Big Changes Ahead in Syria

[jimmy olsen]

President, Syrian Arab Republic, 2000-2011
Key responsibilities included: Managing medium sized country, including appointing ministers and generals; overseeing secret nuclear weapons project; crushing dissidents; and frequent public speeches condemning the Zionist enemy and Great Satan.

Nice

[Norgy]

The government has little power in Syria

When will America's love affair with big government end? If some Arabs can do it...

Actually, they are referring to the frequent losses of electric power. 

[Admiral Yi]

The government has little power in Syria

When will America's love affair with big government end? If some Arabs can do it...

Actually, they are referring to the frequent losses of electric power. 

[KRonn]

 

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/25/syria.unrest/index.html?hpt=T1

Syria launches bloody new crackdown as U.S. threatens sanctions

(CNN) -- The Syrian government launched a major military operation Monday, sending thousands of troops into the town where the country's uprising began, to carry out what witnesses described as a brutal, wider-scale crackdown.

The United States threatened sanctions against the country, calling for a halt to Syria's "deplorable" actions.

Between 4,000 and 5,000 members of the Army and security forces raided the southern city of Daraa just after 4 a.m. equipped with seven tanks, and began shooting indiscriminately, in some cases shooting into homes as people slept, according to an activist with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Seven people were confirmed killed in the city, the activist said.

Other witnesses described a trail of dead bodies in the streets.

"Ambulances could not help the injured because of the snipers and army officers who are deployed all over the city," one witness in Daraa said. "They shoot on anything that moves."

A military official -- the second commander in a brigade that entered Daraa -- defected over the violence, the activist with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and another opposition source said. The commander was then arrested, the activist said.
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    * Syria
    * Protests and Demonstrations

In the city of Douma, security forces took to the streets and arrested numerous people, a witness said, comparing the city to a prison.

Tommy Vietor, spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, issued a statement condemning Syria's "brutal violence" against its citizens, calling it "completely deplorable."

"The United States is pursuing a range of possible policy options, including targeted sanctions, to respond to the crackdown and make clear that this behavior is unacceptable," Vietor said in the statement. "The Syrian people's call for freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and the ability to freely choose their leaders must be heard."

The Syrian government, meanwhile, said 12 "martyrs" killed "by armed criminal groups" around the country -- including several near Daraa -- were buried. The government has been arguing that its security forces are cracking down on such groups wreaking havoc on the nation.

Fear and panic coursed through the Daraa.

Anti-government protests that have taken hold in many parts of Syria began in Daraa last month following a violent crackdown by security forces on peaceful demonstrators protesting the arrests of youths who scribbled anti-government graffiti. Protesters have asked for freedom and regime reform. Public discontent with President Bashar al-Assad's government has mounted.

Activists also want the easing of the ruling Baath Party's power and a law that would permit the establishment of independent political parties.

In recent days, witnesses in Syria had told CNN they want the security apparatus, which includes Syria's secret intelligence operatives, dissolved, and would rather see the army take to the streets. They believed the army would be friendlier to protesters -- as was the case in the Egyptian uprising. But on Monday, video from Syria showed what appeared to be members of the army carrying out al-Assad's crackdown.

As another witness spoke to CNN by phone, the sound of gunfire could be heard in the background, along with people screaming, "Allahu Akbar" -- meaning "God is great."

"There are around 3,000 soldiers in Daraa now. They are breaking into people's houses, firing randomly at houses," the resident said. "We were sleeping and not protesting."

The activist with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian forces occupied two mosques and a graveyard, and snipers were located on houses' and high rise buildings' rooftops.

Another witness also described the onslaught of tanks invading Daraa.

"Before dawn prayers, around 4:30 a.m., the Syrian security forces broke into Daraa," the witness said. "There were so many tanks that entered the city from its four corners. People were heading to mosques when the attack started. People in mosques started warning the people through loud speakers, but the gunfire had already started."

The witnesses added that ambulances were not allowed into the city and that electricity and phone lines were down. None of the witnesses wanted their names used for fear of reprisals.

CNN has not been granted access into Syria and is unable to independently verify witness accounts.

The city of Douma, north of Daraa also in southwestern Syria, was surrounded by security forces Monday, not the military, a witness told CNN. They seemed to be in every alley in the city, preventing people's movements and carrying out arrests, the witness said, adding that 15 of his friends were arrested.

Following morning prayers, intense gunfire was heard in the city, the witness said, adding that he did not see casualties in his vicinity but did not know about other areas in Douma.

Cautious calm followed later in the day, he said. Shops were closed, and people were frightened, the witness said, comparing it to "living in a big prison cell."

