Fake WMD “intelligence” and Orwellian double-speak

Washington Is Insane

by Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, source

In the 21st century the two hundred year-old propaganda that the American people control their government has been completely shattered. Both the Bush and Obama regimes have made it unmistakenly clear that the American people don’t even influence, much less control, the government. As far as Washington is concerned, the people are nothing but chaff in the wind.

Polls demonstrate that 65% of the US population opposes US intervention in Syria. Despite this clear indication of the people’s will, the Obama regime is ramping up a propaganda case for more arming of Washington’s mercenaries sent to overthrow the secular Syrian government and for a “no-fly zone” over Syria, which, if Libya is the example, means US or NATO aircraft attacking the Syrian army on the ground, thus serving as the air force of Washington’s imported mercenaries, euphemistically called “the Syrian rebels.”

Washington declared some time ago that the “red line” that would bring Syria under Washington’s military attack was the Assad government’s use of chemical weapons of mass destruction against Washington’s mercenaries. Once this announcement was made, everyone with a brain immediately knew that Washington would fabricate false intelligence that Assad had used chemical weapons, just as Washington presented to the United Nations the intentional lie via Secretary of State Colin Powell that Saddam Hussein in Iraq had dangerous weapons of mass destruction.

Remember National Security Advisor Condi Rice’s image of a “mushroom cloud over American cities?” Propagandistic lies were Washington’s orders of the day.

And they still are. Now Washington has fabricated the false intelligence, and president obama has announced it with a straight face, that Syria’s Assad has used sarin gas on several occasions and that between 100 and 150 “of his own people,” a euphemism for the US supplied foreign mercenaries, have been killed by the weapon of mass destruction.

Think about that for a minute. As unfortunate as is any death from war, is 100-150 deaths “mass destruction?” According to low-ball estimates, the US-sponsored foreign mercenary invasion of Syria has cost 93,000 lives, of which 150 deaths amounts to0.0016%. If we round up, Washington’s 150 deaths comes to two-thousands of one percent.

In other words, 99.998% of the deaths did not cross the “red line.” But the 0.002 (rounded up) percent did.

Yes, I know. Washington’s position makes no sense. But when has it ever made any sense?

Let’s stretch our minds just a tiny bit farther. Assad knows about Washington’s “red line.” It has been repeated over and over in order to create in the minds of the distracted American public that there is a real, valid reason for attacking Syria. Why would Assad use the proscribed weapons of mass destruction in order to kill a measly 100-150 mercenaries when his army is mopping up the US mercenaries without the use of gas and when Assad knows that the use of gas brings in the US military against him?

As the Russian government made clear, Washington’s accusation is not believable. No informed person could possibly believe it. No doubt, many Americans wearing patriotism on their sleeves will fall for Washington’s latest lie, but no one else in the world will. Even Washington’s NATO puppets calling for attacking Syria know that the justification for the attack is a lie. For the NATO puppets, Washington’s money overwhelms integrity, for which the rewards are low.

The Russians certainly know that Washington is lying. The Russian Foreign Minister Larov said:

“The [Assad] government, as the opposition is saying openly, is enjoying military success on the ground. The [Assad] regime isn’t driven to the wall. What sense is there for the regime to use chemical arms–especially in such small amounts.”

Larov is a relatively civilized person in the role of Russia’s main diplomat. However, other Russian officials can be more pointed in their dismissal of Washington’s latest blatant lies. Yury Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Putin said: “The Americans tried to present us with information on the use of chemical weapons by the [Assad] regime, but frankly we thought that it was not convincing. We wouldn’t like to invoke references to [the infamous lies o] Secretary of State Powell [at the UN alleging Iraqi WMD], but the facts don’t look convincing in our eyes.” Aleksey Pushkov, the chairman of the Russian Duma’s Foreign Affairs Committee, cut to the chase.

“The data about Assad’s use of chemical weapons is fabricated by the same facility that made up the lies about Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction. Obama is walking George W. Bush’s path.”

Here in America no one will ever hear straight talk like this from the US presstitutes.

Orwellian double-speak is now the language of the United States government. Secretary of State john kerry condemned Assad for harming “peace talks” while the US arms its Syrian mercenaries.

Washington’s double-speak is now obvious to the world. Not only Assad, but also the Russians, Chinese, Iranians, and every US puppet state which includes all of NATO and Japan, are fully aware that Washington is again lying through its teeth. The Russians, Chinese, and Iranians are trying to avoid confrontation with Washington, as war with the modern nuclear weapons would destroy all life on planet earth. What is striking is that despite 24/7 brainwashing by the presstitutes, a large majority of the American population opposes obama’s war on Syria.

This is good news. It means more Americans are developing the ability to think independently of the lies Washington feeds to them.

What the neocon[s], the bush/obama regime, and the presstitute media have made clear is that Washington is going to push its agenda of world hegemony to the point of starting World War III, which, of course, means the end of life on earth.

Russia and China, either one of which can destroy the United States, have learned that the US government is a liar and cannot be trusted. The Libyan “no-fly” policy to which Russia and China agreed turned out to be a NATO air attack on the Libyan army so that the CIA-sponsored mercenaries could prevail.

Russia and China, having learned their lesson, are protesting Washington’s assault on Syria that Washington pretends is a “civil war.” If Syria falls, Russia and China know that Iran is next.

Iran is Russia’s underbelly, and for China Iran is 20% of its energy imports. Both Russian and Chinese governments know that after Iran falls, they are next. There is no other explanation for Washington surrounding Russia with missile bases and surrounding China with naval and air bases.

Both Russia and China are now preparing for the war that they see as inevitable. Washington’s crazed, demented drive for world hegemony is bringing unsuspecting Americans up against two countries with hydrogen bombs whose combined population is five times the US population. In such a conflict everyone dies.

Considering the utterly insane government ruling in Washington, if human life exists in 2020, it will be a miracle. All the worry about future Medicare and Social Security deficits is meaningless. There will be no one here to collect the benefits.

Iran, Rouhani: Nuclear program will keep on, Syria gov’t will stay till 2014

Al Manar

The Iranian President-elect Sheikh Hasan Rouhani said on Monday that Tehran will present more transparency in its nuclear program than before, but the Islamic Republic won’t abandon its uranium enrichment process.

During his first press conference, Rouhani stressed that Iran will adopt the doctrine of moderation and not of extremism, noting that recent elections opened another chapter in the country.

Offering thanks to all categories of the Iranian people, Rouhani said that he will fulfill his promises even though they need time to be achieved, but he will arrange files according to their priorities.

The Iranian president called upon the people of Iran for unity, stressing that he will work on reviving economy and constructive cooperation with the world countries.

Fielding a journalist question, Rouhani said that priority will be for boosting the economy, prompting the livelihood and eliminating unemployment.

Regarding the foreign policy, The Iranian president pointed out that the new government will seek friendly relations with all neighboring states, particularly the Saudi Arabia, in accordance with mutual respect and common interests.

On the US-Iran relations, Sheikh Rouhani said that Iran does not seek to increase tensions, but every single step will be in accordance with the then conditions.

“They (the U.S. administration) must not interfere in Iran’s internal affairs, must recognize Iran’s right to enrich uranium and must abandon the policy of pressures,” he stated.

“If we feel their good intention, then we are ready to ease the current pressure.”

As for the Syrian crisis, Rouhani said that the Syrian people is the only party who has the right to decide its destiny, noting that Iran rejects terrorism and internal fights, and warning against any kind of foreign intervention in Syria. He also voiced hope that all world and regional states will contribute to restore stability and peace to Syrian Arab Republic.

“The Syrian crisis must be resolved by the people of Syria. We are against terrorism, civil war, and foreign intervention. Hopefully, with the help of all countries of the region and the world, peace and calm will return to Syria,” the cleric said.

“The Syrian crisis must be resolved by a vote by Syrians. We are concerned by the civil war and foreign interference. The government (of President Bashar al-Assad) must be respected by other countries until the next (2014 presidential) elections and then it is up to the people to decide.”

Touching on the Iranian nuclear program, Dr. Rouhani indicated that the sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic are unjust and the Iranians don’t deserve them, believing that the only beneficiary is the Zionist entity, whereas the western countries suffer of them also.

The president reiterated that Iran will be more transparent in its nuclear program, but it won’t halt the uranium enrichment.

“We will move two steps to end the sanctions: firstly we will double our transparency, and secondly we will enforce confidence between Iran and the International community. In other word, we will work upon lifting the embargo by adopting the policy of step-by-step,” sheikh Rouhani stated.

Answering a question of France 24 correspondence about Irans’ readiness to suspend the uranium enrichment, the President-elect indicated that Iran has passed this stage, recalling that he had agreed with the former French president Jack Shirak on the Iranian nuclear program many years ago. However, the Britons didn’t approve it due to the U.S. pressure.

Syria: Army progresses & Russia, ‘we won’t allow imposing a no-fly zone’

Syrian Army Progresses towards Al-Bahdaleyya South-East Sayyeda Zeinab Shrine

Al Manar

Syrian Army units inflicted the terrorist gunmen heavy losses on Monday in a series of concentrated military operations against their gatherings in several towns of Damascus countryside, SANA news agency reported.

Dozens of terrorists were killed including leaders of militant groups.

A high rank official told SANA that scores of militants were killed in Halboon town affiliated to al-Tall region. Among them was the Saudi Abdullah al-Mahwes and Ali Snobar dubbed ‘Abo Mohyeddine’, leader of the so-called Khaled Bin al-Waleed battalion.

The source added that army units killed Malik Jirodiya, leader of an armed group, in the farmlands surrounding al-Ahmadiyya in East Ghotta, and destroyed weapons and ammunition including heavy anti-aircraft machinegun of 23mm.

Moreover, the Syrian army also chased a militant group south of Sayyeda Zeinab (as) region towards al-Bahdaleyya town in Damascus countryside.

Another source told SANA that the engagement with the militant group has left several militants killed and others wounded.

