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A Syrian official checks the identification of individuals before they vote in the parliamentary elections at a polling station in Damascus on Monday.
Updated at 11:30 a.m. ET: Polls opened in what Syria's government said were its first multiparty elections in about 50 years on Monday, after renewed fighting between rebels and President Bashar Assad's forces reportedly broke out in an oil-producing part of the country.
The opposition have said the election will change little in a rubber-stamp assembly that has been chosen by the Assad family, backed by the powerful secret police, for the past four decades.
The voting for Syria's 250 member parliament is unlikely to affect the course of Syria's popular uprising, which began 13 months ago with anti-Assad protests. The regime has violently cracked down on dissent and many in the opposition have armed themselves, pushing the country toward civil war.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. and Syrian state TV showed voters lining up and dropping white ballots in large, plastic boxes. Election officials say more than 7,000 candidates are competing seats in the legislature in a country of almost 15 million eligible voters out of a population of 24 million.
The elections are the first under a new constitution, adopted three months ago. The charter for the first time allows the formation of political parties to compete with Assad's ruling Baath party and limits the president to two seven-year terms.
Some members of the opposition remained skeptical.
Stories of atrocities carried out by Syrian government forces shortly before the ceasefire began are emerging. ITV's John Irvine reports from Taftanaz, Northern Syria, where 60 people were massacred in one day.
"Syria's political system remains utterly corrupt and election results will be again determined in advance," opposition activist Bassam Ishaq, who unsuccessfully ran for parliament in 2003 and 2007, told Reuters. "There are effectively very few seats for independents, and these will go to the highest bidder."
Significant and important members of the opposition were also not able to participate in the elections, Abdulwahab Sayed-Omar, spokesman for British Solidarity for Syria, told msnbc.com.
"Arguably the most prominent political opposition group is the Muslim Brotherhood," he said. "(But) not only is it banned and illegal, but people who support it get the death penalty."
Bashar al-Haraki, a member of opposition Syrian National Council, told the BBC the elections were a "farce which an be added to the regime's masquerade."
While the opposition have dismissed the vote as a sham, authorities say they are fighting foreign-backed terrorists who are bent on sabotaging what state media describe as a reform program that is more advanced than in Western democracies.
Backed by old ally Russia, and with support from Iran's clerical Shiite rulers, Assad, who belongs to Syria's Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, has relied on the Alawite-dominated military to try to put down the uprising against his repressive rule.
Unlike the autocratic leaders of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen, who have been toppled by Arab Spring revolts, Assad has retained enough support among the military and among his Alawite sect, which dominates the army and security apparatus, to withstand the popular revolt.
A suicide bomber has killed nine people including security officers at a Damascus mosque. It is another blow to the U.N.-brokered truce between President Bashar al-Assad and rebels fighting for his downfall. NBC's Bill Neely reports.
Population 'trapped'
Rebels armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked tank positions in the east of the provincial capital Deir al-Zor on Sunday, in response to an army offensive against towns and villages in the tribal area bordering Iraq that has killed tens of people and stopped others reaching supplies and medical care, they said.
"We do not have a death toll because no one is daring to go into the streets," Ghaith Abdelsalam, an opposition activist who lives near Ghassan Abboud roundabout that has become a flash-point for the fighting in the city, told Reuters.
"The population has been trapped and anger has been building up," he said, adding the fighting subsided in the morning after erupting overnight.
The army still has tanks and heavy weapons in cities and towns and rebels are continuing their attacks on military convoys and army roadblocks that have cut off swathes of the country, according to witnesses and opposition sources, both sides in violation of ceasefire being monitored by a U.N. team.
Bold move as Syria leader makes time for chess
Fifty out of a planned total of 300 U.N. observers are now in Syria to monitor the ceasefire declared on April 12, but their presence has not halted 14 months of violence. The United Nations says 9,000 have been killed during the crackdown.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights, an opposition organisation that documents the violence, said Assad's forces killed three people on Sunday, including Ali Arnous, a young man in the town of Tel north of Damascus.
