Protests in Syria - Discussion Thread

[Climber]

Make a rage face and smoke my electronic cigarette?



Russia is protecting its interests while others try to increase theirs at her expense. I don't believe Russia nor the West really care about the Arabs in the cross fire.

Of course they dont.

[kalerab]

Make a rage face and smoke my electronic cigarette?

Seriously, electronic cigarette? Just smoke cigars, if there were good enough for Churchill, they are good enough for all of us.

Syria 'is descending into hell'

SYRIA has started its descent into hell, the Vatican's ambassador the country warned yesterday.
Nuncio Mario Zenari would not be drawn on whether Syria was in the midst of a "civil war", a term being used increasingly by the international community as the 15-month conflict spirals to new heights, but he said "the impression prevails (that for) the people a descent into hell has started".
Nuncio Zenari told Vatican Radio that Christians could bridge a gap in the stricken country but denied that they were being targeted by particular persecutions.
"It is the Christians' mission to play the role of a link at all levels," he said.
"They're active in very painful situations, such as in Homs where we have priests, nuns and monks ... who are setting an example and risk their lives."
They were also helping to impose ceasefires and assisting people trapped in areas where they have come under attack.
Nuncio Zenari rejected reports by unspecified media that minority Christians were being targeted by some armed opposition groups.
Vatican news agency Fides reported on Tuesday that Christians had massively fled the town of Qusayr, near Homs, where only about 1000 were left of the 10,000 who lived there before the outbreak of violence.
Fides said they were forced to leave after an armed opposition group led by general Abdel Salam Harba set an ultimatum. Christians in Qusayr were reportedly no longer allowed to move around freely and forced to let Muslims pass first.
"So far, I would say that Christians share the same sad fate as all Syrians (...) I would not say that they are the object of particular discriminations, less so persecutions," said Nuncio Zenari.
The lot of Christians in Syria today does not compare to that in other countries in the region, he said. "Sometimes it is compared to Iraq, but you cannot compare this."
In an October 2010 attack, militants stormed a church in central Baghdad, killing 44 worshipers, two priests and seven security force personnel. It was claimed by al-Qaida's local affiliate, the Islamic State of Iraq.
Dozens of attacks on churches and houses of worship since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 served to raise sectarian tensions there.

http://www.news.com.au/world/syria-i...-1226395009989

[Siberian wolf]

A Greek Catholic Church desecrated in Qusayr: an alarm signal

Qusayr (Agenzia Fides) - A band of radical militiamen broke into the Greek-catholic church of St. Elias in Qusayr this morning, near the town of Homs, desecrating it. The militiamen forced the door, rang the bells in mockery, laughed at the sacred symbols of the Christian faith with the sole purpose of carrying out a demonstrative act and making a mockery of the Christian community. "It is the first time, in the ongoing conflict, that such an episode occurs, in which sacred symbols are deliberately hit," notes with concern a local source of Fides.
In Qusayr the Christians who have chosen to remain are very few, mostly elderly people who were unwilling to abandon their homes. In fact, in the ultimatum launched by an armed faction (see Fides 9 and 12/6/2012), in past days, about a thousand Christians, who were still in town, have abandoned their homes, taking refuge in the surrounding countryside or relatives in other Syrian cities. Some eyewitnesses "saddened and frightened – told Fides about the break-in the church in Qusayr". The act was condemned by Catholic priests and authorities who talk about the "worrying sign, which confirms the attempt of some armed gangs to unleash a sectarian war." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/6/2012)

http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsd...=31719&lan=eng

[gresh]

A Greek Catholic Church desecrated in Qusayr: an alarm signal

http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsd...=31719&lan=eng

Uhh, doubt it. If it's the church I'm thinking of, it was shelled to sh!t by the Syrian Army a long time ago.

Syrian army pounds Haffa as rebels say pullout tactical; NATO rules out intervention

While Syrian government helicopters and tanks are pounding the western town of al-Haffa and the surrounding villages, ground troops are rounding up young men and looting houses, according to Syrian rebels who have fled to Turkey.

The withdrawal of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) from the besieged town of al-Haffa in Lattakia is tactical to avoid more killings among civilians, Al Arabiya reported on Wednesday citing a statement by the rebel army, as NATO chief said that foreign military intervention was “not the right path” in Syria.