The source noted that chasing militants who fled away towards al-Bahdaleyya will be continued in order to eliminate them.

————————————————————————————–

Russia: We Won’t Allow Imposing a no-Fly Zone in Syria

Al Manar

The spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexander Ocahevch asserted that Russia will not allow imposing a no-fly zone in Syria.

“We will not permit such scenarios, and these maneuvers on a fly-zone and humanitarian passages in Syria are caused by the lack of respect for the International Law,” he said at a press conference.

Ocahevch pointed out that the Russian stance towards these issues is principled and clear. “We have seen how they imposed no-fly zones in Libya, so we will not allow repeating the same scenarios in Syria,” he added.

The Russian diplomat clarified that the S-300 deal had been signed but has not been carried out yet, stressing that Russia does not violate the international laws by supplying weapons to the Syrian government.

Ocahevch described arming the militants in Syria as a serious tendency that helps escalating violence in that country. “The Syrian crisis cannot be settled by double stances- refusing the military track on one hand and arming the militants on the other,” he stated.

Commenting on the Egyptian presidential decision to cut the ties with Syrian government, Ocahevch considered that this decision does not reflect the positive role of Egypt in the regional efforts to settle the Syrian crisis.

In a different context, Ocahevch announced that the decision to deploy Russian troops in the Golan Heights to replace the Austrian power has not been taken yet.

“The main condition to implement this decision is when Syria, the Zionist entity, and the United Nations approve it,” he said.

“Then you will see how the decision will be implemented faithfully,” Ocahevch told the reporters.

————————————————————————————-

Putin: Russia Arming Legitimate Gov’t in Syria, West Arming Organ-Eaters

Al Manar

Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the Western countries for arming foreign-backed militants fighting the Syrian government, warning that such move contradicts basic human values since the armed groups are committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

During a joint press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron on Sunday, Putin said: “You will not deny that one does not really need to support the people who not only kill their enemies, but open up their bodies, eat their intestines in front of the public and cameras. Are these the people you want to support? Is it them who you want to supply with weapons? Then this probably has little relation to humanitarian values that have been preached in Europe for hundreds of years.”

Putin was referring to video footage surfaced on the Internet last month of a militant eating what appeared to be the heart of a dead Syrian soldier.
In an interview with Time magazine on May 14, the cannibal militant, known by his nom de guerre Abu Sakkar, confirmed that the video is real and that he did indeed take a bite of the soldier’s lung. Human Rights Watch said it was a war crime.

Putin said that Russia by contrast was arming the legitimate government of Syria
“We are not breaching any rules and norms and we call on all our partners to act in the same fashion,” he said.

Speaking after a difficult meeting with Putin in Northern Ireland, Cameron claimed both men were in agreement on the need to end the human catastrophe of the Syrian crisis. But there was little to suggest the two men made progress on how to convene a fresh Syrian peace conference in Geneva, let alone who should attend, or its agenda.

“There are very big differences between the analysis we have of what happened in Syria and who is to blame but where there is common ground is that we both see a humanitarian catastrophe,” Cameron said.

“What I take from our conversation today is that we can overcome these differences if we recognize that we share some fundamental aims: to end the conflict, to stop Syria breaking apart, to let the Syrian people decide who governs them and to take the fight to the extremists and defeat them,” he said.

Syria: Austrian UNDOF officer confirms large-scale Israeli support of terrorists

Austrian UNDOF Officer withdrawn from Golan Confirms Large-Scale Israeli Support of Terrorists

by Christof Lehmann (nsnbc),- An Austrian military officer who worked within the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Israeli occupied Syrian Golan Highs revealed to the Palestinian newspaper Al-Manaar, that Israel is providing large-scale support for the armed terrorist groups in Syria.

UNDOF Officer confirms Large-Scale Israeli Support and Direct Military Aggression against Syrian Sites. The Austrian military officer, who declines to reveal his name, but who is known to Al-Manaar, told Al-Manaar that the scale of Israel´s support to the armed terrorist groups, which is spread through villages in the Israeli occupied Syrian Golan is very large, and that the support includes all logistic, military and medical fields.

The officer, belonging to the withdrawing Austrian UNDOF battalion made the statement while being in Palestine, waiting for further transport home to Austria. The officer also affirmed the existence of a joint operations room between armed terrorist gangs and Israel. The joint operation room has the function to coordinate the delivery of assistance to the terrorists.

The Austrian UNDOF officer added, that staff at this operations room also coordinated the entry of injured terrorists into Israel, where injured terrorists are admitted to hospitals in the nearby Israeli settlements. The officer explicitly cited the Zeif hospital in Safed.

Al-Manaar quoted the Austrian officer as saying, that this joint operation room is in constant contact with the Israeli military and security to facilitate the weapons transport from Israel to the terrorists. The Austrian officer pointed out, that the UNDF has information about large numbers of terrorists who have been transported to local and field hospitals over the past three months.

The Austrian officer also revealed, that the disengagement zone between Syria and Israel was used to provide support for the gunmen, many of whom he said, came to Israel from neighboring countries over the last months and then moved into the occupied Syrian Golan Highs to reinforce the terrorist groups.

The Austrian officer also pointed towards tens of media reports and statements issued by leaders of terrorist groups which clearly disclosed the scale of the Israeli coordination with and support for armed gangs, not only through logistic and military assistance, but also through direct intervention in terms of launching attacks on Syrian sites.

Reports of Israeli Weapons Deliveries Since 2011. Reports about Israeli weapons deliveries to terrorists in Syria surfaced as early as 2011.

In September 2011 a covertly recorded audio tape with the former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri surfaced. The audio recording, together with an English transcript was published on nsnbc international. The recording clearly implicates Saad Hariri in arms deliveries to Syrian insurgents.

Subsequent intelligence, derived from an intercepted telephone call, which was later confirmed by reports from a Palestinian intelligence source known to nsnbc international documented, that some of the weapons shipped to the insurgents by Hariri via Lebanon and an operations room in Turkey were Israeli weapons.

In February 2012 nsnbc international reported about a source with ties to Jordanian intelligence, who stated that a shipment of over 50 ton of Israeli military equipment, worth over USD 650 million had arrived at Erbil airport in “Kurdistan”. The weapons have reportedly been paid by “Rafael Industries”.

The Lebanese Member of Parliament, leader of the Lebanese Druze community and Chairman of the Lebanese Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, and his shuttling back and forth between Qatar, Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey have specifically been tied to this specific arms delivery. The weapons reportedly went on route to terrorists in Homs.

The presence of covert Israeli military forces in Syria was also reported in May 2013, when an Israeli military vehicle was seized in the strategically important border town al-Qasair. Al-Qasair is a strategic border town on the Northern frontier of Lebanon. It was held by insurgents but liberated by Syrian forces in June.

In early June 2013, Syrian armed forces decisively defeated foreign-backed terrorists and insurgents in al-Qasair after a protracted battle and secured the city and the surrounding region.

————————————————————————————-

Syria: Mursi’d Better Close Israeli Embassy not the Syrian

Al Manar

The Syrian government on Sunday condemned Egypt’s decision to cut ties with Damascus and back the armed opposition groups against President Bashar al-Assad, calling it an “irresponsible” move.

“The Syrian Arab Republic condemns this irresponsible position,” an unnamed Syrian official told state news agency SANA.

The official said Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi had joined the “conspiracy and incitement led by the United States and Israel against Syria by announcing the cutting of ties yesterday”.

“Syria is fully confident that this decision doesn’t reflect the will of the brotherly Egyptian people who have shared strong and firm relations with the Syrian people that have contributed to protecting security and stability in the region against all the invaders and aggressors since the dawn of history,” said the source.

He added that those ties between the Syrian and Egyptian peoples “were crowned by the October Liberation War which made an important victory for the Arab nation and people over the Israeli enemy,” noting that Mursi announced the severing of ties to deflect attention from internal crises.

“Mursi had better bubble with this excitement when announcing the closure of the Israeli embassy and cutting off ties with an enemy that is still killing the Palestinian brother right before Mursi’s very eyes and at a very short distance from Egypt,” the source indicated.

Mursi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, announced Saturday the “definitive” severing of ties with Syria, and the recall of Egypt’s charge d’affaires in Damascus.

————————————————————————————

Syrian Army Regains Ahmadiyya, Restores Security to Aleppo, Hama Countrysides

Al Manar

Syrian army restored security and stability to the town of Ahmadiyya in East Ghouta of Damascus countryside and the villages of Ein Asan and Tallat al-Teen in the southern countryside of Aleppo, in addition to a number of Hama countryside villages.

In the town of Ahmadiyya, the army succeeded in killing dozens of militants and destroying their weapons and ammunition. It also pounded their bunkers in the town.

An official source told SANA news agency that the army seized control over Khamisiyya town adjacent to Ahmadiyya, inflicting the terrorists several casualties and destroying their arsenal.

A military source confirmed to Al-Manar website correspondent that the army has controlled the tunnel in Jobar in Damascus countryside, which was used by insurgents to concentrate and store ammunition.

The seizure was achieved after violent clashes during the progress of an army unit on the axis of Mowasalat – Afran near Zabaltani area.

“Ten terrorists of al-Nusra Front were killed and weapons inside the tunnel were confiscated as a result of the operation,” the source added.

Two other Syrian soldiers were wounded during clashes.

In another context, sources confirmed to Al-Manar correspondent that a terrorist sniper was killed in Harasta who was used to target travelers on Damascus-Homs international highway.

In Darya, Syrian army units continued operations at several axes within the city and have been centered on the rail road and the area around the holy shrine of Sayyeda Sokaina (as), along with Alali and Jameiyyat regions.

Dozens of militants were killed as a result, our correspondent reported.

In Aleppo and its southern countryside, the Syrian army has been able to eliminate the last points and bunkers of terrorists’ gatherings in Tallat al-Teen and Ein Asan, destroying their weapons and ammunition.

