"UN Syria envoy calls on government to start truce" by Ben Hubbard | Associated Press, October 18, 2012
BEIRUT — Lakhdar Brahimi’s push to get Assad and rebels seeking to topple him to stop fighting for the four-day Eid al-Adha feast set to begin Oct. 26 reflects how little progress international diplomacy has made in halting 19 months of deadly violence in Syria. Activists say more than 33,000 people have been killed....
It was never meant to progress. It's there as a fig leaf so western war-makers can say we tried for peace, but....
It was never meant to progress. It's there as a fig leaf so western war-makers can say we tried for peace, but....
Brahimi spoke following meetings with top Lebanese officials as part of a regional tour....
‘‘These countries need to realize, as we heard today in Lebanon, that it is not possible that this crisis will stay inside Syrian border forever,’’ Brahimi said. ‘‘Either it has to be taken care of or it will spread and spill over and consume everything.’’
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"Syria’s Assad vows he won’t be forced into exile" by Elizabeth A. Kennedy | Associated Press, November 09, 2012
BEIRUT — Assad’s defiant vow to ‘‘live and die’’ in Syria echoed statements by Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Moammar Khadafy of Libya — two Arab dictators who said they would never leave their homelands before popular revolts swept them from power.
In February 2011, Mubarak vowed he would ‘‘die on Egyptian soil,’’ and Khadafy had said he was ready to die ‘‘a martyr’’ in Libya.
But both men suffered humiliating downfalls. Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison for failing to stop the violence that killed nearly 1,000 protesters. Khadafy was captured and killed.
In February 2011, Mubarak vowed he would ‘‘die on Egyptian soil,’’ and Khadafy had said he was ready to die ‘‘a martyr’’ in Libya.
But both men suffered humiliating downfalls. Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison for failing to stop the violence that killed nearly 1,000 protesters. Khadafy was captured and killed.
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"Syria’s foreign minister calls for lifting of sanctions; Says measures are to blame for deepening crisis" by Anne Barnard | New York Times, December 16, 2012
"Syria’s foreign minister calls for lifting of sanctions; Says measures are to blame for deepening crisis" by Anne Barnard | New York Times, December 16, 2012
BEIRUT — Receiving a high-level UN delegation on Saturday in Damascus, Syria’s foreign minister blamed the country’s problems on international sanctions and called on the UN to push for lifting the measures, which were imposed to punish the government for its crackdown on prodemocracy protesters that spiraled into armed conflict.
Government forces continued air and artillery strikes in the Damascus suburbs as a top UN official, Valerie Amos, visited the capital to investigate the needs of Syrians during a conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people and led more than half a million Syrians to flee the country, with many more displaced inside Syria.
The civil war that came after the brutal crackdown on peaceful protests has left many cities and suburbs devastated as the government levels rebellious neighborhoods and some rebels set off deadly car bombs.
But Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem and other officials placed the blame elsewhere, according to Syrian and foreign news reports, saying, ‘‘The sanctions imposed by the United States and countries of the European Union on Syria are responsible for the suffering of the Syrian people.’’
Syrian state news media reported that Leila Zerrougui, the UN special representative for children and armed conflict, visited camps for families displaced by the fighting and called on all sides to protect children in the conflict.
In Jordan, officials who defected from the Syrian government announced that they had formed a new opposition group headed by Assad’s former prime minister, Riyad Farid Hijab.
The group, called the National Free Coalition of the Workers of Syrian Government Institutions, aims to keep state structures intact if Assad’s government falls, Reuters reported.
At a news conference in Amman, Jordan, the group expressed support for the Free Syrian Army rebel coalition and the Syrian National Coalition, recently recognized by the United States and others as the legitimate representative of Syrians.
In the northern city of Aleppo, rebels claimed to have taken another important military installation, the region’s infantry school, though some reports said that fighting continued there on Saturday.
They claim a lot of things.
Related: Syrian Rebels Strike Again
They claim a lot of things.
Related: Syrian Rebels Strike Again
May find out shortly.
Fighting also continued east of Damascus. The government claims to have pushed rebels out of some southern suburbs after heavy shelling, and is now focusing attacks in the east in a continuing effort to seal off the capital.
Fighting also continued east of Damascus. The government claims to have pushed rebels out of some southern suburbs after heavy shelling, and is now focusing attacks in the east in a continuing effort to seal off the capital.
