Thread: Syria News and Editorials

Originally Posted by Butterfly

^ and all you do is posting links of retarded news by propagandist with your usual racist British proud rant

Buttplug, go away and let the growns ups talk, retard. You don't even make any sense, you illiterate garlic muncher.

Unusually spot on commentary from Tim Marshall. The Annan Plan was a disaster from the beginning, all its done is given Assad more belief that he can get away with blue murder. (I think that comes next).

The Syria Massacre: What Has Changed?



Tim Marshall May 28, 2012 11:22 AM


At ground level everything has changed, for ever. At the level of bi-laterals, working groups and geo politics - very little has changed.The lives of the survivors of the Houla massacre over the weekend will never be the same. Not only have so many families lost so much, but what was once an area of sporadic unrest can now be expected to become a hotbed of opposition activity and revenge killings.


But as a 'game changer' on the international scene, as one diplomat put it over the weekend? Probably not.


There are turning points in these terrible conflicts. The massacre at Racak in Kosovo is one example, the imminent alleged massacre in Benghazi in Libya last year another.
However, that was then, and that was there.


'Then' was a time when Tony Blair and others were making the argument for liberal interventionism as a coherent policy. Sierra Leone and Kosovo seemed to go well, Mr. Blair remains a hero to many in both places, but after Iraq and Afghanistan there is now no appetite for intervention, especially if it requires 'boots on the ground'.

''There' were mostly places in which intervention appeared a relatively painless option until the wake up call of Iraq and Afghanistan. Last years hammering of the Libyan forces was conducted at long range and with the helped by having a proxy army on the ground in the shape of the rebellion which included many army units which had defected.



Libya did not change the rediscovered caution about foreign adventures.


Intervention in Syria would risk involvement on the scale of Iraq, quite possibly with similar consequences. The Syrian air-force and air defence systems are equipped well enough to take several enemy aircraft with them before they are destroyed. Syria's shore to ship missiles could sink vessels out in the Mediterranean, and its ground forces, with a ready supply of Russian hardware, could resist an invasion and then resort to guerilla tactics once it lost the opening rounds of a war.



The chances of it becoming another Iraq would be high, as would the risk of the conflict spilling into Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan. Some people call for the Arab powers to become directly involved, but they would find it difficult to come together and vote for intervention. They would find it even more difficult to actually intervene.


The Western powers don't want to get drawn in especially without legal cover from the UN Security Council, and that is unlikely to be forthcoming because it is written in stone in Chinese foreign policy to oppose intervention in another nation' affairs. Russia also would not sign up for a meaningful UN resolution. It regards the Assad government as an ally, and the Russian navy has its only warm water port in Syria.


So instead the UN has issued a non binding resolution condemning the killing, Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt was unleashed onto the British airwaves to condemn the massacre and warn that although military action is not being considered, it is not being taken off the table, and the Syrian Charge d'Affairs has been summoned to the Foreign Office. Oh, and diplomats will repeat endlessly that the Kofi Annan 6 point plan, shown yet again to be dead in the sand, is the only game in town.


Its a ghastly, tragic, and deadly game, with elements of poker, and charades.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

go away and let the growns ups talk

that's the problem, you are a retard teenager

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

go away and let the growns ups talk

that's the problem, you are a retard teenager

Buttplug, isn't it time you went out cruising for your daily allowance of ladyboy jizz?

There is no stopping Assad's carnage.

WORLD Syrian administration's forces kill 50

28 May 2012 14:23 (Last updated 28 May 2012 14:25)


The army of Bashar al-Asad's administration has killed 50 people by bombing Hama since last night.

