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Subscribe to RSSWith the Assad regime directing the full force of its military at Aleppo, Syria's biggest city, the Syrian government is pulling forces out of surrounding towns -- a cause for celebration among rebels there. NBC's Richard Engel reports from inside one of those towns, in northern Syria.
Updated at 4 p.m. ET:
The United States has "grave concerns" about the situation in Syria, the State Department said Thursday, as President Bashar Assad's forces withdrew from many towns and villages and focused their firepower on the key city of Aleppo.
"This is the concern, that we will see a massacre in Aleppo, and that's what the regime appears to be lining up for," said spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.
Citing "columns of tanks" outside the city, Nuland said the Syrian military "seem(s) to be massing for an attack." She called the use of fixed-wing aircraft in addition to helicopter gunships a "serious escalation in this conflict."
"It could be a humanitarian disaster for the people of Aleppo," NBC News' Richard Engel reported from northern Syria. "It also means the Syrian troops are forced to make trade-offs. They don't have enough loyal troops to make the offensive against Aleppo and hold these rural areas."
The key city of Aleppo has come under ferocious assault, bombarded by fighter jets and machine gun fire. The Syrian government's main priority is taking control of the major cities – without enough troops to control the entire country, they are on the offensive. NBC's Richard Engel reports from northern Syria.
Nuland said Assad's regime was "increasingly losing control of its territory, that there are swaths of the country that are no longer under the control of the regime, that his tactics are increasingly violent, increasingly desperate as that happens."
Myth vs. truth in the Syrian conflict
Military experts believe an overstretched Syrian army is pulling back to concentrate on fighting insurgents in Aleppo and Damascus, important power centers for the government, while leaving outlying areas in the hands of rebels. Assad's forces have launched massive counterattacks in both cities.
Pierre Torres / AFP - Getty Images
Free Syria Army opposition fighters guard a group of police officers Wednesday after overrunning the Shaar district police post in Aleppo.
Meanwhile, opposition activists said thousands of troops had withdrawn with their tanks and armored vehicles from Idlib province near the Turkish border and were heading toward Aleppo. Rebels attacked the rear of the troops withdrawing from the north, activist Abdelrahman Bakran told Reuters from the area.
Fierce clashes raged in the early hours in Aleppo itself, and an activist said rebels now controlled half of the city, a claim that could not be independently verified.
Council on Foreign Relations: What you need to know about the Syrian crisis
"There was shelling this morning on the Salaheddine and Mashhad districts," Aleppo activist Abu Hisham told Reuters. "Now it stopped, but helicopters are buzzing overhead."
After months of protests and violent crackdowns, a look back at the violence that has overtaken the country.
Activists said 24 people were killed in fighting in and around Aleppo on Wednesday, swelling a national death toll of about 18,000 since the revolt against Assad began 16 months ago.
'Terrorists are suffering terrible losses'
State-run Syrian television painted a more favorable picture, saying government troops were imposing security and stability in and around Aleppo.
"The terrorists are suffering terrible losses. Groups of them are throwing their weapons away and giving themselves up. Others are fleeing for the Turkish border," the television report said.
Engel and other journalists have repeatedly observed government troops retreating from "secondary towns" so they can fight opposition forces in the capital Damascus and now Aleppo, leaving vast swathes of the countryside under rebel control.
"When government forces pull out of a place they lose control and immediately rebel flags go up and rebels hold celebrations," Engel said. "Those celebrations have been attacked so now the rebels are deciding not to hold celebrations because they're noisy, they have lights and they're easy to target."
Total war: Syria sends armored column to Aleppo
Meanwhile, north of Aleppo, the town of Azaz has been almost completely destroyed by heavy fighting, Reuters reported. Burned-out armored personnel carriers sat on the roads where rebels hit them with rocket-propelled grenades. Bullet casings were scattered everywhere.
The Syrian government's army is descending on the northern city of Aleppo after the city was seized by rebels. NBC's John Ray reports.
In another key development, neighbor Turkey was not allowing goods or people to pass over the Bab al-Hawa border crossing after rebels took base near Aleppo over the weekend, Engel said.
"Maybe they're concerned about there being too many rebels or refugees crossing," he said. "There may also be concern that the Turks may be losing control of security in sourthern Turkey."