The Lebanese newspaper Al-Safir reported, citing informed sources, that the government led rebels into a trap, withdrawing forces from some Damascus suburbs to draw rebels in, stretch their supply lines and later wipe them out.
Oh, I think we know who is winning now. That was one of the nuggets I was looking for. Too bad I have to get truth through a Lebanese third party, 'eh?
Oh, I think we know who is winning now. That was one of the nuggets I was looking for. Too bad I have to get truth through a Lebanese third party, 'eh?
"Envoy for Syrian peace calls for transitional government" by Kareem Fahim and Ellen Barry | New York Times, December 28, 2012
BEIRUT — Lakhdar Brahimi
Brahimi’s comments were met with pessimism by members of the largest opposition coalition, who have long said that any arrangement that left Mr. Assad in the country was unacceptable. They have also called for the dismantling of state institutions tied to repression by the government, especially the security and intelligence services. As insurgent groups make gains against the Syrian military, the political opposition has shown even less willingness to compromise.
“His initiative is very late, and it is very much detached from what’s actually happening on the ground and on the battlefield,” said Ahmad Ramadan, a coalition member who is in Turkey. “We will not discuss any transitional government before Bashar al-Assad steps down.”
In Washington, a State Department spokesman, Patrick Ventrell, on Thursday praised efforts to produce a peaceful transition but ruled out any role for Mr. Assad in the process.
Frederic C. Hof, who served as a special adviser on Syria to the State Department, said in an e-mail that Mr. Brahimi’s efforts amounted to “a long shot.”
“Assad is not yet persuaded that he needs to yield power and get out,” Mr. Hof said....
"Assad will never leave Syria, Russian official says; Minister chides rebels over talks" by Ellen Barry | New York Times, December 30, 2012
MOSCOW — On Saturday, Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations and Arab League envoy on Syria, warned that if a political solution was not possible, Syria would be overrun by violence, like Somalia.
It's the first time he's made sense, and what a tragedy for ancient Syria if it ends up like Somalia.
He also said his recent visit to Damascus had convinced him that continued fighting in the country could turn into ‘‘something horrible,’’ and he envisioned the flight of a million people across Syria’s borders into Jordan and Lebanon.
All so some globe-kicking neo-con Zionists and neo-lib globalists can have regime change.
It's the first time he's made sense, and what a tragedy for ancient Syria if it ends up like Somalia.
He also said his recent visit to Damascus had convinced him that continued fighting in the country could turn into ‘‘something horrible,’’ and he envisioned the flight of a million people across Syria’s borders into Jordan and Lebanon.
All so some globe-kicking neo-con Zionists and neo-lib globalists can have regime change.
“The problem could grow to such proportions that it could have a substantial effect on our future, and we cannot ignore this,’’ Brahimi said....
But we can ignore the plight of Palestinians.
But we can ignore the plight of Palestinians.
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12/31: "Envoy warns of ‘full collapse’ for Syria; UN aide foresees ‘Somalization’" by Bassem Mroue | Associated Press, December 31, 2012
BEIRUT — Lakhdar Brahimi, who represents the United Nations and the Arab League, said that as many as 100,000 people could be killed in the next year as Syria moves toward ‘‘Somalization’’ and rule by warlords....
Same as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, and all the other places we have invaded and bombed in bringing the fruits of democracy.
Same as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, and all the other places we have invaded and bombed in bringing the fruits of democracy.
When asked Sunday if there is any willingness among the opposition to enter a political process, Brahimi said, ‘‘No, there isn’t. This is the problem.’’
We know from whom they are getting their orders.
We know from whom they are getting their orders.
*************************
Speaking alongside Nabil Elaraby on Sunday, Brahimi estimated that 100,000 people could be killed if the 21-month conflict continues for another year.
‘‘Peace and security in the world will be threatened directly from Syria if there is no solution within the next few months,’’ he said. ‘‘The alternatives are a political solution or the full collapse of the Syrian state.’’
Where is the peace and security, because quite frankly I'm not seeing a whole lot of it around anywhere.
Where is the peace and security, because quite frankly I'm not seeing a whole lot of it around anywhere.
******************
Syria’s crisis began in March 2011 with political protests against Assad. The conflict has since evolved into a civil war. Antiregime activists say more than 45,000 people have been killed.