ISTANBUL
The army of Bashar al-Asad's administration has killed 50 people by bombing Hama since last night.
Local sources told AA on the phone that the military attacks targeted neighborhoods in Hama, killing 50 people including eight children and five women.
The activists claimed that the units, which staged the Houleh massacre, were transferred to Hama.
They said that the snipers were shooting anything moving.
Hundreds of people were killed and 300 others were wounded in an operation of al-Assad forces in Houleh town on Friday.
A ceasefire plan, which was presented by UN-Arab League Special Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on March 10 and accepted by him on March 27, came into effect on April 12. Assad's government has been accused of failing to abide by key terms of the truce plan, including pulling all forces from urban areas and allowing peaceful demonstrations.
The UN Security Council blamed the Syrian government for attacking residential areas of the town of Houla with artillery and tank shelling and also condemned the close-range killings of civilians there, but avoided saying who was responsible for the massacre of more than 108 people including 49 children.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon sent a letter to UNSC and noted that the violence in Syria escalated in the past two days. Ban said that UNSMIS was informed that 116 people had been killed and over 300 were wounded during the attacks in El-Houleh.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Buttplug, isn't it time you went out cruising for your daily allowance of ladyboy jizz?

you sound so jealous,

shouldn't you be drooling in front of your XBOX ?

There is no stopping the gallic retard's irrelevant babbling either, it seems.

Roll on his 8 o'clock cum-guzzling appointment I say.

^ it's XBOX o'clock, harrryb, you are late for your Call of Duty session with all your online buddies.

Don't forget to connect your microphone this time, they can't hear you when you are screaming.

That's the problem with the UN observers. If they speak the truth outright, Syria will throw them out claiming they are agents for your beloved "crusader coalition" or some other such nonsense.

Even the Arabic ones.

And so the shelling continues....

Survivor accounts of the Al Houle massacre:

One resident of Taldou told Human Rights Watch:

At around 2:30 p.m., the army located on the outskirts of town started shelling the neighborhood. Initially, they used tanks, but after couple of hours they started using mortars. The shelling was coming from the direction of the Air Force military college located at the entrance of Houla. Around 7:00 p.m., the shelling intensified and whole buildings were shaking. The army started firing some sort of rockets that would shake an entire area.

At around 6:30 p.m., just as the shelling intensified on parts of Houla, armed gunmen wearing military uniforms attacked homes situated on the outskirts of town on the road leading to the Houla dam, three survivors of the attacks told Human Rights Watch. Most of those killed belonged to the Abdel Razzak family. Local activists provided Human Rights Watch with a list of 62 dead members from the Abdel Razzak family. According to survivors, their family owns the land and farms next to the national water company and the water dam of Taldou, and lives in eight or nine houses next to each other, two families to a house.

An elderly woman from the Abdel Razzak family who survived the attack told Human Rights Watch:

I was in the house with my three grandsons, three granddaughters, sister-in-law, daughter, daughter in-law and cousin. [On May 25] around 6:30 p.m., before sunset, we heard gunshots. I was in a room by myself when I heard the sound of a man. He was shouting and yelling at my family. I hid behind the door. I saw another man standing outside by the entrance door and another one inside the house. They were wearing military clothes. I couldn't see their faces. I thought they wanted to search the house. They walked in the house; I didn't hear them break in because we never lock the doors. After three minutes, I heard all my family members screaming and yelling. The children, all aged between 10 and 14, were crying. I went down on the floor and tried to crawl so I could see what was happening. As I approached the door, I heard several gunshots. I was so terrified I couldn't stand on my legs. I heard the soldiers leaving. I looked outside the room and saw all of my family members shot. They were shot in their bodies and their head. I was terrified to approach to see if they were alive. I kept crawling until I reached the back door. I went outside, and I ran away. I was in shock so I don't know what happened later.

A 10-year-old boy from the Abdel Razzak family told Human Rights Watch that he saw men wearing military clothes shoot his 13-year-old friend:

I was at home with my mother, my cousins, and my aunt. Suddenly I heard gunshots. It was the first time I heard so many gunshots. My mother grabbed me and took me to a barn to hide. I heard men screaming and shouting. I heard people crying especially women. I looked outside the window. I was peeking sometimes but I was afraid they would see me. Men wearing [uniforms] like army soldiers, green with other colors [camouflage] and white shoes, entered our house. They went outside after a couple of minutes. Then across the street I saw my friend Shafiq, 13 years old, outside standing alone. An armed man in military uniform grabbed him and put him at the corner of a house. He took his own weapon and shot him in the head. His mother and big sister - I think she was 14 years old - went outside and started shouting and crying. The same man shot at both of them more than once. Then the armed men left and the FSA soldiers came.

