E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
AFP / Getty Images file
A Syrian man wears as a cape his national flag with a portrait of President Bashar al-Assad during a Feb. 14 rally in support of their leader and the army in Damascus.
Syrian President Bashar Assad took advice from Iran on how to handle the uprising against his rule, according to several thousand emails apparently received and sent by the Syrian leader and his wife, the Guardian newspaper of London reported Wednesday.
Assad also received details about Western journalists in Homs and was urged to "tighten the security grip" on the opposition-held city in November, The Guardian said, citing more than 3,000 emails that activists shared with the newspaper after downloading them from private accounts belonging to Assad and his wife, Asma.
The messages were intercepted by members of the opposition Supreme Council of the Revolution group between June and early February, the Guardian said.
The documents emerged on the eve of the rebellion’s first anniversary, a day that also saw Saudi Arabia close its embassy in Damascus and ahead of a United Nations briefing by crisis envoy Kofi Annan, who completed a peace mission to Syria to end violence that has already cost 8,000 lives.
The email messages appear to show Asma spending thousands of dollars over the internet for designer goods such as candlesticks, tables and chandeliers while Assad swapped entertaining internet links on his iPad and downloaded music from iTunes.
British Prime Minister David Cameron and President Barack Obama say that there should be a political solution to the violent upheaval in Syria.
The Guardian said it tried to authenticate the emails but could not verify every one.
The emails, according to the Guardian, also appear to show:
• Assad established a network of trusted aides who reported directly to him through his "private" email account – bypassing both his powerful clan and the country's security apparatus.
• Assad made light of reforms he had promised in an attempt to defuse the crisis, referring to "rubbish laws of parties, elections, media".
• A daughter of the emir of Qatar, Hamid bin Khalifa al-Thani, this year advised Assad and his wife to leave Syria and suggested Doha may offer them exile.
• Assad sidestepped extensive U.S. sanctions against him by using a third party with a U.S. address to make purchases of music and apps from Apple's iTunes.
• A Dubai-based company, al-Shahba, with a registered office in London is used as a key conduit for Syrian government business and private purchases by the Syrian first lady.
The emails appear to show that Assad received advice from Iran or its proxies ahead of a speech in December, the Guardian said. His media consultant prepared a long list of themes, reporting that the advice was based on "consultations with a good number of people in addition to the media and political adviser for the Iranian ambassador."
The memo advised the president to use "powerful and violent" language and to show appreciation for support from "friendly states," the Guardian said.
In related developments:
- Annan, will brief the U.N. Security Council on Friday about his peace mission, which diplomats say could breathe new life into stalled talks on a resolution aimed at ending the escalating violence. Council diplomats say Annan'sassessment of the crisis will be crucial to a bid by the United States and its European allies to pass a resolution that would also ensure humanitarian aid workers have access to besieged towns.
- Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that it had closed its embassy in Syria and withdrawn all diplomats and staff, the Saudi Press Agency reported. A Foreign Ministry statement said the decision was made "in light of the current events in Syria." Several Arab and Western countries have scaled down their diplomatic presence in Syria where President Bashar al-Assad is fighting a year-long revolt against his rule.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- Soldier accused in Afghan massacre flown out of country
22 kids die as bus crashes near Swiss ski area - In 'KONY' town, video is hardly a sensation
- 'Fascinating' Libya to be next tourism hot spot?
Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
Leave a Comment:
most likely fake, no real sources
Anybody who leaks government communications is a traitor who needs to be shot.
Well Assad is taking care of that almost as well as his father did. Apparently Syria is full of "traitors".
While this is very plausible given that Assad had been friends with most in the Iranian government for decades and the 2 nations are neither democracies, but dictatorships, just arranged in different manners, and Syria and Iran are friendly nations to each other, I just cant help feeling that this SMACKS of deceit.
Didnt we as Americans back an invasion of Iraq because of a leaked email "proving" Saddam had WMDs and then it was proven those emails were fake.
It is amusing how so many of our international and diplomatic "mistakes" are made for big business and big oil's benefit and we take action on "leaked intell" that ends up being fake or altered.
The only leaked emails so far that were not faked sent this whole world into a tizzy ... and they were the wikileaks leaks. All the world's politicians and big businesses have used their political clout, their corporate advantages and money in an attempt to shut down wikileaks and persecute Assange to ensure the "real deal" doesnt get out.
If it were indeed real .... they would have hidden it from the public exposure until they could find a political use for it, such as a war.
Hacking is illegal in the US, Britain and many European nations.
Poor Julius Assange and other hackers!
When it comes to Syria, another rule applies.
If e-mails and money transactions of politicians, Saudi and oil lobbyists, media key people, UN agencies and rights groups are hacked, then ultimately lots of them will lead to Sunni Saudi, UAE, Kuwait royal palaces and their confidants and many rich ME sharks.
Isnt syria doing what nazi germany did right before ww2?
jsfoo, sorry my friend, you have them confused with the United States.
Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Assad is listening to tunes while his people are dying. Two really sick bastards.
Do not disrespect the USA tonight, please, I am in no mood for that crap.
When it comes to intercepting hacked emails, What are real sources?
"The Guardian said it tried to authenticate the emails but could not verify every one."
The emails were "intercepted" by the Supreme Council of the Revolution, the same organization that its leader just resigned because internal differences, claiming it was full of members of the Muslim Brotherhood, go figure.
Any act consisting of pinning nations against each other, you can bet the U.S. is involved.
It isn't rocket science.
More or less old roman strategy.
Really? You think? You mean a corrupt Syrian leadership and the Iranian leadership (who has recently stated they have only peaceful intentions and we should take them at their word for now) are in bed together? Say it aint so. I've been living in Oklahoma the last year and even I could have told you that. I guess that means we'll have to set a few more settings at the next "negotiation/get together" meeting at the 19th hole next month.
Can you specify those who led to Iraqi wars and manipulated oil prices from $30 a barrel to $145 were in bed with?
By the by, did they get their WMDs in Iraq?
You may be knowing better the reasons for oil prices slowly jumping to $125.00 a barrel by choking Iranian oil supplies.
Oil were prices were falling earlier before the Iran scare and war mongering.
Please let us know who benefit from these reckless oil price manipulations hurting too huge numbers!
Jonathan,
Good idea. I'll do that research while you are researching why, if manipulators actually control (not just influence) the market, oil prices rise and fall instead of just constantly rising.
Denver,
Thats because sometimes they feel like making money by shorting the market. They make money each way it swings. Dont let them fool you too.
think we need to send over a few B2 bomber in middle of night and end this horror
If you think that sending a few B2 bombers will actually end this horror then you are in for a rude awakening.
Wouldn't that actually create more horror? Not only for them but us too, before we know it, its occupy Syria for the next 10 years.
Maybe send them over DC and end our horror
What kind of advise would Iran give to Assad? Shoot everybody who moves. If they don't move assume they are setting up sleeper cells and shoot them too.
"If they don't move assume they are setting up sleeper cells" You have a way with words. I like.
A Saudi hacker got the e-mails from various Syrian 'ins' including Bashar al-Assad. -his name is OSAMA SALMAN AL-ANSI. read it all http://www.morgenpost.de/politik/ausland/article 18950381- Saudisches-Hacker-soll-Assads-Mailbox-geknackt-haben.html This asrticle was in the Berliner Mordenpost on January 31,2012. (12:34) and Saudi newspaper Al-Madina also hacked many Syrian sites. Asto Mrs. Al-Assad shopping in Qatar- mon Dieu- quelle modernite!- that stuff is made up by none other than the non-European forgers. Did the e-mails state (c'est la verite)that Iran's Rev.Guards with Islamic Jihad/Gaza/Syria and their brethen are the ones cplanning the Gaza rocketfires to distract from Syria? Very interesting that US/CIA chief Petreus was in Ankara,Turkey yesterday meeting PM Erdogan and staying in the same hotel the same night as UN/AL Mediator/Botscaft Kofi Annan?