The Syria government does not give death tolls for the conflict and says the rebels are terrorists backed by foreign powers who seek to destroy the country....
Another nugget of truth (coming from the Syrians).
Another nugget of truth (coming from the Syrians).
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"30 killed in blast at gas station outside Damascus" by Anne Barnard | New York Times, January 03, 2013
Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia....
"30 killed in blast at gas station outside Damascus" by Anne Barnard | New York Times, January 03, 2013
BEIRUT —The violence came as the United Nations released a study showing that nearly 60,000 people had been killed in Syria’s 22-month-old conflict....
The UN study suggested the war’s toll was far greater than previously estimated....
Translation: it's another push for intervention.
Translation: it's another push for intervention.
‘‘The number of casualties is much higher than we expected and is truly shocking,’’ the UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, said in a statement after her agency released the study.
“We must not compound the existing disaster by failing to prepare for the inevitable — and very dangerous — instability that will occur when the conflict ends,’’ she added.
To avoid repeating the experience of collapsed states like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia, she said, ‘‘serious planning needs to get underway immediately, not just to provide humanitarian aid to all those who need it, but to protect all Syrian citizens from extrajudicial reprisals and acts of revenge.’’
The study’s surprisingly high death toll reflected only those killings in which victims had been identified by their full name, and the date and location of their death had been recorded, leaving the possibility of many more dead....
Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia....
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"Rebels, Islamist militants seize key air base in northern Syria; Envoy sees little hope for political solution to war" by Bassem Mroue | Associated Press, January 12, 2013
BEIRUT —The latest fighting came as international envoy Lakhdar Brahimi expressed little hope for a political solution for Syria’s nearly 2-year-old civil war anytime soon after meeting Friday with senior Russian and US diplomats at the United Nations European headquarters.
Brahimi, who is the joint UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns. The talks were part of his attempts to find some traction for an international peace plan calling for creation of a provisional government in Damascus that has so far gone nowhere.
Brahimi spoke with Assad in late December about the plan during a visit to the Syrian capital. Days afterward, Assad went on state TV with a defiant speech and a plan of his own, offering to oversee a national conciliation conference while rejecting any talks with the armed opposition and vowing to continue fighting them.
The speech was widely condemned, though Russia, one of Assad’s closest allies, said elements of it should be considered. Russia, along with China, has used its veto at the UN Security Council to shield its last Mideast ally from international sanctions.
‘‘We are very, very deeply aware of the immense suffering of the Syrian people, which has gone on for far too long,’’ Brahimi told reporters after his talks in Geneva on Friday. ‘‘And we all stressed the need for a speedy end to the bloodshed, to the destruction and all forms of violence in Syria. But if you are asking me whether a solution is around the corner, I’m not sure that is the case,’’ he said.
Not to slight Syrians, but Palestinians have put up with it for a lot longer.
Not to slight Syrians, but Palestinians have put up with it for a lot longer.
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Brahimi’s talks Friday produced ‘‘some progress’’ but that more work was needed. Asked to see where views between the United States and Russia converged, she said all parties support the idea of a transitional government that would be agreed to by the regime and Syrian opposition, and would have full executive powers.
‘‘I’m obviously going to let the Russians speak for themselves, but it’s hard to imagine how you would have a transitional government with Assad still part of it,’’ Nuland told reporters.
They will.
Related: Russians Rushing From Syria
They will.
Related: Russians Rushing From Syria
And her department lied about what they said?
More than 60,000 people have been killed since March 2011 in Syria’s conflict, which has turned into an outright civil war.
Actually, it's nothing of the sort. It's paid CIA-Duh mercenaries, both foreign and domestic, that are raising hell.
More than 60,000 people have been killed since March 2011 in Syria’s conflict, which has turned into an outright civil war.
Actually, it's nothing of the sort. It's paid CIA-Duh mercenaries, both foreign and domestic, that are raising hell.
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Related:
"At the UN, Lakhdar Brahimi, the joint UN and Arab League envoy trying to mediate a settlement, gave the Security Council a pessimistic assessment."
Also see:
Related:
"At the UN, Lakhdar Brahimi, the joint UN and Arab League envoy trying to mediate a settlement, gave the Security Council a pessimistic assessment."
Also see:
