Troops acting on behalf of the man whom Hillary Clinton called a 'reformer' and 'capable of change' four months ago massacred at least 121 people in Hama on Sunday (ignore the number in the video).
Let's go to the videotape.
Notice that in Syria. when they start firing, everyone ducks for cover.
Here's another one. Let's go to the videotape.
Were they firing from the minaret of a holy mosque? Can you imagine what would happen in the 'Muslim street' if American or Israeli troops used a mosque as a base from which to fire? Can anyone translate the Arabic?
Syrian forces killed at least 121 civilians and wounded hundreds in major tank assaults on Hama and other cities that began at dawn on Sunday to crush pro-democracy demonstrations.
Tanks stormed Hama after besieging it for nearly a month in response to some of the biggest protests against President Bashar Al Assad’s rule.
Several observers wondered if Mr. Assad was truly in charge of the situation. Some suggested that his brother, Maher, may be leading the assault against pro-democracy protesters. Maher is known for her personal brutality and intolerance of dissent.
WHO were these 'observers'? How many of them work for the US State Department?
One of the residents, a doctor, said there were 51 people wounded at Badr hospital alone, which was running short of blood for transfusions. He said tanks had surrounded another main hospital, Al Horani.
“Tanks are attacking from four directions. They are firing their heavy machineguns randomly and overrunning makeshift road blocks erected by the inhabitants,” he said by phone, the sound of machinegun fire crackling in the background.
Another resident said snipers had climbed onto the roofs of the state-owned electricity company and the main prison, and that electricity had been cut in eastern neighborhoods.
You'd think they were fighting against a military target that could fight back or something. Here's another video.
Let's go to the videotape.
And here's another one. Let's go to the videotape.
The only changes from Hafez al-Assad to Bashar al-Assad are the first names, and the use of guns and tanks instead of the 'cleaner' poisonous gas.'
Meanwhile, in Libya, the Obama administration is backing a group that is smuggling arms to Hamas.
Syrian foreign minister kicks sand in Obama's face
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem kicked sand in the face of US President Barack Hussein Obama by threatening to restrict the movements of US Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Mu'alem admitted in a press conference that regime supporters, who infiltrated the U.S. Embassy compound in Damascus on July 11 while protesting a visit by the U.S. Ambassador to the town of Hama, erred.
Al-Mu'alem said that the protest was legitimate, and the regime was sympathetic to it, but as a country, they are responsible for protecting the embassy.
He added that if the U.S. Ambassador travels to other cities without the regime's approval, Syria would act like the U.S., which limits movements by certain diplomats serving in its territory to a radius of 25 km.
If Obama wanted to withdraw Ford, does anyone think he could get him out at this point (short of military action, which we know Obama would never take against any country other than Israel except maybe with UN approval)? What could go wrong?
Breaking: French embassy guards open fire on pro-Assad demonstrators, US embassy alsio surrounded (UPDATED)
Based on an Arabic radio report, Israel Radio is reporting that the French and American embassies in Damascus have been surrounded by 'spontaneous' pro-Assad demonstrators and that guards at the French embassy have opened fire.
You may recall that the American and French ambassadors to Syria visited the rebellious city of Hama on Friday to the fury of Bashar al-Assad,
More details to follow.
UPDATE 5:04 PM
Israel Radio reports that the demonstrators tried to breach the French embassy grounds and did breach the American embassy grounds. Syria expelled all foreign correspondents from the country last week, so reports have been slow coming in.
They are playing a report from Al-Jazeera English correspondent Rula Amin (reporting from Beirut) who said that demonstrations started at 11:00 this morning and that the French guards wounded at least two and that at the American embassy the Syrian guards fired teargas after demonstrators sprayed graffiti on the buildings. US ambassador Robert Ford was in the building at the time.
It took two and a half hours to clear the demonstrators away and embassy staff complained that was far too long.
It appears that the Obama administration approved this move, which has to make you wonder whether the administration has finally realized that 'engaging' Bashar al-Assad is foolhardy.
In any event. US Ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, visited Hama on Thursday and Friday along with the French Ambassador to Syria, Eric Chevalier. The visit was 'unexpected' and the Syrians were not pleased about it.
Syria characterized Mr. Ford's visit as an attempt to incite unrest in Hama, deepening previous accusations by Damascus that U.S. sanctions on Syria are meant to derail its reform program. Bouthaina Shaaban, an adviser to Mr. Assad, said the visit was unauthorized and "an escalation" by the U.S. diplomat.
"The U.S. ambassador met in Hama with a number of the saboteurs and incited them to more violence and protest and to refuse dialogue," according to a statement on the official SANA news agency.
U.S. State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland called the claim "absolute rubbish."
For many Syrians, Hama is synonymous with the violent repression of the Assad family's four-decade rule. It has served as a reminder, in this uprising, of how far Syrians believe the regime could go to crush dissent.Syrian antigovernment activists say at least 1,700 people have been killed since protests erupted in mid-March.
"This was a signal from the U.S that Assad better not think of replicating the Hama massacre," said an official briefed on Mr. Ford's mission. "It was a gutsy move."
Ambassador Ford on Thursday visited Syrians injured by the security forces at a hospital. Ms. Nuland said he spent that day "expressing our deep support for the right of the Syrian people to assemble peacefully."
Mr. Ford's trip to the city was endorsed by the highest levels of the Obama administration, U.S. officials said. Ms. Nuland said that the U.S. had informed Syria's government that embassy personnel planned a visit to Hama and that to enter the city, Mr. Ford had passed through at least one military checkpoint and another one set up by Hama residents.
France's envoy to Syria, Eric Chevallier, also visited Hama on Thursday but returned Friday morning, a French government official said. His trip aimed to underline "France's commitment to be on the side of the victims," the foreign ministry said.
"We felt protected by their visit," said Abdelrahim al-Samaan, a Hama lawyer. "They obviously can't fire on crowds with Western officials here so it was calm and peaceful today, and the crowds were huge."
Here are a couple of news reports on Ford's visit. This is Reuters. Let's go to the videotape.
And here's CNN. Let's go to the videotape.
I think this visit was directed at Congress. Visits like this might justify Ford's being there, but only if they become more frequent occurrences. The Obama administration has done little about Syria until now, and they are apparently starting to feel the heat.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
Troops acting on behalf of the man whom Hillary Clinton called a 'reformer' and 'capable of change' four months ago massacred at least 121 people in Hama on Sunday (ignore the number in the video).
