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Subscribe to RSSEveryday more wounded Syrian rebels are brought in to Turkey and treated in border hospitals run by Syrian doctors and volunteers. Medical supplies are in short supply and the hospitals underequipped. NBC’s Ayman Mohyeldin reports.
Updated at 3:45 p.m. ET: ALEPPO, Syria -- President Bashar Assad named a new prime minister Thursday to replace Syria's most senior government defector as his forces appeared to deal setbacks to the rebels in a strategic district of Aleppo.
Assad appointed Health Minister Wael Nader al-Halqi, a Sunni Muslim member of the ruling Baath Party from the southern province of Daraa, to head the government after Riyad Hijab fled Monday after spending only two months in the job. Daraa is where the 17-month-old uprising against the Assad family's rule began.
Hijab's dramatic escape across the border to Jordan dealt another blow to Assad's authority, already shaken by the assassination last month of four of his top security officials and rebel gains in Damascus, Aleppo and swathes of rural Syria.
Syrian troops on Wednesday pushed even farther into the key city of Aleppo where rebels are running short on much-needed supplies. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
But Assad, shrugging off such setbacks, seems locked in a desperate contest with his mostly Sunni opponents seeking to end half a century of Baathist rule and topple a system now dominated by members of the president's minority Alawite sect.
'Situation is desperate' at makeshift hospitals on Syrian-Turkish border
Assad has focused his fierce army counter-offensive on Syria's two main cities, reasserting control over much of Damascus before taking the fight to the northern commercial hub of Aleppo.
Key Aleppo district pounded
But blistering attacks on rebel positions from the ground and the air only appear to be slowly chipping away at the opposition's grip on its strongholds.
Rebels fighting in the Aleppo district of Salaheddine, a southern gateway to the city, said they had been forced to fall back from some frontline positions on Thursday by withering bombardment, which had reduced buildings to rubble.
PhotoBlog: Syrian fighter jet strafes farming village
"There have been some withdrawals of Free Syrian Army fighters from Salaheddine," rebel commander Abu Ali told Reuters, adding that rebels were regrouping for a counter-attack.
Rebels say minority Shiite and Alawite Muslims, the groups that have ruled Syria for decades, are being left alone in the carnage inflicted by Syrian troops. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
Another combatant said at least 30 people had been killed in Salaheddine, where fighting has ebbed and flowed for two days.
The state news agency also claimed that government forces had regained the area, but the situation on the ground remained fluid.
"It's difficult to know exactly what's going on because of the scale of the bombing, but the rebels are still fighting," Aleppo-based activist Mohammad Saeed told The Associated Press by Skype.
Fierce fighting rages in northern Syrian city of Aleppo
Syrian fighter jets launched airstrikes Wednesday on Tel Rifat, some 25 miles north of Aleppo, hitting a home and a high school and killing six people from one family, residents said.
Stringer / Reuters
After months of protests and violent crackdowns, a look back at the violence that has overtaken the country.
Aleppo, the country's commercial hub, holds great symbolic and strategic importance. Some 25 miles from the Turkish border, it has been a pillar of regime support during the uprising. An opposition victory there would allow easier access for weapons and fighters from Turkey, where many rebels are based.
Satellite images show Syria's bombardment of Aleppo, Amnesty says
Already stretched by rebel activity in many parts of the country, the military, despite its advantage in tanks, warplanes and helicopters, has had to cede ground elsewhere as it struggles for control of Aleppo.
Despite the onslaught in Aleppo, the U.S. sees the Assad opposition continuing to gain strength, State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said Thursday.
“The army is increasingly overstretched,” Ventrell said. “We think that the economy is under increasing strain and we think the rebels are getting stronger.”
Iran hosts conference of 'friends'
Meanwhile, state television in Iran, Syria's closest ally in the Middle East, said Tehran was hosting a conference of "friends" of Syria in the hope of finding a peaceful solution to the crisis.
NBC News
People resisting the army of President Bashar Assad in northern Syria cope with loss and prepare for fighting.