The statement said that al-Haffa and the surrounding villages have been exposed to continual shelling by the Syrian government forces and its “shabbiha” militias for eight successive days, causing big damages in the area’s infrastructure and shortages in water and electricity supplies.

http://english.alarabiya.net/article...13/220320.html

[Universals]

Uhh, doubt it. If it's the church I'm thinking of, it was shelled to sh!t by the Syrian Army a long time ago.

Yea, cos those radical Islamists that already issued warning to Christians there would never do such a thing...Never.

[Laworkerbee]

Uhh, doubt it. If it's the church I'm thinking of, it was shelled to sh!t by the Syrian Army a long time ago.

So the Christians are lying? Tell me, what would they gain by lying?

You want to see a lie?

The withdrawal of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) from the besieged town of al-Haffa in Lattakia is tactical to avoid more killings among civilians, Al Arabiya reported on Wednesday citing a statement by the rebel army, as NATO chief said that foreign military intervention was “not the right path” in Syria.

Lattakia is not home turf to these fucks, they can't take it and so they claim they backed off so they wouldn't cause civilian casualties. Does anyone here really buy this bullshit from an "army" that uses car bombs in city centers?

[gresh]

Yea, cos those radical Islamists that already issued warning to Christians there would never do such a thing...Never.

Arbaeen Church, Homs:

St. George Church, Homs:



Om Al Zanaar Church, Homs:



There, 3 examples.

[Laworkerbee]

There, 3 examples.

3 Examples that do not disprove what the people in Qusayr are saying.

[gresh]

3 Examples that do not disprove what the people in Qusayr are saying.

I suppose not, but I'm pretty sure it's been destroyed in the fighting. The Christian's aren't exactly a unified group in Syria. Some support the regime, some support the opposition. I've seen a lot a lot of examples of church's in Homs being destroyed by the army and then SANA goes "see, Christian's! those Muslim's hate you. back us or die!".

[Flamming_Python]

Russia is protecting its interests while others try to increase theirs at her expense. I don't believe Russia nor the West really care about the Arabs in the cross fire.

Sure, but Russia should be careful not to undertake too much hypocracy. Recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia is the same sort of thing; it may be the tempting action to take and probably one can't blame Russia for it, but perhaps not the optimal one if it wishes to position itself as an honest broker nontheless. Same with Syria.

[Laworkerbee]

I suppose not, but I'm pretty sure it's been destroyed in the fighting. The Christian's aren't exactly a unified group in Syria. Some support the regime, some support the opposition. I've seen a lot a lot of examples of church's in Homs being destroyed by the army and then SANA goes "see, Christian's! those Muslim's hate you. back us or die!".

But you can't confirm it and so therefore have no reason to discount the people there unless you actively refuse to believe them.

[gresh]

But you can't confirm it and so therefore have no reason to discount the people there unless you actively refuse to believe them.

I'm not calling them liars, I said I doubt it. I'm sure there will be be some pictures soon.

[Laworkerbee]

I'm not calling them liars, I said I doubt it. I'm sure there will be be some pictures soon.

Pictures soon of what? AQ Haji having some fun in an Orthodox church? Not likely.

[Universals]

Arbaeen Church, Homs

There, 3 examples.

http://www.news.va/en/news/asiasyria...-leave-qusayr: Here's FSA's ultimatum to Christians in the Area.
http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsd...=31719&lan=eng
http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsd...=31536&lan=eng

There're plenty of reports of Islamist and Jihadists fuktards doing what they are known for.

I'm not calling them liars, I said I doubt it. I'm sure there will be be some pictures soon.

I trust them more than Jihadist fuktards.

[Orocairion]

Sure, but Russia should be careful not to undertake too much hypocracy. Recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia is the same sort of thing; it may be the tempting action to take and probably one can't blame Russia for it, but perhaps not the optimal one if it wishes to position itself as an honest broker nontheless. Same with Syria.

Hypocrisy is common currency in geopolitics. The West had no problem recognizing Kosovo, but that didn't stop them from doing a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth about Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Such is life.