U.S. WEIGHS OPTIONS FOR MILATARY RESPONSE IN SYRIA
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WHOA! very cool! photoshoppy.
you mean you didn't know 'the rebels' are foreign created; trained; funded death-squads?
is that what you call a conspiracy theory?
mkay.
"Even the pseudo-organizations like the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights have found it impossible to obfuscate the animalistic brutality of the death squads in this latest act. Indeed, death squad supporter Rami Abdul Rahman has been forced to admit the savagery of groups he has supported for at least the last two years.
What is more interesting is that Rahman has been forced to admit that the killers were likely foreign fighters – not native Syrians fighting for freedom against their oppressive government, as Western audiences have been propagandized to believe."
Activist Post: Western Backed Death Squads Publicly Execute Boy in Syria
"One of the rebels tells the French reporter that “three former soldiers of the Irish military elite” provided training to Syrian rebels. It is claimed the Irish soldiers were acting as “independent mercenaries”. These “former soldiers of the Irish military elite” are acting in violation of international law."
Irish Mercenaries Training Syrian Death Squads | Global Research
Prof Michel Chossudovsky
Global Research
Mon, 26 Aug 2013 10:04 CDTMap Print
Death squads in Iraq and Syria. the historical roots of US-NATO's covert war on Syria.
The recruitment of death squads is part of a well established US military-intelligence agenda. There is a long and gruesome US history of covert funding and support of terror brigades and targeted assassinations going back to the Vietnam war.
As government forces continue to confront the self-proclaimed "Free Syrian Army" (FSA), the historical roots of the West's covert war on Syria - which has resulted in countless atrocities - must be fully revealed.
From the outset in March 2011, the US and its allies have supported the formation of death squads and the incursion of terrorist brigades in a carefully planned undertaking.
Terrorism with a "human face": The history of America's death squads -- Puppet Masters -- Sott.net
^ RECOMMENDED HISTORY LESSON ^
i don't know whether you will follow up on any of that or not.
it's up to you.
here's a reminder - again - of who you may be choosing to believe (please do click the Incubator Babies link at bottom...unless you are willfully ignoring it...in which case i don't know why you are posting anything to me):
Propaganda Overdrive Suggests Syria War Coming Soon
"Indeed, in predictable fashion, the United States government is now claiming[4] that is has “strong indications” that chemical weapons have been used and that the culprit was “clearly [by] the government.” Such propaganda, of course, hearkens back to the days of “Incubator Babies” and “Weapons of Mass Destruction” in Iraq."
Activist Post: Propaganda Overdrive Suggests Syria War Coming Soon
~
yes, it's wikipedia. use the footnotes. they are generally at the bottom of an article and lead to primary sources.
INCUBATOR BABIES PROPAGANDA
Nayirah Testimony refers to the controversial testimony given before the non-governmental Congressional Human Rights Caucus on October 10, 1990, by a female who provided only her first name, Nayirah. In her emotional testimony, Nayirah stated that after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait she had witnessed Iraqi soldiers take babies out of incubators in a Kuwaiti hospital, take the incubators, and leave the babies to die. Though reporters did not then have access to Kuwait, her testimony was regarded as credible at the time and was widely publicized. It was cited numerous times by United States senators and the president in their rationale to back Kuwait in the Gulf War.
Her story was initially corroborated by Amnesty International[1] and testimony from evacuees. Following the liberation of Kuwait, reporters were given access to the country and found the story of stolen incubators unsubstantiated. However, they did find that a number of people, including babies, died when nurses and doctors fled the country.
In 1992, it was revealed that Nayirah's last name was al-Ṣabaḥ (Arabic: نيره الصباح) and that she was the daughter of Saud bin Nasir Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti ambassador to the United States. Furthermore, it was revealed that her testimony was organized as part of the Citizens for a Free Kuwait public relations campaign which was run by Hill & Knowlton for the Kuwaiti government. Following this, al-Sabah's testimony has largely come to be regarded as wartime propaganda.
Nayirah (testimony) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia < click AND READ ENTIRE ARTICLE, making note of who was involved in the event.
then if you would be so kind as to give me your assessment of whether or not there are forces in the american system conspiring to lie, with the intention of inciting the nation to go to war.
that's not a hard question.