"As we woke up in the morning we started hearing that the Syrian security forces are arresting people randomly in (Douma)," activist and human rights lawyer Razan Zaytouni said from Damascus. "Many of these men are our colleagues and friends. I do not know the exact number yet because telephones are down. We are contacting our fellow activists through other ways other than telephones ... we are worried we cannot know their destiny."

Monday afternoon, Jordan Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh confirmed to CNN that Syrian authorities have closed off the border with Jordan.

Because Daraa lies on the border, sealing it makes it difficult for besieged residents to flee the military offensive.

The state-run news agency SANA said Monday that "seven martyrs who were killed in Nawa near Daraa by armed criminal groups were laid to rest." So were two "martyrs" killed in Moathamia, in the Damascus countryside, the report said, citing "an official source at the General Command of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces."

A military doctor "said that the martyrs' bodies had signs of mutilation that defies all humane principles, and that the firearm injuries were made to the head, torso, back and limbs of the victims, and that the bodies were mutilated with knives and sharp implements afterwards," the report said.

"The towns of Soda and Shas in Tartous, Syrian coast, escorted three of its sons who were martyred at the hands of armed criminal groups in Jobar near Damascus at Souk al-Hal while marketing their crops," the report said.

"The criminals intercepted them and shot them to death, then mutilated their bodies afterwards."

The report added that the "martyrs' relatives affirmed that the Syrian people are aware of the conspiracy targeting Syria and that they will confront it, expressing pride that their sons were martyred.

The Syrian government has accused protesters of shooting at security forces, while opposition activists and demonstrators accuse the government of killing demonstrators.

Reports of violence over the past several days have been gruesome.

On Sunday, at least three protesters were killed when security forces and secret police raided the town of Jableh on Syria's western coast and fired at demonstrators without warning, according to an eyewitness and demonstrator.

Security forces surrounded a mosque that was being used to treat the wounded, preventing 18 seriously wounded people from being hospitalized, according to a doctor inside.

On Saturday, at least 10 people died after Syrian security forces opened fire on mourners at funeral processions in Douma and the southern town of Izraa, according to witness accounts.

Amnesty International reported at least 75 deaths across the country on Friday.

The Syrian government and security forces have been largely silent over the past month and generally speak only through state media. There was no immediate word from the Syrian leadership about the reports from Daraa on Monday.

"The Syrian regime is killing us," one man in Daraa told CNN on Monday. "Please tell the world."

[Legbiter]

So Daraa is the new Hama? Makes sense from an Arab point of view. Assad must brutally crush the protests because if he's toppled the Alawites get it in the neck.

[Admiral Yi]

So Daraa is the new Hama? Makes sense from an Arab point of view. Assad must brutally crush the protests because if he's toppled the Alawites get it in the neck.

At this point the best course might be for Assad and his co-religionists to flee the country and seek refuge with their distant South Seas cousins, the Allablaks.

[Ed Anger]

Go Assad!

[citizen k]

So Daraa is the new Hama? Makes sense from an Arab point of view. Assad must brutally crush the protests because if he's toppled the Alawites get it in the neck.

At this point the best course might be for Assad and his co-religionists to flee the country and seek refuge with their distant South Seas cousins, the Allablaks.

*rimshot*

[Razgovory]

God, I hope we don't get involved here too.  If this keeps up we'll be at war with every Arab country by October.

[Ed Anger]

God, I hope we don't get involved here too.  If this keeps up we'll be at war with every Arab country by October.

Sounds...wonderful.

[derspiess]

God, I hope we don't get involved here too.  If this keeps up we'll be at war with every Arab country by October.

You worry too much.  Hillary said Assad is a reformer, and you know you can take that to the bank if it's coming from someone in this administration.

[Tonitrus]

I think ultimately, this thread should be retitled "Not So Big Changes Ahead in Syria"

[Razgovory]

God, I hope we don't get involved here too.  If this keeps up we'll be at war with every Arab country by October.

You worry too much.  Hillary said Assad is a reformer, and you know you can take that to the bank if it's coming from someone in this administration.

Remember when Bush administration welcomed Kaddafi with open arms back in the world community?

[Ed Anger]

God, I hope we don't get involved here too.  If this keeps up we'll be at war with every Arab country by October.

You worry too much.  Hillary said Assad is a reformer, and you know you can take that to the bank if it's coming from someone in this administration.

Remember when Bush administration welcomed Kaddafi with open arms back in the world community?

The crazy texan and the crzay dune coon. What a tag team. With Bobby the brain Heenan as their manager.

[derspiess]

God, I hope we don't get involved here too.  If this keeps up we'll be at war with every Arab country by October.

You worry too much.  Hillary said Assad is a reformer, and you know you can take that to the bank if it's coming from someone in this administration.

Remember when Bush administration welcomed Kaddafi with open arms back in the world community?

Yes.