Pandemonium!

When terrorists lead countries and leaders of the free world stand befuddled, we can all rest assured that the worst is yet to happen.

Friday May 11, 2012

Death too: 20, including 3 in Hama, 3 in Idlib, 2 in Hassakeh, 1 in Homs, 1 in Quneitrah, 1 in Daraa, and 1 in Aleppo.

The towns of Misraba (Rural Damascus), Khan Shaikhoon (Idlib), Hayaleen (Hama), Houleh (Homs) and Mjaidel (Daraa) came under heavy pounding.

Protesters taking part in pro-democracy rallies in different parts of Syria came under fire, including in the city of Aleppo, the town of Hilfaya (Hama) and the Damascene suburb of Tadamon.

A major car bomb targeting a local headquarters of the Baath party detonated in Saadallah Al-Jabiri Square in Aleppo City, no casualties were reported.

A delegation representing the Kurdish National Council visited the State Department in Washington earlier today where they met Ambassadors Robert Ford and Frederic Hof, and Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman as well as other U.S. officials. According to a press release by the State Department “Discussion focused on the Syrian revolution and ways in which the Kurdish National Council – working alongside other Syrian opposition groups – can assist  Syria’s transition to a democratic, pluralistic state that ends the discriminatory practices of the Asad regime, including against Syrian  Kurds.”

News

Aleppo Blast: Explosion Hits Northern City In Syria

Iran helps release of Turkish reporters in Syria

Hezbollah chief says Syria may descend into Iraq-like abyss

Op-Eds & Special Reports

In Syria, Some Protests Come Full Circle

Analysis: Israel frets on sideline as fall of Assad delayed

A report published in a French website of the Kosovo trip. The report is based on coverage in Serbian media and an interview with me – Kosovo: l’opposition syrienne à l’école de l’UÇK? 

In a rebuttal of the Washington Post’s Op-Ed from yesterday, Bilal Saab argues: “Al-Assad is shooting himself in the foot”:

While President Obama is still not in a position to seriously consider intervening in Syria — both because of the upcoming election and because of the very real risks and difficulties of any military strategy — his hand could be forced by developments on the ground and intelligence reports in Washington. Imagine this not-so-improbable scenario: If Obama starts to receive additional reports from his intelligence advisors that al Qaeda is gaining ground in Syria and about to establish another safe haven in the Middle East along the borders of that country, he may have little choice but to reassess his options.

Indeed, if winning the War on Terror remains a serious goal for the Obama Administration, doing something about ensuring a democratic transition in Syria, despite its daunting complications, is far more useful on the longer run than the short-term strategy of drone strikes. Such strikes kill but a handful of Al-Qaeda operatives while driving thousands to become fresh recruits. Just ask local observers in Yemen and Pakistan. Left to its own dynamics, the situation in Syria could quickly devolve in this direction.

Indeed, regime-led crackdown is opening Pandora's Box in Syria. The longer the world waits, the worse things will become. Inaction is the surest way to make our worst nightmares come true. Only smart intervention can prevent such scenarios. And smart intervention has to involve elements of the political and the military.

Video Highlight

Deir Baalbah, Homs City: the bodies of 7 locals who were summarily executed by pro-Assad death squads http://youtu.be/B0y4JKtDzn4

Loyalist troops at the outskirts of the town of Houleh, Homs province, shell one part of the town as locals are heard in the background holding a pro-democracy rally http://youtu.be/cOTiVxTsEIA This is the rally http://youtu.be/ERgVAeap_i8  Plumes of black smoke rise above the town when a tank shell fall near the rally, but the protesters remain defiant http://youtu.be/d4cauUyUsUg

Protesters in Saif Al-Dawleh Neighborhood in Aleppo City come under fire from security forces loyal to Assad http://youtu.be/5iNScxAzUI0 Earlier in the day, protesters in Al-Azamiyeh Neighborhood also came under fire http://youtu.be/a-pJOpDvkP4 Boustan Al-Qasr protesters face off with security forces http://youtu.be/idalz2rjQ-4 And come under fire http://youtu.be/OiGOeaeXZEw Rescuing one of the injured http://youtu.be/wiGwk0BhoDM A martyr http://youtu.be/YPNdm3tDve8 A major explosion and massive gunfire in Mashhad http://youtu.be/9R35U3e0vzM

Protesters in Saqba, Rural Damascus, come under fire http://youtu.be/JZfMC_gMymo

Protesters in Daraa City come under fire, but remain defiant http://youtu.be/8k4DAuluTaw

Protesters in Hilfaya, Hama Province, come under fire http://youtu.be/R7LW4b2wg38 Rescuing the injured http://youtu.be/U1BnCqlY0s0 , http://youtu.be/2BmQGJGxplU A martyr http://youtu.be/jsfyARMRoZ4

