Monday, August 29, 2011
Syrian opposition delegation to visit Egypt in September
Al-Masry Al-Youm
"Syrian opposition figures plan to visit Egypt next month to meet with Egyptian political players and Al-Azhar leaders, members of the Syrian community in Egypt announced Sunday.
The visit, organized by the Syrian Community Assembly, would start on 8 September. It aims to brief Egyptians on the situation Syria and introduce them to the opposition's vision of Syria's future, the group's statement said.
Syrians look forward to a larger Egyptian role in supporting peoples' aspirations for civil states and freedoms, the statement said.
It said the visiting delegation will discuss ways to garner support for the Syrian opposition in its bid to remove the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
The delegation also hopes to meet with members of Egypt’s ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr.
Fahad al-Masry, political and media adviser for the assembly, said it chose Cairo as its starting point because of Egypt's political significance in the region.
Masry said the visit will conclude on 13 September with a march to the Arab League’s headquarters to protest the stance of Secretary General Nabil al-Araby on the situation in Syria. The protesters will demand a more active role for Arab states in supporting the Syrian people....."
"Syrian opposition figures plan to visit Egypt next month to meet with Egyptian political players and Al-Azhar leaders, members of the Syrian community in Egypt announced Sunday.
The visit, organized by the Syrian Community Assembly, would start on 8 September. It aims to brief Egyptians on the situation Syria and introduce them to the opposition's vision of Syria's future, the group's statement said.
Syrians look forward to a larger Egyptian role in supporting peoples' aspirations for civil states and freedoms, the statement said.
It said the visiting delegation will discuss ways to garner support for the Syrian opposition in its bid to remove the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
The delegation also hopes to meet with members of Egypt’s ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr.
Fahad al-Masry, political and media adviser for the assembly, said it chose Cairo as its starting point because of Egypt's political significance in the region.
Masry said the visit will conclude on 13 September with a march to the Arab League’s headquarters to protest the stance of Secretary General Nabil al-Araby on the situation in Syria. The protesters will demand a more active role for Arab states in supporting the Syrian people....."
The Election March of the Trolls
By Chris Hedges
August 29,2011
"....The trolls dominate or have neutralized every major institution in the country on behalf of their corporate paymasters. The press, education, Wall Street, labor and our political parties are managed by trolls or have been destroyed by them. Sometimes these trolls speak like liberals. Sometimes they speak like conservatives. Sometimes they are secular. Sometimes they are Christians. But the language they use is a cover for the relentless march toward a totalitarian capitalism and a kingdom where the trolls, if not the rest of us, live happily ever after. Rick Perry and John Boehner overtly make war on Social Security. Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi say they would like to save Social Security but are sadly powerless before the decisions of a congressional super committee they helped form. The result, of course, is the same. We get to choose the rhetoric and manner in which we are deceived and disempowered. Nothing more."
August 29,2011
"....The trolls dominate or have neutralized every major institution in the country on behalf of their corporate paymasters. The press, education, Wall Street, labor and our political parties are managed by trolls or have been destroyed by them. Sometimes these trolls speak like liberals. Sometimes they speak like conservatives. Sometimes they are secular. Sometimes they are Christians. But the language they use is a cover for the relentless march toward a totalitarian capitalism and a kingdom where the trolls, if not the rest of us, live happily ever after. Rick Perry and John Boehner overtly make war on Social Security. Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi say they would like to save Social Security but are sadly powerless before the decisions of a congressional super committee they helped form. The result, of course, is the same. We get to choose the rhetoric and manner in which we are deceived and disempowered. Nothing more."
Special treatment gives Israeli mobsters free access to US soil: WikiLeaks
By Ali Abunimah
"Known Israeli organized crime bosses are able to travel freely to the United States, unlike counterparts from Italy, China and Central America, because the State Department has failed to apply US law to them.
It appears that at least one prominent Israeli crime family member was able to reach the United States with a specific intent to commit murder, as a result of this exemption.
This revelation comes in a May 2009 cable from the US Embassy in Tel Aviv titled “Israel: A Promised Land for Organized Crime?”