Dozens are reported dead in Syria where opposition forces are fighting to maintain control of Syria's commercial capital Aleppo. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
Fighting in and around Aleppo is expected to prompt an exodus across the Turkish border, where some Syrian refugees are already complaining about poor conditions and have clashed with riot police in disputes over food.
"There is not enough food. They have broken our hearts, the Turks. Why are they doing this to us?" a sobbing woman named Umm Omar, with her four children huddled next to her in a camp near the border, told Reuters.
Photo Blog: Who are the Syrian rebels?
Rebels also took the Bab al-Salam border crossing with Turkey over the weekend.
Artillery and rockets
Further south, Syrian forces used artillery and fired rockets on Wednesday on the northern Damascus suburb of al-Tel in an attempt to seize it from rebels, forcing hundreds of families to flee, residents and opposition activists said.
"Military helicopters are flying now over the town. People were awakened by the sound of explosions and are running away," Rafe Alam, one of the activists, told Reuters by phone from a hill overlooking Tel. "Electricity and telephones have been cut off."
The latest massacre began with a military bombardment of the village of Tremsi. After the heavy artillery and shelling, villagers said pro-government militia men swept in to kill at close range. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
Opposition sources also reported helicopters and machine guns were firing on the neighborhood of Hajar al-Aswad. The slum lies on the southern outskirts of the capital and has been a haven for rebels sneaking into Damascus from the suburbs.
NBC News' Kari Huus and F. Brinley Bruton and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Why do not we sent Nancy Pelosi over to talk to Mr. Asaad? I understand they are great friends. Think I remember her wearing a Burka when she met him just after she became number 2 in line for the Presidency. Maybe she could stop this? No?
@wakani,
You remember wrongly. She wore a head scarf when in public in Syria, but not in her meetings with Syrian officials. You will notice that female reporters do the same. There is no difference in wearing a head scarf in those occasions and wearing one in Roman Catholic cathedrals or synagogues. The burka thing was a Fox News LIE! And you were stupid enough to believe it.
C'mon Nancy was just there for a little "legal insider" info for her next big stock buy.
How about Nancy Grace holding a giant deer hunting practice target?, she will swallow the first few shells with her big mouth but won't last......
Does the "I" stand for Idiot in IXLR8? Nancy Grace is a lawyer and not in the Gov't. The Usual Stupid Republican rush to say something ends in embarrassment, just like Mittens.
Balls, Nancy is a lawyer?? Nothing gets past you? She is a big mouth and should hold hands outside the city with Sean Penn.
Actually nobody will stop this mass murder about to take place, Assad has only his own life to lose and is rabid right now.
Poor Nancy. People say so many terrible things about her. I don't particularly care for her. But she's not the female version of the anti-Christ.
Actually I remember Nancy and her scarf. I thought that visit was really odd then, assuming she somehow thought the US and Syria were "friends", but now I bet she feels very foolish.
I would send GW Bush. They could hold hands and skip and frolic together with a few smooches.
Even with the butchery in Syria, the radical right wing traitors cant help but spewing the political nonsense and lies. You ARE what's wrong with this country!
Assad should be tried for war crimes; then he can join bush on the convicted list!
He won't have that chance...he's going to go more like Gadaffi did, at the hands of the people taking their country back...hopefully they get his gucci wearing shopaholic shallow materialistic wife at the same time.
Tom---------- well my low life lefty handouter friend, be sure and come to the Grand Jury proceedings for the inept liar in the white house as soon as we dump him.
John,
You are a good example of what is wrong with this country. With the likes of you every person on the left is a "handouter". Wow, how original except you're wrong. The majority of us work and pay taxes. Contrary to your views people who receive government help lie all across the political spectrum. Another thing that may come as quite a shock to you is many of people who've served, fought and died in this country's military also reside on the left. BTW--- (another surprise) many were also gay.
But please don't let the facts infringe upon your ignorance. Keep believing the lies your masters have been feeding you. You and your kind have wrapped yourselves up so tightly in the flag and your "patriotism" that you've cut off the oxygen to your brain.
Welcome to the Caliphate. Look at Egypt. Muslim Brotherhood. Libya is still flailing around with tribal warlords running the show. Sorry, but if Obama and Hillary are pleased that the 'Arab Spring' is happening, they are truly nuts. If anyone naively believes that radical Islam will not spring up to rule these countries, they need to get a reality check. Iran is rubbing it's hands and Turkey is next on the list for the Caliphate, read into the article, the Turks are getting 'rebel' attention as well.
