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 , , . Bookmark the permalink. 175 Comments.

  1. ON the UNGA
    Charter article 35, constrained by 11 and 12 open the door for resorting to resolution 377.

    Key issue: The continuing repeated absence of unanimity among the 5 permanent members of the UNSC on the same issue, which leads to the UNSC failure.

  2. Son of Damascus

    Just Curious,

    “when you equate so-called Islamists with Communists in your analogy?”

    I am not equating Islamist to communists whatsoever, but rather pointing out the parallels in the argument being used that we should settle with a fascist sectarian government because we are scared of the Islamists bogey monster. I argued appeasing a monster because you are afraid of another one, is foolish.

    “which you claim to support”

    Actually I do more than just claim to support it, I have put my life, marriage, job on hold while I dedicated myself towards it. The criminal and his thugs have devastated my family, yet I did not shy away crying in a corner, sulking over my losses. I know what I’m suffering from, millions of other Syrians are suffering from as well, and that the butcher thinking he will destroy us is just wishful thinking on his part.

    The Turks tried to ruin my family, then the French, then Sr, and now Jr. All of them are long gone (with one on the way) but my family is still in Damascus, and my family is not the exception but the norm.

    As for the branding of Islamists as enemies.

    I consider the bearded freaks on steroids that destroyed my family’s factory and defecated in the mosque as my enemy, their ugly sectarian hatred is plain and evident for anyone to see. Them belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), makes no difference to me.

    I as well consider the fighters streaming in from Libya and elsewhere a problem no matter how little or how big a problem they actually are. If you don’t it is your shortsightedness not mine. I don’t want Libyans, and Saudis fighting for my country thank you very much, their motives are highly suspect and their methods are despicable.

    I don’t consider pious muslims as Islamists, and I do not consider the FSA to be run by a bunch of crazy 3arourists. Only sectarian fools think that.

    While I choose to identify with the protesters and the non-violent movement I don’t hold the FSA in contempt, to assume otherwise will only make an ass out you not me.

    “asking for 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.”

    Please provide me with a link where I ask for foreign fighters to fight in Syria or any foreign assistance? Or even with one link where I advocate for people to carry a weapon? If you like I use the same handle at Syria Comment, as well in my twitter account, go fishing through them see if my lofty ideals are filled with hypocrisy and false pretences as you falsely claimed.

    “In other words when will you start lifting a finger and start doing some real worl?”

    Now I am curious, what the hell are you doing that makes you better than I am? Under what false pretences can you arrogantly assume that I am not “doing some real work”, Do you know me, do you know what I am doing?

    Are you Just Curious just another armchair general that prophesizes about people and their intentions, or are you a person busting you chops for something you believe in?

    If I was a betting man, I would wager on the former and not the latter.

  3. Just Curious

    SOD 15:00,

    I looked up the thesaurus for synonyms of analogous and surprisingly ‘parallel’ was one of the synonyms,

    http://thesaurus.com/browse/analogous

    Of course, I knew they are synonymous, but I just brought the link for your reference.

    So I am not going to bother with the rest of your reply as you’re obviously a player on words, and not just a strict subscriber to utilitarian ethics. I do not believe that someone who admires poetry so much needs a thesaurus for such simple words as analogy and parallel.

    So I lost interest with the rest of your word play, as I am also not interested in your life story nor in sharing mine. As I said I was Just Curious.

  4. The whole think might escape me, but Just Curious is terribly aggressive and insulting .
    SOD gave him a good and eloquent retort.
    Pursuing the discussion is a distraction and a loss of time.

  5. Son of Damascus

    Just Curious,

    “needs a thesaurus for such simple words as analogy and parallel.”

    I suggest you re-read what I wrote and relax on the hyperbolic rhetoric a little bit. I never denied that I argued the parallels but rather denied that I argued communism is Islamism.

    I am not equating Islamist to communists whatsoever, but rather pointing out the parallels…

    Equate: e-quate verb consider (one thing) to be the same or equivalent to another

    Synonyms to Equate: Identify, compare, liken, associate, relate, link.

    The rest of your bullshit is not worth my time nor my energy, for you seem to be lacking in the basics of comprehension, perhaps hooked on phonics can be of help to you.

    http://www.hookedonphonics.com

  6. Son of Damascus

    Sorry OTW, you can trash my last comment if you like.

    I should’ve hit refresh and read Annie’s comment before I posted…

  7. S.O.D,

    Why do you always enter into lenghty arguments with Menhebaks ?

    Do you have a lot of time ? ( I am asking you seriously).

