[Editor’s note: Citing Amnesty International, this article repeats a claim that Zainab al-Hosni, “an 18 year old girl in Homs had apparently been kidnapped and gang raped by Assad’s thugs and then handed back to her parents as a limbless, headless corpse”. Zainab al-Hosni is in fact still alive. The reader is urged to be skeptical of claims coming out of Syria, even those allegedly “corroborated” by human rights groups like Amnesty International. – 10/7/11]
In March 2011, only a week before the Syrian revolution sparked off, Michael Broning of Foreign Affairs wrote an article about the “Sturdy House that Assad Built”, arguing the robustness of the Syrian military dictatorship and its ability to deter country-wide, public sedition. More than two months later, after seeing the events unfold on Syrian soil, he corrected his article and wrote “Cracks in the House of Assad”. This exhibits the extent to which the brave Syrian people have surprised policy experts, the international community, the regime, and indeed their own countrymen. Many political observers of Syrian origin themselves were dubious about the revolution taking place at all, much less its ability to dismantle this iron-clad despotic regime. Such doubts were not unjustified, taking into consideration the ruthless nature of the regime, its criminal history, and how far it was ready to go to crush any anti-government sentiment.
Now, more than six months after the commencement of Syria’s velvet revolution, there are many indications that the Assad Regime is indeed falling apart.
Both the Syrian protesters and the government realize that their predicament is a one-way street. The people are demanding their much-deserved freedom and human rights, and the police state will continue to do what it does best, rule with an iron fist. In late April, I wrote that the Syrian people recognize that there is no turning back. If that applied then, it is that much truer now. Eventually, the people’s perseverance will prevail. The regime cannot keep terrorizing the people forever, and many activists have alluded to the lethargy of the regime’s military and security forces that are ordered to work round the clock to quell any rebellious activity.
Military defections are slowly but surely increasing countrywide in cities like Homs, Hama, Dar’aa, Idlib, Deir Al-Zour, and even Damascus and its suburbs. This is one of the most critical issues facing the regime, especially as defections have even started in the elite republican guard. It is important to note that the current number of defectors is not an accurate gauge of the military’s morale. This is because the defection trend would rise rapidly if it wasn’t for the genuine fear of reprisal. In addition, there are many personnel who haven’t revealed their defection for tactical reasons or for personal safety. In reality, there is real misery amongst the ranks of the police and military, not least because of their fatigue from facing the public unrest daily. Salaries are either withheld or paid late. There is a general reluctance to carry on in this way. To that end, the newly formed ‘Free Syrian Army’ is attempting to create a liberated zone in ‘Jabal Al-Zawiya’ in the northwest close to the Turkish border, which would serve as a refuge for future military defectors. This may provide the incentive needed to generate mass defections that would deal a powerful blow to the regime.
The Assad military, police, and thugs have responded to the country’s peaceful protestors with repression and atrocious violence. This is merely a continuation of the regime’s long history of gross human rights violations and blatant disregard for human life. The regime is waging what seems like an all out war against unarmed civilians using tanks, fighter jets, heavy artillery, and even warships (as was done in Latakia). This reprehensible display of violence illustrates the regime’s political and moral bankruptcy and shows how weak it really is. The crackdown has so far resulted in more than 2,700 deaths, tens of thousands of prisoners, and an alarming number of people wounded. This death toll is according to conservative UN estimates; the actual number is much higher. A new report released by Avaaz, the humanitarian campaign group, puts the death toll at 5,300, more than double the UN estimate.