The boy's mother confirmed many of the details to Human Rights Watch:

At around 6:30 - 7:00 p.m., we started hearing the sound of gunshots. They were very close to us. We ran and hid in the barn. After the armed men left, and I heard the sound of their cars driving away, my sister and I went outside. I saw Shafiq [the 13-year-old friend of her son] on the ground dead. I saw three families: three women, two of them with children. All of them were shot. Some were shot in the head and others had multiple shots in the body. One of the children survived. She is 14 years old. She was shot twice in the leg. I also saw my cousin who was shot in the chest. A 13-year-old boy who was paralyzed was shot three times in his chest as well.

Syria: Sickening double standards Article published on 30 May 2012


The UN’s human rights office said yesterday that most of the 108 victims of a chilling massacre in Syria last week were shot at close range, some of them women and children who were gunned down in their homes.
The killings are a stark reminder of the atrocities committed in Libya, under the Gaddafi regime. The world was quick to react and a wide-ranging (and very loosely interpreted) resolution was passed by the United Nations to protect the citizens of Libya.
The situation in Syria is not quite the same, with a more sectarian form of violence erupting and inching the country closer to civil war. Atrocities have been committed by both sides, the UN says. It has become apparent that there have been summary killings committed by the government’s troops and security forces, as well as the rebels. But who are the rebels? There are many who just want to get rid of Bashar Assad’s yoke on power. But there are others who are murdering people as a result of sectarianism. The situation is so volatile, that it has even spilled over into neighbouring Lebanon.
The latest UN report offered grim new details of an event that could prove to be a turning point in Syria’s 15 months of violence, but did not decisively say who carried out most of the killings. It did, however, cite survivors and witnesses who blamed the house-to-house killings on pro-government militias known as shabiha, who often operate as hired muscle for the regime.
The brutality of the Houla killings, documented in gruesome amateur videos of scores of bodies laid out before burial, sparked international outrage and raised new questions about the ability of a UN-brokered plan to end 15 months of violence in Syria.
At least seven nations, including France and Britain, expelled Syrian diplomats yesterday to protest the killings, ramping up the pressure on President Bashar Assad’s regime. But still, there is no action. There are no drones and planes pummelling tanks and artillery, like they did in Gaddafi’s Libya.
The UN said that at least 108 people, including 34 women and 49 children, were killed in an attack that began on Friday and continued through the night on Houla, a group of poor farming villages northwest of the central Syrian city of Homs.
In Damascus, international envoy Kofi Annan met with Assad yesterday to express “grave concern” about the Houla killings and other violence, said Annan’s spokesman, Ahmad Fawzi. Annan said his plan cannot work without “bold steps” to stop the violence and release detainees.
Long-time Syrian ally Russia has largely stood by Damascus, although Moscow is growing increasingly critical – particularly over the Houla massacre. Perhaps it will take the UN clout of Russia and China to change the very sad and sorry state of affairs.
Syria’s unrest began in March 2011, with protests calling for political change. Government troops swiftly cracked down at the uprising spread, and many in the opposition have taken up arms to defend their towns and attack government troops. Thousands have died and unless the world acts, thousands more will die.

Syrian activists report new shelling in Damascus, Homs

May 30, 2012 - 11:50 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Activists say Syrian troops are shelling restive suburbs of Damascus and rebel-held areas in the central city of Homs, AP reported.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Coordination Committees did not have any details of casualties caused by Wednesday's bombardment in Homs city and the suburb Douma.
The rural district of Houla, where 108 people were massacred last week, is in the province of Homs.
Western nations have expelled Syrian diplomats in a coordinated move to protest the massacre, which survivors say was largely carried out by pro-regime gunmen.
The Syrian government has said it will conclude on Wednesday, May 30 its own investigation into the killings. It is not clear whether the results will be made public.

Of course the results will be made public. It was "armed gangs what done it guv". Of course what won't be made public is that they are part of the state slaughering apparatus.

I think this is called "talking the talk".