The army also eliminated armed groups located in the vicinity of the central prison of Aleppo, killing a number of terrorists and destroying their arsenal.

Also in Aleppo, a military source told SANA that army units carried out several operations within the city, one at the Qaqaa mosque in Sakhur neighborhood, which resulted in dozens of casualties amongst terrorists. The army also destroyed a warehouse of weapons and ammunition at the southwestern corner of the mosque.

Moreover, a military source said the army was able to restore security to the towns of Rasm al-Abed and Rasm al-Awabed in Hama province countryside. It also restored security to the Aqirbat town in the Hama eastern countryside after eliminating the terrorist groups affiliated to al-Nusra Front in the town.

Seizing weapons in Banias

In the meantime, Syrian Special Forces seized weapons and ammunition in farmlands in Banias city of the Tartous governorate, and arrested an armed group in the countryside trying to flee to the Lebanese territories.

A military source told SANA that, with the help of Hamidiyya residents near the Lebanese border, the Syrian army managed to arrest the most dangerous terrorist in Banias.

Hasan Sehyouni was leading a nine-militant terrorist group who were trying to flee to the Lebanese territories.

Armed group assassinates president of the Union of Peasants in Deir Ezzor

On the other hand, an armed group assassinated Shreida al-Ali, the President of the Union of Peasants in the province of Deir Ezzor, on the road to al-Mayadeen region.

“The terrorist group opened fire at Ali’s car while heading to his work in Deir Ezzor which led to his martyrdom at once,” SANA reporter quoted a provincial source as saying.

————————————————————————————

Deleted Daily Mail Online Article: “US Backed Plan for Chemical Weapon Attack in Syria to Be Blamed on Assad” (click to read)

Former French foreign minister: The war against Syria was planned two years before “The Arab Spring”

by Gearóid Ó Colmáin, source

In an interview with the French TV station LCP, former French minister for Foreign Affairs Roland Dumas said:

‘’ I’m going to tell you something. I was in England two years before the violence in Syria on other business. I met with top British officials, who confessed to me that they were preparing something in Syria.

This was in Britain not in America. Britain was organizing an invasion of rebels into Syria. They even asked me, although I was no longer minister for foreign affairs, if I would like to participate.

Naturally, I refused, I said I’m French, that doesn’t interest me.’’

Dumas went on give the audience a quick lesson on the real reason for the war that has now claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people.

‘’This operation goes way back. It was prepared, preconceived and planned… in the region it is important to know that this Syrian regime has a very anti-Israeli stance.

Consequently, everything that moves in the region- and I have this from the former Israeli prime minister who told me ‘we’ll try to get on with our neighbours but those who don’t agree with us will be destroyed.

It’s a type of politics, a view of history, why not after all. But one should know about it.’’

Dumas is a retired French foreign minister who is obliged to use discretion when revealing secrets which could affect French foreign policy. That is why he made the statement ‘I am French, that doesn’t interest me’. He could not reveal France’s role in the British plan as he would be exposing himself to prosecution for revealing state secrets.

There have been many disinformation agents in the British and French press, many of them well known ‘leftist’ war correspondents and commentators, who have tried to pretend that Israel secretly supports Assad. Those who make such arguments are either stupid, ignorant or deliberate disinformation agents of NATO and Israel.

Israel’s support for Al Qaeda militants in Syria has even been admitted by the mainstream press. For example, Germany’s Die Welt newspaper published a report on June 12th on Israel’s medical treatment of the Al Qaeda fighters.

Israel planned this war of annihilation years ago in accordance with the Yinon Plan, which advocates balkanization of all states that pose a threat to Israel. The Zionist entity is using Britain and France to goad the reluctant Obama administration into sending more American troops to their death in Syria on behalf of Tel Aviv.

Of all the aggressor states against Syria, Israel has been the quietest from the start. That is because Laurent Fabius, Francois Holland, William Hague and David Cameron are doing their bidding by attempting to drag Israel’s American Leviathan into another ruinous war so that Israel can get control of the Middle East’s energy reserves, eventually replacing the United States as the ruling state in the world. It has also been necessary for Tel Aviv to remain silent so as not to expose their role in the ‘revolutions’, given the fact that the Jihadist fanatics don’t realize they are fighting for Israel.

This is the ideology of Zionism which cares no more for Jews than it does for its perceived enemies. The Jewish colony is determined to become a ruling state in the Middle East in the insane delusion that this will enable it to replace the United States as a global hegemon, once the US collapses fighting Israel’s wars.

Israeli Prime Minister once told American talk show host Bill Maher that the reason why Israel always wins short conflicts, while the United States gets bogged down in endless wars. ‘’ The secret is that we have America’’, he said.

But Israel is itself slowly collapsing. If one excludes the enslaved Palestinian population, the Jewish state still has the highest level of poverty in the developed world with more and more Jews choosing to leave the ‘promised’ land, a garrison state led by mad men, an anti-Semitic entity threatening to engulf the world in war and destruction. Israel cares no more about its own working class Jews than any other ethnic community.

In fact, if the Likudnik crooks running the Israeli colony get their way, working class Israelis will be among the first to pay as they are conscripted to fight terrorists created by their own government. With orthodox Jews protesting in the streets of New York against Israel and Haredi Jewish minority opposing Israel’s rampant militarism, Zionism is coming under increased attack from Jewish religious authorities and non-Zionist Jews both inside and outside of the occupied territories.

This is not the first time that Roland Dumas has spoken out against wars of aggression waged by successive French regimes. In 2011 he revealed that he had been asked by the United States when he was foreign minister in the Mitterrand administration to organize the bombing of Libya. On that occasion the French refused to cooperate. Dumas, a lawyer by profession, offered to defend Colonel Gaddafi, at the International Criminal Court in the event of his arrest by Nato.

Dumas was also vocal in condemning France’s brutal neo-colonial bombing of the Ivory Coast earlier in 2011, were death squads and terrorists similar to those later deployed in Libya and Syria were unleashed upon the Ivoirian population in order to install a IMF puppet dictator Alassane Quattara in power. Gbagbo was described as one of the greatest African leaders of the past 20 years by Jean Ziegler, sociologist and former member of the Advisory Committee of the UN Human Rights Council.

Gbagbo had plans to nationalize banks and wrest control of the country’s currency from the colonial finance institutions in Paris. He also wanted to roll back many of the worst effects of IMF restructuring by nationalizing industries and creating a functioning, universal free health service. All of this threatened the interests of French corporations in the former French colony. So, the Parisian oligarchy went to work to find a suitable replacement as caretaker of their Ivoirian colony.

They sent in armed terrorist gangs, or ‘rebel’s in the doublespeak of imperialism, who murdered all before them while the French media blamed president Gbagbo for the violence that ensued. Gbagbo and Gaddafi had opposed Africom, the Pentagon’s plan to recolonize Africa. That was another reason for the 2011 bombing of their two African countries.

The formula is always the same. Imperialism backs ‘rebels’, whenever its interests are threatened by regimes that love their country more than foreign corporations. One should not forgot that during the Spanish Civil War of 1936, General Franco and his cronies were also ‘rebels’ and they, like their counterparts in Libya in 2011, were bombed to power by foreign powers, replacing a progressive, republican administration with fascism.

There are pro-Israeli fanatics in France who have used the analogy of the Spanish Civil War as justification for intervention in Libya and Syria. The pseudo-philosopher Henry Bernard Levy is one of them. Of course, the ignoramus Levy doesn’t realize that the reason France, England and the USA did not officially intervene in the Spanish Civil War is because they were covertly helping the ‘rebels’ from the start. They enabled arms shipments to the Francoist ‘rebels’ while preventing arms deliveries to the Spanish government, who, like Syria today, were helped by Moscow. Anyone who has studied the Spanish Civil War knows that all the imperialist countries wanted Franco as a bulwark against communism.

There is nothing imperialism loves more than a rebel without a cause. What imperialism hates, however, are revolutionaries. That is why the ‘rebels’ which imperialism sends into other countries to colonize them on behalf of foreign banks and corporations, have to be marketed as ‘revolutionaries’ in order to assure the support of the Monty Python brigade of petty-bourgeois, ‘ leftist’ dupes such as Democracy Now! and their ilk.

Dumas is not the only top French official to denounce the New World Order. Former French ambassador to Syria Michel Raimbaud wrote a book in 2012 entitled ‘Le Soudan dans tous les états’, where he revealed how Israel planned and instigated a civil war in South Sudan in order to balkanize a country led by a pro-Palestinian government. He also exposed the pro-Israeli media groups and ‘human rights’ NGOS who created the ‘humanitarian’ narrative calling for military intervention by the United States in the conflict.

The subject was covered extensively by African investigative journalist Charles Onana in his 2009 book, Al-Bashir & Darfour LA CONTRE ENQUÊTE.

There are many more retired French officials who are speaking out about the ruinous policies of this French government, including the former head of French domestic intelligence Yves Bonnet. There have also been reports of dissent in the French armed forces and intelligence apparatus.

After the assassination of Colonel Gaddafi in October 2011, the former French ambassador to Libya Christian Graeff told French radio station France Culture that it was responsible for the diffusion of lies and war propaganda on behalf of Nato throughout the war. Graeff also warned the broadcasters that such disinformation could only work on the minds of serfs but not in a country of free minds.

The power of the Israeli lobby in France is a subject rarely discussed in polite circles. In France there is a law against questioning or denial of the holocaust. However, denial of the Korean holocaust, Guatemalan holocaust, Palestinian holocaust, Indonesian holocaust and the dozens of other US/Israeli supported genocides is not only perfectly legal but is the respectable norm.

