Protests continued in Syria today, with the focus centering on making 2012 the “year of freedom” in which ambitions for free elections and the ouster of the current regime would finally be realized.
For the most part the nationwide rallies appear to have gone off without incident, though reports are that troops attacked protesters in a Damascus suburb, killing eight. So far the Arab League monitors have not confirmed such an incident, and it was unclear if the group, which is still increasing its presence, was even in the suburb at the time.
Which is a problem leading to regular condemnations of the Arab League, since the violence always seems to occur where the monitors are not. This has led the advisory parliament to urge the league to withdraw its monitors.
Still and all, the reports of violence have dropped with the deployment of those advisors, and it seems to have virtually ended some of the bigger incidents. If the monitoring mission continues to grow in size, it seems like there will be fewer prospects for violence without them seeing.
Elsewhere today, Justin Raimondo writes: “As the intensity of the anti-Syrian propaganda war picks up in the ‘mainstream’ media – which focuses on alleged atrocities committed by government forces while maintaining a soft focus on the violence of armed rebel groups…”
If only the propaganda were confined to the “mainstream.”
Justin is on the money, as this article seems to prove. The violence all of a sudden went down with the presence of observers. Naturally, the "reports" of deaths in Syria came mostly from foreign governmet funded NGOs, of which MOST of them are stationed outside Syria, mainly in London. Also, it is now harder for the armed gangs to kill and provoke Government response. No wonder the "revolutionaries" want the observers out! Let's wait and see how will our "mainstream" sposors of the revolution take this transparency where it is harder for armed provocators to commit attrocities.
Once the revolutionaries have their way and every law and order is destroyed, people are subjected to pillage and murder like now in Libya. Since when have we become a nation of people who advocate communist style armed revolutions, and spit on law and order? I do not care what form of government people have, for as long as people can live or leave peacefully.
The arab league is a corporation based in Geneva rather than Washington. a rubber stamp of the carnegie institute that works for the interest of the dictators
After its failure to assist the syrian demands its life span is becoming shorter with the on going problems in Egypt Syria Yemen Oman their position is becoming more and more clearer of their incompetence in every single issue since inception.
And who is "demanding" what and from whom? I do not have any respect for the Arab League, but it does not follow that their job is to meet "revolutionary demands".
Everyone, just have a look at the most recent "success", Libya. After armed thugs, now recognized as the legitimate government, took power by butchering the head of the state and his immediate family, they now run a reign of terror over innocent population. They have divided cities and townships into blocks, for pillage. Going house to house, they have robbed everyone, took their lives and abused people sexually. From babies to old people. And this is the "success" our foreign policy establishment is proud off? And where is now our intrepid media, heroically filming the pillage? Where are their sound systems to record the cries of innocents? This sin is on all our heads.
"since the violence always seems to occur where the monitors are not. "
Funny that, eh?
You mean violence or lurid tales manufactured in London by "NGOs?"
Precisely – the violence "occurs" where there are no monitors because most of it is bogus, being invented and reported by the opposition and the NGOs that support them. It would not do to have independent confirmation of what is or is not taking place.
It would be very easy to dismiss the logic behind this article as one addressed to the brain dead. No, the bizarro world new species understands this logic. For this kind, if areas where observers are present prove peaceful then it makes sense to withdraw them because observers prevent protesters to "express" themselves fully. There's no other explanation. If clashes occur in places where observers are absent implying the government forces act unrestrained then it would make sense, in the old logic, to extend the presence of observers in those areas too. Wrong! Bizarro logic abhors this kind of unpassionate aproach. Bizarro logic is exuberant, romantic and advocates violence as long it's "revolutionary". I apologize if my translation needs some polishing, I'm still a novice in bizarro logic but I try my best. On the other hand, when my apprenticeship is over I won't be able to understand the "old" logic anymore. Such an imperfect, hesitant old world, no wonder bizarro marches on. Only the red banners are missing.
Warning against the “Anti-Imperialism of the Fools,” Prof. James Petras writes:
The long history of imperialist manipulation of “anti-imperialist” narratives has found virulent expression in the present day. The New Cold War launched by Obama against China and Russia, the hot war brewing in the Gulf over Iran’s alleged military threat, the interventionist threat against Venezuela’s “drug-networks”, and Syria’s “bloodbath” are part and parcel of the use and abuse of “anti-imperialism” to prop up a declining empire. Hopefully, the progressive and leftist writers and scribes will learn from the ideological pitfalls of the past and resist the temptation to access the mass media by providing a ‘progressive cover’ to imperial dubbed “rebels”. It is time to distinguish between genuine anti-imperialism and pro-democracy movements and those promoted by Washington, NATO and the mass media.
It is time to use the old Star Trek directive of non-intervention in the lives of humans. Whatever system they have, it is theirs. It will evolve, or not — under the influence of economic realities. Modern communications, travel and migrations have a potential to peacefully change systems, as they evolve over time. Trying to push the history along, has always been a mistake. This is a notion of 19th century communism that urged violent overthrow of goverments. We all know that revolutions always result in the death, destruction, hunger and suffering of all types. And in the end, the new order that emerges — no matter how progressive or successful — cannot wash the stains of blood away, and will pay the price for the blood spilt. It takes several generations to overcome such senseless destruction. And our leaders are PROUD of that?
Well, I see my comment mysteriously disappeared…
Mr. Knapp, care to explain…?
Since my original comment got censored I will try to restate my point…
Yes Raimondo wrote an article…whoop de doo…he allows how the Syrian protests have been “violent…”…and how the MSM is focusing on “alleged” government atrocities…
Well thank goodness for small miracles…
But for months now the antiwar “news department” has been running a rehash of the MSM garbage…taking the rebels completely at their word, offering no independent corroboration of any of the alleged government atrocities, saying nothing about the foreign interference, the weapons smuggling, the cash, etc…
Now that the monitors are there, we see that it was all a lie…
So what is the lesson here…?…this website needs to get rid of its so-called news department…
Mr. Ditz has done huge damage to the cause of simply getting at the truth about what is going on in this hot spot…literally he has been cheerleading violent regime change sponsored by the US…which is completely at odds with a supposedly antiwar website…
It is time to pull the plug…
And btw, does anyone remember the neocon grand plan of a decade ago…the series of “cakewalks” in the Middle East…first Iraq, then Syria, then Iran…?…don’t look now…
Oh, but it’s all in the name of “democracy” right…?
The Arab League, controlled by the GCC, responds to US/Western pressure and expels Syria. Building a ground swell to justify foreign intervention, the Arab League goes through the motion of placing observers so as to reveal Syria’s crackdown. When Bashar al-Asad hesitates on the offer, the US led media shouts outrage and the rebel groups scream for action. When al-Asad agrees to the entrance, the regime’s opponents await for the “unbiased” report so as to justify increasing the pressure on Bashar’s overthrow. However, when the head of the team makes ONE statement that questions the rebels’ reports, the same groups that couldn’t wait for the arrival of the observers now want the observers to leave because they failed to play their role. What is really transpiring in Syria is not the narrative that US and its minions have pushed. The real story is far more complicated and one that US/Western interests would not welcome to be divulged.