E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Shaam News Network via AP
This image made from amateur video purports to show 11-year-old Ali el-Sayed, a survivor of the Houla massacre that left 108 people dead.
BEIRUT -- When the gunmen began to slaughter his family, 11-year-old Ali el-Sayed says he fell to the floor of his home, soaking his clothes with his brother's blood to fool the killers into thinking he was already dead.
The Syrian boy tried to stop himself from trembling, even as the gunmen, with long beards and shaved heads, killed his parents and all four of his siblings, one by one.
The youngest to die was Ali's brother, 6-year-old Nader. His small body bore two bullet holes -- one in his head, another in his back.
"I put my brother's blood all over me and acted like I was dead," Ali told The Associated Press over Skype on Wednesday, his raspy voice steady and matter-of-fact, five days after the killing spree that left him both an orphan and an only child.
NYT: US envoy fears Syria conflict will develop into sectarian war in Mideast
The AP contacted Ali through anti-regime activists in Houla who arranged for an interview with the child over Skype. Activists say he is one of the few survivors of a weekend massacre in the collection of poor farming villages and olive groves in Syria's central Homs province. More than 100 people were killed, many of them women and children who were shot or stabbed in their houses.
Alex Thomson, reporting for NBC News has the first report from inside the Syrian town of Houla where more than a hundred people were massacred, nearly half of them children. Villagers, eager to tell their stories, said they were attacked by pro-government Shia and Allawite militia. The Syrian government claims the massacre was the work of terrorists.
Almost all foreign journalists and observers banned from Syria so the boy's story cannot be independently verified. However, there is evidence to support Ali's version of events -- namely the pictures of 49 children shot or hacked to death in Houla on Friday.
The Houla killings brought immediate, worldwide condemnation of President Bashar Assad, who has unleashed a violent crackdown on an uprising that began in March 2011. Activists say as many as 13,000 people have been killed since the revolt began.
Inside Syria: War-torn Homs scarred by violence, riddled with fear
U.N. investigators and witnesses blame at least some of the Houla killings on shadowy gunmen known as "shabiha" who operate on behalf of Assad's government.
Recruited from the ranks of Assad's Alawite religious community, the militiamen enable the government to distance itself from direct responsibility for the execution-style killings, torture and revenge attacks that have become hallmarks of the shabiha. In many ways, the shabiha are more terrifying than the army and security forces, whose tactics include shelling residential neighborhoods and firing on protesters. The swaggering gunmen are deployed specifically to brutalize and intimidate Assad's opponents.
Neera Tanden of the Center for American Progress and former Deputy White House Press Secretary Tony Fratto discuss how the escalating crisis in Syria has become a 2012 campaign issue.
Activists who helped collect the dead in the aftermath of the Houla massacre described dismembered bodies in the streets, and row upon row of corpses shrouded in blankets.
"When we arrived on the scene we started seeing the scale of the massacre," said Ahmad al-Qassem, a 35-year-old activist. "I saw a kid with his brains spilling out, another child who was no more than 1 year old who was stabbed in the head. The smell of death was overpowering."
The regime denies any responsibility for the Houla killings, blaming them on terrorists. And even if the shabiha are responsible for the killings, there is no clear evidence that the regime directly ordered the massacre in a country spiraling toward civil war.
US expels Syria diplomat over Houla massacre
As witness accounts begin to leak out, it remains to be seen what, exactly, prompted the massacre. Although the Syrian uprising has been among the deadliest of the Arab Spring, the killings in Houla stand out for their sheer brutality and ruthlessness.
According to the U.N., which is investigating the attack, most of the victims were shot at close range, as were Ali's parents and siblings. The attackers appeared to be targeting the most vulnerable people, such as children and the elderly, to terrorize the population.
Despite the discovery of another atrocity following the recent massacre in Huola, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad showed no sign of relinquishing his power. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
In the wake of the attack, Western diplomats warned that Syria is nearing full-blown sectarian civil war that would be catastrophic for the entire Middle East, and urged Russia to end its support for Assad and put pressure on him to stop the bloodshed.
Syrians shot while trying to cross border into Lebanon
With anti-Assad rebels urging international envoy Kofi Annan to declare his peace plan dead, freeing them from any commitment to the tattered truce, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that the prospect of spiraling violence presented "terrible" danger.
"A civil war in a country that would be driven by sectarian divides ... could then morph into a proxy war in the region because, remember, you have Iran deeply embedded in Syria," Clinton said during a trip to Copenhagen where she urged Moscow to increase pressure on Assad.