The same lobby which introduced the Loi Gayssot in 1990, effectively ending freedom of expression in France, would also like to ban any independent investigations of genocides whose narratives they have written, such as the Rwanda genocide, where Israel played a key role in supporting the ‘rebels’ led by Paul Kagame, who invaded Rwanda from Uganda from 1991 to 1994, leading to the genocide of both Tutus and Tutsis. Many serious scholars have written about the Rwandan genocide, which the Israel lobby repeatedly uses as a case study to justify ‘humanitarian’ intervention by Western powers. The Zionist thought police would like to see such authors prosecuted for ‘negating’ imperialism’s disgusting lies on African conflicts.

Now, the Israeli Lobby is forcing the (their) French government to prosecute twitter messages which the lobby deems ‘anti-Semitic’. This is one further step towards the creation of a totalitarian state where any criticism of imperialism, foreign wars, racism, oppression, perhaps eventually capitalism itself could fall under the rubric of ‘anti-Semitism’.

These people are sick, and those who cow down to them are sicker. Perhaps the etymology of sickness, a word cognate with the German Sicherheit (security) according to dictionary.com, is not a coincidence. For what is particularly sick about our society is the cult of security, endless surveillance, ubiquitous cameras, the cult of the all seeing eye, the prurient gaze as part of the incessant discourse on terrorism by those who specialize in the training of the very terrorists they claim to be protecting us from. Whether or not the words security and sickness are linguistically related, they are certainly cognate in a philosophical sense.

Roland Dumas and others like him should be highly commended for having to guts to say what so many others are too morally corrupt, too weak and cowardly to admit.

As the French government and its media agencies drum up hysteria for war on Syria, Roland Dumas, now in the twilight of his years, is warning people of the consequences of not understanding where Israel is leading the world. Will enough people heed the warning?

No “sacred war” in Syria but action planned by external forces-Chechnya & Al-Azhar institute refuses call for Jihad

No “Sacred War” in Syria but Action Planned by External Forces: Chechnya

Al Manar

Chechnyan President Ramzan Kadyrov indicated Saturday that the conflict in Syria had nothing to do with a “sacred war”, it was rather an action planned by some countries to overthrow the Syrian regime headed by President Bashar Al-Assad.

The Voice of Russia quoted Kadyrov as saying: “It is no secret that the so-called opposition in Syria acts under the guidance of foreign special services. No one even tries to hide it. Naturally, young people coming to Syria from Russia are a delicacy for them. One tries to recruit them. And one cannot be sure that such kind of recruiting will not be then directed against Russia.”

He added that “here is no ‘sacred war’ in Syria… There is an action clearly planned by external forces to overthrow the regime, destroy the country and liquidate its armed forces.”

The Chechnyan president further pointed out that “there are several people from Chechnya in Syria,” clarifying that “according to our data, five or six nationals of our republic died there. In the name of what? For the sake of what and who? It would be better if they stayed at home, helped their parents, raised their children, worked and studied.”

In parallel, Kadyrov stressed that “one should show on TV what ‘the Syrian opposition’ is, what it seeks and what attitude it has to Islam.”

“Our Muslim theologians say that there can be no signs of jihad in Syria. Both parties use weapons. There is a fight for power and resources. And the opposition is under the power of those who fund it, ship arms and ammunition, and send military experts,” he said.

————————————————————————————

Al-Azhar Institute Refuses Call for Jihad in Syria

Al Ahed news

Al-Azhar Institute denied the statement issued by a number of clerics who met in Cairo on Thursday calling for so-called ‘Jihad in Syria’.

Sheikh Ali Shames, along with a number of al-Azhar clerics, reiterated in a statement that al-Azhar did not participate or sign on the statement that called to so-called ‘jihad’ in Syria.

Moreover, clerics like Mohammad al-Arifi and Youssef al-Qaradawi called on for jihad in Syria, with sectarian and provocative tones that called for killing Muslims.

———————————————————————————–

Syria army captures Damascus suburb

Press TV

Syrian army soldiers have captured a suburb near the international airport in the capital, Damascus, Syria’s official SANA news agency reports.

The government forces stormed several terrorist hideouts in al-Ahmadia area on Saturday, killing several foreign-backed militants.

The clashes between Syrian troops and militants in the area came two days after a mortar round hit an area near airport runway and caused brief disruption to flights.

On Friday, a number of militants were killed during intense clashes with government forces in the town of al-Ziyabiyeh on the outskirt of Damascus. A militant commander, identified as Talal al-Mandil, was reportedly among the slain gunmen.

Dozens of armed gunmen were also killed in clashes with Syrian troops in the town of al-Hejjeira.

Separately, Syrian army troops clashed with militants in the town of Jobar, located 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) northeast of Damascus, killing and injuring a number of them.

In the city of Douma, located about 10 kilometers (six miles) northeast of Damascus, Syrian soldiers raided a terrorist hideout and shot dead several militants.

Sayyed Nasrallah: ‘Mistaken who thinks that takfiris can change our position’

by Marwa Haidar, Al Manar

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah stressed that the resistance will be where it should, assuring that the struggle in Syria is between two projects and not between two sects.

During a ceremony held by Hezbollah for the occasion of the Injured Fighter Day, Sayyed Nasrallah said that post-Qusayr stage is the same of pre-Qusayr since no change in developments taking place in Syria.

In this context, he stressed that the accusations of unbelief launched by Takfiris will not change the position of the resistance, and “who thinks that he can force us to change our stance through killing and terrifying is mistaken.”

As he said that the resistance is not interested in the battle taking place in Syria, Sayyed Nasrallah said that Hezbollah should be engaged in this battle since it is aimed at destroying the whole region, not only Syria.

His eminence pointed out that Hezbollah is the last side to take part in the Syrian fight, since there are many Lebanese parties, including al-Mustaqbal party, who were engaged in the struggle before.

Clear View for the Crisis in Syria

Sayyed Nasrallah said that since the start of the crisis in Syria Hezbollah had a clear view that there was a scheme that has repercussions on Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, the region, the Muslims, the Christians, the Sunnites and the Shiites.

His eminence pointed out that the resistance through its decisions is defending Lebanon, its land and its state.

The resistance leader stressed that what’s coming on in Syria is not between a regime and people, saying: “This issue is over. There are sides who don’t care for the people killed, they just want for the regime to fall. They imagine that the alternative for this regime is another one. However the alternative is the chaos.”

His eminence noted that the Syrian people are parted, some is with the regime and the other is against it, adding: “And we are with the regime. We are also with reforms.”

“We are with people who call for reforms, whether they are with the regime or against it. However we are against those who are destroying Syria,” Sayyed Nasrallah told crowds.

On the other hand, he said that talks about starting to arm the Syrian opposition is false since providing arms to the foreign-backed militants who are fighting the Syrian government is taking place since long ago.

Hezbollah The Latest Side to Take Part in Syria Fight

Meanwhile, Sayyed Nasrallah said that Hezbollah was the latest Lebanese side to take part in the Syrian fight, noting that many other parties have been engaged in the Syrian crisis even before Hezbollah was.

“We didn’t keep our participation in the Syrian fight a secret. We didn’t say that we are offering milk and blankets,” Sayyed Nasrallah said, referring to al-Mustaqbal party MP Oqab Saqr who denied that his party is engaged in the Syrian crisis.

“… And if our fighters are killed in the battle in Syria we don’t burry them there and silence their families in Lebanon,” Sayyed Nasrallah added.

Sayyed Nasrallah also assured that the struggle in Syria is not sectarian, noting that those who are presenting it as a sectarian struggle are weak. He called for exerting efforts in a bid to face some Arab channels which are inciting for sedition and giving the struggle sectarian explanations through fabrications.

“We won’t change our position through fabrications, killing and terrifying,” his eminence said, noting that post-Qusayr is the same stage as pre-Qusayr.

He said that the other side of the struggle is determined to go ahead with it, stressing that the resistance is to be where it should be as it will hold the responsibility it had held from the beginning of the crisis.

Sayyed Nasrallah also pointed out that Hezbollah is ready to debate over Syria, noting in this context that some sides are offering initiatives that need to be discussed.

Call for Self Restraint

Talking about the Local issues, the resistance leader said that there nothing new concerning the issue of the elections, noting that the Lebanese are awaiting the decision of the constitutional council to know if the elections are to take place or not.

His eminence urged the utmost degrees of self restraint and the avoidance of any form of fight and tension.

“We urge the Lebanese, Palestinians and Syrians who are in the Lebanese territories to practice the utmost degrees of self restraint, especially the crowds of the resistance.”

He also slammed what some Lebanese people are doing of shooting bullets in the air, saying that this action is being a noticeably increasing in Lebanon. His eminence called for the halt of this phenomenon, saying it’s rejected since it harm and bother others.

“The phenomenon of shooting in the air has noticeably increased nowadays and during every occasion,” Sayyed Nasrallah said, adding: “we asked clerics across Iran and Iraq about the issue of shooting in the air. The only answer was that it is forbidden to do so.”

Concerning the rockets fired on some Bekaa towns, Sayyed Nasrallah said that some media outlets are circulating rumors that these rockets are fired from the town of Ersal, in a bid to explain the issue by sectarian means.

Hi eminence stressed that rockets fired on Sareen, Baalbeck and Hernel were not from Ersal, saying that armed groups in Syria are who are firing them and promising that this issue will be over soon.

He warned in this context that media outlets along with intelligence services are working hard to incite sedition between Sunnites and Shiites.

Resistance Saved Lebanon

Talking about the occasion, Sayyed Nasrallah saluted the injured fighters along with their families who sacrificed for the sake of their country, stressing that Lebanon was liberated thanks to resistance and its fighters.

“The resistance, with this sacrifice, liberated Lebanon from the Israeli occupation. It saved Lebanon and its history should not be forgotten.”

In this context his eminence warned that “there is a huge media campaign which is working to defame the image and the history of the resistance.”

The resistance leader dismissed talks about uprooting Hezbollah of the Lebanese structure as saying: “We were born here, we were grown up here, we lived here and we will be buried here… No one can root us up.”

“One of the most powerful armies in the world was crushed by our fighters in Bint Jbeil, Maroun Ras… Who are these stupid people who are talking about rooting us up?”

Iranian Elections: Festival of Democracy

Meanwhile, Sayyed Nasrallah congratulated the Iranian leadership and the nation for the high public turnout in the Islamic Republic 11th presidential elections.

“I want to congratulate Imam Khamenei and the Iranian nation for this festival of democracy, because this democracy strengthens the right positions in the region,” he said.

“Through this democracy, the Leader with all his powers has only one vote and the other Iranian citizens of different ethnicities are also at the same level. They participate in the election for the future of their country.”

His eminence hoped that some Arab countries witness similar democracy.

Poland, Czech Republic reluctant on blacklisting Hizbullah & Qusayr battle caused a rabid campaign

Poland, Czech Republic reluctant on blacklisting Hizbullah

Al Ahed news

Poland and the Czech Republic expressed “reservations” about blacklisting Hizbullah as an alleged terrorist organization at a session in Brussels earlier this month, the “Israeli” Jerusalem Post mentioned.

As for the Dutch representative, he had expressed unreserved support for the British proposal to blacklist Hizbullah.

The Wall Street Journal has also reported that Austria is opposed, while The Jerusalem Post quoted unnamed “Israeli” officials as saying that Ireland was also against.

The source also reported that a Bulgarian representative said the link between Hizbullah and the Burgas explosion was “weak,” and earlier this month, Bulgaria stated it only had an “indication” not solid proof that Hizbullah was behind the Burgas bus bombing in July, which does not justify any European Union move to list it as a terrorist group.

“It is important that the [EU] decision be based not only on the bombing in Burgas because I think the evidence we have is not explicit,” Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin, whose government took office last week, told national state radio BNR.

According to the source, representatives from the Baltic nations were among several envoys who stayed silent during the discussion.

On Wednesday, EU spokesman David Kriss responded to various accounts of the June 4 meeting with a general statement, saying that “any decision requires the unanimous support of all of 27 EU member states.”

————————————————————————————-

What Has Hizbullah Done in Qusayr to Earn such a Rabid Campaign?

by Ibrahim Bayram – Annahar newspaper, source

Hizbullah has been in the eye of the storm ever since it saw the light. Undoubtedly, the current political and media campaign leveled against it is unprecedented in different terms.

As intransigent and rabid as could be, this campaign involved the Gulf Cooperation Council, now waving sanctions against Hizbullah supporters. This is an unfamiliar measure by the Gulf which usually does not go that far in its animosity when it is a political party that is targeted.
Hizbullah was certainly expecting this storm, with all its implications and dimensions, ever since it decided to seriously engage in the battles in Qusayr and especially in Homs countryside.

Some sources communicating with Hizbullah command mentioned that an internal rival had secretly sent a message to the party shortly before Qusayr’s battle, hereby saying, “You demand the ‘guaranteeing third’ in the government which formation is underway. We are ready to meet this demand under the condition that you don’t go to the battlefield in Homs countryside.”
Moreover, the party received more messages from the concerned European states hereby imploring it not to partake in the military confrontation in Qusayr if it wished to maintain stable relations with Europe and to be off the terrorism blacklist.

Still, Hizbullah could not care any less about the tempting leverages. It instead turned a cold shoulder to the threats and dispatched its best fighters to Qusayr to lead a fierce battle that has tipped the strategic power balance on the Syrian arena, flaming since two years and three months, and caused an uninterrupted series of reverberations.

But what is it that Hizbullah has done in confrontations it knew they would give the chance to its rivals to level a concerted sectarian, political, and economic campaign? The party knows well that it has broken the course of equations most of Arabs and the West were endeavoring to impose in Syria. More specifically, Hizbullah’s decision to participate in Qusayr has three consequences:

1- The party has defied all the equations and red lines its rivals were seeking to clinch around it. It has even crossed the frontiers of Lebanon to become a regional power to be taken into account now and in the future.

2- The participation in Qusayr battles begot a crushing defeat that was not considered by the enemies of the Syrian regime.

A lot has been written and said about the strategic importance of Qusayr and its surroundings. Yet the military outcome has just surprised everyone.
Oppositionists of the Syrian regime have sought to make of Qusayr the next “Stalingrad” as they sent more than 4000 professional fighters underground geared up with weaponries and arsenals so that they resist for months. Major losses have been incurred upon them instead.

The city fell in less than ten days, leaving 1500 dead and thousands wounded. The rest were either captured or managed to escape.

In counterpart, less than 80 Hizbullah fighters were killed and 160 were injured, while the party was expecting the casualties toll to be way more than this and the battle, aiming to liberate what is tantamount to fifth the area of Lebanon, to last longer.

For their part, countries linked to the opposition considered that Hizbullah participation in the fights has wasted, within few days, the tremendous efforts that were made for more than 18 months.

3- The outcome of Qusayr’s battle has changed the equations on the Syrian scene and even in Lebanon. After talks behind closed doors focused on the party’s fate following the regression of the Syrian regime, attention has become fixed on what Hizbullah would do to rivals after the fresh headway of battles. Concerned parties are wondering now about what to do when the party moves its fighters to Aleppo.
It is no more a secret that building on the results of Qusayr’s battle, international calculi, especially in Moscow, have changed. Hizbullah has made of itself a regional linchpin after many have thought that the UN resolution 1701 would tighten the noose around the party and then lead it to lose its internal role after July war in 2006.

Therefore, Hizbullah and observers understand well the rabid attack against the party, who is now making the headlines in the Gulf.

Syria: US claims on chemical weapons use ’lies’ & preparing for resistance in Golan

Russian MP: US Chemical Weapons Report in Syria ‘Fabricated’

Al Manar

A US government report concluding Syria has used chemical weapons against militants is a fabrication, a senior Russian lawmaker said Friday.

“Information about the usage of chemical weapons by [Syrian President Bashar] Assad is fabricated in the same way as the lie about [Saddam] Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction [in Iraq],” Alexei Pushkov, head of the Russian lower house of parliament’s international affairs committee, said on Twitter.

US President Barack Obama “is going the same way” as former President George W. Bush did then, Pushkov said.

The White House said on Thursday it now believes with “high confidence” that Syrian government forces have used chemical weapons many times during the two-year conflict there, and vowed to boost US aid to the armed opposition fighting to remove Assad from power.

White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said Obama had decided to provide further support, including military support, for Syrian opposition forces as a result of its conclusion that government forces has used such chemical weapons.

Unconvincing Claims

Russia President Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy adviser said Friday that claims by the United States on use of chemical weapons was “unconvincing” and warned that direct military aid to militants would hurt peace efforts.

“The information that has been presented, the facts that have been presented do not look convincing to us,” Yury Ushakov told reporters.

Ushakov said the chances of holding a Syrian peace conference that Russia and the United States proposed jointly on May 7 would be hurt by Obama’s decision to provide military support for the opposition.

NATO Urges UN Inspection

In response, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Friday welcomed a “clear” US statement accusing the Syrian regime of using chemical weapons and said Damascus must let the UN investigate the allegations.

“I welcome clear US statement. Urgent that Syria regime should let UN investigate all reports of chemical weapons use,” he said on his official Twitter feed. He said the international community had made clear that the use of chemical weapons was “completely unacceptable” and a “breach of international law”.

“NATO Patriots will ensure effective protection of Turkey against any Syria missile attack, chemical or not,” he said, referring to the air defense missiles that NATO has stationed in Turkey.

————————————————————————————

Syria FM: US Claims on Chemical Weapons Use ’Lies’

Al Manar

Syria on Friday slammed Washington’s claims that it had used chemical weapons in its fight against militant opposition groups, accusing the United States of “lies” based on “fabricated information”.

“The White House published a statement full of lies about the use of chemical weapons in Syria, based on fabricated information, through which it is trying to hold the Syrian government responsible for such use,” state news agency SANA quoted a foreign ministry official as saying.

The official said the US claims came “after reports affirming that armed terrorist groups active in Syria are in possession of deadly chemical weapons and the technology necessary to make them”.

Washington said on Thursday there was evidence that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons including sarin nerve gas in its military operations.

The US administration announced it will provide “military support” to the terrorist groups active over the Syrian territories, a decision condemned Moscow, Berlin and Damascus.

“The American decision to arm armed terrorist groups demonstrates… the direct involvement of the United States in the Syrian bloodbath,” the official stressed.

“This raises serious questions about their good intention when it comes to finding a political solution in Syria,” the official added.

Washington and Moscow have been spearheading efforts to organize a conference in Geneva to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict. However, the US decision to provide Syrian opposition with arms will probably hinder any possible peace efforts.

———————————————————————————–

Assad: We are Preparing for Resistance in Golan

Al Manar

Syrian President Bashar Assad called on all national factions and parties as well as the Palestinian forces to resist the Zionist entity along the Golan Heights.

Lebanese officials visiting Syria told Lebanese paper Al Akhbar that Assad has a long term plan in Golan similar to what the Islamic resistance in Lebanon had achieved in the South. This would include, according to Assad, a continued struggle against Israel.

“The commitment of the Syrian community to resist the Israeli enemy can help fortify the internal struggle facing Syria,” Assad told the officials.

The officials say Assad comfortable because Syria has not only overcome the stage of strategic threat, but also has triumphed with steadfastness throughout this period in light of the fiercest media, political and security campaigns as well as global hypocrisy. “The backbone of the Syrian state is still solid since more than three million Syrian students had conducted their final exams under war,” Assad added.

Assad realizes the importance of the Syrian and Lebanese oil in the next phase, and threats against Syria and Lebanon to protect their oil on land and at sea, Al-Akbar daily reported. “The great battle to come will be on oil, we have to protect our oil in Lebanon, Syria. Oil in the Gulf is controlled the Americans and is used to destroy our country, so we must use our oil in the development of our country and employ its revenues in the conflict with the Israeli enemy,” Assad urged.

