Syria

Obama administration works to launch new Syrian opposition council - Foreign Policy

Clinton: SNC No Longer Leads Syrian Opposition, Urges to "strongly resist the efforts by the extremists to hijack the Syrian revolution" - VOA 

Syrian opposition reacts to US attempt to form an alternative opposition - todayszaman

SNC, FSA and other groups to form government in exile - Asharq Alawsat Newspaper (English)

Russia warns of more bloodshed if West insists on Assad ouster - NOW Lebanon

Why Romney Is the War Candidate (Cont'd) - The Atlantic

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Bomb attack near Shiite shrine kills 8 south of Damascus - NOW Lebanon

VIDEO: Terrorists Bomb Shiite Damascus Suburb of Sayyeda Zaynab Killing 8, Injuring 13 - LiveLeak.com 

Syria rebels form brigade to battle pro-Assad Palestinians - chicagotribune.com

Libyan leads brigade of Syrian and foreign fighters - The Long War Journal

Syrian rebels release abducted Lebanese journalist - Al Akhbar English

VIDEO: Syrian rebels destroy an Armenian church and burn the Holy Bible in Aleppo - YouTube

VIDEO: Terror in the Making as Reported by al-Jadeed TV - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: Afghan Refugee kidnapped by rebels in Syria - YouTube

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VIDEO (article): Meet the YPG, the Kurdish Militia That Fought the FSA in Aleppo - VICE

FSA chief: Clashes between FSA and PYD the work of Assad regime - todayszaman

VIDEO: Insurgents Clash with Kurds North of Aleppo, Syria - YouTube

VIDEO (article): Turkey police crack down on Kurds - CNN

Turkish PM says issue of Syria no-fly zone, civilian safe areas is up to Security Council - The Washington Post

Syria rebels commute in Turkish ambulances, report says - PressTV

Turkey denies its ambulances targeted by Syrian army - todayszaman

VIDEO: Rebels say Iran supplies the Syrian government with drones - YouTube

Iran and Syria swap fuels as both aim to dodge sanctions - Reuters

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Rebel-Kurd tensions boil over in Syria's north - NOW Lebanon

PKK threatens of militarily interference to protect Kurds in Syrian Kurdistan - ekurd

PYD says KNC responsible for clashes with FSA members - todayszaman

Kurdish resistance may break the Syrian rebels - daily beast

Turkish police clash with Kurds marching in solidarity with the political prisoners on hunger strike - ekurd

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Syrian rebels clash with army, Palestinian fighters - AFP

Armenian Church Burned in Aleppo, Ten passengers of a bus, among them seven Armenians, kidnapped -  Armenian Weekly

Rebels claim responsibility for killing Syrian general - NOW Lebanon

Syrian rebels ‘buying arms from the regime' - AFP

Al-Nusra Front stage an Islamic Legitimate Court against 7 Syrian civil citizens, accusing them of being loyal to the Syrian Government - .documents.sy

VIDEO: Terrorists in Syria Practice What They Do Best: Beheading - LiveLeak

VIDEO: Syrian rebels executes/kills an alleged Shiite fighter - Liveleak

VIDEO: Syrian rebel snipers target Syrian pro-Assad teacher - YouTube

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FSA chief says Tehran, Moscow sending weapons to regime via seaports - NOW Lebanon

Iran asks Iraq not to search Syria-bound planes - AFP

Turkey rules out dialogue with Syria as ‘pointless' - todayszaman

Over 60 Syrians detained in Jordan - NOW Lebanon

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Brahimi: “The situation is bad and getting worse" in Syria - RIA Novosti

VIDEO: Brahimi: No plans to send UN peacekeepers to Syria now - CCTV News - CNTV English

Lavrov: Sending peacekeeping forces to Syria can only be taken by the Security Council and after the Syrian government agrees to it - SANA

At least 10 killed, dozens injured in Damascus car bomb blast - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Second Car bomb explosion kills several near Damascus - PressTV

VIDEO: First images of the terrorist bombing in Jaramana, 11 Martyrs - YouTube

A bomb during Father Fadi Haddad's funeral kills several, "martyr of reconciliation and harmony" - Fides Service

UK blocks Russian condemnation of Syria terrorism - Voice of Russia

Syria denounced “Disruption of issuing UN statements that condemn Terrorism” - DayPress

VIDEO: Rebel Sectarian Practices During the Eid Ceasefire, 1-Week Period (Oct 21-29) - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: Terrorist sniper killed this old man for supporting Assad - YouTube