US student killed while filming violence in Syria
Russia, like China, has vetoed two Security Council resolutions calling for tougher action against Damascus, while stressing hopes that Annan's plan can spur a political solution. Washington called a reported shipment of Russian arms to Syria "reprehensible" although not illegal.
"The Russians keep telling us they want to do everything they can to avoid a civil war because they believe that the violence would be catastrophic," Clinton said.
"I think they are in effect propping up the regime at a time when we should be working on a political transition."
Russia blames 'both sides' for Syria massacre
According to activists in and around Houla area, the massacre came after the army pounded the villages with artillery and clashed with local rebels following anti-regime protests. Several demonstrators were killed, and the rebels were forced to withdraw. The pro-regime gunmen later stormed in, doing the bulk of the killing.
'Why did you take them?'
Syrian activist Maysara Hilaoui said he was at home when the massacre in Houla began. He said there were two waves of violence, one starting at 5 p.m. Friday and a second at 4 a.m. Saturday.
"The shabiha took advantage of the withdrawal of rebel fighters," he said. "They started entering homes and killing the young as well as the old."
Ali, the 11-year-old, said his mother began weeping the moment about 11 gunmen entered the family home in the middle of the night after arriving in a military armored vehicle and a bus. The men led Ali's father and oldest brother outside.
"My mother started screaming 'Why did you take them? Why did you take them?'" Ali said.
Soon afterward, he said, the gunmen killed Ali's entire family.
Jamie Ruben, former Assistant Secretary of State, joins MSNBC's NOW with Alex to talk about U.S.-Syria relations following violent clashes in Syria that has brought the death toll up over the last year to thousands.
As Ali huddled with his youngest siblings, a man in civilian clothes took Ali's mother to the bedroom and shot her five times in the head and neck.
"Then he left the bedroom. He used his flashlight to see in front of him," Ali said. "When he saw my sister Rasha, he shot her in the head while she was in the hallway."
Inside Syria rebel stronghold: 'It was as if the city was on mute'
Ali had been hiding near his brothers Nader, 6, and Aden, 8. The gunmen shot both of them, killing them instantly. He then fired at Ali but missed.
"I was terrified," Ali said, speaking from Houla, where relatives have taken him in. "My whole body was trembling."
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- Chinese activist: My nephew may be being tortured
- Will crisis-hit Ireland rebel against harsh remedy for ailing Europe?
- 'Very clear' signs of Iran sanitizing military site, Western diplomat says
- Porn actor wanted for murder over body parts in Canada mail
- Drinking beer at the London Olympics will cost you
- Tribesmen release two 2 US tourists kidnapped in Egypt
- Report: Hundreds detained in Tibet after self-immolations
Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
Leave a Comment:
You poor lad....words fail me with what goes on around the world every day...what ever happened to "humanity"...
it would seem to be on permanent leave along with common sense.
This is history repeating itself. Remember Nazi Germany? Those that sit idly by and do nothing, are just as guilty as the perpetrators.
goverments around the world totally useless
No, it is not like Nazi Germany. Nazi Germany did much worse things in secret AND had to power to overtake half of Europe. Violence is violence but this is no where near the scale of events that lead into and include WW2.
He is a poor lad as long as he stays in Syria. When he tries to get into the USA, the Minutemen put him through the second ordeal. He is an illegal alien in their eyes.
Pity them children as long as they stay in their country, but dont let them get to close, or you have to treat them as real human beings and not like a Bambi or a Nemo. With thanks to the Minutemen and Disney.
Massacres are abominations of violence no matter where they occur. Yes, Nazi Germany and Syria are different countries in different times, but the slaughter of innocents is horrific no matter where they take place, whether it's in Africa (still happening), Vietnam, China, or the United States.
I can't imagine what this little boy went through and what he will have to endure the rest of his life. No child should ever go through something like this.
Only cowards slaughter the elderly, women and children. May they all burn in hell or whatever they may call it.
There is now someone who saw the killers and can identify at least one of them... and show which side committed the atrocities, and resolve who is lying in this case ... this could modify the position of key countries ....
@PA Resident - So we wait until violences reaches the scale of WWI and Nazi Germany? We wait until Assad publishes a book detailing precisely what he would do given (more time) and opportunity? We wait until the thousands dead reach millions? When 911 occured, the world stood in solidarity with the US of A. We lept into action to avenge our dead. Who will DEFEND the innocent in an act that is presently ONGOING? I am not suggesting we go to war but the lack of action on behalf of the world's top governments is thoroughly disappointing.
Russia is literally destroying Syria by blocking any meaningful action. China is playing along with Russia. Iran is fueling the fire by supplying weapons and ammunition. Russia, China, and especially Iran hope to keep Assad Jr. afloat and keep an ally. It isn't that simple.
