Syria

Syria warns will use chemical weapons in case of foreign attack, Never will use the weapons against its own people - RT

Arab League calls for Assad resignation, urges the opposition and the Free Syrian Army to form a transitional government - The Jordan Times

Iraq rejects Arab calls for Assad to go-government spox - Reuters

Video: Sunday Express reports that former soldiers from the British Special Forces are training Syrian rebels - YouTube

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Kurds Declare Autonomy in Syrian Kurdistan, Send a message to the Free Syrian Army that it is not allowed to enter Kurdish areas - IKJ News

Iraqi Kurds train their Syrian brethren who will be sent to defend their territory - Al Jazeera English

Kurdish Leaders Deny SNC Claims Iraqi Kurdish Forces Entering Syria - Rudaw

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Clash rate declines in Syrian capital, rages on in Aleppo - Xinhua

Fides: Muslim extremists kill Christian family in Damascus - Vatican Insider

Christians in Damascus and Aleppo fear being attacked: Bishop - Christian Today

Video (with article): Islamist group, not Free Syrian Army, blew up Assad's inner circle, Israeli expert says - The Times of Israel

German intelligence: Around 90 terror attacks in Syria can be attributed to organizations that are close to al-Qaeda or jihadist groups - Asia Times Online

By Michael Collins

The assault on Damascus by Syrian rebels and terrorist murder of the Syrian Defense Minister occurred just as the Red Cross announced that the fighting in Syria was officially a civil war. This is an odd reward system for military action by the Free Syria Army. Commit enough acts of violence and you're rewarded with special protections that apply in times of war. (Image)

The rebel Free Syria Army attacks cities and villages, disrupts the Syrian economy, and is in the business of suicide bombing. It has the material and diplomatic support of Saudi Arabia and the other oil oligarchies plus the big guns in NATO. So-called Syrian experts supporting the carnage are amply funded by United States sponsored nongovernment organizations.

Rebel cheerleader Hillary Clinton spans the globe to "build pressure against the Syrian regime," to "end" it, her exact words. She seeks punishment for who disagree, China and Russia.

It's hard to tell how the latest regime change project will come out. The real Syrian Army seems to win every engagement. China and Russia support the Assad government. At the same time, despite strong public opposition to any intervention, the Obama government is pushing hard to force Assad out of power. NATO and the Saudis seem unwavering.

  Washington's Plan B for Syria

by Stephen Lendman

Replacing independent governments with pro-Western puppets is official US policy. So is war on Islam. 

Syrian Qamishli city liberation from Assad's security forces is a matter of hours: Kurdish leaders

Kurds to form a committee on Sunday to administrate all aspects of the Kurdish region "such as security, military, health and so on" - kurdsat.tv

It will take less than a week to liberate all Kurdish areas in west Kurdistan, says Syrian Kurdistan Party - AKNEWS.com

Syria's Kurds stand alone after rejecting rebels and regime - The National

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Intense clashes break out in Syria's Aleppo - Xinhua

Video: In Aleppo Imam issues decree of Jihad, calls for Caliphate rule while wielding a AK-47 assault rifle - LiveLeak.com

Abducted Lebanese well, to stay in custody -Syria rebel, "(They) are from Hezbollah, their fate will be decided by the new Syrian parliament" - The Daily Star 

Saudi king launches donation campaign for Syria - alarabiya.net

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Video: Syrian rebels claim Turkey border victory as reports emerge that al Qaeda militants may increasingly be joining their rank - Dailymotion

Video (with article): Qaeda Turkish fighters calls on muslims to wage jihad in Syria - The Long War Journal

Video:  Execution of civilian by al-Qaeda in Syria - LiveLeak.com

More Kurdish Cities Liberated As Syrian Army Withdraws from Area, Kurdish leaders are preparing for the full liberation of Syrian Kurdistan - Rudaw

Turkish drivers accuse Free Syrian Army fighters of looting and burning their trucks, Some fighters belong to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Taliban - AFP

Video: Christians threatened by Free Syrian Army with Severe Punishment - YouTube

The Kidnapping and Killing of Christians in Syria by Saudi Backed Wahabis - Babak Darvish

Saudi Wahhabis call for the destruction of Shia shrine in Syria - Tehran Times

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Video: Le Figaro says French journalist Jacquier (and 8 civilians) killed by Syrian rebels - YouTube

Video: Intercepted phone conversation between two terrorists planning to do a massacre and accuse the Syria regime of it (English subtitles) - YouTube

Video: Compilation of clips showing foreign rebel fighters in Syria - YouTube

Video: Syrian Rebels Sing Over Corpses Of Slain Citizens - LiveLeak.com

  Security Council Showdown Aftermath

by Stephen Lendman

On July 19, Russia and China vetoed a Western resolution on Syria. Invoking UN Charter Chapter VII, it effectively authorized war.

