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Subscribe to RSSThe crisis in Syria takes a dramatic turn for the worse. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.
In dozens of tanks and armored vehicles, Syrian troops stormed rebellious areas near the capital Sunday, shelling neighborhoods that have fallen under the control of army dissidents and clashing with fighters. At least 62 people were killed in violence nationwide, activists and residents said.
The widescale offensive near the capital suggested the regime is worried that military defectors could close in on Damascus, which has remained relatively quiet while most other Syrian cities descended into chaos after the uprising began in March.
The rising bloodshed added urgency to Arab and Western diplomatic efforts to end the 10-month conflict.
The violence has gradually approached the capital. In the past two weeks, army dissidents have become more visible, seizing several suburbs on the eastern edge of Damascus and setting up checkpoints where masked men wearing military attire and wielding assault rifles stop motorists and protect anti-regime protests.
Their presence so close to the capital is astonishing in tightly controlled Syria and suggests the Assad regime may either be losing control or setting up a trap for the fighters before going on the offensive.
Residents of Damascus reported hearing clashes in the nearby suburbs, particularly at night, shattering the city's calm.
"The current battles taking place in and around Damascus may not yet lead to the unraveling of the regime, but the illusion of normalcy that the Assads have sought hard to maintain in the capital since the beginning of the revolution has surely unraveled," said Ammar Abdulhamid, a U.S.-based Syrian dissident.
"Once illusions unravel, reality soon follows," he wrote in his blog Sunday.
Soldiers riding some 50 tanks and dozens of armored vehicles stormed a belt of suburbs and villages on the eastern outskirts of Damascus known as al-Ghouta Sunday, a predominantly Sunni Muslim agricultural area where large anti-regime protests have been held.
Some of the fighting on Sunday was less than three miles (four kilometers) from Damascus, in Ein Tarma, making it the closest yet to the capital.
"There are heavy clashes going on in all of the Damascus suburbs," said Rami Abdul-Rahman, director of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who relies on a network of activists on the ground. "Troops were able to enter some areas but are still facing stiff resistance in others."
The fighting using mortars and machine guns sent entire families fleeing, some of them on foot carrying bags of belongings, to the capital.
"The shelling and bullets have not stopped since yesterday," said a man who left his home in Ein Tarma with his family Sunday. "It's terrifying, there's no electricity or water, it's a real war," he said by telephone on condition of anonymity, for fear of reprisals.
The uprising against Assad, which began with largely peaceful demonstrations, has grown increasingly militarized recently as more frustrated protesters and army defectors have taken up arms.
In a bid to stamp out resistance in the capital's outskirts, the military has responded with a withering assault on a string of suburbs, leading to a spike in violence that has killed at least 150 people since Thursday.
The United Nations says at least 5,400 people have been killed in the 10 months of violence.
The U.N. is holding talks on a new resolution on Syria and next week will discuss an Arab League peace plan aimed at ending the crisis. But the initiatives face two major obstacles: Damascus' rejection of an Arab plan that it says impinges on its sovereignty, and Russia's willingness to use its U.N. Security Council veto to protect Syria from sanctions.
Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby told reporters Sunday in Egypt that contacts were under way with China and Russia.
"I hope that their stand will be adjusted in line with the final drafting of the draft resolution," he told reporters before leaving for New York with Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim.
The two will seek U.N. support for the latest Arab plan to end Syria's crisis. The plan calls for a two-month transition to a unity government, with Assad giving his vice president full powers to work with the proposed government.
Because of the escalating violence, the Arab League on Saturday halted the work of its observer mission in Syria at least until the League's council can meet. Arab foreign ministers were to meet Sunday in Cairo to discuss the Syrian crisis in light of the suspension of the observers' work and Damascus' refusal to agree to the transition timetable, the League said.
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said he was "concerned" about the League's decision to suspend its monitoring mission and called on Assad to "immediately stop the bloodshed." He spoke Sunday at an African Union summit in Addis Ababa.
While the international community scrambles to find a resolution to the crisis, the violence on the ground in Syria has continued unabated.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 27 civilians were killed Sunday in Syria, most of them in fighting in the Damascus suburbs and in the central city of Homs, a hotbed of anti-regime protests. Twenty-six soldiers and nine defectors were also killed, it said. The soldiers were killed in ambushes that targeted military vehicles near the capital and in the northern province of Idlib.
The Local Coordination Committees' activist network said 50 people were killed Sunday, including 13 who were killed in the suburbs of the capital and two defectors. That count excluded soldiers killed Sunday.
The differing counts could not be reconciled, and the reports could not be independently confirmed. Syrian authorities keep tight control on the media and have banned many foreign journalists from entering the country.
Syria's state-run news agency said "terrorists" detonated a roadside bomb by remote control near a bus carrying soldiers in the Damascus suburb of Sahnaya, killing six soldiers and wounding six others. Among those killed in the attack some 12 miles (20 kilometers) south of the capital were two first lieutenants, SANA said.
In Irbil, a Kurdish city in northern Iraq, about 200 members of Syria's Kurdish parties were holding two days of meetings to explore ways of supporting efforts to topple Assad.
Abdul-Baqi Youssef, a member of the Syrian Kurdish Union Party, said representatives of 11 Kurdish parties formed the Syrian Kurdish National Council that will coordinate anti-government activities with Syria's opposition.
Kurds make up 15 percent of Syria's 23 million people and have long complained of discrimination.
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This is now obviously a full blown civil war ''It said an explosive device was detonated by remote control as the bus was traveling'' hint to Syrian army give up the bus for transportation armor much better. Now I just hope the USA does not poke it's nose into another civil war as this has not turned out well in Egypt and Libya let the Syrians settle their own feud without UN.NATO. or the USA. As an American I don't feel as I have a dog in this fight: Totalitarian regime vs islamists/muslim brotherhood?
The rebels "Attacked" the Goverment troops are fighting back. Usually, if you attack someone you take the risk of being killed. This is a "Civil War" between Syrian Rebels and the Syrian Government - NATO, EU and the U.S. should stay out of the Syrian Civil War. If France wats to join the war, they should understand they do so at their own peril.
Wow, this article makes my head spin. Citizen, "Meanwhile, Syrian government forces killed at least five civilians on Sunday", rebel, syrian?
Money to be made (Russian Arms Dealers)..who care's about human Life, so they think..its ALL about RICH & POWERFUL People/ Countries, Wanting TONS of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$...................
yeh jeeesus samething going on in bahrain (american arms dealers)
Assad is going down, and will take Putin with him. Putin is communist to the bone,
unlike the majority of peaceloving Russians.
then i say, let obama and putin get their own country, then they can be communist brothers.
their is no reason we should have to fight anywhere but on our own soil if invaded.
let them kill each other and their will be more for us.
Maybe john but I wouldn't lay any money down against putin.
John 528: Oh man, how I hope you are right about both Assad and Putin!!!!!
THis is what the US will look like in a couple of years, Approval of our government as at an all time low , the bank employees (congress and the president) keep doing the same thing, nothing except more laws to restrict and annul the constitution and bill of rights all in the name of protecting us from the mooslims. When in effect it is protecting them from us. Oakland may be a start since the it seems now the people are getting a little frustrated with the .01%' s (just 400 individuals) government response to protesting about them?
Eventually they will call in the military, when citizens start dying by the military that is supposed to protect all our freedoms & liberties in this country from all invaders foreign or domestic. There will be defections from our armed forces as I am praying (which is very hard since I am an Agnostic) that our fighting men and women will see that the invasion from within is not the citizens but the kleptocracy government who is using every power in their means to stay in power and pi$$ing on what this country was founded on.
Then maybe this organized crime syndicate known as a BANKING CARTEL will finally be put out of busniess or America as we knew it will exsit no more?
It's about time the West lets the Arab countries settle their own problems. It seems that once one dictator is deposed another just takes over. They are draining our resources and they never seem to give any help to non Muslims even if they can afford it.
if obama get's re-elected, (hope not, i pray not) then he will fight there in 2013 if the war is still going. he doesn't want any chance at all to ruin re-election. he ruined that 3 years ago when he first got in office., no jobs, no re-election thats the way it should be, can't shake my hand i will not shake or vote for you.
"Russia's willingness to use its U.N. Security Council veto to protect Syria from sanctions."
Russia is not interested in protecting Syria. Russia is looking out for what it considers to be its own interests. Russia could not care less about the interests of Syria. When the Assad regime is no longer of value to them, they will drop him like a hot potato.
Is this your opinion or do you have any proof of these statements? I think not.
Not in the 1%,
"Is this your opinion or do you have any proof of these statements? I think not."
Check this out:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/russia-backing-of-syrias-assad-seen-as-way-to-maintain-foothold-in-arab-world/2012/01/29/gIQAYzNeZQ_story.html
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize that every country does what it sees as being in its own best interests.
Which makes perfect sense as we invade all the arab country's that have oil. Russia has all the oil it needs but I don't think they would want to have the US and Israel to control every arab country. They will not give Syria up Assad or no Assad.
Oh and speaking about Russia, There are 6 million Americans in our prisons a larger population than Russia's Dictator Stalin had imprisoned. Thank god we have the best liberty and freedom money can buy.
@ Not in the 1% -What are they in prison for? And what is the death rate in a Russian prison? I don't think they count the dead ones as prisoners.
We should just let the UN handle this, its the same as doing nothing but you get credit for trying. and that gives you bragging rights.
Assad would probably back down if he thought he could live through it, has any one offered him amnesty and a place to retire in exile, he could build his own little Monaco.
Yep mickey, I think that every good leader does what he thinks is best for his country. I wish we had one.
Not in the 1%,
"Which makes perfect sense as we invade all the arab country's that have oil. Russia has all the oil it needs but I don't think they would want to have the US and Israel to control every arab country"
I'm glad to see you finally get the point I was trying to make which was simply that every nation does what it sees to be in its best interests. Russia has a naval base in Syria, and Syria is a major purchaser of Russian made military equipment. They have economic and strategic interests to protect. It is not Syria they are trying to protect; it is their own interests they are protecting.
Google has new privacy rules and this was a very interesting read googles requests from governments and Geehizz look what the US of A is demanding from them.
United States
Why would the they want to keep brutality secret? Because it's easier to do more of it?
So should we record everything when the elites\fraudulant banksters enforcers show up anywhere?
The Syrian civil war is between the armed thugs of the blood-thirsty dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad and the armed thugs of radical Islam. The mainly peaceful people who desire freedom and democracy will be crushed no matter which side wins. And now the malignantly, useless Arab League has declared that their lame attempt to broker the Syrian civil war is a failure. The Arab League is abandoning their so-called mission and has turned the Syrian civil war over to the UN. So that means that NATO, which primarily means the US, will be given the job of resolving the conflict. Please tell Mr Obama that we are already $14+ trillion in debt and already overcommitted militarily around the world. This is not our fight. Don't spend money we don't have and don't risk our troops.
My former fiance lives in Damascus. He's Syrian. His last update on his Facebook page was in September. I don't know who to ask to see if he or his family is okay. Does anybody have any idea? I'm really freaking worried.
http://www.locators-online.org/elocate.htm
http://www.locators-online.org/contact.htm
David T. Thomas, Executive Director
david@locators-online.org + 90 533 863 7922
Thanks
@ vlcupper- what ever you do don't ever go their not even to visit, ever! they will rap you in rags and lock you in the house, and if you have children it will be a life long battle to get them out of there, it happens to western women all the time, just stay clear of their world its different. and you will never be treated their like you are here. good luck.
"The rising bloodshed has added urgency to new attempts by Arab and Western countries to find a resolution to the 10 months of violence"
What Western countries have to do with problems in Syria? Were Iraq problems not enough?
Syria is Saudi Arabia and its Sunni dominatede Araba League rulers' problems.
Assad is far better than most of the Sunni beastly rulers of ME like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Yemen and many more.
One can't save the Saudi and other Sunni ruling barbaric rulers for long however much props US and Western countries give!
Assad, if required should take the help of Russia and blow up all the the rebels. He has nothing to lose!
@Jonathan:
That is not what I was thinking last night as I looked at the wrapped bodies of 8 children who were dismembered by Assad's forces in Doma. Bahrain is in a civil war, Eastern Saudi Arabia is fighting and Yemen will also collapse into civil war. Link TV - gives programs from the actual country and they don't censor the dead, the blood, the tank shelling a single family dwelling.
The "rebels" are fighting for freedom from a barbarically harsh regime that has lasted since 1971.
Why is the US news hiding the meltdown of the ME? Probably because we have bases in most of those countries and we are probably running covert operations for our OWN interest - the hell with the people that live there. If we didn't meddle so much, and put in our own puppet dictators the ME would have peace but we cannot allow that, they may give the US sanctions, perhaps for War Crimes or Crimes Against Humanity - both of which we deserve.
