hmasho. Il dirige un atelier où 120 ouvriers confectionnent des vêtements de sport sous la marque “Oh, les beaux yeux !”. Selon lui, les ouvriers ont tout abandonné, quand les soldats de l’armée régulière ont provoqué la panique, tirant en l’air et désertant leur base toute proche.
Depuis dimanche 29 juillet, il est arrivé ce que personne n’aurait imaginé : plus aucun transfert de fonds n’a lieu, les banques d’Alep ont fermé. Une quarantaine de minotiers restent les derniers à tenir bon, permettant d’alimenter la ville en farine, donc en pain.
LE GOUVERNEMENT CLAME SA VICTOIRE
Le seul hôpital qui peut recevoir l’étudiant blessé se trouve à Suran, un bourg à une trentaine de kilomètres au nord. Mohammed Said Bakhur a laissé tomber son business avec le Liban pour s’occuper de l’établissement, voilà trois mois. Cela coûterait 8 000 dollars (6 500 euros) par mois de le faire tourner au régime minimum. Mohammed Said Bakhur en est loin : les gens du coin apportent ce qu’ils peuvent, c’est-à-dire de la nourriture et des médicaments périmés.
Un bénévole regarde l’étudiant blessé : “Ils n’ont aucune expérience. Ils savent utiliser leur corps, pas leur tête.”
La salle d’attente du centre médical est occupée par des réfugiés d’Alep, dont un jeune type, noueux, qui hausse les épaules quand on lui parle politique. Il ne s’intéresse ni à Bachar Al-Assad, ni à la révolution. Il s’intéresse à son salaire, 12 000 livres syriennes par mois (environ 150 euros), et à la façon de faire vivre une famille de huit personnes avec ça. Il s’angoisse : “Quand est-ce que vous pensez que le travail va reprendre ?” L’homme est ouvrier dans une entreprise de ferronnerie.
A Alep, le gouvernement clame sa victoire. Le lendemain, les rebelles annoncent qu’ils ont repris le terrain. Pour aller voir, il faudrait une voiture. De l’essence aussi. Pouvoir s’approcher des barrages. Dimanche, l’arrêt des bombardements paraissait la seule nouvelle confirmée dans la guerre médiatique.
Au centre médical de Suran, on envoie chercher le chirurgien, ou plutôt celui qui en fait office, un dentiste de 28 ans, joli comme un cœur, avec les cheveux coiffés au gel et un pistolet passé à la ceinture de son pantalon moulant, si bien qu’on dirait un accessoire de mode. Il se dépêche. Il court. Quand il arrive, l’étudiant vient de mourir.
Florence Aubenas (Au nord d’Alep, en Syrie, envoyée spéciale)
FuckScrew you Paul Craig Roberts, really reallyfuckscrew you….You and other fossil, failed, demoralized and demoralizing, immaterial, and irrelevant elitist lefties (Mr. Tarek Ali is of course now included as he insisted), have been among the worst friends Arabs, especially Palestinians and now Syrians had/have/will ever have. If you want to take a shot at your political adversaries, go use your own shit, not the crap that Arabs don’t deserve democracy. And this crap is posted in no other than counterpunch. What a cesspool of equivocating none-sense the Syrian revolution has exposed you to be. I am happy that the Syrian Revolution first blasted my own blinders, and then exposed the likes of you who insist on gluing the blinders to their irises.
Someone like you should recognize that the real sustainable solution to the problem of sectarianism isn’t more dictators (so that you can visit them and show that you are counter-current and brave), but real freedom, democracy, civil state, and equality.
We will build our country, and we will not suspend our dignity or freedom and rights until the demise of Israel, the end of corporate control, of multilateralism, or that of globalization.
With friends like you…. who needs enemies.
Oh my, Off The Wall!
200 000 refugees from Aleppo ,in the past two days, alone, so what? 22 000 dead, so what? 1000s missing, so what? Endless massacres, so what?
The revolutionaries are Sunni extremists who want to get rid of the Alawites, Shiites, Kurds and all minority groups, that is why we cannot support them. The activists are paid to die. Eventually, the tyrant must go, but not now. His role is essential because he refuses to sign a peace deal with Zionists, refuse to cut his support with resistance parties, refuses to be a base for Imperialists. Syria is the last castle of Arab dignity! Assad must go, we cannot support him, but we cannot support the bigger tyrants,”Imperial powers”.
Remember, Syria is the last castle of Arab dignity, that is why Syrians must find a negotiable way with the regime, to thwart western intervention, NATO and,…, … This is the logic of Syria’s friend, George Galloway.
It is more likely to die from a stroke caused by such kind of nonsense, than from an ASSadist gunfire.
In today’s Financial Times:
Syria is different through Russian eyes
By Andrei Nekrasov
It is normal that news headlines differ from country to country, but the western world might be interested to know that Syria has not been among the main news items in Russia. If there is a report on an event that is all but impossible to ignore, such as the massacre in Tremseh on July 12 it is like this one from news2.ru: “Syrian insurgents have been instructed to kill as many people as possible.”
The Russian word boyeviki, used to describe the rebel fighters, is less neutral than “insurgents” and is just one step away from bandits or terrorists. It passed from slang into the mass media during the war in Chechnya in the 1990s as a way of branding the Chechen separatist fighters. It is also worth noting in the report cited above the use of the words “instructed to kill”. They are intended to hint clearly that the opposition are acting on the orders of some invisible masters.
More here, but need to sign up/in:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4f2ee8b0-d7e2-11e1-9980-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz22BAGiS8X
Cont’d.