The cable, which was released by Wikileaks on 26 August, details the growing alarm of American officials that “Organized crime in Israel now has global reach, with direct impact inside the United States.”
Israel, according to the cable, is a world center of money laundering, drug trafficking, and trafficking in women for prostitution; and Israeli crime families operate international criminal syndicates involved in gambling, credit card and technology fraud spanning the globe....."
"Known Israeli organized crime bosses are able to travel freely to the United States, unlike counterparts from Italy, China and Central America, because the State Department has failed to apply US law to them.
It appears that at least one prominent Israeli crime family member was able to reach the United States with a specific intent to commit murder, as a result of this exemption.
This revelation comes in a May 2009 cable from the US Embassy in Tel Aviv titled “Israel: A Promised Land for Organized Crime?”
The cable, which was released by Wikileaks on 26 August, details the growing alarm of American officials that “Organized crime in Israel now has global reach, with direct impact inside the United States.”
Israel, according to the cable, is a world center of money laundering, drug trafficking, and trafficking in women for prostitution; and Israeli crime families operate international criminal syndicates involved in gambling, credit card and technology fraud spanning the globe....."
برهان غليون رئيسا لمجلس وطني انتقالي سوري
عــ48ـرب/ وكالات
"أعلن معارضون سوريون، اليوم الاثنين، في العاصمة التركية أنقرة عن تشكيل مجلس وطني انتقالي يضم 94 عضوا.
وجاء أن المعارضين اختاروا برهان غليون رئيسا للمجلس الوطني الانتقالي.
يشار إلى أن غليون هو مفكر سوري من مواليد حمص، وأستاذ علم الاجتماع السياسي ومدير مركز دراسات الشرق المعاصر في جامعة السوربون في باريس. وهو خريج جامعة دمشق بالفلسفة وعلم الاجتماع، وله عدد من المؤلفات والمترجمات.
إلى ذلك، قالت "الجزيرة" نقلا عن مصادر سورية إن 3 قتلى سقطوا في البوكمال، وذلك بعد أن اقتحمت الدبابات السورية ساحة الحرية فيها، وقامت بإطلاق النار بكثافة على متظاهرين.
وكانت قد أفادت في وقت سابق أن القوات السورية بدأت صباح اليوم الاثنين قصف مدينة الرستن شمال حمص ردا على انشقاق عشرات الجنود، بعدما واجهت قبل ساعات انشقاقا مماثلا بريف دمشق. وكانت قد تصدت بالقوة لمظاهرات حاشدة أمس والليلة قبل الماضية، وقتلت ما لا يقل عن 15 شخصا، وفقا لناشطين.
ونقلت وكالة رويترز عن سكان وناشطين أن أربعين دبابة خفيفة وعربة مدرعة وعشرين حافلة مليئة بالجنود وأفراد المخابرات العسكرية انتشرت في مدخل الطريق الرئيس للرستن، وبدأت إطلاق نيران الأسلحة الآلية الثقيلة على المدينة.
وقالوا إن الهجوم على المدينة جاء بعد انشقاق عشرات الجنود الرافضين لإطلاق النار على المحتجين. وبدأت العملية العسكرية بعد ساعات من مظاهرات في الرستن.
وكان سكان من بلدة حرستا بريف دمشق ذكروا في وقت سابق أن القوات السورية اشتبكت لعدة ساعات الليلة الماضية مع جنود منشقين، كانوا قد رفضوا إطلاق النار على المتظاهرين.
وأضاف السكان لرويترز أن عشرات الجنود فروا إلى الغوطة، وهي منطقة بساتين وأراض زراعية، بعدما أطلقت القوات السورية النار على حشد كبير من المتظاهرين قرب حرستا، لمنعهم من تنظيم مسيرة إلى دمشق.
وقالت تنسيقيات الثورة إن 15 شخصا على الأقل قتلوا أمس في حمص، والبوكمال، ودير الزور، وإدلب، وريف دمشق. كما توفي معتقلان تحت التعذيب في اللاذقية. ومن مجموع القتلى سقط اثنان في خان شيخون بريف إدلب، وأربعة في البوكمال.