———————————————————————————–

Syrian Army Advances in Aleppo, Controls Rusafa Neighborhood in Deir Ezzor

Al Manar

The Syrian army thwarted on Friday an infiltration attempt by armed groups militiamen towards the al-Awared bridge via the cemeteries in the Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood of Aleppo, Al-Manar Website correspondent reported.

Violent clashes took place between the Syrian army and armed groups at the entrances of al-Sakhoor neighborhood of Aleppo, amid progress by the Syrian army in the area.

A field source confirmed to Al-Manar website that clashes occurred between the national forces and the armed opposition groups in the eastern side of al-Nobbol city north of Aleppo.

“Clashes resulted in a number of killed and wounded within the ranks of the insurgents,” the source said, noting that the army troops raised the Syrian flag on the outskirts of the village of Mayer.

On the other hand, Syrian warplanes targeted the headquarters of the Legitimate Association (Hay’a Shari’a) in the city of Raqqa, killing number of terrorists and wounding others, along with destroying a car with a built-in machine gun, Al-Manar correspondent said.

In Tartous, leader of the so-called “Free of the Coast battalion” has been arrested while trying to flee to Lebanon through illegal crossings accompanied by a number of wanted terrorists.

Al-Manar correspondent also reported that the Syrian army foiled a suicide bomber attempting to blow himself up in a car in the area of Kafr Amer in Zaqbadani, Damascus, where the army targeted and destroyed the car before reaching its target.

In Banias countryside, one of the armed groups’ militiamen blew himself up with a bomb he was carrying while he was being chased by the army.

Moreover, Al-Manar correspondent confirmed that the Syrian army also targeted gunmen in al-Jubeila, Sanaa, Hamidiya and Sheikh Yassin in Deir Ezzor. It also seized control over al-Rusafa neighborhood in the same area.

In the same context, the Syrian Al-Ekhbariya channel reported Friday that the Syrian army “restored security and stability to al-Rusafa in Deir Ezzor and expelled militants out of the area.”

Local authorities also announced that the Syrian army restored security to the village of Abu Habaylat in Hama eastern countryside, after it achieved victory over al-Nusra Front groups in the village.

————————————————————————————

Egyptians free to join militants in Syria: Advisor to President Morsi

Press TV

An adviser to Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi says Egyptians are free to join the foreign-backed Takfiri militants fighting against the government in Syria.

Khaled al-Qazzaz said on Thursday that Cairo was not adopting any measures against those who sought to fight against the Syrian government along with the extremist militants.

“The right of travel or freedom of travel is open for all Egyptians,” the Egyptian official stated.

Qazzaz, who is President Morsi’s adviser on foreign affairs, further rejected concerns that the Egyptians who fight alongside Takfiri militants in Syria would return home as extremists, even though such groups continue with attacks against Egyptian police and military in the northern Sinai Peninsula. “We don’t consider them a threat,” he said.

Several dozen Egyptian nationals have reportedly been killed while fighting against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over the past months of turmoil in Syria, but the number has not been independently confirmed.

In May, President Assad said that militants from 29 different countries were fighting against the government in different parts of the country.

Syria: Militants commit massacre, Lebanese consider Hezbollah involvement justifiable & Fabius- Army advance should be “stopped”

Foreign-Backed Militants Commit Massacre in Syria’s Deir Ezzor

Al Manar

Nusra Front militants, who are fighting the Syrian government, and have links to al-Qaeda group, committed massacre against Syrians as they killed 60 people in a village in eastern Deir Ezzor province.

The head of an opposition observatory based in London, Rami Abdel Rahman told Agence France Presse (AFP) that militants attacked the village of Hatla killing 60 – residents.

He reported that the armed groups took control of the village, adding that the – residents were fleeing the area following the violence.

According to media reports militants even targeted women and children as they attacked the village. They also abducted several women and demolished houses of worship.

————————————————————————————–

Lebanese consider Hezbollah involvement in Syria war justifiable

Press TV

An opinion poll shows that the Lebanese have considered the involvement of Hezbollah in Syria war against foreign-backed militants justifiable.

Seventy eight percent of the participants in the survey, conducted by French magazine L’Hebdo on 1200 adult Lebanese, believed that Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria war against foreign backed militants was justifiable.

Only 19 percent of the Lebanese respondents regarded the involvement unjustifiable, the survey showed.

—————————————————————————————

Fabius: Syrian Army Advance Should Be “Stopped” before Aleppo

Al Manar

Frensh Foreign Minsiter Laurent Fabius said that Syrian army has gained over the past few weeks considerable ground, warning that this advance should be stopped before reaching the province of Aleppo.

“We need to re-balance things because over the past few weeks the troops of Bashar al-Assad (Syrian leader) and especially Hezbollah and the Iranians, along with Russian arms, have gained considerable ground,” Fabius said on France 2 television.

“We must stop this progression before Aleppo. It is the next target of Hezbollah and of the Iranians,” he added.

However, Fabius didn’t explain how the Syrian Army should be stopped.
On Tuesday, France’s foreign ministry warned that the nearly 27-month Syrian conflict was at a “turning point.”

“What should we do under these conditions to reinforce the opposition armed forces? We have had these discussions with our partners, with the Americans, the Saudis, the Turks, many others,” said ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot.
“We cannot leave the opposition in the current state.”

The Syrian Army recaptured the city of al-Qusayr along with its countryside last week. The area, which is near to the border with Lebanon, is considered strategic since it was a bastion for foreign-backed militants fighting the Syrian government.

West to pay a high price for targeting the Syrian government

by Franklin Lamb, Al Manar

Beirut

A number of analysts and security experts who specialize in intelligence and security subjects in Lebanon and France have expressed this week shock at the way many Western authorities, including several in Europe and the United States, are avoiding engagement with the Syrian authorities and thus missing important avenues to help end the crisis in Syria.

This dismay follows increasing evidence of the grave dangers now threatening to turn Syria into a main operations base for anti-Western and anti-sectarian international jihadist groups and organizations. Some specialists spoke to “Afrique Asie” recently and expressed surprise and concern that authorities in the United States and Europe are deliberately ignoring the daily warnings sent out by intelligence and security organizations in those countries including the Intelligence Community in the US with is comprised of the 16 American intelligence organizations , also referred to as “elements”. These are the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), United States Department of Defense, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Security Agency (NSA), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA),National Reconnaissance Office (NRO),Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency (AFISRA),Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM),Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (MCIA), Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), United States Department of Energy , Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence (OICI), United States Department of Homeland Security, Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A),Coast Guard Intelligence (CGI),United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of National Security Intelligence (DEA/ONSI),United States Department of State, Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), United States Department of the Treasury, and the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI).

One of France’s leading experts on terrorism, who visited Libya and Syria after the start of the turbulences, concluded:

“It is understandable that the authorities in the United States and Europe are deliberately exploiting the Syrian revolution to punish President Bashar Al-Assad for his policies of siding with Iran and supporting organizations, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, that pose threats on Israeli security. However, the real strangeness lies in the fact that those nations are continuing to provide support, weaponry, military training and funding to the Syrian opposition and the media, with their knowledge that the class dominating the armed Syrian opposition is that of Al-Nusra terrorists who are closely affiliated with Al-Qaeda.”

Discussing the reasons preventing those authorities from changing their stance, the acknowledge expert concluded that Western political authorities, including the White House, believe that the Salafist movement’s attacks can be controlled through countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Hitherto, the relationship with Bashar Al-Assad has proven his independence as well as his adherence to the policies that bound him to Iran and other anti-Israeli organizations. However, French, European and American security officials perceive this differently.

Most Western intelligence apparatuses sounded out their danger sirens pointing to the necessity of cooperating with Syrian security authorities. This is because the Syrian intelligence is still considered the most effective party facing Salafist movements in the Middle East, and the Syrian army is fighting “terrorist-” on a daily basis. In this context, the Syrian intelligence never lost the penetrations it had into Al-Qaeda and other Syria-based Salafist movements as part of its work of planning to neutralize future terrorist attacks. To this end, Syrian intelligence committed substantial resources and senior officers in pursuit of international terrorists who are currently based in Syria, but who are laying the groundwork for terrorist attacks soon to be executed in European capitals.

While the United States and its Western allies are offering military, media, financial and political aid to the armed opposition in Syria, allied with Al-Qaeda and like movements, the Syrian intelligence continues to fight against terrorism on behalf of the world, but with no assistance from countries whose interests and people they are work to protect.

One expert posed a rhetorical question, “Imagine that an assassination as big as that of the “Crisis Cell” officers in Syria was executed during the time when we discovered that among the victims was one of the most cooperative Syrian people with the French intelligence services in the fight against terrorism. And what have we done to protect it? Nothing.” However, as the Syrian story puts it, the Americans might well have been involved with his assassination.

In addition to the death of the “Crisis Cell” officers, in July of 2012, in a complex security operation widely believed to have been executed by the Syrian opposition, Western authorities are in pursuit of Syrians officers who helped save the lives of thousands of French and other Europeans over the past years. It is worthy to note here that one of those officers was wounded and almost killed while he was defending Western embassies under attack by” terrorists.”

When the scholar was asked whom he meant by this and replied: “It is obvious Colonel Hafez Makhlouf, the competent expert in combating Salafist terrorism who currently resides in Syria. It was through the efforts of officer Makhlouf that the Syrian authorities captured a number of terrorist cells, and thus, thwarted major operations that were being prepared for execution in Europe in general, and specifically in France.”

For his part, the security expert and former Lebanese Army General Elias Farhat, argued recently that security operations targeting senior Syrian officers do not only affect Syrian security, but are undermine operations for weakening international security and strengthening terrorists around the world. This is because the Syrian role is viewed even by the US Intelligence Community as being effective in fighting “international terrorism”, and had it not been for the cooperation the Syrians provided to Western security services, “terrorist organizations” would have succeeded in many attacks on European capitals.