For countries without direct Arab or Islamic linkages, such as Russia and China, they will realize they have lost an ally only when the country is in full-fledged civil war and it is too late to do anything to prevent it. For Iran, it is a win-win situation. They send arms to Assad and if he wins, they have a grateful and well-positioned ally. If Assad loses and there is civil war, Iran will send arms and aid to whatever faction they think will be the most friendly, even if they do not have a chance of winning.
There are actually countries that would benefit from a civil war in Syria. Iraq would benefit because Assad's support for Iraqi Sunnis would stop. This would leave Iraq free to build closer relations with its eventual ally, Iran. Turkey would benefit because the Turks always seem to find a way to "market" such wars and get money from NATO or the US. Lebanon, however, would be the greatest benefactor because it could slip from under Assad's heel. The big loser, aside from Syria, would be Israel. All Israel really needs right now is chaos one country away from its border and a nominally "unfriendly" country (Lebanon) in between. Israel's massacre of refugees would be likely revenged because so many of the Druze would become "unavailable" to do the IDF's dirty work for them.
At this point Obama and the State Department are doing the right thing, but fighting a losing battle. They cannot arm the rebels, for exactly the same reason they could not do it in Libya --- most of the "rebels" are firmly anti-American and would turn on us as soon as Assad was deposed. These are not people we want to arm. So the only option that the US has is to work diplomatically to try to convince Assad that his time has come to accept that retirement villa in the UAE and hope that Russia and China figure out the situation in time for the UN or Arab League to step in effectively.
@Ray Ayyelo,
Actually, after 911, the us lept into action and attacked a country which had absolutely nothing to do with the destruction of the WTC. If we had wanted to avenge the attack, we would have bombed Saudi Arabia since all except one of the hijackers were Saudi, all the money came from Saudia Arabia, and all the recruiting, organizing and direction was done by Saudis. That is NOT avenging the dead --- it is just wildly flailing about.
I truly hope this boy grows up strong, proud, and just. Then, should the Assad regime be fortunate to still exist, he can avenge his family and help tear it down.
It speaks way more than just volumes when a child can reason like this to save his own life.
How could they commit these kinds of atrocities??? I'm nauseated after reading this. How could they??? WHY do they??? This isn't war or rebellion - it's wholesale slaughter!!!
MGrinder - You're an idiot...plain and simple. This isn't about the Minutemen, Disney characters, illegal aliens or any of the other crap you just spouted to get off topic. This is about a child that survived the slaughter of his family and the horrors of the atrocities being perpetrated upon the Syrian people by its government. If you want the Syrian people to be treated like human beings, start pointing the finger at Assad, the Syrian Government and the leadership of China, Russia and Iran who are fueling this slaughter and nowhere else.
Go find your tin hat...it slipped off!
How sad :( This poor child....I hope he can get out of there and find a nice family to take him in. What a horrible thing for a child to have to live through
False Flag...no one knows for sure what the rebels consist of Al-Queida is part of the rebels should we arm them? is this a civil war? this is Russia's friend this is China's friend..this is Iran's friend.. How did the Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya support work out for democracy...the brotherhood is in control...let the Saudis and Israelis do what they want to do ...stop trading American blood for oil...the American hawks DO NOT send their sons and daughters to fight these un-winnable wars... Iran could have 10 A bombs Israel has 100 Russia and the USA thousands.....Would Iran risk a war when they would be turned into glass?
Who is running this world? the 99% of the worlds population are nothing but pawns. The 1% is going to be surprised when they find they are confronted with a power that they cannot control...the end has been written...find it and read it.
Paul,, care to throw us a bone and tell exactly where it is written?
It appears that the Military is not responsible for these killings. It might just be the Rebels ?
This is a "Religious Civil War" where the Leaders of the Syrian Government, like in Egypy and Libya, were able to control. Unfortunately, the ideology of these groups supports what the Western Powers refers to as Terrorist Group because of their attacks against the Western Nations. Their belies allow for no other beliefs except those of their Sect, they attack and kill any non-believers. They are the various various Islamic Terrorist Groups. The countries leaders, like them or hate them, did whatever was required to keep the religious groups from attacking each other and other nations. When those leaders are removed by force there is a battle among the religious groups for control of that nation - a "Religious Civil War". This battle has been happening for Centuries, not always in the open, but it has been happening. That's why I believe the Western Nations will make things much worse if they interfer in Syria. NATO, all of Europe and the U.S. should learn from the events in Libya and Egypr where violent Islamic Terrorist groups are taking control.
Nices is just spreading lies.
So is JoeB-460595.