NATO will not do anything for the people who are suffering in these countries - it's new mission statement is to:
Link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-05-17-nato-mission-statement_N.htm
Of course all the news about the fighting in Syria (which if important), means that we didn't hear about Israel bulldozing a quite a few residences yesterday. The Palestinians woke up, and Israeli soldiers told them to leave their house and it was immediately bulldozed - that is not supposed to be happening, but no one is paying attention again.
Link: http://www.veteranstoday.com/2012/01/27/can-foreign-gangsters-bulldoze-your-family-home-without-warning-and-get-away-with-it/
I guess Americans and our government cannot be bothered to even condemn these atrocities because they are too busy stumping for another bought and paid for election.
Black Kettle & Sand Creek...lest we forget''NATO will not do anything for the people who are suffering in these countries'' what do you think NATO[usa} should do in all those Islamic countries syria etc etc?
Repost: from yesterday
Looking at the poster the Syrians wrote yesterday "In the concept of modern human justice Syrian people are numbers not souls," and then reading the article of the numbers killed, I have to empathize with the people of Syria.
For the posters who say "Let the Arab League deal with this," the Arab League is NOT and does NOT have a military component. They are a group of countries who launch literacy campaigns, they try to help the member states with social, cultural and economic programs - they are NOT like NATO which has a fighting force.
For those that are able to watch the News for the Middle East (real news in the ME) - some members of Assad's military are now defecting to the other side - the side that wants freedom from the harsh Martial Law like conditions they live under - these soldiers just will not shoot at their fellow countrymen.
Syria may well develop into an all out civil war - but remember, they are souls, not numbers as they die.
Some of you may be to young to remember when the Soviet Union broke up - Russian and the other states held elections, etc. Most countries economies FAILED, life was worse after the collapse because they were so used to their corrupt Communist system - which was replaced with an ill-thought out corrupt semi-capitalistic one.
The Assad family has been running Syria for a very long time, since 1971 to be exact. The current Assad's father was brutal - I'm sure the people want to be free but are scared at the same time - any major change is scary. It's scary when one changes jobs, let along fights with a gun against a tank to save ones family.
Again, I ask that posters have some decency, some respect for the loss of life and the struggle for civil rights that is happening in Syria today.
For the posters who say "they hate the West," no they do not, the young people are on Facebook, Twitter, listen to our music, etc - some may not like our meddling which has cost the lives of those they know, if that is too hard a concept for you, please think about it.
It seems to me that the REAL hate is coming from America - we are the ones saying we hate them - without reason - you know the poster's that always want to "nuke em," and "who cares about the..... middle-easterner" of the day.
This is not a joke to the people in Syria and I think it is very disturbing to find comments that make light of the death of any one's child or the child's parents- no matter what country the child or their family was born in. It's potluck were you are born.
Info about the Arab League: http://www.arab.de/arabinfo/league.htm
I am not saying that the US should interfere, I believe we have proven to be extremely INEFFECTIVE in these situations - that said, I do think that people of the US should not laugh at or make light of other people's misery.
First - NATO should not be just the USA, if that is what it is, they can disband it, it's been useless, especially in Africa - it cannot even oversee food distribution.
We do have the UN - it does NOT have a military, yet it's mission statement seems quite clear to me:
If you look at ALL the MEMBER NATIONS, you will find some that are very rich and some that are very poor.
Syria and other countries are now in a humanitarian crisis.
As much as I would like to see the Assad reign come to an end - that end must be done by the "rebels" (freedom fighters) and they must elect who THEY want to succeed. Foreign intervention in fighting will lead to foreign intervention in the new government - that cannot happen.
Air drops of food, clothing, water, baby formula, medical supplies, etc.... can be done by the UN and its member nations. This IS Syria's fight for Independence - there will be loss of life, but they can rebuild it together when they win, and toss out the Assad regime. In the meantime, I think humanitarian aid is all other countries can give or the victory will be unclear.
I do have faith that the freedom fighters will gain more and more of the military on their side, they have some tanks now as well, so it is not as unfair a fight as it was 10 months ago - it is still uneven, but having true independence will make the freedom fighter's rank increase.
So, other than medical and humanitarian food etc. drops, they must win themselves - that does not mean to me, however, that they should be called names, belittled in life or in death as many posters did yesterday.
