As another city gets turned into a battlefield where the Assads and their supporters go to war with the demons in their heads, it’s high time world leaders agreed on a diagnosis and treatment for the unfolding sociopathy before more and worse massacres begin to take place.
Sunday August 14, 2011
Assad sent troops, security forces and loyalist militias supported with tanks and gunboats into the coastal city of Lattakia, 28 residents have so far been killed and dozens were wounded in Al-Ramel Al-Janoubi Neighborhood, the main focus of the current crackdown, but the shelling has also spread into the neighboring communities of Skantouri and Boustan Al-Samakeh among others. 3 more were reported dead in Sleibeh Neighborhood. Meanwhile, security forces in Damascus stormed the suburbs of Saqba and Hamouriyeh and carried out dozens of arrests, amidst heavy gunfire, but no report yet as to casualties. Other communities to witness fatalities this Sunday include: Bosra Al-Sham (2) and Alma (1) in Hauran/Deraa Province, Homs (2), Hama (1) and Idlib (1).
Links
Turkey has lost patience with Syria, according to Turkish officials quoted in the Hurriyet newspaper, and has issued an ultimatum to Assad.
Iran has agreed to fund a new multi-million-dollar military base on the Syrian coast to make it easier to ship weapons and other military hardware between the two countries, according to Western intelligence reports.
The sanctions include a travel ban to those associated with the regime, freezing of assets, as well as a freeze on exports and imports to and from the country, Baird told reporters via video teleconference from Mexico. Two new companies have been added to the list of sanctions — Syria Tel, a communications provider, and the Commercial Bank of Syria.
Trafigura is the world’s third-largest oil and metals trader after Vitol and Glencore. Although based in Amsterdam, the company has an opaque offshore network using many subsidiaries and shell companies in its international dealings. The fiscal address in Amsterdam is just a post office box. The operational centre is in London, while the headquarters are in Lucerne, Switzerland. Trafigura’s main shareholders are Jersey, Dutch Antilles, and Maltese-based companies.
“We urge those countries still buying Syrian oil and gas, those countries still sending Assad weapons, those countries whose political and economic support give him comfort in his brutality, to get on the right side of history,” she said last week.
BEIRUT — In yet another escalation of its crackdown on dissent, the Syrian government unleashed navy vessels, tanks and a mix of soldiers, security forces and paramilitary fighters against the port city of Latakia on Sunday, killing at least 25 people, including three children, activists and residents said.
Opposition forces say that, contrary to government reports, the 1982 revolt that preceded mass slaughter involved mainly secular political activists and only a small number of religious zealots.
Syria is replete with return addresses for a defiant population bent on overthrowing the Assad tyranny—Hama, Homs, Idlib and Deir al-Zor, where it all began five months ago. No one is asking the president to dispatch the Marines to the shores of Latakia. What is needed is faith in freedom's possibilities. After the contempt displayed by the Bashar regime for all norms of conduct, the faith that Syria could give birth to something better than this "killing machine" should be easy to entertain.
The main reason Bashar cannot stop the crackdown is very simple: he is a sociopath, and a sociopath has no choice but to be himself and act out on his innermost amoral impulses. Just compare what we know of Bashar Al-Assad (and his brother Maher for as we know sociopathy runs in the family) with this profile of a typical sociopath and everything will fit. The point: stop expecting Bashar Al-Assad to change, and prepare for the worst, for the worst this is the only thing he is capable of delivering. And the Lesson for the future is: stop backing dictators as a necessary evil; democracy for all its shortcomings is the only necessary evil we can actually live with.
Based on reports by several eyewitnesses from Al-Ramel Neighborhood in Lattakia:
Shortly after dawn on Sunday, around 30 tanks and several armored vehicles carrying troops and militias, entered the neighborhood amidst heavy shelling and gunfire. Soon after, gunboats along the coast joined in the shelling. Hospitals were surrounded by pro-Assad militias and wounded were arrested on the spot. Sunni doctors were prevented from performing or attending any surgeries. This does not mean that Alawite and Christian doctors did not do their best to help the wounded, but the decision to exclude Sunni doctors was made as part of the Assad campaign to sow suspicion playing on sectarian prejudices. There are reports of bodies still scattered in the streets with people unable to reach them. And the death toll figures we have are not final, as the shelling is ongoing. What’s telling is that despite the ongoing crackdown, the people we called were asking for advice on slogan for their next demonstration.
LATTAKIA (AUG 13-14)
At this stage, almost each one of the communities has experiences siege, army incursions, shelling, mass arrests and numerous deaths. Still, people come out in droves reiterating their demand for toppling the regime, and for Bashar’s ouster.
