The policies and pronouncements of world leaders vis-à-vis
developments in Syria make clear that they are more interested in offering to re-legitimize
the Assad regime through a new political arrangement, than in paving the way
for true democratic transition. In exchange for a two-hour cessation of hostilities
each day, and some vague promises of dialog, the Assads can be considered
legitimate again. What Cannoli!
Monday March 26, 2012
Death Toll: 76, most
of whom fell under the continuous bombardment of Old Homs neighborhoods. Pro-Assad
death squads also forcibly evacuated inhabitants of neighborhood of Qoussour.
To the North, the towns of Kfrazeiteh, Karnaz and Madeeq, Hama Province, were
also subjected to heavy pounding. In the Northeast, clashes took place in Jourah
neighborhood in Deir Ezzor City, as well as in the town of Jarzi.
In Idlib Province, and
according to local reports, two British journalists of Algerian descent were
reportedly killed in an operation conducted by Assad loyalists.
Syrian authorities issued a
new regulation requiring all male citizens ages 18-42 to report to the military
recruitment office for permission to travel outside the country. None will be
allowed to travel without such permission until the regulation is suspended.
News
Op-Eds & Special Reports
“Pathetically, the lessons of Bosnia are being
ignored. Refusing to arm the opposition will not end the conflict or limit it;
it will drag on. Establishing safe havens means inserting possible hostages and
establishing killing fields — remember Srebrenica (8,000 Muslims massacred)?
Assad, chillingly, has plenty of chemical weapons. They need to be secured... But
the creep toward real involvement — a virtual plea to the black-hearted Assad
to have a heart — has to stop. Obama dawdles, and lives are being lost. In
Libya, Obama led from behind. In Syria, he’s not leading at all.”
Violence continues to
escalate in Syria, despite continuing pressure on President Bashar al-Assad by
the United Nations to halt attacks, which include shelling in the city of Homs.
Last week the Security Council, including Russia and China, issued a
presidential statement calling for unspecified “further steps” if the Assad
regime fails to commit to a cease-fire. And this weekend, concerned nations
will meet in Turkey. What should be done next?
This is my own hawkish
take on the situation
Half-hearted calls for
dialogue with Assad communicate to him that the international community will
once again confer legitimacy on his regime once he’s done killing those who
support democratic reforms.
And this is my friend
Michael Weiss’s take
The United States must
now begin marshaling a coalition for regime change in Syria.
President Obama, this is happening on your watch http://youtu.be/GmyiUTHb5YY , http://youtu.be/_ObQmNMpxdg , http://youtu.be/J8NE3PbbmHg
Video Highlights
Old
Homs:
the pounding claims more children – Bayadah http://youtu.be/OZGnmvPRlF0 , http://youtu.be/hFW66tQlRgQ and
teenagers http://youtu.be/nmqxr7wPnvs
and young men http://youtu.be/oNW_2yqDRbU
, http://youtu.be/9KT7nB5C2k4 A woman
is found dead in the streets, next to her daughter stunned, wounded, a man in a
nearby car is dead – These are scenes from the Apocalypse http://youtu.be/_Sj2dPyUYOI Shells can
fall anytime anywhere http://youtu.be/dto0b1sT3HE
The Sarajevozation of Homs continues http://youtu.be/GmyiUTHb5YY
, http://youtu.be/_ObQmNMpxdg , http://youtu.be/GvhxvoeOJqY , http://youtu.be/32iSJpmDl00 , http://youtu.be/zpmFONTcLdw , http://youtu.be/g9dLuAZc_M8 , http://youtu.be/9Eap7elqRuk Local shop
catches fire http://youtu.be/RgibFV_UD5A
Preparing the dead for burial http://youtu.be/GYqHbBzKZDw
, http://youtu.be/3_r81PTT6Vg
Other Old
Homs neighborhoods were also pounded Jub Al-Jandali http://youtu.be/fsXSMkKpkvI Bab Dreib
http://youtu.be/k-zBE23DqR4 , http://youtu.be/eT5HMM5WrJA , http://youtu.be/pr0gpp4f7YI , http://youtu.be/nVe2KtkArQ8 Qoussour
http://youtu.be/YPdbuxGSDlQ Bab
Houd http://youtu.be/bJE-6M1hH6Q
, http://youtu.be/VmLJZWZmXoY Sifsafeh
http://youtu.be/nY1rNoXZNSs
At one
point, the Vatican accused local rebels of driving the Christians out of Boustan
Al-Diwan and Hamidiyeh on the basis of anonymous reports it
received. In reality, however, Christian families, like so many Sunni families,
have left the neighborhood to avoid this http://youtu.be/9_N_r0ToIm8
, http://youtu.be/X2yIrhQJO2A that
is, the pounding of their neighborhood, including the local historic church, by
Assad loyalist troops. Luckily, the Vatican site soon rephrased
the report. Still, this report in Arabic
still refers to the old version. The incident underscores the ability of the
Assads to manipulate the truth by playing on the prevalent prejudices and fears
of many in the international community.
In Idlib
Province, the pounding of restive towns continues: Kafrenbel http://youtu.be/_4X2GZKs918 where a
local shop catches fire http://youtu.be/_fJUpyUgew4
Ma’arrat Al-Nouman http://youtu.be/ig9IbG6Wfmc
A unit
affiliated with the Popular Resistance Block carries out an attack on a
loyalist checkpoint in the suburb of Arbeen, Damascus Province http://youtu.be/lAuyzYTpWc4 , http://youtu.be/9K7lzaQgl_8
Earlier in
the day, in Zabadani, the sounds of intense daytime clashes between the
local resistance and loyalist troops can be heard in the distance http://youtu.be/pFISSt90IV8 The clashes
were triggered by a loyalist raid in search of local activists http://youtu.be/mA-sOrfcX_s , http://youtu.be/SPVdsdpkaik
In the
Damascene suburb of Douma, locals hold mass funeral http://youtu.be/7rrp-oih1cI
In Deraa Province,
the town of Da’el is pounded http://youtu.be/8zd9X_VnXyI
, http://youtu.be/ug1cWIYZZg0 Nearby Tafas
receives its fair share http://youtu.be/-k-IHc2tCxY
In Madeeq,
Hama Province, the ancient citadel remains a favorite target of loyalists,
especially the historic mosque connected to it http://youtu.be/29EMhrferR8 , http://youtu.be/Rdzcgugk_10 , http://youtu.be/su62p3ofp_Y
The
inhabitants of Dirbassiyeh bury their dead activist, Juan Qatana http://youtu.be/H94XDWMXi5U
Leaked
video shows snipers having fun in Aleppo’s Atareb http://youtu.be/r9daa4ZwbSc
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