These are local Alawite militias who take their orders from Assad's military. The Alawites are a strange bunch: "The Christian elements in the Alawitei religion are unmistakable. They include the concept of trinity; the celebration of Christmas, the sacrament of the flesh and blood which Christ offered to his disciples, and, most important, the celebration of the Quddas (a lengthy prayer proclaiming the divine attributes of Ali and the personification of all the biblical patriarchs from Adam to Simon Peter, founder of the Church, who is seen, paradoxically, as the embodiment of true Islam.)"
While Alawites are classified as Shiites, along with Iran and a majority of Iraq, they are considered as a "rogue" sect by most Shiites. All Sunni and most Shiite Muslim scholars have real problems with the Christian elements in the Alawite doctrine. They consider Alawites much in the same way thet Christians regard Mormons.
Thank you Chris for clarifying that for everyone. Most people think that everyone in the Middle East is Muslim, when in fact there are various sects of Christians - Copts, Marionites, Orthodox, etc. The massacre of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon back in the 1980's was carried out by Lebanese Christians. 10% or so of Palestinians are Christians themselves.
There is nothing that excuses the actions of the shabiha, the Syrian government, anyone who is providing arms, or anyone who sits back and does nothing to stop the bloodshed and brutality. Come Judgement Day, there will be many who stand just as condemned by their inaction as those condemned by their actions. If nothing else, speak up - lobby our elected officials and those of other countries. China may not give a tinker'sdamn what the world thinks but Russia cares a little so mail or email a letter to Putin and the Russian Foreign Minister.
Allison--you're right, everyone is not Muslim in the Middle East--but there are many of those who are of that faith tradition that have been working towards that for a long time. My friends aunt just returned from Jordan (which I always thought was a more tolerant country) and said she had never felt so persecuted as a Christian as she was when she was there.
There used to be a large population of Copts in Egypt, Marionites in Lebanon, Orthodox Christians in Iraq. All up and down the area called "Middle East" there were plenty of Christians. These were the original lands traveled by the apostles to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 600+ years before anyone ever heard of Muhammed. Christians in these areas are persecuted on a daily basis, driven out of their homes, shot and blown up at their Easter Services, etc. You point out that the Palestinian atrocities of the 1980s were carried out by Palestinian Christians--proving Christians aren't always following what they profess--however I don't think this gives anyone the right to infer that this deserves or should lead to their extinction.
Poor poor child. What a tragedy for him and his family. It's horrible that the world community is standing by. The UN is weak and Assad knows it. He's taking advantage of the moment. Russia and China are complicit and have blood on their hands. We see them for what they are.
We see the Media portraying a picture, that may not be true. AIPAC Hillary is accusing whoever she gets paid to.
Utterly astounding -- how some people refuse to see the forest for the trees!!!
When will these people finally grasp the concepts of civilization and democracy?
It could happen here in the U.S to. Do you really think that say for instance if we the people tried to remove all the clowns out of congress by force we wouldn't be met with violence? Most humans are born with the corrupt gene of greed and power and when achieved people in that position are not willing to go quietly and give up that life style. This type of violent behavior on part of the so-called ruling elitist class can happen anywhere. Violence is violence .
Answer: when the sky turns green, or when hell freezes over - whichever comes first.
never
HotTicket - The sky frequently looks green immediately after a tornado. Now if we could just generate tornadoes on demand....
When will they become civilized and democratic? Certainly, neither of the two in any form will take place while Assad and the regime retain power.
Civilization is a relative term, so don't expect them to ever become the Switzerland of the Middle East. As far as decomcracy goes, that is not likely to happen on a model closely resembling Western decomcracies.
Because of their tribal makeup and diversity, they have a demographic in which democracy would be a suitable form of government. Nonetheless, democracy in Syria goes back to the question of civility, which relies on mutual trust, respect for differences and and the honest search for common interest and a common good. Democracy in Syria. What do you think?
The problem is simple, but unfortunately will never go away. It is religion. Why, oh why doesn't people snap out of it. Does anybody actually have the proof and undisputed evidence that what they believe in and practice is the absolute and right one??? How is it even possible to shoot children without having a heart attack when faced with the reality of it?
They had an advanced civilization three thousand years ago, when your ancestors were braining each over the head with ox bones.
These people grasp "democracy" better than you think. Most Americans see democracy as the ability of a majority to strip all rights from minorities. Ambrose Bierce defined "democracy" as "four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch" and hit it right on the head.
The Founding Fathers two greatest fears for this country were that religion would have influence over government and that the country would slide into democracy. They had seen these things in the French Revolution and with Cromwell's Roundheads and in the early Colonies. That is why every leadership in their new government was appointed except the House of Representatives and they gave the House the shortest possible term of office. The ONLY reason they even had a House of Representatives was in order to load the Chamber with people from slave-owing states in order to perpetuate slavery. So, even the House was not a concession to democracy, but a concession to slavery.
