Mass rallies in Syrian cities to condemn terrorist crimes, support Syrian army

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Alexandra Valiente

Feb 13, 2014

Provinces, (SANA)- Huge masses of citizens on Thursday staged rally in al-Nairab camp in Aleppo in denunciation of the armed terrorist groups’ crimes and foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs.

In Hama countryside, the citizens of Qimhaneh village, in a similar rally, condemned the terrorist massacre committed by Jabhat al-Nusra in Maan town and expressed support to the Syrian Army.

 

Protest in Hama northern countryside voices anger over Maan massacre

Citizens in Qamhana town in Hama northern countryside took to the streets to express condemnation of Jabhat al-Nusra’s latest massacre in Maan town.

The participants expressed support to the Syrian army against terrorists and commitment to national firm principles.

The participants slammed Western backing to terrorists who are shedding the blood of the Syrian people, affirming the Syrian people’s insistence to confront the conspiracy that seeks to undermine Syria’s unswerving stances in support of resistance.

Waving the Syrian flags and holding banners that show their commitment to national unity, the participants affirmed that President Bashar al-Assad is the guarantor of Syria’s interests.

Hama governor, Dr. Ghassan Khalaf said the rally sends a message to the whole world that the Syrian people stand united against conspiracies.

Mass rally in al-Nairab Camp in Aleppo in support of Syrian Arab Army

Thousands of al-Nairab and the surrounding villages  and al-Nairab Camp residents staged a mass rally in condemnation of the crimes of the armed terrorist groups and in rejection of the foreign intervention in the Syrian domestic affairs.

The participants in the rally waved the national flags and chanted slogans that affirmed their commitment to the national principles and support to the Syrian official delegation to Geneva 2 Conference, as well as the operations of the Syrian Arab Army.

Massive rally in Homs in support of army

Hundreds of citizens in the Palestinian Returnees Camp in Homs took to the streets to express backing to the Syrian army in the war against terrorism.

Chanting national slogans which denounce terrorism and the Western-Israeli conspiracy against Syria, the participants voiced rejection of foreign interference and affirmed support to the Syrian army.

 

Homs governor, Talal al-Barazi said Syria will remain the beating heart of Arabism, saluting the souls of the Syrian army martyrs and resistance in the occupied Arab lands.

Citizens in Lattakia show support to Syrian army

The citizens in Lattakia took to the streets in al-Raml al-Janoubi and al-Amara roundabout Square in a show of support to the Syrian official delegation to Geneva and the Syrian army in the war against terrorism.

The participants waved the Syrian flags and held banners underlining their love and allegiance to the homeland in the face of terrorism, expressing commitment to national unity and rejection of foreign meddling in the Syrian domestic affairs.

They also affirmed that the Syrian official delegation to Geneva is the true representatives of the Syrians’ aspirations, stressing that restoring security and stability and ending terrorism is a priority for all Syrian people.

They pledged allegiance to President Bashar al-Assad’s leadership who constitutes, together with the Syrian army, the guarantor of Syria’s interests.

Lattakia governor, Ahmad Sheikh Abdul-Kader said the rally is a genuine expression of the Syrian people’s convictions against all conspiracies and schemes.

Solidarity rally in Hasaka in support of Syrian army

The participants in a solidarity rally organized in Hasaka Thursday expressed support to the Syrian army in the war against terrorism.

The participants who gathered outside the Workers Union’s building in the city stressed that the Syrian official delegation to Geneva 2 is the legitimate representative of the Syrian people’s aspirations, lauding the feats of the Syrian army in defense of Syria.

Sheikh Fayez al-Sheikh Names, leader of al-Bousalama clan affirmed that all Hasaka clans support the independent national decision and dialogue that will lead to an end to the bloodshed in Syria.

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Egypt's left politician Hamdeen Sabahi to run for presidency

ED NOTE:
Its time to confirm that my disagreement with Mr. Danial Mabsout is not personal. It started after removing Mursi, "the first elected president". I respected his opinion, and he was free to express his views, and for months I avoided commenting on his posts, except saying: 
LET US WAIT AND SEE.

Despite his intentions (I am sure its good), he crossed two red lines:

The first was, claiming that Assad sold the Palestinian cause to stay in power, and joined the world order's war on terrorism, though he knows that in realty, the World war on terrorism, was always a war on Resistance and the supporters of resistance (Iran and Syria). 

• SYRIA : SURRENDER OR RESISTANCE ?

I agree with him, the real target was and still is the Palestinian cause, but, I can't understand him insisting that Hamas, involved to its ears in the Zionist war on Syria and the Yarmouk camp Nakba, is still a resistance movement. The resistance of the Paestinian people started before Hamas and before Arafat, and will continue until full liberation

I can't understand him calling the world order tools, the so-called terrorist, and saying that wahabism is not terrorism. 

I can't understand claiming that there was no revolution In Egypt, that what happened in was a mere regime change planed by the world order, and executed by its tools, NGO's and the military counsel. 

The second red line was turning the disagreement into personal dispute, by putting his words on my tongue without providing a quote or link to support his claim.

Any how, I guess, being loyal to Iran and Hezbollah and taking into consideration the Syrian-Egyptian emerging relations, he imagined that a secular Egypt with 90 millions population would be real regional competitor for Islamic Iran. Consequently, for him, the choice is between  Secular Pepsi and Islamist "Halal" Coke. He selected the last, and so he moved to justify the sins of Hamas, Brotherhood, and Turkey, especially, after the Erdogan's visit to Tehran, claiming that Secular Turkey is not better, that brother's Turkey. He ignored the ongoing Irani-Saudi indirect wars, in Lebanon, Bahrain and Yemen, and he miss read the Iran diplomatic campaign to reach an agreement with Saudis, thus he claimed that Wahabism is not terrorism.    