Lattakia City / Al-Ramel: An overall view of the battleground http://youtu.be/QKGsKE8_x-o Tanks roam through the neighborhood http://youtu.be/f8wux1sDVHk Battlefiel Al-Ramel http://youtu.be/A2oTJCAV3-I , http://youtu.be/IQJafAGzuoo , http://youtu.be/m27s7jLbAho , http://youtu.be/G9QLf5c2NWY , http://youtu.be/rJd0I_5qsOo , http://youtu.be/r_gyZmas_EI , http://youtu.be/HZmsPVFGdac , http://youtu.be/aPU08JOE_rw , http://youtu.be/pnjN8CGxHYg Gunboats and tanks in action http://youtu.be/3vWxmD5IGbI , http://youtu.be/F1WmprfVUec , http://youtu.be/4HedDqZqu_s , http://youtu.be/DrfVwYX8mBg , http://youtu.be/SiBSvoBG0fc Smoke fill the skies over Al-Ramel http://youtu.be/5mYySlN7QRk Assad loyalist militias burn the local bridge connecting he neighborhood to the main city http://youtu.be/M76070wXPjA Troops in action http://youtu.be/wf7X81nOlt8 The battle continued into the night http://youtu.be/QG2f8FPty7Y , http://youtu.be/5r9Knz2gFZ8
Some of the martyrs http://youtu.be/1eT_UyfXUfw , http://youtu.be/CrSXKerUmgo , http://youtu.be/2JVf0Ijhpjc This is child martyr Oula Jablawi, shot through the right eye http://youtu.be/NuDHKLH_WFs
In the Sleibeh Neighborhood, in the morning pro-Assad militias filled the streets http://youtu.be/NE98JZYJVwY , http://youtu.be/eH_R7g13CXk Pro-Assad militias (shabbiha) surrounded Al-Mashati Mosque with their cars to prevent worshippers from organizing a demonstration http://youtu.be/MqETToJNAU0 Gunfire was also heard on Saturday http://youtu.be/cOW1Q8-B8k0 Elsewhere in Lattakia City, merchants observed a general strike in protest of the crackdown http://youtu.be/IvjTvtKlXH8 Heavy gunfire heard in Al-Ouaineh Neighborhood http://youtu.be/c8Q5o-zKKZ0
Jableh was also the scene of a major demonstration on Sunday http://youtu.be/TK1BqARDkb8
DAMASCUS (AUG 13-14)
At this stage, almost each one of the communities has experiences siege, army incursions, shelling, mass arrests and numerous deaths. Still, people come out in droves reiterating their demand for toppling the regime, and for Bashar’s ouster.
Douma / Aug 13: funeral http://youtu.be/qdz_lIn3yjg , http://youtu.be/pOivO6HMGIs , http://youtu.be/HZ5R8pm7E0s before the funeral took place, the local Imam admonished the protesters to keep their movement peaceful despite the violent crackdown http://youtu.be/ERJLcrIJgZY
Douma / Aug 14: Nightly protest in support of Lattakia http://youtu.be/nAAvX51znm0 , http://youtu.be/nsfPhOAMOZQ , http://youtu.be/1IWoCBJQq-w , http://youtu.be/g1jr9aOBw8A
Douma / Aug 12: security forces use ambulances for transportation and weapon storage http://youtu.be/NYIr2vfT_dg , http://youtu.be/BVSZdW5DFi0
Despite ongoing siege, mass detention campaigns and dozens of martyrs, thousands of residents of the neighboring communities of Zabadani and Madaya took to the streets http://youtu.be/YEjScY2TQJE There were major demonstrations as well in Al-Qarrah http://youtu.be/aVDLgHujM2c (Daytime) http://youtu.be/ULBGsjfdwlY in Jisreen: army troops storm city during the day http://youtu.be/CCTtRcOOquI but people take to the streets at night http://youtu.be/Nxu9h6Q8eD0 , http://youtu.be/w7gMyg2Ibd0 in Wadi Barada http://youtu.be/a9C4oxRRU0k
In Damascus City itself, there were demonstrations in Midan http://youtu.be/VPuUuWEZ-ks , http://youtu.be/ZBsiyUbQc5g in Al-Zahirah http://youtu.be/6b8r7a6QZCU , http://youtu.be/3TAhLuwJoDo in Zamalka http://youtu.be/IgCS3QD4Otk Harasta http://youtu.be/7h433WgcNWM Industrial Zone http://youtu.be/kqy3ZbfUWmE Al-Qadam http://youtu.be/H5lKh8RE4H8 Al-Kisweh http://youtu.be/rU6tDJx4kxM In Daraya, security officers attack mourners http://youtu.be/sVFxy940fjs Mourners were holding a funeral for the trooper Mahmoud Wahbeh believed to be killed by security officers http://youtu.be/v-uQjf0INfg
HAMA (AUG 13-14)
At this stage, almost each one of the communities has experiences siege, army incursions, shelling, mass arrests and numerous deaths. Still, people come out in droves reiterating their demand for toppling the regime, and for Bashar’s ouster.
Hama City / Aug 14: security forces carry out a raid on Al-Sabouniyeh Neighborhood http://youtu.be/gDoKcVXxRBQ security forces said to dig out the tombs of martyrs and snatch their bodies http://youtu.be/cZNLW7vSZ74 signs of shelling on buildings http://youtu.be/NJxlqmY9xVE shops looted by security officers http://youtu.be/MTMf-bhRfwE The martyr Shaher Al-Attar who fell on Aug 13 http://youtu.be/hq3qvRRtcpc In the wider province, here were protests in Kafar Zita http://youtu.be/tQ30nha77x8
HOMS (AUG 13-14)
At this stage, almost each one of the communities has experiences siege, army incursions, shelling, mass arrests and numerous deaths. Still, people come out in droves reiterating their demand for toppling the regime, and for Bashar’s ouster.
Homs City / Aug 14: thousands take to the streets in Boustan Al-Diwan http://youtu.be/a0Of8SBZi7k Al-Qoussour http://youtu.be/IZnztmlFN6o Al-Bayadah http://youtu.be/fP24F1tMiT4 , http://youtu.be/PmbnDZS6vVM Al-Khaldiyeh http://youtu.be/FN7F0bw_4ec , http://youtu.be/0pxZjXKnwWo http://youtu.be/oO0YQHVqe90 Earlier in the day in the neighborhood http://youtu.be/paL2IMbQpC0 , http://youtu.be/muVeHHTNjJA Baba Amr http://youtu.be/ugIargCZeJM Bab Houd http://youtu.be/2EynlKPfkWY , http://youtu.be/FWHKCI3-SC8 Al-Ghoutah http://youtu.be/ThwW8nR0KNI , http://youtu.be/bjjKxLfHtBE Al-Dablan (daytime) http://youtu.be/uRVjfv2chVc Stadium Street http://youtu.be/HYIhb-Uea2o Security forces patrolling the streets in Bab Al-Sibaa http://youtu.be/QnzSSSQ0r8o , http://youtu.be/CzRLpGwChk8 , http://youtu.be/KnMfIfSxYYM , http://youtu.be/HqW4AE2uTow In the wider Province, there demonstrations in Rastan http://youtu.be/iV1WvK6_UEc But Talbisseh continues to host over 70 tanks within its confines http://youtu.be/dfKe7rJY-vA , http://youtu.be/cxs-Kt1X3Is , http://youtu.be/i_MzebcS1hE , http://youtu.be/njPDQreUEKg On Aug 13, the town was the scene of a major demonstration http://youtu.be/ykCzX5f6ffw the people of Al-Qseir holds a funeral http://youtu.be/s34pyWbgrvw
IDLIB (AUG 13-14)
At this stage, almost each one of the communities has experiences siege, army incursions, shelling, mass arrests and numerous deaths. Still, people come out in droves reiterating their demand for toppling the regime, and for Bashar’s ouster.
Thousands take to the streets after Night Prayers in Ma’arrat Al-Nouman http://youtu.be/fjuFnrXbqSE , http://youtu.be/TUBHZ_jDLiw Idlib City http://youtu.be/gBkvC5yzh5w , http://youtu.be/d5IMmJ54FUE Kafar Nabbol (protesters carry sign saying: what next? Chemical weapons?) http://youtu.be/cRCoWksnR7Y Haas http://youtu.be/z1_c3z0kP1w Al-Hbeit http://youtu.be/8vQDYVEcdWo Binnish http://youtu.be/P8hn_DEIoY0 Sirjeh offers her first martyr http://youtu.be/oWrqs3k937c
HAURAN / DERAA (AUG 13-14)
At this stage, almost each one of the communities has experiences siege, army incursions, shelling, mass arrests and numerous deaths. Still, people come out in droves reiterating their demand for toppling the regime, and for Bashar’s ouster.
Protests took place in several communities including Al-Jizah http://youtu.be/U4toIXMAWlM Deraa City / Aug 14: http://youtu.be/hFfcugexc9E Khirbet Ghazaleh http://youtu.be/ul-VtjVrXps Bosra Al-Sham (funeral) http://youtu.be/u4t-ua9NfTo
Aleppo / Aug 14: protests took place in several neighborhoods, including Al-Marjeh http://youtu.be/keNcrDrNk90 Seif Al-Dawleh http://youtu.be/zQa_m55jgIE , http://youtu.be/d52tFUhg3ko More importantly, Al-Sakhour Neighborhood, the subject of intense crackdown over the last few days http://youtu.be/3TirkMg89uc A martyr from Aug 12 http://youtu.be/ORZSW7qNgN0
Al-Hassakeh: Amoudeh http://youtu.be/EmRDXOpPH3I Deireek http://youtu.be/sba3gYr_CrA , http://youtu.be/fDSvpUXrzyc
Having ships at sea shell civilians is unbelievable. It is tantamount to murder at large. Shelling from ships is indiscriminate. This if any thing should make nations of the world say enough is enough.
ReplyDeleteBruce Kendall
Syria is the first country in history to wage indiscriminate warfare on its own civilian population. It makes the Nazi German and Stalinist Soviet tyrannies after which its regime is modeled, look restrained in comparison. And the silence from the West in the face of this assault is deafening.
ReplyDeleteBruce: From your lips to the right ears in the international community
ReplyDeleteNorman: it's really an unbelievable psychosis we have to deal with here, that's for sure