Correction: the number is 1895138/
Are you for your Sunni brothers or Shiites, who are less dangerous and harmful?
Is this a surprise? I agree with many that we need to stay out of Syria, but there is a down side to this. Iran, Syria, the Palestinians, North Korea, and now Russia and China will try to destabilize not only the Middle East but also the whole world. We can stick our head in the sand and ignore what the rest of the world is doing but that would be as catostrophic as firing nuclear missles at all of the above mentioned countries. No, I don't have an answer and my opinion would be useless since I no longer am privy to sensitive top secret information that the President and military have. What I do know that the worse thing we could do is to allow the image of the US to sink below a point when we will no longer be feared by these countries. Once we do, they will attack. We can still stand for peace and freedom for all, but when we must we have to swing a very big stick, which Obummer does not have. I've done my time fighting for America, 4 years in Southeast Asia, I just hope my children are able to wake up and not have to worry if this is the day that America falls.
You should have known better as one who has served in military.
Most are tired of wars for now. Huge numbers are suffering from all sides.
US is slowly becoming most hated for Iraqi wars and war drum beatings on Syria and Iran and manipulations of oil prices to higher levels.
They are all being done under the directions of Saudis, oil companies and their lobbyists.
Who on earth with a little sense will choke Iran oil supplies now and manipulate oil prices back to $125?
Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and now Afghanistan has not taught lessons to many. Still many are just gung ho on wars!
Best will be: please take a break from wars at least a decade; build war machines to hearts content and go to wars one at a time.
There are many who never learn or get into their thick heads!
Learn English.
All this going on in the world does not surprise me a bit, until the masses realize they are being manipulated by the people that control all the money, nothing will change, the rich will send soldiers to fight the battles, while they make more money.
I say, lets rebel, I don't think they can kill everyone
Now we all know what the Iranian Spring will end up like...
This is all BS. Let the Syrians alone and mind your own business and take care of the US. We have enough problems without adding to it. We couldn't solve anything in Afghanistan and made it worse.
your right the us cant seem to win any wars any more what is wrong here well I tell you we dont have the leader that has any balls or a spine, hard to lead with a YELLOW strek running down your back like bush and cheney and obama who apologizes to everyone for everything.
You must have been in a war or two, Jimmy, to miss them so badly.
There truly is nothing quite like the smell of napalm in the morning.
less rag-heads to concern ourselves with let them shoot whatever its time we stay outta that quagmire stone-age culture unless we are directly threaten again then next time send over our bombers with nukes
This is the rightest way to go!
Keep a mile away from them anywhere in the world!
You sound like you have an IQ smaller than a light bulb.
They should say stolen not leaked. The US knows all and sees all!! Some FBI guys came to my house and told me I need more fiber. really weird! how did they know?
It never seizes to amaze me how the libturd media can find any source of info from other countries leaders , but couldn't find one on there own backyard negative about oDUMBo when he ran for prez. the first time.
All repub are bigots! The most reverand Wright(wrong) is not!HUHHHH! Berrie the Bomber is going down in November!
nor about 9/11!!!!
What info of oDUMBo did the libturds not know about?
What message????? Tehran is calling the shots in Syria, and pencil geek knecked Al-Assad is their trained little puppet. Iran is exploiting the unrest to further its own agenda in the Mid-East. Iran seeks total control of the region, and most Arab leaders see and fear that. Iran is a theocracy, and when politics and religion become intertwined as they are in Damascus? He is simply following in daddy's footsteps (Haffez) Assad. Murderer of his own people; but the mullahs in Iran are calling the shots in a proxy war with the west. And the world stands by, watching the daily carnage and does nothing tangible about it, even the Arab League of nations. These situations show that the United Nations should simply disband; they are allowing the forces of evil to ignore their pleas for humanitarian aid. Send the UN to Beijing, and let them pay the bill, while they oppress their own people. We're in deep ca-ca folks.