  8. I am very disturbed as to how a fair and balanced man like Michel Kilo advocates a future State role for Manaf Tlass. I agree with KIlo and others that we should not fall for the deceptive trap of going on a witch-hunt against Manaf ( and other ex-regimists of his ilk), but I cannot understand why Mr. Kilo is so anxious to secure a place for Manaf.

  9. So Riyad Hijab has defected, after several of Farouk Sharaa’s brothers and cousins working in Political Intelligence fled to Jordan last night.

    I think genuine and passionate supporters of the Revolution must evolve a strategy on what position to take about these known corrupt ex-regime elements.

    We can’t be too cosy with them, but we should not fall for the deceptive regime trap of going on a witch-hunt against them, with the ulterior motive for distracting attention from the crimes of this regime which are now being committed on an hourly basis.

    I expect your thoughts about this, OTW.

  10. Yes Antoine
    Any defection pushes the day of the end of this regime faster, and more importantly, helps in reducing the bloodshed. I welcome all defections. But I also hope that people don’t try to show off and attempt to leak news of defection before the official/officer is secure to issue their own statement. Such rumors may result in arresting and perhaps even liquidation of the said official/officer before they fully succeed.

    I welcome all defection even at this stage. In fact acceleration in defection is natural and expected and I will not play the “I joined before you” game with those who defect now. And this would in my opinion be both pragmatic and ethical.

    Needless to say, I have not and will not jump on the band wagon of who should be in the transitional government. This is not the time for that. I don’t think it matters who… what matters is their tasks.

  11. ” I will not play the “I joined before you” game with those who defect now. ”

    ____________________________________________________________________

    OTW, people who were one of the first ones to defect and set up the FSA last year, who were part of the armed resistance in Homs since last year, are obviously much more “morally superior” than these rats jumping off a sinking ship.

    Anyway, Assad’s scorched earth policy is bound to piss off more of the Sunnis close to him. There is a point up to which a person can collaborate, seeing one’s hometown being wiped off the earth is probably too much even for extremely corrupt and opportunistic individuals like Mr. Hijab and Brig. Tlass.

    Lets not forget how Assad Senior had arrested and executed more than 200 Hamawi Army and Air Force officers in January 1982, just a month before the Hama massacre.

  12. OTW,

    You did not tell me more about Bab el Nayrab. What do you know about the neighborhood ?

    Do you think Maysaloon quarter will be sympathetic to the FSA cause ?

  13. Please, Antoine don’t call defectors rats. They are terribly needed. Not all of us are instant heroes. The defections are the best weapon the Revolution has right now. No blood shed and the throne is shaking and Batta will fall off the coconut tree.

  14. Antoine
    It is the decision of the FSA, ranks file and officers to accept or not anyone in their ranks. Similarly, it is an individual decision to accept or not someone as potential leaders, this is why the ballot box exists.

    I am not very familiar with Bab Alneyrab, I have been in that neighborhood only few times, but do have friends from that area. It is an area where many local clans live and most of its residents are good hard working people.

    Again, I emphasize, moral superiority is not the issue here. The issue is that any defection robs the regime of one more soldier. Just now a whole group of policemen joined the FSA, would you call them rats while they are fighting against the regime.

  15. Son of Damascus

    Antoine and OTW,

    Kilo is supporting a character like Tlass in my opinion is because of his military background. He understands that when the current junta that lay a false claim to Syria are brought to justice (real justice hopefully, for the families of the victims deserve the truth) the people with the big guns need a military leader to follow and Riad Al-Asa’ad does not qualify in the eyes of many people in the army.

    Now I don’t believe Manaf is the right choice personally, as much as Saudi/Turks want to groom him I don’t think he hold as much sway as he claims within the armed forces. The Tlasses were more important socially than militaristically, the tale of the beast if you will.

    I believe this is a case of realpolitik position by Kilo rather than a personal position.

    If I would explore that line of thinking more my personal choice would be an Alawi General, now which one and whether this General is accepted by both sides exists I have no clue.

    Antoine,

    I comment as often or as little as I wish and to whomever I wish. Does that answer your question?

  16. SOD, I was just saying that from reading your comments, it seems you have a lot of time. This issue interests me, because since last year I have been so engrossed with the Revolution that I have been forced to steal time from my professional and private life, and both have suffered as a result. But I just cannot help it, I have to spend 5 hours a day on the Net for the Revolution, and the next 5 hours thinking and brooding about it. This Revolution is the best thing to happen in my lifetime, as I have been hating this regime since 8 March 1963. I hate everything the Baath Party and the Assad family stands for..

