Hof & Puff: Assad – dead man walking!

Current U.S. policy towards Syria stands in stark dissonance with the strong statements enunciated by Frederic Hof. Even dead men walking need to be egged on, if not dragged, towards the rope.

Wednesday 14, 2011

Today’s death toll: 36. The Breakdown: 13 in Hama City, 10 in Homs Province, 4 in Idlib, 3 in Qamishly, 3 in Damascus, 2 in Deraa/Hauran Province and 1 in Deir Ezzor Province.

Dozens of tanks and armored vehicles took part in sweep operations in Hama City with the aim of putting an end to the general strike still observed by locals. But local defectors fought back, and there were reports of casualties among loyalists. In Homs City, the goalkeeper Abdelbassit Sarout, who has become one of the local leaders of the protest movement, was reportedly among the wounded today. In Zabadani Town in Rural Damascus, pounding led to clashes between loyalists and insurgents. 

The General Strike continues throughout all protest communities.

Links

US: Assad's Syria a 'dead man walking'

Syrian Commanders Gave Direct Orders to Use Force, Group Says

Syrian dissident Mohammad Bassam Imadi calls for civilian safety zone

A FORMER senior diplomat yesterday became one of the most senior Syrian regime insiders to openly denounce the government of President Bashar al-Assad, calling on the international community to protect civilians.

Leaked videos shows a massacre perpetrated by loyalist troops, who appear very proud of their work as usual, against local activists from the town of Rastan north of Homs City armed with CAMERAS http://youtu.be/XPXd4umzj8E But the inhabitants remain defiant http://youtu.be/KtvyfqpHAt0

In Insha’aat Neighborhood in Homs City, protesters struggle to retrieve the bodies of sniper victims from the streets http://youtu.be/YnN3cMSXqqg Another http://youtu.be/0Eakz3_Wl8Y Three more http://youtu.be/e7Fo-oloiFc This one was killed as he was bringing a bag of bread home http://youtu.be/ypbkDwXa6RI the locals in Bayadah Neighborhood are having the same problem http://youtu.be/7TzDEJG-osw Loyalists storm Insha’aat in the evening http://youtu.be/Hzoigfc2dfU

In Baba Amr, pounding sets a shop on fire http://youtu.be/mada1O0Vrp4 But in nearby Khaldiyeh Neighborhood, the local are so unfazed, they arrange a marriage ceremony between a gas tank and a gallon of Kerosene http://youtu.be/f9JbIcYqgtY Abdelbassit Sarout minutes before he was wounded http://youtu.be/tpSbgww7PBs But at night, loyalists reward defiance with gunfire http://youtu.be/LwsPRUrGGNc In Bab Houd, worshippers come under shelling in the local mosque http://youtu.be/lygaX3rqIU4 But at night, they still take to the streets http://youtu.be/OAr9psTgF8I In nearby Qoussour, the neighborhood comes under intense gunfire at night http://youtu.be/02yUqG3U5jw , http://youtu.be/UNpAj2oFBZw

In Houleh region in Homs Province, children forage of wood to burn http://youtu.be/8PqkG0mg0dc And local keep protesting at night http://youtu.be/_SOOizUSF4I Protesters come under fire in nearby Qseir http://youtu.be/x5zi9tx9ypM

In the mixed town of Zabadani Rural Damascus, churches bells toll for freedom http://youtu.be/ak8PjmUjfVs and for this martyred woman, originally from Iraq http://youtu.be/C4dGVEGnDzg And they continue to toll as the houses are shelled http://youtu.be/aP3pO25f4Kw The pounding continues http://youtu.be/blo7CyfnDvc So much for the Assads as the protectors of the Christians of the East. But people still come out at night http://youtu.be/B6nEX5-0neE

Tanks move into the town of Hraak in Deraa/Hauran Province http://youtu.be/PhqEz4AHIwU , http://youtu.be/tHyRCzeIbRw no casualties were reported. Tanks moved into nearby Mleihah as well http://youtu.be/oAt3t5f3fVk , http://youtu.be/j7wscl_13OQ

In Alboukamal in Deir Ezzor Province, protester burn tires in the street after loyalist raid http://youtu.be/vreg8gWlvH8

More defections http://youtu.be/YPmZoZpox88

Hama City comes under fire http://youtu.be/7BKikn58wRM Tanks and armored vehicles just before they invasion http://youtu.be/m63iZWIxU3g The wounded http://youtu.be/bRJ-kk9BhFg , http://youtu.be/rXgEYWq4a04 , http://youtu.be/L0umwPmxeGI , http://youtu.be/qMshwcFZmOU

December 14

HOMS CITY: Baba Amr http://youtu.be/vmbkSVbMzM8 Wa’er http://youtu.be/ZPqqlC97CDg Deir Baalbah http://youtu.be/k71E6lQJl68 Karm Al-Zeitun http://youtu.be/mgGjMZ6rE3g Bayadah http://youtu.be/HGV7_CBBiQo

HAMA: Funeral Madeeq http://youtu.be/K--jl7gmzD0 , http://youtu.be/0AsZ_vVpcmQ Khattab http://youtu.be/juzsh6LcWlM Mourek http://youtu.be/KjxGyK8JEMc Demonstrations Sharia http://youtu.be/ceCOicRFdl8 Souraan http://youtu.be/7A3MQrkh7Lg

RURAL DAMASCUS: Demonstrations Arbeen http://youtu.be/Bn54mddPXz0 Zamalka http://youtu.be/ek3xGjZ_RZ4 Harasta http://youtu.be/wRCZycGNfJc Madaya http://youtu.be/BdrVNUn3KjM Hamouriyeh http://youtu.be/UhdwXDvvYpA Dmeir http://youtu.be/7ealqoOSplM

DAMASCUS CITY: Demonstrations Mazzeh Eastern Villas http://youtu.be/ElpUqGy9Guk  Douma http://youtu.be/t-cxpzbaYFo Midan http://youtu.be/gcVWWbtsRiU

DERAA/HAURAN: Demonstrations Nahteh http://youtu.be/m4nsWtnhRT0 Tseel http://youtu.be/cyiJWUJJOMc Dirbassiyeh http://youtu.be/g8OVHhzVKP0 Deraa City http://youtu.be/B7zH384EZe0

HASSAKEH: Demonstrations Ras Al-Aain http://youtu.be/iJvyshmBCbg

DEIR EZZOR: Demonstrations Qrayah http://youtu.be/52uEzJHow6o

ALEPPO: Demonstrations Hreitaan http://youtu.be/hk_3byt--cA