The report, which was on prime time TV, featured Anastassia Popova, a young and charismatic reporter. She provided “evidence” of the rebels killing innocent people in Tremseh, while claiming that the majority of those killed by the army were armed fighters and deserters. The reporter also claimed that the UN authorities were hampering her crew because of its country of origin.
Russia’s government is stubbornly supporting Bashar al-Assad and, true to Soviet-era traditions, it is unashamedly using the media it controls to justify its policy. Vladimir Putin’s control of information is not absolute. The internet has so far been almost completely free. However, the truth is Mr Putin does not need to exert control over public opinion on Syria.
Most people in Russia see the fighting there as a proxy war between their country and the west. While the humanitarian crisis receives little attention, the diplomacy is the focus of regular and detailed reports. The “struggle for peace” of foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and Russia’s UN mission, against “aggressive western powers bent on force”, are what we mostly hear about in reports on Syria.
The government encourages this proxy war narrative, as it has a vested interest in portraying itself as the defender of a nation’s geopolitical position against the west’s perceived global expansion. While many of Mr Putin’s other policies are increasingly under attack, most Russians share the divisive world view that he projects. Even the independent internet-based media’s “objective” reporting tends to present Mr Assad’s version first and as fully legitimate. That is not a result of any direct pressure from the government.
When it comes to reporting on domestic political issues, such as the government’s handling of natural disasters or freedom of assembly, the same media outlets are much less patient with the government’s interpretation of events. But with Syria, geopolitics take precedence over objectivity. Many abroad may wonder at Russian stubbornness in the face of the near certainty of Mr Assad’s demise. But this geopolitical nationalism has cultural roots. And Mr Putin of course is himself a product of this culture, not just its manipulator – although to be clear he is a master of that technique too, using it to maintain his power.
More and more, the Russian people are told that vlast – a word that does not really have an English equivalent, incorporating authority and political power with a hint of brutal force – comes from God. Attacking it, for whatever reason, is both sinful and criminal.
On the face of it the Pussy Riot case, a political show trial in which three young women are being effectively persecuted for blasphemy, is unconnected to Syria. The trio stands accused of singing an anti-Putin song in a Moscow cathedral. It is another example of the bid to reintroduce autocratic ideology. The trial’s message is simple: an insult to the leader is an insult to God.
Two weeks ago Abdel Basset Sayda, the head of the Syrian National Council, accurately described his movement as a “revolution” when he came to Moscow to urge officials to stop supporting Syria’s regime. He was, inadvertently, highlighting the very reason for Mr Putin’s support. Mr Sayda may have wanted to inspire Russian leaders with a vision of democracy and justice that invoked the end of the cold war. Instead, those same leaders found themselves imagining how they might end up in Mr Assad’s shoes.
The writer is a film and TV director
Dear MGB
looks like they are taking lessone from Assad’s media
Here is an account of what is happening in Aleppo. I can not verify accuracy, but the silence of the gong-ho regime supporters, and their confusion in Aleppo (on their own facebook pages created by Mukhabarat and populated by a combination of illiterates and stupid) lend some credibility to this account:
Sad when these young soldiers and officers are killed by their country folks. Bashar’s most serious crimes also include his crimes against the Syrian Army.
حلب بحمى الرحمن
Like This Page · 8 hours ago
أقســـم بالله العظيم أنه الكلام اللي رح أكتبه هو حقيقي و مافيه أي مبالغة أو مغالطة و رح أكتبه كما شفته أمام عيني و الله على ما أقول شهيد:
لأهـــالــــي حـــــلـــــب الــمــتــــشــائمــيــــن من الوضع و أنـــه مـــا رح يــمـــشـــي االحـــال
أنـــا بــدي قــلــكـــن شـــغـــلــة صــــارت مــعـــي…..كنت فيها شـــاهــد على محاولة إقتحــام الجيش لحي صلاح الدين من طرف حي الحمدانية و ذلك لمدة يومين كنت عم راقب و شوف الوضع….وكان بيني و بين المعركة حوالي الــ 50 متر لــ 100 متر بين كر و فر
اللي صـــار:
بدأت الحملة العسكرية في تمام الساعة الـ 6:15 من صباح يوم السبت….برتل عسكري ضخم يضم حوالي 12 دبابة و راجمة صواريخ و عربات زيل و مئات الجنود المشـــاة
اللي صار هو وصل الجيش الأسدي لمدخل صلاح الدين تقريبا ع بعد 500 متر…..بلش الضرب و رش الرصاص و كل شوي أنفجار…….
المهم كانت المعركة على الشكل التالي:
دخل النظام ع حي صلاح الدين من طرف الأوتوستراد كــأنه مفكر حاله بده يمحي صلاح الدين و رش الرصاص متل الكذب …..هههههه و انا عم طلع ع جنود الجيش النظامي و لا طق طق طق واحد ورا واحد يقعوا و بشكل سريع واحد ورا واحد و مشيت 3 دبابات بأتجاه الحي و سلخوها 3 أربيجيهات أنفجروا الـ 3 …..ما تلاقي و لا جنود الجيش متل الجيج عبيركدوا بين حارات الحمدانية بس بدن يتخبوا و يدقوا ع بيوت العالم أفتحووووووووا أفتحواااا …..المهم صااارت المعركة كــل 1000 طلقة من النظام بشكل عشوائي و ما عرفانين وين الجيش الحر متمركز عبرشوا بس ع الهوا من الخوف..عم يقابله من الجيش الحر تمركز مو أكتر من 10 قناصين بأماكن مجهولة و حساسة ..مع كم شخص متواجدين خلف متاريس رملية و بس هنن تمكنوا من دحر كل هل الحملة اللي صرعونا فيهـــا
بعدها تم تفجير دبابتين بمنطقة بعيدة من طرف أخر…..
