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Syrian forces overruns rebellious village as violence spikes

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both sides are using more powerful weapons.

So where exactly are the supposedly rag tag rebels getting more powerful weapons. Are they cobbling them together from sticks and stones on the ground.

amateur videos posted online by activists suggest the opposition is using powerful anti-tank missiles.

These must be homemade I guess.

“There are arms being delivered, and on both sides,” Fabius said.

I see, a clear admission from the foreign minister of France that the "rebels" are being armed by foreign interests. This is in addition to the Russian FM who has stated the same thing several times.

On Tuesday, an angry crowd hurled rocks and sticks at the U.N. mission’s vehicles, forcing them to turn back. None of the observers was hurt.

That tells you whose side the average everyday people of Syria are one. They hate the foreigners who are trying to subvert their country and Syrians know who is really behind all the massacres.

Like every other country, foreigners, get out.

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Like every other country, foreigners, get out.

I note you don't mention Russias sale of arms to your master Assad. Guess thats ok, as long as it allows Assad to put people back under his boot.

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Correct me if I'm wrong but weapons trading among nations is standard and common practice. The US is the biggest player in that market.

Is Russia not allowed to sell its helicopters?

Is the Syrian government not allowed to buy equipment?

Japan is buying F-35s from the US, is that wrong or illegal? I don't think so.

Perhaps if a criminal, the Yakuza or any individual person in Japan wished to buy a weapon like the F-35 it would be illegal for the US to supply a non-state entity with such military equipment. But state to state trading is standard international practice.

Moreover, the tender for these helicopters was several years ago, before the foreign insurgency even started. So Russia is merely fulfilling its obligation for a contract that was already signed and paid for years ago.

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NeverSubmit: Correct me if I'm wrong but weapons trading among nations is standard and common practice.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but your statement has been stripped of all context, sanitized, and presented as if we're just having a general discussion about worldwide weapon sales. I suppose if you remove allegations of mass killing peaceful demonstrators then yes, your statement sounds entirely reasonable. Under the circumstances, however, isn't it just plain ol' propaganda?

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@molenir--I liked the comment you made on the Wisconsin election thread about distinguishing between a candidate's politics and ethics (especially lack of). NS here seems to just gloss over the ethics of civilian mass murder while focusing on the legality or political acceptability of war and arms dealing.

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allegations of mass killing peaceful demonstrators

Allegations is the key word in that sentence.

There are allegations ad infinitum in Global Politics, but they are just that allegations. And until independently and impartially verified I'm withholding judgment. If anything, since the allegations are being touted only by one organization, the murky London-based SOHR, I'm inclined to doubt them.

Moreover, since the UN have been allowed unimpeded access to the massacre sites for over a week now and they have yet to provide any evidence of the claim of Syrian soldiers killing their own countrymen, I'm going to stick with the growing consensus that the rebel insurgents, who stand the gain immensely from more foreign involvement, staged these massacres for their own gain and to further their agenda.

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NeverSubmit: Allegations is the key word in that sentence.

Your omission of allegations is the key mechanism in your propaganda.

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And until independently and impartially verified I'm withholding judgment.

You know something? I honestly believe, in your own way, you might think you are withholding judgment. However, to the naked eye, your posts consistently indicate a person who has solidly made a judgment and it clearly favors the Assad government.

staged these massacres for their own gain and to further their agenda.

See, here you have clearly made a judgment. Now, do you think you can explain why you are so sure the rebels are not homegrown? If possible, I would also like to see some sources of information that lead you to being this sure. Remember, you did incorrectly claim the Russian FM said something along the lines of there were a lot of foreigners speaking foreign languages in the ranks of the rebels, when he never said any such thing. Did you see how this can lead to a lack of credibility on your part. Surely you want us to understand your point of view, right? That is why you post about this so much, right? So, please share your sources so that we may share in your knowledge.

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The Russia weapon manufacturing machine stands to make tons of money off of this, so why would they stop? It's their liquid gold; it's their oil.

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SuperLib I suppose if you remove allegations of mass killing peaceful demonstrators then yes, your statement sounds entirely reasonable.

And these "peaceful demonstrators " can successfully stand against regular army.

These "peaceful demonstrators " have destroyed dozens of tanks and have killed thousands of soldiers

Are you kidding me ?

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lostrune The Russia weapon manufacturing machine stands to make tons of money off of this, so why would they stop? It's their liquid gold; it's their oil.

What about Iraq and holy&saints USA ? no money at all , only democracy promotion ?

Whole Iraqi war was a really big bis yeh ?

Syria has not huge oil deposits (unlike Iraq, Iran, Libya , Saudi Arabia - familiar names isn't that so ?? )

Oil&democracy democracy&oil ....... they are inseparable ....

