Speaking as a student of the American political system something is very obvious. Concentration of economic might creates a simular distribution of power. AS THE NUMER OF BILLIONAIRES CLIMBS, LESS THAN 5 PERCENT OF ALL AMERICANS OWN 95 PERCENT OF THE WEALTH. THE REST OF US ARE STRUGGLING, HOMELSS, JOBLESS, BROKE, OR LIVING PAY CHECH TO PAYCHECK. THE AMERICAN RICH NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MID EAST. THIS RIDULOUS DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH WILL CHANGE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THERE ARE MORE OF US THAN YOU through out the world. Is it enough to throw the wealthy oligarchs with their military lackeys out of power? No! The amassing of massive wealth is usually accompanied by shady business activities, as well as the subverting of the political system. ALL PEOPLE OF GREAT WEALT ARE PROFITEERS WHO SHOULD BE TRIED AS FINANCIAL CRIMINALS, FOR THEY ARE ALLL GANSTERS AND BANDITS. In a world with such much poverty and suffering ALL OF THE WEALTHY SHOULD BE STRIPPED OF THEIR WEALTH AND TRIED FOR ECONOMIC CRIMES! The mere fact that they have amassed and horded vast sums of money in and of it self is CRIMINAL!! When you throw the bastards out, STRIPPED THEM OF THEIR WAELTH, JAIL THEM AND TRY THEM, THEN LINE THEM UP AND GIVE THEM WHAT THEY DESERVE!! All oppressors deserve such a fate!!
Showing posts with label Syrian army. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Syrian army. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Syria Under The failed leadership of Bashar al-Assad: A Nation Seeking FREEDOM
Under Bashar al-AssadSee also: Bashar al-Assad
Syrian president Bashar al-Assad (left) with Brazilian then-president Lula da Silva (right), 2010Hafiz al-Assad died on 10 June 2000, after 30 years in power. Immediately following al-Assad's death, the Parliament amended the constitution, reducing the mandatory minimum age of the President from 40 to 34. This allowed his son, Bashar al-Assad, to become legally eligible for nomination by the ruling Baath party. On 10 July 2000, Bashar al-Assad was elected President by referendum in which he ran unopposed, garnering 97.29% of the vote, according to Syrian Government statistics.[25]
Although Bashar al-Assad said he would reform, the reforms have been limited to some market reforms.[8][48][50]
The summer of 2000 saw the birth of Damascus Spring. Pro-democracy activists mobilized around a number of political demands, expressed in the "Manifesto of the 99". However, by autumn 2001, the authorities had suppressed the movement, imprisoning some of the leading intellectuals. Although it lasted for a short period (6 months), it saw intensive political discussions and social debates. It still echoes during the political, cultural and intellectual debates in Syria today.
Over the years the authorities have tightened Internet censorship with laws such as forcing Internet cafes to record all the comments users post on chat forums.[51] While the authorities have relaxed rules so that radio channels can now play Western pop music, websites such as Wikipedia, Youtube, Facebook and Amazon have been blocked.[52]
On 5 October 2003, Israel bombed a site near Damascus, charging it was a terrorist training facility for members of Islamic Jihad. The raid was in retaliation for the bombing of a restaurant in the Israeli town of Haifa that killed 19. Islamic Jihad said the camp was not in use; Syria said the attack was on a civilian area.[53]
The United States moved closer to imposing sanctions on Syria, following the adoption of the Syria Accountability Act by the House of Representatives International Relations committee.[54] Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah, all included in what the EU and the U.S view as terrorist groups, all take refuge and enjoy strong relationships with the Syrian government.