وكــانت الحصيلة من الأخير و الأعداد اللي رح أذكرهــا كنت شاهد عليهــا هي :
1- فوق الــ 100 قتيل من الجيش النظامي 90% ماتوا قنصا من حوالي الـ 10 أشخاص
2- تدمير 5 دبابات …كنت شاهد ع تفجيرهن
3- أستشهاد شخص من الجيش الحر نتيجة قذيفة
4- أستشهاد مدنيين أثنين
5- العشرات من الجنود خلعوا بزاتهم العسكرية و هربوا و تم تصفية عسكري واحد
6- كنت شاهد على حديث بين ضابط من الجيش النظامي و أحد أهالي الحي…وسمعته يقول
“والله لنلعن أبوه ع أمه لبشار الأسد …. بشرفي أكثر من 75 من الجيش بس بده ينشق أو يهرب بس قريبا إن شاء الله”
7- حوالي الــ 50 جندي بين جرحى و مصابين دخلو بيت أحد الجيران و سألو صاحب المنزل بالحرف الواحد ” الله يخليك يا عمو بتعرف شي كراج أو محل نهرب منه…” …”والله أنا من 10 أشهر ما شفت أهلي….” …”والله مافي مي نشربه …. وألخ…..
8- حبس حوالي الــ 40 جندي بحارة ضيقة و مفاوضاتهم مع قناص بالمنطقة للخروج و نتيجة المفاوضات هروب البعض من الجيش و هروب البعض لسياراتهم
9- عند حلول الظلام هروب معظيم ضباط النظام و بقي بعض العناصر مما أدى لتوغل الجيش الحر بالمنطقة و أغتنام الأسسلحة و أصطياد بعض العناصر بجنح الليل
10 دخول جيش النظام بعض المنازل مو للسرقة بس و الله العظيم قدام عيني ركضوا ع البرادات منشان يأكلوا جبنة و لبنة أقسم بالله
11- بس للأسف تمت سرقة 4 سيارات مدنية للعالم….يلا مو مشكلة في ضريبة بدنا ندفعها
يعني شوي قناصة و كم شخص رامات أربيجيه و كم شخص ع متاريس رمل ….دحروا حملة عسكرية هههههههه لعما مسخرة ….. وجيش مهزوز للغاية و الله العظيم
والله على ما أقول شهيد و هي الرواية و الله اللي شفته أمــــام عيني و هي شهادتي عمــا حصل
والله محيي الجيش الحر
“أبو محمد الحلبي”
“Sad when these young soldiers and officers are killed by their country folks. Bashar’s most serious crimes also include his crimes against the Syrian Army.”
Extremely depressing…
The majority are conscripts, they are as humiliated as any ordinary citizen. They’ve been used and abused at once. The thousands that gave their lives for justice more than anything else will not approve the abuses inflicted on some of the captured. Understandable but never excusable.
Torturing Syrians for 42 years is ENOUGH! We were are all traumatized by these barbaric acts. Once a prisoner of war, pending on the verdict, justice will be served.
Without the Free Syrian Army the regime will not have crumbled in my humble opinion, but this same army has to act as an army for all Syrians, has to differentiate itself from the Assadist henchmen.
Another journalist injured in Syria, Omar Khashram. Mr. Khashram was injured by shrapnel in areas unprotected by his flak jacket. He was taken to Turkey for treatment and is conscious and in stable condition. Thank God.
@NMSyria
“The first and foremost revolution is the revolution with one’s inner self. Bringing down Assad is just the tip of the iceberg.”
OTW,
Yesterday Bab al Nayrab in Aleppo was liberated by FSA and the entire Berri ckan was liquidated.
Can you tell us the significance of this ? What do you know about Bab al Neyrab and the Berri clan ?
And btw, if someone can put the video of the extermination of the Berri clan, it will cheer my heart. Nothing cheers me up more than seeing dead Shabbiha.
Christian neighborhoods in Damascus now battle sites:
Les quartiers chrétiens de Damas visés par l’armée syrienne
Le Monde.fr avec AFP | 01.08.2012 à 09h46 • Mis à jour le 01.08.2012 à 11h15
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Les troupes de l’armée syrienne à Jubar, près de Damas, mardi 31 juillet.
Les combats reprennent à Damas
Des combats entre armée et opposants ont éclaté mercredi 1er août pour la première fois aux abords de deux quartiers chrétiens du centre de Damas, rapporte l’Observatoire syrien des droits de l’homme (OSDH). “Des combats ont éclaté mercredi à l’aube aux abords des quartiers de Bab Touma et Bab Charqi. Les premières informations font état d’un mort parmi les soldats”, indique l’ONG.
Depuis mardi soir, des tirs nourris et des explosions retentissent dans plusieurs quartiers de la capitale hostiles au régime du président Assad. Selon les comités locaux de coordination, qui animent la contestation sur le terrain, le grand quartier de Tadamoun, dans le sud de la capitale, a été visé par des tirs au mortier tôt mercredi matin.
Des accrochages limités à Damas avaient repris lundi, notamment à Kafar Soussé, après une attaque rebelle aux lance-roquettes contre un barrage de l’armée. Le front de Damas s’était calmé après que l’armée eut pris le dessus au terme d’une semaine d’affrontements inédits dans la capitale.
Carte des principaux affrontements du mois de juillet à Damas :
Damas : carte de situation des affrontements
Première intervention de Bachar Al-Assad depuis deux semaines
Le président syrien a félicité mercredi les militaires pour leur lutte contre ce qu’il a qualifié de “bandes terroristes criminelles”. “Le sort passé, présent et futur de notre peuple et de notre nation dépend de cette bataille”, déclare dans un communiqué le président, qui ne s’était pas exprimé publiquement depuis deux semaines.