  17. Btw I am very saddened and bitter as to how the World has been so miserly when it comes to financial contribution for Syrian refugees. It saddens me to see how Turks, Jordanians and Iraqis are treating the refugees as a burden. USA till now has refused to even respond to calls for financial aid from Turkey and Jordan. KSA has contributed only 3 Million USD, 3 mil only, can u believe that ? Where is the World ?

  18. SOD and OTW, I think it is a fallacy to think of any “transition in Syria” involving political figures from the Ancien Regime – this includes all Cabinet ministers, MPs, Governors and senior office-holders of the Baath Party. Rather, we should concentrate on mid-level bureaucrats and technocrats in the Civil Service and Diplomatic Corps. I think these sort of people should be considered, who served the regime only in a professional career capacity, not a political capacity. Hint : Look at new PM of Egypt, Hisham Kandil as an example. Someone who has solid credentials in Public Service but who is not a part of the elite. And someone who looks, speaks, eats, worships’ and dresses like the common people, I should add. Its time to give State elitism a decent burial. Thats whats this Revolution is all about.

  19. What is “Saeed Jalili” preaching in my hometown Damascus?

    His babbling and ramblings added fuel to fire, in fact, as I was reading his venomous words, vowing that Iran would help its ally confront “attempts at blatant foreign interference” I couldn’t stop humming the words from a revolutionary song ياأيراني كلبك ودع ساقط ساقط يابشار

    This head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council went on “Iran will not allow the axis of resistance, of which it considers Syria to be an essential part, to be broken in any way,”
    Really? Is Iran less foreign than America, Russia, Israel?

    “What is happening in Syria is not an internal issue but a conflict between the axis of resistance on the one hand, and the regional and global enemies of this axis on the other,” he added.

    As the two spewed, thousands of frightened Syrian refugees flee their cities for safety, as a fighter jet carried out airstrikes on the eastern districts of Aleppo. He added, “The Syrian people are hostile to any plan supported by the Zionists and the US”. اللعبة صارت عالمكشوف ياايراني
    ونحن مانحتاج النيتو نحن نجيبو من نص بيتو وياريتو يفهم ياريتو شو معنى كلمة ثوار
    ساقط ساقط ياجزار
    ساقط ساقط يابشار باذن الواحد القهار

    http://www.facebook.com/mare3.karama

  20. At least, 257 Syrians were killed Tuesday by the “axis of resistance”. One will assume that this is the golden moment for “regional and global enemies of this axis” to act! Nope..

    From early on اللعبة صارت عالمكشوف,

  21. Ominous signs in Aleppo. The regime gangs can still receive reinforcement while the FSA fighters inside the city have no access. How come….

    There are many within the ranks of the revolution who believe now that Aleppo was ignited by FSA to force the city into the type of confrontation that is now raging. They argue that Aleppo was in fact a source of support for other cities and that forcing it into the ongoing fight was a miscalculation. Some are rather resentful. Did anyone else feel that during conversations? and how would one answer these well meaning, distraught people who have given so much.

    I also want to place our thoughts with all of our friends not only from Aleppo but from every city, village, and hamlet in Syria who are touched directly by the brutality of this murderous regime.

  22. Our thoughts and our hearts and our wishes are with the extraordinary Syrian heroes and also our qalaq. So far, no one has died in the bombings from among my friends. But feed back I do not get. It is always : all is well.

  23. Syria rebel fighters vow to shun torture, abuse

    The code says the rebel army will use weapons “to overthrow the criminal regime that has been imposed upon us,” but at the same time, it pledges to “refrain from any behavior or practice that would undermine the principles of our revolution: the principles of freedom, citizenship, and dignity.

    “I will respect human rights in accordance with our legal principles, our tolerant religious principles, and the international laws governing human rights — the very human rights for which we struggle today and which we intend to implement in the future Syria,” the code said.

    The code says the rebel army will use weapons “to overthrow the criminal regime that has been imposed upon us,” but at the same time, it pledges to “refrain from any behavior or practice that would undermine the principles of our revolution: the principles of freedom, citizenship, and dignity.