So don't get too carried away with "democracy." When you see a majority abusing a minority, that is "democracy" in action. Think about it.
Some of the oldest continuously inhabited places on earth are in Syria, including Damascus which is mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. Some of Syria's towns are more than 5,000 yrs old and the oldest is over 7,000 yrs old. Remember that the Assyrians were one of the strongest nations on earth at one time, their civilization flourishing with art, agriculture and commerce, metalurgy, and an army of horsemen who were second to none. They even conquered the northern part of Egypt at one time.
Democracy is a nice ideal but the actual practice has been far less than. In fact what we have in America is a roughly-functioning Democratic Republic, where the population of eligible voters elects officials who make laws and regulations, appoint non-elected officials to staff and run agencies, and support or deny treaties made with other nations. For the past 30 yrs we have been moving towards...or should I say returning to an oligarchy, whereby the elite run the government for the benefit of themselves and endeavor to do so by undermining the rest of the population, especially the Middle Class, by destroying the economy, education, and other leveling factors on the playing field. Another term for oligarchy is fascism, which Benito Mussolini himself defined as a corporatocracy (the mergerofthe state and corporation). Think they won't hesitate to have their puppets in office call out the national guard or private mercenaries such as Xe (formerly Blackwater) on people voicing their dissent? Think again and remember what was done to the Occupy protestors as well as innocent bystanders.
Already with the passage of the NDAA this country has been declared a battle zone which means that any citizen can be accused of "treason" or "sedition", seized, remanded to a rendition center without benefit of legal counsel or habeas corpus, tried before a military tribunal, and sentenced (no appeals) without anyone ever knowing what happened, including the family. "Sedition" and "treason" have been defined in the past as "speaking out against the government", like when the working classes rose up against the Robber Barons of the 19th Century, and during both World Wars against citizens opposing the wars as well as people who were on some powerful persons' s*** lists.
Oh, and those drones used against Al Qaeda will be used against us as well. Many US law enforcement agencies are being provided with mini drones to spy on citizens. And its way too easy to tap into wireless phones and internet connections to monitor communications. Maybe they can't see us through our tvs but you can bet the farm that they're working on it.
I love my country but I have never much cared for our government and it matters not who is in power. I've seen our Constitution being cut to pieces for the past 30 yrs or so, watched as our education system has been dumbed down to produce people who can't think for themselves or even see which way the wind blows, watched as my fellow citizens have abdicated their obligation to participate in self-governance because they don't give a damn about it or think that there's nothing for them to do. Most people can tell you everything that has happened in each season of American Idol but can't tell you who their elected officials are, who the Supreme Court Justices are, or what the NDAA is and what it means. Most Americans have never read the US Constitution, their state constitution, or even know the histories thereof. In short, most Americans are as ignorant as illiterate, uneducated peasants in the remotest area of some backwards third-world country.
And as Charles Dickens pointed out in A Christmas Carrol, it is ignorance that will certainly destroy a nation.
Mr. Shaw,
KUDOS. Nail spot on the head..
@AShaw--maybe you could use your intellect for the good of your country--to educate your fellow citizens about their rights and responsibilities--and what they stand to lose if they abrogate them-- instead of writing long-winded missives on a chat board about how ignorant we all are.
I can't wait for the day Assad, the Baath Party, and his surrogates go down. They will. This is NOT about Isalm vs the west. When you kill entire families, children, villages, there are always survivors and there are people in the world who see. Some of these will NEVER give up the fight. Just like those who fought Communism for years really didn't stand a chance, but in the end, they did, because most of it collapsed. Sooner or later, Assad will go down AND then, I can't wait until they tear down the Russian Emabssy. Just like the US has to pay for its assoication with corrupt leaders and shady deals, so will Russia. Can't wait because it will happen.
and nothing will change except the names.
Bill; I agree with your sentiment and desire for an end to Assad and the regime. I, too, believe these people will continue with their quest for change. Man's historical record is replete with accounts of the oppressed rising up against his rulers and staying the course until he achieves liberation. These people are no different, apart from perhaps being even more determined than other people in the past.
Of course, there are those who will say that nothing will actually change. We do not really know that, but they do have the right as man to overthrow an oppressive government or regime. Following a change, the world should help not intervene (yeah, right). In that way, it will be on them to right their own poetry.
I hope for Assad and the regime's downfall and all the best to follow. I hope for that, but I'm a realist, not an idealist.