Florence Aubenas, still in Aleppo:
Alep : “Rejoignez-nous, nous ne vous ferons aucun mal”
LE MONDE | 01.08.2012 à 15h10
Par Florence Aubenas (Alep, envoyée spéciale)
A quelques mètres d’un poste de police attaqué par l’Armée syrienne libre, au sud d’Alep, près de Salaheddine, le 31 juillet.
C’est l’histoire d’un petit soldat syrien qui arrive en courant à un point de contrôle. Il est 7 heures du matin, le 26 juillet, juste devant le grand central téléphonique d’Alep, tellement massif qu’il a dû être importé directement d’Union soviétique dans les années 1970. Le petit soldat commence par un salut réglementaire, tout en faisant claquer un “Mes respects, mon officier”, sous une moustache si mince qu’elle paraît transparente.
Puis, aussitôt, il expose son cas : il appartient aux troupes du président Bachar Al-Assad, mais son père lui a ordonné de déserter pour rejoindre les rebelles de l’Armée syrienne libre (ASL). Lui ne veut pas. Comment faire pour retrouver son régiment au plus vite ? Au check-point, l’autre militaire penche vers lui sa tête enturbannée d’un chèche rouge : “Tu sais où tu es, mon garçon ? Cette zone est passée sous le contrôle de l’Armée syrienne libre.” Le petit soldat est arrêté et menotté. Il pleure dans la voiture qui le conduit à la prison aménagée en ville par les insurgés.
Dans quel camp combattre ? Qui tient quelle position ? A qui se fier ? En Syrie, les histoires vraies de déserteurs sont celles qui racontent le mieux la panique et la confusion du pays. Elles sont de plus en plus nombreuses à circuler, mais, à quelques exceptions près, toutes fonctionnent sur la même trame : la fuite continue et massive des troupes du régime vers celles de l’ASL.
Le phénomène commence à affoler le gouvernement de Damas : “Le régime ne sait plus à qui il peut faire confiance dans son propre camp”, estime Amar Al-Wawi, général des services secrets (moukhabarat) lui-même passé à la rébellion, voilà presque un an, avec cinq de ses officiers. Comme si les choses pourrissaient de l’intérieur.
Dans une caserne rebelle, vers Mera, à une vingtaine de kilomètres d’Alep, ils sont sept à avoir déserté pour rejoindre l’ASL, sept qui n’ont pas 25 ans, assis sur un matelas, buvant du soda, se chamaillant comme des gamins en dessous d’un long râtelier où sont rangées les kalachnikovs. L’un d’eux, Zine Al-Abidine se souvient du début des révoltes, il y a plus d’un an, alors qu’il était encore soldat au 17e régiment d’Al-Raika.
Assez vite, dans sa caserne, les téléphones portables ont été supprimés. Puis la télévision interdite, sauf pour les discours du président qui, eux, étaient obligatoires. Toutes permissions ou visites aux familles sont devenues exceptionnelles. A ces soldats coupés de tout, les gradés annoncent que des manifestations se préparent et qu’ils vont devoir affronter des terroristes, venus d’Afghanistan ou de Tchétchénie. “On le croyait, on s’attendait à de gros combats”, explique Zine Al-Abidine. Mais quand son régiment a entouré une ville, “on s’est vite rendu compte que les manifestants étaient des simples gens comme nous et qu’ils n’étaient même pas armés”.
“PERMISSION DE VOLER”
Mohamed Al-Assa, lui, faisait partie des forces spéciales à Damas. De son portefeuille, il sort aussi une carte de police à son nom. Elle lui avait été distribuée lorsque, sous l’égide de la Ligue arabe, des observateurs internationaux avaient été déployés en Syrie. “Au cas où ils nous demandaient quelque chose, il fallait la donner et, surtout, ne pas se présenter comme militaire.”
Il se souvient aussi de la ville de Deraa, juste après une manifestation. Ils étaient un groupe de huit, ils avaient “la permission de voler”. Et ils le faisaient. Même lui ? Mohamed Al-Assa fixe droit devant lui, les yeux ronds comme des billes. Il hésite une seconde. Et lâche : “Oui, moi aussi.” Puis, aussitôt se met râler que, de toute façon, “ce n’était pas juste”. Lors du pillage d’un supermarché, par exemple, il avait fallu couper le butin en deux : la moitié pour les huit hommes et l’autre pour le seul gradé. Le soldat Al-Assa en tremble encore d’indignation.
Son engagement dans les forces spéciales, Mohamed Al-Assa l’avait vécu comme un honneur, surtout pour quelqu’un du Nord comme lui, cette région loin de la capitale, sans grands réseaux ni influence. Sa famille devait lui verser de l’argent chaque mois, pour qu’il puisse au moins fumer, tant sa solde était faible. Elle le faisait avec le sourire. “En Syrie, on aime l’armée, les armes, le prestige”, dit-il. C’était il y a trois ans à peine. Cela lui paraît des siècles.
Un autre déserteur raconte qu’à l’intérieur même de la caserne, une séparation s’est creusée entre les soldats à mesure que la situation se durcissait : d’un côté, les musulmans sunnites (majoritaires dans le pays) ; de l’autre, les alaouites, minorité confessionnelle accusée de bénéficier des largesses du régime – qui en est issu – et qui occupe dans l’armée l’essentiel des postes d’officiers. Dans certaines casernes, alaouites et musulmans sunnites ont été logés dans des pièces séparées, ne mangeant plus la même nourriture, sans plus de contact ou presque. “Eux avaient de la viande, des fruits, et nous de la soupe de pomme de terre. L’hiver, ils avaient du chauffage et pas nous”, proteste un autre déserteur.