Who are these rebels? Al Quaeda and others of that ilk play a prominant role. Most Christians and moderate Muslims and other non-Muslim groups are profoundly fearful these days, Egyptians are looking for means of escape should radical Islam take hold and without the military it will. Guaranteed.
Or send Hillary.....she can talk them to death!
Let's be serious for a moment. There are many possible outcomes, none of them good. At the least, Bashar al-Assad is dealing with the threats to Aleppo and Damascus first before he turns his forces back to the border areas. At the worst, he is pulling back his forces to Aleppo and Damascus before he "sanitizes" the border areas with his chemical weapons. Sadaam used them against his own people to stay in power. Bashar's father destroyed Homs for the same reason. Does anyone really believe Bashar al-Assad would hesitate for one moment?
Some MSNBE news editor and dumbass of a US Senator think their being cleaver by titling this headline worthy story as: "U.S. official: Syrian regime seems to be readying for massacre"
What the hell do those dumbasss think has been happening there all this time, a social picnic or islamic chant gathering? Over 20,000 dead, helicopter gun ships, and the rocket scientists at MSNBC thinks it isn't quite up to their standards to call it a massacre yet.
Better stick to what your really good at MSNBC, which is sucking up to and praising your wannabe massiah president, and helping to keep in the the White House. MSNBC, you sirs and madams, Suck!
Ahem. It is no longer MSNBC. The MS pulled out, leaving the field solely to NBC. Let the propaganda continue...
Do you trolls ever get tired of talking to each other. Here's an idea, just stand and speak over the cubicle wall and spare everyone your blather.
Its all just media bull@!$%#...they wan't to sensationalize the whole deal, besides so what if they are readying for a massacre, it'll just mean that ASSad will be gone sooner....if he starts killing his people in mass quantities, the drones and cruise missles will just fly sooner....we will be in this conflict, hopefully later than sooner...
How come Barrack Hussein and his entourage isn't heading to Syria?
He could wow them with some teleprompteresque classic Barrack. Or maybe serenade them with some Al Green. Perhaps reassure the Rebels by telling them, "If you've got a revolution, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."
Maybe Hillary can run over there and give them all a "RESTART" button. Joe "Bite Me" Biden can just go over there and make a fool of himself as he usually does. Nanny Piglosi can offer them a treaty, but she has to tell them to pass it first, so they can find out what's in it. Hairy Reed can just stand there in his typical little hobbit stance and mumble until they all fall asleep.
Wakani - no understanding of American political system eh? Its the vice-president who is second in line for the presidency.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the freedom fighters. Hopefully the bloodshed will be over soon.
Dipstick. There is the President. Then there is a line of those that would be Pres if could no longer serve. First in that line is the Vice President, then second in line is the Speaker of the House. Get out more, read more. You would be better it.
@wakani,
Calling people names is a no-no. Telling a lie then calling people who call you on it is not really very smart.
Chris------- yes we now you handouters have proven you aren't very smart or you wouldn't have to spend your life on a public forum, begging for handouts.
Chris-749391
@wakani,
Calling people names is a no-no. Telling a lie then calling people who call you on it is not really very smart.
Chris,
Excellent, however, this is what makes a right wingnut function.....lies and disinformation. Most of them wouldn't know the truth if it hit them in the face with a 2 X 4.
" Telling a lie then calling people (insulting names)who call you on it is not really very smart."
Mittens? Is that you?
Interesting, calling people out for being biased and then exhibiting the same bias yourselves. Is that not hypocricy?
not if one is a LWNJ.
Note to John and other Republican types here: We "lefty's" work as hard as you do. Full-time jobs, paying taxes, the whole thing. Many of us even work harder than you do. Many of us served in the military.
It would be nice if you could debate us without the ignorant slurs. Try it out. You might actually get your point across or better yet, learn something.
LWNJ ?
Four letters - four words
1st word = Left
Richie,
Left Wing Nut Job=LWNJ. Not nice, but very common for BOTH sides to fling pooh at each other. It's divisive and counter-productive, not too mention incredibly childish.
""This is the concern, that we will see a massacre in Aleppo, and that's what the regime appears to be lining up for," said spokeswoman Victoria Nuland."
Give us a break! These are repetitions of massive propaganda against Saddam before each Iraqi wars.
From Iraqi wars, we lost all and the barbaric and bigoted Sunni Saudis got all!