Looks like our POTUS is a follower and admirer of Jimmy Carter. At least he acts like it. Don't lift a finger Barry, at least not until the elections are over..............but then you won't be in a position to lift a finger to help save women and children.............
And you would have done what? Just like a trur GOPer. Always pointing out the problems and never having any solutions. The blood here is on the hands of the Russians and Chinese for supporting the Assad killing machines.
fyrboss -
Hey man, if you have a plan that can solve crisis, alleviate all sectarian tensions in this nation and prevent a future internecine conflict in post-Assad Syria, then provide the list.
It's easy to point fingers and snip off snide remarks that have no value. You speak as a simple person that has or never will be in a position of power.
If you really have the intellectual goods to be the architect of a military and political response to the crisis that poses no potential harm to US forces or national interests, then please enlighten the community to your brilliance.
But alas, you have nothing of the sort. The gray matter that constitutes your cerebral mass has nothing to offer by snide remarks. That's obvious to everyone.
LOL the GOP has become the most disingenuous institution in America. They bitch and whine when the president acts and bitch and whines when he doesn't. They have not a single consistent view that isn't directly from the pulpit of hate.
I have a solution. Lets fix America before we start shipping more plane loads of cash to another terrorist nation. I know it is a sad story and one boy is still alive in another country.
How many American men, women and children died in America this past week due to crime, drunk drivers or inattentive drivers wrapped up in cell phone calls?
And Romney would do what? Lead a commando team consisting of his five sons? Whoops! I forgot, none of them have any military experience. Well, maybe he could lead a missionary team.
skny1026?? Why would you mention Romney? Is he President? Nope he is just another empty suit.
Some people are so filled with hate that's all they know.
fyrboss; Syria is an extremely complicated dilemma. POTUS, President Obama, is right to proceed with parallel extreme caution.
Russia and Syria are in bed together. Syria is Russia's only foothold in the Middle East and they are not about to lift their foot and move out. Only the other day, Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, began unloading a shipment of arms destined for the Syrian regime.
Iran and Syria are share another bed. The world is trying to determine just exactly what Iran is up to with its nuclear development program.
If we become directly involved in Syria, then do we if this spills over into Jordan or Saudi Arabia? Syria could signal a dangerous precedent or set us up as playing fovrites in the event of a spillover in which we do nothing.
The rebels in Syria are fractured. They have no cohesive leadership, argue among one another over how to proceed and who gets what slice of the pie. Imagine what it would be like if Assad & Co. fell. If we clean up the mess, then are we not obligated to stay and set things right? Don't want that.
President Obama is right to be cautious. This is complicated and messy, American boots in Syrian sand will only serve to make more so.
The killers had long beards and shaved heads? What does this mean? Dressed in civilian clothes? Let's not be so quick to judge who the perpetrators are. Often in war there is propaganda subterfuge. The killers may have intended there be an emotional response against the regime based on the public exposure of "crimes of the state" when in reality is was a deliberate ruse, intended to evoke a predictable emotional response.
If it truely was the state of Syria, then there is no excuse, it is pure the regime is a failed state and must abdicate immediately. Such state sponsored terrorism is unacceptable. I don't fully doubt the official story but I want to be a little more certain of culpability. One thing is clear, the Syrian military is shelling the civilian areas, but the rebels are fighting from those areas. Trend or not, it is just in this case of deliberate point blank slaughter of innocents that I have questions.
There is something about these people, Arabs Islamists what ever that I just do not understand- How can you go into a place an just kill kids and women? It is just beyond comprehension. I don't care if they were you worst enemy but these are their fellow countrymen. So we talk about Iran getting Nukes and attacking the rest of the world. They are cut from the same cloth as these people. I have no doubt that as soon as they get nukes we will be in a war again. So sad for this kid. What guts he had.
Yeah I know, it's not like you see, say for instance 800,000 people being killed in a Christian country....Ok like maybe once that happened in Rwanda..... but it's not like people get their limbs hacked off in other Christian countries .... Ok maybe in Liberia ..... but..... nevermind.
I guess Swan is a Muslim and does not like Christians, Hindus, Buddhist, or anything else?
Actually I'm not a Muslim. I'm an atheist but I have no problem with Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists or anything else as long as they are behaving reasonably civilized. Is that the best reply you can come up with "I guess Swan is a Muslim"? You're not going to dispute my point or give some counter argument? I guess that's expecting too much.
The Alawites are a Christian sect, not Muslim. And like the Druse Christians of Lebanon, they are very willing to terrorize and slaughter people, even Chrsitians of other sects. While most Syrians are Sunni Muslim, there have been non-Alawite Christians (Syrian Orthodox) killed along with their Muslim neighbors.