Regardless of how you feel about Syria, Yemen, SA, Bahrain, etc - the many countries that are fighting internally, don't forget that the "number dead" - is a soul, someone who was loved by their mother or brother, have some compassion even if you don't share the same language or religion or thoughts - we are all people.
Since we have bases in those countries, I think we should not engage in taking sides either - unless it is humanitarian only - we have a way of choosing the absolute worst puppets!
@LiFe&LiBeRtY.defender - I realize that I cannot answer your question completely. NATO will not help these countries - they will "deliberate" while civilians die.
One thing that I don't understand about your question, is why you call them "Islamic Countries?" You are correct, they are Islamic, but to me that makes no difference than if they were non-Islamic countries. Every human, no matter their religion or belief system is still a human. I have no idea what "1940's fat man" is saying - but I wish him no harm.
PS - sorry that the UN mission statement posted so large - it didn't look like that on my screen, I did not purposely make it that large.
Black Kettle & Sand Creek...lest we forget I think you agree with me that the USA should not get involved in another war in an islamic country or any other country that is not directly threatening the mainland or territories of the usa.
LiFe&LiBeRtY.defender Yes, I agree - my only caveat is that we help (along with other nations or organizations) in "humanitarian" efforts (when we can - we need humanitarian efforts here on our soil as well). Like I said, dropped from the sky, we do not need troops involved nor do we pick sides. I may hate Assad's regime, but one of his soldiers has a family who loves him (the soldier/father/brother) - help has to be equal, we cannot decide this side bleeds out and this side gets bandages.
So, yes I agree we should not get involved in another war in ANY country that is not directly threatening AND has the capacity to actually hurt our mainland/territories. (and we don't use our troops to aid our "ally" that beats a war drum and wants us to fight its war of disliking its neighbors).
PS: Can you be my personal trainer? ... :) ... (4'11" female)
Black Kettle & Sand Creek...lest we forget...... now I am flattered... ''PS: Can you be my personal trainer? ... :) ... (4'11" female)'' actually at this time I am not living in the usa I am not really a trainer just like to workout.
If one does not learn from the past, history will repeat!
If Iraq wars and Afghanistan have not taught lessons with dead and injured soldiers, high unemployments, reducing welfare measures inside and bankruptcies of many nations, high prices and more barbaric ME Sunni oil puppet rulers, then things will be worse.
Theories are theories and some have proved to be fit for garbage dumps!
I've heard it said by a wonderful minister during a church service that people will want peace so bad that they will stop at nothing to achieve it. Isn't this so true in some of our Arab nations today. The warring is not altogether different from America with its different wars to have peace within its nation. The difference is, however, that today we have more sophisticated means in weaponry of harming others. Therefore, there is lacking "fair play" as the citizens aren't on equal footing against police and government soldiers. I say make it "even Steven" then see who wins and finally ends up with peace in Syria. Of course our votes and bravado are for the citizens, and if all we can do is cheer them on through our words and prayers, then I say lets get on with it.
This message came to me concerning Damascus:
“Look, the city of Damascus will disappear!
It will become a heap of ruins.
2 The towns of Aroer will be deserted.
Flocks will graze in the streets and lie down undisturbed,
with no one to chase them away.
It seems Damascus will be destroyed along with parts of Israel. WMD's possibly will be used by accident and the results catastrophic. I believe there are a large store of biological weapons in the city and this could be accidently ignited by either a nato bomb or possibly by suicide bomber either way it is sure Damascus will be destroyed and the effects will carry over to northeastern Israel.
soxfan, this message came to me, you are mistaken, a false profit spouting nonsense.
That makes as much sense as your post does, right?
Theses type of fights between the scum soldiers and the freedom fighters shouldbe happening in Saudi Arabia, Bahrian, qatar and Kuwait. I hate the leaders of those countries more than Satan himself because they are worse.
@starter19- obviously you ride a bicycle, half the world depends on those nations! can you tell me, how many bicycles will it take to get 6 million heads of lettuce to New York City in the month of March. I can't believe some of the lame post, the world is spinning out of control and people don't see it. people think they can just sidestep the wreck and go on about their business as usual, can't people see this is a ever increasing ordeal and its about to engulf the entire world. these countries dictators are being replaced by fanatics that will probably turn out to be worse than the scum they are forcing out, and who do you think is behind all of this, certainly no one we can consider a friend. who do you think is behind the funding of all this kayos.