Look at the US air travel before 1991 and now!
The US and other "world" politicians and media should not sell themselves so cheap again and again to Saudis, oil companies and their lobbyists.
In Syria it is worse than Iraq.
Syrian rebels are supported the world's biggest killers Sunni Islamic radical al-Qaida, MB and other militants.
Just keep away for a change from all ME Muslim nations. Shiites vs Sunnis and other their battles are not ours.
We can't solve centuries old batlles!
These days in the US, most institutions are getting crippled and the defense forces at their worst!
Look at conditions of NATO forces in Afghanistan!
Freedom fighters or terrorist, the brotherhood, how can one be sure who are the evil ones or the evilier ones?
Here's hoping that, if the rebels win, they establish a government that does not hate Israel or America.
You know that wont happen.
Dream on!
Sure, Peter, when pigs fly! The rebels are radical muslims, and I'd suggest you hang on to your "jockeys" when they win, it will be Egypt all over again! And of course I hope the world remembers the pathetic ignorance of Nancy Pelosi who foolishly tried to suck up to Assad and Co. Pelosi was an abject failure in congress and demonstrated even less ability by her 'foreign' policy travels and advisories.
Ha Ha
Peter, you must have missed the news reports months ago on the rebels wanting the west to supply them with weapons. We are already on their bad side.
@donnwalker
couldn't agree with you more. however the outcome it is never good for the U.S. and it always costs us cash.
Wasn't it Mr. "You go to war with the army you got" Rumsfeld who the God Reagan sent to Saddam to pick up his military shopping list?
But hey it was Nancy who was naive..............right.
Uh....no.
Perhaps not in your fox/Koch cubicle, but yes here in the real world.
You should be ashamed.
Ashamed of contradicting you? Perish the thought. Your little soapbox is yours and yours alone. Ditto your worldview. Now, the rest of the world may not agree with you so are you going to have a little fit over that fact?
Turkey is NATO member. If Assad attacks them, America is OBLIGATED to help.....War some more, folks?
Bulgaria is a member of the EU.Europe is obligated to help a fellow member country when it is attacked.Just more ammunition against Islamic terrorism supported by Iran.As for Syria.even if some alquida people are involved ,the resistence is clearly mostly Syrians. Look at all the defections from the army.Assad is massacring his own people ..including children.Unless he flees I imagine the hangman´s noose awaits him.His father deserved it too.This son is equally a butcher.His regime and his father´s must fall soon!
I think Assad will swing from a Rope just like Saddam Hussien. It's all a matter of time now. There will be a few big attacks by Assad but then he will Fall. Who would have thought the rebels would have gotten this far?
They usually do. where there is a will there is a way. Just look at how libya fell last year.
it's written in stone that the US will become involved militarily- just give it a little more time
In cases like this instead of the easy thing and turn a blind eye we should do the uncomfortable but the morally right thing by at least giving them some kind of support. At least some airpower but I am all for being deployed again. Hell I loved by job in Iraq.
1st Cav 1-8 OND 2011 Infantry
Fun lover stop your lefty bs, did you forget that Obama dumped 128 cruise missiles into Libya costing us 102 million.
we should have impeached the low life scum, then.
Each one of those missiles cost a million each. Libya was over a billion dollars so that France and China could get sweet light crude. When is enough enough, BTW? How many more American lives and dollars need to be thrown into the bottomless pit that is the Middle East (and Libya which is in Africa but may as well be in the Middle East.)
War has always been one of the top ten driving notions of humanity since recorded times.
The only way to end way is too take away the war machines ability to make weapons.
But then again someone in a third world country would find a way to make weapons and sell them to the people so we can kill ourselves for their profit.
Freedom Fighters, Free Syrian Army, Al-CIAda, it's all the same. Do y'all not get it? We are supporting our "ememy" in this fight. When Assad is overthrown and an Islamist state is formed, it gives cover for an invasion because it's Al-Quaida. Also, these "freedom fighters" are removing Christians from their homes at an alarming rate. But nobody talks about that in the Western, Christian, media. Wake the hell up folks.
And just why exactly do you think the "Western, Christian media" would purposely not report on Christians being targeted? And why, if there were verifiable proof of al-Qaeda's involvement, would that not be trumpeted to the heavens by our "Western, Christian media" as well? Both of those items (targeting Christians and al-Qaeda) are attention-grabbers, and given that sensationalism is practically the media's business these days (gotta have readers if you wanna sell that ad-space, no?), your conspiracy theory makes no sense.