Assad’s forces have sunk to a new low as they viciously beat the elderly, women, and even children. Without shame, they have resorted to killing, imprisonment, torture, gang rape, and mutilation. Incidentally, what sparked the revolution was the torture of children from Dar’aa who mindlessly painted popular Arab spring slogans on a wall. It is reported that their fingernails were pulled off. Hamza Al-Khatib, a 13 year old who was tortured to death, has now become one of the symbols of the revolution. For the many parents who are searching for imprisoned children, it is quite common for them to be summoned to receive their sons and daughters in body bags; recently, an 18 year old girl in Homs had apparently been kidnapped and gang raped by Assad’s thugs and then handed back to her parents as a limbless, headless corpse. Her parents were then forced to sign that this was the work of armed gangs. Death in custody has become common as Amnesty International has recorded many such cases. Much of the beatings and torture have been verified by obscene videos recorded by the perpetrators themselves. Just how such videos were leaked may be confusing if we think the regime pays attention to human rights accusations and media accountability; it becomes understandable when we realize the regime wants such videos to spread to instill fear in the hearts of the people. As despicable as it may be, such terrifying and sadistic videos are being sold for profit.
Syria has been subjected to merciless rule by the Assad clan for more than four decades. Throughout that period, they promoted sectarian divisions by favoring their own Alawite minority and discriminating against the Sunni Muslim majority and other minorities. Despite that, Syrian society has been able to achieve a considerable degree of coexistence. Now that the regime finds itself backed against the wall, it is insidiously playing the sectarian card and inciting violence through arming the Alawite minority. It is also spreading hateful graffiti on public walls and inside houses of worship, in a desperate attempt to hold on to what seems like a slipping throne. Ironically, the regime then blames its opponents for instigating a sectarian civil war while portraying itself as the safety valve against such an occurrence. It is worth noting that the protest movement has been keen on raising banners that condemn sectarianism and promote unity.
The other card the Assad regime systematically manipulated was the constant demagoguing of the Palestine question. There is an increasing realization that that was merely a smoke-screen that was carefully exploited to justify its presence and its right to tyrannize the people and bury the country under several decades of emergency law. This was quite conspicuous when Assad allowed hundreds of youth to rattle the Golan-Israel border for the first time in forty years on the anniversary of the Palestinian ‘Nakba’. It was a multi-faceted message meant to divert attention from the Syrian conundrum and show Israel that Syria was the best protector of its neighbor’s borders. Thus, it is not surprising that most Israeli media, which always cast Assad as a villain before, now expressed fear that he may be overthrown. Rami Makhlouf, the notorious tycoon and Assad’s maternal cousin, put it best when he said: “Security for Israel stems from security for Syria.” Alas, the Syrian people are finally telling the regime that sincerely supporting occupied Palestine and living with human dignity and freedom are not mutually exclusive.
As the Syrian crisis grows, Bashar Al-Assad may slowly lose what used to be unconditional support from his most valuable ally, Iran. There is evidence that Tehran is taking a closer, more pragmatic look at the situation and possibly planning for a post-Assad Syria. This is corroborated by news of secret talks with the Syrian opposition in Paris recently. Furthermore, official government media in Iran is focusing more on the Syrian protest movement and the subsequent violent crackdown by the government. In addition, some Syrian opposition leaders look positively upon their most recent meeting with Russian government officials, and feel that Russia’s support may also start to wane, albeit slowly. As for Turkey, Syria lost that ally long ago. Ankara has stopped several arms shipments to Syria. The friction reached a climax with the comments of Prime Minister Erdogan in liberated Tripoli: “Do not forget this: those in Syria who inflict repression on the people will not be able to stand on their feet because oppression and prosperity cannot exist together… The time of autocracies is over. Totalitarian regimes are disappearing. The rule of the people is coming.” From a practical point of view, the New York Times last week quoted several western intelligence sources predicating that Assad is on the edge and isn’t coming back.
Adding to Syria’s isolation, international pressure has been mounting and several world powers have called for Assad’s abdication. Arab condemnation has been limited, but is growing. The recent finger-pointing exchange between the New York Times and Iraqi officials about Iraq asking Assad to step down may signal a change in Baghdad’s position. A few days back, the Arab parliamentary body called on suspending Damascus from the Arab League. Meanwhile, the Syrian opposition is working hard to form a more homogeneous, united body to serve as an alternative for governing Syria in its transition phase.