The town of Rastan, Homs Province, is pounded http://youtu.be/-cZcfsiaVAE

The town or Ariha, Idlib Province, is pounded http://youtu.be/HOOBph-rizA

Hama City: another child is murdered by pro-Assad death squads http://youtu.be/eqlP1Sn86HI

The town of Dmeir, Rural Damascus, receives a visit from UN monitors http://youtu.be/lJsfcJ4ZtnI

Naturally, rallies took place all over the country

Aleppo: Kobani http://youtu.be/TrYyNW-mHpY Reitan http://youtu.be/Lc3rxIvDUVA Al-Atareb http://youtu.be/tI3-g0FmXrc Eizaz http://youtu.be/3Xida5F6ygk Sahharah http://youtu.be/ZUvpgHPmX60 Elbaab http://youtu.be/EHXJ1j3RbNw Anadan http://youtu.be/ervusyQRwFU Tal Rifaat http://youtu.be/8tryu2qcSTE Marei http://youtu.be/4rOtnDCjDjA Jarablos http://youtu.be/-EVNvH3BAyo Aleppo City (Slaheddine) http://youtu.be/osS9EvstOls

Damascus City: Barzeh http://youtu.be/CWIVjw3Xuqw Kafar Sousseh http://youtu.be/v-H4yA-urX8 Mazzeh http://youtu.be/5ZkT8kZW4Vk

Rural Damascus: Douma http://youtu.be/iLTiKFkQ1Hg Hameh http://youtu.be/3SRIpCHrAeU Arbeen http://youtu.be/7mqhMyuyHEY Zabadani http://youtu.be/kQ9HSQS6iKA Yabroud http://youtu.be/IDLtatmNhI8 Zamalka http://youtu.be/4WsJtfmXdyE Al-Hajar Al-Aswad http://youtu.be/L79W68TfQt0 Harasta http://youtu.be/EkEHhkI9Ips Qarrah http://youtu.be/we7hqHwfueE

Hassakeh: Qamishlo http://youtu.be/l234ccg6vlM Dirbassiyeh http://youtu.be/BHK6Dvsa20A Ghuweiran http://youtu.be/Y2xKzt835Uk Amoudeh http://youtu.be/f1igGQMo5EI

Deir Ezzor: Albou Kamal http://youtu.be/rRYVk9B5zLo Jbeileh http://youtu.be/s7V7RG7HXm8 Deir Ezzor City (Orfi) http://youtu.be/aFp3u7NrQ2k (Oummal) http://youtu.be/YX-mcs67wgM (Jourah) http://youtu.be/GjluVux8ilw Tayaneh http://youtu.be/rEMfpbY9oGY

Daraa: Daraa City (Al-Kashif) http://youtu.be/II1A37lsqhQ (Al-Balad) http://youtu.be/AMCm8yjud9U Bosra http://youtu.be/T0xI5dikqYo Mseifrah http://youtu.be/Jlj6TRP2pOY Jizah http://youtu.be/hpwnBYao4JU Mleihah Gharbiyeh http://youtu.be/861rPJsSmME Mleihat Al-Atash http://youtu.be/ZSNHmxFzOlw Kafar Shams http://youtu.be/PvQHrwqQ0wY Yadoudeh http://youtu.be/dx00JKg8TM4 Ankhel http://youtu.be/YMEdTcMQO08

Hama: Khattab http://youtu.be/J4rxj_fHpP4 Karnaz http://youtu.be/r3BThWemTPo Hama City (Bab Qibli) http://youtu.be/Q3fEFlyAVOo (Aleppo Road) http://youtu.be/HmnqEIFGrvs (Faiha) http://youtu.be/HJGj457_aOk Ellatamneh http://youtu.be/WZtuJBflwlc

Homs City: Wa’er http://youtu.be/1-YRC-NxyA4 Khaldiyeh http://youtu.be/mvPU6L7WGt8 Al-Malaab http://youtu.be/ZzqlqKOMo4c

Homs Province: Talbisseh http://youtu.be/bHAUAY8O-1A Rastan http://youtu.be/p5VjqPEnV_U Ghanto http://youtu.be/bVMscvTcBHU Qusayr http://youtu.be/qHmnXTMbDDE

Lattakia: Al-Hiffeh http://youtu.be/C0DTXZUAigY

Idlib: Binnish http://youtu.be/uIEGeTPArMg Kafroumah http://youtu.be/VvJglQ7le9c Haass http://youtu.be/hu9Ugji1pVA Kafar Takhareem http://youtu.be/MVjLrjlFzzY Khan Shaikhoon http://youtu.be/MZGL_uJE9kA Sarmeen http://youtu.be/CcizWlehjMM Kafar Lateh http://youtu.be/r2CGB2EvcsY Isqat http://youtu.be/uH8g3xiHsw4 Ariha http://youtu.be/zPrvXO9CZqg Jarjanaz http://youtu.be/ymNsJe1ZmhM

The inhabitants of Kafrenbel, Idlib Province, continue to stage the most elaborate rallies of all http://youtu.be/fr_hValYNZI