ورجحت مصادر أن ترتفع حصيلة عمليات أمس، حيث نقل عن شاهد عيان من دير الزور قوله إن عشرة أشخاص قتلوا في هذه المدينة وحدها.
وبينما تستمر الاحتجاجات، منعت السلطات السورية سكان محافظة درعا من التوجه إلى دمشق، ما عدا من يحمل هوية طالب أو هوية عسكرية. كما منعت المعارضين السوريين، ميشيل كيلوو وفايز سارة ولؤي حسين، من السفر خارج سوريا."
"أعلن معارضون سوريون، اليوم الاثنين، في العاصمة التركية أنقرة عن تشكيل مجلس وطني انتقالي يضم 94 عضوا.
وجاء أن المعارضين اختاروا برهان غليون رئيسا للمجلس الوطني الانتقالي.
يشار إلى أن غليون هو مفكر سوري من مواليد حمص، وأستاذ علم الاجتماع السياسي ومدير مركز دراسات الشرق المعاصر في جامعة السوربون في باريس. وهو خريج جامعة دمشق بالفلسفة وعلم الاجتماع، وله عدد من المؤلفات والمترجمات.
إلى ذلك، قالت "الجزيرة" نقلا عن مصادر سورية إن 3 قتلى سقطوا في البوكمال، وذلك بعد أن اقتحمت الدبابات السورية ساحة الحرية فيها، وقامت بإطلاق النار بكثافة على متظاهرين.
وكانت قد أفادت في وقت سابق أن القوات السورية بدأت صباح اليوم الاثنين قصف مدينة الرستن شمال حمص ردا على انشقاق عشرات الجنود، بعدما واجهت قبل ساعات انشقاقا مماثلا بريف دمشق. وكانت قد تصدت بالقوة لمظاهرات حاشدة أمس والليلة قبل الماضية، وقتلت ما لا يقل عن 15 شخصا، وفقا لناشطين.
ونقلت وكالة رويترز عن سكان وناشطين أن أربعين دبابة خفيفة وعربة مدرعة وعشرين حافلة مليئة بالجنود وأفراد المخابرات العسكرية انتشرت في مدخل الطريق الرئيس للرستن، وبدأت إطلاق نيران الأسلحة الآلية الثقيلة على المدينة.
وقالوا إن الهجوم على المدينة جاء بعد انشقاق عشرات الجنود الرافضين لإطلاق النار على المحتجين. وبدأت العملية العسكرية بعد ساعات من مظاهرات في الرستن.
وكان سكان من بلدة حرستا بريف دمشق ذكروا في وقت سابق أن القوات السورية اشتبكت لعدة ساعات الليلة الماضية مع جنود منشقين، كانوا قد رفضوا إطلاق النار على المتظاهرين.
وأضاف السكان لرويترز أن عشرات الجنود فروا إلى الغوطة، وهي منطقة بساتين وأراض زراعية، بعدما أطلقت القوات السورية النار على حشد كبير من المتظاهرين قرب حرستا، لمنعهم من تنظيم مسيرة إلى دمشق.
وقالت تنسيقيات الثورة إن 15 شخصا على الأقل قتلوا أمس في حمص، والبوكمال، ودير الزور، وإدلب، وريف دمشق. كما توفي معتقلان تحت التعذيب في اللاذقية. ومن مجموع القتلى سقط اثنان في خان شيخون بريف إدلب، وأربعة في البوكمال.
ورجحت مصادر أن ترتفع حصيلة عمليات أمس، حيث نقل عن شاهد عيان من دير الزور قوله إن عشرة أشخاص قتلوا في هذه المدينة وحدها.
وبينما تستمر الاحتجاجات، منعت السلطات السورية سكان محافظة درعا من التوجه إلى دمشق، ما عدا من يحمل هوية طالب أو هوية عسكرية. كما منعت المعارضين السوريين، ميشيل كيلوو وفايز سارة ولؤي حسين، من السفر خارج سوريا."