Syria is NOT rich at all , BUT Russia Russia will defend it no matter what....

Russia&Putin will supply weapons in Syria without money if Assad will have no money ...

So freeedom fighters ? Yes sir ! Dismissed !!!

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Hard to believe that some cling to the idea that this is a homegrown rebelion.

The Saudis and others have openly admitted to financing them. And Senator McCain has recently also acknowledged that the Saudis, among others, was also arming them.

Christopher Bollyn has also documented the source of the rebel's weapons.

I suppose if you remove allegations of mass killing peaceful demonstrators...

Killing by whom? That is one of the most important question, if not the most, that needs to be answered.

We have long seen that the rebels are far from peaceful. A significant portion of the reported casualty counts are composed of Assad forces/supporters. And I suspect many of the other victims were killed by those that some people refer to as rebels.

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In all your words you have still not shown us why we should not think this is a homegrown movement. You have merely mentioned, that which has been mentioned before and acknowledged by myself and others, that this still thought to be homegrown movement is being helped by others. No one is claiming they are not. Lots of groups fighting around the world get help from somewhere else. You are constantly defending this action on the part of other groups involving other situation, in fact. However, you would never suggest that those groups are not homegrown. We "cling" to the idea, as you point it, because none of you have given us any reason to do otherwise. Paranoia is not enough. I, for one, would like to see facts and sources. Again, it is a simple request, or it should be if you are so sure of what you are saying. Are you really that sure? Fine. Show us.

Christopher Bollyn...

is a racist nut. It would be wise to ignore anything he says or anyone who suggests you should listen to him. You are better off suggesting listening to Assad himself. Although, that, of course, is not saying very much either.

By the way, seriously, what happened to "ciao"? Since then you have come back with at least four different names. You don't actually think we can't tell, do you? Maybe that explains why you think we should believe what you say no questions asked.

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Syria is NOT rich at all , BUT Russia Russia will defend it no matter what....

Russia&Putin will supply weapons in Syria without money if Assad will have no money ...

Syria is so not rich that it was able to afford to pay all those weapons.

Watch, if Syria ever decides to stop buying Russian weapons and instead buy other weapons, watch how fast Russia abandons it.

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I find that taking sides mediatically for the insurgents and being in favor of opponents of the Assad regime and thus automatically influence the world, is an act extremely disproportionate, unfair, irresponsible and dangerous. Why do our leaders and the media (with few exceptions) don't report the plight that are now experiencing the Christian minorities in this country, who until the beginning of the violence, had not the slightest problem and were living in perfect harmony in Syria but are now forced to flee by thousands because attacked by the rebels, who not only are anti-government terrorists but anti-Christian ones as they plunder the Christian neighborhoods, killing Christians and burning their churches ! Sometimes it's good to step back and think, understand and analyze on your own without any outside influence and media.

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Sometimes it's good to step back and think, understand and analyze on your own without any outside influence and media.

Wow, thanks for that. By the way, when and how long did you go to Syria to witness this for yourself?

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@lostrune

Syria is so not rich that it was able to afford to pay all those weapons.

It's not important for Russia. Assad will receive Russian help (weapons food medical supplies) regardless the state of his bank account

Watch, if Syria ever decides to stop buying Russian weapons and instead buy other weapons,

In US&UK for example....

watch how fast Russia abandons it.

Not so fast ...

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@Ben JackJun Wow, thanks for that. By the way, when and how long did you go to Syria to witness this for yourself?

Well it is not necessary to go there, when you know how to use your brain and if you have some knowledge of history (it helps) if this region isn't a mistery for you (it helps too), and then if you have Christians contacts (but not necessarily) in this region (which is my case), it is even better. !

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URO,

I will be blunt. I am rather tired of people telling me they know what is really going on and that I should not listen to this or that source, when that is exactly what these people are doing. You did the same thing, obviously. You wrote that we should: " Sometimes it's good to step back and think, understand and analyze on your own without any outside influence and media." "Without any outside influence and media"? This is how you do it? You are claiming you know people in the country? Do you think no one else here knows anyone in the country or knows about the country and its history? If you are talking to other people, you are using outside influences and not doing it on your own. You are not there, please do not talk to us as if you are.

Syria's government has a very specific history are slaughtering their own people. Papa Assad did it, You know history, right? So, you know this. Now, as I have written before, I have great concerns about just want kind of people these rebels are. I think for the region, that the present government is a better stable option. However, to attempt to use this to paint the Assad government with the brush of angels, is rather naive. It is up to the people, all of them, to decide what kind of future Syria will have. I hope they choose a good one, both for themselves and for the rest of us, as well.

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