Syria

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?

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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.

Russia says it "categorically" rejects the idea of siding with Assad - AFP

Assad says he is 'willing to go' if best for Syria, 'The most important thing is that everything should be decided inside Syria, not outside it' - smh.com.au 

Syrian opposition due in Moscow next week | Al Akhbar English

Kurdish Parties Walk out of Syrian Opposition Conference in Cairo - Rudaw

Russian Defense Ministry Official: Turkish Aircraft Downed in Syrian Waters was on NATO Intelligence Mission- SANA

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Analyst: Saudi Arabia supports Islamist rebel groups, some of them having explicit relations with the Al-Qaeda - saudidefence.com

Al-Qaida crossing into Syria, Iraq says | The Chronicle Herald

Video: Live Summary Execution By Syrian Rebels Of Old Man Coerced To Admit Crimes - LiveLeak.com

Video: Syrian rebels hangs pro-Assad civilian - YouTube

Video: Civilian Killed In Cold-blood By Syrian Rebels Blamed On Government - LiveLeak.com

Video: Libyan Rebels Enter Syria Illegally - Friends of Syria

Video: Child Fighter Takes up Arms in Syria, Replaces Father KIA - YouTube

Video: Syrian rebel admits working with Al-Jazeera - YouTube

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Video: Brutal Torture of a Civilian Detainee by Syrian regime soldiers! - YouTube

Wikileaks is releasing what it described as a massive trove of documents related to the conflict in Syria. Speaking at London’s Frontline Club, Wikileaks project analyst Sarah Harrison said the documents consist of more than two million emails from political figures, ministries and companies doing business with the Syrian government.

“The Syria files shine a light on the inner workings of the Syrian government and the economy but they also shine a light on how the West and Western companies say one thing and do another. The range of information extends from the intimate correspondence of the Baath party figures to financial transfers sent from Syrian ministries to other nations.”

Divided Syria opposition ends chaotic Cairo talks - Yahoo! News

Syria Welcomes the Concluding Statement of Geneva Meeting, Foreign Ministry - DayPress

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Swiss suspend arms exports to UAE over weapons delivered to Syrian rebels - Expatica Switzerland

Videos: The Even More Increasingly Well Armed Free Syrian Army - Brown Moses Blog

Israeli military sees Syria a Jihad destination for ‘millions of unemployed young Arabs’ - World Tribune

Videos: Shocking Truth Behind Syrian “Freedom Fighters” - Alex Jones' Infowars

Video: Syrian Rebels Kill Prisoner in Staged Battle, The unarmed man is bound with his hands tied behind his back - YouTube

Video: Syrian Rebels Show Aftermath Of Scalping A Man - LiveLeak.com

Al-Qaida-inspired group claim dozens of attacks across Syria - Canada.com

Syrian loyal to Assad stabbed to death by dissident in Beirut | Reuters

Rocket fired from Lebanon wounds two Syria police - David Icke's Official Forums

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Houla Massacre Star Witness Reconsidered - SyriaNews

Wiki created to structure collaborative research into the events unfolding in Syria, especially the Houla massacre - ACloserLookOnSyria

  US Intelligence Says Turkish Warplane Downed in Syrian Waters

by Stephen Lendman

On June 29, the Wall Street Journal headlined "Doubts Cast on Turkey's Story of Jet," saying:

Syrian regime is running 'torture centers', says HRW - GlobalPost

Video: Syrian Rebels Kill Children Of Supporters Of Government - ANSA

Video: Syrian terrorists kidnapping children...Demanding a ransom from families - YouTube

Video: Formation of a Syrian Rebel Child Brigade - YouTube

Video: Formation of New Free Syrian Army Battalions - LiveLeak.com

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Fights break out between Kurds and delegates at Syrian opposition meeting in Cairo, Kurds: "We will no longer accept to be marginalized" - chicagotribune.com

Syrian opposition group quits Cairo conference, SRGC: "The priority now is to continue to strengthen ..... the Free Syrian Army" - NOW LEBANON 

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Russia to renew Iran S-300 sales if Syria fails, analyst says - Bloomberg

Iran, Hezbollah 'to defend Syria from attack' - Yahoo! News

Robert Fisk's ZSpace Page

Syrian opposition to discuss transition in Cairo meeting, boycotted by FSA - Morocco World News

Russia to hold talks with Syrian opposition, Annan - Yahoo! News

UN supervision mission to continue tasks once violence halted by all parties: official - Xinhua - English.news.cn

Al-Qaeda affiliated Al Nusra Front Claims Attack on Syria TV, State-Run TV Says - Bloomberg

  Failure in Geneva

by Stephen Lendman

Morning headlines belie continued conflict on the ground. East/West divisions remain. Nothing changed but political rhetoric from Geneva.

After Annan's so-called peace plan, violence increased because Washington planned it that way.