There is a real economic crisis developing in Syria due to diminished economic activity and foreign investment, reduced labor and closures, and various international sanctions. The most drastic step yet taken was the recent ‘crude oil & petroleum products’ embargo implemented by the EU, Syria’s largest single trading partner. This was followed by EU prohibition of investments in Syria’s oil sector. The last six months of military crackdown has also severely hurt the shipping industry as sources estimate a 35-40% drop in cargo volumes at Latakia and Tartous, two of Syria’s main port cities. An important shipping agent in Tartous reports a large reduction in vessel exchange from what used to be 25-30 vessels daily to a low of 5-10 only. Furthermore, while the IMF had originally predicted 3% growth in Syrian GDP back in April, its September ‘World Economic Outlook’ modified that to a 2% decline. Now, Turkey is also preparing sanctions against its Arab neighbor.
The repeated miscalculations of the Assad clan show how out of tune they are with the new reality facing them. The most salient example of this is the repeated announcement that the revolution is over and that normalcy is returning, only to discover that the protest movement is unabatedly growing. Other examples include but are not limited to childish actions such as media performances acted out for national television to frame the protestors, false testimony they aired of alleged conspirators after torturing them, and the silly excuses they haven’t stopped citing to justify the brutal crackdown. All they keep mentioning is the presence of armed gangs, terrorists, extreme Islamic elements, and conspiring traitors. Topping all those efforts, the cosmetic reforms introduced are fooling no one.
The Assad regime has exhibited an obvious inability to institute reforms, much less convince the people that the reforms are bona fide. This is because genuine reform requires laws and institutions and is impossible in lieu of military apparatus predominance. Assad and his comrades are the first to realize that real reform will lead to complete downfall of their autocracy. The Syrian people have been hearing empty promises of reform for years. The farcical directives issued under pressure in the last six months to appease public anger were rendered null before the ink dried.
Despite the horrible massacres committed by this fascist regime, it is clear that the Syrian people’s resolve is only growing stronger. The revolution continues to expand in terms of participation and geography, despite the mass arrests carried out. Protests have become a daily event, day and night. All of this speaks to the people’s intransigence with regards to participating in dialogue with the regime and their insistence on toppling it. As it has been the custom to give an expressive name to every Friday, they chose to name the Friday of September 16 “Moving on until the regime is toppled”. One easily observes the rising intensity of slogans chanted during the demonstrations, as calls for even executing the president are now becoming more frequent. Another indication is the purposeful absence of scores of Syrian students from the first day of school in protest last week. Instead they spent their day chanting an Arabic rhyme: “No studying and no teaching, until the leader falls.” It is also common to hear many of the activists saying that the wall of fear has finally fallen.
It is only a matter of time before the house of Assad falls too.
Wow, what a rant!
Haha, good one Usul! Took me some time to read too!
I’m honestly surprised that Turkey has taken the stance it has. The defected Col should try & contact them to get some tactical planning underway. Turkey is already performing military exercises at the border anyway & sound ready to rumble. Sounds like Assad is going to go out like Hitler did, hiding in a bunker surrounded by his enemies.
I’m glad their is finally an armed resistance. If they are gonna kill you & your family for speaking out might as well take some of them with ya…
Zainab Alhusni appears at Syria TV & turns Media Up-side Down
http://goo.gl/WQKUi
{As for Turkey, Syria lost that ally long ago. Ankara has stopped several arms shipments to Syria.}
This article is biased. The writer is with the criminal west and Turkey, a chain dog of imperialism who is working with US and Israel to topple Assad to bring their won stooges in like what they have done in Libya. Turkey is DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN KILLING MUSLIMS IN LIBYA, IRAQ, SYRIA AND ELSEWHERE. Turkey with the help of Israel and US is trying and a HOAX FIGHT AGAINST ISRAEL to deceive foolish and ignorant people like the writer of this piece to form a Sunni front against Shiite Iran and her allies Syria and Hisbulla. Turkey is closely working with the most brutal regime in the region, including Saudi Arabia, and has nothing against them like the writer of this garbage piece. PEOPLE MUST KNOW THERE IS STRONG PROPAGANDA AND LIES AGAINST SYRIA SPREAD BY ISRAEL/US, ALJAZEERA, AL ARABIA AND ARAB PHONY ‘INTELLECTUALS’ AL NAJJAR AND RAMZY BAROUD.