Using religion as a facade for brutality and murder is universal to nearly all organized religions and particular to the Abrahamic faiths - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - all of whom seem to think that killing heretic or infidels scores points with the Almighty. Take time to look for the real causes and you'll see that they are greed, bigotry, and powerlust.
down with russia and china if they were not supporting assad this would not be happening!!!!!!!
child torture, murders,stoning, rape, honor killings, be-headings,...."Allah be praised" my a**.... just more business as usual with these 3rd century troglodytes.
Scooter, the Alawites are not Muslim but a very heretical Christian sect. They align themselves with the Iranian government for support but the mullahs consider them infidels. Were Iran to overrun Syria, they would kill the Alawites as well as the Syrian Orthodox Christians and Sunni Muslims.
Shaw--I gave you too much credit before. Do a little research before you pontificate next time. The Alawites are considered the Islamic equivalent of "heretics." They broke away from Shi'a Islam in the 9th century, they did NOT break off from Christianity. I don't know what source you used for your information--maybe Wikipedia?--but it's wrong. If you are an Atheist, them presumably you consider yourself of the rational intellectual persuasion--you should be open to using credible information sources for your information on the Abrahamic faiths--instead of listening to Jon Stewart riff about them on "the Daily Show". There is no Christian denomination (that I know of in this country) that considers them a heretical Christian sect.
lolol we are syria we dont have anything you need so we can do whatever because you dont see any monetary reasons to come stop us lolol
Correction, we are Syria and Russia gives us enough support that we can do whatever we want because you don't want to tick off the old bear.
thanks for that addition i obviously didnt have all my facts straight thank you for clearing that up for me
My pleasure Derp, anytime
Hah! Good one! I'm not old enough to actually remember reading the news accounts personally of the time when Nikita Krushchev pounded his shoe on the table at the UN and told us (the United States) he would bury us--but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. Just sayin'.
that little boy is sooo brave 2 see all this happening and cover his self n the blood of his brother this is so sad. what is this world coming to? but i think is was the military the boy said his mother saw a military truck pull up in the neighborhood my prayers are with this little boy that he will hae peace. my lord he is sooo brave
Like Batman?
Very sad and it continues to spiral even further downwards...the support of Russia and China have led to this..how about boycotting everything from either Russia or China...and maybe sending some of their diplomats home as well. I look at things and if there made in China , which almost everything is, I search and try for other options...would love to find "made in the USA". I myself cancelled any ideas of going to China for a two week vacation all because of their support for Assad...and will continue as long as they support things like this. I feel the reason both Russia and China support it is because they themselves see ithe same thing possibly happening in their own countries...same with Iran..so these countries all rule with an "iron fist"...for now !!!
Yes I agree. We nned our business leaders to concentrate on making and developing this country rather than the continued increase of the profit margin. This country would be a lot better of with 2% unemployment and higher prices. We could start with Apple. Not like they don't have a little room in their margins to bring some things back home. Take a lesson from Milton Hershey, it's still valid
This was similar to Walt Disney's idea for Disneyworld: a place where people could live, work and play. Of course, we all know how those original plans became skewed, sadly.
The people of Iraq asked for help against Saddam. The US responded with air support and a no-fly zone over their country.
The people of Syria have asked obama for help against Assad. Even with the killing of children, obama does nothing.
Is it any wonder why the rest of the world finds a reason to hate America?
Someday the people of Syria WILL do to Assad and his wife what the people of Romania did to their brutal leader and his wife. Remember?
That's the way Arabs fight. That's why Israelis must NEVER allow themselves to be at the Arabs' mercy. They have long learned that there is none.
That is a ridiculous statement. Because history has shown many who fight dirty who are not Arabs. Just ridiculous...
I agree fsilber!.... I mean it's not like you ever saw, for instance the Germans do anything like this.
My heart just breaks for what this eleven year old boy went through. Just so horrific and terrifying. I pray for him that he and his surviving relatives will be safe and recover from this trauma.
I can not help feel that the reason the world is not responding to this crisis and doing more to remove the murderous Assad regime is for the fact that it doesn't have anything of value to offer. How truly sad that human lives are not considered vauable. Are they less valuable because of their religion? We lived in a country where the population was Muslim and you know what? They were wonderful loving God fearing people, just like me and you. President Obama can say that it is Russia and China that are preventing us from helping the people of Syria. This is unacceptable! The US can act unilaterally if need be. Of course there are those who respond that we need to worry about our interest here at home. We dont need to care about innocents by the tens of thousands being slaughtered "over there". Bull@!$%#! It is this attitude that allows evil murderous dictators to rise to power in the first place. These are good kind loving people who are being slaughtered! It is equally horrifying to me that the majority of the world just doesnt care. It makes it all that much more clear to me how Hitler was able to succeed in killing millions. Now is Syria had oil to offer, we would be there "helping" in a heartbeat. Disgusted with the world and the lack of humanity.
