There is a real war going on in Homs and Deraa today,
and so far not a single world leader, not a single Arab leader, not a single member
of the Syrian opposition, especially the Syrian National Council, has addressed
this fact. Civilians are dying, and the opposition is still debating whether to
appeal for international protection and demand a no-fly zone, when for the weeks
protesters have been making that demand from the top of their burning lungs. If
this continues, the protesters, who are already shouting “the Syrian Army is a traitor,”
will begin shouting “the Syrian opposition is a traitor.”
Friday October 21, 2011
29 protesters were
killed on a day that was dedicated to the martyrs of the Arab Reprieve, in
reference to the Arab League decision to give the Assads 2 more weeks to stop
violence and begin dialog with the opposition. 12 fell in Homs City, 3
in Hama City, 3 in Jassem in the Deraa/Hauran Province.
Links
The Steady
Wi’am
Amashah, the Syrian prisoner freed by Israelis in the recent swap with Hamas,
declared on Al-Jazeerah earlier today, from his home village of Baq’atha in the
Occupied Golan, that he stands with the people against the “killer regime.” He
said the regime should be toppled and all of Syria should be liberated, not
only the Golan http://youtu.be/9pzbASeJY-E
The Waffler
In
an
interview with Al-Akhbar Newspaper, spokeswoman for the Syrian National
Council, Basma Kodmani, one of very few real technocrats in a council that
projects itself as a technocratic rather than political council, made some
interesting statements regarding the nature of the SNC.
To
Mrs. Kodmani, the SNC is a nonpartisan technocratic council that seeks to
support the revolution by “interpreting” its demands, especially the one about
international protection, but does not claim to represent it. The SNC is but “a
revolutionary council that supports the revolution, bears its demands and
embodies its aspirations.”
The
main goal of the SNC, she explains, is to “isolate the regime and suffocate it
economically, politically and financially” paving the way for its eventual
implosion. The circle of support for the regime has narrowed, she noted, and
there are many internecine problems.
On
their face, Mrs. Kodmani’s statements sound reasonable, but, taken within the
current context of Syrian oppositional politics and realities on the ground,
one cannot help but think of that old political term: bullshit! Mrs. Kodmani is
speaking out of both sides of her mouth and is coming out as the Bouthaina
Shaaban of the SNC. In all its official communication with governments, the SNC
is projecting itself as a transitional council and is seeking recognition as
the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people at this stage. Through
their contact with LCCs, they have also sought this kind of recognition from
the protesters, and they got it, but on condition they do indeed represent the
demands of the revolution, not interpret them away.
For
in regard to “interpreting” and “bearing” the demands of the revolution, not to
mention “embodying” its aspirations, SNC leadership should bear in mind that
the revolutionaries have made their job easy, by providing their own
interpretation of their own demands: protection means a no-fly zone, a safe
haven and support for the Free Syrian Army. These demands have already been
endorsed by the majority of protesters in Idlib, Hama, Homs, Deir Ezzor,
Baniyas, Lattakia, Deraa/Hauran and the Damascus Province. The only people who
seem to object to them are members of the traditional opposition forces and
some activists in Damascus and Aleppo cities, not exactly the hotbeds of the
revolutionary movements and where the Assads have sought to quell whatever
unrest without deploying tanks, so far.
In
reality, with every statement they make, SNC leaders make it increasingly clear
that they and the revolutionaries are speaking two different and mutually
incomprehensible languages. No amount of bullshit can conceal that. There is an
actual war going on in parts of Syria today, SNC leaders need to address the situation,
and need to stop their bickering on the issue of international protection, or
they should get out of the way.
Meanwhile, a note to all those who wonder why I am being so harsh
in my judgment on anything related to the SNC:
I
am being harsh because some of SNC members, like Mrs. Kodmani, are indeed quite
respectable figures, as such, they should know better than try to dissimulate
and bullshit us. I hold them to a higher set of standards than those I apply to
the ruling fascist thugocracy in Syria, and will continue to do so. For a long
time, Assad officials told us to avoid being overly critical of the internal
situation because this would play into the hands of Imperialists and Zionists
plotting against our “great nation,” now the same logic is being deployed by
some in the opposition vis-à-vis any
criticism of the SNC. I won’t stand for it. Enough is enough. This mentality
has enslaved us for over 50 years, and I won’t put up with it anymore, not for
one additional second. Those who want to play a public role have to submit to
public scrutiny, and those who want to claim positions of leadership, not to
mention the moral high ground, have to put up with being judged by the very principles
they claim to defend. This is what people tell me when they criticize me. This
is what I tell my colleagues when I criticize them. Welcome to the put up or
shut up world of public service.