Assad must step down: Syrian opposition, Sayda: We are awaiting the outcome and result of this summit - Asharq Alawsat

SNC spokeperson says “some positives” in Syrian transition deal - Lebanon Now

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In Syria, at least 85 killed by car bombing at funeral - latimes.com

Video: Car bombing at funeral procession - YouTube

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Syrian opposition kills Christians and film it: Interview with mother of dead boy - LiveLeak.com

Syria: Saudi admits "protesters" had weapons from the start - YouTube

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Russia helped Syria shoot down Turkish plane, UK newspaper claims - The Times of Israel

Russia Ready to Share Data on Turkish Jet:  Lavrov - RIA Novosti

Turkey denies WSJ claims warplane hit in Syrian airspace - todayszaman

  Obama Planning More War

by Stephen Lendman

America's favorite pastime isn't baseball. It's war, permanent imperial wars that won't end in our lifetime Dick Cheney said earlier.

America is addicted to war. One nation after another is ravaged and plundered. Unchallenged global dominance is sought. 

World powers reach agreement on Syria transitional government, No mention of Assad's fate - euronews

U.S. intelligence indicates that the Turkish jet was inside Syrian airspace, Officials believe Ankara was surveilling Syrian defenses - WSJ.com

Assad lets Kurdish PKK rebels operate against Turkey from inside Syria - The Times of Israel

Kurds to participate in Syrian opposition conference in Cairo - AKNEWS.com

U.N. publishes report on Iran arms trade with Syria - Reuters

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On Syria, UN's "Ladsous Sits on Houla Report," Security Council Members Complaint - Inner City Press

Video: Zero Hour Exposed, New Witness: Syrian rebels committed the Houla massacre - ANNA News

Video: Syria's Houla martyred children were Pro ASSAD - YouTube

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Video: Syria rebels recruit children and give them weapons - YouTube

Militias From Libya Leading Creation Of 'Ummah Brigade' Against Government Of Syria - YouTube

Al-Qaeda Cell Inside 'Free Syrian Army' Posts Video - LiveLeak.com

Dr Samir Ali Of Halab University Kidnapped And Executed By 'Free Syrian Army' - LiveLeak.com

Abductors of 11 Lebanese Shite pilgrims urged to release them - Naharnet

Russia, U.S. divided on Syria after talks, Lavrov says there is chance to find common ground at the conference in Geneva tomorrow -chicagotribune.com

Saudis forces mass on Jordanian, Iraqi borders. Turkey, Syria reinforce strength - DEBKA

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Syria says dozens alleged "terrorists" killed in Douma, Activists say 41 people killed in relentless shelling - Xinhua

Eyewitness: Heavy fighting in Douma, Many soldiers killed - ITV News

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Syria’s Kurds foil rebel plans to carve out a buffer zone along the border with Turkey, Despite generous cash offers only few Kurds joined the Sunni rebels - World Tribune

Syria’s Kurds are sitting out the civil war, They see it as a clash between Assad's regime and Turkish-backed Sunni Arabs - jpost.com

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Terrorists assassinate Professor and her family, including three children, in Homs countryside - islamicinvitationturkey.com

Armed terrorists abduct 14 Palestinian Liberation Army members in Aleppo - islamicinvitationturkey.com

Video: Syrian Rebels shoot a civilian in the back - vidvid.info

Video: Al-Qaeda's Jerusalem Brigade training near Aleppo - YouTube

Video: Idlib Jihadist Group Ahrar Al Sham Showing Al Qaeda Flag - YouTube

  Reports of Troop Movements Near Syria's Borders

by Stephen Lendman

After Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced new rules of engagement, Turkey deployed missile batteries, rocket launchers, and anti-aircraft weapons close to Syria's border. 

and calls for all inclusive dialogue to solve the conflict.

Mairead Maguire said:

People around the world are deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in Syria.

While we are being presented with some perspective of what is occurring on the ground to the people of Syria, the door seems closed to others. We search for voices we can trust, voices which point to a peaceful, lasting solution to the conflict. We search for truth because it is truth which will set the Syrian people free. Truth is difficult to find, so through the haze of conflicting narratives we must inevitably hear the voices and wisdom of men and women of peace in Syria.

  Duplicitous Human Rights Council Report on Syria

by Stephen Lendman

On June 27, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) discussed conflict conditions in Syria. Truth took a back seat. Some present denounced its absence.

  Heated Anti-Assad Rhetoric

by Stephen Lendman

Washington's Syrian regime change plans are longstanding. All independent governments are targeted. 

At issue isn't whether they're despotic, democratic, or anything in between. It's about establishing client states subservient to Western interests. That matters most.

  State of War in Syria

by Stephen Lendman

On Wednesday, Assad said "a state of war" exists. 

"(A)LL our policies, directives and all sectors will be directed in order to gain victory in this war."

Exclusive: Annan calls for Syria national unity cabinet, including government and opposition members: envoys | Reuters

Annan Convenes Meeting on Syria — Minus Iran and Saudi Arabia - NYTimes.com

Annan will "brief" Iran after Saturday's meeting in Geneva, "Will also ensure their continued engagement - Now Lebanon

Iran says ready to help solve Syria crisis | Reuters

Russia halts plans to supply S-300 missile system to Syria - RT

Did Obama rebuffs Erdogan’s appeal to lead Turkey in Syria attack? -  debka

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Rebel group attacks TV Channel in Syria, Kills 7 journalists and workers and kidnaps guards- digitaljournal.com

Many rebel groups inside Syria, while pledging allegiance to the FSA, don’t take orders from its leadership in Turkey - Al-Monitor

An explosive charge targets Red Cross and Red Crescent teams, 3 volunteers get injured - Ajel

White House condemns all violence in Syria, including that targeting pro-regime supporters - Reuters

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UN investigators unable to determine perpetrators of Houla massacre, Ignoring evidence and eyewitnesses pointing the finger on Syrian rebel groups - Xinhua

By Phyllis Bennis

Fifteen months on, the short Syrian spring of 2011 has long since morphed into a harsh winter of discontent. Syria is close to full-scale civil war. If the conflict escalates further, it will have ramifications far outside the country itself. As former UN Secretary-General and current envoy of both the UN and the Arab League Kofi Annan put it, “'Syria is not Libya, it will not implode, it will explode beyond its borders."

  Advancing the Ball for War on Syria

by Stephen Lendman

What's ongoing bears disturbing similarities to events preceding NATO's 1999 Yugoslavia aggression.

In the 1990s, NATO lawlessly intervened for the first time outside territories of its member countries. No nation or alliance may attack another except in self-defense. 

  Boland Amendment Redux

by Stephen Lendman

In 1982, the House passed the Boland Amendment. It was attached as a rider to the 1983 Defense Appropriations Act.

Kofi Annan suggests adding Iran to Syria meeting, Needs Washington and Moscow to sign off on the move - The Times of Israel

On Syria, Annan Will Only Stay if June 30 "Meaningful Outcome" - Inner City Press

Iran is trying to broker a political solution in Syria - guardian.co.uk

Russia's Lavrov to attend Syria meeting, if it happens | Reuters

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U.S. intelligence sees few cracks in Assad's inner circle, Defections and desertions mainly "low to mid-level ranks" and including relatively few officers - chicagotribune.com

Syria to get more arms from Russia soon-think-tank | Reuters

Clashes at Republican Guards HQ near Damascus, Unconfirmed reports of British forces in Syria — RT

Al-Qaeda In Syria Chooses New Leader and Regroups | Al Akhbar English

Russia asks UN to probe training camps in Libya funded by Qatar and Saudi Arabia - Inner City Press

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Free Syrian Army accuses Kurds of hindering its movements, Kurds determined to stop the bloodshed from reaching Kurdish cities -  Rudaw

The Syrian revolution encourages Kurdish parties to form a united front, Syrian Kurdish groups sign Treaty Proposal - Rudaw

Syrian National Council and Kurdish National Council forms joint committee, To prepare a political project for the Syrian opposition conference in Cairo next month | Dinar Daddy's Tidbits

  Syria Blamed for Turkish Provocation

by Stephen Lendman

On June 22, two Turkish warplanes provocatively entered Syrian airspace low and fast. Doing so showed hostile intent. 

The Obama administration's dirty hands are all over this incident. Washington and Ankara wanted a reaction and got it. Expect what's ahead to unfold as planned.

Syria: Turkish Military Jet Violated Syria's Sovereignty and Response Was Defensive Act, Jet flying at altitude of 100 meters, 1 kilometer from Syrian beach  - SANA

EU ministers urge restraint from Turkey over Syria incident - todayszaman

Turkey not to invoke Art. 5, NATO war in Syria as unlikely as ever - todayszaman

At UN, "Not First Time Turkey Flies Into Syria," Skeptic Says - Inner City Press

Russia plans to keep Syrian military base at Tartus: Navy Chief - RT

Why Is Access To Syria's Port At Tartus So Important To Moscow? - RFE

US and Israel planning war games involving simulated attacks against Iran and Syria - Israel National News

A New Lobby Forms to Get U.S. Guns to Syrian Rebels - The Daily Beast

  War of Words Over Turkish Aircraft Incident

by Stephen Lendman

On Friday, Turkey provocatively flew two warplanes at low altitude over Syrian airspace. Perhaps it was testing its defense systems or probing for other reactions. 

With conflict raging for months, doing so for any reason was hostile and aggressive.

Turkey calls on NATO over Syria’s downing of jet -  RT

Jet incident shows Syria's defences capable, Jet may have been on reconnaissance for the rebels or to probe Russian-made radar and air defences - Reuters

Russia warns Turkey, NATO against military action - WND

Russian helicopter shipment heading back to Syria: Ifax - chicagotribune.com

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Syrian Kurds Trade Armed Opposition for Autonomy, Prevent the Free Syrian Army from infiltrating into their territory - IKJ News

Maliki: Iraq to back peaceful solution for Syria's crisis, Working on non-intervention policy - chinadaily.com.cn

Turkish warplanes strike Kurdish militants in northern Iraq | Reuters

Al-Haraty and Al-Mashry… Libyan militias’ leaderships in Syria - AJIEL

Syria: Christians increasingly vulnerable as tensions escalate | AP