VIDEO: Al-Qaeda Songs Praising 9/11 Sung by Saudi Jihadis in anti-Assad Demonstration in Syria - YouTube

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Beijing Report Says Chinese Muslims Are in Syria - ABC News

Lebanese Authorities Detain 8 Syrians, 6 Affiliated with FSA, over Possession of Illegal Weapons — Naharnet

Lebanese man killed while assembling machine gun for Syrian rebels - THE DAILY STAR

SNC condemns detention of Lebanese reporter Itani by Syrian rebels - callcenterinfo

Syrian opposition discusses post-Assad transition in İstanbul - todayszaman

VIDEO: Syria- The untold story, Mother Agnes- part 4 - YouTube

VIDEO: Syria- The untold story, Mother Agnes- part 5 - YouTube

VIDEO: Syria - The untold story, Mother Agnes- part 6 - YouTube

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Report: FSA Abductor of the Lebanese Pilgrims Killed by Kurds while Trying to Storm Aleppo Town — Naharnet

Syria rebels, Kurdish militia discuss cease-fire - CNN.com

Religious and sectarian tensions simmer in Syria's Aleppo - AFP

Kurdish man tortured by rebels dies, activists say - NOW Lebanon

Turkey under pressure over Kurdish hunger strike - ekurd

UK's The Guardian: Pro-government media have ignored Kurdish hunger strikes in Turkey - ekurd

Report: Turkey again responds to Syrian shell - Yahoo! News

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Despite failed ceasefire, Syria peace envoy not giving up - Herald Sun

Turkey says Syria’s al-Assad can stay, Such a development emerged in discussions between Erdogan and Ahmadinejad  - WND

Ankara and Washington Strained Relationship over Syria - todayszaman

US commanders spark questions over military presence in Turkey - todayszaman

US has about 70 nuclear bombs in Turkey - PressTV

Turkey failing to stop terror finance, The OECD Financial Action Task Force has threatened to suspend Turkey if it doesn’t fix its laws - Money Jihad

Turkish IHH Sending Heavy Arms to Syrian Terrorists - islamicinvitationturkey

Picture shows captured Turkish journalist in Syria alive - Reuters

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VIDEO (LIVE FEED): Terrorists in Aleppo Syria Attack Peaceful Kurdish Protestors, Several deaths on both sides - LiveLeak.com

‘Die slowly, Christian dog’, Islamist Rebel Commander Injects Syringe Filled With Diesel Fuel Into Christian - The Spectator

VIDEO: Syrian Rebels Admit on Camera to Bombing Civilian Areas in Homs During Eid Ceasefire - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: Al Qaeda in Syria (Al Nusra Front) hold a demonstration to celebrate Eid: 'We are Students of Osama' - YouTube

VIDEO: Lebanese journalist arrested by Syrian rebels appears in video, safe and sound - LBCI News

VIDEO: Syria- The untold story, Mother Agnes- part 2 - YouTube

VIDEO: Syria- The untold story, Mother Agnes- part 3 - YouTube

VIDEO: How The Wahhabis prepare for war - YouTube

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Over 150 dead since Eid ceasefire began in Syria – reports - RT

UN Security Council Refuses to Condemn Damascus Blast - RIA Novosti

VIDEO: Ceasefire??? Terrorist car bombing in Daf al-Shawk - YouTube

Syrian Air Force & Air Defense Overview - Institute for the Study of War

NPR Interview - Variety Of Weapons Increases In Syrian Conflict - Additional Information - Brown Moses Blog

Aazaz Rebels Arrest Lebanese Journalist in Syria, Oqab Saqr Negotiating his Release — Naharnet

VIDEO: Syrian opposition leader threatens Alawites with ethnic cleansing - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO:  Syrian rebels execute captured Syrian soldiers - YouTube

VIDEO: Rebel sniper prevents Syrians from helping an alleged policeman - LiveLeak.com

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Syrian rebels and Kurdish militiamen clash in Aleppo - guardian.co.uk

VIDEO; Kurdish militias clash with Syrian rebels in Asrafiyah disrict of Aleppo- LiveLeak.com

VIDEO; People of the Syriacs District in Aleppo Tell their Experience with FSA - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: Funeral of murdered Christian bishop Fadi Haddad - LiveLeak.com

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Influx of Iraqi Shiites to Syria Widens War’s Scope - NYTimes.com