Hossein Amir Abdollahian, deputy foreign minister in charge of Arabic and African countries, said representatives from 15 countries will attend, including ones from Russia and China, as well as Pakistan, Iraq, Algeria and Venezuela. Russia's foreign ministry said Moscow will attend the talks hosted by Iran, represented by its ambassador in the capital Tehran.
The meeting was called at short notice.
Complete international coverage on NBCNews.com
Russia in the past has urged the West to allow Tehran to take part in international discussions on how to settle the Syrian crisis, arguing that the Islamic republic could play an important role. Moscow has been the main protector and ally of Assad's regime, shielding it from the U.N. sanctions over its brutal crackdown on an uprising that has evolved into a full-blown civil war.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
More world stories from NBC News:
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- Who'll win the gold medal for partying? Olympians let hair down
- 'Situation is desperate' for ill Syrian refugees in Turkey
- One year after London riots, a family still grapples with fallout
- Are these German protesters the world's oldest squatters?
- Interpol drops 'red notice' for dissident
- Londoners embrace coffee culture
- Journalist: British militants took me hostage in Syria
- Canada lobster fishermen lash out at cheaper US exports
- Race to London's Olympic Park: Fastest way is ...?
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12% of the population being Shia/Alawite and 74% Sunni does not bode well for Aasad over the long term.
Good. I can't fathom the mindset of this man. Another dictator killing countless innocent people.
Didn't Bush/Cheney do the same thing and Romney promises more fun and games ahead in Iran?
Ignorance abounds!
I would suggest, though I'm being forced to play the Devils Advocate once again, that you consider the many CENTURIES in which that 'sunni majority' "kept" - as in, "held in Debt Bondage", or "Tax Farmed them at a rate of assessment that they could never, ever, in all their lives of endless struggle hope to pay off" - that 'Alawite minority'!!!
That IS why the USSR of days past, and the Vladimir Putins' of days present - the Political Proegentors and Scions of the 'Great Peoples Revolutions' of the early 20th C.; the people whose sworn "mission" it was to 'set the enslaved peasants of the world FREE' - are still standing with Bashar Assad, after all; they're didn't and aren't doing so simply to be "evil" - i'ts got more to do, in their eyes, with the centuries of repression which the Warriors of Bashar Assads' Banu and Clan put an end to, with a lot of help from the Soviets, after WW2.
Still, they should see by now that the Peoples Revolution was never Fulfilled - that it was Corrupted by the hateful enmity of centuries of repression, found expression in the last 50 years of seemingly endless and horribly bloody counter-revolution - A Counter-Revolution which, in it's current Incarnation, MUCH of the Alawite minority not at all insignificantly seems to be willingly taking part in.
This speaks of them NOt being afraid of 'reprisals', IF the Assad Regime falls, and a Sunni Majority takes over the reigns of the Military and the Government......which means it's time to prepare a nice Dacha for Bashar, in, say, Turkmenistan.
Great caviar, lovely view of the caspian, lovelier view of the sunbathing Russian Beauty Queens TAKING A NUDE DIP while on vacation in 'exotic southern lands'......Aaaaaaah, perhaps a better fate that you really deserve, Bashar Assad....so, maybe, you should Go For It! - While you still can!!!
Jack-295117....."Didn't Bush/Cheney do the same thing and Romney promises more fun and games ahead in Iran?"
Didn't Obama/Biden support the "Arab Spring" ? Egypt turned out so well.
Wait, how about Obama/Biden providing support to the Syrian Rebels (or is that Muslim Brotherhood or Al Qaeda ?) ? The rebels are not faring so well.
Looks like Obama/Biden has already started the "fun and games" or is that supporting the Muslim Brotherhood ?
Yeah, time for Mr. Obama to give back that "PEACE PRIZE".
Wait another minute, Mr. Obama is going to announce at the DNC that Biden will not be his running mate during the Presidential election. An un-named, un-disclosed, secret, high level White House official just told me that it will be either Valerie Jarrett, Bill Mahler, Hilary Rosen, Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, Mrs. Axelrod, or Fumble Carney. The vetting has yet to be completed.