A YouTube video showed thousands of people marching at Arnous's funeral, chanting "Raise your head high, father of the martyr," and carrying a huge green Syrian flag from the era before Assad's Baath Party seized power in a 1963 coup.
ITV's Bill Neely reports from both sides of the frontlines in Syria. Each side accuses the other of the same crimes and neither is willing to stop fighting.
A grave containing the bodies of six other people the network said were killed by Assad's forces was discovered in Oram al-Joz, one of dozens of towns and villages in Idlib, which has been overrun by the military in the past few months.
Footage and accounts by activists are hard to verify conclusively because the government restricts media access.
Also on Sunday, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told Syrian refugees on Sunday that victory for the rebels was not far off and that Assad was "losing blood" by the day.
Erdogan, who is trying to rally international support against Assad, was met with enthusiastic applause and shouts of "Long live Erodgan" at the Kilis camp on Turkey's border with Syria, which is sheltering 9,000 refugees from the violence.
"Your victory is not far. We have just one issue: to stop the bloodshed and tears and for the Syrian people's demands to be met," he told the crowd.
Reuters, The Associated Press and msnbc.com staff contributed to this report.
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Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
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Amidst all the propaganda by US/West and China/East- the only people to report the facts on the ground are the UN Observers and Scandinavian reporters at the border knowing the personae ex-syriacae and what the rebels are doing, Muslim Brotherhood blendend in SNC- Turkey starting at Saudia Arabia,Qatar,Obama request the incitemenbt,insurgency,planning,arming,delivering Al Queda Libya rebel vets into Syria- trying to cause a Venlo incident. SNC not wanting to partake in elections by boycotting them are doing no favours for anyone- it is not their intention to peacefully have power-sharing or recognize the Un Syria ceasefire agreement and steps. Outside intriguers should bear equal share of blame- they were the instigators and willful participants in a civil war- where outsiders are not in the country but whom Obama backs- in essence The Muslim Brotherhood. Reporters are finally starting to lift the veil of secrecy-backroom dirty tricks and deals. Peaceful transitions-elections- and ceasefire by outsiders/AQ fighters is a must.
ROFL , Your misguided interpretation is funny and scary at the same time. Lybia was toppled to allow a leaching minority back in power, that is all. Syria is being undermined by a similar leaching minority in the Druze. They have been creating strife in that region for years because they require an oppressed majority for their leaching culture. There is no Muslim Brotherhood coming to power in any of these countries, that is a farce dreamed up by western media for propaganda purposes. It is the destruction of the few remaining countries not being oppressed by a leaching class of disgusting men. Every country in this region will be put into debt and social values will be undermined for the benefit of a few. Islamic ideals of moral values and earning your money will be destroyed for the freedom of exploitation by a minority of greedy men with no self control. Look at Egypt, their "Muslim" leadership will forcebly put the entire population into debt slavery completely against Islamic values similar to the way the entire population in America has been enslaved.
Assad is still far a better leader than most of the Sunni autocratic, barbaric, beastly and bigoted Sunni Saudi, Kuwaiti, UAE and others in ME nations.
al-Qaida and Muslim brotherhood are openly supporting Syrian rebels.
Syrian rebels are armed by NATO via Turkey, Saudis and others. Or else how can they attack tanks?
At least, Assad is holding elections.
Hello folks, while the elite (1%ers) have us playing the Democrat Republican blame game, they have us in fear, divided, and distracted while they have their way with us stealing our jobs, money, civil liberties and security .
While we play the Republican Democrat blame game the “greatest military in the history of the world” is bringing in another countries military to assist with local terrorists? The Russian military will be training with our troops in Colorado Springs starting on May 24th, how many of you knew that (look it up)? Remember the movie Red Dawn? This has National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) written all over it. While we play the Republican Democrat blame game, foreign troops will be on our soil carrying weapons involved in military exercises with designed war games to practice quelling, arresting , detaining and killing “American terrorists” or whatever definition the government ascribes a terrorist as.