Putin warns against action on Syria outside UN - Now Lebanon

Romney: Obama has abdicated leadership and subcontracted US policy to Kofi Annan and the United Nations on Syria - AFP

McCain: US should form 'coalition of the willing' outside the UN to aid Syrian rebels - The Hill

Boehner Sides With Obama Over McCain On Syria Intervention - ThinkProgress

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Syrian troops launch counterattacks in Damascus, retake Midan: TV - Xinhua

Iraqis flee Syria in droves by land and air, Maliki: They are subject to killings and looting by terrorist groups like in Iraq - ajc.com

Iraq: most border crossings under Syrian control, Rebels control one of four - Al Akhbar

Iraq Border Guards Describe Horrific Executions by Syria Rebels Before Shutting Down Crossing, Killing 22 and cutting off arms and legs of a Syrian army lieutenant - AFP

Fighters with Qaeda flag at Turkish border post - YouTube

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Kurdish Political Groups Run Liberated Kurdish Cities in Syria, Set checkpoints banning the Free Syrian Army from entering their territories - Rudaw

  Syria Roulette

by Stephen Lendman

In Las Vegas, the house seldom loses. Rarely are dirty Washington schemes foiled. It's playing hardball against Syria. 

Russia, China veto western-backed Syria resolution at UN Security Council, It included the threat of sanctions and Chapter 7 which allows the use of military force - RT

Hundreds flee Damascus as military gives residents 48 hours to get out, As it prepares a counterattack aimed at retaking control - The National

Syrian Rebels Seize Iraq and Turkey Border Posts (+Videos) - NYTimes.com

Videos: Selection Of The Free Syrian Army's Weapons And Equipment (UPDATED) - Brown Moses Blog

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Video: The truth about 9 years old Sari Saoud's death in Homs, Mother tells Syria rebels killed him and other children - YouTube

Video: In a fabricated video Syrian rebels say Sari Saoud killed by Assad army - videoce.info

Video: Shocking Short Range Execution of a Captive Syrian Officer by Syrian rebels - YouTube

Video: FSA Sniper shoots repeately at civilian with 7 lives - LiveLeak.com

Obama and Putin agree to support a political transition in Syria, "Differences in approaches remain...in achieving a settlement" - Reuters

White House says Assad 'losing control’ but holds line on arming Syrian rebels - The Hill

"Instead of trying to calm the opposition, some partners are pushing towards a further escalation": Russia - Ahram Online

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Syrian President's Brother-in-Law, Defense Minister Die in Bombing - ABC News

Reports: Turkey organizing Sunni fighters for ‘proxy war’ against Syria - World Tribune

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French Ministry of Defence: Journalist Jacquier and eight civilians dead of shelling launched by Homs rebels, which targeted an Alawite neighborhood - defence.pk

Video: Young Woman Hanged by Syrian Rebels in Homs - Leaksfree

“Battle for liberation” of Damascus has begun, Free Syrian Army says - Now Lebanon

Syrian National Council members in Saudi Arabia are coordinating with tribes along the borders of Syria to smuggle weapons to the Free Syrian Army - JPost.com

Syrian Muslim Brotherhood urges grassroot support for Damascus battle - Yahoo! News

SNC, Syrian Muslim Brotherhood renew calls for foreign intervention - todayszaman

SNC spokewoman: If the UN won't act, 'we have other options' - CSMonitor.com

How valid are the outlandish claims of defector Nawaf Fares? He offers no proff - BBC

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Does US refuse to help Syrian rebels until after election? The Obama administration has made clear to its allies that it will not intervene - Telegraph

U.S. Mum On Releasing $ 10 Million in Frozen Funds to Syrian Rebels - DOTMIL (usnews.com)

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Jihad in Syria: The Penetration of Radical Islam in the Syrian Conflict - canadafreepress.com

Video: Christian Town Hit by Suicide Bombing - YouTube

Video: Syrian rebels kidnap terrified innocent boy - YouTube

Video: Syrian Rebels Shelling City Of Aleppo Endangering Civilians - Liveleaks.com

Video:  Syrian Rebels Burning and Destroying Countless Bottles of Alcohol as They Yell ‘Allahu Akbar’ - TheBlaze.com

Video: Tribute to the Mujahideens of Free Syrian Army - YouTube

Video: Syrian' Rebels fly the flag of Saudi Arabia - YouTube

  Nothing Civil about Washington's War on Syria

by Stephen Lendman

Insurgents are Washington proxies. Key NATO partners, rogue Arab League states, and Israel are very much involved. 