Regarding the impact of sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe on the Syrian officers for global security, General Farhat argued that what is incomprehensible is the self-targeting process today being carried out by Western powers because what they are doing with the Syrian security authorities is similar to refusing any help offered to save them from the monster of “terrorism.”

According to the Lebanese General, “Western authorities are providing enormous support for the armed opposition in Syria and they continue targeting senior Syrian officers, with sanctions, as well as planning and executing assassinations against the very peoples who helped save the lives of many Europeans. By doing so in light of the internal security crisis in Syria, these authorities are curbing all future prospects for Syrian cooperation.”

Indeed, Maj. Gen. Ali Mamlouk, who was largely responsible for security cooperation to combat international terrorism between the Syrians and the West in the past decade, was subject to the sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe. In addition, the “Crisis Cell” operation, which participated in the assassination of agents who were undoubtedly related to the West, resulted in the death of a number of Syrian officers who were responsible for some key security cooperation between Syria and the West. The West is killing and sanctioning many of those who provide it with help.

Walid Zeitouni, a former Lebanese Army General and an intelligence and extremist movements specialist, claims that imposing sanctions on Syrian Generals and senior security officers by the United States and Europe “is suicide carried out by Western governments. These sanctions can only be categorized under stupidity, for the assassination of the members of the most prominent cell in Syrian security was indisputably executed by Western intelligence agents. Moreover, imposing sanctions on Colonel Hafez Makhlouf came simultaneous to him achieving a lot of security accomplishments not only in favor of Syria, but also for the benefit of international security and that of the West in particular.

The West killing senior Syrian intelligence officers who are some of the key individuals fighting terrorists who are enemies of the West while claiming to fight terrorism while they are taking measures to intensify political, economic, security and media pressure on Syria and its officers and leaders, is self-destructive for these countries.

It is these Syrians are considered among the most effective forces combating global terrorism. While Al-Qaeda and the West are working hand-in-hand in their fight the Syrian army, the West is also busy conspiring against Syria, while engaging in, and aspiring for, the formulation of yet more sanctions against the population of Syria in order to achieve a purely politically motivated regime change. These sanctions are in fact resulting in the rise to power of fundamentalist groups promoting terrorism.

Moreover, there is no benefit for Europe in such a policy, as it targets those who offer help by killing some of their officers, imposing sanctions on others, and aspiring to transfer others to the International Criminal Court. Those being punished are the same people helping fight terrorism on behalf of the world – as with the cases of Colonel Hafez Makhlouf, Maj. Gen. Ali Mamlouk, and the officers of the “Crisis Cell”.

In both the Makhlouf and Mamlouk’s cases, both were blacklisted and sanctions were imposed on them by the United States and Europe, preparatory to transferring them to the International Criminal Court. However, this did not detour either gentleman from continuing to combat terrorist organizations funded by the West to fight President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime.

These organizations are working in parallel and currently are planning terrorist and security attacks in Western capitals, despite the fact that a number of Western and Jordanian officers have repeatedly certified that Colonel Makhlouf achieved numerous successes in the field of security, especially in the fight against international terrorism. Makhlouf’s efforts resulted in saving the lives of many Westerners who were targeted in their home towns by Al-Qaeda’s assets in Syria who operate a planning center. Makhlouf also arrested a number of senior terrorists in Damascus who confessed to planning for operations that were halted through the information offered by the Syrians to the West via intermediary security organizations in the Middle East. When the French requested that the cooperation with the Syrians be restored, their request was turned down, pending the French governments ending its fighting alongside the terrorists in Syria.

Brigadier-General Mahmoud Matar, who was involved in person during the Cold War in a Lebanese-Western security operation that led to foiling a Russian KGB operation to steal a Mirage Airplane from Lebanon to Russia, told “Afrique Asie”:

“It is unfortunate that the extensive presence of Western security agents in Syria is serving the aim to fight the opponents of terrorism, which is wrong. However, I expect that the West would conduct a comprehensive review of its policy in Syria, and that security cooperation between the West and President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime be restored, since the situation is now even worse for the West than it is for Syria.”

This is one subjects that is reportedly being analyzed by the by US Intelligence Community. It is to be hoped that Washington and Brussels listen and act appropriately. If so they will avoid a steep price for their currently flawed policy.

Franklin Lamb is doing research in Syria and Lebanon and can be reached c/o fplamb@gmail.com

Putin: West supports in Syria forces he fights in Mali

Al Manar

The Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday the Western powers are fighting in the African state of Mali the same forces they are supporting in Arab state of Syria against the President Bashar al-Assad.

“The West is supporting some forces in Syria while fighting them in Mali,” he stated in an interview with the state-run “Russia Today” channel.

Putin, moreover, stressed that the Syrian government should have recognized the need for fundamental changes in the appropriate time in order to prevent what happened in the country.

“Radical transformations have been matured in Syria, and the Syrian government had to touch it at that time and take the initiative to make the required changes.”

“If they have done so, what happened wouldn’t have been happened,” Putin said.

During the interview, the Russian leader reiterated that his country is not “a lawyer for the current Syrian government and President Bashar al-Assad,” yet “any opposition is acceptable if it behaves within the framework of Law,” he stressed.

Warning of the risks waged by the so-called al-Nusra Front, which fights in Syria alongside the Syrian opposition, and does not hide its link to al-Qaeda terrorist movement, Putin pointed out that the West lacks a clear policy toward the group.

“Al-Nusra Front is a major component of the armed opposition and is blacklisted by the U.S.,” he said, while recalling the military support the group has gained from the west.

Putin also expressed hope that the international initiatives, including the Egyptian, the British and the American-Russian ones, will contribute to the creation of new opportunity for a political solution in Syria.

Touching on the US war on terrorism, the Russian President noted that there is a terrorism axis waging in the region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“This worries us. The region is close to our borders,” he stated.

However, Putin indicated that the United States “does not seek to avoid civilian casualties in its battle against terrorism,” stressing the need to impose control on drone attacks.

Regarding the world development during last week, Putin said he notices escalating tension in the Middle East, making it clear that the West criticizes Russia and the eastern countries on how they deal with their oppositions, “knowing that it (the West) deals with its opposition in the same way.”

“We don’t want to interfere in relations between Sunnis and Shiites,” he voiced.
As for the Iranian peaceful nuclear program, the Russian leader denied his country has any evidence that the Islamic Republic violates the international law in developing its nuclear program.

McCain meets leaders of terror brigade in Syria. The NGOs that made it happen

(File photo)

by Phil Greaves, source

The recent furore surrounding US senator John McCain’s illegal trip inside Syria, and the supposed ‘rebels’ he was seen posing with alongside Supreme Military Council (SMC) Chief Salim Idriss, have shed further light on what appears to be another corrupt ‘NGO’ enterprise.

After the worldwide publication of the photographs, McCain was quick to try to dispel rumours that the Syrian ‘rebels’ were the very people responsible for the kidnapping of 11 Lebanese pilgrims inside Syria, who still remain in captivity to this day. Contrary to McCain’s – and his media apologists – desperate attempts to refute the claims; many reports suggested it was indeed the kidnappers he was seen posing with. Furthermore, in one report in Lebanon’s Al Akhbar, it is claimed McCain even went so far as to ask the kidnappers to hold some of the captive pilgrims, as they are suspected members of Hezbollah. According to a source who had previously been in contact with the kidnappers, McCain was allegedly there “to obstruct the efforts… to secure the release of the hostages.” Lebanon’s the Daily Star also reported on the “crossing of paths” between McCain, Mohammad Nour and Ammar Al-Dadikhi (a.k.a. Abu Ibrahim), who are members of ‘rebel’ group the Northern Storm; alleged to be holding the 11 Lebanese pilgrims.

In a report by Josh Rogin of the Daily Beast, it is claimed the ‘rebels’ McCain was seen posing with were not those responsible for the kidnapping, stating: (my emphasis)

The man said to be Nour by the Lebanese press never identified himself to McCain or to anyone else and that man was not inside McCain’s meeting with the rebels, two American NGO workers who were there on the scene told The Daily Beast on Thursday.

The first of these American ‘NGO’ workers responsible for setting up the McCain meeting and illegal trip into Syria is one Mouaz Moustafa, who is named as the Executive Director of ‘non-profit’ organisation the ‘Syrian Emergency Task Force.’ (SETF). Moustafa has previously worked as a staffer at the US House of Congress and Senate. He was also an ‘activist’ during the US/NATO- led illegal war in Libya and overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. Moustafa is listed as an ‘expert’ at the Wasington Institute for Near East Policy, (WINEP), the sub-branch of the huge Israeli lobby: the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee AIPAC; which regularly lobbies for US militarism and ‘intervention’ in the Middle East to uphold Israeli ‘interests’.

Moustafa, in his ‘expert’ role, has also recently addressed a WINEP conference on the Syrian conflict. (since these suspicious links were highlighted by an investigative reporter they have been removed from WINEP’s website.) Anyone with a passing knowledge of Israeli/Syrian relations and the power and influence these lobbying groups hold in Washington and within corporate US media, knows these affiliations are dubious to say the least. In a report by investigative journalist Maidhc Ó Cathail on the Passionate Attachment blog, it is also revealed:

Even more intriguingly, one of the web addresses for Moustafa’s nonprofit is “syriantaskforce.torahacademybr.org.” The “torahacademybr.org” URL belongs to the Torah Academy of Boca Raton, Florida whose academic goals notably include “inspiring a love and commitment to Eretz Yisroel.”

The second ‘NGO’ worker quoted in the Daily Beast is one Elizabeth Obagy, named as Political Director of the same ‘NGO’ the SETF. The name Elizabeth Obagy immediately rang alarm bell’s. Obagy is also a “Syria analyst” at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The ISW in its mission statement describes itself as: (my emphasis)

The Institute for the Study of War advances an informed understanding of military affairs through reliable research, trusted analysis, and innovative education. We are committed to improving the nation’s [the US] ability to execute military operations and respond to emerging threats in order to achieve U.S. strategic objectives. ISW is a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy research organization.