Following 2004 Al-Qamishli riots, the Syrian Kurds protested in Brussels, Geneva, in Germany at the US and UK embassies and in Turkey. The protesters pledged against violence in north-east Syria starting Friday, 12 March 2004, and reportedly extending over the weekend resulting in several deaths, according to reports. The Kurds allege the Syrian government encouraged and armed the attackers. Signs of rioting were seen in the towns of Qameshli and Hassakeh.[55]
The 2005 Cedar Revolution in Lebanon resulted in Lebanese people ousting Syria's roughly 14,000 troops and intelligence agents in Lebanon.[56]
The authorities maintain close ties to Iran. On 6 September 2007, Israeli jet fighters carried out Operation Orchard against a suspected a nuclear reactor under construction by North Korean technicians.[57]
In April, 2008, President Assad told a Qatari newspaper that Syria and Israel had been discussing a peace treaty for a year, with Turkey acting as a mediator. This was confirmed in May, 2008, by a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The status of the Golan Heights, a major obstacle to a peace treaty, is being discussed. President Assad was quoted in The Guardian as blaming the United States.[58]
[edit] 2011 Syrian uprisingMain article: 2011 Syrian uprising
Protests in Syria started on 26 January and were influenced by other protests in the region; on the same day, one case of self-immolation was reported. Protesters have been calling for political reforms and the reinstatement of civil rights, as well as an end to the state of emergency which has been in place since 1963.[59] One attempt at a "day of rage" was set for 4–5 February, though it ended up uneventful.[60][61]
On March 15, demonstrations took place in many cities across Syria. Thousands of protestors gathered in al-Hasakah, Aleppo, Damascus, Daraa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hama.[62][63][64][65] Recently released politician Suhair Atassi became an unofficial spokesperson for the "Syrian revolution"[66][67][68][69] Atassi paid tribute to "the Syrian people who took the initiative ahead of the opposition," recalling the popular uprisings that shook Tunisia and Egypt. After the first day of the protests there were reports of approximately 3000 arrests and a few "martyrs", but there are no official figures on the number of deaths.[70]
On 16 March, Syrian authorities forcibly dispersed a demonstration in front of the Syrian Interior Ministry. al-Arabiya reported that protesters were a mix of activists and jurists, writers, journalists, young academics and family members to people detained in Syrian prisons.[71][72][73] The security forces arrested a number of protestors, Al Jazeera reported 25,[74] while Al Arabiya said 32[75] including activist and lawyer Suhair Atassi and Kamal Cheikho, an activist who had been released two days earlier.[76][77][78] Mohamed al-Ali, a spokesman for the Syrian Interior authority denied that any demonstrations have happened in Syria and that the Facebook campaign has been proved unsuccessful. According to the spokesperson, the "claimed protests" consisted of a few people who were "hiding" among the already packed souq (i.e. market) and tried to make it look like a demonstration.[79] In another statement, he went further by saying that the demonstration which took place outside the Interior authority was actually in support of President Bashar al-Assad.[80]
On 18 March, thousands of protesters in several Syrian cities took to the streets after the Friday prayers and chanted "God, Syria, Freedom, that is enough", challenging the classical pro-regime slogan "God, Syria, Bashar, that is enough". In Damascus, security forces broke into the Omayyad Mosque and violently attacked protesters. Several people were injured, and several others were arrested. In the southern city of Daraa, people chanted against Rami Makhlouf, the cousin of the Syrian president. The regime replied by sending helicopters and water cannons to confront the protesters. At least three people were killed by security forces.[81]
On 22 March, as a result of the protests, the Governor of Daraa was fired,[82] but this did not satisfy the protesters. Demonstrations increased, and on 24 March, it was reported that more than a hundred had been killed.[83] in marches at Daraa that exceeded 20,000.
On 29 March, the entire Syrian cabinet was asked to resign by the president.[84] Adel Safar was named the new prime minister and his new cabinet was sworn into office on 14 April 2011. The Emergency Law was rescinded on 21 April 2011.
Since 25 April city of Deraa is under a siege by Syrian army, communication and electricity is down in the city, essential food supply is not allowed to be brought inside Deraa.
Syrian president Bashar al-Assad (left) with Brazilian then-president Lula da Silva (right), 2010Hafiz al-Assad died on 10 June 2000, after 30 years in power. Immediately following al-Assad's death, the Parliament amended the constitution, reducing the mandatory minimum age of the President from 40 to 34. This allowed his son, Bashar al-Assad, to become legally eligible for nomination by the ruling Baath party. On 10 July 2000, Bashar al-Assad was elected President by referendum in which he ran unopposed, garnering 97.29% of the vote, according to Syrian Government statistics.[25]
Although Bashar al-Assad said he would reform, the reforms have been limited to some market reforms.[8][48][50]
The summer of 2000 saw the birth of Damascus Spring. Pro-democracy activists mobilized around a number of political demands, expressed in the "Manifesto of the 99". However, by autumn 2001, the authorities had suppressed the movement, imprisoning some of the leading intellectuals. Although it lasted for a short period (6 months), it saw intensive political discussions and social debates. It still echoes during the political, cultural and intellectual debates in Syria today.