Last edited:
[video=youtube;bSAMT5Pe15k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSAMT5Pe15k[/video]
EMERGENCY ALERT: Latest Syrian Chemical Attack Follows History of False Flag Provocations
Published on Aug 21, 2013
SHOW NOTES AND SOURCES: The Corbett Report | EMERGENCY ALERT: Latest Syrian Chemical Attack Follows History of False Flag Provocations
In this exclusive clip from the forthcoming edition of the Jack Blood Podcast, James Corbett and Jack Blood dissect the latest reports of a chemical weapons attack in Syria, occuring just two days after a UN chemical weapons team arrived in the country. James goes over the history of false flag chemical provocations in the country and the reasons why we should doubt the quickly-forming official narrative that this attack was perpetrated by Assad's military.
EMERGENCY ALERT: Latest Syrian Chemical Attack Follows History of False Flag Provocations
Published on Aug 21, 2013
SHOW NOTES AND SOURCES: The Corbett Report | EMERGENCY ALERT: Latest Syrian Chemical Attack Follows History of False Flag Provocations
In this exclusive clip from the forthcoming edition of the Jack Blood Podcast, James Corbett and Jack Blood dissect the latest reports of a chemical weapons attack in Syria, occuring just two days after a UN chemical weapons team arrived in the country. James goes over the history of false flag chemical provocations in the country and the reasons why we should doubt the quickly-forming official narrative that this attack was perpetrated by Assad's military.
R
Hama massacre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
the assad regime is not known for being squeamish when it comes to killing syrians...
...and neither are you evidently
the assad regime is not known for being squeamish when it comes to killing syrians...
...and neither are you evidently
A British lawmaker says he believes the Israeli regime was the main culprit behind killing hundreds of civilians in Syria, because it provided terrorist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda with chemical weapons they used against civilians.
“If there’s been any use of nerve gas, it’s the rebels that used it...If there has been use of chemical weapons, it was Al Qaeda who used the chemical weapons”, said Respect Party MP for Bradford West, George Galloway.
“Who gave Al Qaeda the chemical weapons? Here’s my theory: Israel gave them the chemical weapons”, Galloway MP added.
Meanwhile, media reports had it that Qatar’s Al Jazeera TV and Reuters news agency published the news of massacre in East Ghouta, Damascus “one day” before the massacre happened.
According to the reports tens of videos were uploaded before foreign-backed terrorists announced and accused the Syrian government of conducting chemical attacks on its own people. Those evidences show the terrorists massacred people, including women and children, then recorded and uploaded the scenes to deceive the world’s public opinion, but they did so hurriedly and gave themselves up.
PressTV - British MP: Israel provides terrorists in Syria with chemical weapons - click
webster tarpley was in syria last year, i believe, and reported at that time that studios were being set up for propaganda films....for this kind of thing.
will try to find his report.
“If there’s been any use of nerve gas, it’s the rebels that used it...If there has been use of chemical weapons, it was Al Qaeda who used the chemical weapons”, said Respect Party MP for Bradford West, George Galloway.
“Who gave Al Qaeda the chemical weapons? Here’s my theory: Israel gave them the chemical weapons”, Galloway MP added.
Meanwhile, media reports had it that Qatar’s Al Jazeera TV and Reuters news agency published the news of massacre in East Ghouta, Damascus “one day” before the massacre happened.
According to the reports tens of videos were uploaded before foreign-backed terrorists announced and accused the Syrian government of conducting chemical attacks on its own people. Those evidences show the terrorists massacred people, including women and children, then recorded and uploaded the scenes to deceive the world’s public opinion, but they did so hurriedly and gave themselves up.
PressTV - British MP: Israel provides terrorists in Syria with chemical weapons - click
webster tarpley was in syria last year, i believe, and reported at that time that studios were being set up for propaganda films....for this kind of thing.
will try to find his report.
R
it is very unlikely that the syrian rebels have access to real chemical weapons...especially the -delivery systems- needed to disperse chemical agents...and especially on the large scale of this latest event...
this should be obvious given the report about a month and a half ago where the assad regime made a big deal about finding a stockpile of 'keep out of reach of children' chemicals on a rebel controlled farm...if the rebels had large amounts of nerve gas then the assad regime would surely have talked about -that- instead of a stockpile of laxatives and mildly toxic cosmetic ingredients...
it also makes no sense for the syrian rebels to use chemical weapons -against their own position- east of damascus...
this should be obvious given the report about a month and a half ago where the assad regime made a big deal about finding a stockpile of 'keep out of reach of children' chemicals on a rebel controlled farm...if the rebels had large amounts of nerve gas then the assad regime would surely have talked about -that- instead of a stockpile of laxatives and mildly toxic cosmetic ingredients...
it also makes no sense for the syrian rebels to use chemical weapons -against their own position- east of damascus...
a-a-a-a-and. there we have it AoK.