RAMZY BAROUD IS FOLLOWING THE SAME LINE AS CIA AGENT, JUAN COLE, PROMOTING TURKEY, A TROJAN HOSE OF US/ISRAEL, TO FOOL ARABS AND HELP OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, A ZIONIST STOOGE.
you are one of MOUKHABART and SHABEEHA, working for the regime, who destroyed syria for fifty yrs, stole the oil money , killing incoent people , who will not WORSHIP dictator Bashar the BUTCHER of syria . Bashar days or may be months are numbered .
he is worse than Hitler.
{Assad’s forces have sunk to a new low as they viciously beat the elderly, women, and even children.}
Why do they spread so much lies against Syria, like this rubbish piece. People should not trust this kind of propaganda. Most of Arab ‘intellectuals’ are ARAB in NAMES only and are in fact brought up in the West and live in the west and are aligned with US policy, meaning ‘regime change’ to benefit US imperialism and Zionism. Read other independent journalists’ work not to be fooled by biased opinion of Al Najjar.
Al Najjar and Ramzy Baroud are among embedded journalist with Arabic names who aligned with the ‘opposition’ group in Libya and supported the war on Libyan people. Now, everyone knows what had happened in Libya. Are you going to be fooled again with these imposters with Arabic names again? Discard imposters now. Please read the following article to know the embedded Journalists with Arabic name to find out about the truth.
Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya writes:
{There are real tensions and anger that exist in Syria, but the events in Syria are not a popular uprising. The U.S., the European Union, the Al-Saudis, Qatar, the Hariri-led minority March 14 Alliance in Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel have ignited the problems in Syria through media manipulation, agent provocateurs, and the fuelling of internal legitimate and illegitimate domestic anger. No matter what one thinks of President Basher Al-Assad, it is undeniable that he is extremely popular amongst the Syrian people.}
He exposes the role of Turkey and dissects the action of a liar, Erdugan, who pose as someone who is against Israel treatment of Palestinians but in fact he has the closest relations with Israel. TURKEY IS KILLING MUSLIMS TO BE HELPED BY THE WEST TO GAIN POWER OVER FOOLISH ARABS LIKE RAMZY BAROUD AND AL NAJJAR.
{Turkey has been actively involved in conspiring against both Syria and Libya. I have seen irrefutable proof for this in Tripoli where the Turkish secret service has been very active in helping prepare the grounds for the operations against Libya. It was Turkish intelligence that established many of the contacts that the CIA, MI6, and other NATO intelligence agencies are using in Libya.}
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=26774
Why this WEBSITE is giving so much space to us dEPARTMENT AND PENTAGON PROPAGANDA LINE ON SYRIA?
Are you aligned with Noam Chomsky and his gang, Democracy Now, where are pretending to be “anti imperialism’, but in fact they are seeking the zionist interest and are helping US government propaganda against Syria.
Please read the following article which exposes Noam Chomsky and his associates, Democracy Now, clever game. In the past, Edward Herman exposed another chomsky’s close associate, CPD, Campaign for peace and democracy which is a piece of shit and is US government FRONT.
All of them ARE FEEDING PEOPLE THE US STATE DEPARTMENT AND PENTAGON LINE. DON’T TRUST THEM.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=26948
Are “Democracy Now” Correspondents in Libya Feeding Us the State Department and Pentagon Line?
Shame on YOU ALL CIA AGENTS AND PROPAGANDISTS FOR WAR CRIMINALS OBAMA AND ERDUGAN. WE WILL DESTORY YOU BASTARDS.
Look at Libya to see what you have done. Stop your stupid propaganda to interest the tribe of fucking zionists and imperialism with the leadership of pseudo ‘left’ and phony ‘intellectuals’ Arab traitors.
We will expose you all over the world idiots..
DOWN WITH PSEUDO LEFT AND ARAB TRAITORS. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TO KNOW WHAT THE PSEUDO ‘LEFT’ HAS DONE. THEY ARE IN THE SERVICE OF CIA AND MOSSAD/MI6 …..
{Libya: NATO Provides the Bombs;
The French “Left” Provides the Ideolog}
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/levy051011.html
DOWN WITH TRAITORS.
Western Intelligence services , fake media , false news .. money….. foreign … and all of the traitors…. and all ,who considers himself a journalist or writer does not help with Assad’s Syria … the Syrian people with Assad … and we know how to resist the companying and war against us
I tell you something important.. Should remember America will fall down …as well the leaders of the West >>> Syrian & President Bashar -will be always in their places The game is over
Bashir Assad is the face of resistance in the region against zionism where have helped, contrary to Turkey and Erdugan, the liar, Palestinians. The Arab petty head of states, like Saudi Arabia with sell out Arab phony ‘intellectuals’ who wrige at this page, are in bed with zionism/imperialism.
Majority of Arab phony intellectuals are in the service of US/Israel and are associated with NED(CIA) and other intelligece services of the West.
These servants do not write one artilce against the terrorist state of Saudi Arabia but go after Libya and Syria, that are resisting the rule of war criminals such as Israel and US. As levy writes:
{The Libyan situation was altogether different. In social terms, to start with, the country was by far the most advanced in Africa according to the Human Development Index (HDI). In that regard it is striking to consult the statistics provided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), whether concerning life expectancy (74.5 years — before the war, that is), the eradication of illiteracy, the status of women, or access to health care and to education. The standard of living and social protection were very substantially subsidized. There is no need to belong to the Moammer Kadhafi fan club to recall these facts.}
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/levy051011.html
Down with Turkey, chanined dog of US imperialis/zionism where has served Israel for the past 63 years.
Don’t be fooled by Erdogon’s phony slogan against Israel. Turkey and Israel have close relations, military and economic, where these stupid slogans is directed at Arab population to capture their hearts and minds to serve the interest of US/Israel and Turkey against Arabs and other groups in the region.
Aparently Ramzy Baroud and Al Najjar have found Turkey and Erdogan an ‘alternative’ to Ghaddafi and Bashir who has strong support in his country like Ghaddafi. Those pseuo Arab intelletuals like Baroud and Al Najjar, should explain to people why do Libyan and Syrian people are still fighting against agents of zionism/imperialism, ‘the rebels’ and NATO?
the CIA/Mossad/MI6 agents, ‘the rebesls’, with stupid slogan “Allah Akbar” are supported and funded by the reactionary and terrorist state of Saudi Arabia and its propaganda tool, Al Arabiay and its twin sister ALJAZEERA. Only CIA agents like Juan Cole feed ignorant Americans with Aljazeera propaganda. We don’t trust neither of them. We don’t trust phony Arab ‘intellectuals’ either. These phony intellectuals are EMBEDDED WITH US/ISRAEL war criminals in support of their policy of domination against Libya, Syria, Egypt and beyond. The opposition in Syria, like in Libya are reactionary Salafi, Muslim Brotherhood where are supported by US/Israel/Britain/France and Turkey.
Turkey directly is involved in destabilization project in Syria, like in Libya. Erdogan has killed many Muslims and like Obama, Camaron, Bush, Blair, Rumsfeld and other zionist stooges is a WAR CRIMINAL.
Al Najjar like James Zogby a zionist close to Israel lobby and corrupt Saudids supports US/Israel policy in the region. Turkey a servant of zionist/imperialist is sending terrorist in name of ‘opposition’ into Syria to topple the regime.
