The Official Syria (and all things about it) Thread

[New Octopucta]

I'm really fascinated by the efforts to present all those anti-government protesters as democracy and freedom fighters. As if they weren't actually enraged by Assad being an Alawite and secular-minded and they weren't asking for a strict Sharia law in Syria.

After all; those groups know well how to introduce themselves to the West. The Muslim Brotherhood's political party was named "Freedom and Justice Party". Ah, yes, justice, only for religious muslims, and freedom means freedom of beheading infidels, forcing women to wear hijabs, allowing men to have sex with their dead wives for up to six hours and legalizing child marriages.

Considering the Islamists have split with the FSA because the latter weren't interested in instituting Sharia, what makes you think all of the anti-government protesters were just racist Islamists?

[Kemalist]

I'm really fascinated by the efforts to present all those anti-government protesters as democracy and freedom fighters. As if they weren't actually enraged by Assad being an Alawite and secular-minded and they weren't asking for a strict Sharia law in Syria.

After all; those groups know well how to introduce themselves to the West. The Muslim Brotherhood's political party was named "Freedom and Justice Party". Ah, yes, justice, only for religious muslims, and freedom means freedom of beheading infidels, forcing women to wear hijabs, allowing men to have sex with their dead wives for up to six hours and legalizing child marriages.

Considering the Islamists have split with the FSA because the latter weren't interested in instituting Sharia, what makes you think all of the anti-government protesters were just racist Islamists?

Source that the FSA wasn't interested in instituting Sharia? Islamists never unite, that's a fact. They are alo divided in Egypt, mainly salafists and the Muslim Brotherhood. The MB represents a so-called more moderate version of Islamism according to the Western media, but still we all saw what kind of laws they tried to enforce there.

Oh, and let's see how the FSA is not interested in Sharia law:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nODxF4jOjCs
http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/mi ... -of-sharia
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/09/syria ... state.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 10006.html
http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/ ... liever-li/

[New Octopucta]

Source that the FSA wasn't interested in instituting Sharia? Islamists never unite, that's a fact. They are alo divided in Egypt, mainly salafists and the Muslim Brotherhood. The MB represents a so-called more moderate version of Islamism according to the Western media, but still we all saw what kind of laws they tried to enforce there.

Oh, and let's see how the FSA is not interested in Sharia law:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nODxF4jOjCs
http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/mi ... -of-sharia
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/09/syria ... state.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 10006.html
http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/ ... liever-li/

Fair enough. I was mistaken about the FSA's past interest in Sharia. However, everywhere I've checked, including this article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/al- ... story.html) says that the FSA and ISIS split over ISIS's desire for a more radical form of Islam. I would expect that a large number of the people interested in Sharia were part of the split and no longer involved with the FSA.

Of course, the exact demographics of the modern FSA does nothing to demonstrate that every protester was an Islamist.

[Shofercia]

It's almost like there aren't two sides to this thing.
https://medium.com/war-is-boring/7b44b10b748e

There's been many sides, I can think of at least six:

1. Assad
2. Kurds
3. FSA & moderate Islamists
4. Al Nusra
5. Mercs hired from funding from abroad
6. Local Warlords taking advantage of the chaos

Of course the problem is that only Assad & Kurds have a clear leadership structure, meaning the rest can easily be impersonated by others.

[Kemalist]

Source that the FSA wasn't interested in instituting Sharia? Islamists never unite, that's a fact. They are alo divided in Egypt, mainly salafists and the Muslim Brotherhood. The MB represents a so-called more moderate version of Islamism according to the Western media, but still we all saw what kind of laws they tried to enforce there.

Oh, and let's see how the FSA is not interested in Sharia law:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nODxF4jOjCs
http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/mi ... -of-sharia
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/09/syria ... state.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 10006.html
http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/ ... liever-li/

Fair enough. I was mistaken about the FSA's past interest in Sharia. However, everywhere I've checked, including this article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/al- ... story.html) says that the FSA and ISIS split over ISIS's desire for a more radical form of Islam. I would expect that a large number of the people interested in Sharia were part of the split and no longer involved with the FSA.

Of course, the exact demographics of the modern FSA does nothing to demonstrate that every protester was an Islamist.

