Huge protest in Aleppo by Hizb ut-Tahrir “We want an Islamic Caliphate!”

Syria, our moral guardians:

Syria calls Gaza strikes “bestial crimes” (eyeon)

Yes, that Syria.

(DPA) Syria Thursday called Israel‘s airstrikes on Gaza “bestial crimes” and urged international pressure on Israel to stop its “aggression.”

“The free and honest people of the world have to move seriously to face this tyranny and deter Israel,” added the Syrian government in a statement carried by the state news agency.

Meanwhile, Syria’s own civil war death toll tops 37,000.

Huge protest in Aleppo by Hizb ut-Tahrir “We want an Islamic Caliphate!”

Sharia & the Caliphate: Islamic Fatah Morgana the Cure for All Ills?–Aleppans caught in conflict face dire plight–Mullah. Al Jazeera visits one of many families living in squalor and desperation in city besieged by government forces.

William Hague In LaLa Land (Hugh Fitzgerald)

William Hague calls on Arab League to respond ‘swiftly’ to bloodshed

William Hague, the foreign secretary, has urged the Arab League to respond “swiftly and decisively” to Syria’s failure to implement a plan aimed at ending eight months of bloodshed. [how could the Arab League respond "swiftly and decisively"? Invade Syria? And what then? Would Iran take the side of Syria against the Jordanians, Saudis, et al.? That would be wonderful, of course, but that outcome is the furthest thing from William Hague's mind. If only those Unintended Consequences could come about, it would make it all worth while.]

Syrian demonstrators with banner that reads, 'Liar. Rebels of Alsnmin'

protesting against Syria’s President Assad march on the first day of the Muslim festival of Eid-al-Adha in Alsnmin. The banner refers to Assad and reads, ‘Liar. Rebels of Alsnmin’ Photo: REUTERS

08 Nov 2011

Mr Hague also called on Syria to “lift the siege of Homs”, the only major city to remain outside the regime’s control, and to withdraw forces from the country’s towns and cities in line with its agreement with the Arab League.

“It is deplorable that despite making a commitment to the Arab League to end the violence last week, the Syrian government has escalated the repression and many more people have died as a result,” said Hague in a statement.

“I call on the Arab League to respond swiftly and decisively to the Syrian regime’s failure to implement the agreement so far,” he said. “The international community looks to these Arab nations to show decisive leadership to address this crisis in their midst.”

Hague urged the regime to end the siege of Homs and “allow in international and relief efforts (and) to withdraw all Syrian forces from the towns and cities of Syria in accordance with its agreement with the Arab League.” [don't be absurd]

Syria must also “implement all other aspects of the agreement in full,” he said. ["Must"? "Must"? Says who? He doesn't understand how the Alawites -- and the Christians -- feel. He has no idea why they are so fearful, and therefore so willing to stick even with Assad. He can't figure out what must be going through the minds of the nearly one million Iraqi Christians who have sought refuge in Syria. He can't figure out any part of the Middle East, can't begin to understand it, because he can't figure out what Islam means, to Muslims and to non-Muslims who must live in their midst.]

Under the agreement struck between Syria and the pan-Arab bloc, President Bashar al-Assad must open talks with the opposition and withdraw tanks from the streets.

On Tuesday, opposition group the Syrian National Council urged the Arab League to stand strong against Assad’s regime as the United Nations said its crackdown on dissent had left more than 3,500 people dead.

{ 2 comments }

Stephanie November 18, 2012 at 8:49 pm: U.S. President Obowma & German Foreign Minister Westerwelle BACKED rebels, who bring “the Arab Spring, Democracy & Pluralism in full flower” (Robert Spencer)
Hill November 19, 2012 at 5:03 pm: There is nothing more dangerous for the rest of us who embrace freedom and individualism, then those that they would so desire to be subjugated and dominated by someone or something else.

To want to absolve yourself of all self responsibility is a very dangerous thing.