Origin of Syrian shells into Turkey unclear, US general says - hurriyetdailynews 

No Syria-related US military presence in Turkey: Turkish army - DAWN.COM

VIDEO; Syrian rebels find Iranian cash in the wallets of Assad's militiamen - The Times of Israel

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

No Eid ceasefire for Syria: Car bomb rocks Damascus killing children, fighting rages at checkpoints (PHOTOS, VIDEO) — RT

General Command of the Syrian Army: Terrorist Groups Continued Committing Breaches of Ceasefire on Friday Afternoon - SANA, Syria

In Aleppo, Syria cease-fire was short-lived - CSMonitor.com

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Was Syrian weapons shipment factor in ambassador’s Benghazi visit? - Fox News

Benghazi Blowback Confirmed: US Intel Confirms Attack Linked to Pipeline of Libyan Jihadis to Syria - Daily Kos

US intel believes some Benghazi attackers tied to al Qaeda in Iraq – CNN.com Blogs

The Benghazi Suspect in the Ambassador Killing Was Headed to Syria - emptywheel

Glen Doherty, Former Navy SEAL Killed in Libya, Was on Intel Mission to Track Weapons - ABC News

Syrian rebels squabble over weapons as biggest shipload arrives from Libya - The Times

Attack in Libya Was Major Blow to C.I.A. Efforts - NYTimes.com

Ambassador Stevens warned of Islamic extremism before Benghazi consulate attack - Washington Times

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Syria Declares Eid Cease-Fire Through Monday - voa

US urges Syria, rebels to respect ceasefire - NOW Lebanon

Turkey's border towns want Syria truce - Al Jazeera English

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Russia suggests U.S. coordinating arms supplies to Syria rebels, State Department spokeswoman says the latest Russian suggestion is "ludicrous" - Reuters

The Qatar Conundrum: The Emirate That Arms Syria’s Rebels Also Embraces Hamas - TIME.com

VIDEO: FSA scored some new toys: RPG-26 and RPG-27 - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: Lebanese Politician: Thousands of Missiles Will Rain Down on Turkey If It Intervenes in Syria - YouTube

Iraqi Shiites brace for violence amid Syria fears - AP

Russia, Peru and Ecuador join voices on Syria - Voice of Russia

Any military intervention in the Middle East to result in global chaos: Brzezinski - Voice of Russia

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The Orthodox priest kidnapped in Damascus found dead, "His body was horribly tortured and his eyes gouged out" - Fides Service

Pastor and Family Executed in Syria - Christian News

Syria Crisis: Foreign Fighters Worry And Boost Syrian Rebels - ap

Syria crisis: Discord grows between Islamist and secular rebels - BBC

VIDEO: Syrian rebels destroying cannabis and marijuana - LiveLeak.com

Militants Assault the Residents in al-Ashrafia area of Aleppo - Friends of Syria

Syria and the Myth of the Peaceful Start of the Protests - SyriaNews

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Propaganda in the U.S. media is very real. In an attempt to counteract its effects and to offer the Charlottesville public a deeper understanding of the situation in the Middle East, Random Row Books has invited several local experts to give their take on the continuing volatility in that region.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at Random Row Books

Helena Cobban is a British-American writer and researcher on international relations, with special interests in the Middle East, the international system, and transitional justice. In March 2010, she founded Just World Publishing.

Roy Hange pastors Charlottesville Mennonite Church and has worked with Mennonite Central Committee in Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East. He has taught faith-based peacebuilding courses at EMU and UVA.

David Swanson is a local author and activist at the forefront of the peace movement in America. During Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent visit to New York for the U.N. talks, David was one of several activists who had dinner with the Iranian president. His most recent books are War is a Lie and When the World Outlawed War. He also hosts Talk Nation Radio.

W. Scott Harrop currently teaches in the Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Culture at UVA, with Iran as his area of expertise.

Videos by Kathryn

Final decision on ceasefire Thursday, says Syria - NOW Lebanon

Syria rebels say will cease fire if government does so first - NOW Lebanon

Islamic militant group Al Nusra rejects truce - AP

Damascus car bomb kills six: state TV - chicagotribune.com

Syrian ministry tells UN “armed terrorist groups” responsible for Douma massacre - NOW Lebanon

VIDEO: Douma Massacre - YouTube

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Aleppo business leaders targeted by Syrian rebels - alarabiya