You can't get %100 homogeneous composition anywhere. But the FSA members and its sympathizers are more or less islamist or islamic-leaning. It's like how the party I'm a member of is mainly voted by non-religious and irreligious, but also has a slight number of religious supporters. One can easily foresee Syria turning into Morsi's Egypt in case of a FSA takeover. Therefore I will keep supporting the secular government.

[New Octopucta]

You can't get %100 homogeneous composition anywhere. But the FSA members and its sympathizers are more or less islamist or islamic-leaning. It's like how the party I'm a member of is mainly voted by non-religious and irreligious, but also has a slight number of religious supporters. One can easily foresee Syria turning into Morsi's Egypt in case of a FSA takeover. Therefore I will keep supporting the secular government.

I'll support the possibility of a secular government that doesn't commit war crimes.

[Shofercia]

McCain wrote a response to Putin's letter, addressing Russians. I laughed. Anyways, here's the letter: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/19-09- ... avda_ru-0/

And my selections from it, along with the criticism:

I am pro-Russian, more pro-Russian than the regime that misrules you today. I make that claim because I respect your dignity and your right to self-determination.

"Self-determination" - that's about the worst word that McCain could've used. Speaking as a Russian, no, we don't. We do not deserve self determination. We deserve Civil Rights and Social Rights, but not the "right" to create countries based on arbitrary borders approved by a paranoid madman. The Serbs and the Gorani do not deserve the "right" to be ethnically cleansed from Kosovo. The Ossetians do not deserve the "right" to be ethnically cleansed from South Ossetia. Dagestanis do not deserve the "right" to live under Sharia Law.

I believe you deserve the opportunity to improve your lives in an economy that is built to last and benefits the many, not just the powerful few.

Erm, Senator, the economy has been improving under Putin, and it's been improving for the vast majority of the population.

A Russian citizen could not publish a testament like the one I just offered.

Actually, an extreme majority of the Russian citizens could easily publish the testament that you've offered, although we'd be intelligent enough to use a thesaurus.

They control your media.

So Putin controls RuNet? Damn, that makes him awesome

Actually, he doesn't.

They throw the members of a punk rock band in jail for the crime of being provocative and vulgar and for having the audacity to protest President Putin's rule.

Incorrect. See here for explanation: viewtopic.php?p=10443304#p10443304

Spoilered it too:

Alright, time for me to clarify this, and explain what's actually going on, at least in my opinion.

Pussy Riot is a band that most Russians have on perma-ignore. Imagine that there's a poster that just spams on NSG. Spamming is all he does. And everytime the mods say something about spamming, they're accusing of violating his human rights. Well, as a poster, I'm placing that person on perma ignore.

That's pretty much the story of Pussy Riot and most Russians. Again this is my opinion. Although it's very easy to hold a sanctioned rock concert in Russia, you just apply for a permit if it's in public, or just contact the local bar manager, and have him agree, if it's in private, and presto. Really, not rocket science. Despite this, Pussy Riot deliberately had illegal performances. However, because they can't sing, they were ignored.

So after the Parliamentary Elections, it was a hot topic to discuss Putin and the elections, especially after the successful Bolotnoye Protests and Counter Protests, and Pussy Riot took a clear advantage of that, performing in various places. As long as the performance was sanctioned, it was ok. If it wasn't sanctioned, they got off with a fine.

On January 20th, 2012, Pussy Riot performed a song titled "Putin Sucks Like Shit" in the Red Square. What do you think their punishment was? They didn't do it on a holiday, and they didn't break anything, so their punishment was... a fine. So anyone claiming that you get seven years just for protesting Putin is a moron who has no idea what he's talking about. Sauce: http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pussy_Riot ... 0.BB.C2.BB

20 января 2012 года песня «Бунт в России — Путин зассал» (краткое название — «Путин зассал») была исполнена на Лобном месте Красной площади[2]. Это была самая большая по количеству участниц акция: на Лобное место взобрались 8 девушек. Позже все они были задержаны Федеральной службой охраны, две участницы подверглись штрафу. Площадка была выбрана из-за близости к Кремлю — символу власти и как продолжение традиций акционизма 1990-х годов на Красной площади (включая акцию «Движения Э.Т.И.» 1990 года), а также в память акции «За вашу и нашу свободу» 1968 года (тогда к Лобному месту также вышли восемь человек)

That's a perfectly legitimate thing to do. It's idiotic, and it'll get you fined, and hated, but it's nothing that will warrant jail time. And again, Pussy Riot was ignored. They needed something spectacular, so they opted to rudely enter the Russian Cathedral, interrupt prayer, and perform a song called... you can look it up, I won't bother typing it.