we get 9-11.
we get a war on terror.
we fund and create the terrorists.
they attack stable nations.
we blame the govt of that nation.
like....the script is so bad.
and yet it keeps working.
for the life of me i can't....uh....ya...n.m.
so, i ask myself....who is running the show down there?
it's a single agenda - voting for either "party" (which has been a single party for over 100 years, according to Carroll Quigley) is consent - consent to whatever they choose to do.
the GOP vs Dem scam is stupid.
i'm anti-revolution of any kind now that i'm a christian.
but surely there must be a way for the good guys (like Stewart Rhodes?) to just pull the plug and say no?
i reckon the private mercenaries are too embedded at this point
and if the Executive already has the power to act alone (or rather, with and through the United Nations Security Council - a private corporation) i dunno what can be done.
remember old Hans Blix was supposedly authorized by the "world" to go find those wmds in iraq.
he never found anything.
we get 9-11.
we get a war on terror.
we fund and create the terrorists.
they attack stable nations.
we blame the govt of that nation.
like....the script is so bad.
and yet it keeps working.
for the life of me i can't....uh....ya...n.m.
so, i ask myself....who is running the show down there?
it's a single agenda - voting for either "party" (which has been a single party for over 100 years, according to Carroll Quigley) is consent - consent to whatever they choose to do.
the GOP vs Dem scam is stupid.
i'm anti-revolution of any kind now that i'm a christian.
but surely there must be a way for the good guys (like Stewart Rhodes?) to just pull the plug and say no?
i reckon the private mercenaries are too embedded at this point
and if the Executive already has the power to act alone (or rather, with and through the United Nations Security Council - a private corporation) i dunno what can be done.
remember old Hans Blix was supposedly authorized by the "world" to go find those wmds in iraq.
he never found anything.
B
Who Are the Syrian Rebels? A Basic Intelligence Briefing On the Assad Resistance
Who Are the Syrian Rebels? A Basic Intelligence Briefing On the Assad Resistance
© Freedom House
The early predictions of the Syrian revolution have proven to be unfounded. We know that our journalist's constant comparisons with the speedy downfalls of Ben Ali's Tunisia and Mubarak's Egypt were irrelevant in a country as complex as Syria.
The opposition — despite remarkable resilience against an enemy that can outnumber, outgun, and outmanoeuvre — still exhibits a chronic lack of resources and little central organization between factions. In its current form, the Assad government looks safe for some time to come.
Numbering 50,000 men, the Free Syrian Army, a self-declared non-sectarian group of early army defectors, remains the largest opposition group in the country. But during the past year other factions have entered the fray. If their numbers, as well as their political views are anything to go by, the possibility of a united front seems remote.
The Syrian Liberation Front, numbering 37,000 fighters, and the Syrian Islamic Front, numbering 13,000 fighters, operate in Syria's southeast and northeast respectively. Both of these groups espouse an Islamist ideology, in contrast to the self-declared non-sectarianism of the Free Syrian Army.
However the real challenge to the unity of the Syrian opposition lies in Jabhat al-Nusra, to whom thousands of Free Syrian army fighters have apparently defected. Numbering only 5,000 fighters as of January, but now perhaps many more, al-Nusra's core fighters come from Iraq's post-war insurgency and have recently pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Thanks to the supply lines and experience they forged in this period, Al-Nusra are far more organised and better than their counterparts in the Free Syrian Army, a mixture of ex-military and civilian fighters.
The lack of organizational structure both within the Free Syrian Army and between rival groups has allowed human rights abuses, such as the recent confirmation of rebel commander Khaled al-Hamad eating a dead man's heart, as well as many other alleged abuses, to become common and go unpunished.
This gives Assad an advantage in the propaganda war, in which he portrays all rebels as thugs and terrorists. As well as undermining their support on the international stage, this mobilises Assad's Alawite base and allows his ruthless crackdown to continue with impunity.
Even though support for the opposition has been forthcoming, with France and Britain pushing to ease EU arms sanctions and the U.S. looking to send $100m dollars in aid, the kind of military support that allowed the Libyan rebels to topple Gaddafi does not look likely.
The opposition's lack of organisational coherence and the Islamist element makes many in the West nervous about pledging anything more than token support. It is clear that a Libyan-style intervention remains politically difficult, and an Iraq-style occupation is economically impossible. Since Western wars are rarely, if ever, based on humanitarian rather than political concern, this civil war looks likely to remain in stalemate.