The developments in Egypt, has proved and will prove that removing Mursi was the second phase of the Egyptian revolution, the people of Egypt are neither Slaves nor chess stones moved by the Army and/or NED, 

Hamdeen Sabahi, the third in the 2012 rigged election, decided to run for the presidency in a forthcoming election though al-Sisi is widely expected to win, thanks to MB terrorism putting Egyptian in the corner. 

Tamarod is divided, the majority supports Sabahi, most likely the Salafis, Amr Musa, and Mubarak supporters will prefer Sisi. 

I am not sure whether the USA would support Sisi, or ride a new Islamist horse, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, but, I am sure that they don't want to see a Nasserist ruling Egypt, 

AGAIN, let us wait and see, Sisi may be the Savor or a new dictator paving the way for a third phase of the people revolution.

© Photo: Voice of Russia

Egyptian leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi said on Saturday he had decided to run for the presidency in a forthcoming election that army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is widely expected to win.

Sabahi came third in the 2012 election won by Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, who was deposed by the army in July following mass protests against his rule.

"My personal decision as a citizen is to run for the coming presidential elections," Sabahi said in a public address. "Hamdeen Sabahi's battle is the battle of the revolution," he said.

Sabahi built a big following during his campaign for the 2012 election, using a popular touch to beat candidates with better funded campaigns.

Sisi, who deposed Mursi in July after mass protests against his rule, seems certain to win, though he has yet to formally declare his candidacy.

Reuters.

حمدين صباحي يترشح للرئاسة.. وانقسام داخل ’’تمرد’’ بين السيسي وصباحي‎

سيطرت حالة من الانقسام على شباب حركة “تمرد” في مصر ، حول دعمهم للمرشح الرئاسي المقبل، فهناك فريق كبير يتجه إلى دعم حمدين صباحي على اعتبار أنه المرشح الحقيقي المعبر عن الثورة وعن وجودها في الشارع المصري بالإضافة إلى أنه مدني، في حين يرى عدد من القيادات الحركة مثل محمود بدر ومي وهبه دعمهم للمشير عبد الفتاح السيسي، على اعتبار أنه من أنقذ ثورة الشعب من يد الإخوان.

وبين اختلاف هذا وذاك تضرب موجة من التصريحات والبيانات المتناقضة يوميًا، وسط حالة من الصراع الإعلامي، فدائمًا ما يظهر بعضهم على قنوات التليفزيون ليعلن تأييده للمشير «السيسي» وسط غضب الآخرين لأنهم لن يعبروا عن رؤيتهم في ترشح «صباحي».

وعن ذلك قال سيد غريب، عضو اللجنة المركزية لحركة “تمرد”، إن الأغلبية داخل الحركة تدعم حمدين صباحي كمرشح رئاسي خلال الفترة المقبلة، وهناك تحركات بين “تمرد” وحملة «صباحي» للتنسيق خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وأكد «غريب» أن من يدعم «السيسي» فقط هم محمود بدر ومي وهبه، في حين أن بقية الحركة تدعم «صباحي» لأنه المرشح الوحيد للثورة.

ومن جانبه قال حسن شاهين، المتحدث باسم حركة “تمرد”، إن الحركة اجتمعت وأشارت إلى أنه من الأفضل ألا يترشح المشير «السيسي» لرئاسة الجمهورية، مشيرًا إلى أن الموقف لا علاقة له بالدور الكبير الذي قام به يوم 30 يونيو.

فيما قال حسام خضر، منسق الحركة بمحافظة الإسكندرية، إن الاتجاهات كلها داخل الحملة تعلن دعمها لـ«صباحي»، لأنه الوحيد القادر على تحقيق مطالب الثورة، مشيرًا أن هناك تنسيقات داخل الحركة للنزول إلى الشارع وإقامة فعاليات باسم “تمرد” في المحافظة لتوعية المواطنين بضرورة انتخاب «صباحي».

وأوضح علاء عطية، عضو المكتب السياسي لحركة “تمرد” ومسئول الحركة بإيتاي البارود، أن تصريحات محمود بدر -مؤسس الحركة- حول تأييد المشير عبد الفتاح السيسي للترشح للرئاسة، تعبر عن رأيه الشخصي.

ونفى «عطية» ما ادعاه محمود بدر بعقد اجتماع مع المكتب التنفيذي للحركة واتخاذ قرارا بدعم «السيسي».

وأكد «علاء» أن الحركة حتى الآن تدعم حمدين صباحي مؤسس التيار الشعبي، مشددًا على أن «صباحي» أعلن أنه سيخوض الانتخابات الرئاسية، وذلك في اجتماع لأعضاء المكتب التنفيذي معه، بحضور وفد من التيار الشعبي.

ومن ناحية أخرى قال محمود بدر، إن المشير «السيسي» سيقدم نفسه للترشح بين أكثر من مرشح، ومثلما كان الاستفتاء نزيهًا، أعتقد أن الانتخابات الرئاسية ستكون نزيهة أيضًا، وأنا بصفتي أحد الذين أسسوا حركة “تمرد”، التي كان لها دور كبير في إحداث التغيير، أدعو كل المصريين إلى انتخاب «السيسي» رئيسًا.

وأضاف «بدر» لي مبرراتي وراء دعوتي لانتخاب «السيسي»، أنه سيكون الرئيس التوافقي، وسيكون عليه توافق سياسي، وأشار إلى أن هناك مجموعة من الخبراء تقوم الآن بإعداد برنامج رئاسي متكامل للمشير السيسي يعبر عن الثورة.

THE BRITISH INDUSTRY OF SECTARIAN AND RELIGIOUS HATRED

لا توجد دقة أعلى متوفرة.