Iran calls on Syrian President to consider protesters' demands
By Khalid Ali
The Independent
The Independent
Monday, 29 August 2011
"The Syrian government received an unexpected warning from its staunchest ally yesterday when Iran urged President Bashar al-Assad to heed the "legitimate demands" of civilians protesting against his family's 40-year rule.
In a noticeable shift in tone from Tehran, Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi said the Middle East could be plunged into chaos if President Assad continued to ignore calls for reform.
Speaking to the semi-official ISNA news agency, Mr Salehi said: "Either in Yemen, Syria or any other country, people have some legitimate demands and governments should answer them as soon as possible."
Previous statements from the Iranians have focussed on accusations about alleged "foreign conspiracies".....
Iran's statement yesterday was met with incredulity by some. Rime Allaf, a Syria expert from the Chatham House think-tank, tweeted: "How bad a regime do you have to be to have the #Iran regime ask you to listen to your people's demands?!"....."
Misrata rebels defy Libya's new regime
City refuses to accept appointment by National Transitional Council of former Gaddafi ally as Tripoli security chief
Chris Stephen in Misrata
guardian.co.uk, Monday 29 August 2011
"The first cracks in Libya's rebel coalition have opened, with protests erupting in Misrata against the reported decision of the National Transitional Council (NTC) to appoint a former Gaddafi henchman as security boss of Tripoli.
Media reports said the NTC prime minister, Mahmoud Jibril, is poised to appoint Albarrani Shkal, a former army general, as the capital's head of security.
Protests erupted in the early hours of the morning in Misrata's Martyr's Square, with about 500 protesters shouting that the "blood of the martyrs" would be betrayed by the appointment.
Misrata's ruling council lodged a formal protest with the NTC, saying that if the appointment were confirmed Misratan rebel units deployed on security duties in Tripoli would refuse to follow NTC orders.
Misratans blame Shkal for commanding units that battered their way into this city in the spring, terrorising and murdering civilians....."
Chris Stephen in Misrata
guardian.co.uk, Monday 29 August 2011
"The first cracks in Libya's rebel coalition have opened, with protests erupting in Misrata against the reported decision of the National Transitional Council (NTC) to appoint a former Gaddafi henchman as security boss of Tripoli.
Media reports said the NTC prime minister, Mahmoud Jibril, is poised to appoint Albarrani Shkal, a former army general, as the capital's head of security.
Protests erupted in the early hours of the morning in Misrata's Martyr's Square, with about 500 protesters shouting that the "blood of the martyrs" would be betrayed by the appointment.
Misrata's ruling council lodged a formal protest with the NTC, saying that if the appointment were confirmed Misratan rebel units deployed on security duties in Tripoli would refuse to follow NTC orders.
Misratans blame Shkal for commanding units that battered their way into this city in the spring, terrorising and murdering civilians....."
A RELATED VIDEO:
Dissent in Libya against NTC nominations
"The NTC has been nominating members for a new government, but there is public resistance to the appointments. Libyans have held protests within the country accusing the NTC of not being transparent enough.
Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons, reporting from a protest in Misrata, said: "They [the protesters] say the old guard of the Gaddafi regime are far too prominent in the list of people issued so far.
"They are also insisting there should be new faces for a new Libya."
Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons reporting from Misrata."
Libya: Evidence Suggests Khamis Brigade Killed 45 Detainees
Bodies Found in Burned Warehouse
August 29, 2011
"(Tripoli) – Members of the Khamis Brigade, a powerful Gaddafi military force run by Muammar Gaddafi’s son Khamis, appear to have summarily executed detainees in a warehouse near Tripoli on August 23, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today. Within three days the same warehouse was set on fire but the cause is unknown, Human Rights Watch said.
Human Rights Watch inspected the charred skeletal remains of approximately 45 bodies, still smoldering, on August 27. The remains were spread throughout a warehouse in the Khalida Ferjan neighborhood in Salahaddin, south of Tripoli, adjoining the Yarmouk Military Base. At least two additional corpses were seen lying outside, unburned.