Russian Church Highlights Persecution of Christians in Syria - RIA Novosti

VIDEO: Russian Orthodox Church Fears for Christians in Syria - Video Dailymotion

VIDEO: Testimony of Syrian Woman about FSA Practices - YouTube

VIDEO: Members of FSA al-Tawhid Brigade in Aleppo Pray Before Battle for Islam to Prevail in Syria, Kill All the Enemies of God - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: Creation of 4 Al Qaeda terror groups on the outskirts of Damascus - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: FSA Toys"R"Us Brigade formation - LiveLeak.com

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Syrian Rebels Have US Stinger Missiles: Russian General - RIA Novosti

U.S. not supplying Stinger missiles to Syrian rebels: Pentagon - chicagotribune.com

VIDEO: Syria: Turkish Aselsan Stinger (Atılgan PMADS) downs Russian MIG-23 - YouTube

Many Turks Concerned with Erdogan's Syria Policy - voa

VIDEO: Iraq PM Maliki's Reaction to Syria - PBS

Obama administration open to bilateral talks with Iran - UPI.com

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

VIDEO: Obama and Romney disagree on arming Syrian rebels - 9news.com

Turks say no to Syria intervention if Assad falls, Fifty-one percent believe that Turkey must “remain impartial without favoring any side" - AFP

Turkish opposition party chief opposes military intervention in Syria in WSJ article - todayszaman

Turkey lobbies for a proposal to bypass UNSC deadlock over Syria - todayszaman

Senior US commander in Ankara for talks on Syria, PKK - todayszaman

Did Erdogan and Putin talked in raised voice on Syria? - kavkazcenter.com 

Lavrov: Russia Demands That Turkey Acknowledge Publicly that Syrian Plane Forced to Land in Turkey Didn't Carry Any Weapons- SANA

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Erbil Agreement Yet to be Fully Implemented in Syrian Kurdistan - Rudaw

Lawmaker Claims Syrian Kurds Trained in Iraqi Kurdistan - Al-Monitor

Hashemi: Iran supplying Assad through ground convoys - The Cable

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Syria’s SNC chief shows no optimism over Brahimi’s call for Eid al-Adha truce - alarabiya

Syria rebel military councils pessimistic on mediator's ceasefire plan - Reuters

U.N. plans for Syria peacekeeping force if ceasefire holds - alarabiya

Vatican peace delegation to visit Syria “as soon as possible" - NOW Lebanon

The Maronite Archbishop of Damascus: questions, fears and prayers of the Christians of Syria after the car bomb massacre of Bab Touma - Agenzia Fides

Lavrov: President al-Assad Enjoys the Support of the Majority of Syrian People, he is the guarantee of the safety of minorities - SANA

Kofi Annan: Paul Ryan ‘dead wrong’ on Syria - Foreign Policy

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Jordanian soldier killed fighting militants crossing into Syria - NOW Lebanon

1st pay day for Syrian rebels in Aleppo, they are now paid $150 per month - AFP

Syrian rebels worried al-Qaeda infiltrating rebellion - USAToday

Damascus vigilantes vow to defend turf, Pro-regime community defence groups are springing up - FT.com

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Baghdad to investigate Syrian Kurds training in Kurdistan Region - Kurdpress News Aganecy

Kurdish National Council Prepares for Second Convention - Rudaw

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

U.N. envoy Brahimi meets Assad and urges unilateral ceasefires by both sides - alarabiya

Assad tells Syria envoy arms flows to rebels must stop - Reuters

U.S. endorses Syria Eid ceasefire call - Chicago Tribune

VIDEO: Kofi Annan: Syria Military Intervention Won't Work - huffingtonpost

VIDEO: At least 13 killed, dozens injured in Damascus car bombing amid UN peace envoy visit - RT

Car bomb explodes at French hospital in Syria's Aleppo - Xinhua | English.news.cn

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Jordan disrupts major al-Qaeda terrorist plot, the group had amassed a stockpile of explosives and weapons from Syrian battlefields - The Washington Post

US sets $12 million reward for 2 al-Qaida members, they use an “extensive network of Kuwaiti jihadist donors” to send money and fighters via Turkey to Syria - VOA

70 Britons ready to join jihad in Syria - The Sunday Times

The Popular preacher leading an armed gang of jihadis in Syria - Telegraph

Syria: Terrorists Violated a Shia Muslim Girl, Left Her Bare in StreeT - abna

VIDEO: Syrian Rebels Behead an Already Dead Syrian Pilot - Firstpost

VIDEO: Syrian rebel comments 'we beheaded Syrian soldiers' - hator-Ra!