“Joint U.S.-Russian anti-terror exercise stokes fears of martial law”
“Russian airborne troops are set to train how to target terrorists in America as part of a joint anti-terror drill with the United States which will take place in Fort Carson, Colorado at the end of next month”.
“Airborne troops from Russia and the United States would hold joint anti-terror drills in the U.S. state of Colorado between May 24 and 31,” reports the Xinhua news agency, citing Russian Defense Ministry Col. Alexander Kucherenko. The story was also reported by Russian news outlet RIA Novosti.
“The Russian soldiers will also be given access to U.S. special service weapons at Fort Carson”.
“This announcement comes at a time when Russia actually has troops working in cooperation with China,” points out Business Insider’s Eloise Lee, making reference to one of the largest ever Russian-Sino naval drills currently underway in the Yellow Sea.
“More modern fears revolve around global UN peacekeeping troops being used to quell unrest inside America, foreign troops would be used to carry out gun confiscations and incarcerate American citizens during a time of martial law an issue touched upon by Henry Kissinger during the 1991 Bilderberg meeting when he stated, “Today Americans would be outraged if U.N. troops entered Los Angeles to restore order; tomorrow they will be grateful.”
While we play the Democrat Republican blame game we have disintegrated to the point of allowing a cold war enemy to come on to our soil to work with our military in quelling civil unrest. The NDAA Act can detain United States citizens as enemy combatants. We have sacrificed our liberty for perceived safety and security while we play the Republican Democrat blame game.
"At least, Assad is holding elections."
Yeah. Stalin and Saddam held elections, too.
Didn't really work out. It turns out elections without any democtratic process is really no different from dictatorship.
I'm no friend of any of the ME dictatorships, but the bloodshed, oppression, and torture imposed by Assad is unforgivable. Order cannot possibly be restored until he is gone.
Trusty! Always nice to see you working on chipping away at people's sanity with your paranoia! Keep it up, buddy!
Who cares? Let the Syrians kill each other.
Bush Jr won second term with the help US SC.
Assad your time is up, your one way ticket to HELL is booked.
i want him dead...but america should kill him discretely
i hope the citizens of syria take him out...and i think they will.
For oil price manipulations by inventing Iraqi and other wars; bringing economic disasters to many oil importing nations and for their export of Sunni Islamic radicalism and terrorism, I want Sunni Saudi ruler and his 5000 princes and princesses, Kuwaiti ruler, UAE rulers and other ME oil rich Sunni rulers and leeches and parasites dead soon!
That's fine, Johnny, but rather off-topic.
are you american mimi??
how does obama have anything to do with this mess? exactly where should he stand?
what would you like us to do mimi?? go in and kill assad? get us into another war? make more middle eastern citizens hate us?? ...i'm not quite sure what yur point is.
It's a bad situation...but very soon you will have to deal with this on your home front, so be careful of what you say..
Obama/Deputy Nat.Sec.Adv. Denis McDonough tells that Obama is promoting Muslim Brotherhood in Arab Spring for transparency,read. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/news.aspx?15524 Cincytoy- my point is- Obama has promoted Muslim Brotherhood since his Cairo Speech (David Ignatius,WaPo). What would I want in Syria- absolute ceasefire- then all Syrians of different factions putting forward people for elections- overseen by uninterested parties or all factions' representatives at any polling place- elections and then peaceful transition pre-guaranteeing separation of state/religion, no one-party system. I just don't like outsiders starting revolutions- in Tunisia it was natural- it wasn't bloody-no NATO interfered; now outsiders are trying to promote MB there too.
I highly doubt the Muslim Brotherhood needs or wants outside support to get elected. They are the most influential and capable political organizers around, mostly because the region has very little experience with multiparty elections.