“ALORS, IL A FALLU SE METTRE À TUER”
Les premières défections commencent, sous prétexte d’aller acheter quelques provisions. Toute sortie est alors supprimée. “Des espions se sont mis à suivre les sunnites partout, jusqu’aux toilettes”, reprend Zine Al-Abidine, du 17e régiment. Quelques-uns affirment que des agents des forces de sécurité auraient infiltré certaines unités, pour dénoncer ceux qui renâclent au combat.
“Alors, il a fallu se mettre à tuer”, dit Ali Abbas, ancien soldat dans l’artillerie à Damas. Il a tiré des roquettes sur un quartier de Damas, celui où habite une de ses tantes. Puis, il a été placé à un point de contrôle à l’ouest de la capitale. Il y reçoit les listes avec les noms d’opposants “présumés” ou ceux de quartiers ciblés, dont toute la population est massivement considérée comme rebelle. “Dans ce cas-là, il fallait arrêter surtout les hommes jeunes. Au début, ils étaient embarqués, on ne savait pas où. Ensuite, j’en ai vu au moins treize tués sur place.”
Les désertions se font massives. Douze dans la seule chambrée d’Ali Abbas : “Les officiers les accusaient d’être des agents infiltrés d’Al-Qaida ou du Mossad.” Au check-point, les listes des déserteurs sont ajoutées à celles des gens recherchés, estampillées “priorité numéro un”. Dans la ville d’Azzaz, à la mi-juillet, l’un d’eux a été rattrapé et brûlé devant ses camarades.
Beaucoup de sunnites voudraient s’enfuir, estime Zine Al-Abidine, comme la plupart des déserteurs rencontrés. “Mais, pas les alaouites : eux se battront pour Bachar jusqu’à la mort.” Aucun, en tout cas, n’a rejoint l’ASL, selon ces hommes. “Pourtant, tout le monde est accepté dans l’ASL”, avance un autre. Et, comme surpris de sa propre générosité, il précise : “Même les femmes.” Elles seraient quelques-unes à porter les armes, près d’Homs.
“REJOINS-NOUS, ON VA GAGNER”
Ahmed, simple soldat dans l’infanterie, s’est tiré une balle dans le pied pour être conduit à l’hôpital et pouvoir s’en évader. Il a fui tout droit à l’ASL, sans même se poser de question. Où pourrait-il aller ? “C’est le seul endroit où on sera protégé des représailles et notre famille aussi”, explique-t-il. Les déserteurs représenteraient aujourd’hui environ 25 % de l’ASL, d’après nos constatations, même si cette estimation reste à manier avec précaution.
L’autre jour, dans un faubourg d’Alep, trois tanks de l’armée officielle s’approchent. En face, il y a un soldat insurgé, sans armes antichars mais avec des baskets de contrefaçon Giorgio Armani, qui lance dans un haut-parleur : “Nous avons déjà tué beaucoup d’entre vous. Rejoignez-nous, nous ne vous ferons aucun mal.” Ça tire. Ça court.
Un peu plus loin, près du quartier général de l’ASL en proie à la panique, le téléphone d’un rebelle se met à sonner. C’est un camarade de régiment, resté du côté de Bachar Al-Assad. Il lui demande : “Tu es à Alep ?” “Oui, et toi ? ” “Moi aussi.” Et le rebelle de répondre, tout en cherchant à se protéger des tirs d’un hélicoptère apparu entre-temps et contre lequel il ne peut rien : “Rejoins-nous, on va gagner.”
Florence Aubenas (Alep, envoyée spéciale)
umm nuwâs, merci pour l’article qui est réservé aux abonnés. L’affaire Berri me navre.
Antoine, here is the video; I hate it.
As I said before, Antoine, I would not want to live in your Syria.
Dear OTW, Good to see you commenting here again.
I agree wholeheartedly with N.Z.and also with Annie; we don’t need revenge acts but open and transparent judicial processes. Captured regime fighters must be treated as POWs under the Geneva Convention. The last thing we want to see is videos of “confessions” a-la-regime, kangaroo courts dealing out death sentences and/or summary executions . I know that emotions are different on the ground but we can only speak out and demand for this to happen.
Here is a story about the Chinese view of events in Syria:
http://observers.france24.com/content/20120730-what-chinese-think-about-beijing-veto-syria-china-conflict-human-rights-uprising-damascus-global-times
Here is a video Antoine is going to love…(I didn’t paste the complete link because I did not want the video to embed here, if you watch it you’ll know why) uploaded in Nov. 2010
youtube.com/watch?v=DlGqub-tHpo&feature=related
Why the nazi straight-arm salute at 3:05? And with these kind of special forces you’d think we should have gotten the Golan back long time ago in a matter of hours. Also note the uploader’s comment in Arabic هم النخبة فقط من ديرالزور واللاذقية وطرطوس = They are the “top choice” only from Deir-e-zzor, al-Lathiqiyya and Tartous! One of my nephews told me that there are many “Deiriyye” among the Assadists forces and Shabbiha, especially from reef Deirezzor and they are called Shawi/Shawiyyeen who will fight fiercely for anyone who pays them the most. The old videos of “armed gangs” who murdered regime troops in Maaret-el-Nu3man had guys speaking with a Shawi accent (similar to Iraqi Arabic) telling how they killed their victims. Also in the video of the bearded Syrian man accused of being an Islamist and being tortured, and later murdered by Syrian soldiers, a couple of the soldiers torturing him were speaking with a Shawi accent.