Upon reading ISW’s Board of Directors and donors from their 2011 annual report, it becomes rather obvious as to what the ISW is designed for and whose ‘objectives’ it is designed to propagate. A quick glance of the ISW’s main donors for 2011 is telling; the list of military (defense) contractor’s donors include:

General Dynamics, (General Dynamics is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat vehicles and systems, armaments, and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and mission-critical information systems and technology.) CACI, (CACI provides information solutions and services in support of national security missions and government transformation for Intelligence, Defense, and Federal Civilian clients. A member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies and the Russell 2000 Index, CACI provides dynamic careers for approximately 15,000 employees working in over 120 offices worldwide.)

DynCorp International, (DynCorp International is a global government services provider in support of U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives, delivering support solutions for defense, diplomacy, and international development.)

Palantir,(Our products are built for real analysis with a focus on security, scalability, ease of use and collaboration. They are broadly deployed in the intelligence, defense, law enforcement and financial communities.)

Northrop Grumman, (Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cybersecurity, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide.)

These companies represent just a few of the huge US corporate military contractors, ranging from hardware and logistics, to telecommunications and intelligence software that are primary donors of the ISW. The ISW describes its Corporate affiliations as a “Corporate Council”: (my emphasis)

Many of America’s top corporations are members of ISW’s Corporate Council. Corporate Council members believe that an advanced understanding of military issues results in significantly better national security policy. They recognize the relevance, accuracy, and impact of ISW’s research and analysis. Corporate Council members receive a number of benefits, including exclusive briefings with ISW’s leadership, advance publications, access to our network, tailored analysis, increased corporate visibility, and invitations to exclusive events and discussions with national security leaders.

So the ISW is providing “tailored analysis” for its Corporate clients, and also provides “exclusive briefings with ISW leadership”. Does this sound like a ‘non-profit’ organisation? Does providing “tailored analysis” for military contractors include raising the ‘need’ for such equipment and contracts? And do military contractors make money in any other way than profiting from war? One would find it difficult to put these things together and not see a conflict of interest from this alleged ‘objective’ research NGO.

The board of Directors at the ISW is also somewhat telling as to its political and corporate affiliations, some of the distinguished board members include such humanitarian adherents as founder of ISW Kimberly Kagan (Supported US ‘surge in Iraq, husband is resident scholar at Neo-Con ‘think-tank’ the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), brother is the husband to State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland) Liz Cheney, (daughter of war-criminal Dick) and leading Neo-Con mouthpiece and US militarist William Krystol, who all sit alongside many fellow US-militarism proponents, retired US Army Generals, and policy planners.

It seems that at least one of the organisers for McCains trip: Elizabeth Obagy, named as a “Political Director” of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, is also a “Syria specialist” at what appears to be a Neo-Con led US ‘NGO’ that propagates US militarism on behalf of huge military contractors and ‘defense’ corporations. So why would Liz Obagy be organising illegal trips for US Senator John McCain into Syria in her role as “political director” at the SETF, whilst also claiming to offer ‘balanced’, ‘neutral’ and ‘objective analysis’ on the Syrian conflict? One doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to realise there is a massive conflict of interest here. When approached on Twitter, Moustafa of the SETF, which is based in Washington DC, claimed their funding comes from American Syrian doctors and expatriate donors. The mission statement of the SETF is as follows: (my emphasis)

To organize, mobilize and empower the Syrian American community, and our partners in order to play a positive role in public policy regarding Syria and the Middle East, supporting the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people, improving the lives of average Syrian people, strengthening the rule of law, and helping in transitioning Syria into a viable, inclusive, diverse, democratic state.

Without delving too far into Moustafa’s ties to the US Government through his previous work experience and former ‘activist’ work; it becomes clear that his current duties are at the behest of the US State Department. In a recent press release the SETF personally thanked the State Department: (my emphasis)

Washington, DC–The Syrian Emergency Task Force would like to thank all those involved in making Senator McCain’s trip to Gaziantep and to Syria a success, particularly the U.S. Department of State….It was a pleasure working with the Department of State in ensuring that the Senator’s visit went safely and flawlessly,” said SETF Executive Director Mouaz Moustafa.

Employing “political Directors”, that are affiliated with Neo-Con, and military contractor funded ‘NGO’ the Institute for the Study of War, seems somewhat contradictory to “improving the lives of average Syrian people”, and “supporting democratic aspirations” in the Middle East. Has it occurred to Moustafa and Obagy, that the vast majority of Syrian people want nothing to do with war criminals and pushers of all things US/Israeli militarism under the guise of “freedom and democracy”? One thinks this is out of the equation, and Moustafa’s ‘Syrian Emergency Task Force’ outfit is nothing more than a State Department/Neo-Con/Israel lobby initiated, propaganda outfit.

Russia ready to send troops to replace Austria in Golan, UN rejects

Al Ahed news

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow will send Russian forces to replace the Austrian Battalion operating within the UN Disengagement Observer Force [UNDOF] if the UN Asks to.

Russia Today website quoted Putin as saying that “Because of the complicated situation in Golan, we can replace the Austrian units which will withdraw from the area with Russian units in case all the region’s countries agreed and the UN Secretary-General asked to.”

He said that UN Secretary-General ban Ki-moon asked Russia, during his last visit to the country, to raise the volume of its forces in the UN-organized peace-keeping missions.

In response, UN Secretary-General Spokesperson Martin Nesirky voiced gratitude for Russia’s offer, but said that the disengagement agreement in the Golan doesn’t permit accepting the Russian suggestion.

“The agreement stipulates that the five permanent members of the Security Council cannot deploy peacekeeping forces in the Golan,” he added.
For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to UN leader Ban Ki-moon about Putin’s offer on Friday. Russia’s UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin explained the offer to the Security Council.
Churkin said the United Nations should rethink the ban on troops from the major powers in the UN. force.

He said the ceasefire accord to halt the 1973 war between Syria and “Israel” “was signed 39 years ago at the height of Cold War and the whole context of the war of ’73. Now the context is completely different and UNDOF seems to be in dire straits,” said Churkin.
“We are offering essentially to rescue UNDOF,” he added.
This comes as the United Nations scrambled Friday to find fresh troops for the occupied Golan Heights peacekeeping force, which Russia said is in “dire straits” as it offered to help.

It is also trying to persuade Austria to slow down its withdrawal.

“I think we are in a serious situation and we need to work together to try and protect the mission from collapse,” said Britain’s UN ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, Security Council president for June, after the talks.

The pullout of the 377 Austrian troops will leave UNDOF with just 341 troops from the Philippines and 193 from India. Japan and Croatia have also withdrawn in recent months as battles between Syrian government and opposition forces spread into the ceasefire zone.

The Philippines has said it is considering its future in UNDOF.

Army restores security to villages in Al-Qusayr & Hague: Gains “make peace talks harder”

Army Restores Security to Al-Buweida Al-Sharqiya Village in Al-Qusayr

Al Manar

Syrian Army on Saturday restored security and stability to Al-Buweida Al-Sharqiya village in Al-Qusayr, Homs countryside, after eliminating the last gatherings of terrorists there, Syrian News Agency, SANA reported, pointing out that “a large number of terrorists were killed while deadly weapons were destroyed.”

SANA added that “the Army is going ahead in removing the debris of destruction and the barricades set up by the terrorists, while the engineering units are dismantling the explosives planted by the terrorists on the roads.”

The official news agency further reported that “units of the Syrian Army clashed with Armed terrorist groups in Jobar in Damascus countryside and inflicted major losses on them.

It added that “a unit of the Syrian Army eliminated an armed terrorist group dubbed “Belief Battalion” in Barzeh woods, including a Saudi terrorist,” indicating that “another army unit also clashed with an armed terrorist group in the town of Hatitat Al-Turkman.”

Clashes also fell with terrorist groups that were committing looting and murder acts in the town of Al-Mure’yeh, Al-Sina’a neighborhood and Fuad Street.

Similar clashes in Deir Ezzor countryside, Al-Salamyeh countryside in Hama Province, Kulaib Al-Soud, Daraa, and Idlib countryside, killing large number of militants from Al-Nusra Front.

————————————————————————————-

Gains by Syrian Regime “Make Peace Talks Harder”: Hague

Al Manar

British Foreign Secretary William Hague considered on Sunday that gains made by the regime in the Syrian conflict this week made it harder to organize a peace conference and to make it a success.

He said it was “worrying and depressing” that the so-called Geneva talks were not taking place this month, reiterating that the world must do more for Syria.

“The regime has gained ground on the ground, again at the cost of huge loss of life and the indiscriminate use of violence against the civilian population,” Hague claimed, in reference to the decisive battle which took place between the Syrian Army and terrorists in Al-Qusayr, leaving large numbers of casualties in the ranks of the latter.

“That makes the Geneva conference harder to bring about and to make a success. It makes it less likely that the regime will make enough concessions in such negotiations, and it makes it harder to get the opposition to come to the negotiations,” Hague added.

“The way the position on the ground is changing in Syria at the moment isn’t helping us bring about a political and diplomatic (solution),” he said.

Asked if he believed the Geneva talks would happen at all, Hague said: “We’re working on that. We’re in intensive discussions with the US and of course with Russia and the UN about this.”

————————————————————————————

Syrian Army Initiates “Storm of North” in Aleppo

Al Manar

A military source told Al-Manar website that the Syrian Arab Army initiated Sunday morning a wide military operation dubbed “Storm of the North”, which is aimed at regaining Aleppo and its countryside.

The source added that the Syrian Army started advancing early morning and had several achievements in the following regions: Kafar Hamra, Haryatan, Andan, Hayyan, Sheikh Maqsood Syria, Bustan Al-Basha, Bustan Al-Qasr, and Al-Ameriya.

Terrorists are widely present in these regions, as large numbers are located in Haryatan, Kafar Hamra, and Al-Atrab.