However the intentions of the West are, in the long run, largely unimportant to the fate of the average Syrian. If the great powers choose to abandon the rebels and allow Assad's reign to continue, he will no doubt continue to abuse and oppress those who have opposed him. Even if the Baathists leave Syria tomorrow, those left on the ground will be left to fight over what a future Syria will look like.
While the Free Syrian Army and al-Nusra are on the same side now, will they remain so friendly when the reins of power become available? And how will this new government handle the Alawites after decades of favoritism from the Baathist regime? While it is too early to make predictions, history tells us that wars such as this rarely come to a clean end.
© Freedom House
The early predictions of the Syrian revolution have proven to be unfounded. We know that our journalist's constant comparisons with the speedy downfalls of Ben Ali's Tunisia and Mubarak's Egypt were irrelevant in a country as complex as Syria.
The opposition — despite remarkable resilience against an enemy that can outnumber, outgun, and outmanoeuvre — still exhibits a chronic lack of resources and little central organization between factions. In its current form, the Assad government looks safe for some time to come.
Numbering 50,000 men, the Free Syrian Army, a self-declared non-sectarian group of early army defectors, remains the largest opposition group in the country. But during the past year other factions have entered the fray. If their numbers, as well as their political views are anything to go by, the possibility of a united front seems remote.
The Syrian Liberation Front, numbering 37,000 fighters, and the Syrian Islamic Front, numbering 13,000 fighters, operate in Syria's southeast and northeast respectively. Both of these groups espouse an Islamist ideology, in contrast to the self-declared non-sectarianism of the Free Syrian Army.
However the real challenge to the unity of the Syrian opposition lies in Jabhat al-Nusra, to whom thousands of Free Syrian army fighters have apparently defected. Numbering only 5,000 fighters as of January, but now perhaps many more, al-Nusra's core fighters come from Iraq's post-war insurgency and have recently pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Thanks to the supply lines and experience they forged in this period, Al-Nusra are far more organised and better than their counterparts in the Free Syrian Army, a mixture of ex-military and civilian fighters.
The lack of organizational structure both within the Free Syrian Army and between rival groups has allowed human rights abuses, such as the recent confirmation of rebel commander Khaled al-Hamad eating a dead man's heart, as well as many other alleged abuses, to become common and go unpunished.
This gives Assad an advantage in the propaganda war, in which he portrays all rebels as thugs and terrorists. As well as undermining their support on the international stage, this mobilises Assad's Alawite base and allows his ruthless crackdown to continue with impunity.
Even though support for the opposition has been forthcoming, with France and Britain pushing to ease EU arms sanctions and the U.S. looking to send $100m dollars in aid, the kind of military support that allowed the Libyan rebels to topple Gaddafi does not look likely.
The opposition's lack of organisational coherence and the Islamist element makes many in the West nervous about pledging anything more than token support. It is clear that a Libyan-style intervention remains politically difficult, and an Iraq-style occupation is economically impossible. Since Western wars are rarely, if ever, based on humanitarian rather than political concern, this civil war looks likely to remain in stalemate.
However the intentions of the West are, in the long run, largely unimportant to the fate of the average Syrian. If the great powers choose to abandon the rebels and allow Assad's reign to continue, he will no doubt continue to abuse and oppress those who have opposed him. Even if the Baathists leave Syria tomorrow, those left on the ground will be left to fight over what a future Syria will look like.
While the Free Syrian Army and al-Nusra are on the same side now, will they remain so friendly when the reins of power become available? And how will this new government handle the Alawites after decades of favoritism from the Baathist regime? While it is too early to make predictions, history tells us that wars such as this rarely come to a clean end.
R
Who Are the Syrian Rebels? A Basic Intelligence Briefing On the Assad Resistance
Who Are the Syrian Rebels? A Basic Intelligence Briefing On the Assad Resistance
© Freedom House
The early predictions of the Syrian revolution have proven to be unfounded. We know that our journalist's constant comparisons with the speedy downfalls of Ben Ali's Tunisia and Mubarak's Egypt were irrelevant in a country as complex as Syria.
The opposition — despite remarkable resilience against an enemy that can outnumber, outgun, and outmanoeuvre — still exhibits a chronic lack of resources and little central organization between factions. In its current form, the Assad government looks safe for some time to come.
Numbering 50,000 men, the Free Syrian Army, a self-declared non-sectarian group of early army defectors, remains the largest opposition group in the country. But during the past year other factions have entered the fray. If their numbers, as well as their political views are anything to go by, the possibility of a united front seems remote.