International Crisis Group
Executive Summary
Syria’s Mutating Conflict
Not all is heading in the wrong direction; some developments have been surprisingly uplifting. But there are more than enough ominous trends, none more alarming than these: a regime seemingly morphing into a formidable militia engaged in a desperate fight for survival; an Alawite community increasingly embattled and persuaded its fate hinges entirely on the regime’s; and an opposition that, despite sometimes heroic efforts to contain them, is threatened by its own forms of radicalisation. Together, this could portend a prolonged, ever more polarised, destructive civil war.
The regime almost certainly will not change its ways, and so the burden must fall on the opposition to do what – given the immensity of its suffering – must seem an improbable undertaking: seriously address the phenomena of retaliatory violence, sectarian killings and creeping fundamentalism within its ranks; rethink its goal of total regime eradication and instead focus on rehabilitating existing institutions; profoundly reassess relations with the Alawite community; and come up with forward looking proposals on transitional justice, accountability and amnesty.
Social dynamics have evolved as well, a case of what one might call the good, the bad and the ugly. The good was better than anticipated: a remarkably vibrant, courageous and resilient civil society that has mobilised networks of assistance and kept in check some of the worst forms of violence to which any armed opposition operating in a poisonous environment might have resorted. Intensified regime brutality failed to subdue popular protests; if anything, it gave them a shot in the arm. Surprising none more than itself, Syria’s opposition rediscovered a sense of solidarity, community and national pride.
For those Syrians who have endured seventeen months of repression at the hands of a ruthless regime, for whom the instinct of revenge, understandably, must be hard to suppress, these must seem callous, inappropriate, perhaps even offensive questions. Yet raising them is a necessity if the transition for which they are struggling is to be worthy of the sacrifices they will have endured getting there.
http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/middle-east-north-africa/egypt-syria-lebanon/syria/128-syrias-mutating-conflict.aspx
Zaid Benjamin @zaidbenjamin
#BREAKING: Jabhat al-Nosra, the Syrian version of al-Qaeda, is behind the execution of several members of Al Biri clan in #Aleppo
Seeing is believing…
The Syrian Revolution in Photos | عدسة الثورة السورية
is on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/SyrianRevolutionInPhotos
I like this clip too much
I forgot the name of the person who roams the streets in the early morning to announce the beginning of Ramadan. Can you remind me ?
Thank you Annie, this video is exquisite, brings tears even to the eyes of an atheist!
7 is the the same letter/phoneme found in the word ’7eetan’ ). BTW, he is not the one announcing the start of Ramadan but waking people up for su7uur, the pre-dawn meal before the start of every day’s fasting.
The word you are looking for is Msa7rati (Damascus pronunciation
I’m going to forward it to everybody I know who speaks Arabic!
Hamster, OTW,
Great posts. I’m wondering what will be in the end. Will the new Syrian government ask Asthma to return her candle sticks? Will Dr. Assad return to a career in opthamology?
Hoping for peace and freedom for everyone.
Dear Annie
Every time i start writing something about Aleppo, a new piece of news comes out that makes what I wrote seems irrelevant.
Since last night, communication with Aleppo seems cut. It is difficult to get news from there, and there are many conflicting reports regarding not only the significance of the summary executions that took place in the City, but also regarding the ramification on the relationship between the tribes and the FSA. Many who have been either silent or shy “regime supporters… regime non supporters, but definitely against the revolution” have been posting vitriolic remarks about the executions and hinting that the tribes are now united against the FSA, even if the regime descends to hell.
Personally, I have a strong opinion on the matter being against death penalty on principle and an unwilling to compromise on that issue. I will probably try to get a post on that subject in the next few days despite of my overwhelming personal and professional situation, compounded with worries about family in Aleppo. I will try my best, but can’t really promise.
I wish I can translate fast. There are some gems on Facebook, especially on these issues. It suffices to say that some of those summarily executed in Aleppo already have multiple death penalty sentences (from Syrian Courts) that were never enforced due to the “special relation” between the regime mafia and their extension among some clans, primarily in Aleppo. In fact, the fraudulent amnesties by Assad in the early days of the revolution, aimed primarily to reinforce the ranks of these mafia clans, which became the backbone of oppression in Aleppo and the main reason for the delay in joining the revolution.
That said, I find that the regime does have genuine supporters in Aleppo. I am not willing to discount them. I believe that these naysayers are dangerous now, will be dangerous in the future, but in no way, am i willing to go hunting them or to support such hunt simply because they are disgusting.
Many of us in Aleppo, perhaps more than in any other traumatized city in Syria, will have very hard time coming to a grip with the destructive role this regime has done to the ethos of some of our beloved. We are reaching the stage of saying “formerly beloved” and that breaks my heart, and makes me more determined to bring this regime down, and then to eradicate its dirty, inhumane legacy.
The Womb of Murder , a must read by Amal Hanano. It reads like a horror story
Dear OTW,
Could you please post the links to the facebook pages that you’re gleaning your information from? Maybe I can translate some of them on your behalf (well, as much as I can). I am very interested in knowing the source of the info you posted re the outstanding death sentences on the Berri clan members.
Dear MGB,
I will send you an email… There are several closed groups, I need to ask before adding new friends to the groups.
for now here is a piece from today’s crop
ثمن الحرية
استقبلني حاجز الجيش النظامي في مدخل حي الميدان بعد أيام القصف وهو يدقق في الهويات ويقارنها باللوائح ورائحة قاتلة تزكم الأنوف ..في كل مكان دمار ..بيوت عربية قديمة زلزلت وعوراتها ظاهرة…المحلات مكسورة الأبواب والأغلاق وجدرانها مهدودة ومحتوياتها منهوبة …وبعضها أصبح أكواماً …سيارات مقلوبة ومهروسة بالدبابات..فوارغ الرصاصات تفترش الأرض كالرمل ..أكوام القمامة والهدم تحتل الصدارة ..
