A Freudian Slip & A Busted Spy!

A Freudian Slip and A Busted Spy is what you need to make a Humble Pie.

Wednesday October 12, 2011

The Department of Justice announces the arrest of a Syria-American man who was engaged to spy on protesters in the United States --- Assad loyalists plans for organizing a million-march in support of their president succeed only in producing a Freudian slip that shows that even diehard loyalists believe the end of the Assad regime is nigh ---

Syrian-American Accused of Spying on Dissidents

Tens of Thousands in Syria Stage Pro-Assad Rally

THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER IN SYRIA, By Nikolaos van Dam

The Freudian Slip

At a time when so many are concerned about the decreasing size and number of protest demonstrations, the Assads’ attempt to overwhelm our senses with the cries of their supporters proved to be underwhelming, and revealed that both sides by now are indeed tired.

First, it was the choice of the Square: The 7 Fountains Square, although located in downtown Damascus, is not even ¼ the size of the Umayad Square, the usual venue for loyalty demonstration, with its ability to accommodate large crowds and its proximity to Syrian State TV and the headquarters several security apparatuses as well as the presidential palace.

Despite official assertions that over a million loyalists took place in the event, a Facebook user using information readily obtained via Google, estimated that since Square measures around 15,000 m², and assuming that each square meter can accommodate 4 loyalists, the total number of participants could not have exceeded 60,000. But even if it were 100,000, the gap between the usual size crowds and this one is simply too glaring and too telling. With the majority of college, high school and junior high students taking a well-timely sick leave, Assad security officers could not put out the usual show. And the strain was so much for some of them, it seems, hence the first Freudian slip of the day: 

Bashar Al-Assad will Fall (28 second into the clip): was it done on purpose, or in the confusion of the moment? Place your bets. What’s clear is that after saying “He won’t fall, he won’t fall,” with the crowd repeating after him, the speaker at the rally, said: “Bashar Al-Assad will fall,” and the crowd repeated exactly what he said” Bashar Al-Assad will fall” http://youtu.be/GE7pQl2jmUA The mistake was grievous, the only to handle it, it seems, was to simply ignore it and start a new chant.

Meanwhile, a brave activist took a camera and went into the crowd, narrating her experiences and saying that Bashar Al-Assad does not represent her http://youtu.be/IhP_8QOyQwE But just before plunging into the crowd, the activist addressed the Syrian people and begged them not to be fooled with this phony spectacle http://youtu.be/-ZxN-ceaw6Y

Be that as it may, all the Assads have to do is hold on. It’s we, the opposition, the activists, the dissidents, the revolutionaries, who have to provide a vision for a better tomorrow, we are the ones who have to provide enough momentum to overcome the inertia of the status quo. So, one way or another we have to find the strength to move back to the streets, even as we begin to debate the ideas and notions that will shape our lives tomorrow. And remember, we have to talk about ideas and notions, not personalities and terminologies.

The Busted Spy

Virginia Man Accused of Acting as Unregistered Agent of Syrian Government and Spying on Syrian Protestors in America

“Under the direction and control of Syrian officials, Soueid is accused of recruiting individuals living in the United States to collect information on and make audio and video recordings of protests against the Syrian regime – including recordings of conversations with individual protestors – in the United States and Syria.   He is also charged with providing the recordings and other information to individuals working for the Mukhabarat.  According to the indictment, Soueid and others conspired to use this information to undermine, silence, intimidate and potentially harm those in the United States and Syria who engaged in the protests.”

It will be interesting to see, in light of the threats recently uttered by Assad’s Grand Mufti, if this recruitment process included elements meant to do more than just “make audio and video recording of protests.”

Moreover, considering that Hezbollah supporters in the U.S. have been playing a key role in organizing pro-Assad demonstrations and events in places like Washington, D.C. and Dearborn, Michigan, as well as the recent uncovering of an Iranian-led plot against the person of the Saudi Ambassador in Washington, it seems, that even with a lead-from-behind policy on part of the Obama Administration, our bad guys are intent on bringing their brand of mad adventurism and turf-wars onto U.S. soil. Meaning: America does have a stake in the outcome of the Arab Revolution, and more specifically, the Syrian crisis, and should play a more active, if not proactive role.

The Humble Pie

If anything, the previous two incidents illustrate more than ever the need for a strong push now to ensure the collapse of the Assad regime. The regime is clearly on the brinks, and even at it carries on with its murderous activities, it is slowly but surely losing the ability to muster domestic support. It’s hanging on by default at this stage. But this is a position that it can maintain for all too long, and at the cost of so many Syrian lives, unless the opposition and the protesters receive a much needed international boost. In other words, opposition groups need to stop their jockeying for positions in the spotlight, to produce a political vision that can inspire the protesters, the silent majority, and even the people caught by default on the other side, thus avoiding to make the wrong kind of history, the kind they made back in the 1950s onward, and the U.S. needs to start leading again, from where leadership is usually done: the front row.