That's the history leading up to what happened. Their performance was a mockery of Christianity. They turned their backs to the Altar when Praying, something that's highly offensive, they interrupted the prayers of others, again something that's highly offensive, they wore improper clothes for the Church, and...

Since most of Russians have them on ignore mode, and the very conservative segment population saw them as an ideal target to "make an example out of them". Remember, most Russians don't care. It's Pussy Riot, the annoying screechers who place chicken wings in their vaginas, and act like a bunch of retards in the Red Square. The Liberals tried to get the Russians to care, but we don't. I don't care. They opted to be attention whores, they opted to be complete pricks, let the conservatives have some fun, it's not like the CoE will let anything that's very harmful happen to Pussy Riot anyways.

Now, looking at it from a purely political viewpoints, it's a golden opportunity for Putin and United Russia. First, they had nothing to do with Pussy Riot. Second, they're centrists. Now you have the liberals and the conservatives going at it, and losing political capital to the centrists. Ain't that awesome? If you're a nonreligious UR supporter, it's cool.

And of course this should be taken with some background context. Currently, UR/CPRF/LDPR/FR, (I think FR's part of it, maybe not,) are trying to pass a law that requires foreign funded political NGOs to disclose their source of funding. And the government can publish it. This is great for Russia, because it practically eliminates outsider use of "Soft Power" against Russia. And the government's quite desperate to get it passed, so much so, that there are rumors of the government offering the Russian Online Community to write laws regulating online conduct, in return for support regarding the proposed law. It's also great for non-political NGOs, such as the Red Cross, which will be able to operate with much greater freedom. But for foreigner funded political NGOs, damn, those NGOs are bawwing like mad.

But liberals have very limited resources in Russia. They can fight conservatives over Pussy Riot, or they can try and fight the NGO law. Doing both would stretch their resources very thin, and unable to absolve countershocks, which they'll certainly be hit with, should they oppose the NGO law.

Personally, I support the NGO law as long as the Russian Online Community gets to draft the laws governing the Internet, cause if that happens, SOPA/PIPA/ZHOPA drafters can go and suck it. Russia won't be bound. And a bunch of other really cool stuff will happen - like Free Soviet Movies for everyone, and punishments for pirating will limited to twice the price of the stolen goods. And that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. As for the NGO law, hey, if you wanna use your funds to influence the political affairs of another country, you can do so; just be honest about it, and admit where your funds come from.

So that's the background.

Now, do I support a seven year old jail term? Or any jail term? Of course not! Jail can make Pussy Riot into something more than attention whores, and really, I don't want to give them a second chance. My idea: community service for a year, sweeping streets. Of three months if you think that a year's too harsh. Imagine Rush Limbaugh being made a street sweeper, ain't that awesome?

But it's not up to me, unless I want to use my limited resources on this case, and I don't. Speaking of the case - welcome to the International House of Horrors. The whole case is so ridiculous, that I feel bad for the Judge: http://www.rt.com/news/pussy-riot-trial-moscow-409/

“We are not enemies to Christians. If our passion insulted anyone, we regret it and say sorry,” stated Tolokonnikova, adding the song “Virgin Mary, banish Putin” was aimed to denounce Patriarch Kirill, who allegedly called on the parish to vote for Putin in the upcoming presidential elections.

Wow, lying with a straight face; then again she is an attention whore. So let me get this straight. You didn't want to insult me as a Christian, so you interrupted a prayer, turned your back to the Altar and prayed away from the Altar, (in essence committing a blasphemy) and you didn't have an intent to insult me as a Christian? Are you out of your Vulcan mind? Any Orthodox Christians on NSG want to claim that it's not insulting? Or not intentionally insulting? It might be legal, but it's insulting to Christians, so Tolokonnikova is...