    “I will respect human rights in accordance with our legal principles, our tolerant religious principles, and the international laws governing human rights — the very human rights for which we struggle today and which we intend to implement in the future Syria,” the code said.

    http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/08/world/meast/syria-fighter-code/index.html

  24. P.M. Erdogan visit to Mynyamar is intended to highlight the plight of the Burmese Muslims, after the recent genocide. The United Nations listed Rohingya Muslims as “One of the World Most PERSECUTED Minorities”. What did the “custodian of the two holy mosques” did so far? hmm..Busy suppressing Shiite minorities in his Kingdom…

    قَالَ “سلجوق أونال” المتحدث الرسمي باسم وزارة الخارجيَّة التركيَّة، إن زيارة رئيس الوزراء التركي رجب طيب أردوغان وزوجته، ووزير الخارجيّة أحمد داود أوغلو إلى ميانمار (بورما) تهدف إلى لفت انتباه العالم إلى المأساة الإنسانيَّة التي يعيشها مسلمو الروهينجا في إقليم أراكان والذين صنفتهم الأمم المتحدة من أكثر الأقليات اضطهادًا في العالم.

    وأضاف أونال في تصريحات له نشرتها صحيفة “حيرت” التركيّة أن بلاده تتابع التطورات في ميانمار وما يتعرض له المسلمون من مجازر على يد البوذيين عن قرب، مشيرًا إلى أن داود أوغلو قد ناقش مسبقًا مع أكمل الدين إحسان أوغلو الأمين العام لمنظمة التعاون الإسلامي ما يحدث في إقليم أراكان وما يمكن فعله من أجل إيقاف العنف هناك.
    وأشار المتحدث باسم وزارة الخارجيّة التركيَّة إلى أن السفير التركي في ميانمار وبصحبته بعثة دبلوماسيَّة قاموا بزيارة مخيمات مسلمي إقليم أركان مسبقًا لتفقد أحوال المسلمين هناك.

  25. Son of Damascus

    Does anyone here know about karfan and the site SyriaExposed?

    http://syriaexposed.blogspot.ca

  26. Dear Ibn-Dimashq,

    Interesting blog, and interesting dates too; I like it. The internet is huge but also a rather small world. If my hunches are correct, the blog you mentioned belongs to someone who used to comment at SC often but went below the radar soon after the start of the revolution. Look for rhyming names and other clues such as background, etc; I think you’ll see the pattern. Otherwise I can send you the info by email via OTW who I suppose has your email and will kindly forward it to you.

    I miss Sheila’s comments and contributions, especially now with Halab being the center of the AsMaa’s criminal attention.

  27. New Maysaloon blog on accountability

    http://www.maysaloon.org/

  28. Son of Damascus

    Dear mgb,

    Hmmm now you have me wondering… I used to follow the blog until it stopped updating, it is funny how things I disagreed with back then fully agree with now. I must say 2arfan was ahead of his time.

    Please do forward your hunch to me.

  29. Does anyone here know about karfan and the site SyriaExposed?

    http://syriaexposed.blogspot.ca

    He was quite a sensation some years back and true, ahead of his time becoz he rose quite a bit of scepticism. One day I met someone I suspected of being Kafran, he was a reporter but I forgot his name. He kind of hinted….but i might be my imagination

  30. a peaceful anti regime demo in Halab today!

  31. Report From Turkey-Syria Border: Syrian Refugees Claim “Horrific Carnage” in Besieged Aleppo. Interesting statement by William Hague
    http://www.democracynow.org/2012/8/10/report_from_turkey_syria_border_syrian

  32. I was moved by this comment from Amjad, one can only imagine the horror that this young citizen turned activist has lived for ten days in Baba Amr. A brilliant young guy. I can add with certainty, from reading his comment, he is very angry, how can he not? The horror that he had witnessed committed by some of his countrymen towards the people in his own neighbourhood -friends and family is beyond gruesome, the imagery will haunt him for a very long time as it will all of us. I can also say with certainty that Amjad, is very honest and a righteous man. I have nothing but admiration for those like Amjad whom have every right to be very angry, yet, choose not to hate, nor take revenge.. but remain steadfast to bring those responsible to justice and spread awareness..”Finally after ten days I managed to get out. I wouldnt wish the experience on anyone.” We can only learn, we have no choice but to move forward. It is easy to hate..
    Interesting back and forth between Amjad and Mjabali who more or less paint the revolutionaries/activists as Salafis, MB and brings Ibn Taymiyah in every discussion, almost an obsession! Amjad who saw hell, lived it, not centuries ago, but in the 21st century.. Seems that all Syrians have paid dearly for the past 42 years because of a scholar called Ibn Taymiyah… ma khalasna? Are we not even? Is it really about Taymiyah or Salafis,.? What is happening is not because of the former rubbishes but because the young and the poor are saying ENOUGH, we had it! The country and her people are going to hell, and we are still stuck in the 7ht century. We have to know the past, learn it BUT move forward…
    =====================================================================
    1018. Amjad said:

    “Faced with death or torture no one really knows how one would react.”

    For once I agree with you (end of the world soon to follow). In February, my neighborhood was in the way of the Syria army’s march into Baba Amr. I spent ten days trapped in my home. I don’t care who anyone thinks they are, NOTHING prepares you for the indiscriminate and murderous mayhem of an artillery barrage. I learned to hate the whistling sound that preceded every explosion.

    On that first day, if Bashar had appeared infront of me, and told me to sign a paper surrendering the revolution and acknowledging him and his as perpetual rulers of Syria, I’d have gladly done so, just to stop the shells.

    Human beings being what we are, eventually you get used to anything. One learns to automatically discount whistling sound that appears to be farther away, and tense up when the sound seems to get closer. Finally after ten days I managed to get out. I wouldnt wish the experience on anyone.

  33. The new power struggle concentrating on the Syrian crisis in the Middle East is an attempt to create an “intra-Muslim cold war” through sectarian tensions and identity politics. Political and religious leaders and others must stand against this extremely dangerous game.

    http://www.todayszaman.com/columnistDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=288981#.UCSn6T2-xa0.twitter

  34. Umm Nuwas, that demonstration is in a Kurdish neighborhood who do not have any FSA in their midst. Nor are their demos attacked by the regime.

    The regime long ago because of its innate ethnocentric and sectarian thinking and its conspiratorial bent of mind, decided that it must save the worst of its murderous arsenal on neighborhoods/villages with certain demographic features ( based on class, ethnicity, and religion).

  35. Can someone please translate what is being said in the video ? I can only understand a few things like Reef Sham, Ghouta, Baba Amr, Hama, Halab, etc. ( My Arabic is very defficient)

    Please translate all that is being said, including all the exchanges between the interviewer and the prisoners.

    This seems to be interesting for some reason.

  36. It is entertaining — and politically or financially profitable for some — to speculate wildly about terrible days ahead in Syria. It is much more useful to focus on realities, the most important of which is that tens of millions of talented Syrians are eager to get on with their lives as free and equal citizens in a normal and sovereign country. I believe that will happen soon, and I will dance with joy for them when it does.

    http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=53844

  37. Will Asma ASSad have a chance to answer this question:

    “What is consciousness when you are first lady of hell?”

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9458674/At-home-with-the-Assads-an-eerie-memoir-of-Syrias-first-family-before-the-slaughter-began.html

  38. Paul Woodward at War in Context quotes Reuters on the regime’s recent transportation of chemical weapons: An Israeli official said however the movements reflected an attempt by President Bashar al-Assad to make “arrangements to ensure the weapons do not fall into irresponsible hands”.

    “That would support the thinking that this matter has been managed responsibly so far.”

    Woodward then comments: So, while the word from Damascus is that “terrorists” armed with “Israeli-made machine guns” conducted the massacre in Tremseh yesterday, the word from Tel Aviv is that Syria’s chemical weapons are nothing to worry about so long as they remain in the responsible hands of the government.

    There might be a certain amount of truth in that statement. Still, it’s not exactly the rhetoric one might expect from a representative of an alliance that is supposedly gunning for Assad’s downfall. On the contrary, it reflects the fact that Israel would be much happier to see Assad remain in power.

    http://qunfuz.com/2012/07/16/blanket-thinkers/#comments

  39. Anger, tears, and forgiveness as Syrian rebel and his prisoner share their fears

    As evidence mounts of abuse and summary execution of prisoners , The Observer witnesses an extraordinary meeting between a Sunni rebel leader and his Alawite captive in al-Bab, near Aleppo

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/11/syria-rebel-regime-sunni-alawite?CMP=twt_gu

  40. Looks like the extent to which the regime is prepared to go knows no boundaries…..using its criminal mafia proxies in Lebanon, they planned to assassinate the Maronite Patriarch, Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, during his official visit to Sunni majority province of Akkar. A clear attempt to re-ignite a full-scale sectarian war in Lebanon. Thankfully, the ISF and the Judiciary still retained enough independence and professionalism to nip this in the bud and not go along with the regime plan like Lebanese institutions have been accustomed to for the last 22 years.