A big humble pie awaits those who wrangle and dither.

News from the Front

Homs City: homes raided and looted in Bayadah Neighborhood http://youtu.be/18ssUBC9YHo Earlier in the day, pro-Assad militias stormed the neighborhood and filled the air with gunfire http://youtu.be/pv3U4FHUOpY and tanks drove through its narrow streets http://youtu.be/Cd1dkuC9Xio and troops tracked down protesters http://youtu.be/MRQudU1FKaw , http://youtu.be/fVrqHdRrHa4 , http://youtu.be/ftw_oX8VT4I Tanks shelled their way into Baba Amr Neighborhood as well http://youtu.be/SGfn24eChdg And there was heavy gunfire http://youtu.be/Th0ZNWNGsMs , http://youtu.be/6RhsPGRGCsM But protesters remained steadfast after coming under fire http://youtu.be/GSM32vheou8 Clashes in Bab Al-Sibaa left several wounded, including this young man http://youtu.be/PE6N_zl13zc armored vehicles in Qoussour http://youtu.be/2qUPTmGznd8 shelling of Deir Baalbah http://youtu.be/kyd_zalpRdY the aftermath of shelling http://youtu.be/Bk1457VpEUM , http://youtu.be/aiOZC9AVuj4 Tanks and loyalist troops take up positions in the neighborhood http://youtu.be/nobfGZZoc9o Martyrs from Deir Baalbah http://youtu.be/fz2nwLG9STo Troops storm Khaldiyeh Neighborhood http://youtu.be/SSD7SDqzAVU , http://youtu.be/wtnj0L-W0mo

In the nearby town of Rastan, loyalist troops and security officers maintain their presence http://youtu.be/xXTMsPSPl6g In nearby Talbisseh, and despite the ongoing occupation by loyalist, locals go out at night in support of their revolution http://youtu.be/6aJ7dHXaNC8 Qseir http://youtu.be/Cz7cpNyq9Fc In Houleh, locals also took to the streets http://youtu.be/-ezWJzJQVkc despite mass security presence http://youtu.be/CKLq85SCABQ Palmyra (Tadmor) http://youtu.be/M0P-PJn2wto (day) students demonstration http://youtu.be/BW7aWSe49Uo

But at night, people took back to the streets: Insha’aat (Banner: Russia and China are enemies of humanity) http://youtu.be/YYEHkh_SZno Deir Baalbah http://youtu.be/n1VIT04jYUY Ghouta (Banner: we demand quick international intervention) http://youtu.be/msH15jt5NEc Bab Houd http://youtu.be/LUBGt2PqAPU Wa’er http://youtu.be/VF0rau3gteE Qarabees & Jouret Al-Shayah http://youtu.be/LoowcgjtEio

In Ma’arrat Al-Nouman in Idlib Province, locals get fired on from tanks http://youtu.be/n6gLjXWnJ4E

Meanwhile, the Free Syrian Army announces its command structure and the geographical allocation of its division and the names of their leaders http://youtu.be/L4CoItIFtcM And here the Khalid Bin Al-Walid Division in the FSA announces its version of what went on in Rastan and their fight against an invasion by loyalist troops, claiming that they had managed to hold up Assad’s armies for more than 3 days, and in the process destroying more than 40 armored vehicles and leaving 1,000 casualties among loyalist troops between dead and wounded. The officer says that the pullout came on request from the medical doctors who couldn’t keep up with the level of casualties among civilians caused by random shelling. The officer says that they listened to the doctors’ demand because the main reason they took up arms against loyalists in the first place was to protect civilians. The officer ended his statement by calling for more defections http://youtu.be/EQ7UCdXmmsw

In the town of Ariha in the Idlib Province, the Sulaiman Armed Group, which does not seem to be affiliated with the FSA at this stage, claimed responsibility for an attack on a loyalist checkpoint destroying a number of armored vehicles and a tank and killing 15 loyalists and 1 Lieutenant. The Group also claimed responsibility for attacking another checkpoint at the city Ma’rrat Al-Nouman, killing 4 loyalist soldiers, and hijacking an armored vehicle on the highway leading to Kafar Zita. All operations took place on October 11 http://youtu.be/yllIWSPdBYg

On a related note, Brigadier General, Radwan Al-Naddoush, from the Air-Force Intelligence, announces his defection http://youtu.be/BMdgHa_eCA0 