You just don't get it man. The same people who own the major news outlets, own the banks, own the arms manufacturers, etc. Learn your history. For example, why don't you look up the cozy relationships that banks had with Nazi Germany. Or better yet, do some research on Prescott Bush, yep W's grandpappy. Do you even realize there was an attempted coup in the 30's by US INDUSTRIALISTS? Prescott Bush's company was seized by the government for trading with the enemy. It's been going on forever. Follow the money. Who's making it? Who stands to profit from instability in the region? Expand your knowledge with alternative media.
You are right!
Is anybody talking of Christians in Iraq, where there were similar dramas were being stage managed by the Sunni Saudis, oil companies and their lobbyists.
Media is acting almost similarly in Syria.
""It could be a humanitarian disaster for the people of Aleppo," NBC News' Richard Engel"
Did they talk about 300000 Christians in Darfur like this?
Sunni Saudi Arab League sent a "human rights" group to monitor in Syria before they outsourced their dirty jobs to Turkey.
The group was headed by the Sudanese Gen responsible for the genocides of Christians in Darfur!
If you want to know a little more about it, read this guy's blog. He was asst. treasury secretary under Reagan. I think he may know a thing or two about it. Quit being naive people.
Syria will go the way of Egypt. Islamic Law, Sharia law will be the way people will live and it will be worse than when Assad was in power.
Agreed with all of your post on this.
"You just don't get it man. The same people who own the major news outlets, own the banks, own the arms manufacturers, etc."
You mean the Media is NOT Liberal? That's shocking!
sarc/
Check out this link. Explains it all.
I thought the might UN was going to monitor this "civil war". Oh well maybe next time they will stop the blood shed.
Engel is the most biased reporter (if he can even call himself that!) --- this guy is embedded with the opposition so everything is propaganda-- every act by the state is a massacre- we hear nothing from the massacres of the opposition, or the chants that all Christians should leave to Lebanon and all Shiite's to Iran, as if these two people are not Syrians--- if Engel worked for the state department, how would his reporting be any different? I mean seriously--- how would he be reporting differently if he worked directly for the US government? This is exactly same kind of pathetic reporting that was done by the US media during the run up to Iraq ---- how would that reporting have been any different if all the reporting outlets were run by the US government? I mean, really!
I don't really see what he's being bias about? He's observing what he sees. And from what I read, the Syrian forces are the painted as the evil ones.
You bet!
Just check all languages of the media (likes of those of Engels), UN, human rights groups, media and others!
If atrocities and barbarism on girls, children and women are the criteria, then the most despotic, autocratic and bigoted Sunni Saudi ruler with his 5000 princes and princesses, Kuwaiti, UAE and other Arab League Sunni rulers and their rich sheiks are the biggest culprits in the history.
Through the Muslim immoral trafficking gangs, these barbarians have assembled all varieties of poor and helpless girls and women from all over the world in their harems and brothels.
In killing of opponents again, these people have established world records.
If the US, Britain and others support such Sunni barbarians and beasts who treat girls and women as cheap sex slaves, then one can only conclude that Saudis, oil companies and their lobbyists determine what to see, how to lecture and where and when to act.
Rest like “human rights”, “killing of children and women”, “militants”, “terrorists”, “WMDs”, “chemical weapons” and so on are a pure hoax.
Similar hoaxes were played each time before Iraqi wars on directions of Saudi, oil companies and their lobbyists.
Now none of them are looking into Iraq, where at least a million have been killed and devastated.
If Assad loses it will be free march to barbaric, bigoted, highly corrupt, autocratic Sunni Saudis and co their proxies like al-Qaida, MB, Taliban and other label Sunni militants all over the world.
Twice are too much to tolerate.
@George,
There will certainly be blowbacks against Christians in Syria. The country is ruled by the apolitical Baathist Party which is in turn controlled by a tiny Shiite cult, the Alawites. This tiny minority has been one of the most brutal and repressive family dictatorships in the world, at least as bas as the Kims in North Korea. (In fact, the Assads and the Kims have worked closely together.)
But the even small Christian minority in Syria chose decades ago to ally itself with the Assads against the Sunni majority who comprise over 80% of the population. This was a choice. It got Christians plum jobs in the government and military. But now it will be time for the Syrian Christians to pay the piper for a very bad choice.
And Assad and company will eventually lose, even against the extremely poorly armed and trained rebels. Assad has made the huge mistake of allowing this to turn into a war of attrition. As such, the rebels are already the undeclared winners. The article gave plenty of evidence in that, in order to attack Aleppo, the government forces had to give up the surrounding countryside and villages. If they try to retake the surrounding area, the rebels will move back into the city. Each time the government forces will lose a few more troops through casualties and defections.
You obviously know nothing about Richard Engle. He is a journalist who has become much admired around the world. He overcame dyslexia to graduate from Stanford with honors and is a fluent speaker off Arabic, Spanish, and Italian --- three languages that will get you understood in any country in the Middle East and North Africa.
I would suggest that you stop a minute, take a deep breath, and go read a little about the person you slander so stupidly. Here is a good starting place:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Engel
George-3715504
You ask a lot of dumb questions, how about at least one dumb answer.
If the rebels were able to amass in strength, the headline would be something like this:
Freedom Fighters Prepare for Final Liberation Push
Plans for picnics, including apple pie and baseball being drawn up
In May 2008, when Engel did an on-camera interview with Bush, he asked whether the president had been referring to Barack Obama in saying that those who would negotiate with Iran were guilty of appeasement. As aired on "NBC Nightly News," the interview showed Bush saying that his policies regarding the nation's adversaries hadn't changed, but deleted part of the answer in which Bush told Engel, "You didn't get it exactly right, either" in covering his speech. Also dropped was Bush's explanation that he was talking about al-Qaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas as well as Iran. The truncation prompted White House counselor Ed Gillespie, in a letter to NBC, to accuse the network of "deceitful editing to further a media-manufactured storyline."
Media manufactured storyline? NBC? Well, yeah, that is what they do. Yellow journalism at its finest. Stir the pot, make the news, twist the news to suit an agenda. Propaganda masquerading as news. They should take out the 'B' in NBC and replace it with 'P" for propaganda. Sadly, all the 'news media' does it, NBC is just more obvious.
Chris-749391: Thank you for your comments, especially in defending Richard Engle, who is clearly an American hero.
For the rest of you, currently the rebels are NOT associated with Al Qaeda, and they are actively resisting Al Qaeda's influence. However, as civil war drags on, there is a real danger they will be forced to accept aid from Al Qaeda, as they have very few weapons and less money.
Assad has said recently he has chemical weapons. If he uses them, or crushes Aleppo as he seems determined to do, the international outcry over his war crimes will remove him from power when no country is willing to do business with him--so let's hope that happens sooner rather than later.
Engel has stated that the takeovers of the Muslim Brotherhood and their ilk will spell disaster for the Middle East. His statements hit deaf ears because that isn't the narrative the propaganda machine wants to promulgate.
I can't wait till Assad goes down. 18,000 civilians have died because of this man. Yet, people think that these freedom fighters are somehow going to be terrorists. I think they'll have bigger things to worry about once Assad is gone, like maybe rebuilding their country and boasting their economy. It just seems illogical to say that all of a sudden they'll go and try to attack the U.S. for no reason. U.S. has not given them a reason to.
Ace
Dear God man, where do I start?
The New York Times (not the most conservative of papers) recently reported that the "rebels" are tied to Al Qaeda. In Libya, Muslim extremists have over thrown the government and are enacting sharia law. In Egypt the Muslim Brotherhood is calling for Jihad to liberate Palestine.
Whew now Syria. What makes it worse to have religious extremists ruling than an evil dictator?
There is an old proverb that goes,
"Do not fear the man who loves himself more than you fear a man who loves an idea."
That is why a secular government no matter how corrupt is far better than a theocratic government no matter how "pure" it's intentions.
Victor-1304988: You're making too many assumptions. When Assad is done, there won't automatically be a theocratic government. It might happen, but Syria is not Egypt.
We have no role in Syria, Iran or any other ME Muslim religious mad hell hole.
Shiites of Iraq should cut off oil supplies to Turkey and help Assad, a Shiite ruler.
All Shiites should join hands and defeat the Syrian rebels supported by the barbaric and beastly bigoted Sunni Saudis and their proxies like al-Qaida, MB and others.
If Assad has to go just because he is a Shiite, then the Sunni Bahrain ruler should go to.
Followers of Islamic cult, especially Sunni Saudi inspired Islamic radicals and militants (al-Qaida, Salaffi, Wahhabi, MB and other label ones), are fast marching backwards to their seventh century desert tribal days.