The Syrian Liberation Front, numbering 37,000 fighters, and the Syrian Islamic Front, numbering 13,000 fighters, operate in Syria's southeast and northeast respectively. Both of these groups espouse an Islamist ideology, in contrast to the self-declared non-sectarianism of the Free Syrian Army.
However the real challenge to the unity of the Syrian opposition lies in Jabhat al-Nusra, to whom thousands of Free Syrian army fighters have apparently defected. Numbering only 5,000 fighters as of January, but now perhaps many more, al-Nusra's core fighters come from Iraq's post-war insurgency and have recently pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Thanks to the supply lines and experience they forged in this period, Al-Nusra are far more organised and better than their counterparts in the Free Syrian Army, a mixture of ex-military and civilian fighters.
The lack of organizational structure both within the Free Syrian Army and between rival groups has allowed human rights abuses, such as the recent confirmation of rebel commander Khaled al-Hamad eating a dead man's heart, as well as many other alleged abuses, to become common and go unpunished.
This gives Assad an advantage in the propaganda war, in which he portrays all rebels as thugs and terrorists. As well as undermining their support on the international stage, this mobilises Assad's Alawite base and allows his ruthless crackdown to continue with impunity.
Even though support for the opposition has been forthcoming, with France and Britain pushing to ease EU arms sanctions and the U.S. looking to send $100m dollars in aid, the kind of military support that allowed the Libyan rebels to topple Gaddafi does not look likely.
The opposition's lack of organisational coherence and the Islamist element makes many in the West nervous about pledging anything more than token support. It is clear that a Libyan-style intervention remains politically difficult, and an Iraq-style occupation is economically impossible. Since Western wars are rarely, if ever, based on humanitarian rather than political concern, this civil war looks likely to remain in stalemate.
However the intentions of the West are, in the long run, largely unimportant to the fate of the average Syrian. If the great powers choose to abandon the rebels and allow Assad's reign to continue, he will no doubt continue to abuse and oppress those who have opposed him. Even if the Baathists leave Syria tomorrow, those left on the ground will be left to fight over what a future Syria will look like.
While the Free Syrian Army and al-Nusra are on the same side now, will they remain so friendly when the reins of power become available? And how will this new government handle the Alawites after decades of favoritism from the Baathist regime? While it is too early to make predictions, history tells us that wars such as this rarely come to a clean end.
© Freedom House
The early predictions of the Syrian revolution have proven to be unfounded. We know that our journalist's constant comparisons with the speedy downfalls of Ben Ali's Tunisia and Mubarak's Egypt were irrelevant in a country as complex as Syria.
The opposition — despite remarkable resilience against an enemy that can outnumber, outgun, and outmanoeuvre — still exhibits a chronic lack of resources and little central organization between factions. In its current form, the Assad government looks safe for some time to come.
Numbering 50,000 men, the Free Syrian Army, a self-declared non-sectarian group of early army defectors, remains the largest opposition group in the country. But during the past year other factions have entered the fray. If their numbers, as well as their political views are anything to go by, the possibility of a united front seems remote.
The Syrian Liberation Front, numbering 37,000 fighters, and the Syrian Islamic Front, numbering 13,000 fighters, operate in Syria's southeast and northeast respectively. Both of these groups espouse an Islamist ideology, in contrast to the self-declared non-sectarianism of the Free Syrian Army.
However the real challenge to the unity of the Syrian opposition lies in Jabhat al-Nusra, to whom thousands of Free Syrian army fighters have apparently defected. Numbering only 5,000 fighters as of January, but now perhaps many more, al-Nusra's core fighters come from Iraq's post-war insurgency and have recently pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Thanks to the supply lines and experience they forged in this period, Al-Nusra are far more organised and better than their counterparts in the Free Syrian Army, a mixture of ex-military and civilian fighters.
The lack of organizational structure both within the Free Syrian Army and between rival groups has allowed human rights abuses, such as the recent confirmation of rebel commander Khaled al-Hamad eating a dead man's heart, as well as many other alleged abuses, to become common and go unpunished.
This gives Assad an advantage in the propaganda war, in which he portrays all rebels as thugs and terrorists. As well as undermining their support on the international stage, this mobilises Assad's Alawite base and allows his ruthless crackdown to continue with impunity.
Even though support for the opposition has been forthcoming, with France and Britain pushing to ease EU arms sanctions and the U.S. looking to send $100m dollars in aid, the kind of military support that allowed the Libyan rebels to topple Gaddafi does not look likely.
The opposition's lack of organisational coherence and the Islamist element makes many in the West nervous about pledging anything more than token support. It is clear that a Libyan-style intervention remains politically difficult, and an Iraq-style occupation is economically impossible. Since Western wars are rarely, if ever, based on humanitarian rather than political concern, this civil war looks likely to remain in stalemate.