Man have you ever seem such a geek in your life,expect for ours ,of course!Our geeks sit at home pissing on every one's parade that is right of our previous great leader,the last democrap in charge during a very bad recession,the one and only,Jimmy,don't let that rabbit near me,Carter!I think Berrie the Bomber will make Carter look a true leader,from now on!
You do know that they are having a civil war right? Mass why is this Obama's fault? Are you implying geeks commit murder? You can't just go attacking every nation that disagrees with you. There are far greater atrocities in Uganda and many other African nations, but, what does the U.N. or U.S. do anything about that? That's right nothing.
And when the war drums start to beat for them, they will be blamed for all the ills in the world as Iran is now. The wikileaks incident gave the propaganda promoters a new tool, leaked information (supposedly).
Never would have seen that one coming.
Report something we don't know please.
Assad should come to the U.S.. The GOP is still looking for alternatives to Mittens, frothy and the serial cheater. I bet they wouldn't make a big deal out of the birth certificate like they did with Obama. Judging from the list in the article he's fully qualified otherwise.
No we are looking for a replacement for Barrie the bomber,you democrap turd!Working poor my butt,you never have had a job and you live with your parents!How old..30 something?Degree..social studies or if your are Mexican...spanish studies? Quick tell me! What is pocho Villas' birthday!You get it you get your 4 year degree!
Assad would make an excellent candidate for the US Senate. He cares about as much for his people as the American lawmakers do daily. The Great American Train Wreck simply needs to find a way to service Damascus. Aren't religious fanatics over the top? Akbah Allah. God is great. And just for @!$%#s and giggles, Assad was educated in the United Kingdom as an opthamologist. Looks like he has tunnel vision. Watch the carnage every day. Evil is gaining ground everyday.
workingpoor..........break is over at your part time 7-Eleven job
workingpoor is now a 4G hot spot, quit 7/11 when being a bum started paying.
So much hate towards the poor, wow, you guys are truly republicans.
Let’s not forget that it was one of Obama's advisors who estimated that they would have to kill twenty eight million of us to be able to fully implement socialism in this country!
It seems that the left is very comfortable with murdering or social restructuring as they put it, the citizens of this country!
and why the hell do you think obama wants his "F" ed up healthcare, no major surgeries after 70, @!$%# i know alot of people over 70 that had heartwork and still get around and do hard labor around the house, obama boy has to go because the next big war will be here and he the chicken @!$%# will be in hiding waiting for the news of the slaughter of millions of Americans, maybe thats why he doesn't want Ireal to go to war yet, no thats wrong, he does not like the Jewish community and if they put the war off untill 2013 and obamanuts gets re-elected he will tell Isreal to kiss off, he will not fight iran, he wants both countries for himself to rule. open your eye's jews because it's going to be a good one.
We need to get out of there business... PERIOD!!
Our business these days:
Except our business all others businesses are our business.
About only internal business: let us see how much you have in your pocket such that your pocket can be taxed well and emptied!
What is shocking is Worldnews believes this is new. The Syria and Iran connection has been known for some time. Please tell me what I do not already know.
I disagree with Bernie Made-off about the murder of Al-Assad's own people. It is not murder. The Rebels started the fighting. He is the legal ruler of the country with vast support of the people of Syria. Lets allow the Syrian people to settle their own concerns. The USA is NOT the World's Police.
Have"Berrie the Bomber" send over some jets for his 'not a war,just protecting the population from bombing campaign".Of course,like Libya,there is no air force!Come on,send them over there,you know it will help your falling ratings!
No telling if this is real or not. But if it is, it isn't a surprise.
It's a shame that wikileaks can't find useful classified stuff like this to distribute to the masses, versus badmouthing western states with embarrassing cables.
They seem to only find thing that might embarrass the right never the left.And I thought those guys didn't believe in a superior being!They should try breaking into the most reverand Jeromy Wrights' computer and see what we findBet it would not be published or would be whitewashed by the likes of PMSNBC!
Nice mass. I believe he is called Jeremiah Wright. Second he is not a member of the legislative, judiciary, or executive branch and he is not big business, so there really is no need for wikileaks to seach his computer. Searching Wright's computer is as good as searching your computer, or mine nothing really worth noting.