Russia Says It Will Not Back UN resolution on Syria Sanctions, It invokes Chapter 7 which allows military action - NYTimes.com

Lavrov: Russia Cannot Force Assad to Resign, This is simply "unrealistic" because Assad will not leave - Kanal PIK TV

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Heavy fighting in the capital Damascus between government forces and Free Syrian Army - Army Recognition

Video: Syrian rebel fighting in Damascus orders to behead Alawites - Liveleaks.com

Video: Assad supporter burned alive in car with his family - Liveleaks.com

Video: FSA fighters kills the son of an Assad supporter - Liveleaks.com

Video: Rebel women's armed battalion - Liveleaks.com

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Kurdish leader: No Free Syrian Army on Kurdish soil, Kurds need to defend their areas themselves from violence - Rudaw

Israel Preparing for al-Qaeda on its Syria Borders - Gatestone Institute

Newletter No. 1250 16.07.12
    Email: office@stopwar.org.uk
    Tel: 0207 561 9311
    www.stopwar.org.uk
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stopthewarcoalition
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/STWuk

In this Newsletter:
1) What is really happening in Syria?
2) Britain's top spy beats the drums for war on Iran
3) Tony Blair's mad-hatters banquet on his comeback trail

  Propaganda War on Syria

by Stephen Lendman

Major media scoundrels suppress truth and full disclosure. In times of war or when they're planned, it dies first.

John Pilger calls journalism war's first casualty. It's a "weapon of war," he says.

Syrian National Council Chief To Obama: Waiting For Election Day To Act In Syria Is 'Unacceptable' - Now Lebanon

Ex Syrian ambassador accuses Assad regime of collaborating with al Qaeda both in Syria recent suicide attacks and against Iraqis and American forces in Iraq - CNN

Islamist group Al-Nusra Front claims 12 Syria attacks targeting Syrian security forces and pro-government "thugs" - Now Lebanon

SNC spokeswoman: "Some of the Syrian Kurds supporting the revolution seek the right to self-determination but the SNC does not accept radical goals" - IKJ News

Dozens of Syrian soldiers ‘defect to Iraqi Kurdistan’ - IKJ News

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Syria says U.N.'s Annan wrong about Tremseh killings | Reuters

Video: Hama: Syrian rebels meet the army. Note that almost all of the dead had a weapon on them at the time - YouTube

Video (in Arabic) FSA Commander threatens members of a Sunni village to cut their throats if they are found to be collaborating with the progovernment neighboring villages - Liveleaks.com

Priest: "I stayed...to protect the churches from looting", Another priest: "The armed (Islamic extremists) in Syria murdered more than 200 Christians in the city of Homs, including entire families with young children" - The Christian Post Singapore

Muslim Rebels Destroy Another Church | Friends of Syria

Video: New Execution of an unarmed Pro Assad Civilian - YouTube

Video: Syrian Rebel Takes Out Brain Of Victim Of Terrorist IED For The Sake Of Propaganda? - Liveleaks.com

Video: Turkish Men in Military Fatigues Kill 20 Syrian Security Forces in Massacre - YouTube

  Strategically Timed Syrian Massacre

by Stephen Lendman

Insurgents are enlisted, armed, funded, trained, and directed by Western and regional special forces.

They decide strategy, targets, and timing. Armies need leadership to operate effectively. So do killer gangs.

Details of a Battle Challenge Reports of a Syrian Massacre in Treimseh, UN says army attack targeted “specific groups and houses" of Syrian rebels - NYTimes.com

Photos: Cache of FSA weapons captured by the Syrian military in Treimseh - LiveLeak.com

Video: Free Syrian Army threats Russian battleship coming to Tartous - YouTube

Video: Lynching To Death Of 2 Men By 'Free Syrian Army' Faction - LiveLeak.com

Free Syrian Army member rants against Alawites - Liveleak.com

Video (in French): Channel TF1 from Homs reveals armed gangs taking civilians hostage and refusing to free them - YouTube

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Syrian opposition: who's doing the talking? SNC spokespeople are advocates of foreign military intervention in Syria and allies of US neoconservatives - The Guardian

  Scoundrel Media Warmongering

by Stephen Lendman

Irresponsible Western propaganda advances the ball for war. At issue is possibly embroiling the entire Middle East in perpetual ones guaranteeing no winners.

What Happened At Tremseh? Conflicting reports about the massacre - ABC News

Syria: According to Eye Witnesses on Syrian TV Terrorists Overrun al-Treimseh and Perpetrate a Massacre  - SANA

Four Terrorists from al-Treimseh Confess They Were Ordered to Spread Across the Town Before Army Forces Entered It - SANA

Syria massacre dead mostly rebels, activist group says - Now Lebanon

UNSC Member Tells only "2 Dozen" Killed at Tremseh - Inner City Press

Russia condemns Syria massacre, does not apportion blame, seeks inquiry - Reuters

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FSA criticizes high-profile defector Manaf Tlass, Sets July deadline for regime figures to defect or face the risk of assassination - Now Lebanon

Free Syrian Army preparing for “final battle” for Damascus -  Asharq Alawsat Newspaper (English)

Video: Last Moments In Life Of Civilian Shot In Head By 'Free Syrian Army' - Liveleak

Video: Masked And Armed Al-Qaeda Reciting Poetry In Syria Prior To Suicide Missions - Liveleak

Video: Foreign mercenaries in Syria - Do they exist or it's just propaganda? - YouTube

Video: The Syrian Revolution was always armed - YouTube

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Video: Graphic Images of Torture from the Prisons of Syria Regime - YouTube

  Pressure Building for More Middle East War

by Stephen Lendman

The name of the game is dominance. Washington accepts nothing less. All means are used. War is a favorite option. 

America has always been a warrior nation. It's addicted to war. Permanent ones are waged. Nations are ravaged one at a time or in multiples. 

Moscow says UN Syria Resolution ‘Unacceptable', Because it includes Chapter 7 of the UN Charter allowing use of force - RIA Novosti

UN talks about federalism in Syria, Dividing the country in Sunni, Alawite and Kurdish regions - Inner City Press

Syrian Kurdish opposition groups unite - Now Lebanon

Turkey's Erdogan to visit Russia for Syria talks - Yahoo! News

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Al-Qaeda tries to carve out a war for itself in Syria northern provinces - Telegraph

Video: Terrorist Al Qaeda Suicide attack targeting security checkpoints - Liveleak.com

Video: Sectarianism of the Syrian rebels against their Syrian neighbors - YouTube

Fear and Horror in Syria: one person's account | ABC Pool

Video: EXPOSED: Danny Abdul-Dayem & CNN Lying...Again - YouTube

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Video: LEAKED footage shows Assad forces torturing the arrested - LiveLeak.com

Syrian opposition, Russia fail to agree - Fox News

Official: Russia will continue to supply weapons to Syria by contracts, “It cannot be said that we have introduced an embargo on military supplies to Syria" - RT

Russian warships en route to Syria - Haaretz Daily Newspaper

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Annan: Assad proposes someone to serve as an interlocutor for the regime to form a transitional government with the opposition - AP

Annan: Iran, Iraq back plan for Syria-led transition - chicagotribune.com

Syria’s Ambassador to Iraq, Nawaf Fares, Reported to Defect - NYTimes.com

Dozens Of Christians Evacuated From Homs - Huffington Post

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Arms deliveries to Syrian rebels delayed - The Washington Post

Free Syrian Army lobbyists urge U.S. intervention - World Tribune

Video: Syrian insurgents with advanced American M-16 rifles, Members of a sniper unit of the Islamist 'Hamza Batallion'  - YouTube

Video: Syrian Islamic rebels with Qaeda flag

Video: Syrian rebels' rocket goes wrong....1 killed 4 Serously Injured. - YouTube

Video: While Suicide Bombers Sing a Song a Suicide Vest on the Floor Detonates by Accident - YouTube

By Michael Collins

(Washington, DC 7/11/12)  Hillary Clinton has a very serious problem. She thinks that she runs the world and that those who disobey her must be punished, China and Russia in particular. Our chief diplomat behaves like a drunken bully, makes rash demands, and spoils for a fight with countries that can do some serious damage. (Image: Sascha W)

Over what? Regime change in Syria. Clinton is the tip of the spear for the project to control the Arab Spring movement. Her efforts have little to do with democracy. It is about controlling the agenda in the oil rich Middle East and the effort to prop up the decadent Saudis royals and other oil rich leaders hiding behind a nebulous organization called the Gulf Cooperation Council.

In a statement to the Friends of Syria group on Friday, July 6, Clinton insisted that others observe the "norm of international law and human decency."