  41. A message from Dr. Azmi Bshara, to the “Blanket Thinkers”, “Revolutionists” and “Opposition Members” all at once.

    - إذا افترضنا أنَّ الإفقار وقمع الحريات هو ظاهرة مرافقة وجانبية في خدمة هدفٍ سامٍ مثل الدفاع عن الوطن، فإنَّ مثل هذا يمتد لفترات قصيرة مثل زمن الحروب. هذا الهدف لا يبرّر أن يكون الإفقار من نصيب الشعب، والإثراء من نصيب الحكام. كما لا يبرّر نظاما ممنهجا وممأسسا لاستباحة كرامة المواطنين وحرياتهم وحقوقهم، ولا تعدّيهم المستمر على ثمار عمل غالبيّة الشعب، وباختصار إنه لا يبرّر الفساد والاستبداد. وإذا استُخدِم هدفٌ باستغلال إيمان الشعب به لتبرير مثل هذه السياسات، فإن الهدف يتحول إلى وسيلة تسمى الديماغوغيا الخطابيّة والأيديولوجية التبريريّة. والهدف الحقيقي في هذه الحالة الحقيقي هو تثبيت نظام الاستبداد والفساد وليس الهدف السامي المدّعى الذي تحوّل الى وسيلة. ولا يمنع هذا من وجود أهدافٍ ساميةٍ فعلًا وقضايا عادلة وشرعيّة، ولكنّها تستخدم لمنح شرعيّة لنظام غير شرعي. ومن هنا فإن النضال ضد الاستبداد يهدف للتحرر منه أولا، ولكن يجب أن يتجنّب المسَّ بالقضايا الشرعيّة العادلة، بل حتى أن يدافع عنها ضد استخدام النظام لها. ويشمل ذلك رفض الهيمنة الأميركية على المنطقة ورفض تفصيل السياسات الغربية تجاه العرب بموجب المصلحة الإسرائيلية، ويشمل ذلك أيضًا عدالة قضية فلسطين وحق (بل وواجب) المقاومة ضد الاحتلال.

    2- لا يوجد شعب في العالم يمكنه أن يفهم أن عليه تحمّل التعذيب والاعتقال التعسفي والفساد المالي وكم الأفواه لجيل بعد جيل من أجل أيّ هدفٍ كان. ولا يمكن لأحد أن يطلب من شعبٍ أن يقبل بالاستبداد والفساد لأجلٍ غير مسمى، ومن دون أي أفقٍ للتغيير، وذلك فقط لإرضاء مشاعر بعض المعلّقين الذين يعتبرون معاناة الشعب قضيّة جانبيّة قياسًا بالقضايا الكبرى، لا سيّما وأنَّ التجربة أثبتت عدم حصول أي تقدم في القضايا الكبرى ذاتها.