They are indulging in rapings, lootings, killings and genocides of non-Muslims (Darfur, S. Sudan, Nigeria and spreading like wild fire in many regions and Muslims (Mali, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other places.
Sunni Saudi backed Salaffi and MB new chapters are opening up in Egypt. Just watch the fate of Christians, women and Israel as the time goes by.
We see Muslims inventing problems in most of the non-Muslim nations.
Jonathan-1982062: Assad is an Alawite. Historically, they were a persecuted minority during the Ottoman Empire--somehow persecuted minorities often become persecutors when they gain power.
The Alawis represent only about 20% of the population of Syria.
Yes, Muslims approve of proselytizing by military means--but many Muslims are peaceful, and more and more grow weary of infighting among different sects. The general American thinking is born of fear and is reactive and passive, rather than pro-active and inclusive.
Have you met your neighbors and learned their names yet?
Dee Turner: Among followers of Islamic cult, there are not much differences in religious madness between different sects like Sunnis, Shiites, Ahmedias, Sufis and so on!
Shiites hardly form 20 percent among Muslims. Sunnis form more than 70 percent.
So Sunni radicals and militants have fast marched backwards and they are the worst Islamic one-way street Nazis.
Here "our allies" ungrateful and backstabbing Saudis and Pakis are the worst culprits.
Next worst are Shiites.
Let them settle their centuries of scores.
I would suggest that we, infidels, just keep away from their battles instead of determining winners as we did by by taking Sunni Saudi sides with Iraqi wars.
Chris: I know many of them and have many bitter experiences too. You can't get along with one-way street most immoral ungrateful and backstabbing religious bigots.
Problem is: who are these people? Most act like saints even while backstabbing.
Question.
Why are we still calling this blood thirsty brutal brainless dictator a president?
This conflict is starting to get personal for the president.
Aleppo is the hometown of his buddy Tony Rezko.
He's a murder and a dictator, go figure. This whole situation saddens me but of course, I am glad we didn't get involved. We must stop being the world's policeman. Let the rest of the world solve their own problems. Even if we got involved, and tried to help, two months from now, they would hate us and call us occupiers.
Precisely right ace. great observation.
Dear funlover you are wrong
The New York Times (not the most conservative of papers) recently reported that the "rebels" are tied to Al Qaeda. In Libya, Muslim extremists have over thrown the government and are enacting sharia law. In Egypt the Muslim Brotherhood is calling for Jihad to liberate Palestine.
Whew now Syria. What makes it worse to have religious extremists ruling than an evil dictator?
There is an old proverb that goes,
"Do not fear the man who loves himself more than you fear a man who loves an idea."
That is why a secular government no matter how corrupt is far better than a theocratic government no matter how "pure" it's intentions.
Radicalism trumps reason everytime...for awhile.
hank-1773286:
That's the most important point made so far! We are continuously at war only to line the pockets of no-bid private contractors like Halliburton. We need that money to rebuild America.
I also agree with Ace--too many posting here assume that once freed of Assad, Syrians' next move will be against us. I think they'll have plenty else to do, as Ace so aptly wrote in his post.
As a nation, we seem to have lost our mettle when 9/11 happened. It was tragic, and 3,000 people died but, hey, 45,000 people die every year in our country because they have no health insurance.
Think! That's FIFTEEN 9/11s, every year, and nobody bats an eyelash. We really need to get our priorities straight.
Some survivors of the shooting in Aurora now face medical bills in the millions, and 1 out of 3 have no health insurance, or too little. Why should being a shooting victim have to force people into being victims a second time, facing bankruptcy because they got shot? Is this the America we want for each other?
We have dire problems to address at home. We can't continue living as though the rest of the world is gunning for us--even if they were, it's a cowardly way to live.
>Soldiers leave towns.
>Rebels hold celebrations.
>Rebels attacked (by who then?)
>No celebrations
Well they covered that up pretty well. Rebels being attacked by government forces after they supposedly left. Either they didn't leave or the people don't like the rebels as much as we're led to believe.
KILL - KILL - KILL - KILL - KILL - KILL - KILL - KILL - KILL - KILL - KILL - KILL
They are Mid-Easterners, it's what they do.
Ya know; I think we should leave the U.N. permanently, and kick them out of the United States.