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VIDEO: Clashes in Beirut as security chief mourners attempt to storm govt HQ - RT

Report: Turkish retaliatory fire has killed 12 Syrian soldiers - todayszaman

Turkey makes case for buffer zone in Syria with dim hopes of success - Xinhua

Syria strife tests Turkish Alawites - Al Jazeera English

Turkish unions, parties against Erdogan anti-Syria policies - PressTV 

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Beirut car bomb kills top official, 7 others - cbsnews.com

VIDEO: Al Jazeera interviews Lebanon's information minister - YouTube

VIDEO: Lebanon blast- Eight die in Beirut car bombing - YouTube

VIDEO: Bomb Blast in Beirut, Lebanon (raw footage) - YouTube

VIDEO: Syria Spillover: Lebanon Border battle rages as arms smugglers cash in on chaos - YouTube

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UN and Arab League chiefs urge Eid truce in Syria - NOW Lebanon

Syria wants calm situation, dialogue, spokesperson says - NOW Lebanon

Syrian opposition group supports Eid al-Adha ceasefire - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Pope Allies With the Ayatollahs In a New Syria Mediation Effort - Al-Monitor

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Al Nusrah Front states it commanded Free Syrian Army unit, 'Chechen emigrants,' in assault on Syrian air defense base - The Long War Journal

Rivalry sends Syrian rebels into disarray - FT.com

US State Department: Al-Qaeda sends money and fighters via Turkey to Syria - todayszaman

Turkey pounds Syria in response to shells — RT

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Emails said to reveal dismay among Al-Jazeera staff over its “biased and unprofessional” coverage of Syria - al-akhbar

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Iran and Turkey Join Syria Peace Envoy in Truce Call - NYTimes.com

VIDEO: Syria Opposition: "Sneaky Dictator Assad Cannot Be Trusted to Honor Eid Ceasefire" - YouTube

SNC Opposes Role for Assad Officials in Transition - Al-Monitor

Brahimi says Syria temporary ceasefire may form “real truce" - NOW Lebanon

VIDEO: Interview with Bishop Antoine Audo of Aleppo, Syria - YouTube

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Syrian Military’s Bombing Attack Kills Dozens - NYTimes.com

VIDEO: Syrian Military’s Bombing Attack - YouTube

Russian S-400s relocated near Turkey. Hizballah shifts units, rockets into Syria - DEBKAfile

Turkey ‘Admits’ Russian Air Cargo Legal - RIA Novosti

In split between neighbours, Sunnis besiege 2 Shiite villages, showing Syria's divides - calgaryherald.com

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Syrian rebels said to cut deals for arms from extremists - CNN.com Blogs

Missiles for Syrian rebels: Smuggled Manpads may end up in extremist hands - RT

Jordan arrests Qaeda's Zarqawi cousins on way back from Syria - Ahram Online

British gang of Muslims waging war in Syria 'pose threat to UK' - Telegraph

VIDEO: British Jihadists Going To Syria For Jihad - YouTube

The Syrian opposition's fanatical factions: a fool's guide - Al Bawaba

VIDEO: Captured Rebels in Aleppo Syria with Child Soldier - LiveLeak.com

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Syria envoy says bloodshed could engulf Middle East, pitching Sunnis against Shi'ites - Reuters

VIDEO: UN envoy warns of Syria crisis spillover - YouTube

Syrian regime and opponents consider Brahimi ceasefire proposal - BBC News 

If Syrian regime abides with ceasefire so does SNC: Seyda - Anadolu Agency

Pro-Hezbollah fighters and rebels clashing in Lebanon-Syria border, residents say - NOW Lebanon

PKK vow 'reprisal' if Turkey attacks Syrian Kurds - AFP

Iraq Intends to Deploy Troops in North of Country to Avoid Turkish Army’s Military Operations- turkishweekly.net

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France Reiterates Syria Cluster Bomb Charge -RIA Novosti

VIDEO: New Cluster Bomb Videos - Brown Moses Blog

Putin: Only the U.N. Security Council could restrict Russian weapons sales abroad - Reuters

Saudi Arabia, Qatar clash over funding Salafists vs Muslim Brotherhood in Syria - breakingnews

Syrian rebels may have acquired surface-to-air missiles - Telegraph

VIDEO: Helicopter explodes in the sky - LiveLeak.com

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Bill Kristol, a top neoconservative.
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

In addition to their advocacy positions on Iraq (invade immediately), Israel (support unconditionally), and military spending (abide “no hesitation in requesting whatever funds for defense are needed”), the signatories urged a tougher stance on Hezbollah, as well as its state sponsors in Damascus and Tehran.