To preface my comment I am not Islamic and have been born in raised in America and of Irish decent. With that being said I find the comments posted here condemning the Islamic religion atrocious. To generalize and blame all of Islam for these acts is a disgrace in itself. This type of response is exactly what inspires hate and violence. When people start generalizing that these killings were in the name of Allah and that all of Islam is at fault we open the doors for nothing but more discrimination and oppression. This oppression though is not by a regime in power but by the people of the same class who choose ignorance over acceptance. Acts like these are morbid and down-right disgusting, but these acts occur in war and in uprising all over the world. Instead of blaming Islam and calling Arabs uncivilized why not instead blame those responsible for the act in the hopes that justice will be dealt. That being said it’s about time the supports of Assad cut their ties and allow the UN to intervene with force in order to at least stop these mass slaughters.
You're right--it is not all of Islam, however, that being said--there are always individuals who gather together as groups and are bound by an ideology (and they can be of ANY faith tradition, it just appears that in this case they are pseudo-Islamic) that allows them to use "whatever means necessary" to achieve their goals. You should particularly appreciate that, considering your ancestry.
Ryan - Totally agree with you! My goodness, how does anyone stop this horrendous violence around the world? Where is humanity in the world? We are losing our humanity here in the United States too. People are getting angrier and more vicious. Killings daily here! If we lose our empathy for others, we lose our hold on being human beings. We then become nothing more than animals.
This is a rather obvious statement, but just like Hitler and Germany, where is the humanity of the people being given orders? When do they stop and say, "No way am I going to go in and kill innocent people!" When does society around the world - individuals - stop the new holocaust? How does any country find a way to bring bands of psychopaths together to commit such deplorable deeds?
I am afraid for America and I am afraid for the world! We are losing our humanity while these "leaders" lust for power and greed. That is why our own government is not taking care of business to assist the people of America. They just don't care anymore. These people in our government are there to build their own fortunes and find power for themselves. It is too much! We must stop the blind ambition.
All our elected people in Washington need to be voted out. We need new blood and we need to get anyone out immediately who is not working for the American people. We have become complacent and are losing our own power as American citizens.
LEAVE ASSAD ALONE!!! He did a very good job weakening Syria so it can't threaten Israel or invade Lebabnon again, and he also kill some potential suicide-bombers and terrorists (all crazy Muslims are potential terrorists). The world will be much better if Assad can kill a few millions of his people!!!
I was wondering when someone would make that point.
Why isn't NATO backing Syria like they did with Libya? They're bludgeoning 6 year-olds and we're kicking out diplomats? At least give the rebels weopons. We give billions to scum-of-the-Earth Pakistan and can't give these rebels a few tanks? How 'bout we just bunker bomb Assad's compound to get them started?
Which faction of the rebels would you suggest that we give the tanks to?
Truly a sad and heartbreaking experience for this young person. No one should ever have to go through anything like that. I hope he finds peace.
Again, one cruise missile squarely planted up Assad's Rectum, wait, we need 2, one for the wife. That would end this whole thing but our current president is too much of a wuss to do that. Where is George Bush when we need him?
Sick to the pit of my stomach......not one word to embody my feelings about this. Unfortunately in these, times, it says, the love of men will grow cold, and this will spread over here in our country as well as it already is. The Father will be a just Judge, and handle up on those that are guilty of these atrocious, demonic, sick and horrific, crimes against humanity!!!! I dont see any other way for someone to complete these things without being possessed. If you can slaughter women, children, and the elderly, then you are not anywhere in your right mind. That is sheer and utter evil. Father come quickly!!!!!!! Blessed is He who comes in The Name of Hashem, He is coming soon.....
At bottom, what matters is what works. If Russia is unwilling to withdraw support for Assad's Presidency, then Russia needs to demonstrate how its position actually can be effective in stopping the bloodshed.
Otherwise, the evidence suggests that Russia's support simply emboldens Assad to engage in ever more ruthless and brutal attacks on civilians, women and children to hold on to power by intimidating the populace and repression.
A good post, really good,. Really! coined by SNL
Well, I read the entire story. I'm glad I did, but I'm sure I'll have nightmares. What a brave little boy.
Interesting, 1,500 Palestinian civilian men and women and 450 children and infants slaughtered by the murderous Israeli IDF army during Israel's Operation Cast Lead massacre pogrom and not a (((peep))) from the bankrupt racist US/EU/NATO oil thieves natives.
speaking of skewed...