WoodShed: Wow. My guess is, you've never met a single person from the Middle East, and never befriended a Muslim. Sounds like racism to me.
Syria is the heart of the Arab world and is toward the abyss that’s only could be saved by writing its new constitution that apply to its entire people. Two wrongs don’t make a right. The rebel fighters should also be accountable for their atrocities. But it is hard for ones to be discipline when members of their beloved ones were slaughtered by the Syrian regime.
What is really sad is the destruction of Damascus. The city was occupied for centuries before Rome was even a thought. If the rebels could possibly get there hands on a neutron bomb complete with a delivery system, I would not be so concerned!
You're right. I don't know how old it is, but it's really old. In the Old Testament, Abraham's chief servant, who was in charge of everything Abraham had, and to whom Abraham entrusted to find his son Isaac a wife, was from Damascus. His name was Eliezer.
I don't care.
If all the Syrians kill all of the Syrians.
If all of the Israelis kill all of the Israelis.
If all the people in the Middle East kill all the people in the Middle East.
I don't care.
Isn't there a song by that title? I don't care yeah I don't care. The rest of the words I don't remember.
It was Phil Collins "I Don't Care Anymore"
He also said "I can see it coming in the air tonight"
JimOne: So why write anything here?
the use of helicopter gunships and fighter jets is a good time for several countries to band together to donate a couple or several drones each, to give Assad a taste of his own medicine while saving thousands of syrians lives
Your not talking about Israels response to rock and bottle throwing youth in Gaza are you ?
And please give us your thoughts on what make one a freedom fighter or an insurgent
Also will you feel this way when Assad is out and the slaughter of christions begin , you have to remember that Syria is not America and they woun't live like us until we invade and force them too
Obviously the suicide bomber that blew up 4 of Assad's top men were freedom fighters. US envoy to the UN Susan Rice said as much.
Obviously suicide bombers have their place. Especially those suicidal patriots who yearn for freedom.
The global banking elite are behind the Syrian massacres because Syria is not beholding to the World Bank and IMF therefore the 1 world government corporatist cabal that these banksters want won't be fulfilled until they subjugate countries like Syria who have separate banking systems. The corporate media in this country is owned by the globalists so all you will here from them is lies and propaganda.
seemssoobvious:
Spelling and grammar aside, would you please read that aloud? Now tell me how that aligns with "land of the free, home of the brave." No?
Try this: "We believe all persons have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." No?
The perhaps your idea is unAmerican? Yes.
Oh well, sucks to be them. I'm more interested in the Olympics.
MB-3604436: So go post at an Olympics blog--duh?
"Syrian regime readying for a massacre." is the WashingtonSpeak equivalent of South Park's "It's coming right for us!". Unadulterated pretext. Of one thing we can be sure: somewhere in the bowels of the Pentagon plans for a "humanitarian kinetic action" against Syria are underway.
Watch HBO"s Boardwalk Empire about Prohibition back in the '20s. It makes you realize how corrupt every everything is and has been forever.
Corruption and manipulation are the two oldest tricks in the book. You can see them both in this situation as well.
It's a war, why do they keep calling it a massacre if the people they are fighting want to be called rebels or freedom fighters?
Because they want other countries to fight the war maybe?
Killing non-combatants, deliberately, in such a brutal manner is a massacre. It's not the same as killing soldiers, rebels, etc.
It's wrong. As for external help, sure, wouldn't you make sure your enemy's war crimes were publicized? It's how you get that help. Worked for Britain and France in WW1.
Churchill once said "one thing about America it takes them a long time to do the right things but eventually they get to it" I am not sure if I got the quote spot on but you get the idea. Our air force can take them out in less than 24 hours but it would be something if the Israeli air force helped the rebels . Just a crazy thought, it would surely change the dynamics to see the star of David reducing the Syria forces to ash. It would not go unnoticed by the Arab world.
The right thing is staying out of it.
NICK BARTOW: I'm an atheist, but "from your words to God's mouth!" Israel is too self-absorbed and it's government acts only from fear and self-protectionism, so it'll never happen, but omg what a brilliant strategy that would be!
Just the thought is--absolutely exhilarating!
Well bush made that impossible or were you not paying attention.
Really, what do people think the Alawites should do, bend over and take it. They are on the verge of being taken over by uncouth Sunni Muslims that have as their goal the slaughter of all alawites in the region. This is Islam and what they do.
Hope springs eternal.