Read the rest at Alternet.

Syria: Assad regime ready to explore four day truce - Telegraph

Exiled opposition would welcome any Syria truce, SNC leader says - NOW Lebanon

Erdoğan meets Ahmadinejad seeking to bridge widening gap over Syria, moots three-way regional talks between Egypt, Turkey and Iran - chicagotribune.com

No sign of Syria-Turkey war: U.S. Ambassador - hurriyetdailynews

US says Turkey needs urgent help on Syrian refugees, It has exceeded 100,000 - todayszaman

Pope sending delegation, including NY cardinal, to Damascus to express solidarity with Syrians - Fox News

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UN: Islamists Threaten to Radicalize Syrian War - ABC News

Divided Syrian rebels agree on joint leadership, It will include secular and Islamist groups - www.reuters.com

Iraqi Shia militants fight for Syria's Assad, "We formed the Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas brigade which includes 500 Iraqi, Syrian and some other nationalities" - REUTERS

Syria: Rebels losing support in Aleppo - GlobalPost

Rebels in Syria's largest city of Aleppo mostly poor, pious and from rural backgrounds - Fox News

Jihadists' Rise in Arab World Threatens Region's Stability - AP

Holy Warriors, A field guide to Syria's jihadi groups - Foreign Policy

Are Foreign Jihadists Gaining Influence Inside the Syrian Rebel Forces? - The Daily Beast

European Muslims hoping to fight in Syria's rebellion raise new fears - Fox News

VIDEO: Syrian Rebels Abuse Body of Executed Civilian - Crimes Against Humanity - YouTube

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Propaganda in the U.S. media is very real. In an attempt to counteract its effects and to offer the Charlottesville public a deeper understanding of the situation in the Middle East, Random Row Books has invited several local experts to give their take on the continuing volatility in that region.

Wednesday, October 24th beginning at 7 PM

at Random Row Books

Helena Cobban is a British-American writer and researcher on international relations, with special interests in the Middle East, the international system, and transitional justice. In March 2010, she founded Just World Publishing.

W. Scott Harrop currently teaches in the Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Culture at UVA, with Iran as his area of expertise.

David Swanson is a local author and activist at the forefront of the peace movement in America. During Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent visit to New York for the U.N. talks, David was one of several activists who had dinner with the Iranian president. His most recent books are War is a Lie and When the World Outlawed War. He also hosts Talk Nation Radio.

Roy Hange pastors Charlottesville Mennonite Church and has worked with Mennonite Central Committee in Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East. He has taught faith-based peacebuilding courses at EMU and UVA.

VIDEO: Syria Denies Cluster Bomb Allegations - VOA

VIDEO: Russia: No confirmation Soviet cluster bombs used in Syria - YouTube

Ankara insists intercepted Syrian plane carried "war equipment" - NOW Lebanon

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New US intelligence: Syrian rebels don’t have the numbers to win, The revised figure appears to be around 30,000 fighters - DEBKAfile

Syrian rebels' war machine funded by looted historical artifacts - Money Jihad

Heat-Seeking Missiles in Syria: The SA-7 in Action with Rebels - NYTimes.com

Syrian army corpses mark rebel attack on missile base - NOW Lebanon

Al-Arabiya: Bodies of Hezbollah fighters arrive from Syria to Lebanon - NOW Lebanon

Syrian rebels “kidnap” Ukrainian journalist - NOW Lebanon

VIDEO: Shoot down of a Libyan plane in 2011, published in 2012 in Syria - YouTube

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UN peace envoy to Syria denies plans to deploy 3,000 peacekeeping troops, calls for a temporary ceasefire - RT

UN envoy mulls Syria peacekeepers, SNC says- NOW Lebanon

Qatar Says Any Syria Peacekeeping Mission Must Have Enough Members, Equipment - Naharnet

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

FSA chief hits back at Hezbollah, says group involved in Syrian fighting - NOW Lebanon

FSA says it killed 60 Hezbollah fighters - Asharq Alawsat Newspaper (English)

Nasrallah denies reports that Hizbullah commander and fighters were killed while fighting alongside the Syrian regime - Naharnet

Syrian Opposition Head: Hizbullah Must Reconsider Positions, Prepare for Post-Assad Phase - Naharnet

Hezbollah emerges as new threat for Syria rebels - The Australian

Hezbollah’s Qassem calls on Hariri to “stop arming” Syrian rebels - saidaonline.com