Whether they gain dominance or not is, in the long run, irrelevant. What's important is that proper democratic procedures are established so that citizens can kick them out if things go sour or reward them if things work out. It's possible the MB might try to undermine democratic insititutions (once they're set up, anyway), but given that they're the ones who have been agitating for it for decades, it would be an alarming shift in policy.
It is just a matter of time BECAUSE the people of Syria can see those killing them are SYRIANS, and some of the Syrian police and army will see the people they are killing are SYRIANS, and some of those wealthier and well connected who did well under Assad's rule will see that things are not going so great. When Assad falls, the Russians, Chinese, and especially those NICE CLERICS in Iran are in for a rude awakening. Maybe the end result will be some type of government dominated by people the US does not like, but since if you don't kiss our b^&^&, we don't like you, BUT it will definitely be a government who remembers who stood by Assad when he committed genocide against his own people. I can't wait for this one.
Here we go again. "'Ugly' fool American makes comments without brian being engaged. Hey Pilgrim, the killing going on in Syria (Remind you of Libya? - it should) is by the United Snakes (US/Israel/NATO) hired mercenaris (Al-Qaeda/Libyan 'rebels') the US is financing and the Jews are arming them. With Russian troops massing on the Syrian border don't get your hopes too high. "The best is yet to come!"
Prove it!
Russian troops massing on which border? I don't think they would be welcome in Turkey.
The fighting doesn't really remind me of Libya, because in Libya the rebels were winning. This situation is more unstable. And of course, the idea that America or Israel hired Al Qaeda to attack Syria isn't worth taking seriously. Most of the Syrian Free Army is composed of defecting Syrian soldiers tired of killing their own people.
Didn't Syria just hold similar elections about a month ago?
why can we not get more articles about how corrupt our (U.S.) govt. is? and how it clamps down on those that protest against it! every time congress passes a law more of the little people go too jail, and the 1% get out on BAIL!
Hey, if you're poor and rob a man of a thousand dollars, you go to jail for life. If you are rich and steal millions from people, you get nominated as businessman of the year and get a position for life. Ain't America GREAT?
If you're looking for radical leftist conspiracy theories or ranting devoid of any economic or serious political thought, you're on the wrong site. I'm sure AZ or Trusty could direct you toward some "news" more sensitive to your "concerns".
"Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told Syrian refugees on Sunday that victory for the rebels was not far off and that Assad was "losing blood" by the day."
Look who is talking!
This Turkish Islamist PM Erdogan should stop the genocides of Kurds and he should permit Kurdistan.
The US/Israel financed and armed Kurds are on Turkish and Iraqi turf, why shouldn't they be blown to hell like any interloper aggressor. Besides the Kurds PKK terrorists have murdered some 50 Turkish soldiers in terrorist attacks into Turkey this year. Better go home and do your homework Pilgrim - "If you can't run with the BIG dogs - "You need to stay on the porch!"
So, AZ, is your judgment of who is good or evil in any conflict determined by who is aided (or who you THINK is being aided) by the United States and/or Israel? I mean, separatist rebels could be good or bad, whatever, but you start your complaint with noting that the Kurds financed by America and Israel (not that I believe anything you say, but there you go). 50 soldiers killed is bad, but it doesn't really seem to warrant genocide.
Syria holds farce elections..........
Well now we know where ACORN is.
From all the phenomenas which going on in our World We are in process to see new world in near futhure.
"Farce" Elections. "Farce" Truce. "Farce" Peace Plan. "Farce" UN. "Farce" Ass-Head Assad." "Farce" Arab Spring. "Farce" Kofi Annan. "Farce" Clinton. "Farce" Hussein Zero. "Farce" religion called islam.
You 4-got sump-in Pilgrim. Farce peace making US/Israel/NATO 'baby killers,' huh?
Interesting, when Assad attacks the United Snakes (US/Israel/NATO) 'rebel's it's "oh look what that brutal Assad is doing during the cease fire. But, when the mercenaries attack Assads tanks in violation of the cease fire, it's whooppee 'we're winning!' Yassar AmeriKKKa, what you need is another WTC 'incident' to show you that you ain't caca. C'mon Assad bring in some Taliban 'freedom fighters' They certainly know how to 'kick their arses, BIG time!