والأدهى من ذلك الجثث المرمية داخل البيوت وحتى على قارعة الطريق منتفخة مدماة تحدق في الفراغ بمآق مفتوحة ..
المسجد يشهق في صمت بمئدنته المضروبة بالمدفعية وبنيانه المغربل بالقدائف وشبابيكه المكسورة ترنو إليك بكآبة ..أما كابلات الكهرباء التي سلمت من القصف فقد قطعت بسكين حاقد ..
غادرت من حيث أتيت لأجد عربة المتسول المعاق في مدخل الحي مهروسة بآلية ثقيلة وجثته مكومة بجوارها والبعض يقول أنه كان عيناً للنظام ..
يتحدث الناس أنهم يهود لكن اليهود لا يتركون جثث جنودهم مرمية حتى التعفن ..
على الحاجز وضع الجنود حاوية لمنع السيارات من المرور و للغرابة مكتوب عليها : يلعن روحك ..لعلهم لايعرفون حتى القراءة فحيطان الحارة لاتزال كتاباً مفتوحًا يزخر بالحرية وبرسومات إبداعية مرحة تطالبه بالرحيل ..
الأهالي عادوا رغم كل شيء يسألون عن بعضهم بلهفة وهم ينظفون بيوتهم وشوارعهم ..ينظر كل واحد فيهم في عيون الآخر بعزيمة ..هؤلاء هم الثوار الحقيقيون وليس الذين ينشقون ليهاجروا إلى بلد غني يؤويهم دون تأشيرة…
كل ذلك رأيته في المزة ولكن مع رائحة الاحتراق تنام عليها يومياً والنار تلتهم البساتين وشجرها النادر عالمياً شجر الصبار الذي يعتاش عليه الأهالي يحرقه الجنود الشجعان حتى لايختبئ وراءه شبح يرعبهم …هذه هي الفرقة الرابعة وهؤلاء هم جنود الوطن الذين دفعنا لهم 75%من أموالنا يقصفون دمشق بمدافع قاسيون والطائرات بدل توجيهها إلى إسرائيل ..
إنه يوم الحصاد ..حصاد خمسين عاماً من الصمت المهين …أعدوهم لهذا اليوم وقدمنا خيرة شبابنا قرابين للخطيئة العظمى : السكوت عن الحق وعبادة الطواغيت …على مدى عقود أعدوا وراكموا قطعان الحقد الطائفي والفساد المالي وفرق الموت والخراب اليومي وتركناهم يفعلون …
كيف سينظر أحدهم في عيون أطفاله إن نجا من القتل أو المحاكمة ليخبره كيف قصف دمشق بعد حمص ودرعا وإدلب وووو…هل سينجو من التاريخ ؟؟؟؟
أهل دمشق وصلتهم رسالة النظام وهم يجيبون من أقدم عاصمة في التاريخ:
الحرية صارت أغلى … الحرية صارت أحلى …
تيار العلم و السلم
Thanks OTW, I understand, no pressure at all.
Syria’s top business class are deserting the country and taking their factories out with them:
http://syrianncb.org/2012/07/31/%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A3%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%83%D9%91%D9%83%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B9%D9%87%D9%85-%D9%88%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7/
70% of Syria’s top businessmen have left the country and top industrialists are dismantling their factories and taking them abroad, mainly to re-set up in other Arab countries such as the gulf states.
وقالت المصادر لوكالة (آكي) الإيطالية للأنباء “رجال الأعمال عموماً قادرون على استقراء الراهن والمستقبل، ومنذ نهاية العام الماضي شعر بعض الصناعيين بخطورة الوضع على استثماراتهم في سورية وقاموا بتفكيك مصانع كبيرة لهم ونقلوها إلى دول خليجية، كما غادر البلاد نحو 70% من كبار رجال المال والأعمال مع أسرهم وتوجّهوا خاصة إلى الإمارات والولايات المتحدة وكندا وأوروبا”. وأفادت بأن “بعض المصانع التي تم تفكيكها تقدّر بعشرات ملايين الدولارات، وهي عموماً مصانع تحويلية وهندسية”.
The sources told (AKI) Italian news agency “businessmen are generally able to extrapolate the present and future, and since the end of last year, some industrialists felt the seriousness of the situation on their investments in Syria and decided to dismantle large factories and moved them to the Gulf states. About 70% of the country’s Business and Finance elite havealready left with their families and went to the UAE and the United States, Canada and Europe. It was reported that some of the factories that have been dismantled are worth tens of millions of dollars, mainly manufacturing and engineering plants.”
Dear OTW
Hard not to plunge in depression but who does it help ? I too am against vengeance and the death penalty but these are extraordinary times which do not bring out the best in us. I have never felt hatred towards anyone that I remember and even now I could not. But I am safely tuck in my armchair and who am I to judge? Yet there are voices from among the revolutionaries who protest against these executions.
On another topic I am a fan of Amy Goodman but this interview of Charles Glass is really too much for me
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/8/3/charles_glass_with_annans_exit_influx#transcript
among other :
“There is a non-violent, peaceful opposition, led by people like Michelle Kelo, Riad Drar and others who represent a vast spectrum of opinion in Syria, who never wanted the conflict to become violent because they felt that the violence itself would be too destructive for the country, no matter who won. On the other side of the opposition you have the free Syrian army, you have Al Qaeda-supported militias, you have militias, 70 or more, that people don’t know where they come from and who they are, and they are in many cases, beating the regime, in other cases being beaten by the regime.”
How could the opposition remain non violent when slaughtered by the dozens; he discounts the fact of the desertions who man the FSA. Kilo’s alternative to negotiate with the govt is a non winner no matter how much I respect the man. In WWII was there an option to negotiate with Hitler ?