Russia Sends Warships on Maneuvers Near Syria - NYTimes.com

Annan in Iran and Iraq Seeking Solution to Syrian Crisis - Israel National News

Kurdish leader: Syrian Government Has Lost Control in Kurdish Areas - Rudaw

Red Crescent aid worker killed in Syria: ICRC - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Vatican radio: News agencies are misrepresenting the conflict in Syria - YouTube

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Civil Movement vs. Free Syrian Army - The Majalla Magazine

Video: Statement of FSA Farouq Brigade Commander - LiveLeak.com

German author Todenhöfer met with eyewitness from Houla - SyriaNews

Video: Syrian rebels destroying all the liquor inside the truck - LiveLeak.com

  Clinton: Assad's Days Are Numbered

by Stephen Lendman

At a Tokyo Afghan donor's conference, Clinton barely stopped short of declaring war. Time is running out to save Syria, she told reporters.

By Russ Baker

Friday, we read in the New York Times and elsewhere about one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s most important supporters and allies having defected. The impression one gets is that Assad’s government is in a state of collapse— and this gives credibility to those pushing for Assad to turn over power.

But what the media are not mentioning is that Brigadier General Manaf Tlass did not defect directly from the Assad inner circle. He had already fallen into disfavor early in the uprising and lost his command in May 2011—14 months ago. If you had that additional piece of information, you would interpret the news reports in a totally different way.

When a piece of evidence that contradicts the overall impression is absent from the reportage, the reportage itself is almost worthless.

As are reports of horrific events without adequate fact-checking and follow-up. Remember the Houla massacre? Who carried that out?

READ THE REST

Video: Kofi Annan: President Assad has agreed 'new approach' to Syria peace - Telegraph

Syrian National Council Chief: “We do not want foreign military interference in Syria”, He insists Assad must quit - Voice of Russia

Official: No New Russian Arms Supplies to Syria ‘Until Stabilization’ - RIA Novosti

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Islamic extremism divides Free Syrian Army, Although islamic extremists are a minority, they receive the vast majority of funding and weapons - GlobalPost

Video: WARNING! Syrian rebel decapitates man alive - YouTube

Video: Respected doctor killed by Syrian rebels - YouTube

Journalist Todenhöfer Condemns Massacre-Marketing-Strategy of the Rebels - SyriaNews

Annan: Russia, Iran crucial for Syria peace - Al Akhbar English

Syria begins war games to defend itself from outside attackers, state media says - Fox News

Turkey signals resort to UN action over Syria crisis, Envisages the use of force or the threat to use force - todayszaman

Assad: Annan peace plan must not fail, He says most of victims during the conflict had been his supporters, rather than his opponents - chicagotribune.com

McCain: U.S. leadership on Syria "shameful and disgraceful", Calls for arming the Syrian rebels and establishing a safe zone - CBS News

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Videos: The Latest Weapons Of The Free Syrian Army - Brown Moses Blog

Video: Libyan rebel chief “Almahdi Alharaty” fighting in Syria | Friends of Syria

Video: Brutal torture of a civilian by Syrian rebels - YouTube

Video: Syrian rebel confesses of massacres, Participating in smuggling weapons. - YouTube

Free Syrian Army captures alleged members of the Shiite Mahdi Army - YouTube

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Syria rocket fire kills two in Lebanon, security source says - Now Lebanon

Lebanon turning into staging area for Jihadists en route to Syria - Middle East Online

by Joe Emersberger

I sent the following note to Amnesty on June 16 after it put out a detailed report on the conflict in Syria:

Dear Amnesty

In your most recent report on Syria you ask the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo on the Syrian government.  You ask for no such arms embargo on the Syrian rebels and only ask that the Security Council "request" of states who supply the rebels that they put "mechanisms" in place to prevent the arms from being used to violate human rights: <www.amnestyus...rce=W1206EDMNAP>.

In 2009, you asked for the Security Council to "to impose an immediate, comprehensive arms embargo on all parties to the conflict in Gaza" (my emphasis): <www.amnesty.o...mounts-20090115>.

Please explain why you think arming Palestinians is harmful to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Gaza, while apparently believing that arming rebels in Syria is benign or perhaps even helpful.

Would you trust the Assad regime to arms rebels in foreign countries in such a way as prevent human rights abuses?  What is it about the track record of the Saudi state or the US government that makes Amnesty believe that they would ever attempt to arm the Syrian rebels in such a way as to prevent human rights abuses -- assuming such a feat is even possible?

I've rarely received replies to the numerous notes I've sent Amnesty over the years.  I was surprised to see this one on July 4:

READ THE REST AT MRZine.