The best thing you can do is go back to watching the shoot out at the OK Corral,,,,your another one who can't prove who is backing who and your typical of those who run around and claim everyone who is trying to gain some sort of freedom is associated with Al-Qeada or Muslim Brotherhood, so why can't the people be what they say they are and wanting to have freedom of choice?
Jewish MSNBC reporting here folks: "Don't bet the family farm on their reporting the truth, folks.
Oppps, gotta go - "Here comes the MSNBC 'minders' and boy do they look *issed!"
The Te rr or ists beg for a cease fire then attack when they get the UN involved. I hope Assad puts them down even harder than his father.
The cease fire was put in by the NATO , US , SAUDIS , QATARIS , the head of the problem , they are arming the rebels and then want Assad to stop shooting and they call him the monster , I hat to tell you that Hillary , McCain , Lieberman are no better , they want our troops to go and fight Assad while he is fighting Al Qaeda and their thugs in Syria, and they scream patriotism , If they care abut their country not Israel and oil rich no good kings and their thugs , they will be trying to find a solution for our problems not the problems of Israel and a Chinese @!$%# that trying to start troubles for us with China, Assad has the rights and should blow all of these Al Qaeda and Muslim brother hood back to hell where they belong , and of some of our politicians want to go and fight , let them , But keep our troops home , they do not need to fight , so some of our politicians get rich and get elected. Enough said . Wake up Americans and kick all these no good politicians out.
describe as a reform program that is more advanced than in Western democracies.
Sure, if by advanced you mean advanced corruption.
I can't wait until they execute Asma al-Assad.
The media senses they are losing this as a story.
A turn toward sensibility is not newsworthy.
Any election is better than no election.
Not really, no.
An election completely controlled by a government apparatus, with the outcome determined ahead of time, is just as bad as no election.
Or rather, I'd suppose it's the difference between you being denied your rights to your face or being denied them through deceit. Feel free to choose if you want, but I'll take C, "none of the above".
Be careful what you wish for you just might get it, is an old saying. Look at Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yeman, etc. All of these countries jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. Pretty soon they will all be ruled by muslim extrimest.
The US may experience false elections as the Obama Democrats demand that ID to insure valid voting be declared unlawful. Obama needs illegal votes! and will get them! The news media supports corruption because political corruption sells the news. Meanwhile, the people suffer under a corrupt government. Maybe we need a constitutional amendment that makes false information in the news media a "burn at the stake" offense.
Typical Tea Party melodramatic mentally disordered thoughts.
Quit playing psycho or your going to become one....wait....to late.
The picture caption indicates that id's are being checked prior to voting? I think Rev Al and Jesse Jackoff should be shipped over there to oversee and ensure that there is no voter disenfranchisement going on.
,'-D
Get Syria Freedom Fighters! Oi Children of Syria! Rise up and become free!
I wish we leave people alone , Syria was fine , Till these dam Saudis and Qataris decided that Assad is not a tool they can move around like they want, so they send their army the AL Qaeda thugs from Libya an Iraq and every Muslim radical country there are to fight in Syria , and with the help of NATO , US , and Turkey , they trying to over throw the Assad regime, I hope they do not succeed , because I know whats going to happen to the Christians in that part of the world , they are going to be killed and run out of Syria just like these Muslim radicals did to them in Libya , Iraq , Egypt , under our and NATO watch . its a shame what money do to people .
And all the defectors from the Syrian army? How do they fit into your mad conspiracy world where the "rebels" are all foreign terrorists and the uprisings against a cruel dictator are nothing but a romantic fantasy of the Western media?
You might not have heard that the SFA draws heavily on military defections. It's understandable, since the Syrian news media - where you seem to get most of your information, for some reason - didn't report it.