    3- لا يمكن الادعاء بتفهّم أوضاع شعب وعدالة مطالبه، ثم الطّلب من هذا الشعب أن يمتنع عن فعل شيئ، وأن ينتظر أن يقوم الحكام بالإصلاح، لا سيّما حين يرفض الحكام القيام بأي إصلاح جوهري. ليس البشر هواة تعرّض للقصف وللقتل، ولكن لا يمكن أن نطلب من الناس أن يستمروا بالتظاهر سلميًّا والتعرّض للرصاص دون أن يدافعوا عن أنفسهم في الوقت الذي ليس لدى من يناشدهم أي سلطة لإقناع النظام أن يتوقف عن إطلاق النار والقتل. ومن لا يستطيع أن يُلزم النظام بالتعامل سلميًّا مع المظاهرات السلميّة يجد نفسه يطالب الشعب بتحمل التعرض للقتل أو التوقف عن النضال دون تحقيق أي مطالب. وما هو أسوأ هو اتهام الشعب بالتآمر، أو بالخضوع لمؤامرة حين يخرج مطالبا بحقوقه. يحتاج الإنسان إلى كم من الغرور والانغلاق لاتهام شعب بهذا. ولا أتحدث هنا عن الأقلام (وغالبا أنصاف الأقلام) المأجورة بل من يكتب هذا الكلام مقتنعا به.
    4- لن يغفر التاريخ للنظام إطلاق النار على المظاهرات السلمية بشكل مثابر ،ومن دون توقّف، أي كتعبير عن سياسة منهجية لوأد الثورة السلمية. لقد كان أكثر ما يخيف النظام المظاهرات السلمية الشعبية الواسعة المطالبة بإسقاطه، وقد اندفع للقضاء عليها بالقوة.
    5- لا بدّ لمن يخرج للنضال ويتعرض للقتل والقصف والتهجير وتتعرض أملاكه للنهب، أن يطالب الأقربين والأبعدين بمساعدته ودعمه. ومن الطبيعي أن يقبل الدعم المقدم له. ولا يجوز لمن يتركه في هذه الحالة أن يلومه أيضًا على تلقي الدعم وأن يلقي عليه المحاضرات بشأن هويّة الداعمين، في حين لا يستطيع هو أن يقنع النظام الحاكم بأي تحوّلٍ سلميٍّ للديمقراطية أو أي نقل تدريجي سلميٍّ للسلطة، بحيث يوفر عليه القتل، والحاجة إلى الدعم والداعمين.
    6- ليس ما يجري هو ذنب تطلع الناس للحرية والكرامة، ولا ذنب الشباب الذين حملوا السلاح ضد قمع مسلح همجي لا يعرف حدودًا أو خطوطًا حمراء. المسؤولية كلها يتحملهاالنظام وحده. فهو الذي رفض الإصلاح الذي طالب به الشعب في الأشهر الأولى واعتبره مؤامرة، ورفض المبادرات العربيّة المتتالية لنقل تدريجيٍّ للسلطة. والتي بدأت بمبادرة في شهر آب 2011 التي طرحت حكومة وحدة وطنيّة ودستور جديد وانتخابات رئاسية في 2014 ( وهو أمر يبدو خياليا الآن)، ومبادرة أخرى في شهر يناير 2012 تطرح نقل السلطة لنائب الرئيس وحكومة وحدة وطنية ودستور جديد. وفي كليهما لم يتم المس على الإطلاق بالجيش، ولا بعقيدة الجيش القتاليّة أو غيرها.
    6- إن واجب القيادة السياسيّة للثّورة الانتباه لطبيعة القوى الداعمة لها وشروطها السياسيّة وأهدافها ومرادها. بحيث تحافظ على هوية البلد وسيادته وقضاياه، بحيث لا يتحول الدعم إلى اختراقات مخابراتيّة أو سياسيّة. هذا هو واجب القيادة الوطنيّة للثّورة، سواء كانت سياسية أو عسكرية، وهو أيضا واجب القوى المدنيّة المشاركة في المعارضة السياسيّة. زفوق كل هذا فإن من واجب المثقفين الوطنيين الذين لا يتملقون ولا يبحثون عن شعبية أن لا يتعبوا من التحذير من هذه المخاطر والتنبيه لها.
    7- ومع ذلك وعلى الرغم مما قيل أعلاه يمكن تفهم الارتباك الذي يقع فيه بعض الإخوة الوطنيين، أو الغصّة التي يستشعرها الإنسان إزاء ما يجري في سورية. وأنا لا أقصد تلك الغصة التي نشعر بها جميعا بسبب النكبة الحقيقيّة التي تمر فيها مناطق كاملة من هذا البلد العربي وأهله الأحباء بسبب خيار النظام “الشمشوني”، فهذه غصةٌ نشعر بها جميعًا، وإنما أتحدث عن الارتباك السياسي. فحين ينظر المرء إلى القوى الفاعلة في الثّورة السوريّة يجد من بين الدول التي تدعم الثّورة حاليًا، أو تزعم أنها تدعم الثّورة على الأقل، دولًا غير ديمقراطية عارضت الثّورات العربيّة كافة، ووقفت ضدها. وهي بالتأكيد تدّعي دعم الثّورة السوريّة لأهداف أخرى لا علاقة لها بأهداف الثّورة، مثل سياسات النظام الخارجيّة ودعمه للمقاومة اللبنانيّة والفلسطينيّة وموقع سوريّة الاستراتيجي. كما يسهل تشخيص استخدام الطائفيّة في تجييش التضامن مع الثّورة السوريّة عند قوى عربية لم تتضامن مع الثورات أخرى في مصر وتونس واليمن. والطائفيّة في المشرق العربيّ ليست بغيضة ومتخلّفة فقط كحالها في كل مكان، بل هي خطيرة وقاتلة للمجتمعات والكيانات أيضا. يمكن تفهم ارتباك المراقب بهذا الشأن. ولكن حتى المرتبك يجب أن يعرف أنَّ هذا الارتباك لا يمكن أن يكون سياسة تتبناها الثّورة السوريّة، أو يتبنّاها الشعب السوري بشكل عام. فالشعب السوري ليس مراقبا. ومَنْ يتعرّض للقصف والدمار بالمقاييس غير المسبوقة في الثّورات العربيّة، ومن عرف أنّه إذا تراجع إلى الخلف لن يحكمه الأمن فقط بل سيحكمه حزب جديد من الرعاع وحثالات المجتمع يسمى ب”الشبيحة”، لا يمكنه أن يرتبك أو أن يسمح لنفسه بالارتباك تجاه تشخيص الخصم وقضية قبول الدعم. ومشكلته ليست هوية الداعمين بل قلة الدعم وبراغماتية الداعمين وحساباتهم.
    8- يبقى من واجب المثقف الوطني الديمقراطي أن لا يتعب من التوضيح والتحذير من الطائفيّة، وأن يؤكد باستمرار على مقومات الديمقراطيّة والمواطنة والعدالة الاجتماعية، وعدم جواز استبدال استبداد بآخر، وعن ودور سوريّة العربي والإقليمي، وقضية فلسطين وغير ذلك. ولكن يجب أن يفعل ذلك من منطلق الانحياز للشعب السوري ولثورته ضدَّ الاستبداد. وإذا فعل ذلك من منطلق الوقوف إلى جانب النظام السوري فلن يسمعه أحد، وسوف يفقد مصداقيته، وستكون النتيجة الوحيدة التي يحققها هي إلحاق الضرر بهذه القضايا التي يتحدث باسمها.
    9. بالنسبة للشعب السوري في المرحلة الراهنة لا توجد قضية في الدنيا أعدل من الدفاع عن حياة أبنائه وأعراضهم، ولا توجد قضية أهم من إسقاط النظام وضمان مستقبل سوريا في ظل حكم ديمقراطي يستحقه هذا الشعب.

  42. Antoine | August 11, 2012 at 11:53

    Those guys were caught by the FSA. They’re from those areas you mentioned. The interviewer or interrogetor asked each one of them where they were from and if the people in those areas were revolting. They all said yes. They were being admonished by the interviewer for helping the shabihas instead of defecting. At the end, he tells them ur more like iranians than Syrians.

  43. Salamat 7ee6anis,

    It seems like you people are so depressed and frustrated that you stopped writing (except for 3 or 4 of you). You seem more depressed than Syrians living inside. Cheer up !!! This was what it was going to take to get rid of this criminal regime. Yes, the situation is sad, but nobody’s complaining inside Syria. Only those who were and still are with the regime are the ones complaining. I’ve said it before and I will say it again I was never proud as a Syrian until the revolution started. I know people who have been shot, displaced , and some who are wanted by the criminal so called security agencies. None of them are complaining. I supported and am still supporting this revolution no matter what I might face. Now that I settled my family outside the country, I can’t wait to go back which will be in a few days. So cheeeeeeeer up, the happy ending is near. I will not miss the down fall of the regime for anything in the world. :)

  44. A member of the Beastly family is legless. A rumour, maybe..what is certain is their conscienceless! They are determined to burn Syria and Syrians than simply LEAVE..

    24 immediate members of my family have just been turned into refugees because of ASSad. I am only one of 28 million Syrians suffering needlessly. Tragedies.. not only for the victims, but what about the shattered hopes and dreams?

    Refugees at every bordering country.. homeless citizens fleeing the Slaughterer’s wrath..orphans wondering the streets of a burned country..death and destruction everywhere..

    What crime did we commit to deserve this kind of punishment?

  45. Salamat مندس
    How nice to hear from you! With a cheerful tone as well..tell us more, we are so eager to hear from an eyewitness, we missed your comments and welcome back..

  46. Dear 7ee6anis,
    This is great project by a successful group of Syrians who are eager to help build bridges and support Syrian students who are eager to continue their education abroad.
    Jusoor, Syrians Forward Together

    Donate to Support the IIT Students
    Invest in Our Future: Announcing IIT’s first 28 Syrian Scholarship Recipients

    We are delighted to inform you that Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) has announced that 28 students from Syria are recipients of IIT Undergraduate Scholarships for study at the university beginning Fall 2012. Collectively and individually this group represents a remarkable set of achievements and lofty aspirations, indeed IIT selected students based purely on a student’s individual merit, who they believed would comfortably excel in terms of their academic, professional and career aspirations on IIT’s campus.
    Please take a few minutes to read more about the students who have been awarded the merit scholarships here:

    http://www.jusoor-sy.org/programs/invest-in-our-future-announcing-iits-first-28-syrian-scholarship-recipients/

  47. The Al-Za’tari refugee camp in Jordan is nothing short of a concentration camp.

    Syrian refugees try to tear down Jordan camp fence in bid to flee harsh conditions. More than 3,300 refugees in the desert camp have expressed dissatisfaction with its harsh conditions, including extreme heat and cold and constant dust-laden winds.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrian-refugees-try-to-tear-down-jordan-camp-fence-in-bid-to-flee-harsh-conditions/2012/08/13/e03d9332-e54e-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html

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