Little wonder the PM jumped the border considering Assad told "you will take the job or I will shoot you". What a way to build loyalty?
@!$%#e's are killing Sunni's and Sunni's are killing @!$%#e's -- and the beat goes on!! This battle has been going on for centuries. That's why these countries actually NEED Dictator's because they can't handle other forms of rule. Neither, the Western Nations, NATO and the corrupt U.N. can do absolutely nothing about the practice. The country that intervenes will become the next target. The Rebels (activist) started this Civil War and they must either be successful or die on their own merits without any other country interfering in the Internal Syrian Civil War. If the Rebels don't what women and children killed they should stop attacking from those neighborhoods and using women and children as propaganda and shields.
In that case, Shiites being majority and Sunni ruler being from minority Sunnis should not work in Bahrain.
But for the US, how Saddam, a Sunni could control Iraq a Shiite majority nation?
Do logics and sense work in ME Muslim nations?
Do some see something other than oil and monies flashed by the seventh century desert mindsert barbaric and beastly bigoted Sunni Saudis and their Arab Leaque?
ill bet iran and russia have had a bigger hand in this than the us too bad turkey does not do a few fly overs to keep the surian air force out of it
The rebels are getting shoulder fired missiles somewhere. Maybe the Turks are teaching a few rebels how to use them.
I just hope that if the rebels win they actually want an elected government OF THE PEOPLE. I know that is a lot to ask, but that is what I hope the unltimate outcome is going to be. It seems to be working in Libya. Not so much in Tunisia or Egypt though.
FLYeisty....your Avatar is so becoming. So you changed your address from Cheeeecago ?
Maybe the Moderator should check your credentials to make sure you are not using a 2nd account for posting.
Shocker, if true.....one month without Newsvine access.
Turkey should have helped with their great weapons NATO forcs in Iraq, at least while losing badly.
Even when NATO forces withdrew or ran, Turkey was of not much help in Iraq.
Of course, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and others did not bother or want to help infidel NATO forces during Iraqi wars!
I am wondering where did all great weapons go in Iraq and where are they in Afghanistan!
Can anyone speak Arabic and verify this as legit?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk7xxh8fc6c&feature=g-all-u
William , brosol to you William 12% of the population in the US are blacks , Wow how copme we have black president not white ???? I do not think it look good for Mr. Obama over the long term , you know people like you make me sick , Assad have popularity in Syria more than Obama have in the US , But Saudis and Qataris with the help of NATO Turkey and few other countries have more thugs in Syria than the SYRIANS KNEW ABOUT , AND TO YOU BROSOL Turkey and the US are part of the problem thanks to Mrs. Clinton and McCain, Lieberman , Graham and few other senators that worry about starting troubles in other countries than solving our problems here at home , and trust me if Turkey was able , they would do just what you saying , because they are doing every thing else , from arming these rebels and training them with the help of British and NATO speicail forces , but they are scared they are going to make the Russians and the Chinese mad , and trust Turkey might have a mighty army , but Syria will give them everything they want and some .
Yes I am red any problems baby ?
Didn't France and other countries help us when we were trying to shake off the shackles Britain had on our own nation? At least we aren't sending our troops in. The US and Nato are providing logistical help to help oust a dictator who is committing mass murders on his own citizens! If he was that great of a leader, he should have negotiated. But his ego will not allow it! So, to hell with his ego!
Ooooooh, "thugs", eh?