As for the Christians, I fail to see why the Muslim populace should have to suffer for their sake.
Those people in the picture voting look happy and content... I don't know what the problem over there is.
That would probably have something to do with the 9,000+ dead, the intermittant artillery barrages on populated areas, the mass arrests and detentions without trial, and all the torture.
I'm sure those people are quite happy not to have to deal with any of that in the voting center.
SF Did you even read the article , the rebels are attacking the Syrian troops now with anti tanks weapons , What happened to your innocent rebels , defectors my foot, The Turks and the Saudis and Qataris already admitted to bringing fighters from Libya , SF you got got your nose brain up your nose so far you can not see diddly, 9000 civilians dead and if you see all the Syrian troops dying , I guess that does not count in your book , I bet your THEORY of the Iraqi war still the WMD's , and I bet you believe Iraq , Syria , and Iran had something to do with 9/11, and that the Saudis are our best allies , they only give Al Qaeda money because they feel sorry for them . People like you act and talk like they know everything , well you know what ? After reading your comments over and over you do not listen and see , no matter who tells you and you always want the facts, and if anybody give the facts , you ignore it, I bet you are one of them TEA PARTY fools that belong to senator McCain and Lieberman , ( I know Lieberman is a Dem. but he still a dumb aaasss ) .
Yes, I read the article. What does the rebels having anti-tank weapons prove? That they're well-equipped? Military defectors usually take their weapons with them, you know. Or maybe they got those weapons from Saudi Arabia, who has all but admitted to arming the SFA. So what? None of that addresses my point, nor does your usual string of assumptions about my political views. You say "defectors my foot", but nothing you said disputes the (well-established) fact that they make up a large portion, if not a majority, of the rebel forces.
But wait! You mentioned Syrian troops dying! And then you said "I guess that doesn't count" which is an implicit accusation of a double standard! I kind of had to dig it out of your grammarless run-on sentence, but you actually do have a counter-point, almost!
To be perfectly honest, no, I don't count the Syrian soldiers. I don't care if they die. They fired on unarmed protesters back before the rebellion started, they aimed the artillery into the city centers, and they have done the bulk of the arresting of dissidents and manning checkpoints to harrass, arrest, and kill people who try to get aid to those who need help in the combat zones. They have stood firmly on the side of tyranny and oppression even as many of their comrades, much braver and better men, have deserted their "leader" to stand with their country's people, who they are SUPPOSED to be protecting. Let them die. Each one of the people of Syria who have demanded freedom, democracy, and an end to Assad's reign and risked the army's guns to do so is worth a thousand of their lives.
wow SF you sound like Fidel Castro now, Let them die and so what if the Saudis arm them , Did you know we almost had a war crises when a Iranian used car sales so somebody said , was trying to assassinate the Saudis Ambassador , we almost created a world tension , and off course we added more sanction on Iran , But now you saying its OK to arm bunch of thugs against a sovereign country , as long its not us or our allies, and its OK for the Syrian troops to die , and sorry where did say these fine rebels are, and their commanders . they are in Turkey getting their instruction and money from the Saudis and Qataris . you make fun of my grammar all you want, I am not here to get an fing degree , I am trying to explain the truth to dummy's like you. I hope Assad and his troops kick the hell out of all these Al Qaeda and Wahhabi Muslims butts and send back to where they belong , because sure as hell we not going to do it.and you ignored the part about Syria's importance, but that 's you.
Okay, yeah, I remember the plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador. So what? WE didn't create any tension, the IRANIANS created that tension. Of course, we create plenty of our own tension that makes war more likely, but I say again: so what? This article isn't about Iran.
As for what I'm "saying", I think I've said it enough times for you to get the picture, but I'll keep saying it until you comprehend my English: Assad is a criminal and has to go. He's murdered way too many of his own people, willfully, and arrested and tortured hundreds if not thousands more. He is only interested in peace so long as he keeps his grip on power, as demonstrated by his willingness to order his men to kill civilians and then tell blatant lies to anyone who will listen through the media machine he controls.