However the intentions of the West are, in the long run, largely unimportant to the fate of the average Syrian. If the great powers choose to abandon the rebels and allow Assad's reign to continue, he will no doubt continue to abuse and oppress those who have opposed him. Even if the Baathists leave Syria tomorrow, those left on the ground will be left to fight over what a future Syria will look like.
While the Free Syrian Army and al-Nusra are on the same side now, will they remain so friendly when the reins of power become available? And how will this new government handle the Alawites after decades of favoritism from the Baathist regime? While it is too early to make predictions, history tells us that wars such as this rarely come to a clean end.
Who Are the Syrian Rebels? A Basic Intelligence Briefing On the Assad Resistance
Who Are the Syrian Rebels? A Basic Intelligence Briefing On the Assad Resistance
© Freedom House
The early predictions of the Syrian revolution have proven to be unfounded. We know that our journalist's constant comparisons with the speedy downfalls of Ben Ali's Tunisia and Mubarak's Egypt were irrelevant in a country as complex as Syria.
The opposition — despite remarkable resilience against an enemy that can outnumber, outgun, and outmanoeuvre — still exhibits a chronic lack of resources and little central organization between factions. In its current form, the Assad government looks safe for some time to come.
Numbering 50,000 men, the Free Syrian Army, a self-declared non-sectarian group of early army defectors, remains the largest opposition group in the country. But during the past year other factions have entered the fray. If their numbers, as well as their political views are anything to go by, the possibility of a united front seems remote.
The Syrian Liberation Front, numbering 37,000 fighters, and the Syrian Islamic Front, numbering 13,000 fighters, operate in Syria's southeast and northeast respectively. Both of these groups espouse an Islamist ideology, in contrast to the self-declared non-sectarianism of the Free Syrian Army.
However the real challenge to the unity of the Syrian opposition lies in Jabhat al-Nusra, to whom thousands of Free Syrian army fighters have apparently defected. Numbering only 5,000 fighters as of January, but now perhaps many more, al-Nusra's core fighters come from Iraq's post-war insurgency and have recently pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Thanks to the supply lines and experience they forged in this period, Al-Nusra are far more organised and better than their counterparts in the Free Syrian Army, a mixture of ex-military and civilian fighters.
The lack of organizational structure both within the Free Syrian Army and between rival groups has allowed human rights abuses, such as the recent confirmation of rebel commander Khaled al-Hamad eating a dead man's heart, as well as many other alleged abuses, to become common and go unpunished.
This gives Assad an advantage in the propaganda war, in which he portrays all rebels as thugs and terrorists. As well as undermining their support on the international stage, this mobilises Assad's Alawite base and allows his ruthless crackdown to continue with impunity.
Even though support for the opposition has been forthcoming, with France and Britain pushing to ease EU arms sanctions and the U.S. looking to send $100m dollars in aid, the kind of military support that allowed the Libyan rebels to topple Gaddafi does not look likely.
The opposition's lack of organisational coherence and the Islamist element makes many in the West nervous about pledging anything more than token support. It is clear that a Libyan-style intervention remains politically difficult, and an Iraq-style occupation is economically impossible. Since Western wars are rarely, if ever, based on humanitarian rather than political concern, this civil war looks likely to remain in stalemate.
However the intentions of the West are, in the long run, largely unimportant to the fate of the average Syrian. If the great powers choose to abandon the rebels and allow Assad's reign to continue, he will no doubt continue to abuse and oppress those who have opposed him. Even if the Baathists leave Syria tomorrow, those left on the ground will be left to fight over what a future Syria will look like.
While the Free Syrian Army and al-Nusra are on the same side now, will they remain so friendly when the reins of power become available? And how will this new government handle the Alawites after decades of favoritism from the Baathist regime? While it is too early to make predictions, history tells us that wars such as this rarely come to a clean end.
© Freedom House
The early predictions of the Syrian revolution have proven to be unfounded. We know that our journalist's constant comparisons with the speedy downfalls of Ben Ali's Tunisia and Mubarak's Egypt were irrelevant in a country as complex as Syria.
The opposition — despite remarkable resilience against an enemy that can outnumber, outgun, and outmanoeuvre — still exhibits a chronic lack of resources and little central organization between factions. In its current form, the Assad government looks safe for some time to come.
Numbering 50,000 men, the Free Syrian Army, a self-declared non-sectarian group of early army defectors, remains the largest opposition group in the country. But during the past year other factions have entered the fray. If their numbers, as well as their political views are anything to go by, the possibility of a united front seems remote.