Hey, if you wanted to denounce the Patriarch, how about wearing some respectful clothes in a Church, waiting until the end of the Prayer, and then delivering your speech, without turning your back to the Altar? Is that so hard to comprehend, Tolokonnikova? Personally, I think that she went in with an intent to insult Christians, didn't like the result, and is now backpedaling. Pussy Riot probably thought that Christians would go berserk, and that there would be infighting. Instead, it's just silence, and ignoring the attention whores, with some conservatives enjoying making an example of them. And on top of it all, the end result empowers Putin, no matter how it plays out. Not the result that Pussy Riot wanted. I guess it sucks to be a Pussy Rioter.

But the trial quotes continue; since Ris was kind enough to provide one from the conservative side, let me provide one from the Pussy Riot Defenders: http://www.rt.com/news/pussy-riot-custo ... trage-722/

The defense said it had filed several motions to bring “experts” – including President Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill – to testify before the court, but the motions were rejected.

"The patriarch has repeatedly spoken out about events in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. In addition to that, he was rector of the church and believers need to hear his opinion," Feigin said. And Putin, Feigin claims, has a “decisive influence” on the court, which makes him a material witness to the case.

What's Fiegin smoking? Putin has the power to pardon, much like Obama. So yeah, he has a decisive influence on a criminal case. So does Obama. Should Putin and Obama be compelled to testify in every criminal case involving jail time? They have a decisive influence, so Feigin would say "sure, let them testify!" As for the Patriarch, why does a religious opinion matter in a secular court?

He has given you an economy that is based almost entirely on a few natural resources that will rise and fall with those commodities.

Again, not true at all. Russia's is primarily a Service Economy.

He is not enhancing Russia's global reputation. He is destroying it.

Is that why Russia couldn't do jack shit about Iraq, but can act in terms of Syria, Senator?

[Souriya Al-Assad]

McCain wrote a response to Putin's letter, addressing Russians. I laughed. Anyways, here's the letter: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/19-09- ... avda_ru-0/

And my selections from it, along with the criticism:

I am pro-Russian, more pro-Russian than the regime that misrules you today. I make that claim because I respect your dignity and your right to self-determination.

"Self-determination" - that's about the worst word that McCain could've used. Speaking as a Russian, no, we don't. We do not deserve self determination. We deserve Civil Rights and Social Rights, but not the "right" to create countries based on arbitrary borders approved by a paranoid madman. The Serbs and the Gorani do not deserve the "right" to be ethnically cleansed from Kosovo. The Ossetians do not deserve the "right" to be ethnically cleansed from South Ossetia. Dagestanis do not deserve the "right" to live under Sharia Law.

I believe you deserve the opportunity to improve your lives in an economy that is built to last and benefits the many, not just the powerful few.

Erm, Senator, the economy has been improving under Putin, and it's been improving for the vast majority of the population.

A Russian citizen could not publish a testament like the one I just offered.

Actually, an extreme majority of the Russian citizens could easily publish the testament that you've offered, although we'd be intelligent enough to use a thesaurus.

They control your media.

So Putin controls RuNet? Damn, that makes him awesome

Actually, he doesn't.

They throw the members of a punk rock band in jail for the crime of being provocative and vulgar and for having the audacity to protest President Putin's rule.

Incorrect. See here for explanation: viewtopic.php?p=10443304#p10443304

Spoilered it too:

Alright, time for me to clarify this, and explain what's actually going on, at least in my opinion.

Pussy Riot is a band that most Russians have on perma-ignore. Imagine that there's a poster that just spams on NSG. Spamming is all he does. And everytime the mods say something about spamming, they're accusing of violating his human rights. Well, as a poster, I'm placing that person on perma ignore.

That's pretty much the story of Pussy Riot and most Russians. Again this is my opinion. Although it's very easy to hold a sanctioned rock concert in Russia, you just apply for a permit if it's in public, or just contact the local bar manager, and have him agree, if it's in private, and presto. Really, not rocket science. Despite this, Pussy Riot deliberately had illegal performances. However, because they can't sing, they were ignored.