“Sadly this is not the first gruesome report of what appears to be the summary execution of detainees in the final days of the Gaddafi government’s control of Tripoli,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “These merciless murders took place in the midst of Ramadan and those responsible should be brought to justice and punished.”...."
August 29, 2011
"(Tripoli) – Members of the Khamis Brigade, a powerful Gaddafi military force run by Muammar Gaddafi’s son Khamis, appear to have summarily executed detainees in a warehouse near Tripoli on August 23, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today. Within three days the same warehouse was set on fire but the cause is unknown, Human Rights Watch said.
Human Rights Watch inspected the charred skeletal remains of approximately 45 bodies, still smoldering, on August 27. The remains were spread throughout a warehouse in the Khalida Ferjan neighborhood in Salahaddin, south of Tripoli, adjoining the Yarmouk Military Base. At least two additional corpses were seen lying outside, unburned.
“Sadly this is not the first gruesome report of what appears to be the summary execution of detainees in the final days of the Gaddafi government’s control of Tripoli,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “These merciless murders took place in the midst of Ramadan and those responsible should be brought to justice and punished.”...."
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Al-Jazeera Video: More deaths reported in Syria
COMMENT
I believe that a replay of what happened in Libya is in the works. Turkey, with the support of the Arab League, will lead the effort to authorize an "international" campaign of intervention, just as in Libya.
There is surprising support for such intervention, with the current Al-Jazeera online poll showing over 65% support for such intervention.
"Activists say that five people have been killed by security forces in Syria.
The regional governments have also issued their strongest condemnation yet of the government's violence against protesters.
The Arab League foreign ministers met in Egypt and gave this warning to President Bashar Al Assad:
"The council stresses the importance of ending bloodshed and to resort to reason before it's too late."
Al Jazeera's Nisreen el-Shamayleh provides the latest news from Ramtha, along the Jordan-Syrian border."
Palestinian Americans "unequivocally reject" PA’s UN statehood bid
By Ali Abunimah
"Palestinian Americans have called on Arabs, Palestinians and their allies everywhere to reject a bid by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to ask the United Nations next month to admit the “State of Palestine” as a full member.
In a 27 August statement from its coordinating committee, the US Palestinian Communities Network (USPCN) wrote:
We call on all Palestinian and Arab community associations, societies and committees, student organizations, solidarity campaigns, to reject fully and unequivocally the Statehood initiative as a distraction that unjustifiably and irresponsibly endangers Palestinian rights and institutions.
The USPCN statement comes amid growing concern globally among Palestinians that the PA’s UN bid harms Palestinian rights. USPCN describes itself as “US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) is a grassroots community network with over twenty democratically-elected chapters.”
Earlier this month, as The Electronic Intifada reported, the Boycott National Committee (BNC) of the Palestinian campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions on Israel also issued a warning about the UN bid...."
"Palestinian Americans have called on Arabs, Palestinians and their allies everywhere to reject a bid by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to ask the United Nations next month to admit the “State of Palestine” as a full member.
In a 27 August statement from its coordinating committee, the US Palestinian Communities Network (USPCN) wrote:
We call on all Palestinian and Arab community associations, societies and committees, student organizations, solidarity campaigns, to reject fully and unequivocally the Statehood initiative as a distraction that unjustifiably and irresponsibly endangers Palestinian rights and institutions.
The USPCN statement comes amid growing concern globally among Palestinians that the PA’s UN bid harms Palestinian rights. USPCN describes itself as “US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) is a grassroots community network with over twenty democratically-elected chapters.”
Earlier this month, as The Electronic Intifada reported, the Boycott National Committee (BNC) of the Palestinian campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions on Israel also issued a warning about the UN bid...."
THE GADAFFI I REMEMBER
By Eric Margolis
August 27, 2011
".....As a modest historian, I am always delighted when history draws striking parallels. We now see the fascinating spectacle of those old colonial powers, Britain, France, and Italy, starting to move back into their former overseas possessions.