In short who has the stick? and why is he hitting the hornets nest?
To you people in the United Nations, have ever thougth about expelling Russia and China from the Security Council?. Russia does not represent such a big power as it used to be. May as well replace it with India or Brasil ang get done with business around the world as it should be.
There can no longer be a "political" settlement as the Syrian regime has chosen to kill and oppress.the civil war is "on," therefore, Europe, the U.S. turkey, the Arab league and other friends of common people and their rights need to ship weapons, ammo, funds, suppies, and intelligence to the SFA and civilian patriots NOW!
The U.S. media and government are fanatically giving the impression that, in Syria, the local population would like foreign militarily intervention to overthrow their authoritarian president, Bashar Assad. But facts are stubborn things.
After spinning these lies, The New York Times was forced to admit, in several articles, that there have been massive rallies in Syria in support of the Syrian government. These rallies are larger than any pro-government demonstration that the U.S. government could hope to organize for itself. The New York Times reports:
"The turnout [at least tens of thousands — see picture in link] in Sabaa Bahrat Square in Damascus, the [Syrian] capital, once again underlined the degree of backing that Mr. Assad and his leadership still enjoy among many Syrians, nearly seven months into the popular uprising. That support is especially pronounced in cities like Damascus and Aleppo, the country’s two largest." (January 13, 2012).
URL of this article: www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=28853
The Free Syrian Army — like its Libyan counterpart — appears to be yet another Made-in-the-USA militant group, by route of its ally Turkey, a fact alluded to by the pro U.S.-establishment magazine, Foreign Affairs:
"Why does the Syrian [government] military not rocket their [Free Syrian Army] position or launch a large-scale assault? The FSA fighters are positioned about a mile from the Turkish border, near enough to escape across if the situation turned dire."
The article also quotes a Free Syrian Army member who states: "Every [Free Syrian Army] group in Turkey has its own job," Sayeed said. "[The Turks] gave us our freedom to move." (December 8, 2011).
Every time US put it's hand in any country bring nothing but death and distraction.
The article makes no mention of the support Assad is getting from Iran. Iran is providing money, supplies, weapons, troops and a means for Syria to export oil out the back door.
So!
The Syrian conflict isn't the problem of the US! It is a problem for the Syrian people and her neighbors! If the Syrians don't like their government it is their responsibility to change it no one elses.
Changing forms of government in other countries is a thankless and useless job. The excuse of "weapons of mass destruction" that got the US into Iraq quickly devolved into "nation building" and look where it got us. Tens of thousands dead hundreds of billions of dollars wasted and the country slowly reverting back to "strongman" rule.
True change must come from within not without. Leave Syria alone to determine its own destiny particularly since what will replace the current leader wil likely be a radical Islamic movement anyway! Those wanting to 'help' use your own money and resources not mine!
un is useless ban ki-moon is a waste
russia is protecting its business interests,but watch, as soon as the situation for assad gets real problematic they will bail out and try to cover their backside in case assad falls and the new government might cancel their contracts.
We need to get anti tanks rockets to the protesters,land mines,comunacations,allot of guns of all types to the protesters and hwen the troops find out the protester have the military fighting tools to take a tank or personal carrier out then more troops will defects,I have to say these protesters are some very brave people-started put with just pure peacefull demostration and thousand got murdered but they kept protesting,lets give them the tool to take on the Syrian army and get that brutal murdering Assad out,like to see him caught by the protester then torture him like he had thousands torture,young boys and allot ended up dieing from it-they would torture one so bad they send them to doctore and get him healed up enough to torture him again so I would love to see Assad hung in public for all to see and see how brave he is when caught.Assad has sent thousand of rockets to Hezablah in sourthern Lebanon to attack Israel and Iran supplied Syria with the rockets so taking Assad out means taking a terrorist how supplys other terrorist with all kind of weapons and Israel has to fight Hezzablah.
Syrian protesters so called freedom fighters, the ones that United States, France, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are supporting in Syria are nothing but the same terrorist that we are fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. I am not sure how to explain this one. I do not believe for a second that any of the most powerful countries in the world and most democratic will allow protesters equipped with weapons to roam their streets and kill innocent people. So what democracy we are talking about here.
The U.N. is a part of the problem. Critical times hard to deal with, will be here. Man dominating man to his injury.