الإمام-الشهيد-حسن-البنا-ومحمد-علي-جناح-رئيس-باكستان.gif‏ (٧٠٩ × ٤٩١ بكسل حجم الملف: ٢٤٠ كيلوبايت، نوع MIME: image/gif)

Good Article written  by danielmabsout



This religious hatred bred by the British colonialists between Pakistan and India has no par and is unnatural between brothers .The two countries that are one country have become estranged and inimical and totally alien from one another . And one has to look in all this for the predator west that has succeeded in creating the most profound religious enmity between brothers .

Actually, many pages now on fb are demonizing the Hindu Religion and demonizing India under the pretext of defending the Kashmiri cause .No need to say that this anti Indian campaign serves the colonial agenda of partition and division and conflict and not the Kashmiri cause nor any other cause for how can hatred serve any cause? The truth is that this religious hatred - that was bred and fed by the colonial west - was not to remain restricted to Indian culture and Religion but was to be used to fuel other hatreds and serve other purposes .In fact, this is probably from where the sectarian Sunni versus Shi’a hatred originates , from the resentment of the Indian culture and Indian religion and their total rejection to which Indians reacted in their own way . Inter religious hatred is not different from sectarian hatred .

This religious or sectarian superiority - assumed on behalf of some believers – be them Muslims or Sunnis- towards others- is not religious in any way and cannot be justified and is against the ordinances of the Religion and constitutes the essence of Jewish Zionism , while diversity was intended by the Creator- together with knowledge of the other- and designed as a test for the believer . There is fear that this assumed religious superiority of one religion over the other and this self righteousness might be the cradle where terrorism started taking shape that was fed later by oil money and channeled to serve colonial prospects .

There is necessity to find out how the role of the partition of India and this production of industrial amounts of religious hatred among compatriots became the environment that permitted the serious deviations of many adepts of the Religion towards irreligious practices not in conformity with any belief and that are being witnessed right now in Syria and other places.

• الإخوان المسلمون وعلاقتهم ب باكستان

The Fourth Generation of wars: Destroy yourself “Lecture by Dr Max G. manwaring the former CIA agent and researcher of military strategies’

Posted on January 26, 2014 by fada1

Destroy yourself with religion, we can’t aford new wars in the ME
“Lecture by Dr Max G. manwaring the former CIA agent and researcher of military strategies’

KNOW THY ENEMY

by Daniel Mabsout,

by danielmabsout

It is shameful really how some pro Assad thinkers and intellectuals are trying to implicate the Muslim Brothers of Egypt and HAMAS in everything bad or controversial or even criminal , and they do this openly in the media and everywhere else . This is not to say that the Muslim Brothers are innocent or did not cooperate with the US administration ; they did , but exposing them without exposing the other factions who cooperated the same – if not more- like the Military Council or Tamarod or other, is not only prejudiced but is also dishonest, and many intellectuals and thinkers among those we respect are doing this. They are exposing HAMAS and the Muslim Brothers of Egypt labeling them as terrorists or pro US and at the same time they are promoting rulers like al Sisi who was chief of Intelligence under Mubarak, justifying his acts and his military coup and his oppressive means, seeing in him a national hero and seeing in the Egyptian army, a par to the Syrian army .

This is frankly dishonest and serves an agenda . The MB coordinated with US administration alright, but so did the Egyptian officers and the Military Council by cooperating fully with the Pentagon with the difference that – now- the Muslim Brothers of Egypt have been prohibited and their assets frozen and their leaders under lock while the Military Council and the minister of Defense – who is non other than al Sisi- have seized power. In order to go around this matter , the pro Assad intellectuals are saying that US is putting pressure on al Sisi and withholding aid to the army because Egypt has opted to open up to Russia . Well, now that the US aid has been resumed , what are they going to say ? And why not see in all this an orchestrated situation where each of the US and Russia and Egypt have assumed a character and a role and why not ask whether we – supporters of the unity and integrity of Syria and of the Resistance- have anything to gain in joining this masquerade ?

This is a real problem with those people who are defending the Syrian cause but are ready to sacrifice many facts and truths .This is not what we need. . We need to see clear in all this bundle of things and we need to see what the world order has in store for us . HAMAS IS NOT OUR ENEMY , NOR AL SISI OUR FRIEND, AND RUSSIA HAS ITS OWN INTERESTS THAT ARE NOT OURS NECESSARILY .. Syria has much more to gain in defining its position and refraining from embarking on this anti terrorist trip where the terrorist is some obscure dark unknown force whose destruction will please Russia but will deviate the struggle from its real path . Syria should retrieve its will and its decision and not serve any force that is alien to the basic Arab / Israeli struggle .The terrorists are Israel and the world order and their tools and not some destitute Muslim Brother leader rotting in jail .And military secularism is not an answer to our problems but all our problems will be solved when we direct our weapons to the real enemy .

KNOW THY ENEMY

Posted on January 24, 2014by danielmabsout

It is shameful really how some pro Assad thinkers and intellectuals are trying to implicate the Muslim Brothers of Egypt and HAMAS in everything bad or controversial or even criminal , and they do this openly in the media and everywhere else . This is not to say that the Muslim Brothers are innocent or did not cooperate with the US administration ; they did , but exposing them without exposing the other factions who cooperated the same – if not more- like the Military Council or Tamarod or other, is not only prejudiced but is also dishonest, and many intellectuals and thinkers among those we respect are doing this. They are exposing HAMAS and the Muslim Brothers of Egypt labeling them as terrorists or pro US and at the same time they are promoting rulers like al Sisi who was chief of Intelligence under Mubarak, justifying his acts and his military coup and his oppressive means, seeing in him a national hero and seeing in the Egyptian army, a par to the Syrian army .