So after the Parliamentary Elections, it was a hot topic to discuss Putin and the elections, especially after the successful Bolotnoye Protests and Counter Protests, and Pussy Riot took a clear advantage of that, performing in various places. As long as the performance was sanctioned, it was ok. If it wasn't sanctioned, they got off with a fine.

On January 20th, 2012, Pussy Riot performed a song titled "Putin Sucks Like Shit" in the Red Square. What do you think their punishment was? They didn't do it on a holiday, and they didn't break anything, so their punishment was... a fine. So anyone claiming that you get seven years just for protesting Putin is a moron who has no idea what he's talking about. Sauce: http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pussy_Riot ... 0.BB.C2.BB



That's a perfectly legitimate thing to do. It's idiotic, and it'll get you fined, and hated, but it's nothing that will warrant jail time. And again, Pussy Riot was ignored. They needed something spectacular, so they opted to rudely enter the Russian Cathedral, interrupt prayer, and perform a song called... you can look it up, I won't bother typing it.

That's the history leading up to what happened. Their performance was a mockery of Christianity. They turned their backs to the Altar when Praying, something that's highly offensive, they interrupted the prayers of others, again something that's highly offensive, they wore improper clothes for the Church, and...

Since most of Russians have them on ignore mode, and the very conservative segment population saw them as an ideal target to "make an example out of them". Remember, most Russians don't care. It's Pussy Riot, the annoying screechers who place chicken wings in their vaginas, and act like a bunch of retards in the Red Square. The Liberals tried to get the Russians to care, but we don't. I don't care. They opted to be attention whores, they opted to be complete pricks, let the conservatives have some fun, it's not like the CoE will let anything that's very harmful happen to Pussy Riot anyways.

Now, looking at it from a purely political viewpoints, it's a golden opportunity for Putin and United Russia. First, they had nothing to do with Pussy Riot. Second, they're centrists. Now you have the liberals and the conservatives going at it, and losing political capital to the centrists. Ain't that awesome? If you're a nonreligious UR supporter, it's cool.

And of course this should be taken with some background context. Currently, UR/CPRF/LDPR/FR, (I think FR's part of it, maybe not,) are trying to pass a law that requires foreign funded political NGOs to disclose their source of funding. And the government can publish it. This is great for Russia, because it practically eliminates outsider use of "Soft Power" against Russia. And the government's quite desperate to get it passed, so much so, that there are rumors of the government offering the Russian Online Community to write laws regulating online conduct, in return for support regarding the proposed law. It's also great for non-political NGOs, such as the Red Cross, which will be able to operate with much greater freedom. But for foreigner funded political NGOs, damn, those NGOs are bawwing like mad.

But liberals have very limited resources in Russia. They can fight conservatives over Pussy Riot, or they can try and fight the NGO law. Doing both would stretch their resources very thin, and unable to absolve countershocks, which they'll certainly be hit with, should they oppose the NGO law.

Personally, I support the NGO law as long as the Russian Online Community gets to draft the laws governing the Internet, cause if that happens, SOPA/PIPA/ZHOPA drafters can go and suck it. Russia won't be bound. And a bunch of other really cool stuff will happen - like Free Soviet Movies for everyone, and punishments for pirating will limited to twice the price of the stolen goods. And that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. As for the NGO law, hey, if you wanna use your funds to influence the political affairs of another country, you can do so; just be honest about it, and admit where your funds come from.

So that's the background.

Now, do I support a seven year old jail term? Or any jail term? Of course not! Jail can make Pussy Riot into something more than attention whores, and really, I don't want to give them a second chance. My idea: community service for a year, sweeping streets. Of three months if you think that a year's too harsh. Imagine Rush Limbaugh being made a street sweeper, ain't that awesome?

But it's not up to me, unless I want to use my limited resources on this case, and I don't. Speaking of the case - welcome to the International House of Horrors. The whole case is so ridiculous, that I feel bad for the Judge: http://www.rt.com/news/pussy-riot-trial-moscow-409/



Wow, lying with a straight face; then again she is an attention whore. So let me get this straight. You didn't want to insult me as a Christian, so you interrupted a prayer, turned your back to the Altar and prayed away from the Altar, (in essence committing a blasphemy) and you didn't have an intent to insult me as a Christian? Are you out of your Vulcan mind? Any Orthodox Christians on NSG want to claim that it's not insulting? Or not intentionally insulting? It might be legal, but it's insulting to Christians, so Tolokonnikova is...

Hey, if you wanted to denounce the Patriarch, how about wearing some respectful clothes in a Church, waiting until the end of the Prayer, and then delivering your speech, without turning your back to the Altar? Is that so hard to comprehend, Tolokonnikova? Personally, I think that she went in with an intent to insult Christians, didn't like the result, and is now backpedaling. Pussy Riot probably thought that Christians would go berserk, and that there would be infighting. Instead, it's just silence, and ignoring the attention whores, with some conservatives enjoying making an example of them. And on top of it all, the end result empowers Putin, no matter how it plays out. Not the result that Pussy Riot wanted. I guess it sucks to be a Pussy Rioter.

But the trial quotes continue; since Ris was kind enough to provide one from the conservative side, let me provide one from the Pussy Riot Defenders: http://www.rt.com/news/pussy-riot-custo ... trage-722/



What's Fiegin smoking? Putin has the power to pardon, much like Obama. So yeah, he has a decisive influence on a criminal case. So does Obama. Should Putin and Obama be compelled to testify in every criminal case involving jail time? They have a decisive influence, so Feigin would say "sure, let them testify!" As for the Patriarch, why does a religious opinion matter in a secular court?

He has given you an economy that is based almost entirely on a few natural resources that will rise and fall with those commodities.

Again, not true at all. Russia's is primarily a Service Economy.

He is not enhancing Russia's global reputation. He is destroying it.

Is that why Russia couldn't do jack shit about Iraq, but can act in terms of Syria, Senator?

Hehehe, I posted a comment on the Pravda article referring to this epic dissection. McCain should rather avoid writing articles if his knowledge of reality is so limited.

[Souriya Al-Assad]

Source that the FSA wasn't interested in instituting Sharia? Islamists never unite, that's a fact. They are alo divided in Egypt, mainly salafists and the Muslim Brotherhood. The MB represents a so-called more moderate version of Islamism according to the Western media, but still we all saw what kind of laws they tried to enforce there.

Oh, and let's see how the FSA is not interested in Sharia law:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nODxF4jOjCs
http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/mi ... -of-sharia
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/09/syria ... state.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 10006.html
http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/ ... liever-li/

Fair enough. I was mistaken about the FSA's past interest in Sharia. However, everywhere I've checked, including this article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/al- ... story.html) says that the FSA and ISIS split over ISIS's desire for a more radical form of Islam. I would expect that a large number of the people interested in Sharia were part of the split and no longer involved with the FSA.

Of course, the exact demographics of the modern FSA does nothing to demonstrate that every protester was an Islamist.

The protesters were deceived about the intentions of these insurgents. They had no actual clue what they were actually "protesting" for (which in reality is Khawarjite "Sharia" that is the goal of the large portion of the Qutbist insurgents, in addition to chaos). However to put these into perspective, compared to hundreds of thousands, millions across Syria have held huge cheerful, glorious rallies in favour/support of Assad throughout the war. Similarly such rallies were held in Lebanon, Armenia, Belarus, Venezuela, Cuba, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, amongst other countries across the world.

[Kemalist]

Fair enough. I was mistaken about the FSA's past interest in Sharia. However, everywhere I've checked, including this article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/al- ... story.html) says that the FSA and ISIS split over ISIS's desire for a more radical form of Islam. I would expect that a large number of the people interested in Sharia were part of the split and no longer involved with the FSA.

Of course, the exact demographics of the modern FSA does nothing to demonstrate that every protester was an Islamist.

The protesters were deceived about the intentions of these insurgents. They had no actual clue what they were actually "protesting" for (which in reality is Khawarjite "Sharia" that is the goal of the large portion of the Qutbist insurgents, in addition to chaos). However to put these into perspective, compared to hundreds of thousands, millions across Syria have held huge cheerful, glorious rallies in favour/support of Assad throughout the war. Similarly such rallies were held in Lebanon, Armenia, Belarus, Venezuela, Cuba, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, amongst other countries across the world.

Count Turkey as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EWre9mRgcQ

[Shofercia]

Top two responses to McCain's Article:

"Hvatit Bombit Planetuy!" - Stop bombing the Planet. That's from a Russian, Elena.

And an American, Bridgette wrote:

To the Russian people and President Putin, take a visit to Mccain's personal facebook page to see him gloat about his oped piece and promptly get kicked in the pants by the American people. It's a beautiful sight.

[New Octopucta]

Top two responses to McCain's Article:

"Hvatit Bombit Planetuy!" - Stop bombing the Planet. That's from a Russian, Elena.

And an American, Bridgette wrote:

To the Russian people and President Putin, take a visit to Mccain's personal facebook page to see him gloat about his oped piece and promptly get kicked in the pants by the American people. It's a beautiful sight.

Actually, don't check his FB page. Someone just called him a "Zionist" and a "Jihadi" in the same sentence.

[The Carlisle]

Top two responses to McCain's Article:

"Hvatit Bombit Planetuy!" - Stop bombing the Planet. That's from a Russian, Elena.

And an American, Bridgette wrote:

Actually, don't check his FB page. Someone just called him a "Zionist" and a "Jihadi" in the same sentence.

That is the level of intelligence you have to expect from Facebook.

[Shofercia]

Actually, don't check his FB page. Someone just called him a "Zionist" and a "Jihadi" in the same sentence.

That is the level of intelligence you have to expect from Facebook.

For your reading pleasure: http://failblog.cheezburger.com/failbook

[Souriya Al-Assad]

The protesters were deceived about the intentions of these insurgents. They had no actual clue what they were actually "protesting" for (which in reality is Khawarjite "Sharia" that is the goal of the large portion of the Qutbist insurgents, in addition to chaos). However to put these into perspective, compared to hundreds of thousands, millions across Syria have held huge cheerful, glorious rallies in favour/support of Assad throughout the war. Similarly such rallies were held in Lebanon, Armenia, Belarus, Venezuela, Cuba, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, amongst other countries across the world.

Count Turkey as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EWre9mRgcQ

Yes, Turkey too. Even here in France. Actually tonnes of rallies were held in dozens of nations worldwide during this war. The Resistance will prevail.

[Divair]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/s ... -stalemate

So, uh.. Ceasefire time.

[Napkiraly]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/19/syrian-government-civil-war-stalemate

So, uh.. Ceasefire time.

Oh you bloody ninja. *shakes fist*

So, this is an interesting development. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

[Souriya Al-Assad]

Here is the latest interview from this great statesman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHYxe7Y8mQI

[Scholencia]

I'm really fascinated by the efforts to present all those anti-government protesters as democracy and freedom fighters. As if they weren't actually enraged by Assad being an Alawite and secular-minded and they weren't asking for a strict Sharia law in Syria.

After all; those groups know well how to introduce themselves to the West. The Muslim Brotherhood's political party was named "Freedom and Justice Party". Ah, yes, justice, only for religious muslims, and freedom means freedom of beheading infidels, forcing women to wear hijabs, allowing men to have sex with their dead wives for up to six hours and legalizing child marriages.

Do they really do that in Egypt?

Here is the latest interview from this great statesman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHYxe7Y8mQI

He is indeed a great statesman and humanist as well.

[Xeng He]

The plans to overthrow Assad and establish a moderate islamist USA-friendly regime seem to have failed. Assad is the decisive winner in this game. Long live modern, secular, fully independent Syria.

Despite all those attempts by islamist jihadist freaks to turn Syria into a sharia hellhole, the social life keeps going on, thanks to the Syrian government clearing those freaks and ensuring security in the area.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/489459/dam ... ar-outside

Syria isn't exactly secular.

The Personal Status Law 59 of 1953 (amended by Law 34 of 1975) is essentially a codified sharia.[73] Article 3(2) of the 1973 constitution declares Islamic jurisprudence a main source of legislation. The Code of Personal Status is applied to Muslims by sharia courts.[74]

And the existence of the clubbing doesn't negate this, mind you. There were plenty of institutions that sold liquor during the era of prohibition in the US.