Britain ruled Libya until a young colonel named Muammar Gadaffi overthrew the doddering old British puppet, King Idris. The US lost one of its largest bombers bases at Libya’s Wheelus Field. Neither nation was to forgive Gadaffi.
Imperial Britain had seized Libya from Italy’s fascist regime in 1943. Italy colonized Libya after tearing it away from the crumbling Ottoman Empire. Italy used concentration camps and poison gas to terrorize Libyans into submission.
France, whose colonial empire included neighboring Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Chad, and Niger, long competed with Italy and Spain for regional domination. Mussolini’s Fascist regime pressed claims to Tunisia, Corsica, Nice and Cannes....
The big question now is which foreign power will dominate Libya. The United States, which has waged this little war from well offstage? Italy, which gets most of its oil from Libya? France, where President Sarkozy has been hinting at a Mediterranean union – bien sure, under French tutelage?
Oil is a potent aphrodisiac. Libya has vast reserves of premium, low-sulphur oil and gas, and a hundred-year supply of ancient artesian water...."
August 27, 2011
".....As a modest historian, I am always delighted when history draws striking parallels. We now see the fascinating spectacle of those old colonial powers, Britain, France, and Italy, starting to move back into their former overseas possessions.
Britain ruled Libya until a young colonel named Muammar Gadaffi overthrew the doddering old British puppet, King Idris. The US lost one of its largest bombers bases at Libya’s Wheelus Field. Neither nation was to forgive Gadaffi.
Imperial Britain had seized Libya from Italy’s fascist regime in 1943. Italy colonized Libya after tearing it away from the crumbling Ottoman Empire. Italy used concentration camps and poison gas to terrorize Libyans into submission.
France, whose colonial empire included neighboring Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Chad, and Niger, long competed with Italy and Spain for regional domination. Mussolini’s Fascist regime pressed claims to Tunisia, Corsica, Nice and Cannes....
The big question now is which foreign power will dominate Libya. The United States, which has waged this little war from well offstage? Italy, which gets most of its oil from Libya? France, where President Sarkozy has been hinting at a Mediterranean union – bien sure, under French tutelage?
Oil is a potent aphrodisiac. Libya has vast reserves of premium, low-sulphur oil and gas, and a hundred-year supply of ancient artesian water...."
Libya: Gaddafi Forces Suspected Of Executing Detainees
Evidence of War Crimes Before Tripoli Fell
August 28, 2011
"(Tripoli) – Evidence indicates that forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi killed at least 17 detainees in a makeshift prison as rebel forces began advancing on the neighborhood of Gargur in Tripoli around August 21, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today. According to one witness who survived the killing, Libyan security forces shot the detainees at the Al-Amal al-Akhdar building belonging to the Libyan Internal Security service.
Human Rights Watch has also documented evidence of suspected arbitrary executions of dozens of other civilians, including medical professionals, by Gaddafi loyalists over the past week.
“Torture was rife in Gaddafi’s prisons but to execute detainees days before they would have been freed is a sickening low in the government’s behavior,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch said. “The evidence we have been able to gather so far strongly suggests that Gaddafi government forces went on a spate of arbitrary killing as Tripoli was falling.”...."
August 28, 2011
"(Tripoli) – Evidence indicates that forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi killed at least 17 detainees in a makeshift prison as rebel forces began advancing on the neighborhood of Gargur in Tripoli around August 21, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today. According to one witness who survived the killing, Libyan security forces shot the detainees at the Al-Amal al-Akhdar building belonging to the Libyan Internal Security service.
Human Rights Watch has also documented evidence of suspected arbitrary executions of dozens of other civilians, including medical professionals, by Gaddafi loyalists over the past week.
“Torture was rife in Gaddafi’s prisons but to execute detainees days before they would have been freed is a sickening low in the government’s behavior,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch said. “The evidence we have been able to gather so far strongly suggests that Gaddafi government forces went on a spate of arbitrary killing as Tripoli was falling.”...."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)