This is frankly dishonest and serves an agenda . The MB coordinated with US administration alright, but so did the Egyptian officers and the Military Council by cooperating fully with the Pentagon with the difference that – now- the Muslim Brothers of Egypt have been prohibited and their assets frozen and their leaders under lock while the Military Council and the minister of Defense – who is non other than al Sisi- have seized power. In order to go around this matter , the pro Assad intellectuals are saying that US is putting pressure on al Sisi and withholding aid to the army because Egypt has opted to open up to Russia . Well, now that the US aid has been resumed , what are they going to say ? And why not see in all this an orchestrated situation where each of the US and Russia and Egypt have assumed a character and a role and why not ask whether we – supporters of the unity and integrity of Syria and of the Resistance- have anything to gain in joining this masquerade ?

This is a real problem with those people who are defending the Syrian cause but are ready to sacrifice many facts and truths .This is not what we need. . We need to see clear in all this bundle of things and we need to see what the world order has in store for us . HAMAS IS NOT OUR ENEMY , NOR AL SISI OUR FRIEND, AND RUSSIA HAS ITS OWN INTERESTS THAT ARE NOT OURS NECESSARILY .. Syria has much more to gain in defining its position and refraining from embarking on this anti terrorist trip where the terrorist is some obscure dark unknown force whose destruction will please Russia but will deviate the struggle from its real path . Syria should retrieve its will and its decision and not serve any force that is alien to the basic Arab / Israeli struggle .The terrorists are Israel and the world order and their tools and not some destitute Muslim Brother leader rotting in jail .And military secularism is not an answer to our problems but all our problems will be solved when we direct our weapons to the real enemy .

Post-June 30 Egypt Puts Palestinian Solidarity on Hold

A Palestinian girl sleeps on bags as her family waits at the the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip on January 8, 2014.(Photo: AFP - Said Khatib).

By: Randa Ali

Published Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Palestinian solidarity in Egypt has seen better times, according to Egyptian and Palestinian activists. Some blame Mursi, others Mubarak. The only consensus is that Egyptian fervor for the Palestinian cause has subsided. Can the movement revive itself, or will it be further stifled by the oppressive political climate?

Mahmoud Ismail has been studying in Cairo for the past four years. However, living in Egypt has become inconvenient for the 23-year-old after the ouster of President Mohamed Mursi on July 3.

“I am being harassed, exposed to humiliating and embarrassing questions whenever I say where I am from,” he said.

Ismail is from Gaza, Palestine.

Several Egyptian officials and media figures, most of whom are affiliated with the deposed Hosni Mubarak regime, have led an intense campaign against Hamas, the ruling government in the Gaza Strip. They accuse Hamas, which is ideologically affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, of being behind the unrest in Egypt.

According to Ismail, the negative discourse has not only targeted Hamas but Palestinians, too.

“The political chaos caused due to Hamas’ support for the Muslim Brotherhood is justifying the oppressing of Palestinians in Egypt, making us all members of Hamas,” said Ismail, adding that two of his compatriots were forced to leave their apartment in downtown Cairo because the neighbors refused the presence of Palestinians.

According to Ismail, the current hostile situation has also made the staging of any pro-Palestine event impossible.

“After June 30, no one dared to organize anything. Everyone was too scared to protest without a permit, and of course they won’t give Palestinians authorization,” he said. Ismail added that the only protest organized was last November, against the now-withdrawn Prawer plan, which threatened to evict thousands of Palestinian Bedouins from their homes in the Naqab desert.

Ismail said that only six people attended the protest.

Egyptian activists and veteran pro-Palestine campaigners are also finding it hard to focus on the cause amid local turmoil.

Political activist and researcher Mohamed Waked argued that it is not possible for political movements to work on the Palestinian cause amid the intensive hate-campaign against Palestinians, which has branded Palestinians criminals.

“It is really hard to convince movements to work against this negative discourse, given our priorities. The response would be, ‘Aren’t we going through enough already?’” said Waked, who believes that there’s an unfortunate lack of interest in the Palestinian cause outside the Pan-Arab and leftist circles.

Nasserist activist Hossam Moenes stressed that the negative campaigns, which target Hamas – not Palestinians, will soon cease to exist.

“During the 30 years of Mubarak’s rule, Palestinians were the target of a severe smear campaign by the regime that accused them of selling their lands and of breaking deals with the enemy. However, when the intifada broke out in 2000, all Egyptians were on the streets in support of Palestinians,” said Moenes.

According to leftist filmmaker Arab Loutfi, the main problem is a “general dissociation” from the Palestinian issue within both the region and Egypt. He said that many political movements have removed Palestine from the Egyptian national project.

“During the ‘70s, there was a strong link between Egypt’s struggle against Israel and the Palestinian struggle … There was a vision that it was one struggle, one fate, and one destiny, but now, the absence of a national project has made us lose our way,” added Loutfi.

Waked argued that detachment from the Palestinian cause and Pan-Arab issues in Egypt started in 2005 when liberal forces joined the opposition movement, initially composed of nationalists, leftists, and Islamists. He explained that most liberals don’t really care about the Palestinian issue, and some of them are even opponents.

Waked holds the Islamists – the Muslim Brotherhood in particular – responsible for vigorously harming the Palestinian cause. He said the cause came to be embodied in Hamas, placing it in “a project that only sees it as a bargaining chip.”

Osama Ahmed, a revolutionary socialist student, said Mursi’s year in power helped establish “negative thoughts regarding Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, which led to equating Palestine and Hamas with terrorism.”

“In his one-year rule he gave nothing to the Palestinians. He followed the steps of those who preceded him, not to mention that he pressured Hamas and other political factions to give concessions,” he added.

Ahmed admitted that before its rise to power, the Muslim Brotherhood played an important role in the pro-Palestine movement, but was always “on the edge of deviation” by endorsing a discourse that limited the question of Palestine to a fight between Muslims and Jews.

Waked also acknowledged the Brotherhood’s role in keeping the Palestinian cause alive. Yet he accused them of “selling everything the moment they reached power.”

Deya el-Sawy, an Islamist activist and spokesperson for the Youth Against the Coup, an Islamist coalition formed to oppose Mursi’s ouster, said that before Mursi’s removal from power, he was taking “small steps in support of the Palestinian cause.”

He accused what he described as the “coup government” of overturning “all the modest privileges given to Palestinians by Mursi, such as the opening of Rafah crossing.”

Since Mursi’s ouster and the rise of militant attacks in the restive Sinai Peninsula, Egypt has intermittently closed its Rafah crossing, the main gateway to the outside world for the 1.7 million Palestinians in Gaza, citing security concerns.
The military has also waged a campaign to destroy smuggling tunnels that supply the Gaza Strip with weapons and goods, leading to a severe fuel shortage and price increases.
Waked believes that both the regime and Islamists are caught in a “fight that neither side is going win.” Their losses, he hopes, might reveal new opportunities and a change in the regional balance.

“The moment we get a dim sign of an opportunity, the old movement will probably start working again,” said Waked. He believes the political movement can only work now to preserve its existence until deep changes occur in the region.

Until then, the Palestinian cause will not die, or else Egypt will die, said Waked, stressing that Egypt’s interests are the same as Palestine’s.

Waked further pointed out that the Palestinian cause has gone through many weaker phases, adding that this is not the first and will not be the last.

“We always believe it’s the end of the world. During the first Gulf War, I was still in university and thought this was the end. Nothing ends. Then I remembered our senior comrades who were present in 1967, during Camp David. Of course they all thought it was over,” he said. “I don’t think what is happening now is as big as what took place in 1967 and Camp David. We will defeat it.”

• Confusion in Gaza: Hamas Anxious Over Egypt Drama
• Hamas: Ain al-Helweh Resident Will Not Succeed Majed
• Mursi trial delayed due to weather

Brotherhood's thugs torch Azhar university, one killed

Students torch Cairo university, one killed

A man stands outside a faculty building at Cairo's Al-Azhar University after student supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood stormed it on December 28, 2013. (Photo: AFP - Khaled Kamel)

Published Saturday, December 28, 2013

Egyptian police shot a student dead Saturday at Cairo's Al-Azhar university after Islamist students set fire to their university, health ministry officials said.

The 19-year-old student was killed as police entered the campus to confront protesters who torched the commerce faculty building, the officials said.

The students entered the building during an exam and set it alight before police and security forces members burst in and fired tear gas and apparently live ammunition.

A police official said 60 of the students were arrested after the fire on the first two floors of the building was brought under control.

The students were trying to stop the exams, which started on Saturday, as part of their protest against the military's overthrow of Islamist president Mohammed Mursi in July.

They have regularly clashed with police on the university campus.

The violence comes a day after three people were killed in clashes and 265 arrested across Egypt in a crackdown on Brotherhood demonstrations.

The military-installed government has banned protests by Brotherhood members demanding the reinstatement of Morsi, after listing the Islamist movement as a terrorist organization this week.

The interior ministry on Friday said "legal measures are underway in accordance with the cabinet's listing of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization."

The Brotherhood's designation as a terrorist group carries harsh penalties, with the group's leaders facing possible death sentences and protesters looking at up to five years in prison.

The movement has held near-daily protests since the military ousted Mursi on July 3, despite a crackdown that has killed more than 1,000 people, mainly Islamists, and seen thousands more arrested.

(AFP, Al-Akhbar)

• Islamist Students Torch Cairo Campus Building
• Egyptian police attack pro-Brotherhood rallies, three dead
• Fresh Protests in Egypt Turn Deadly

THE FALL OF ERDUGAN

Posted on December 19, 2013 by danielmabsout | Edit

Erdogan might be bidding us farewell after he gave us a taste what Turkish rule could be, and reminded us of the Turkish delights of the Ottoman rule that we were not close to forget . The reason is that -after failing in his project of overthrowing Assad’s rule and handing in the power to NATO forces and Israel and their clientele on the ground , and after the rule of the Muslim Brothers was ended- Erdogan has become exposed and his rule shaken and this has started few months ago with the events of Taqsim Gezi park .

Now , the situation has escalated and Erdogan who was pressuring president Assad to leave, and had mobilized and recruited and trained thousands of thugs from the whole world and smuggled them into Syria to loot and commit massacres might be now under the pressure of leaving his position as prime minister.

The reason is that his sponsor -Islamist prominent figure Fethullah Gulen – who is close to the US administration- is letting him down and is denouncing the corruption under Erdogan’s rule in which are involved children of three ministers and more than thirty high officials who will undergo trial.

In fact, we don’t know who is more corrupt of the two : Gulen or Erdogan and the answer is they are both equally corrupt. Gulen has made his huge fortune from drug smuggling and is powerful in USA and has a series of schools that apply their own curriculum, while Erdogan is well known as a cheap Israeli/NATO sell out.

Not only this , but instead of resuming the good relations that had started with Syria at many levels , Erdogan turned against Syria and relied on the genius of Davutuglu – his minister of foreign affairs- who -after failing in Syria- put Turkey under al Qa’ida threat and is now facing the Kurds who might declare administrative independence on Turkish soil after taking in hand the situation in their Syrian villages and town .

Turkey now is in the process of building a huge wall on the Syrian borders that extends to many kilometers to prevent al Qa’ida from entering Turkey. This reminds us -of course – of Israel which has always been a great source of inspiration to Erdogan.

It is required that Turks develop some awareness and start discriminating between fake and true Islam for they have been taken for a ride thinking they have opted for an Islamic rule that is in tune with their religious belief while in fact they had opted for something totally alien to the religion and totally in tune with the oppressive world order.

U.S., Saudi armed FSA-Nusra Terrorists Invade Ancient Maaloula Again and Abduct Nuns and Orphans from St. Thecla Convent

Posted on December 3, 2013 by michaellee2009 | 

After the first joint terrorist raid in early September by the “Free Syrian Army” (FSA) and al-Qaeda’s Jabhat al-Nusra (Nusra Front) on the ancient Syrian town of Maaloula, known for its special Christian heritage with Aramaic still being spoken by its residents today, and that ended up with the Syrian Army expelling the terrorists from the town, a repeated scenario has taken place over the last couple of days. However, this time, as much as 12 nuns and several orphans were reportedly kidnapped by the terrorists from the Mar Takla (St. Thecla) convent and taken to Yabroud. Jabhat al-Nusra has been reported by local sources to have burnt homes and churches in Maaloula, a town that presents no strategic significance to its occupiers. This type of attack on a serene minority (Christian in this case) village by the extremist militants only showcases the real intent behind their attacks.

Sources: Asianews.it, al-Manar TV

Islamist rebels abduct 12 nuns from Syrian town

A picture taken on June 29, 2009 shows a nun watching on as visitors pray in the Christian Orthodox monastery of Saint Takla in the Syrian village of Maaloula. (Photo: AFP – Louai Beshara)

Published Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Islamist fighters who captured a Christian village north of Damascus have moved 12 nuns to a nearby town in what may have been a kidnapping, the Vatican’s ambassador to Syria said on Tuesday.

The militants took the ancient quarter of Maaloula on Monday after heavy fighting with government forces. Syrian state media said they were holding the nuns captive in the Greek Orthodox monastery of Mar Thecla.

Ambassador Mario Zenari told AFP that 12 Syrian and Lebanese Orthodox nuns had been abducted by rebels. All communications with the town have been cut since Monday, an AFP correspondent in Damascus said.

But pro-rebel sources cited by Reuters said the nuns were safe and that the real threat to them came from what they described as random Syrian army bombardment of Maaloula.

Zenari said that the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate had told him armed men had entered the monastery on Monday afternoon and believed that they had taken the nuns from Maaloula to Yabroud, about 20 kilometers (13 miles) to the north.

“They forced the sisters to evacuate and to follow them towards Yabroud. At this moment we cannot say if this is a kidnapping or an evacuation,” he told Reuters by telephone from Damascus.

A military source told Syrian daily Al-Watan that government reinforcements were headed to Maaloula.

The fighting, which pits al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front fighters and other rebels against government forces, is part of a wider struggle for control of the Damascus-Homs highway in central Syria.

An official at the Greek Patriarchate confirmed that he believed the nuns were taken to Yabroud, but gave no details.

Syrian state television said Christians had held a service in Damascus on Monday to protest against the capture of the nuns and the kidnapping of two bishops near Aleppo in April.

The village was the scene of heavy fighting in September, when it changed hands four times in a series of attacks and counter-assaults by rebels and government forces.

Zenari said the nuns were among the last residents left in Maaloula after most fled south for relative safety in Damascus.

(Reuters, AFP)

So called FSA (Al-Qaeda ) terrorists in Syria are a Saudi-Israeli Run Project

Posted on December 2, 2013 by michaellee2009 |

Saddam al-Jamal, leader of the “Free Syrian Army” (FSA) Eastern Front and a member of the FSA Staff Board or Supreme Military Council, has recently dissociated himself from the FSA, its Military Council, and the National Coalition and joined al-Qaeda’s “Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.” Al-Jamal also leads “Allahu Akbar” Brigade in al-Bukamal in the Deir Ezzor area of eastern Syria. He revealed that the person currently responsible for the file of the “Syrian Revolution” is Salman bin Sultan, Bandar’s brother, from the Saudi royal family. He also confirmed the involvement many regional and global intelligence services in the running of the FSA, whether it is in attending FSA meetings, training them in Jordan and other locations, and providing them with different types of assistance.

Source: igedat

Assad: Our Battle With Saudi Is Open-Ended

Soldiers of the Syrian government forces patrol on a tank in a devastated street on July 31, 2013 in the district of al-Khalidiyah in the central Syrian city of Homs. (Photo: AFP - Joseph Eid)

Published Saturday, November 30, 2013

Ten days ago, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with a delegation of party leaders and politicians from Arab countries. He said unequivocally: The battle will continue as long as Saudi Arabia continues to “back terrorism,” and the flow of extremist fighters, money, and arms into Syria continues.

Tunisia – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has proclaimed that Saudi and other countries’ support for terrorist groups will delay any solution to the crisis. He also said that the Syrian government was advancing on more than one front against terror and the war against Syria, stressing that the government would not go to Geneva if it is expected to hand over power.

Assad’s remarks on the situation in Syria came during a meeting on the sidelines of the Arab Parties Conference held in Syria 10 days ago. Al-Akhbar interviewed a party leader from the Maghreb who took part in the meeting.

In response to a question on what is happening in Syria, Assad said, “We have been subjected to a major war. In the first phase, we had to focus on standing our ground, which is what we did in the first year. Then we moved into the stage of triumphing over the enemies. There are experiences in recent history, including what happened with the Resistance in Lebanon, which stood its ground for many long years, and then achieved major victories in 2000 and 2006. We have known from the outset that the battle targeted our independent decision, but this independent decision was a major factor in our steadfastness and our victory, although we appreciate the support Syria has received from its allies, and some allies have had a pivotal role, such as Russia, which stands on our side because its interests, too, are threatened. I heard directly from the Russian leadership that they stand alongside Syria to defend Moscow and not just Damascus.”

Assad continued, “The time required to end the crisis in Syria depends to a large extent on the ongoing support and funding to armed groups provided by the actors in the region.”

He added, “Saudi Arabia and other countries are strong backers of terrorism. They have dispatched tens of thousands of takfiris to the country, and Saudi Arabia is paying up to $2,000 as a monthly salary to all those who take up arms on their side.”

Assad said, “There is another problem, related to al-Qaeda’s infiltration through the border with Iraq. This is something that the authorities in Baghdad are cracking down on but not entirely with success. Consequently, stopping Saudi support would have a decisive impact, especially since the militants and those behind them have been caught by surprise by our army’s capacity to confront them. Now, we know, and the whole world knows that al-Qaeda does not pose a threat to Syria alone. We hope for rational solutions in the coming months, but the issue is also contingent upon our ability to confront those, and we are determined to fight them until the end.”

The Syrian president then told his audience, “In light of the situation on the ground, we do not believe that it is possible to reach a settlement soon. As long as fighters, weapons, and funds continue to be sent across the border into Syria, we will not stop pursuing them. No one in the world can stop us exercising our right to defend our country. Moreover, today, we find little that can be agreed upon in Geneva, especially since some wrongly believe that we are going there to hand over power to them.”

“If this is what they want, then let them come to Syria so we can hand over power to them,” Assad sarcastically added. “If they decide to appoint [leader of the opposition National Coalition Ahmad] al-Jarba as president, do they think he would be able to come to Syria?”

Assad explained that Saudi Arabia “is leading the most extensive operation of direct sabotage against all the Arab world,” adding, “Saudi Arabia led the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council in the battle against all nations and parties that stand in the face of Israel. The [Saudis] gave cover to the Camp David agreement, supported the war on Lebanon in 1982, and today, they are engaged in an open-ended war against Syria. We are now openly saying that we are at war with them. True, we accommodated them previously, but they want everything to be according to their vision and interests.”

Regarding the position of the Western countries that back the armed Syrian opposition, Assad said, “The colonial West still acts in a vain mentality. They act like the past 20 years did not happen. They ignore the US defeat in Iraq, and they act as though the Soviet Union collapsed only yesterday.”

Concerning the current state of the Arab world and the Arab League, Assad said, “If the league shall remain under the influence and tutelage of backwards regimes like those of the Arab Gulf countries, it will have no role and no value. However, not all the Arab countries have had their independence taken from them.” He then added, “Today, there is a brave man making a stand in Iraq who is Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. He has important stances, even though his country is torn and many seek to destroy it. Even Algeria, one could consider its stance ahead of others. But most importantly, we must take heed of what is taking place in Egypt today. We see as the rest of the Arabs do that there is in Cairo today someone telling America frankly and sharply, ‘You have no business in Egypt’s internal affairs,’ and this is an important position that must be supported.”

The Syrian leader then spoke about the state of political parties in Syria and the Arab world, and said, “Vacuum is one of the reasons why extremist groups have spread. But another reason has to do with the fact that these parties did not rejuvenate themselves, and they are still weak. We as a state are keen on boosting their work, not as a party. We have also been observing the reflection of Syria’s steadfastness on Arab reality in general, and especially in the Maghreb, which we fear could be subjected to the rule of NATO.”

Assad then warned against the spread of Wahhabi ideology in the Arab world, and said, “This requires a new approach to religious institutions, but first and foremost, it requires supporting a civil state based on co-citizenship.”

Assad added, “Today’s generation has been subjected to a large-scale process of spreading ignorance. The generation that preceded us had more awareness, and this process of spreading ignorance is aimed at keeping the Arab world in a state of backwardness. I want to remind you that the West does not want us to ever evolve. I remember when the US Secretary of State Colin Powell visited us in 2003 and conveyed his country’s demands from Syria after the occupation of Iraq, he especially wanted us not to host any Iraqi scientists. We rejected his demand, so the US and Israeli intelligence liquidated quite a few of those scientists. Today, they want to eliminate scientists in Iran.”

But Assad noted that, by contrast, awareness among Arab peoples is reemerging, saying that raising the picture of the late Egyptian President Gamal Abdul-Nasser in many Arab demonstrations is a sign of this.

He said, “We are not against religion, but we are against invoking religion in all aspects of people’s daily lives. Even us, who are secular, gave religion a role in our constitution, which states explicitly that Sharia is a source of legislation. However, we refuse any politicization of religion in the sense that leads to negative results. As an example that our stance is not against religion, consider Hezbollah’s case in Lebanon. This is an ideological party that derives its ideas from religion. But we do not disagree with Hezbollah politically. This is proof that we don’t have an absolute stance against religions, but we refuse any religious force that operates in accordance with takfiri or Wahhabi ideology.

“For this reason, we say that we do not deal with the Muslim Brotherhood in this way. I believe that Syria cannot tolerate this faction. They did not give us a positive model in all stages. They operate on the basis of a sectarian position; otherwise, how can one explain their stance opposed to Hezbollah? They accept politicization in all issues, and use sectarian discourse to inflame Sunni-Shia strife.”

He then said, “Syria, like Iran and Hezbollah, tolerate many things to prevent sedition. Even the approach in dealing with the situation in Bahrain is very cautious for this reason.”

(Al-Akhbar)

This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition.

• Syria’s Mekdad: KSA, Mossad Operating with Terrorists in Jordan

السعودية تتصرّف مع الأزمة السورية على طريقة «الثور المجروح» ..

شادي جواد

كلام الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد منذ أقل من أسبوعين أمام قادة حزبيين وسياسيين من دول عربية التقاهم في سورية من «أن معركتنا مع السعودية مفتوحة» بعد أن اتهمها بدعم الإرهاب وإرسال التكفيريين والسلاح والأموال إلى سورية لم يكن مفاجئاً

لأي مراقب ومتابع للأزمة السورية منذ الدقيقة الأولى لاندلاعها حتى الساعة التي قال الرئيس الأسد فيها هذا الكلام. فالسعودية التي كانت تعتقد أانها ستستيقظ ذات صباح «ربيع عربي» وتجد نفسها أنها الآمر الناهي من مصر مروراً بتونس فالأردن فسورية تعيش هذه الأيام كالثور المجروح الذي يتخبط يميناً وشمالاً آخذاً في دربه كل ما يعترض طريقه. والسبب في ذلك غرقها المتمادي يوماً بعد يوم بوحل الأزمة السورية والضربات الموجعة التي تكال على رأسها نتيجة الهزائم التي تلحق بعشرات آلاف المسلّحين الذين استقدمتهم من أقطار العالم ظناً منها أنها تستطيع بذلك تقويض أسس النظام السوري وتالياً قلب المشهد السوري من مشهد مقاوم ممانع إلى مشهد وهابي تكفيري.
إن ما يحكى عن غرفة عمليات تنسيق بين المخابرات السعودية والموساد «الإسرائيلي» في الأردن والذي كان من أولى التفاهمات التي أدت إلى دخول العامل «الإسرائيلي» المباشر في معركة الغوطة الشرقية عن طريق تقديم الدعم اللوجستي إلى العصابات المسلحة من خلال التشويش على الاتصالات واستخدام وسائل التعمية الإلكترونية هو غيضٌ من فيضِ مما آلت إليه العلاقة بين المملكة وتل أبيب حيث لم يعد يجد البعض ممّن هم في موقع القرار ما يحول دون المجاهرة بأن العلاقة بين السعودية و«إسرائيل» قائمة وأن «إسرائيل» لم تعد عدواً لا بل إن ما جاء على لسان الوليد بن طلال من أن السعودية مستعدة لتسهيل أي عمل عسكري «إسرائيلي» ضد إيران يؤكد بما لا يدعو إلى أي لُبس أو شك بأننا ربما نجد في القريب العاجل قواعد عسكرية «إسرائيلية» تشيد بشكل علني على أرض مكة أو الرياض بعد أن سقطت ورقة التوت ولم يعُد هناك من يحجب الرؤية عن العمالة السعودية للكيان الصهيوني والقائمة منذ عقود.
تقول مصادر مطلعة في هذا الإطار أنه بعد أن تلقّت السعودية ضربتين متتاليتين على الرأس الأولى بفعل انكفاء الولايات المتحدة الأميركية عن توجيه ضربة عسكرية إلى سورية بعد أن رصدت السعودية الأموال اللازمة لتغطية نفقات هذه الضربة والثانية الاتفاق الإيراني ـ الغربي على الملف النووي هاتان الضربتان الموجعتان جعلتا قادة المملكة يتخبطون يميناً ويساراً بفعل انعدام الوزن الذي أصابهم وما زاد الطين بلة لدى هؤلاء الهزائم المتلاحقة التي تعرّضت لها العصابات المسلحة على مساحة المشهد العسكري السوري وهذا الأمر حمل الممسكين بزمام الأمر في الرياض إلى التوجه نحو لعب الأوراق التي كانوا يعتقدون أنها مستورة ويأتي في مقدم هذه الأوراق التنسيق الأمني التام مع الموساد «الإسرائيلي» ودفع أموال طائلة مقابل تقديم خدمات أمنية وعسكرية مباشرة وغير مباشرة لعلّ هذا الأمر يخلق نوعاً من معادلة التوازن قبل بلوغ موعد «جنيف ـ 2».
وترى هذه المصادر أن الغباء السياسي الذي يتحكّم بعقول آل سعود واعتماد قاعدة الاتكالية على أميركا والغرب في كل شاردة وواردة من قبل هذه العائلة الحاكمة يجعلها قاصرة على تحقيق أي هدف من أهدافها الجهنمية. لا بل إن مسار الرياح التي تهب على المنطقة تؤكد بأن المعسكر السعودي لن يكون له أي حضور فاعل في أية تسوية محتملة وهذه الحقيقة يدركها هؤلاء ولذا فإنهم يلعبون اليوم لعبة صولد على طاولة الأزمة السورية علّهم في ذلك يحققون لا بل يسترجعون قدراً من حضورهم في المشهد الإقليمي والدولي المقبل على الكثير من المتغيرات مع مستقبل الأيام.
وفي اعتقاد المصادر أن ما يجري في طرابلس اللبنانية ليس بعيداً عن الساحة السورية حيث وكما هو معلوم إن غالبية ما يسمونهم قادة المحاور يتلقون أموالهم وتعليماتهم من الأجهزة الأمنية السعودية بقيادة بندر بن سلطان وفي كل مرة يشتد فيها الحبل على خناق العصابات المسلحة في سورية تأتي الإشارات السعودية إلى أدواتها في لبنان بأن يتحرّكوا في محاولة لاستخدام الورقة الأمنية اللبنانية على طاولة التآمر الإقليمية مع درايتهم المسبقة بأن هذه الورقة التي استخدمت مرات عديدة هي ورقة خاسرة ولكن لا يوجد خيار آخر بعد أن استخدمت كل الخيارات حتى تلك التي ظن العالم كله أنها انتهت مع انتهاء الجاهلية.
وتعزو المصادر هذا السلوك السعودي إلى كون أن من هم اليوم في موقع القرار فيها ما زالوا يعيشون عصر الثأر والبداوة الذي لم يعد له من أثر على امتداد المعمورة.

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