The Syrian Liberation Front, numbering 37,000 fighters, and the Syrian Islamic Front, numbering 13,000 fighters, operate in Syria's southeast and northeast respectively. Both of these groups espouse an Islamist ideology, in contrast to the self-declared non-sectarianism of the Free Syrian Army.
However the real challenge to the unity of the Syrian opposition lies in Jabhat al-Nusra, to whom thousands of Free Syrian army fighters have apparently defected. Numbering only 5,000 fighters as of January, but now perhaps many more, al-Nusra's core fighters come from Iraq's post-war insurgency and have recently pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Thanks to the supply lines and experience they forged in this period, Al-Nusra are far more organised and better than their counterparts in the Free Syrian Army, a mixture of ex-military and civilian fighters.
The lack of organizational structure both within the Free Syrian Army and between rival groups has allowed human rights abuses, such as the recent confirmation of rebel commander Khaled al-Hamad eating a dead man's heart, as well as many other alleged abuses, to become common and go unpunished.
This gives Assad an advantage in the propaganda war, in which he portrays all rebels as thugs and terrorists. As well as undermining their support on the international stage, this mobilises Assad's Alawite base and allows his ruthless crackdown to continue with impunity.
Even though support for the opposition has been forthcoming, with France and Britain pushing to ease EU arms sanctions and the U.S. looking to send $100m dollars in aid, the kind of military support that allowed the Libyan rebels to topple Gaddafi does not look likely.
The opposition's lack of organisational coherence and the Islamist element makes many in the West nervous about pledging anything more than token support. It is clear that a Libyan-style intervention remains politically difficult, and an Iraq-style occupation is economically impossible. Since Western wars are rarely, if ever, based on humanitarian rather than political concern, this civil war looks likely to remain in stalemate.
However the intentions of the West are, in the long run, largely unimportant to the fate of the average Syrian. If the great powers choose to abandon the rebels and allow Assad's reign to continue, he will no doubt continue to abuse and oppress those who have opposed him. Even if the Baathists leave Syria tomorrow, those left on the ground will be left to fight over what a future Syria will look like.
While the Free Syrian Army and al-Nusra are on the same side now, will they remain so friendly when the reins of power become available? And how will this new government handle the Alawites after decades of favoritism from the Baathist regime? While it is too early to make predictions, history tells us that wars such as this rarely come to a clean end.
where'd you cover that part?
oh this is just a civil war - with the west sending pizza or something.
ya.
maybe you guys are right.....once they take out that Monster Assad, things will be all peaches and sunshine.
life got better after the Beast Saddam went. and the Colonel too.
just look at the peace and prosperity in those countries.
now that i think of it, all those recent 'humanitarian interventions' are shining examples of the righteousness of the cause of freedom and democracy for the oppressed people of Syria and all the peoples (who never asked for it to begin with) - western style.
Rand Paul: My colleagues just voted to arm the allies of al Qaeda
"You will be funding, today, the allies of al Qaeda. It's an irony you cannot overcome."
Posted By John Hudson Tuesday, May 21, 2013 - 5:51 PM
Rand Paul: My colleagues just voted to arm the allies of al Qaeda | The Cable
but what can be done?
no matter al Qaeda attacked America on 9-11 *cough*
they're the good guys now.
good enough anyway.
or whatever.
Lockheed Martin thanks you.
not much point carrying on with folks who can't even acknowledge, even one time, the reality of their own nation's continual, underhanded and bitter involvement in the affairs of other countries.
always to their hurt.
Rebuilding America's Defenses
http://www.newamericancentury.org/RebuildingAmericasDefenses.pdf
..................
"Rebuilding America's Defenses" – A Summary
Blueprint of the PNAC Plan for U.S. Global Hegemony
Some people have compared it to Hitler's publication of Mein Kampf, which was ignored until after the war was over.