Featured Videos: the War
In Bab Al-Sibaa in Homs City,
pro-Assad militias commit a new massacre http://youtu.be/TdNDBkJLHiU
, http://youtu.be/MrhZmI_fWd4 , http://youtu.be/8Tmc_RvZXWc , http://youtu.be/7-XmXc0aQQY , http://youtu.be/lkQlHJ4y3vo Tanks move
in http://youtu.be/KAN8KwBXavw and
protesters come under fire http://youtu.be/ihr7g1ulr2U
, http://youtu.be/WKC4FLx35j8
Baba Amr Neighborhood comes under the most extensive episodes
of shelling we have witnessed since the attack on Rastan http://youtu.be/K0pftn66NjE , http://youtu.be/EpbaXwlh8JA , http://youtu.be/nJRFMVnuemM , http://youtu.be/7TlLRuHF2NM , http://youtu.be/lJhEBkGQBO0 Tanks and
gunfire in Baba Amr http://youtu.be/77eY3pW9O5U
an injured man http://youtu.be/FcfkKNzF0xY
A martyr http://youtu.be/IM3rMkCn8Y8
His funeral http://youtu.be/oRLw1Iqi_FU
Yet, despite all this, people come out in droves in the evening for a
demonstration http://youtu.be/K8rpNDefLx4
and all through Homs City (below)
In Jib Al-Jandali protesters come under
sniper fire as they come out of the mosque http://youtu.be/QynGIfRhLEE
, http://youtu.be/ggk6gGb9ScU Martyr http://youtu.be/h_yOWIXhkWM a martyr
from Bab Houd http://youtu.be/FmzbDMbImX8
Bab Dreib a martyr http://youtu.be/jtMUxyoD870
From the neighborhood of Bayadeh comes a message from the local women in
English http://youtu.be/pwg2ygFmb-s
In Jassem in the Deraa/Hauran Province, victims
from yesterday’s showdown http://youtu.be/tfIoXFbrQ8Q
were buried today. Mourners in the funeral http://youtu.be/owYknVB12J4
, http://youtu.be/FuiLDpzUUHc , http://youtu.be/zIPc_p7hgj0 for one of
yesterday’s martyrs came under fire http://youtu.be/GbOYuPq5Zqs
, http://youtu.be/do9-WR3mQpY the
local mosque served as field hospital http://youtu.be/U6r_l99Wjkc
tanks rolled down the streets http://youtu.be/dF4DrM4hRiQ
More wounded http://youtu.be/CNRfPGF4BuE
an injured child http://youtu.be/JdyTgMGpIBU
In Ankhel, protesters defy tanks in the
streets http://youtu.be/OR9v6GyzVWU
The injuries sustained by a 14-year old boy in Mleihah Shagiyeh on
October 20 http://youtu.be/DRykAvho_1w
In Deraa City (Sadd Street) protester come under fire http://youtu.be/MaoTNtRBD9Y
Protesters in Qoussour Neighborhood in Hama
City http://youtu.be/kVIUFs_zKug
come under fire http://youtu.be/grDaKgzXkNw
, http://youtu.be/Ct9IDN10oos wounded
http://youtu.be/xuCHiQucL1I In Manakh
Street, pro-Assad militias shoot at protesters http://youtu.be/BidtksJLtMg
In Lattakia City, pro-Assad militias
patrol the streets to prevent protests http://youtu.be/E39tyc8S27Y
, http://youtu.be/UcKIRSeZ488
In Barzeh Suburb in Damascus, protesters
carry a sign saying “SNC, be resolute and demand international protection” http://youtu.be/d5tYT2AMJFY In Arbeen
Suburb, protesters come under fire http://youtu.be/vGT8x0YSzHc
And there was gunfire in Kafar Batna Suburb as well http://youtu.be/SlLE1YNPZdU In Douma
too http://youtu.be/Y2N-5C6-Gz4
Pro-Assad militias attack protesters in Eltal http://youtu.be/8BOX_wOIpAQ , http://youtu.be/o6ItZWQ5sl0 a man who
was injured by the attack http://youtu.be/ftGfJty6UgA
In Saqba, snipers on the rooftops http://youtu.be/3o9Zix1lWrM
and militias in the streets http://youtu.be/D0qWTUuYMLM
A new Brigade of Defectors joins the Free
Syrian Army, The Qaqa’ Bin Amr Al-Tamimi Brigade http://youtu.be/QirNwLwKn5g
In Hayyan Village in Aleppo Province,
protesters come under fire http://youtu.be/d7huxOXW0fo
DERAA/HAURAN
Major demonstrations took place in Hraak http://youtu.be/Si9P8kEkHEA Sanamein
Big Yellow Banner “We don’t love you” http://youtu.be/cXAr9X6B3Vo
Ankhel http://youtu.be/r4N6eGYxmPQ
Basr Al-Harir “Down with Bashar the Traitor” http://youtu.be/EdaFSE0w2O8 (night) http://youtu.be/GsfK6nztSbo Tseel
http://youtu.be/Nm_q-bPnP_0 Da’el
http://youtu.be/_lqkXI_EmxQ , http://youtu.be/o4dstKbKb8Q Mseifrah
http://youtu.be/sAEgE1TAsvo Ataman
http://youtu.be/n_w1BYjWyoU Bosra
http://youtu.be/wV82EpKcML4 Jizah
http://youtu.be/kuB03fuxdfU Taybah
http://youtu.be/L7Y1PC7kbdU Ma’arabah
http://youtu.be/JvUoctQbFlw Gharya
Shargiyah http://youtu.be/7gzRw3EIJZU
Mleihah Shargiyeh http://youtu.be/_F4YJQrdNNQ
Nasseeb http://youtu.be/RnEUXNHTZm0
Karak Shargi http://youtu.be/57QCgG0FchI
Kafar Shams http://youtu.be/Lljbq3LPr1Q
Khirbet Ghazaleh http://youtu.be/7F4FWTpDgeQ
Sauran http://youtu.be/MzD2AO4lKnU
Sheikh Miskeen http://youtu.be/b_x47hNmez8
Mleihat Al-Atash http://youtu.be/xvSMyW4u-NU
Mhajjah http://youtu.be/6FPknVsBKkA
HOMS CITY
Baba Amr http://youtu.be/f0DiuDJfNjA
Wa’er http://youtu.be/D0Jr5zXyreo
, http://youtu.be/k_C8KsOTUwQ Khaldiyeh
http://youtu.be/60yKv9WKlHM , http://youtu.be/35LRjkRI70M Shammas
http://youtu.be/7odp6OLocAA , http://youtu.be/7pG8bZ5CufY Qarabees
http://youtu.be/WpdyetdX3K0 Bab
Houd http://youtu.be/qXOXWwyAaeM Qoussour
http://youtu.be/d13g6bVz4os Insha’aat
http://youtu.be/uESnzQo01j8 candlelight
vigil http://youtu.be/5Dmyo3RwE7E Jouret
Al-Shayah http://youtu.be/1FnYgYmGMnY
Deir Baalbah http://youtu.be/aF6lCleiYtk
, http://youtu.be/FepcxP1_-5w Karm
Al-Zeitun http://youtu.be/U4ra2SfduNs
Bayadah http://youtu.be/6RwC1rVs7Ik
Bab Al-Sibaa http://youtu.be/gyGRD-00ujs
Ghoutah http://youtu.be/TsOI60JYbVI
HOMS PROVINCE
Despite the continuing siege, locals take to the
streets in Talbisseh http://youtu.be/frVZuVZNGGU
Sign “Treat us as the Jews treat their prisoners” http://youtu.be/3o3rtkmc280 Sign “15
days are not enough, give more time to kill us all” http://youtu.be/pHiiMjQ8kM0 Ghanto http://youtu.be/7MQfhSoLpQs In Rastan,
people come out again http://youtu.be/NoMegOvArnE
But the biggest crowds showed up in Tadmor (Palmyra) http://youtu.be/L6sX6dXotvw , http://youtu.be/d66ecYRNAOg (night) http://youtu.be/BzZEQRtcnMw Tal
Al-Shoor http://youtu.be/Zoi1sGTem-0
Sukhneh http://youtu.be/iLygd1FJ_wY
Qaryatein http://youtu.be/jZ_AHmuKzwo
Houleh http://youtu.be/nqyfVnDcI3k
IDLIB
Idlib City http://youtu.be/vlfKzAA2_v0
, http://youtu.be/0RFDMLZX7yg Binnish
http://youtu.be/8W7zwjBkOZ8 , http://youtu.be/dqByScv8x6A Saraqib
http://youtu.be/WTigvWWP6PQ Jabal
Al-Zawiyeh (Kinsafra) http://youtu.be/wH_neh-svVA
, http://youtu.be/iDpR_z8Wdas Kafar
Nabbel protesters carry a sign in English with an interesting message http://youtu.be/Xq1xWaam_jU Taftanaz
http://youtu.be/_sa0hUZHMlQ Ma’arrat
Al-Nouman http://youtu.be/ciTdq0uTDqM Ta’oum http://youtu.be/zUbhDF-nC7I Ma’arat
Masreen http://youtu.be/bB7P0h3tMkc
Ma’asaran http://youtu.be/ZPhkPVw7ubQ
Heesh http://youtu.be/YFuJjJmKU7Y
Khan Shaikhoon http://youtu.be/AgJG6xVIi3I
Ma’arr Shamshah http://youtu.be/B3gUottZtxo
Haass http://youtu.be/Rjwtku7qwW8
Kafroumah http://youtu.be/3WgPaZjeTCc
Kafar Sajnah http://youtu.be/hXUonBfiAxI
Hbeit http://youtu.be/M6CUTrsh9uo
Hzano http://youtu.be/CDujvAmNpwQ
Jarjanaz http://youtu.be/TafBN1EQPfg
Eltman’ah http://youtu.be/E4ol9zjKqpg
Ghadfah http://youtu.be/SleDAa7xbcY
Khan Al-Subul http://youtu.be/8bSIOCEaYKg
Ghadlab http://youtu.be/kx7sQ_uWSVk
Ma’arrat Hourmah http://youtu.be/tAm-X_nY9fo
Sarmeen http://youtu.be/yvilJf3hmXw
Kafar Takhareem http://youtu.be/F1NpoIC1bKs
DAMASCUS
Zamalka http://youtu.be/tw-wvsejNFo Qatana http://youtu.be/6fN0McH8y5E Hajar
Al-Aswad http://youtu.be/cXExj9UF6I4
Assaly http://youtu.be/sLhR67qYFzs
Arbeen http://youtu.be/bogjMMKSZls
Moadamiyeh http://youtu.be/5CXf7OY8jeU
Jobar http://youtu.be/NLoLSeGHiSQ
Wadi Barada http://youtu.be/kqTfaxgI5-o
Douma http://youtu.be/nFHDkX53H78
Saqba http://youtu.be/JX4-jgYWTXk
In the larger province, Rankous http://youtu.be/qEA-7A58eis Dmeir
http://youtu.be/dOtbFfm9JA0
HAMA: Karnaz http://youtu.be/lXCyfRILkec Hilfaya
http://youtu.be/sLKu5bI0m2s Kafar
Nabboudeh http://youtu.be/cw0KNdZuNCI
Taybat Al-Imam http://youtu.be/BpIpNEBYlI8
Hama City (Hamidiyeh) http://youtu.be/Y2kkVjn-SjE
(Karameh) http://youtu.be/B5IJPkXVWmI
(Aleppo Street) http://youtu.be/TYdPwFBJNKU
Khattab http://youtu.be/LVczkbN72cU
ALEPPO: Tal Rif’aat http://youtu.be/B-tmf5UG3go Aleppo
City (Salaheddine) http://youtu.be/xSNWujSfR8E
Anadan http://youtu.be/4r2_TMTXaak
Marei http://youtu.be/gCnNEvsM92Q
HASSAKEH: Qamishly http://youtu.be/9I2t8RZ28tQ , http://youtu.be/smoY7htxV5U Amoudeh
http://youtu.be/TdBDANPjKP8 Dirbassiyeh
http://youtu.be/OlFjHJwvV64 Ras
Al-Ayn http://youtu.be/AduNmLeRKhc
DEIR EZZOR: Tayyaneh http://youtu.be/zrj-NF77Zi0 Qrayah
http://youtu.be/Y1zcVssA-Qo Shaheel
http://youtu.be/--TG7xVmfkU Mayadeen
http://youtu.be/6jrwUZgXkA0 Douair
http://youtu.be/Ocs6OO_yfgM
GOLAN: Saham http://youtu.be/SOj_6FpCVco
Lebanon/Tripoli http://youtu.be/arkyFzjICk8 , http://youtu.be/tYZPPCz5u1w
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