Over the years the authorities have tightened Internet censorship with laws such as forcing Internet cafes to record all the comments users post on chat forums.[51] While the authorities have relaxed rules so that radio channels can now play Western pop music, websites such as Wikipedia, Youtube, Facebook and Amazon have been blocked.[52]
On 5 October 2003, Israel bombed a site near Damascus, charging it was a terrorist training facility for members of Islamic Jihad. The raid was in retaliation for the bombing of a restaurant in the Israeli town of Haifa that killed 19. Islamic Jihad said the camp was not in use; Syria said the attack was on a civilian area.[53]
The United States moved closer to imposing sanctions on Syria, following the adoption of the Syria Accountability Act by the House of Representatives International Relations committee.[54] Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah, all included in what the EU and the U.S view as terrorist groups, all take refuge and enjoy strong relationships with the Syrian government.
Following 2004 Al-Qamishli riots, the Syrian Kurds protested in Brussels, Geneva, in Germany at the US and UK embassies and in Turkey. The protesters pledged against violence in north-east Syria starting Friday, 12 March 2004, and reportedly extending over the weekend resulting in several deaths, according to reports. The Kurds allege the Syrian government encouraged and armed the attackers. Signs of rioting were seen in the towns of Qameshli and Hassakeh.[55]
The 2005 Cedar Revolution in Lebanon resulted in Lebanese people ousting Syria's roughly 14,000 troops and intelligence agents in Lebanon.[56]
The authorities maintain close ties to Iran. On 6 September 2007, Israeli jet fighters carried out Operation Orchard against a suspected a nuclear reactor under construction by North Korean technicians.[57]
In April, 2008, President Assad told a Qatari newspaper that Syria and Israel had been discussing a peace treaty for a year, with Turkey acting as a mediator. This was confirmed in May, 2008, by a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The status of the Golan Heights, a major obstacle to a peace treaty, is being discussed. President Assad was quoted in The Guardian as blaming the United States.[58]
[edit] 2011 Syrian uprisingMain article: 2011 Syrian uprising
Protests in Syria started on 26 January and were influenced by other protests in the region; on the same day, one case of self-immolation was reported. Protesters have been calling for political reforms and the reinstatement of civil rights, as well as an end to the state of emergency which has been in place since 1963.[59] One attempt at a "day of rage" was set for 4–5 February, though it ended up uneventful.[60][61]
On March 15, demonstrations took place in many cities across Syria. Thousands of protestors gathered in al-Hasakah, Aleppo, Damascus, Daraa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hama.[62][63][64][65] Recently released politician Suhair Atassi became an unofficial spokesperson for the "Syrian revolution"[66][67][68][69] Atassi paid tribute to "the Syrian people who took the initiative ahead of the opposition," recalling the popular uprisings that shook Tunisia and Egypt. After the first day of the protests there were reports of approximately 3000 arrests and a few "martyrs", but there are no official figures on the number of deaths.[70]
On 16 March, Syrian authorities forcibly dispersed a demonstration in front of the Syrian Interior Ministry. al-Arabiya reported that protesters were a mix of activists and jurists, writers, journalists, young academics and family members to people detained in Syrian prisons.[71][72][73] The security forces arrested a number of protestors, Al Jazeera reported 25,[74] while Al Arabiya said 32[75] including activist and lawyer Suhair Atassi and Kamal Cheikho, an activist who had been released two days earlier.[76][77][78] Mohamed al-Ali, a spokesman for the Syrian Interior authority denied that any demonstrations have happened in Syria and that the Facebook campaign has been proved unsuccessful. According to the spokesperson, the "claimed protests" consisted of a few people who were "hiding" among the already packed souq (i.e. market) and tried to make it look like a demonstration.[79] In another statement, he went further by saying that the demonstration which took place outside the Interior authority was actually in support of President Bashar al-Assad.[80]
On 18 March, thousands of protesters in several Syrian cities took to the streets after the Friday prayers and chanted "God, Syria, Freedom, that is enough", challenging the classical pro-regime slogan "God, Syria, Bashar, that is enough". In Damascus, security forces broke into the Omayyad Mosque and violently attacked protesters. Several people were injured, and several others were arrested. In the southern city of Daraa, people chanted against Rami Makhlouf, the cousin of the Syrian president. The regime replied by sending helicopters and water cannons to confront the protesters. At least three people were killed by security forces.[81]
On 22 March, as a result of the protests, the Governor of Daraa was fired,[82] but this did not satisfy the protesters. Demonstrations increased, and on 24 March, it was reported that more than a hundred had been killed.[83] in marches at Daraa that exceeded 20,000.
On 29 March, the entire Syrian cabinet was asked to resign by the president.[84] Adel Safar was named the new prime minister and his new cabinet was sworn into office on 14 April 2011. The Emergency Law was rescinded on 21 April 2011.
Since 25 April city of Deraa is under a siege by Syrian army, communication and electricity is down in the city, essential food supply is not allowed to be brought inside Deraa.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)