Hezbollah foes say support for Assad puts Lebanon at risk - Reuters

Syrian regime supporters stage Beirut rally - NOW Lebanon

VIDEO: Syrian Rebels Murder 8 Syrian Workers Returning on a Bus from Lebanon - YouTube

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How rent-a-mob jihadis are tormenting a benighted Christian minority in Bashar al-Assad's Syria - The Independent

The Alawites and the Future of Syria - Gatestone Institute

YPG establishes third Kurdish brigade in Kobanê in Syrian Kurdistan - ekurd

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Al-Qaida poised for resurgence, Fall of Syria could trigger major expansion - wnd.com

Hijacking a Rebellion: New Trends in al-Qaeda Tactics - Praemon

Warning: Jihadist fighting in Syria may return to U.S. and U.K., At the heart of it all is Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries because that is where the money comes from - BIZPAC Review

The Times: British Terrorists Killed in Syria Were Gunmen who Attacked Syrian Army, Not Journalists - SANA

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Turkey closes airspace to Syrian civilian flights after similar move by Damascus - RT

Turkey Dismisses Security Dialog with Syria - RIA Novosti

Report: Russians aboard intercepted Syrian plane were state agents - todayszaman

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VIDEOS: Cluster bombs used by the Syrian Army - Brown Moses Blog

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Erdogan calls for UN security council reform over failure to pressure Syria - guardian.co.uk

VIDEO: Turkey's PM attacks UN security council on Syria – guardian.co.uk

The pro-war lobby rallies in Turkey - todayszaman

Turkey Moves Tanks to 250 Hilltops Overlooking Syria - Bloomberg

VIDEO: Turkey Moves 250 Tanks to Hilltops Overlooking Syria - YouTube

Analysts: Chances of Syria war engulfing wider region growing, but Turkey wading in probably wouldn’t help the rebels - nationalpost.com

For Erdogan quarrel with Assad is one thing, Putin another - Yahoo! News

VIDEO: Intercepted: First video aboard Syria-bound plane diverted by Turkey - YouTube

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UN peace envoy draws up plan for 3,000 strong peacekeeping force in Syria - Telegraph

VIDEO: Rebel fighters 'capture' 250 Syrian soldiers - Al Jazeera

VIDEO: Assad Fighter Jet Shot Down over Aleppo City - YouTube

VIDEO: FSA Assault Air Defence Base - YouTube

VIDEO: FSA captures yet another Syrian Assad army outpost near Maaret Numan - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: Syria Assad Soldiers Surrender in Al Zeinah - YouTube

Syrian soldiers take shelter in Turkey as they escaped from opposition- todayszaman

VIDEO: Rebels massacre number of policemen, throw them in the river - YouTube

VIDEO: Terrorists in Syria Decapitate Injured Soldier - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: Terrorist: Thanks to our Rockets, We Will Establish State of Islam in Syria - LiveLeak.com

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Qaeda linked Nusra Front joins rebels to seize missile base near Syria's largest city, activists say - Fox News

VIDEO: Nusra Front captures SAA Air Defence Base + Radar + AA Missiles + Scuds - LiveLeak.com

Pro-Government Syrians See Larger Sectarian Forces at Play - VOA

Director of Aleppo’s University hospital assassinated by Syrian rebels - islamicinvitationturkey

VIDEOS: Cluster Bomb Usage Rises Significantly Across Syria - Brown Moses Blog

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VIDEO: Biden and Ryan clash on Syria - YouTube

VIDEO: Syrian plane grounded by Turkey carried radar equipment, no weapons: Lavrov - RT

Turkey Scrambles Fighter Planes To Syrian Border - Huffington Post

Report: Syria Deploys Missiles near Border with Lebanon, in case Turkey uses Lebanese territories to attack it - Naharnet

Qatar calls UN to back arming Syrian opposition, no-fly zone -  Ahram Online

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Turkey's High Risk Game

by Stephen Lendman  

Turkey is Washington's lead anti-Syrian belligerent. It's playing with fire. It may end up burned. For good reason, Assad blames Ankara for heightened tensions and border confrontations. 

On October 11, he told the Turkish daily Aydinlik he has "no difficulties with either Turkish people or its army, only with its government."