All Arab sell out in the pocket of zionism and Obama administration must be exposed NOW.
http://ikhras.com/2011/10/james-zogby-on-syria/
Down with Turky with highest number of Jailed Journalists in the world. Down with Erdogan a liar and zionist servant.
DOWN WITH TURKEY, in the service of IMPERILAISM AND ZIONISM. Turkey is the US imperialism/zionism pawn in the Islamic world especially among Arabs.
Erdogan is trying to present Turkey as anti zionist policy toward Palestinians, but in fact IS LYING. How can anyone be pro US but goes against Israel?
When the ‘most powerful man’ acts as a zionist stooge, Obama, then Erdogan as an Obama’s servant can not act differently.
Turkey is currently Israel’s biggest trade partner in the region and its second-biggest in the world, following the United States. In the first three months of 2011, Turkey exported products worth $579.3 million to Israel and imported goods worth $397.3 million.
People, especially Muslims, must remind Erdogan that he is stupid if he thinks he can fool Arabs with few stupid slogans that he directed at Peres in order to deceive people.
Turkey is piling pressure on Syria with border military exercises, economic sanctions and the harbouring of Syrian opposition groups and army defectors, but Ankara must tread carefully to avoid arousing the suspicion of Arab states or spurring Syrian counter-measures.
Turkey has shifted, in the space of six months, from being Syria’s new best friend forever to a centre of gravity for opposition to President Bashar al-Assad outside the country.
And Turkey has given sanctuary to the most senior Syrian military officer to defect, while this week it began manoeuvres in a province over which Syria has had longstanding claims. But Turkey’s policy shift, which has aligned Ankara more closely with the West, comes with risks.
Please condemn the role of Erdogan, a zionist puppet, making an “opposition” HOAX consist of Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi Terrorist to justify his criminal action against Syrian to serve Zionism/Imperialism.
An opposition faction that has set up shop in Istanbul, Turkey, SHOULD BE CONDEMNED BY EVERY ONE.
Don’t be fooled again like you did in libya.
Spit at imposters who pose as ‘politicians’ including stooges in Turkey.
We say to Erdogan get out of way and shut up. You as a petty servant of zionism/Imperialism have been exposed. Go after Saudi Arabia that you and Obama, a zionist servant, bow in front of her dictator, Abdullah. Both Erdogan and Obama are BABY KILLERS AND WAR CRIMINALS.
FPJ, another US infowar imperialist zionist rag, naturally publishes USraeli apologist-agent authors’ essential to the fascist State’s information warfare.
Such counterrevolutionary soft power agents, like USAID/NED/Soros NGOs, need to be exposed so genuine revolutionaries recognize our enemies, and can distinguish friends from enemies.
liz
Liz, you might note the editor’s note at the top of the page.
{Dr. Ahmad Elnaggar is the economist who pioneered the formation of the Islamic Banking system by setting up the Mit Ghamr Savings Bank in Egypt in 1963.}
Please note that the writer is from Islamists and favor the MB and Salafis who are ploting against Assad. MB and salafis are controlled by MIC/CIA/Mossad and their puppet Turkey.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_El_Najjar
We know that CIA is working with MB in Egypt and elsewhere. Expose all CIA (NED) agents.
Mr. Al Najjar does not give you the reality of the ‘opposition’ groups.
According to Jeremy Salt:
There have been very big demonstrations of support for the government. There is anger at the violence of the armed gangs and anger at external interference and exploitation of the situation by outside governments and the media. In the eyes of many Syrians, their country is once again the target of an international conspiracy.
Whatever the truth of the accusations made against the security forces, the armed groups have killed hundreds of police, soldiers and civilians, in total probably close to 1,000 at this stage. The civilian dead include university professors, doctors and even, very recently, the son of the grand mufti of the republic. The armed gangs have massacred, ambushed, assassinated, attacked government buildings and sabotaged railway lines.
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1068/op6.htm