The Independent’s Kim Sengupta with doctors in Aleppo:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/the-aleppo-lifesaver-calling-for-weapons-to-save-lives-8005412.html
Annie,
“How could the opposition remain non violent when slaughtered by the dozens; he discounts the fact of the desertions who man the FSA. Kilo’s alternative to negotiate with the govt is a non winner no matter how much I respect the man. In WWII was there an option to negotiate with Hitler ?”
Why is the non-violent movement automatically branded as “wanting to negotiate”? I will never advocate for anyone to carry a weapon that is my choice, but I would never be foolish enough to believe that negotiating with the butcher will ever achieve anything other than more deaths, despair and destruction.
In my eyes at least the non-violent movements wants to destroy this rotten regime down to the core, but instead of a gun the weapon of choice is their voice. Appeasement did no work back in WWII, Chamberlain and the British government at the time were a lot more scared of Communism than Fascism and were willing to “negotiate” with Hitler. That proved disastrous as you mentioned earlier and the parallels between those events and todays events are eerily close (Fascism Vs Communism) and (Fascism Vs Islamists) and how we should appease the fascists so we can combat the “real” enemy. No, hell no the real enemy are both, and you cant ever settle for one because of fear of the other. Fear can’t ever be a reason not to strive for the better, because when you give in to fear at those times you end up with the likes of Hitler, Bashar and Mussolini.
Silmiyeh (non-violent) movement might have been drowned in blood by Assad and his dirt temporarily, but make no mistake about it Annie it is still alive and daily it is raising both hands in the air reaching for the sky, screaming for its right. One of the biggest figures of the non-violent movement Nelson Mandela never rejected an armed struggle, but advocated it should be used as a last resort while maintaining the non-violent movement.
It was the protesters that lead this revolution, and it will be the protesters that will finally end it.
As the saying goes a picture is worth a thousand words, well this one is worth a million:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chroniclesyrianuprising/7708035022/in/set-72157630892584266
(Aleppo and Damascus are written on the fingers)
The entire set that the picture belongs to is a must watch, starts with Salat and AlFajr (pre-Dawn prayers) then iftar that was hosted in a Church in Yabroud and ends with Syrians of all faith manifesting for their destiny.
OTW,
An eloquent voice that helped shape my opinion on capital punishment from a young age is Oscar Wilde. His poem the Ballad of Reading Gaol (variant spelling of Jail) is an inspiration, the last stanza chillingly sums up the Barri execution in my opinion:
http://emotionalliteracyeducation.com/classic_books_online/rgaol10.htm
Dear Son of Damascus “the weapon of choice is their voice” Voices are needed too but the others are not listening. (-Is this the horiya you are asking for , they say, as they beat the selmiya opposition up ? )
Dear Annie,
Maybe I should’ve made myself a little more clear.
I am not against the FSA, or people resorting to arm themselves in the face of the evilly that is thrust upon them. Any soldier that refused an order to kill his fellow countrymen, and instead defected to do his duty of protecting his countrymen is a hero in my eyes.
What I am saying is that the non-violent movement is perhaps even more important today than it was 16 months ago.
Seeing pictures of Kafrsousians yesterday protesting after what the Assadi forces did to them is a testament to that, seeing Syrian Christians and Muslims breaking bread over an iftar meal is a testament to that.
It is these people that demolish the bullsh*t narratives that the opposition is run by a bunch of crazy islamists intent on destroying Syria.
Their unshakable will, their unbreakable spirit, and their endless humanity is what I choose to identify myself with, and is what I believe will ultimately help Syrians gain their freedom.
That is my position, and will always remain that way.
Right on, Son of Damascus… agree as usual…
SOD 15:35
I must strongly disagree with your comment. While your sentiments may sound noble at first sight, I must point out that they lack veracity as well as maturity. I must agree with Annie at 6:43 and strongly for that matter.
I pray you explain to your colleagues on this board how different are you in your outlook from the current presumably secular regime(s) when you equate so-called Islamists with Communists in your analogy?
Using your flawed terminology, the ‘Islamists’ struggled against these tyrants long before these upheavals came into being, which you claim to support. They suffered at their hands, were persecuted against and some were exiled for life, and now you brand them as communists i.e. future enemies, yet you may accept them for the time being just to fight for you and then brushed aside when the objective you are seeking is achieved while you refuse to lift a finger, just so your presumed idealism is not tarnished.
It looks to me that you subscribe to a strict utilitarian ethics. From this pespective you do not look like the lofty idealist who can achieve his goals by the power of his words only, but requires the assistance of those he knows deep in heart are his enemies, or future enemies, as long as they do what he considers is dirty work.
Is it not time to drop this hypocrisy?
And since I am curious, suppose the objective is achieved and the so-called ‘Islamists’ imposed their will, are you going to start fighting them in order to brush them aside? For one thing they are your enemies, right? Just like the communists? In other words when will you start lifting a finger and start doing some real worl?
Dear Just Curious
Sorry for the delay in releasing your comment. Generally, the first time a comment is made it goes through moderation. No more moderation after the first comment is approved. This is a standard spam prevention practice on all blogs.
Just Curious
Some people are advocating a transitional government formed of technocrats in hope to avoid an Islamist’s victory if an election is held.
Personally I am against that vehemently. I want a real political life, and I want to see islamists fighting in the ballot box same as those other parties that will emerge from whatever form of civil society Syria has (It does, and it is mostly underground civil society) as well as from the ruins of current political parties including some of the most ideologically flawed parties (i,e., totalitarians).
But I disagree with your description of SOD’s position as being hypocrite. His position is in my opinion a courageous one. I have to run now, but I will explain later.
Dear Annie
Heart broken, yes… depressed.. never.
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