Well, since you're OBVIOUSLY an Iranian, I'd have to say....."You, The People who shoot innocent women dead on the street; You, The People who turn out the street lights across your entire nation, on 9-12-2001, so that if anyone tries to use TV Kleig Lights to illuminate the MILLIONS of people in Iran who - NOT being Victims ("Slaves", some might say....) of the Propaganda Ministry that was set up by the Apostatic Facists who've long since betrayed the True Spirit of the Iranians who once joined together in a Peoples Revolution that was supposed to set them FREE from the aforementioned attrocities, in order to retain an Iron Fist around the Minds and hearts of the Iranian equivilant of "those Redneck Hillbillies living up in them thar hollers, up in them thar hils" - Like, say, Ahmadenijads Core Clique - i.e.: Those who have NOT "Sold Their Souls" to the Basiji Oligarchs Desires to pretend that they want to 'Liberate' their Shi'ite Cousins across the Persian Gulf (I hear the Cries, of a Culture rent apart....We're working on it, have patience!), when all that they really want is the al Khalifas Oil, or course - Those who DID march in the streets of every major Iranian Town and City, with candles in their hands, on 9-12-2001, to express mournful solidarity with the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks of 9-11-2001 (I won't even get into the fact that You, The Iranian Troglydite probably 'HATE everything al Qaeda'! - Unless, of course, they're supporting your OWN Hypocritical Apostacy! I mean, where does 'becoming Umma Wahid' - WITH the Sunnis - 'fit in' in YOUR Plans, Iran? WITH the Shi'ites, Al Qaeda? WITH EVERYONE ELSE, BOTH OF YOU!!!!! Hmmmmm?)
You, The Iranian Pap Pusher; You, the Loyal Cultural Castrato of the Apsotatic Facist Oligarch Batrayers of Revolution; You, the Political Muzzeine of the Enemies of True Democracy in Iran, who hold Rafsanjani and Khatimai under House Arrest, simply because they tremble with the fear of the cowardly sheep that they are at the thought of the "change" that they represent, well......You, you would Know ALL ABOUT THUGS NOW, wouldn't you?!?
Jimbo: Are you in this century and real world or some imaginary one?
crap...
Critical times hard to deal with, will be here.
they r here already...
well maybe without acorn the black [\panthers and such true americans will get out and vote for change in america this country has been run further into the ground by obama than any other president jimmy carter neing close behind my turn keep up with the caps if it makes you feel better
brosol, you are just a racist! Do you feel better now that you have openly told us all you are?
Did you think we might mistakenly think you were a nice guy? ACORN is just a group of people, who go and sit in front of your markets and offer to register people to vote, for both parties! They are not Democrats! They provide a community service and allow more people access to the voting booths. If you want to register by mail, by all means, lick your stamp. But belittling ACORN, because they also show up in poor neighborhoods that have poor people of all races is no reason to hate them, unless your motivation is to remove the Black and Latino votes! So you are promoting white supremacy, while exhibiting your bigotry!
Two Black Panthers (who may have been hired by Republicans for all we know) standing near a voting center may have just came out, after they voted! Don't they have a right to vote either? Maybe we should tag you as racist and remove your right to vote! Doesn't that make more sense?
This is a nation built upon a foundation of all religions and all races. You are entitled to your opinions until they begin to encroach on your fellow Americans!
Republicans, passing voter suppression laws, and that is what they are, because they diminish the ability of our citizens to vote, are encroachments upon our citizenry! Yet, Republicans appear to enjoy racism and bigotry and seek to lessen non-white accessibility to vote. Why is that?
Are Republicans made up of small men, who want to be big? Are they so insecure that they seek to divide this nation, and manipulate to votes to keep them in power instead of allowing the will of the people to decide who will be elected?
I say Republicans are short-sighted, bigots, racists, zealots, and catered to by the rich for the profits that can be made from your allegiances!
yuuup if you say so you must be right judge and jury over all it is not a matter of republican or democrat or tea party like it or not we are all americans first and other so called nationals second
Iran is hosting a "Friends of Syria" convention. This would inlcude Russia (Putin's return to the glory days of the Soviet Union), China (any way we can make a buck), Hezbellah & Hamas (we can't offer our people any hope for the future or freedom but we sure got a handle on hate, destruction, and war), and of course, Iran itself (yes, we keep our own people in line through kangaroo courts, secret police, secret prisons, and terror). Kind of reminds me of the old Communist Bloc: the only people who showed up HAD TO or they were just as bad.
brosol what makes feel better if we start understanding other countries better and quit interfering with peoples lives in other countries on the request of countries that their own governments or kingdom should be toppled , and if we quit running our foreign policy on countries that are more terrorists than the terrorists them self's .
Many are forgetting that Sunni Saudi and their Arab League bigoted barbarians sent their own "human rights" group to Syria. That group was headed by a Sudanese Gen accused of genocides of 300000 Christians in Sudan.
Followers of Islamic cult, especially Sunni Saudi inspired Islamic radicals and militants (al-Qaida, Salaffi, Wahhabi, MB, Taliban 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.
Even in Syria, if Assad is overthrown by Sunni Islamic religious Nazis like al-Qaida, MB, the conditions of Christians will be unbearable just like Iraq.
Are those supporting the Syrian rebels and Sunni Saudi proxies al-Qaida, MB and other barbaric Sunni Islamic religious Nazis in this world or in some Bushes eras?
I wonder what kind of retirement package the Health Minister was given.
12 Young Virgins and one old one.Quran says so
Dennis: Quran gives 72 virgins. How dare you reduce it to 12?
If there are shortages of virgins then some mullahs and Islamic scholars will give a religious order that all boys and males below 30 are virgins!
They will give this order after discussing for weeks!!!!!
Seriously folks this entire story is nothing but "Staged Propaganda" for the Military Industrial Corporations and their "New World Order" which as FDR said is "Neither New or Order" and only someone who was being Intentionally Naive would not see through "their" Mainstream Media's "Propaganda"!
POMPUS Obama has been secretly supporting A-Qaeda once again to further their "Goals" which ARE NOT Our Goals!
Do You Support A-Qaeda the "Murderers" of 9/11? Then why do you continue to support "their" Supporters?
Americans Wake UP...Do Not Re-Elect any Incumbent in Washington DC this year for NONE of them work for US and we cannot do worse than what we have already....Go ask Bailout Barry!
Better to Vote for "Suspected" Liars than "Proven" Mass Murderers!
MUW We are screwed buddy , look what we have to choose from , most of these politicians are lawyers and with my respect to lawyers friends , they are always use to say ( yes your honor ) and after they get elected they start saying ( yes your Hines's , majesty ,king ) or whoever , and they they forget their real client ,THE AMERICAN PEOPLE .
Absolutely....If a Lawyer becomes a "Politician" they should have to forever give up the Right to Practice Law as a "Conflict of Interest" for if you "Make The Law" you cannot in Good Faith "Practice" what YOU yourself have created!
Personally I'd rather see a Scout Master, Teacher or Butcher be a Politician than a Lawyer.
None of these Crooked Corporate Controlled Politicians currently in Washington DC have "Honored Their Oath" and now America needs to Kick Them All Out in November and then start the Prosecutions in January!
If these Corporate Sponsored Criminals Try To Resist then "Our Oath" kicks in....I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
Again I say Do Not Re-Elect ANY Incumbents be they Democrat or Republican, Fire Them All and let US see if our "New Gals & Guys" will take the "Hint".....
Honestly they CANNOT be worse than we have ALREADY!
Is it not the Republicans who are creating voter suppression laws across our nation? Is it not the Republicans purposefully removing the rights of the poor to vote? Is it not the Republicans who are holding up Infrastructure legislation, while promoting prison sentences for women and doctors who privately decide on deeply private operations, while screaming that government shouldn't be allowed to invade our privacy?
If we want to start replacing the obvious deviants in our government, I would submit, the Republicans are the ones we should start with!
Nonsense Jack..."Your" Criminals are NOT better than "Their" Criminals for they are ALL CRIMINALS working for the "same" Transnational Corporate Masters!
Oh but wait a second "You Know That" already don't you? Your just out pointing fingers at the "other" guys so that once again none of these Corporate Sponsored Crooks get "Blamed"!
Same games different names and NONE of "Them" Deserve to be Re-Elected....Period!
Especially not that Mass Murdering Secret Al-Qaeda Supporter Bumbling Barry....
Everything else is just more "Smoke & Mirrors!
Jack, you are a liar. Requiring ID is not voter suppression; it's just common sense.
No wonder you don't recognize it.
And Steve your "Criminals" Common Sense Isn't "Common At All!
Once again all that saves these "Criminals" is their ability to "Point Fingers" at each other in Public while patting each other of the back in Private!
Do Not Re-Elect ANY of "Their" Criminals....Elect New Blood in November even if "they" are still Democrats & Republicans! Anyone is better that the Senior Criminals we have now!
Then demand "Prosecutions" start in January!
Notice good people of Syria-your criminal scumbag leader, the murderer Assad, is backed by the criminal murderers of Russia and China!!! Putrid Putin is one of the main backers of your murdering slimeball along with the always criminal scumbags in China. Don't ever forget it.
And please note that "Our" Freedom Fighters from "Al-Qaeda" are SOOOoooo much better!
So truthfinder3 (Hahahaha...Not! Where do they get these Nicknames?)
Please tell US how many American "Civilians" has "Syria" Murdered?
Once again another "Poster" being "Intentionally Stupid" all in the name of their "New World Order" and their Military / Industrial Corporations Deception, Dis-Information, & Propaganda Campaign!
Remember Do Not Re-Elect ANYONE this year for all of these Criminals in Washington DC have Supported Al-Qaeda both Democrat & Republican!
But don't forget: we are heavily in debts to China after Iraqi wars and Afghan war!
to slaughter civilians by the thousands in the 21st century ,your own civilians on top of it, should never never be allowed by all people of this planet . wer'e going to mars in search of life while allowing others to kill it on earth.where is the morality in all of this? and wer'e wondering why extra planetary civilizations are not contacting us?
turiddhu you are so right , but try to Tell that to Hillary , McCain , Lieberman , Graham and all these hawks we got here , they want to arm these Alqaida rebels and all these Muslims extremists , funny Hillary now admitting that these thugs are coming into Syria , well Mrs, Clinton you knew that long time ago , you are dealing with the Saudis and Qataris and the Turks to arm and train these no good Alqaida rebels , and you all act surprised , turiddhu over 8000 Syrian soldiers died so far in this conflict , they did not die because Assad was or is brutal , they died because the Syrian army trying to protect their civilians the ones these thugs using as human shields and murdering them , you listening to our paid off media Richard Aqlaida Engel and Anderson Alqaida Cooper , they always showing you these poor rebels ( Bin Ladin look alike ) and they know who they are , Richard Engel was with them in Libya and taking pictures with them , some of the British special forces were disusing them self's as reporters , and remember the french reporter the one that got killed in Homs , the french came out later and admitted he got killed by these innocent rebels , how come our media did not report it , I guess Assad would have done better if he did like Merci in Egypt and bomb the hell out these rebels by air force and leveled the ground they stood on , Just like we did in Fallouja , remember that city , how come when we and NATO kill people and rebels Its OK , Collateral damage we call it , but when some body else has to defend their country and we do not like them , we call it murder . you know I can keep on going , but no matter what I say or Ron Paul says , most of you already brained washed to believe the media and your honest politicians .
hello Assad....nice try. It's not working. Sit back and watch history in the making. It is the time for changes where dictators have all the goods and luxuries but ordinary people are getting killed. In the US we have billionaires in charge of "our" money as we struggle to make ends meet. We have an oligarchy, not a democracy. We vote, but it makes little difference as our country is owned by the very few who have all the money. Even Fort- Knox is empty...probably in Cheney and Bush's bunkers. That said, we still have freedom and we still are free. We can make money if we really want to go out of the box, without stealing from investors. We can stay honest as we believe in the American dream and a pure heart. For you, it is too late. Leave and hide somewhere or stay and die as your fate is likely to end as Gaddafi did. Your choice. I would leave if I were you. Your life is priceless to you and your loved ones. Your enemies see it differently.
It's all the stupid rebels' fault!
Yes it is when they hide in residential areas.
Ya funny I just watched Richard Engel reporting from Aleppo and interviewing 2 people and off course from the rebel side and they said that Assad targeting only Muslim Sunnis , I wonder how much this Jerk getting paid from Saudis and Qataris , I bet he does not have to work for too long , not unless he has a different interests , because every time he reports , you can tell he is trying to fuel the situation in Syria and trying to put fire under the Sunnis in other countries to join the fight , this guy is not a reporter , NBC should be ashamed of people like him . why does not he interview some Christians and get their story about the murdering and killings . this guy need to join the rebels , that's where he belongs .