[Kemalist]

The plans to overthrow Assad and establish a moderate islamist USA-friendly regime seem to have failed. Assad is the decisive winner in this game. Long live modern, secular, fully independent Syria.

Despite all those attempts by islamist jihadist freaks to turn Syria into a sharia hellhole, the social life keeps going on, thanks to the Syrian government clearing those freaks and ensuring security in the area.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/489459/dam ... ar-outside

Syria isn't exactly secular.

The Personal Status Law 59 of 1953 (amended by Law 34 of 1975) is essentially a codified sharia.[73] Article 3(2) of the 1973 constitution declares Islamic jurisprudence a main source of legislation. The Code of Personal Status is applied to Muslims by sharia courts.[74]

And the existence of the clubbing doesn't negate this, mind you. There were plenty of institutions that sold liquor during the era of prohibition in the US.

Sometimes the law is neglected and not implemented. Syria is ruled by secularists hence they don't really force sharia laws upon the people. I think that's no more than a symbolical law at this state.

Here's a source in Turkish. It's about Assad's statements given to a number of CHP's (Turkey's main opposition party) deputies who came to visit him.

"I'm separating the Turkish government from the Turkish people. I can't understand Prime Minister Erdogan. We are a secular country. The war of Syria is a war of secularism. We are fighting al-Qaeda. Turkey, which is a secular country, is supporting al-Qaeda. I think that these groups will put Turkey's national security in danger in the future as well. What's intended is abolishing the secular structure here. We are fighting for secularism."

[Souriya Al-Assad]

Syria isn't exactly secular.



And the existence of the clubbing doesn't negate this, mind you. There were plenty of institutions that sold liquor during the era of prohibition in the US.

Sometimes the law is neglected and not implemented. Syria is ruled by secularists hence they don't really force sharia laws upon the people. I think that's no more than a symbolical law at this state.

Here's a source in Turkish. It's about Assad's statements given to a number of CHP's (Turkey's main opposition party) deputies who came to visit him.

"I'm separating the Turkish government from the Turkish people. I can't understand Prime Minister Erdogan. We are a secular country. The war of Syria is a war of secularism. We are fighting al-Qaeda. Turkey, which is a secular country, is supporting al-Qaeda. I think that these groups will put Turkey's national security in danger in the future as well. What's intended is abolishing the secular structure here. We are fighting for secularism."

This.

Bashar never fails to speak the truth about the geo-political situation as well as the war against Syria.

[Kemalist]

Sometimes the law is neglected and not implemented. Syria is ruled by secularists hence they don't really force sharia laws upon the people. I think that's no more than a symbolical law at this state.

Here's a source in Turkish. It's about Assad's statements given to a number of CHP's (Turkey's main opposition party) deputies who came to visit him.

"I'm separating the Turkish government from the Turkish people. I can't understand Prime Minister Erdogan. We are a secular country. The war of Syria is a war of secularism. We are fighting al-Qaeda. Turkey, which is a secular country, is supporting al-Qaeda. I think that these groups will put Turkey's national security in danger in the future as well. What's intended is abolishing the secular structure here. We are fighting for secularism."

This.

Bashar never fails to speak the truth about the geo-political situation as well as the war against Syria.

Yea. You should watch this interview of him on a secular nationalist Turkish channel. He also said some things about secularism here, as well as very good analysises about the region, Erdogan and the Western powers.

[Souriya Al-Assad]

This.

Bashar never fails to speak the truth about the geo-political situation as well as the war against Syria.

Yea. You should watch this interview of him on a secular nationalist Turkish channel. He also said some things about secularism here, as well as very good analysises about the region, Erdogan and the Western powers.

I saw that interview. As with all of his interviews, he provides good insights about the world we live in. A truly brilliant statesman.

---

Oh, whilst here is another additional interesting development in this hiatus, the first time I see MSM post something like this really: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/a ... ctions2008

John Mcainiac caught getting improper Rothschild's donations...

[Vetalia]

Oh, whilst here is another additional interesting development in this hiatus, the first time I see MSM post something like this really: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/a ... ctions2008

John Mcainiac caught getting improper Rothschild's donations...

And to think people believe the Rothschilds are an irrelevant relic from the 18th century...