Syria's "importance" is irrelevant to my argument, as are most of your points that you think, for some bizarre reason, justify Assad's bloody crackdown. I don't care if the Saudis are funding the rebels. It doesn't matter if the SFA is headquartered in Turkey. Association with Saudi Arabia and Quatar (and pay attention now, because this is important!) does not automatically make someone evil or make a cause wrong! Just because the Saudis are giving the rebels money and weapons doesn't automatically turn their men who are fighting to protect Syria from its own army and government into thugs. I'm sure some of them are, but it's the same in every fighting force, and they don't even have the scale or organization to commit the kinds of atrocities that Assad already has even if they wanted to.
Your "truth" is the same "truth" that's being spouted from the mouth of the bloody tyrant! "The rebels aren't citizens or defectors! They're terrorists! An entire ARMY of terrorists! The people aren't protesting because they want democracy and human rights, or because they're seeing change sweeping across the Middle East! They're being paid off by the Saudis!" That's not truth, and the entire civilized world knows it. The Arab League monitors, seemingly hand-chosen to ignore the massacre, admitted to leaving because it was obvious Assad's forces weren't even pretendig to abide by the cease-fire. Even Russia has come to demand a cease-fire due to the scale of Assad's wrongdoing, a country that has everything to lose and nothing to gain from seeing Assad slaughter the rebels and restore authoritarian order. Your "truth" is garbage.
We know all about elections changing little...
We also know all about lies and misinformation wehn someone, perhaps multi-national corporations want something a country isn't letting them get... we know about destabilization programs by demonizing leaders and creating all kind of rumors and accusation, all countries have used this as preludes to war with lots of death and destruction which some interests don't mind causing at all as long as they get what they want out of it.
And what does Syria have that "The Corporations" would want, exactly? They're a measly oil producer, and have little in the way of natural resources. You could throw a dart at Africa and be sure to hit a more profitable country with a regime that would be easier to remove. Not only is your accustion unsupported, but it doesn't even make sense.
Individuals that rise to power and take sole charge of vast political and military machines have a MUCH worse record for death and destruction than your bogeyman corporations. Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Napolean, Saddam... the list goes on.
Gotta love Islam. Remember that Iraq was majority Shia and minority Sunni and the Sunni were in charge and they hate each other. In Syria the Sunni are the majority but those in control are the Alawite an offshoot of Shia. They hate each other and have to kill each other as their various Muhammad's command them to do so? This is as crazy a religious political psychosis as you can find and it's the same in Afghanistan. There will never be peace with these people as they are commanded to continue their strange jihad's against each other unless some fool infidel's from the US or elsewhere get's in the way.
SF , See here you go again , Syria is the most strategic country in that region , it border Israel and that's the most important thing to the US and NATO , Syria is the connection between Europe and Asia , off course you do not know that either , its the oldest civilization in the world, and its the only country that is a self sufficient , and it does not need these no good oil rich gulf states, and its the only country that allow the Russians to have a navy base , and it is the only navy base they have got outside Russia , But their problem is , they do not bow to the Kings in that region and kicked the Muslim Brotherhood out , and they allow the Christians in that part of the world to live in peace and practise their religion , and that's another reason they are hated bu the rest of the Arab world , I can go on , But what the use of talking and explaining things to people like you , you do not listen .
SF . You just like lots of our politicians , its OK for them to do things and wrong and not for others, So its OK for the Saudis to finance Al Qaeda , and still be our best Friends , well buddy , that 's the last i will even answer you, last advice , You should run for a tea party congressman , because you sure sound like them . have a good life, people like you usually do , because everything they do and say its the truth.
Giullany the ex mayor of new york was 3 weeks ago in london, and try to sell to bring the terrorist MKO to syria, When i reed that in the uk newspaper, i say what???? MKO are terrorist we working with them???? no wonder is not cease of fire in syria,