Engel & Andersin Pooper have lost all repect from the public-they can not even lie good ! They NEVER show the rebel war crimes and Sunni human rights violations ! Poor excuse for a reporter !
I don't think Assad is thinking logically. He is hanging in there not realizing every day is another nail in his coffin. He could manage to squash the rebels but he will never regain any sustainable credibility. His days are numbered, one way or another. That is a historic reality and a sign of things to come. It is painful, all around to see so much suffering and to witness complete denial.
The situation is so much more complicated that is being portrayed in the media. Most media outlets give you a cliff notes version of what is going on there.
The new Total Recall movie falls right in the line with the "They're not terrorist they're rebels" theme that the U.S. media is "shoving down peoples throats". (remember the "liberal" media propaganda machine ? .... ha ha ha ha ha .....clap on ...clap off !)
It's the middle east. We don't suppose to know anything. It's like a roller coaster ride. One year the bad guys are good guys. Next year the good guys are the bad guys. We give arms to one side one year and the next year we fight them. History already shows since the 50's, our politicians have truly screwed up thinking they have the solutions. IKE called it Atomic for Peace in the 50's. Selling and building Nuclear Reactors for Iran. Today we call it Atomic for War. It's just the way it is in the middle east. It's like a hornets nest. You either destroy the whole nest or you just leave it alone. If you just wake it up, you get stung big time.
From your Peanut Factory with a little knowledge of our history in the middle east.
"But Assad, shrugging off such setbacks, seems locked in a desperate contest with his mostly Sunni opponents seeking to end half a century of Baathist rule and topple a system now dominated by members of the president's minority Alawite sect."
So this means Shiites should ask for their Shiastans wherever they form more than 18 percent.
They should start their liberation struggles from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan (18 percent), Qatar, Oman and other places which have Sunni rulers.
What a bunch of cowards Shiites are? They talk big, act big and show their bravery before unarmed minorities like Jews, women and others. Then they add their dances when they stone them.
Shiites of Iraq should side with Kurds and should stop oil supplies to Turkey for supporting the Sunni Islamic extremists like al-Qaida, MB in Syria.
Shiites of Bahrain should overthrow their autocratic, corrupt and despotic Sunni ruler.
As they have been taking blows and killings by Sunnis, these Sunnis are able to act as they like to Shiites.
Shiites of Iran should side with Assad and see that all the Sunni rebels are eliminated.
What are the brave Hezbollah doing?
They should do suicide bombings in Mecca and Medina. Or else Shiites genocides just like the genocides of non-Muslims by the Sunni Islamic religious Nazis will continue.
The worst thing the insurgent Free Army can do is put itself into a traditional military situation where they can be easily targeted and picked off. Their value lies in the "Peoples War" concept of hit and run, where they will win by attrition and by wearing down/demoralising the Assad Army.
They should be able to hit and disappear, only to show up at another place...such as Latakia. Conventional armies have all the benefits of fighting fixed battles, especially against irregulars. The Iraqis and Afghans and NATO has sadly learned how the illusive IED has put them at their wits end......and if the Russkies were supporting the rebels, they would likely suggest even more terroristic maneuvers.
AND....BTW....Where are the manpads? If the recent photos of such were just propaganda then it was a silly maneuver; nothing worse than getting caught in your own lies.....its a "put up or shut up" situation...
The main issue is to NOT concentrate and act like a conventional army....that would be sure doom and leave the sad and brave Syrian people at an even greater hardship.
Haste makes waste.....as they say...
The rebels are just a bunch of anti-Christian thugs that are paid to murder & rape innocent Syrians ! We never see their MANY war crimes on TV by the unjust media ! Assad is one of the very few men in this wimp world to stand up to the evil rich nato baby killers !
Go tony tell it like it is , these people have no clue what's going on in Syria ,