Turkish PM says Syrian plane was carrying Russian-made munitions - todayszaman

Russian arms export source says its arms not on Syrian plane, Moscow says “the lives and safety of the passengers were placed under threat” - The Globe and Mail

VIDEO: 'We were handcuffed at gunpoint' - flight engineer of Syria-bound plane - YouTube

VIDEO: Four beaten when masked men boarded Syria-bound plane' - attendant - YouTube

Syria: Erdogan keeps lying over plane, The information ministry challenged Erdogan to show the alleged weapons seized - PressTV

US Warned Turkey of Weapons on Syrian Plane - Israel National News

Syria-Turkey dialogue needed to resolve conflict -- Lavrov - Armenian News | Tert.am

No arms being smuggled into Syria via Iraq, Maliki says - Now Lebanon

Hezbollah denies sending fighters into Syria - Reuters

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VIDEO: Syria's FSA 'splintering into factions': Interview with the FSA Chief - YouTube

Syria's Islamist rebels join forces against Assad, form the "Front to Liberate Syria" - Reuters

Syrian opposition conference postponed until November - Voice of Russia

Eight Syrian workers die in rebel attack on bus at Lebanon border - Now Lebanon

French terror cell allegedly planned trip to Syria - Fox News

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U.S. Military Sent to Jordan on Syria Crisis - NYTimes.com

VIDEO: US Forces Deployed On Jordan-Syria Border Leon Panetta Confirms - YouTube

Iraqi PM: Turkey not threatened by Syria, don't overblow war or drag in NATO — RT

Turkey Seizes Cargo from Syrian Plane Forced to Land in Ankara - VOA Breaking News

First formal displaced persons camp opens inside Syria near the Turkish border - Now Lebanon

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Muslim  Brotherhood: The proposal that VP al-Sharaa leads the transitional phase is a satisfactory solution to both sides, the opposition and Assad's regime - Al Monitor

Syrian National Council will in a 'matter of days' set up in a rebel-controlled area inside Syria - Sky News

Syria's main opposition bloc to restructure, seek new impetus - Reuters

Chaos among Syrian rebels allows jihadists to thrive - alarabiya.net

A Shadow State in Lebanon for the Syrian Opposition - Al Akhbar English

Syrian rebels battle attack army in landmark Aleppo mosque- Now Lebanon

VIDEO: al-Qaeda Terrorists Target Aleppo Christians via Mortar Rounds - LIVELEAK

VIDEO: Terrorists Massacre Civilians in a Bus in Al Ramosi in the name of Jihad - LIVELEAK

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

NATO Edges Closer to War on Syria

by Stephen Lendman

Waging war is easy. Instigate provocative incidents. Blame them on targeted countries. False flags work as planned. So do Big Lies repeated enough times to get most people to believe them.

NATO vows to back Turkey in Syria clashes. Is a broader war likely? - CSMonitor.com

Turkey deploys fighter jets to reinforce base at southern border with Syria and Iraq— www.timesofisrael.com

Maliki in Russia for huge arms deal and Syria agreement, stands against the logic of overthrowing the regime by force - AFP

Iraq helps keep Syria fueled, The Iraqi Oil Ministry made deliveries worth of $14 million in June and July - UPI.com

Iran aids Syria in tracking opposition via electronic surveillance, U.S. officials say - The Washington Post

VIDEO: NATO Vows to Protect Turkey Against Syria - YouTube

VIDEO: Turkey sends fighter jets to Syrian border - YouTube

VIDEO: FSA Launch Rockets in the Syria-Turkey Border - Liveleak

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Romney Says U.S. Needs to Match Iran’s Influence in Syria, He is prepared to work with Saudi Arabia and Turkey to facilitate the delivery of weapons to Syrian rebels - ABC News

Qaeda-Linked Group Says It Struck Compound on Edge of Damascus - NYTimes.com

FSA warns to take battle to Hezbollah stronghold in the heart of Beirut - Now Lebanon

VIDEOS: SNC leader meets Free Syria Army fighters inside Syria - World Bulletin

VIDEO: Romney says he would seek to arm Syrian rebels - YouTube

VIDEO: UNICEF Strikes Deal to Expand Syria Relief Efforts - YouTube

Syrian Kurds Opening their Doors to Fleeing Arabs - Rudaw

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Worrisome Middle East Developments

by Stephen Lendman

Days of Syrian/Turkish border incidents threaten further escalation into something more serious. Free Syrian Army (FSA) militants fired mortar rounds on Turkish territory from Syrian locations they control.

Assad was wrongfully blamed for their provocation. Syria has been very circumspect. It wants tensions cooled. Turkey's Erdogan made hostile threats. Events bear watching.