This leaked video shows more abuse of detainees by loyalist troops http://youtu.be/rnC_er0SgaE

Idlib: Jabal Al-Zawiyeh http://youtu.be/G7FOwaKNQYQ Binnish http://youtu.be/jlRK7OMRvFA In the morning of October 13, loyalist troops invade the city again http://youtu.be/-3uy4Id1zsY Idlib City http://youtu.be/gCGEgOMho9U , http://youtu.be/yllIWSPdBYg Kafroumah http://youtu.be/3YR_k3qmCGY Khan Shaikhoon a funeral for a child killed by loyalists http://youtu.be/nprliOxSNLE Taftanaz http://youtu.be/mEysZFUzlE8 Kafar Takhareem http://youtu.be/5ZYEvhIROZY Kafar Nabbol http://youtu.be/M0V2cagUlkU Ma’arrat Masreen http://youtu.be/IZiG--D0VN8 Ghadfah http://youtu.be/Vy4U0svQC90 Courine http://youtu.be/s9GusWor0ig Kafar Yahmoul http://youtu.be/CMkMUOtG3zA

Hama: Karnaz http://youtu.be/q8qX8_Viu8o Hama city http://youtu.be/qWK5AsPmlKU Khattab junior high students demonstrating after school http://youtu.be/nyuzARErbCY Kafar Nabboudeh http://youtu.be/Dgexu2WxLcc Taybat Al-Imam http://youtu.be/r3vDRWWzm-s

In Damascus’ Midan District, protesters called for international protection http://youtu.be/bRLR69WXRUg Elsewhere in the Midan http://youtu.be/rP04erCHfmM Douma http://youtu.be/JS8Z7mE76dM , http://youtu.be/BENVgNmty3k Kisweh (Banner: we are not forced to be here) http://youtu.be/oDETGBbfW_g Kafar Sousseh http://youtu.be/qFUp3S_Nxus Zabadani (day) http://youtu.be/60npOHgUcAA Saqba (day) http://youtu.be/4h58Wc2uaps Arbeen (day) http://youtu.be/-xR7dfsTixQ In Dmeir, locals held a funeral http://youtu.be/Lg-UpQOwSv8 for this activist http://youtu.be/U2KUE-ie0UI In Zamalka protester carried Libyan flags in appreciation of the support the Revolution is receiving from the TNC http://youtu.be/XGIdYI_DxmE Qadam (day) http://youtu.be/5EiFbdZfAgs Harasta (day) http://youtu.be/fzLBf3QXfTw Barzah (day) http://youtu.be/CVQubBFskrI Kafar Batna http://youtu.be/6SBSvxbKCZM Rankous http://youtu.be/b_va6WDDtao Qarrah http://youtu.be/7XP9UTOMApc Yabroud http://youtu.be/ViRcu4plCz0 Hamouriyeh (day) http://youtu.be/yYu5kSSuP6M Kanaker http://youtu.be/5fn4YeMuQqI

Deraa/Hauran: Da’el http://youtu.be/TLZKLzgBx6U Mseifrah http://youtu.be/ZnvwKmxHV2U Khirbet Ghazaleh http://youtu.be/M_kM1Vt462o Basr Al-Harir http://youtu.be/m22TD7Ebtfc Hraak (Banner: get it, we want a no-fly zone) http://youtu.be/v2KfWoTUEVY (day) http://youtu.be/ATBmidgGs8c Tseel http://youtu.be/w6e817Ha3X4 Deraa City (Banner: we want a no-fly zone) http://youtu.be/ViGIcKsjXHM Kafar Shams http://youtu.be/oIb5XnJE9bc Nahteh http://youtu.be/pFfHnYXRA5s Sourah http://youtu.be/z8oUOIV0PVg Ankhel a student demonstration http://youtu.be/YVYDItCz4Ww In Jassem, high schoolers and Junior High students throw stones at loyalist troops http://youtu.be/2wXTMKG8Fos Jizah http://youtu.be/zb2XWH6GeCM Sanamein http://youtu.be/ZvUZWgyw0jA Namar http://youtu.be/XyruSJEOMZc Tal Shihab http://youtu.be/1jYZ3HRGxxs

Deir Ezzor: Qrayah http://youtu.be/p8Sp1mMmUhA (day) http://youtu.be/nrrGItnYw1g Albou Kamal http://youtu.be/05PbnQpWP2w Shaheel http://youtu.be/nlDJWbDgphY Deir Ezzor City http://youtu.be/ua-wBrIZ-Z0 Jbeileh http://youtu.be/UjzMdYJoim4

Aleppo: Tal Rif’aat http://youtu.be/U87QgI7RwWA Marei http://youtu.be/RPJQyE2Jz9w