"REBUILDING AMERICA'S DEFENSES" – A Summary < click
The Crises in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt: The Plan to ‘Divide and Conquer’ the Middle East and Why All Roads Lead to Tehran
The Crises in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt: The Plan to ‘Divide and Conquer’ the Middle East and Why All Roads Lead to Tehran | Global Research < click
Nato members could act against Syria without UN mandate
Kosovo-style humanitarian intervention could justify Nato military action against Assad regime after alleged chemical attacks
Nato members could act against Syria without UN mandate | World news | The Guardian < click
U.S. 'backed plan to launch chemical weapon attack on Syria and blame it on Assad's regime'
Leaked emails from defense contractor refers to chemical weapons saying 'the idea is approved by Washington'
Obama issued warning to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad last month that use of chemical warfare was 'totally unacceptable'
By LOUISE BOYLE
PUBLISHED: 14:16 EST, 29 January 2013 | UPDATED: 14:16 EST, 29 January 2013
U.S. 'planned to launch chemical weapon attack on Syria and blame it on Assad' | Mail Online < click
and who can forget this "mistake":
BBC News uses 'Iraq photo to illustrate Syrian massacre'
The BBC is facing criticism after it accidentally used a picture taken in Iraq in 2003 to illustrate the senseless massacre of children in Syria.
BBC News uses 'Iraq photo to illustrate Syrian massacre' - Telegraph
yes, ASSAD MUST GO.
the world will be a safer place.
as we'll surely see, right?
it's a slam dunk.
always to their hurt.
Rebuilding America's Defenses
http://www.newamericancentury.org/RebuildingAmericasDefenses.pdf
..................
"Rebuilding America's Defenses" – A Summary
Blueprint of the PNAC Plan for U.S. Global Hegemony
Some people have compared it to Hitler's publication of Mein Kampf, which was ignored until after the war was over.
"REBUILDING AMERICA'S DEFENSES" – A Summary < click
The Crises in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt: The Plan to ‘Divide and Conquer’ the Middle East and Why All Roads Lead to Tehran
The Crises in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt: The Plan to ‘Divide and Conquer’ the Middle East and Why All Roads Lead to Tehran | Global Research < click
Nato members could act against Syria without UN mandate
Kosovo-style humanitarian intervention could justify Nato military action against Assad regime after alleged chemical attacks
Nato members could act against Syria without UN mandate | World news | The Guardian < click
U.S. 'backed plan to launch chemical weapon attack on Syria and blame it on Assad's regime'
Leaked emails from defense contractor refers to chemical weapons saying 'the idea is approved by Washington'
Obama issued warning to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad last month that use of chemical warfare was 'totally unacceptable'
By LOUISE BOYLE
PUBLISHED: 14:16 EST, 29 January 2013 | UPDATED: 14:16 EST, 29 January 2013
U.S. 'planned to launch chemical weapon attack on Syria and blame it on Assad' | Mail Online < click
and who can forget this "mistake":
BBC News uses 'Iraq photo to illustrate Syrian massacre'
The BBC is facing criticism after it accidentally used a picture taken in Iraq in 2003 to illustrate the senseless massacre of children in Syria.
BBC News uses 'Iraq photo to illustrate Syrian massacre' - Telegraph
yes, ASSAD MUST GO.
the world will be a safer place.
as we'll surely see, right?
it's a slam dunk.
B
'You got that right Hoss'. It must be the spirit of our beloved John Wayne that we have in us that makes us do these kind of things. Is it alright to help the poor who have not asked because they are incapacitated? Is it an imposition on the oppressed to give them light when they are living in darkness? Is it evil to offer a helping hand to those who live in the pitfalls of life without understanding the condition of their state? Is it an evil to you to set free those who have been afflicted or have come under the oppression of a deranged dictator or the influence of a religious zealot? I am not referring to this situation in Syria but the obligation that we have as a free people to bring relief to those who are under some form of oppression and do not know it. If bringing relief allows the gospel an open door for a period of time, is it worth it when lost souls are at stake? Many are searching in their heart for freedom but you never hear it because they are suppressed. It happened in Russia and in other communist countries as the wall came down, God opened the door and the gospel entered in. It may not last a lifetime but we have to take advantage of the opportunity as a free people and keep knocking on the door to see the oppressed set free to hear the message that they have been hindered from hearing. That is hope and optimism with affirmative action and not skepticism through apathy and passivity.
it's the transfer of certain weapons from the possession of the governments who would be held accountible if they use them. it's the new movie coming out in the fall at a theater near you.,,,,first you must loose a war,let your soldiers be over run and the enemy(terrorist,your private army),,what ever word feel's good,,,take possession of what you will get nuked for using,,,and then blame it on the nation who bombed you and made you not be able to keep control of it,,,,,,,
R
it seems you missed the part where most of the syrian rebels are not all al qaeda affiliates...and most of the syrian rebels don't get along with the al qaeda elements in the rebellion...
which is what people who actually do their homework have known for a long time now...unlike some other people who are more and more obviously just a combination of cluelessness and google...
which is what people who actually do their homework have known for a long time now...unlike some other people who are more and more obviously just a combination of cluelessness and google...