Nothing to see here. Just propaganda by the criminal and warmongering zionists (the same ones that brought you the flase flag known as 9/11).
Jeff.........Michael Moore would give you a nice wet sloppy kiss
Take your meds and go to bed before your head explodes!I guess the Isrealis destroyed the Towers! right!You need to change the tinfoil in your hat, the radio beams are starting to affect you!
Where are the white women..the most reverand jeromy wright!God bless him!How hard do you think it would be to look in his computers and actually see what Berries the Bomber has been up to since he took officeI know the White House has found a way to communicate without releasing it to the Public!
Mas, are you @!$%#ing racist or what? Filled to the brim with hate, let's see where your loyalties lie - with the KKK inspired rebel army that's being raised down in the South, or with America? Need I remind you that if the second civil war occurs, it'll end the same way as the first?
Meanwhile, while we're killing each other, Iran and co. get a free pot shot at us.
Either stand together, unite, and remember what being American was like, or you shalt perish - not as a devout follower of Christ, but branded as a traitor for betraying that which you swore allegiance and loyalty to!
If it comes to it, I will burn you all. Traitors swearing their loyalties to a falsebred king. If Mittens, Perry, Sandy Rum or any other extremist white man leads your little rebellion, then guess what? You've just knowingly created the Anti-Christ.
the whack jobs are out tonight
WTF does Jeremiah Wright has anything to do with this?
Idiots!! who wnat o bomb Assad you are so stupid. He is better than AL-qaida and the muslim brotherhood. Wake up you stupid liberals and let them take care of there own affairs. You f**ked up Iraq and got rid of Sadaam who knew how to take care of alqqida trash, now you you have idiots there and daliy suicide bombings. Democracy my ass.
I want them to bomb you!Soon!If you don't leave this thread,i'm calling in the air force.I know where you live!
Child. You shall regret those words.
JT1364 I think its time you take Obama's advice and start going to school to get your GED. It was under former president George W. Bush that the war in Iraq started, Sadam was captured, and executed. Bush was a Republican. Regarding Iraq, I agree: "Democracy my ass" pretty much sums it up.
What a surprise, Iran is helping to kill innocent civilians around the world?!
And Obama isn't doing a thing about it?! What a surprise from the commander-in-chief who describes his strategy as: "Leading from behind"...
The Deval and Satan conspiring: Wowser, for Max evil! Where are the Combined Forces for Good?
In my pants!
Yes indeed. Yes they are in your pants. And guess what? When I finally cut them off, you will be too!
Lies,, total deception so obama can Arm the rebels again.. Seems he has Armed all these rebels in other countries with American weapons.. treasonous king who deceives so he can Arm his Muslim brothers again. How many has he Armed now with weapons that will be used against the USA..Aiding and bedding the enemies like he has...Abomination, lies and conform or die.. Muslim agenda
Do you even know what Obama's actually up to? Or do you trust Sovereign Commander Arpaio for all the bullcrap you spout on these forums?
Guess what? Revelations is coming to pass - though not the way you thought it would.
As the South creates small militias day after day, they are mobilizing. A rebellion is brewing. Traitors abound. And all the while, Romney the Anti-Christ is calling for the overthrow of a good leader, in the name of the Holy Kingdom of Christ. But little does he know he is securing his own place in hell.
A rebellion only serves to mark one as a traitor - and traitors have a special place, deep down with Lucifer. Like Judas before him, Romney will execute Obama, only to be defeated by our hands, and then he will see the truth - that he was tempted by a monstrosity, left to suffer for all eternity by that which he thought was good.
So George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson are all traitors and burning in Hell then? After all, they led a rebellion.
Oh wait, they won. That makes them heroes and patriots I suppose. Only the losers are traitors that go to Hell.
Nut jobs everywhere (not you sundiver). Listen to reason and proof. You say so many things, but they fall flat because you lack both reason and proof. Stop letting emotions take the better of you.