France says Syria air strikes a possibility

Today @ 09:21
BRUSSELS - French leader Francois Hollande has said military action in Syria is possible if the UN agrees, as EU countries expelled ambassadors. He spoke on national TV on Tuesday (29 May) following UN confirmation that Syrian artillery and militia killed 108 people, including 49 children, in the village of Houla, in western Syria, on Friday.
"I heard Bernard Henry-Levy talk about a military intervention, which is not excluded provided it is carried out under the auspices of international law, namely via a [UN] Security Council resolution," Hollande said, referring to a French intellectual who also advocated air strikes on Libya last year.
Hollande's foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, in an interview with the Le Monde newspaper the same day indicated that air strikes are the only option.

"No country is ready to envisage a ground operation," he said. Fabius noted that Syria has a "strong" army. But the French military does not see any technical barriers.
Former French air force chief Jean Rannou told EUobserver in an interview last year: "I don't see any purely military problems. Syria has no defence against Western systems ... [But] it would be more risky than Libya."
Military analysts say Nato jets would use a British base in Cyprus to launch sorties against Syrian air-defences over the first 48 hours, followed by open-ended bombardment.
Syria has around 430 planes, but out of these just 60-or-so Russian-made MiG-29s are up to date. It also has Russian-made surface-to-air missiles - SA-17s - which might inflict casualties.
Hollande's statement is more hawkish than previous ones by EU countries, which went no further than saying international troops might guard humanitarian safe zones. But with China and Russia continuing to veto UN-level action, his statement is largely rhetorical.
One EU diplomat told this website on Tuesday that the UN veto is useful cover for Nato countries, including Turkey, many of which are unwilling to go to war or unsure how to handle Syria.
"It's interesting to see what would happen if China and Russia actually said: 'OK. Do what you want'," the contact noted.
Meanwhile, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain also on Tuesday expelled Syrian charges d'affaires and ambassadors in protest over Houla.
Belgium said three people - including the ambassador - have been declared persona non grata. The ambassador will stay around anyway because he is also accredited to the European External Action Service (EEAS).
An EU spokeswoman said there is no plan to cut him off, in line with EEAS policy of also keeping open its embassy in Damascus to keep information flowing.

let's not forget that the disturbances was started, once again, by the west and their sleeping cells

so technically, Europe and America are responsible for all those deaths

not even sure if Assad is in control of anything anyway,

Originally Posted by Butterfly

let's not forget that the disturbances was started, once again, by the west and their sleeping cells

so technically, Europe and America are responsible for all those deaths

not even sure if Assad is in control of anything anyway,

Buttplug, get a fucking life.

it is well document that this all started when some kids were arrested, tortured and killed, and when their parents protested, the troops opening fire on them.

As Jordan showed, genuine reforms would probably have been enough to satisfy the Syrian people. but Assad's execution of thousands has forced them to take up arms and defend themselves, and their anger at him can never be quelled now.

They see what happened in Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, and will now fight to the death until Assad is removed.

You clearly know fuck all about the Arab mentality nor the tribal nature of the conflict, which is almost as important as the sectarian aspect.

And you stupid French president can bang on all he likes, but the UN will not intervene in this, so it's the Syrian people vs. Assad, his alawite scum cohorts, the Russians and the Iranians.

China can just sit back and laugh, why do they give a fuck, they don't want to give the Tibetans any more juice, do they?

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Buttplug, get a fucking life.

says the XBOX basement boy

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

As Jordan showed, genuine reforms would probably have been enough to satisfy the Syrian people. but Assad's execution of thousands has forced them to take up arms and defend themselves, and their anger at him can never be quelled now

it must be nice to live in that simple world where everything is so clear and truthful,

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

You clearly know fuck all about the Arab mentality

interesting, coming from a known racist BNP supporter

Yes, Buttplug, obviously I defend the Syrian people because I am a known racist.

Fucking hell, even by your standards that is retarded.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I defend the Syrian people because I am a known racist.

it's the colonialist mindset, a very British character trait

those "ragheads" are killing each other therefore this proves that they are ragheads and second, we should come to stop the conflict using our western standard of bombing and invasion

the truth is that there is nothing we can do, so you getting excited over this like you were playing some XBOX game in your basement is typical of your teenage character mentality about this difficult conflict

What on earth are you babbling on about?

FRANCE colonised Syria you fucking retard.

Don't you even know your own country's history?